Oak Ridge Today

More than 4,000 acres burned in Anderson County, state records say

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More than 4,000 acres have burned this month in four fires in rugged, forested parts of north Anderson County, state officials said Thursday. Smoke hangs high in the air above the mountains north of Oliver Springs on Thursday evening, Nov. 10, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 3:20 p.m. Nov. 12.

NEW RIVER—More than 4,000 acres have burned this month in five fires in mountainous north Anderson County, state officials said.

In Anderson County, 4,235 acres had been burned by the five fires as of Saturday afternoon, according to an update posted by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry. That was the most acres burned by fires that were still active in Tennessee on Saturday.

Arson is listed as the cause of four of the Anderson County fires, according to the update. Debris is the cause of another.

Smoke from at least two fires hung high above the mountains north of Oak Ridge and Oliver Springs on Thursday evening. It reduced visibility to a few hundred feet on the northernmost section of Highway 116 in rural Anderson County on Friday morning. Smoke was thick near a bridge at a 90-degree bend in the highway at the Campbell County line in northern Anderson County, irritating throats and making it harder to breathe. Firefighters said there was a nearby fire that they called Bootjack, up Stoney Fork Road, which goes north into Campbell County. [Read more…]

Diggs family home in Oliver Springs receives 2016 East Tennessee Preservation Award

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The Diggs family home in Oliver Springs is one of 10 recipients of the 2016 East Tennessee Preservation Awards given out by East Tennessee Preservation Alliance, which covers 16 counties in middle East Tennessee. (Photo by East Tennessee Preservation Alliance)

 

The Diggs family home in Oliver Springs is one of 10 recipients of the 2016 East Tennessee Preservation Awards given out by East Tennessee Preservation Alliance, which covers 16 counties in middle East Tennessee.

The awards will be presented during a special reception at historic Arrow Hill in Talbott near Morristown, a press release said. The 10 award winners will be celebrated for their contributions to historic preservation.

“East Tennessee is a beautiful region that is rich with history and interesting places,” the press release said. “Each year, the East Tennessee Preservation Alliance recognizes outstanding persons, projects, and organizations working to preserve our heritage for future generations.

The release said the Diggs family home in Oliver Springs has seen some changes. Built in 1905 by Alfred H. and Scotland Diggs, the house had to be moved away from the path of a new four-lane highway. It remains in the family, and Bettina Diggs Cox recently embarked on a full renovation. The once missing porch was rebuilt, and rooms throughout have been beautifully renovated, the release said. A unique feature of the home are the four fireplace mantels salvaged from the once popular Oliver Springs Hotel. [Read more…]

Get rid of expired, unused medicines on Saturday

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You can get rid of unused, unwanted, or expired prescription or non-prescription medicines on Saturday. It’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.

You can drop off the medications at locations in Clinton, Norris, Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs, and Rocky Top.

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications, a press release said.

Oak Ridge and Anderson County participate by encouraging residents across the city and county to properly dispose of their unused, unwanted, or expired prescription or non-prescription medicines, the press release said. Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) of Anderson County has partnered with the Oak Ridge Police Department and other law enforcement agencies throughout the county to give two convenient options to residents for proper medicine disposal. [Read more…]

Bailey appointed Oliver Springs fire chief

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Justin Bailey

Justin Bailey (Photo via Oliver Springs Fire Department on Facebook)

 

Justin Bailey, who had been assistant fire chief in Oliver Springs, has been appointed chief.

The Town of Oliver Springs Board of Mayor and Council appointed Bailey to the position on Thursday, according to an Oliver Springs Fire Department post on Facebook. Bailey takes over the department after the retirement and recent death of former Fire Chief Terry Phillips.

Bailey has been a member of the Oliver Springs Fire Department since 2001. He has held several ranks with the department including training officer and assistant fire chief.

Bailey was a member of the Oliver Springs Explorer Post two years before he was hired onto the fire department in 2001, the OSFD said. [Read more…]

Oliver Springs receives $100,000 ballfield grant; Norris Dam park, Farragut also receive funding

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Oliver Springs has received a $100,000 state grant for development of the Carmichael Ballfield, officials said Monday. It’s a Local Parks and Recreation grant.

Farragut received a $500,000 Parks and Recreation grant for renovation of an athletic field, restroom, and construction of parking.

And Norris Dam State Park received an $84,000 Recreational Trails Program grant. It will be used to buy trail cutting equipment for building and maintaining hiking and biking trails, and trail-dedicated hand tools; develop three new trails that will link existing trails to increase trail capacity and link users to the campgrounds; and repair existing trails and train new volunteers.

