Oak Ridge Today

Appeals Court rules against rock quarry foes

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Information from WYSH Radio

The Tennessee Court of Appeals late last week ruled against a group of citizens who had sued the city of Clinton and the Rogers Group over the city’s rezoning of land near the Bethel community to allow for the road-paving company to reopen its controversial rock quarry.

Citizens for Safety and Clean Air had filed the suit, alleging that the city’s rezoning of the land to M-2—or heavy industrial use—had been capricious and arbitrary and that it had constituted illegal spot zoning.

Anderson County Chancellor William Lantrip ruled against the plaintiffs earlier this year, and the case was appealed. [Read more…]

Follow-up: New details of fatal Clinton wreck

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Information from WYSH Radio

More information is now available about Friday’s fatal accident on Highway 61 at the on-ramp to I-75 North in Clinton.

The wreck occurred at about 7:06 a.m. Friday, and it killed Christopher Strunk, 32, of Oneida. The Clinton Police Department reported that Strunk was a passenger in a Honda Civic driven by Shawn Wright, 26, of Pioneer.

The accident happened when a car driven by David Kittrell of Mississippi was in the left lane near the on-ramp and Wright’s car pulled into his path while trying to get on to the interstate. Kittrell’s car “T-boned” Wright’s car and both vehicles spun around before coming to rest against a guard rail. Strunk, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was declared dead at the scene by Emergency Medical Services personnel, and Wright suffered injuries that sent him to the University of Tennessee Medical Center by ambulance. [Read more…]

Clinton receives $112,000 hiring grant for community policing

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Clinton has received a hiring grant valued at about $112,000 for community policing.

It was one of three awards announced Friday in the Eastern District of Tennessee by U.S. Attorney William C. Killian in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS.

[Read more…]

Local agencies receive more than $350K in highway safety funds

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Tennessee officials last week announced $21.1 million in grants to Tennessee agencies to support highway traffic safety efforts, with more than $350,000 designated for local law enforcement agencies.

The grants include about $180,000 to the Anderson County District Attorney General’s Office for driving-under-the-influence abatement and prosecution, and roughly $40,000 to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department for reducing fatalities in the county. The Oak Ridge Police Department received about $25,000 for alcohol saturation and checkpoints. [Read more…]

ORAU awards $39,000 in education grants to East Tennessee schools

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ORAU Education Grants

Oak Ridge Associated Universities awards 27 teachers from 17 East Tennessee schools more than $39,000 during a recent grants ceremony. (Submitted photo)

Oak Ridge Associated Universities awarded more than $39,000 to more than two dozen teachers in 17 schools in Oak Ridge, Clinton, Norris, and Anderson County in a recent grants ceremony.

It was the 12th annual ORAU Education Grants ceremony, and 27 teachers received awards, a press release said.

The grant money can be used to buy educational materials and equipment such as microscopes, iPads, robotics kits, and computers that will help teachers “continue to meet rigorous, state-wide curriculum standards and enhance the learning experience of their students,” the release said. [Read more…]

Tips lead to arrest of Clinton man after alleged bank robbery

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Information from WYSH Radio

Following up on a story from earlier this week, tips from citizens led to the arrest of a 38-year-old Clinton man on charges that he robbed the Enrichment Federal Credit Union branch on Schubert Road in Knoxville on Tuesday afternoon.

A television viewer recognized Charles Edward Harmon from broadcast footage from the bank security camera and called in a tip, which led to Harmon’s arrest on Wednesday. Harmon spent five months behind bars after he robbed a Y-12 Federal Credit Union in Clinton in 2006.

Two Knox robberies solved with arrests of Clinton men

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Information from WYSH Radio

Two Clinton men were arrested Wednesday on charges stemming from two, unrelated Knox County bank robberies.

The first robbery occurred Saturday morning at the ORNL Federal Credit Union branch on Kingston Pike in West Knoxville. Authorities say that 32-year-old Jason Ronald Brown walked into the branch Saturday morning, said he had a bomb, and demanded money. He fled with an undisclosed amount of cash but left the purported bomb behind. The Knoxville Police Department’s Bomb Squad determined that it was not a real bomb. [Read more…]

High school football Week Zero in the books

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Information from WYSH Radio

Wrapping up Friday night’s Week Zero high school football action, Anderson County got 310 total yards and a pair of rushing touchdowns from Tyler Hicks and 140 yards and four rushing touchdowns from Matt Fox to beat Clinton 53-13 in each team’s opener.

Maryville debuted new quarterback John Garrett and picked up a 35-15 win over Webb on Friday as Garrett accounted for 260 total yards and three scores. In other area action, William Blount gave new coach Justin Ridge his first win as the Governors pounded Loudon 40-7. Oliver Springs hammered Unaka 40-0 and Campbell County clobbered Cumberland Gap 41-6. For a complete look at last weekend’s action and this week’s schedule, visit the Local Sports Update page on our website.

First Wildcat Day for all sports draws players, fans, Coach Gaddis

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Oak Ridge High School Wildband at Wildcat Day

Members of the Oak Ridge High School Band play at the opening of a Wildcat Day pep rally at the Ben Martin field on Saturday.

Enthusiastic fans and players flocked to Oak Ridge High School on Saturday for a first-of-its-kind pep rally that incorporated all sports and featured a football coach that helped the Wildcats win their last state championship and is leading the team once more.

The pep rally was part of what had officially been proclaimed Wildcat Day by the Oak Ridge City Council. The rally featured short cheerleader routines, music by members of the Oak Ridge High School Band, short speeches from city and school officials, an introduction to the ORHS Wildcats football team and coaches, and fireworks. [Read more…]

Follow-up: CPD seeks suspects in July theft

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Information from WYSH Radio

As reported last month, on Friday, July 5, a man and woman posing as contractors for the Clinton Utilities Board entered an elderly Clinton woman’s residence. While the female suspect distracted the victim by talking to her in the kitchen, it is believed that the male suspect entered the victim’s room, where several items were stolen.

A similar incident occurred in unincorporated Anderson County around the same time. [Read more…]

Clinton man charged in Knox

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Information from WYSH Radio

A Clinton man is in custody in Knox County on Tuesday after he allegedly kidnapped his estranged wife early Monday morning, then eluded authorities for several hours.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office said that 41-year-old Stephen Mayes hid in the bushes outside his estranged wife’s workplace and forced his way in to her car at gunpoint at around 5 a.m. Monday. He allegedly drove around for a while before ending up at a gas station in Farragut, where he is accused of trying to force her in to her car’s trunk. The woman fought back and ran into the gas station, where she called for help. [Read more…]

Clinton, Norris, Lake City postpone fireworks

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Information from WYSH Radio

The city of Clinton has postponed its Independence Day fireworks show to 9:30 p.m. Saturday at Lakefront Park. This will be a fireworks-only display as all other pre-show festivities have been canceled.

The threat of steady, soaking rainfall Wednesday through Friday has also forced Norris to postpone Norris Day and all the activities on the Norris Commons until Friday, July 26. [Read more…]