Oak Ridge Today

Clinton High School student charged with threats

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A Clinton High School student is in custody after an investigation of a social media threat, authorities said.

The 15-year-old female student sent messages to a male student on a social media site that ultimately led to threats, according to Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy.

The threat was investigated by Anderson County school officials and school resource officers and detectives from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, Lucas said.

The female student was identified and arrested this morning, Lucas said. She is currently being held in juvenile detention pending a hearing. [Read more…]

Anderson County Rescue Squad to resume search for missing man

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Rescuers in an Anderson County Rescue Squad boat search for a missing man in the water at Bull Run Park in Claxton, authorities said Sunday afternoon, Feb. 18, 2018. At center is Rescue Squad Chief Terry Allen. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Rescuers in an Anderson County Rescue Squad boat search for a missing man in the water at Bull Run Park in Claxton, authorities said Sunday afternoon, Feb. 18, 2018. At center is Rescue Squad Chief Terry Allen. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Anderson County Rescue Squad was going to resume searching Monday afternoon for a missing man whose pickup truck was found parked on the side of the road near the water at Bull Run Park in Claxton on Sunday, authorities said.

The man, reported to be 66, was reported missing in Knox County on Sunday morning.

Anderson County Sheriff Paul White said the man’s black pickup truck was located on the side of road across Bull Run Creek from Bull Run Park. The keys were in the truck, and a suicide note was in the truck, White said. The vehicle was parked alongside New Henderson Road at Tracy Allison Lane. Deputies found it near Bull Run Park at about 12:45 p.m. Sunday.

But rescuers aren’t certain that the man is in the water, said White, who was among those on rescue boats searching the cold water on Sunday.

“We don’t know where he’s at or if he’s here,” White said. [Read more…]

Rescuers search for missing man in water at Bull Run Park

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Rescuers in an Anderson County Sheriff's Department boat search for a missing man in the water at Bull Run Park in Claxton, authorities said Sunday afternoon, Feb. 18, 2018. Anderson County Sheriff Paul White is at left in the boat. In front is Knoxville Police Department search and rescue volunteer Candy Stooksbury with K-9 Barnabas, a bloodhound. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Rescuers in an Anderson County Sheriff’s Department boat search for a missing man in the water at Bull Run Park in Claxton, authorities said Sunday afternoon, Feb. 18, 2018. Anderson County Sheriff Paul White is at left in the boat. In front is Knoxville Police Department search and rescue volunteer Candy Stooksbury with K-9 Barnabas, a bloodhound. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11:15 p.m.

CLAXTON—Rescuers searched for a missing man in the water at Bull Run Park in Claxton on Sunday afternoon and evening, but they were not able to locate him.

The search was called off as daylight faded just before 7 p.m. Sunday, more than six hours after the missing man’s pickup truck was located near the park. It’s not clear when the search might resume.

The missing man is reported to be from Knox County, said Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy. The identity of the man, reported to be 66, was not immediately available Sunday.

Anderson County Sheriff Paul White said the man left his black pickup truck on the side of road across Bull Run Creek from Bull Run Park, The keys were in the truck, and a suicide note was in the truck, White said. The vehicle was parked alongside New Henderson Road at Tracy Allison Lane.

But rescuers aren’t certain that the man is in the water, White said. [Read more…]

Rescuers respond to three calls of drivers trapped in high waters

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A car is stuck in flood water on Mountain Road in Anderson County on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018. (Photo courtesy Anderson County Sheriff's Department)

A car is stuck in flood water on Mountain Road in Anderson County on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018. (Photo courtesy Anderson County Sheriff’s Department)

 

Rescuers in Anderson County have responded to three calls of drivers trapped in high waters, authorities said Sunday.

There were no injuries reported, but the cars remained in the flooded areas, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department said.

One of those rescue calls was on Airport Road just east of Oliver Springs. In that case, a man who called 911 at the Oliver Springs Police Department at about 9 p.m. Saturday was able to escape on his own through flood water reported to be chest-deep.

The other two rescue calls were on Mountain Road and Pumpkin Hollow Road in east Anderson County, said Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy. [Read more…]

Two hit in arms during Claxton shooting

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Jacob Lynn Rutherford

Jacob Lynn Rutherford

 

CLAXTON—Two men were hit in the arms during the shooting in Claxton on Saturday evening, January 13, and the Oak Ridge man charged with attempted murder in the case also shot at a woman but missed, according to court records.

The shooting at the home at the intersection of Clinton Highway and Lonesome Dove Road allegedly occurred “during some type of altercation” in a bedroom, according to affidavits filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Clinton.

Jacob Lynn Rutherford, 23, of Oak Ridge, has been charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count of reckless endangerment in the shooting.

The affidavits, which summarize the alleged facts of the case and are attached to arrest warrants, said Rutherford pulled a handgun from his waistband during the altercation, pointed it at Nathan Phillips, 36, and fired. Phillips had two gunshot wounds to his left upper arm, the affidavits said. [Read more…]

Roads closed as all five county fire departments respond to Marlow fire

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A fire was reported at a house at the intersection of Hidden Valley Road and Laurel Road in Marlow late Friday afternoon, Jan. 19, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A fire was reported at a house at the intersection of Hidden Valley Road and Laurel Road in Marlow late Friday afternoon, Jan. 19, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

MARLOW—Laurel Road and Hidden Valley Road were closed Friday evening as all five volunteer fire departments in Anderson County responded to a house fire in Marlow.

