Oak Ridge Today

Dispose of unused medicine safely at four locations Saturday

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ASAP Logo

Anderson County residents can get rid of their unused medicine on Saturday as the county participates in National Drug Take-Back Day sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

The Oak Ridge Police Department, Clinton Police Department, Norris Police Department, Lake City Police Department, and Oliver Springs Police Department, along with ASAP, will host the event as part of a continued effort to reduce drug abuse and practice stewardship toward our environment. Medication may be dropped off with officers between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot of the Oak Ridge Police Department at 200 S. Tulane Ave. or dropped in the bin at the locations listed below. All packaging materials will be recycled.

  • Clinton Police Department—125 W. Broad St., Clinton
  • Lake City Police Department—104 Lawson St., Lake City
  • Norris Police Department—9 West Circle Road, Norris
  • Oliver Springs Police Department—701 Main St., Oliver Springs [Read more…]

Police: Man says he was a victim of random gunshot

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Oak Ridge Police Department Logo

A 21-year-old Oak Ridge man admitted to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the leg on Monday told police he was the victim of a random gun shot in the woods behind Wadsworth Place, authorities said.

The victim, who lives on Wadsworth Place, was admitted to the Emergency Department at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge on Monday night.

The incident was reported to have occurred between 8 and 8:20 p.m. Monday, Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Christopher G. Luethge said in a report.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

More than $11K in damage, stolen currencies reported at golf course

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Centennial Golf Course reported that unknown suspects caused more than $11,000 worth of property damage and stole $5,381 in various currencies from the business sometime between Sunday evening and Monday morning, authorities said.

The golf course is on Centennial Boulevard off Edgemoor Road in east Oak Ridge.

The Oak Ridge Police Department responded at 7:30 a.m. Monday, April 14, Officer Chris Bayless said in a report. The incident was reported to have occurred between 9:30 p.m. Sunday, April 13, and 7:30 a.m. Monday, April 14. [Read more…]

Man reports revolver, cell phone, cash stolen in home invasion

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An East Forest Road man reported an unknown suspect entered his home Monday evening and stole a .38 revolver, a cell phone, and more than $6,000 in cash, authorities said.

The reported home invasion occurred between 4:40 and 5:08 p.m. Monday, Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Chris Bayless said in a report.

The investigation is still ongoing to identify the suspect, Bayless said.

East Florida Road is off Florida Avenue north of Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Cash, computer, TV reported stolen during home invasion robbery

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Oak Ridge Police Department Logo

Two men who live on Devon Lane in Oak Ridge reported cash and a computer, television, video game system, and other items were stolen during a home invasion robbery early Tuesday morning.

The victims reported the robbery on Devon Lane at about 2:24 a.m. Tuesday.

The list of stolen items included $900 in cash, a gold watch valued at $500, a laptop computer valued at $300, a 35″ flatscreen television valued at $275, a cellphone valued at $200, a video game system valued at $150, drug paraphernalia, and bags that contained $50 in coins. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge man charged with Friday night robbery at Subway

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Matthew Parker

Matthew Parker

An Oak Ridge man has been charged with the Friday night robbery of a Subway restaurant.

Matthew Parker, 25, was initially arrested Monday afternoon for driving on a suspended license, and he was taken to the Oak Ridge Police Department for questioning. After being interviewed by ORPD Detective John Criswell, Parker was charged with the robbery of the Subway, a press release said.

The robbery at the Subway at 1968  Oak Ridge Turnpike on the west end of town occurred at about 8:14 p.m. Friday. A man entered the Subway and gave the clerk a note demanding money, the ORPD said. The clerk gave the man close to $300, and he left in a silver Mazda sedan with a temporary tag, the ORPD said. The vehicle was then involved in a minor collision at the intersection of Louisiana Avenue and Oak Ridge Turnpike, the press release said. The drivers of both vehicles got out, checked the damage, spoke briefly, and then left. The suspect vehicle was then seen traveling east on the Turnpike. [Read more…]

ORPD officer resigns to focus on campaign for sheriff

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Randy Myers

Randy Myers

Note: This story was updated at 3:48 p.m. April 11.

Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Randy Myers is resigning so he can focus on campaigning full-time for sheriff.

His last day on the job will officially be Tuesday, April 15.

“We’re campaigning full-steam,” Myers said Thursday. “We’re fully committed.”

Myers, 48, started with the ORPD in 2007. He is a Republican candidate for Anderson County sheriff in the May 6 primary election, where he has one opponent, Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper Anthony Lay. The primary winner will face the incumbent, Sheriff Paul White, a Democrat, in the Aug. 7 county general election.

[Read more…]

Republican forum: Issues range from jobs, retail to drug courts, trial experience

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Anderson County Republican Party Forum

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank, center, gives an opening statement during a Tuesday night candidate forum for Republican Party candidates. Also pictured are Anderson County Commissioner Zach Bates, left, who is challenging Frank in the May 6 GOP primary, and Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Randy Myers, one of two Republican candidates for sheriff.

