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Gust of wind blew airplane into trees, and he crashed, pilot says

Posted at 12:22 pm April 17, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oliver Springs Plane Crash April 15 2017

The pilot of a small experimental or ultralight aircraft was reported to be okay after a crash in a field in Anderson County near Valley Drive in Oliver Springs on Saturday afternoon, April 15, 2017, authorities said. (Photo by Oliver Springs Fire Department)

 

OLIVER SPRINGS—The pilot of a small airplane that crashed near Oliver Springs on Saturday told authorities that a gust of wind blew the plane into trees while he was approaching his grass landing strip, and he crashed.

The crash of the ultralight aircraft was reported at about 3:30 p.m. Saturday in a field off Valley Drive in Oliver Springs, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said.

The pilot, Timothy Stringer, 40, had attempted to land at his private grass landing strip at his home on Ray Lane. The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department located him at his home. He had some visible lacerations but refused any medical treatment, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Adam Warren said in an incident report. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Oliver Springs, Police and Fire, Police and Fire, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Adam Warren, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Federal Aviation Administration, Mark Lucas, National Transportation Safety Board, Oliver Springs, plane crash, Ray Lane, Timothy Stringer, Valley Drive

Pilot reported to be okay when small aircraft crashes near Oliver Springs

Posted at 7:56 pm April 15, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oliver Springs Plane Crash April 15 2017

The pilot of a small experimental or ultralight aircraft was reported to be okay after a crash in Anderson County near Oliver Springs on Saturday afternoon, April 15, 2017, authorities said. (Photo by Oliver Springs Fire Department)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:15 p.m. April 16.

MARLOW—The pilot of a small experimental or ultralight aircraft was reported to be okay after a crash in Anderson County near Oliver Springs on Saturday afternoon, authorities said.

The pilot was reported to have walked away from the crash and declined medical treatment.

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said federal officials have been notified of the crash of the registered aircraft. The cause of the crash isn’t clear. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Oliver Springs, Police and Fire, Police and Fire, Slider Tagged With: aircraft crash, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, crash, Mark Lucas, Oliver Springs

Shutting door during bedroom fire likely saved rest of house, firefighter says

Posted at 5:27 pm March 23, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A fire was reported at 612 Johnson Road on the southwest side of Oliver Springs on Thursday morning, March 23, 2017. (Photo by Tom Scott)

A fire was reported at 612 Johnson Road on the southwest side of Oliver Springs on Thursday morning, March 23, 2017. (Photo by Tom Scott)

 

A woman who shut a bedroom door after finding an electrical outlet on fire in a bedroom Thursday morning likely prevented further damage to her house, a firefighter said.

“This woman saved her own house,” said Toby Leinart, Oliver Springs Fire Department lieutenant. Leinart was the incident commander at the fire at the home at 612 Johnson Road on the southwest side of Oliver Springs at about 6:16 a.m. Thursday.

The female resident apparently closed the bedroom door out of instinct, putting the door between herself and danger, Leinart said. Firefighters say a closed door is one of the best pieces of firefighting and lifesaving equipment because it can reduce fire growth and spread, limit damage to a home, and possibly save lives.

“I believe that’s what saved her house today and reduced her damage down to one bedroom,” Leinart said. “I would just about guarantee that’s what saved the rest of her house.”

It’s advice that’s been shared by the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office in a “Close the Door” campaign. Even if you escape from your house during a fire, shut the door when you leave if you can, firefighters say. That will help limit oxygen to the fire. (Firefighters also recommend sleeping with bedroom doors closed if possible, and keeping fire doors closed.) [Read more…]

Filed Under: Blair, Briceville, Front Page News, Marlow, Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: fire, Johnson Road, Oliver Springs, Oliver Springs Fire Department, Toby Leinart, Tom Scott

Community sets up memorial fund to build statue to honor former coach

Posted at 10:46 pm March 22, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Garry Kreis

Garry Kreis

 

By J. Brad Jones

COALFIELD—The people of Coalfield and Oliver Springs have put aside their sports rivalry to come together to honor one of their own.

Garry Kreis, also known as “High Pockets,” played his high school football in Oliver Springs and at the University of Tennessee before becoming a teacher at Norwood Middle School in Anderson County.

