Oak Ridge Today

WYSH: Storm damage follow-up; EF0 tornado confirmed in Kingston

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Mike Marsh Home Storm Damage

One of several pictures showing the storm damage Tuesday to the home of Mike and Wanda Marsh on Timbercrest Drive in Oak Ridge. (Photo courtesy Mike Marsh)

 

Information from WYSH Radio

The National Weather Service has confirmed the powerful storms that rolled through the area on Tuesday included an embedded tornado in Kingston.

Officials with the NWS office in Morristown assessed the damage and said an EF-0 tornado touched down along 3rd Street in Kingston. The winds of an EF-0 tornado are around 65-85 miles per hour.

The NWS said the widespread damage throughout East Tennessee was almost entirely from straight-line winds and down-bursts. Kingston is the only site suspected of sustaining tornado damage.

The Weather Service says straight-line winds estimated at 80 mph packed a destructive punch in Clinton, which appeared to bear the brunt of the damage from Tuesday’s severe weather. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge: 4,000 lose power, 70 homes damaged

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Wadsworth Circle Home Tree

One of two trees that fell on a home on West Wadsworth Circle. The second tree, visible on the ground in the background, punched a hole in the roof and displaced a mother, grandmother, and two children.

 

Note: This story was last updated at 2:40 p.m.

Roughly 4,000 customers lost power in the Tuesday evening storm, and about 70 damaged homes will require repairs by an electrician before power can be restored, an Oak Ridge official said Wednesday morning.

Oak Ridge Electric Director Jack Suggs said he doesn’t recall ever having 70 homes damaged in one storm, although the Electric Department has experienced worse storms when many utility poles were broken. But the brief, fierce Tuesday storm, which brought severe winds and driving rain, was significant in terms of its damage to homes and its far-reaching nature, from Blair Road on the west end of town to east Oak Ridge and beyond—into Clinton and Anderson County, Suggs said.

“It was pretty widespread,” Suggs said.

Janet Bowker on Plymouth Circle and Storm Debris

Janet Bowker, left, walks through debris on Plymouth Circle in front of her home, where a tree fell into her bedroom during the Tuesday evening storm. Her home is at right but not visible in this picture. There were no injuries, but Bowker does not have power now.

 

The storm, which ripped through Oak Ridge at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, left a trail of debris: scattered branches and limbs, broken trees, fallen power lines, and damaged buildings and homes. It also triggered a flood of calls to the city’s 911 call dispatch center.

About 500 customers remained without power around noon Wednesday, including the 70 damaged homes. [Read more…]

Roane Commission to consider ‘In God We Trust’ signs

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In God We Trust Courthouse Signs

Workers from Island Home Granite, Signs, and Monuments install the first of four granite “In God We Trust” signs over the entrances at the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton in July 2013. (File photo)

Information from WYSH Radio

Roane County leaders are considering installing signs bearing the phrase “In God We Trust” at the Roane County Courthouse in Kingston.

Roane County Commissioner Randy Ellis said his proposal would have one sign installed above the main entrance to the courthouse, and another in the commission chamber. The signs would have to be privately funded as Anderson County’s signs were when a similar proposal approved last year.

“In God We Trust” signs now hang above all four entrances to the Anderson County Courthouse as well as at the Oak Ridge General Sessions Court building. The Roane County Commission is set to discuss the proposal at 7 p.m. Monday.

TVA builds pedestrian bridge over embayment at Kingston ash spill site

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KINGSTON—The Tennessee Valley Authority will be building a pedestrian bridge over the East Embayment as part of TVA’s commitment to restore the Swan Pond area near the Kingston Fossil Plant to as good as or better than it was before the 2008 ash spill, a press release said.

For the safety of the public and work crews, access to the East Embayment by boat will be temporarily closed beginning today (Monday), the release said. Signs will be posted on the shoreline and buoys will be installed across the embayment to restrict boating access.

Bank fishing still will be available on the East Embayment and can be reached by walking trails at Lakeshore Park. The main river channel on the Emory River also will remain open. [Read more…]

WYSH: Man charged after meth lab sets apartment on fire

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Information from WYSH Radio

A Kingston man was arrested early Tuesday morning after his meth lab caught his bedroom apartment on fire.

