Oak Ridge Today

Anderson committee recommends buying Lake City building

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Information from WYSH Radio

On Monday, the Anderson County Operations Committee voted 5-2 to recommend purchasing the former Bank of America building in Lake City for use as the new home of the Coal Miners Museum and some county government operations. The bank is asking $100,000 for the property, which supporters say will find a new purpose as not only the home of a museum honoring the area’s rich coal mining history, but also as a storehouse for excess county supplies due to its vault and as a satellite office for county departments, which would be able to make use of the existing drive-thru window.

The full County Commission will consider the committee’s recommendation when it meets Monday, Aug. 19.

Letter: Coal Mining Museum board wants to buy former Lake City bank building

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Note: This is a copy of a letter sent to Anderson County Commissioner Robin Biloski, who chairs the Operations Committee. During a Monday, Aug. 12, meeting, the committee will consider a request to buy the former Bank of America building in Lake City for services on the north end of the county and to house a coal mining museum.

The Board of Directors of the Coal Mining Museum in Lake City would like to encourage the Anderson County Commission’s Operation Committee to approve the purchase of the building formerly occupied by the Bank of America in Lake City in order to provide county services to the residents of north Anderson County and a home for the Coal Mining Museum.

The Coal Mining Museum has been looking for a home for several years. It is currently housed in the Lake City Community Center, which does not provide adequate space to display all of the artifacts. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge asks for county land on Emory Valley Road for sewer system tank

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Emory Valley Equalization Basin

Oak Ridge officials have asked Anderson County to consider donating up to 2.05 acres on Emory Valley Road for a sewer system holding tank.

Oak Ridge officials have asked Anderson County to consider donating up to 2.05 acres on Emory Valley Road for a sewer system holding tank east of the former Daniel Arthur Rehabilitation Center.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered Oak Ridge to stop all sewer system overflows by 2015, and studies have shown that several holding tanks are required at critical locations “to equalize and detain excess flow during heavy rain events,” Public Works Director Gary Cinder said in a July 26 memo. One equalization tank would be required near the county-owned Daniel Arthur Center, which is used by satellite county offices, the Oak Ridge Senior Center, and the Emory Valley Center.

The Anderson County Operations Committee will consider the request during a Monday evening meeting. [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.

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…]

Anderson Commission unanimously approves budget with small tax cut

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Terry Frank

Terry Frank

Note: This story was updated at 1:12 p.m. June 18.

CLINTON—The Anderson County Commission unanimously approved a budget that cut the property tax rate by one-third of a penny on Monday.

It was a small but symbolic gesture, Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank said when she proposed the move, and commissioners endorsed it, during a special meeting last week.

For now, officials have resolved an impasse over whether there was enough money to cover the cost of new jailers hired in the past year by the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department for a jail dormitory that is already open—and to pay for more than 30 new jailers needed when a 212-bed addition opens later this year or early next. [Read more…]

Young boy hit by car, taken to UT hospital

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A 20-month-old boy ran out in front of a car on New Clear Branch Road south of Lake City on Thursday morning and was hit by a car, authorities said.

The boy, who had run out from his home on New Clear Branch Road, had no broken bones, but he was taken by ambulance to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Joseph Lindsay said. [Read more…]

Lake City man dies, wife injured after Saturday motorcycle crash

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A Lake City motorcyclist died and his wife was injured after a Saturday morning collision with a sports utility vehicle on Lake City Highway, authorities said.

The crash happened at about 10:45 a.m. Saturday on Lake City Highway, also known as US 25W, at Old Lake City Highway between Clinton and Lake City. The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department said William Ferrell, 71, of Old Lake City Highway in Clinton, was driving a Mercury Mountaineer SUV and turned into the path of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle operated by Gregory McNelley, 53, of Longfield Road in Lake City. His wife, Julie McNelley, 49, was a passenger on the motorcycle. [Read more…]

Anderson man arrested for death of woman who fell from van

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James Richard Wylie

James Richard Wylie

An Anderson County man indicted for homicide last week in the death of a Lake City woman who allegedly fell from his vehicle last year was arrested today, authorities said.

An investigation showed that Martha Rose McGhee, 33, of Lake City, fell out of a vehicle driven by James Wylie, 54, of Clinton, on Cobb Hollow Road just outside Lake City on Sept. 12 and hit her head, causing her death, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said in a Tuesday press release. [Read more…]

Former Medford fire chief dies in single-vehicle accident in Oak Ridge Turnpike

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Oak Ridge Turnpike Fatal Accident

A Lake City man died Wednesday evening during a single-vehicle accident on Oak Ridge Turnpike near Elza Drive. Braden’s pickup truck went down an embankment and hit a tree, but his passenger survived. (Photos by Tom Scott)

A Lake City man who was also a former volunteer fire chief in Medford died during a single-vehicle accident on Oak Ridge Turnpike near Elza Drive at about 4:46 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

Ronnie L. Braden, 62, was driving a black 2001 Ford pickup that went 15 feet down an embankment and into a tree, according to an Oak Ridge Fire Department report.

Rescuers said Braden had been complaining of chest pains before the accident.

In a statement Thursday afternoon, the Oak Ridge Police Department said Braden was declared dead at the scene by Anderson County Emergency Medical Services.

[Read more…]

Lake City police investigate restaurant robbery

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Information from WYSH Radio

Lake City Police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred Monday night at a Subway restaurant.

According to investigators, a man walked into the store at around 10:30 pm, produced a knife, and demanded cash from the employee behind the counter. The suspect made off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

[Read more…]

Secretary of State Hargett joins Rep. Ragan on Anderson County tour

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Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett will tour Anderson County on Wednesday with Rep. John Ragan, stopping at the Emory Valley Center in Oak Ridge and at a town hall meeting in Lake City.

The Emory Valley Center tour begins at 11 a.m. The town hall starts at 1:30 p.m. at the Lake City Town Hall,195 South Main Street. It’s hosted by Anderson County commissioners Tim Isbel and Zach Bates. A range of issues will be discussed, from the Nov. 6 election to Tennessee’s business climate, a press release said.

The release said Hargett plans to stop by county libraries and small businesses in Clinton and Lake City as well.

“All Anderson County residents are invited to attend,” the press release said.