In 1979, he became the assistant football coach at Coalfield High School, as well as the head basketball coach and teacher. For the next 28 years, Coach Garry Kreis was Coalfield football. Garry was assistant coach until 1987, when he became the head coach. He continued that role through 2007.

Recently, Garry Kreis was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and was doing very well with that until he received the bad news that the cancer had spread to his brain. Coach Kreis was placed in hospice care on March 14, 2017, where he remains now. However, Garry’s health has been deteriorating rapidly.

The community has begun several projects to honor the memory of Coach Garry Kreis for his continued dedication and support of the Coalfield community. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Education, Front Page News, High School, K-12, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: 101 West Norris, Brad Jones, Coach Garry Kreis Memorial Fund, Coach Garry Kreis Memorial Highway, Coalfield, Coalfield football, Coalfield High School, Garry Kreis, high school football, Oliver Springs, Prayers for Coach Kreis

Council to consider supporting OS request to have state widen SR 61

Posted at 12:43 am March 8, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday will consider supporting an Oliver Springs request to ask the state to widen nine miles of State Route 61 between Oliver Springs and Harriman, where 114 crashes—some of them fatal—were reported between February 2013 and December 2016.

In a January 24 email, Oliver Springs Mayor Cecil E. Crowe told several city and county mayors that Oliver Springs has asked that State Route 61, which is two lanes, be widened to four.

“This highway project has been discussed for a number of years, but it has lacked the support necessary to get it approved,” Crowe told Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch, Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank, and Roane County Executive Ron Woody. “We need your support to increase the priority of this highway project to reduce accidents, injuries, and fatalities.”

The improvement could boost both the economies in Oak Ridge and Oliver Springs, as well as in Harriman and Anderson, Morgan, and Roane counties, according to Crowe and the Oliver Springs resolution. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Cecil E. Crowe, Harriman, Oak Ridge City Council, Oliver Springs, Ron Woody, SR 61, State Route 61, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Terry Frank, Warren Gooch

Short section of Highway 62 closed north of Oliver Springs

Posted at 4:07 pm March 1, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A short section of Highway 62, also known as Knoxville Highway, is closed north of Oliver Springs, authorities said Wednesday afternoon.

Both lanes are closed for about one-quarter mile between Big Mountain Road and Lookout Avenue, the Oliver Springs Police Department said.

The road was closed at about 2 p.m., and it could be closed a few more hours, the Oliver Springs Police Department said at 4 p.m. Wednesday. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Morgan County, Oliver Springs, Police and Fire, Weather Tagged With: Coalfield, Highway 62, Knoxville Highway, Oliver Springs, Oliver Springs Police Department, Wartburg

Oliver Springs receives sewer grant, loan

Posted at 11:56 am February 7, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

Oliver Springs got a big assist last week on several, much-needed sewer system repairs in the form of a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant of $2.99 million and loan of $4.47 million.

The money will help the town to meet the system requirements of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and operate its water and sewer systems properly.

The new money will go toward improvements in the sewer system.

A press release from Rural Development said the corrections will improve the water quality of Poplar Creek and eliminate the numerous overflows that occur in the drainage area of the creek when heavy rainfall takes place. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Front Page News, Government, Oliver Springs Tagged With: Joe Woody, Oliver Springs, Poplar Creek, Rural Development grant, sewer system, sewer system repairs, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Development Area

Oliver Springs fire rating improves

Posted at 1:14 am January 5, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

tennessee-fire-classifications

The Oliver Springs Fire Department announced last year that effective October 1, 2016, the department was to be an ISO class 4/4y department. That was an improvement from its previous rating of 6/9.

“This could mean a possible savings on your homeowners insurance if you live within the Town of Oliver Springs,” the Fire Department said. “This is also dependent upon your individual insurance carrier.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oliver Springs, Police and Fire Tagged With: fire rating, Oliver Springs, Oliver Springs Fire Department, Oliver Springs fire rating

One killed, two injured in head-on crash near Oliver Springs

Posted at 9:49 am December 16, 2016
By John Huotari 1 Comment

OLIVER SPRINGS—One person was killed and two were injured in a head-on crash on State Route 62 near Oliver Springs on Thursday evening, authorities said.