The roads were closed because fire trucks are parked in the streets, and water is freezing on the surface of the roadways, said Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy.

The fire was reported at about 4:15 p.m. Friday, Lucas said. All five of the county’s volunteer fire departments responded: Marlow, Briceville, Claxton, Andersonville, and Medford. As far as he knew, all five were still at the fire on Friday evening, Lucas said. [Read more…]

Hazardous driving conditions remain in Anderson County

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A view of snow-covered Dutch Valley from Waldens Ridge in Anderson County on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018. (Photo by Anderson County Sheriff's Department)

A view of snow-covered Dutch Valley from Waldens Ridge in Anderson County on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018. (Photo by Anderson County Sheriff’s Department)

 

Note: This story was updated at 11:05 p.m.

Update: State routes were mostly clear Wednesday afternoon, but secondary roads still had snow and ice in spots, especially where they are shaded. Some roads remained entirely snow-covered. Areas that melted in the sun Wednesday were expected to refreeze overnight as the temperatures will once again be in the single digits. Motorists should continue to use caution.

Three traffic crashes had been reported as of 4 p.m., and deputies planned to continue patrolling and answering calls in four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Hazardous driving conditions remained in Anderson County on Wednesday morning, with some state routes still having snow and ice.

Secondary roads are mostly snow-covered, with ice in places, said Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy.

“Bitter cold temperatures overnight resulted in many roads freezing over and becoming dangerous,” Lucas said. “Motorists should use extreme caution if travel is necessary.”

Three traffic crashes were reported Tuesday, but none have been reported so far Wednesday morning, Lucas said. [Read more…]

Two charged in Claxton shooting, one with attempted murder

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Jacob Lynn Rutherford

Jacob Lynn Rutherford

 

CLAXTON—Two people have been charged in the shooting on Clinton Highway in Claxton on Saturday, and one of them faces charges of attempted murder, authorities said.

Jacob Lynn Rutherford, 23, of Oak Ridge, has been charged with three counts of attempted murder, said Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy. Rutherford is in the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton pending bond that will be set at arraignment, Lucas said.

His girlfriend, Maggie Taylor Atteberry, 24, of Clinton, was charged with being an accessory after the fact, and she has been released on bond, Lucas said.

Deputies had responded to a report of a person shot at the Bread Box on Edgemoor Road on Saturday evening when they found Nathan Lynn Phillips, 36, of Clinton, with gunshot wounds. Another person was driving him to the hospital, but they had stopped at the store to call for an ambulance, Lucas said. Phillips was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville by Anderson County EMS. Phillips’ wounds were more serious than originally thought, and he remains in the hospital, Lucas said. [Read more…]

Investigators questioning suspect, girlfriend in Claxton shooting

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Anderson County Sheriff's Department investigates a shooting at 3008 Clinton Highway, at the intersection of Clinton Highway and Lonesome Dove Road in Claxton, on Saturday evening, Jan. 13, 2018. Two were reported to have non-life threatening injuries. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department investigates a shooting at 3008 Clinton Highway, at the intersection of Clinton Highway and Lonesome Dove Road in Claxton, on Saturday evening, Jan. 13, 2018. Two were reported to have non-life threatening injuries. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

CLAXTON—Investigators are questioning a suspect and his girlfriend in the shooting that injured two people on Clinton Highway on Saturday, authorities said.

The two are believed to be involved in the shooting, and they were taken into custody without incident at a relative’s mobile home, said Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy

“Investigators will be questioning them concerning the shooting incident,” Lucas said Saturday night.

He said the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department will not release any names until investigators determine their involvement and what charges will be filed. [Read more…]

Updated: Two injured in Claxton shooting

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Anderson County Sheriff's Department investigates a shooting at 3008 Clinton Highway, at the intersection of Clinton Highway and Lonesome Dove Road in Claxton, on Saturday evening, Jan. 13, 2018. Two were reported to have non-life threatening injuries. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department investigates a shooting at 3008 Clinton Highway, at the intersection of Clinton Highway and Lonesome Dove Road in Claxton, on Saturday evening, Jan. 13, 2018. Two people were reported to have non-life threatening injuries. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 2:20 p.m. Jan. 14.

CLAXTON—Two people were shot at a home in Claxton on Saturday, and they both appear to have non-life threatening injuries, authorities said.

The shooting was reported at about 5:24 p.m. Saturday. One of the victims was at the BreadBox Market on Edgemoor Road in Claxton, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said.

When they arrived at the BreadBox, deputies learned the shooting had taken place at a home on Clinton Highway, Lucas said. When deputies went to that house at 3008 Clinton Highway, they found a second person who had been shot, Lucas said. [Read more…]

Roads icy: Oak Ridge Schools, Roane State closed today

Posted at
By 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)

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…]

Updated: Man killed in head-on collision on Andersonville Highway

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Note: This story was updated at 2 a.m. Dec. 4.

A Knoxville man died after a head-on collision on Andersonville Highway on Friday night, authorities said.

James D. Gunter, 56, was driving east on the highway, also known as State Route 61, in a 2006 Chevrolet Corvette at about 9:39 p.m. Friday when he crossed the yellow line to pass another vehicle and hit a 2006 Toyota 4Runner head-on in the westbound lane, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Gunter was killed, the THP said in a fatality report.

Gunter is suspected of drinking and drug use, according to the report. Alcohol and drug tests have been requested, which is routine in fatal crashes. [Read more…]