Clinton Archives - Oak Ridge Today

One challenger for City Council, none for school board

Posted at 7:52 pm August 17, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The deadline for candidates to qualify for the November 6 municipal elections was noon Thursday, and four Oak Ridge City Council incumbents have one challenger while there are three candidates for three school board seats.

Besides the four seats now held by incumbents, the November election will include the selection of an additional member of Oak Ridge City Council to fill the rest of the term of Hans Vogel, who was elected to a four-year term in November 2016 but resigned in June to take a new job at Idaho National Laboratory. Only one candidate, Derrick Hammond, has qualified as a candidate in that special election. Hammond was unanimously appointed to the seat by City Council in July to fill the seat through the November election. After his unopposed November election, Hammond will serve the last two years of Vogel’s unexpired term.

Also on the ballot in November are city council and school board seats in Clinton, Norris, Oliver Springs, and Rocky Top. That’s in addition to the state and federal elections for Tennessee governor, U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, and Tennessee Senate and Tennessee House of Representatives.

The four incumbents on the seven-member Oak Ridge City Council who are up for election in November all qualified as candidates by Thursday’s deadline. They are Kelly Callison, R.G. “Rick” Chinn Jr., Warren Gooch, and Ellen D. Smith. The four incumbents last had an election in November 2014. [Read more…]

Clinton has July 4 fireworks in Lakefront Park

Posted at 5:16 pm June 20, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

The city of Clinton has released its plans for its annual Independence Day celebration at Lakefront Park.

The event will begin at 5 p.m. July 4 and end with fireworks at 10 p.m. at Lakefront Park in Clinton.

There will be bounce houses, bungee run, basketball game, rock climbing wall, obstacle course, water slide, human hamster balls, and trackless train that are available to the public at no charge, although kids must have a free wrist band to ride. Also available will be laser tag for children and a game truck for children craving video game excitement at no charge.

There will also be food vendors, antique cars on display, and music from 5-9:45 p.m. Performers will include John Fee & The Honky Tonk Playboys, and possibly some other special guests who will likely be announced in the next few days.

Black bear reported in Clinton on Friday

Posted at 11:25 am June 15, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Black Bear at Anderson County High School on Oct. 6, 2015

An archived file photo of a black bear at Anderson County High School on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2016. (Archived file photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Information from WYSH Radio/Oak Ridge Today

A black bear was spotted wandering through Clinton on Friday.

The city sent out a Code Red Alert to part of the city on Friday morning indicating that the bear had been spotted in the vicinity of JD Yarnell Industrial Parkway and the 1200 block of Seivers Boulevard, heading in the general direction of the Clinton Home Center.

Authorities say that if you see the bear, you should give it a wide berth and notify the Clinton Police Department at (865) 457-3112.

It’s not unusual to occasionally see black bears in East Tennessee in the summer, including in Oak Ridge, Anderson County, Clinton, and the Great Smoky Mountains. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has previously said that Oak Ridge and Knoxville are surrounded by very good bear habitats—including the largest black bear preserve in the world—and it’s not unusual to see up to a half-dozen bears come through the Oak Ridge area each year and at least that many in the Knoxville area. [Read more…]

Real estate: Building available in downtown Clinton

Posted at 1:07 pm May 12, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

419 Eagle Bend Road. A great opportunity to own a building in downtown Clinton. Currently being used as a bakery. Building would be great for office and retail. $124,900. Call Drew Clemmons to set up an appointment. #30256112

Agency information:

Connell Properties Inc

Broker: Drew Clemmons

119 Westfield Rd

Knoxville, TN 37919

(865) 588-0220

(865) 742-4631

[email protected]

Retired pilot, former Democratic Party chair running for Tennessee House

Posted at 4:27 pm April 18, 2018
By Megan McNees Leave a Comment

Richard Dawson

Richard Dawson, a retired pilot who flew helicopters in Vietnam and is a former Democratic Party chair, is running for Tennessee House of Representatives in Anderson County.

Dawson is running in Tennessee’s 33rd District, which includes most of Anderson County, including Clinton and the Anderson County portion of Oak Ridge. Dawson lives in Clinton, and he is a native Oak Ridger, a press release said.

“My dad was an electrical maintenance supervisor at K-25 for 20 years and was able to provide enough for my mom, sister, and me to live comfortably,” Dawson said in the press release. “Republicans have been in power in Tennessee for years, but their policies have only made it more difficult for people who work hard, like my dad, to take care of their families. I am running because Anderson County and Tennessee deserve better.”

The press release said Dawson was raised in Oak Ridge, and he and his family lived and experienced the “American Dream.” He benefitted from the top-notch public education in Oak Ridge and when he graduated, Dawson felt called to serve, the press release said. He voluntarily enlisted in the Army, flying helicopters in Vietnam. Returning home, he used the GI Bill to earn a degree in labor and industrial relations from East Tennessee State University, the press release said. [Read more…]

Final presentation on revitalization of downtown Clinton is Thursday

Posted at 9:46 am March 20, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Anderson County Chamber of Commerce will host the final presentation for the revitalization of downtown Clinton on Thursday.