Note: This story was last updated at 11:45 a.m.

The starkest differences between any candidates at a Tuesday night Republican Party forum might have emerged in the race for Anderson County chancellor, where candidates Michael Farley and Nicki Cantrell clashed on questions of trial experience and whether the Chancery Court should ever be used to hear criminal cases.

In the race for sheriff, Republican candidates Anthony Lay and Randy Myers agreed on one key question: No federal inmates should be housed at the Anderson County jail.

In the race for mayor, Terry Frank, the incumbent, said she had presided over one of the few—and possibly the only—tax cut in Anderson County history, while her opponent, Commissioner Zach Bates, said the county’s biggest economic challenge is “retail leakage.” [Read more…]

Teen confesses to starting Linden car fire, police say

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Linden Elementary School Car Fire

An Oak Ridge teenager has confessed to starting a car fire at Linden Elementary School on March 8, and police are investigating other fires near the school that could be linked to the vehicle arson, authorities said Monday. (Photos by Tom Scott)

Note: This story was updated at 7:35 p.m.

An Oak Ridge teenager has confessed to starting a car fire at Linden Elementary School on March 8, and police are investigating other fires near the school that could be linked to the vehicle arson, authorities said Monday.

Jovon Brooks, 18, was identified through a combination of video surveillance tapes from Linden, independent information that the suspect could be an Oak Ridge High School student, and the work of Oak Ridge Police Department school resource officers and the Criminal Investigations Division, a press release said.

ORPD school resource officers reviewed video surveillance tapes from Linden Elementary School, and they showed a young man walking toward the car with a brick in his hand, the press release said.

“The Criminal Investigations Division then developed independent information the suspect was possibly an Oak Ridge High School student, which allowed school resource officers to positively identify the suspect as Jovon Brooks, 18 years of age,” the release said. “(He) resides in the neighborhood surrounding Linden school. Detectives interviewed Mr. Brooks, who confessed to starting the fire.”

[Read more…]

Reward offered for car, brush arsons near Linden Elementary

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Linden Elementary School Brush Fire

The Oak Ridge Fire Department has battled two brush fires near Linden Elementary School in the past 30 days. This one was March 22 behind the school. (Photos by Tom Scott)

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

Oak Ridge authorities are offering a reward to anyone who has information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or people who started a car and brush fires at or near Linden Elementary School during the past month.

Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley said three fires have been extinguished at the following addresses in the past 30 days: 

  • A woods fire at 5:15 p.m. Feb. 27  on Montclair Road near Linden Elementary School.
  • A car fire at 6:20 p.m. March 8 at Linden Elementary School. A second car had been vandalized.
  • A woods fire at 4:48 p.m. March 22 behind Linden Elementary School.

“All three of these fires are under investigation through the joint efforts of the Oak Ridge Fire Department and Oak Ridge Police Department,” Kerley said in a press release. “The fires are possibly connected to the same person(s) or people, so several individuals, not yet identified, are of interest in each of these fires.” [Read more…]

More than 400 lose power after car crashes into utility pole on Lafayette

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Lafayette Drive Utility Pole Crash

A car crashed into a utility pole on Lafayette Drive early Monday afternoon, knocking out power to 441 customers.

More than 400 customers lost power early Monday afternoon after a car crashed into a utility pole on Lafayette Drive, officials said.

The driver was reportedly taken to a medical center to be examined but appeared to have escaped major injuries, officials said.

The crash, which snapped a utility pole at an intersection with Midway Lane, was reported to the Oak Ridge Electric Department at about 1:20 p.m.

The Electric Department reported that 441 customers lost power. Most were in the Woodland neighborhood along the so-called “P” streets and Quincy Avenue. [Read more…]

Animal Shelter closure extended as workers battle deadly canine virus

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Oak Ridge Animal Shelter

The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter on Belgrade Road is pictured above.

The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter will remain closed two more days as workers battle an outbreak of deadly canine distemper.

On Wednesday, the Oak Ridge Police Department announced that two cases of canine distemper had been confirmed by an Oak Ridge veterinarian’s office and said a dog adopted in January may have contracted the often-fatal virus—although it wasn’t clear when or where.

The shelter was temporarily closed this past Thursday, and it was expected to re-open on Tuesday. But on Monday, Oak Ridge Police Department Lt. Robin Smith said it will now re-open this coming Thursday, giving the shelter staff more time to clean and disinfect. He said the staff is taking precautions to make sure they have totally eradicated the disease.

Smith said 30 dogs at the shelter had to be euthanized because of the virus. The staff had to assume that all the dogs at the shelter had been exposed, Smith said. He said some shelter dogs that showed symptoms were tested, and some results came back positive. [Read more…]