The grants were announced by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau on Monday. They are worth more than $17 million total, and they will help fund parks and recreation projects in Tennessee communities, a press release said. [Read more…]

Two injured, one picked up by medical helicopter after head-on crash on Mahoney Road

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Two-Car Crash on Mahoney Road July 21 2016 Slider

Two people were injured and one was picked up by a medical helicopter after a head-on two-vehicle crash on Mahoney Road in Oliver Springs on Thursday, July 21, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 12:30 a.m.

OLIVER SPRINGS—Two drivers were injured and one was picked up by a medical helicopter after a head-on two-vehicle crash on Mahoney Road in Oliver Springs on Thursday afternoon, authorities said.

The crash was reported at about 12:30 p.m. Thursday near New Mountain View Baptist Church. Charges are pending against one of the drivers, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

The THP said a 1997 Cadillac STS driven by Blake Brakins, 33, of Oak Ridge, was traveling south on Mahoney Road when it crossed over the center line and crashed head-on into a 2016 Ford Fusion traveling north on Mahoney Road and driven by Isabel Cates, 80, of Oliver Springs.

Brakins and Cates were both injured, the THP said. Cates was wearing a seat belt, while Brakins was not, authorities said. [Read more…]

Three charged after robbery reported at Family Dollar in Oliver Springs

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Steven Scruggs

Steven Scruggs

Note: This story was last updated at 7:40 p.m.

Three people have been charged after a robbery was reported at Family Dollar in Oliver Springs on Wednesday night, authorities said.

The robbery was reported at about 10:04 p.m. Wednesday at the store, which is at 51 Edmonds Drive in Oliver Springs.

When they arrived, Sergeant Kevin Armes and Patrolman Nathaniel Nelson of the Oliver Springs Police Department were told that, after closing and while the cashiers were doing the money count, a masked man came from the back of the store and ordered both employees to the floor and demanded all the money and cell phones, a press release said. After receiving all the cash from the register and safe, he reportedly left the store through the back, the release said. [Read more…]

NAACP meeting in Oliver Springs on Tuesday

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The next Oak Ridge/Anderson County NAACP meeting will be at the administration building in Oliver Springs at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 26.

“We encourage Oliver Springs residents to attend to share concerns and provide opportunities,” a press release said.

The agenda for the NAACP will remain the same for the next three month: Secretaries Report, Financial Report, Presidents report (feedback from the National Convention and July bi-monthly meeting), Civic Engagement/Political Action, Education Committee, Membership Committee, and timeline for October/November local election. [Read more…]

Oliver Springs budget approved

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Information from WYSH Radio

The Oliver Springs budget for the fiscal year that began on July 1 has been approved.

The budget includes no property tax rate increase, but officials said that could change next year as the town continues to address needed upgrades to its sewer system and the continuing increase in the cost of employee healthcare. [Read more…]

Oliver Springs fire chief dies after battling longtime illness

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Terry Phillips

Oliver Springs Fire Chief Terry Phillips is pictured above. (Photos courtesy Oliver Springs Fire Department)

 

Oliver Springs Fire Chief Terry Lee Phillips died Sunday, July 3, at the University of Tennessee Medical Center after battling a longtime illness. He was 60.

Phillips joined the Oliver Springs Fire Department in 1974, and he became the fire chief in 1994, after his father retired from the same position. He started working for the U.S. Department of Energy in 1976.

He retired from the fire department on Thursday, June 30.

“Please remember Chief Phillips’ family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time,” the Oliver Springs Fire Department said on its Facebook page. “The department would also like to thank everyone for your thoughts, kind words, and prayers during this difficult time.”

The family will receive friends Tuesday, July 5, between 5 and 7 p.m. at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church.

The funeral service will be held Wednesday, July 6, at 1 p.m. in the chapel of Premier Sharp Funeral Home, with Pastor Garvan Walls officiating. Burial will follow the funeral service at Mount Pisgah Cemetery. [Read more…]

BBB-TV: Changes coming to Oliver Springs Town Hall

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Information from WYSH Radio

It looks like sweeping changes will be coming to the Oliver Springs city government. As our partners at BBB-TV have previously reported, City Manager Becky Campbell is stepping down, and her last day on the job will be today (June 30).

Earlier this week, Billing and Accounts Director Susan Tyler also announced that she will be retiring, effective today as well. Longtime Fire Chief Terry Phillips has also announced his retirement, which also goes into effect today. [Read more…]

BBB-TV: Campbell stepping down as OS city manager

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Information from WYSH Radio

Our partners at BBB-TV have learned that Oliver Springs City Manager Becky Campbell will be stepping down at the end of the month.

Campbell has served as the Oliver Springs city manager since November 2014 after succeeding Tina Treece.

Campbell is wrapping up 18 years with the town. Much of her tenure was spent as an administrative assistant. [Read more…]