This event will feature a presentation by Gianni Longo, president of Gianni Longo and Associates. Longo has conducted visions, many in Tennessee that have led to the redesign of Chattanooga’s riverfront, downtown Franklin, and even Knoxville’s Market Square, a press release said.

The closing presentation given on February 22 at the end of the four-day Clinton charrette focused on unveiling the results of the effort. The ideas presented have since been expanded to include specific implementation steps on how to turn the community vision into reality. [Read more…]

Basketball: Lady Wildcats win third straight district championship

Posted at 2:22 pm February 19, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats won the District 3-AAA basketball tournament championship for the third year in a row with a 60-38 victory over Campbell County at Halls on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was updated at 10 a.m. Feb. 25.

HALLS—Oak Ridge pulled away from Campbell County in the second half to win its third straight district championship in the girls’ basketball tournament at Halls on Saturday.

The Lady Wildcats led by just six points, 25-19, at halftime in the District 3-AAA tournament championship. But they outscored the Lady Cougars 35-19 in the second half to beat Campbell County 60-38.

Oak Ridge junior Jada Guinn, who was named most valuable player of the tournament, led in scoring with 23 points. Twelve of those were in the fourth quarter.

Oak Ridge senior Mykia Dowdell added 17.

Campbell County junior Skylar Boshears, who scored 11 points for the Lady Cougars, was hurt less than a minute into the second half and had to be helped off the floor and into the locker room. But she was back in the game a few minutes later. [Read more…]

AC Chamber to host opening presentation for revitalization of downtown Clinton

Posted at 7:56 am February 15, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Anderson County Chamber of Commerce will host the opening presentation for the revitalization of downtown Clinton on Monday.

The presentation will be by Gianni Longo Associates LTD, which has redesigned Chattanooga’s riverfront; downtown Franklin, Tennessee; and Market Square in Knoxville, a press release said.

Here is more information about the two presentations: [Read more…]

Oak Ridge, other schools closed due to weather Tuesday

Posted at 9:29 pm January 15, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Accumulating snow is expected to begin along the plateau in the morning hours and progress eastward through the day. Roads may become snow-covered and slick soon after the beginning of snow, with temperatures below freezing on Tuesday afternoon and evening, Jan. 16, 2018. (Image by National Weather Service in Morristown)

Oak Ridge Schools and other local school systems will be closed due to winter weather, possibly including a few inches of snow, on Tuesday.

The other districts that will be closed include Anderson County, Clinton, and Roane County.

The National Weather Service in Morristown said an arctic cold front will move across the Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachians Tuesday, bringing frigid temperatures and snow that will accumulate.

“Snowfall of one to three inches is expected Tuesday into early Tuesday night,” the National Weather Service said. “Please stay tuned to the latest forecast for further updates.” [Read more…]

Roads icy: Oak Ridge Schools, Roane State closed today

Posted at 8:46 am January 8, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A tractor-trailer jack-knifed on Interstate 40 West at mile marker 349 in Roane County. That roadway is closed, the Tennessee Department of Transportation said. I-40 East at MM 349 has one lane open. Roads are very icy in this area, TDOT said Monday morning, Jan. 8, 2018. The Oak Ridge/Gallaher Road exit is Exit 356. (Photo courtesy TDOT)

Note: This story was last updated at 10 a.m.

Oak Ridge Schools are closed today as a layer of ice coated the ground in Oak Ridge, making roads and sidewalks slippery.

The schools had originally planned to open two hours late.

Other local school systems are also closed today (Monday, January 8) as the forecast had called for freezing rain or a wintry mix of precipitation around school arrival time this morning. Among the other school systems closed are Anderson County, Clinton, and Roane County. Roane State Community College is closed today as well (see here for more information). [Read more…]

Clinton police ask for help identifying robbery suspect

Posted at 11:23 am December 1, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Surveillance camera footage from a Git N Go robbery on South Charles G. Seivers Boulevard in Clinton on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017. (Clinton Police Department on Facebook)

An armed robbery was reported early Thursday at a Git’ N Go Market in Clinton, authorities said.

The robbery was reported at about 2 a.m. Thursday, November 30, at 501 South Charles G. Seivers Boulevard, according to the Clinton Police Department. The gas station and convenience store are just southwest of downtown Clinton, near Food City.

The CPD said a white man entered the store, held the clerk at gunpoint, and stole a small amount of money from the cash register. [Read more…]

TBI identifies man who died in officer-involved shooting in Clinton on Wednesday

Posted at 1:15 pm November 9, 2017
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Roger Raymond York Jr.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has identified the man who died in an officer-involved shooting in Clinton on Wednesday as Roger Raymond York Jr.

York, 32, is listed as having a Clinton address in Anderson County jail records.

He died after he fired a weapon at Clinton Police Department officers on East Drive in Clinton on Wednesday night, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. One of the officers fired back, hitting York, who died, according to preliminary information from the TBI.

The three Clinton Police Department officers were not injured, the TBI said. The three officers were at the home in the 1000 block of East Drive after receiving information that a man with outstanding warrants was at the residence, the TBI said. [Read more…]