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Interior Department protects 75,000 acres from surface mining, including in Anderson County

Posted at 8:57 pm December 7, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell

U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell

 

A federal decision announced Wednesday designates about 75,000 acres of mountain ridge lines, including in Anderson County, as unsuitable for surface coal mining operations, a press release said.

The decision, which affects mountains in East Tennessee, was announced by Interior Secretary Sally Jewell.

“Today’s action helps protect a spectacular area of eastern Tennessee that is critical to the region’s tourism and outdoor recreation economy, provides valuable fish and wildlife habitat, and supports a healthy watershed,” the press release said.

The release said the Interior Department designated the mountain ridge lines as unsuitable for surface coal mining at the request of the State of Tennessee. Besides Anderson County, the other affected counties include Campbell, Scott, and Morgan. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Business, Federal, Front Page News, Government, Morgan County, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, Bob Martineau, coal mining, Cumberland Plateau, Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, East Tennessee, Emory River Tract Conservation Easement, Interior Department, Lamar Alexander, mining, National Park Service, North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area, Northern Cumberland, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, OSMRE, outdoor recreation, Sally Jewell, SMCRA, state of Tennessee, surface coal mining, Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, tourism, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Tennessee House gives Rocky Top go-ahead

Posted at 1:15 pm April 1, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

WYSH Radio/Oak Ridge Today

On Monday, the Tennessee House of Representatives voted unanimously to allow Lake City to change its name to Rocky Top. The House bill sponsored by Rep. John Ragan of Oak Ridge passed 89-0.

The name change is seen as a necessary first step toward turning the former coal mining town into a tourist destination, taking advantage of its two exits off of I-75. Plans currently call for an interactive 3-D theater, a restaurant, a water park and a hotel, as well as other attractions.

The state Senate has yet to schedule a vote on the companion bill to the House version, which is being sponsored by Sen. Randy McNally of Oak Ridge. If the Senate approves the measure as expected, the Lake City Council will have to vote again on the name change to ratify the private act that was endorsed Monday by the state House. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Government, Lake City, State, Top Stories Tagged With: coal mining, House, House of Bryant Publications, John Ragan, Lake City, Randy McNally, Rocky Top, Senate, Tennessee House of Representatives, tourist destination

Coal Creek Miners Museum has March 29 chili supper, fundraiser

Posted at 3:18 pm March 20, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Bank of America Lake City

The Anderson County Commission has agreed to buy this former Bank of America building in Lake City for a Coal Mining Museum, storage space, and satellite county offices.

Information from WYSH Radio

The Coal Creek Miners Museum will host a chili supper and fundraiser on March 29 at Main Street Baptist Church in Lake City to raise funds for the remodeling and display construction of the museum’s new home on Main Street. The 6 p.m event will include live entertainment provided by the Coal Creek Old Time String Band and a live auction. The plans for the remodel will also be revealed.

“Coal Creek, the city that is now known as Lake City, has a fascinating story to tell about its coal mining heritage,” said Tim Isbel, chairperson of the Coal Creek Miners Museum. “The miners that lived, worked, and died here left a significant mark on history and it is our goal to make sure that story gets told.”

The Coal Creek Miners Museum has set a goal of $500,000, which will fund the renovations to the former Bank of America building and construct the displays for the historical artifacts. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Government, Lake City, Nonprofits Tagged With: auction, Bank of America, chili supper, Coal Creek Miners' Museum, Coal Creek Old Time String Band, coal mining, food, fundraiser, Lake City, Main Street Baptist Church, miners, Tim Isbel

Informational meeting Friday on changing Lake City’s name to Rocky Top

Posted at 10:30 am October 30, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Anyone interested in learning more about the proposal to change Lake City’s name to Rocky Top can attend an informational meeting and beans and corn bread social on Friday evening in Lake City.

The developers and partners of Rocky Top will be available to answer all questions concerning the project, locations, jobs, and the general impact on the community, said Stephanie Wells, executive director of the Anderson County Tourism Council.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. Friday at Main Street Baptist Church, located at the corner of Fourth and Main Street in Lake City. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Government, Lake City, Lake City, Top Stories Tagged With: amusement destination, Anderson County Tourism Council, Buddy Warren, Coal Creek, coal mining, Lake City, Lake City Council, restaurant, Rocky Top, Stephanie Wells, Tennessee General Assembly, theaters, water park, WYSH Radio

Lake City has Nov. 1 public meeting on changing name to Rocky Top

Posted at 12:14 pm October 22, 2013
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

Lake City residents who want more information about a proposal to change their city’s name to Rocky Top as the first step toward the creation of an amusement destination with a water park, restaurant, and theaters tied together by the area’s coal mining history will get a chance to get that information and share their opinions during a public meeting scheduled for Friday, Nov. 1, at 6 p.m. in the Family Life Center of Main Street Baptist Church.

The Lake City Council will consider the name change on Thursday, Nov. 7. If approved, the change would have to be approved by the General Assembly. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Government, Lake City, Lake City, Top Stories Tagged With: Buddy Warren, Coal Creek, coal mining, Lake City, Lake City Council, Main Street Baptist Church, name change, restaurant, Rocky Top, theaters, theme park, water park

Letter: Support museum for Coal Creek miners, who ‘left their mark on history’

Posted at 1:33 pm August 19, 2013
By Oak Ridge Today Letters Leave a Comment

Aug. 7, 2013

To: Anderson County Commissioner Tim lsbel

From: Barry Thacker and Carol Moore

Re: Support of the Coal Miners’ Museum in Coal Creek (aka Lake City)

We would like to express our continuing support of every effort to preserve and honor the rich coal mining history of Anderson County, Tenn. There is nowhere on Earth with more dramatic coal mining history in such a small area with the effects felt worldwide—and it sits right on I-75!

The miners of Coal Creek in Anderson County, Tenn., left their mark on history. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Letters Tagged With: Barry Thacker, Carol Moore, Coal Creek, Coal Creek Miners' Museum, Coal Creek War, Coal Creek Watershed Foundation, Coal Miner’s Museum, coal mining, Lake City, miners, museum, Tim Isbel

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Classifieds

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

Public notice: Draft environmental assessment for Y-12 Development Organization at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

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