Roane County deputies arrested Justin Michael Owens, 23, on five counts of reckless endangerment and one count each of manufacturing meth, tampering with evidence, and vandalism following the incident, which occurred at Smith Apartments on Kingston Highway.

According to the Sheriff’s Department incident report, the fire started when there was a “catastrophic failure” of one of the containers involved in the meth-making process. [Read more…]

Roane wreck kills one

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Information from WYSH Radio

A Kingston man died in a single-vehicle crash early Friday morning in Harriman.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol reports that Patrick E. Fly of Kingston, 22, had been headed south on Swan Pond Road at around 1:30 a.m. in a Nissan Altima when he failed to negotiate a curve. His car skidded and left the roadway, flipping several times and ejecting Fly, who was not wearing a seatbelt. [Read more…]

Flashlights, batteries needed for typhoon relief effort

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Information from WYSH Radio

Kingston City Manager David Bolling has friends in the Philippines, and despite the massive damage caused by last week’s Typhoon Haiyan, was able to speak with them earlier this week.

He took the opportunity to ask them what they needed and how East Tennessee might be able to help. Surprisingly, the answer was that they are in need of flashlights and batteries.

As it happens, Bolling also knows a group that is headed to the Philippines this weekend, so he is spearheading a drive to collect new and used flashlights along with batteries to send with them. [Read more…]

Better late than never: Postponed fireworks shows on Saturday

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Information from WYSH Radio

A few of the area’s postponed Independence Day celebrations and fireworks shows will be held today, Saturday, July 13.

In Kingston, “Smokin’ the Water” begins at 11 a.m. at City Park with a car show, a watermelon eating contest, a homemade raft race, a kids area, vendors, games, laser tag, and more. Fireworks will be shot at dark.

Lake City’s annual celebration will be held beginning at 2 p.m. with a car show and games on the ball field. Fireworks will be shot at 10 p.m. Merle FM’s own Big Rick—who celebrates his birthday today—will broadcast from the Lake City celebration Saturday from 6 to 10 p.m.

Kingston cancels parade tonight, considers canceling more July 4 events

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Kingston has canceled the July 4 parade scheduled for 7 p.m. today, the city announced on its website.

Officials will meet at 7 a.m. Thursday, July 4, to determine whether to cancel more Independence Day events. [Read more…]

Man allegedly flees from Kingston to Oak Ridge, tries to run officers off road, crashes into cars

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Note: This story was last updated at 1:28 p.m. June 18.

KINGSTON—A Tellico Plains man driving a Ford pickup truck allegedly almost had a head-on collision with a Roane County deputy in Kingston on Saturday night, fled from officers at speeds over 90 mph, aggressively drove toward patrol cars trying to box him in on Gallaher Road, and crashed into several vehicles in Oak Ridge, causing significant injuries to passengers in one vehicle, authorities said.

The suspect has been identified as Austin Cody Burns, 21, the Roane County Sheriff’s Office said. An incident report said Burns’ ex-girlfriend had broken up with him earlier in the day, and he allegedly stole her pickup truck. [Read more…]

TVA, government agencies to give recovery update on Kingston ash spill

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The Tennessee Valley Authority, along with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, will hold a public meeting on progress of the Kingston Ash Recovery Project and long-term monitoring plans.

The meeting will be held Thursday, May 30, from 5:30-7 p.m. in the auditorium of Roane County High School in Kingston. The auditorium is in Building B on the Spring Street side of the high school. [Read more…]

Former Anderson commissioner, OS manager hired in Kingston

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Information from WYSH Radio

Former Anderson County Commissioner and Oliver Springs City Manager Dave Bolling has been hired as the new city manager in Kingston after spending the last year as the town administrator of Newcastle, Maine.

Bolling and one other finalist were interviewed on Friday, and following the interviews, the City Council voted unanimously to offer the job to Bolling. His first day on the job will be June 1, and he will earn an annual salary of $70,500 a year with a performance bonus possible after the first year and a $5,000 moving allowance. [Read more…]