The two-vehicle crash was reported at about 7:34 p.m. Thursday at Big Mountain Hollow Road, a short distance north of Oliver Springs in Morgan County.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol said Timothy J. Young, 35, of Oliver Springs, was driving a 2003 Ford vehicle west, toward Coalfield and Wartburg, when he tried to pass another westbound vehicle and collided head-on with a 2000 Nissan driven east by Goman E. Harness, 50, of Oliver Springs. Young was killed, and Harness and his passenger, Frances M. Richardson, 47, of Coalfield, were injured, according to a THP fatal crash report. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs, Police and Fire, Tennessee, Top Stories Tagged With: Big Mountain Hollow Road, crash, Frances M. Richardson, Gary Snow, Goman E. Harness, Oliver Springs, State Route 62, Tennessee Highway Patrol, THP, Timothy J. Young

Letter: Please contribute to help firefighters, first responders

Posted at 2:17 pm December 4, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Letters Leave a Comment

To the Editor:

We’ve all been praying for rain, perhaps several times a day. This drought has been affecting our area for over four months now.

Because it’s been so dry, there’s been a ban on fires. You’ve heard the reports: No open fires. No fire pits or campfires. No grilling whether charcoal or gas. No throwing down a cigarette butt. No burning of brush or rubbish.

If you were going to ask, the answer would be a simple “NO!”

As a result, someone has, or did because they figured it was OK. Whether it was intentional or not. It happened. Fires popped up here and there. On the mountain side, at the campground, someone’s backyard, or even a spark from an engine. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Letters, Opinion, Police and Fire Tagged With: Anderson County Commission, Anderson County Fire Chief Association, Anderson County Fire Commission, Anderson County Rescue Squad, Andersonville, Briceville, Claxton, Clinton, drought, fire, firefighters, Marlow, Marlow Volunteer Fire Department, Medford, Norris, Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs, rain, Rocky Top, Stephanie Fox

More information on local firefighters, law enforcement responding to Gatlinburg fires

Posted at 4:27 pm November 29, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

clinton-fire-department-in-gatlinburg-2-nov-29-2016

The Clinton Fire Department is pictured above responding to the fires in Sevier County on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016. (Photo by Clinton Fire Department)

 

We have more information on local firefighters and law enforcement that have either responded to help fight the fires in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park—or remain in standby in case they are needed.

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas and other officials said Andersonville, Claxton, Clinton, Marlow, Oak Ridge, and Oliver Springs fire departments all sent resources to the fire.

Anderson County EMS sent its mass casualty response vehicle on Monday night, and they sent three ambulances Tuesday morning, Lucas said.

Lucas said he talked to Sevier County Sheriff Ron Seals on Monday night, and Anderson County deputies are on stand-by in case Sevier County needs additional law enforcement personnel. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Andersonville, Claxton, Clinton, Front Page News, Marlow, Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs, Police and Fire, Roane County, Tennessee, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County EMS, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Andersonville, Bill Haslam, Claxton, Clinton, emergency management, fire, Gatlinburg, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Mark Lucas, Marlow, Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs, Pigeon Forge, Ron Seals, Steve Payne, Terry Frank, wildfire

Windrock opens mountain bike park in Oliver Springs

Posted at 10:27 am November 15, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

Windrock Park is opening a new uplift assisted mountain bike park in Oliver Springs. The bike park features nine trails, including a new flow trail and improved intermediate terrain.

“The terrain at Windrock Park is amazing, and anyone who has ridden the mountain bike trails can see that the potential has always been huge,” said Neko Mulally, professional mountain bike rider who, along with fellow professional biker Sean Leader, designed and built the park. “When the opportunity came up to develop the trails into something bigger, I had to jump on it.”

The bike park is laid out on 550 acres nestled in the Cumberland Mountains on the Windrock Park’s property, which is a total of 72,000 acres. The park includes five trails ranging from one mile to 1.5 miles long, each dropping 1,100 vertical feet taking an average of five to 10 minutes to complete. There are connector trails to give riders the option to combine trails. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Recreation, Sports Tagged With: bike park, Cumberland Mountains, mountain bike park, Neko Mulally, Oliver Springs, Sean Leader, Windrock Park

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Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

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...]

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