Paul White Archives - Oak Ridge Today

Anderson: Barker elected sheriff; incumbents win in Oak Ridge

Posted at 9:40 pm August 2, 2018
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Russell Barker

Note: This story was last updated at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 3.

Russell Barker, a Republican, won the race for Anderson County sheriff on Thursday, beating Mark Lucas, a Democrat, in a race decided by about 2,000 votes, according to unofficial results.

Meanwhile, four incumbents were re-elected in two Anderson County Commission districts where there was a challenger in Oak Ridge.

Barker is a detective sergeant with the Clinton Police DepartmentÂ who has served as director of the Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force in Anderson County. Lucas is chief deputy of theÂ Anderson County Sheriffâ€™s Department.

Barker had 7,684 votes (57.79 percent), compared to 5,613 votes (42.21 percent) for Lucas, according to the unofficial results posted after all 27 precincts had been counted Thursday night.

Anderson County Sheriff Paul White is retiring at the end of his third four-year term, and he did not seek re-election.

In another contested race, Regina Copeland, the Republican director of the 911 center, defeated Ebony Capshaw, a Democrat, by a 69.74 percent to 30.26 percent margin (8,981 votes to 3,987). The last elected trustee, Rodney Archer, is nowÂ executive director of the County Officials Association of Tennessee, and Myron Iwanski, a former county commissioner and commission chair appointed to the trustee job through this August election, did not seek the job in the election. [Read more…]

Updated: Frank, Barker, Lynch win Republican primaries

Posted at 10:19 pm May 1, 2018
By John Huotari 10 Comments

Terry-Frank-Pain-Clinic-Zoning-Resolution

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank (Submitted photo)

Note: This story was last updated at 9 a.m. May 2.

CLINTONâ€”Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank narrowly won the Republican Party primary on Tuesday, beating Anderson County Commissioner Steve Emert by 153 votes, according to unofficial results.

Frank, a former small business operator who was first elected in August 2012, had 4,771 votes, compared to 4,618 for Emert. That was a slim margin of 50.8 percent to 49.2 percent.

Frank has served one special two-year term as mayor and one full four-year term. There was no Democratic Party candidate for mayor in the Tuesday primary, meaning Frank won’t have a challenger on the ballot in the August 2 county general election and is essentially assured of serving again.

Emert is a small business owner who has served as Anderson County Commission chair. Like a previous candidate for mayor, former Tennessee Representative Jim Hackworth, Emert had emphasized what he characterized as dysfunction, including lawsuits, in the Anderson County Courthouse under Frank. Among other pledges, he had promised to restore civility to the county government.

But that and other campaign issues weren’t enough to give Emert the win, even if it might have helped to keep the election close. Emert initially had a narrow 63-vote lead after early and absentee voting results were counted. But the lead flipped when Election Day results started coming in from across Anderson County. [Read more…]

Rally for Second Amendment, Constitution on Saturday

Posted at 3:16 pm April 20, 2018
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Anderson County residents have organized a rally to show support for the Second Amendment and the U.S. ConstitutionÂ in Clinton on Saturday.

“Aware of the threat to the Bill of Rights and the Constitution of our great nation, some very concerned citizens of Anderson County, Tennessee, have banded together to demonstrate to those who attack our liberties that they will not be successful in their attempts to destroy America,” a press release said.

“While recognizing there is no immediate threat to to our liberties in East Tennessee, we feel strongly that we must stand with those in other parts of our county who are seeing immediate threats to their right to keep and bear arms, a right that is guaranteed and protected by the Constitution of our country,” the press release said.

The rally is scheduled to start at noon Saturday, April 21, on the steps of the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton. It is meant to “show support and solidarity with freedom-loving citizens throughout the United States,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Updated: Fisherman finds body of missing man at Bull Run Park

Posted at 8:09 pm February 21, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Anderson County Rescue Squad and Anderson County Sheriff’s Department helped retrieve a body found under water in Bull Run Creek at Bull Run Park in Claxton on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 21, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was updated at 10:45 a.m. Feb. 22.

CLAXTONâ€”A fisherman found a body under about four feet of water at Bull Run Park in Claxton on Wednesday afternoon, and it has been identified as the man reported missing from Karns in Knox County on Sunday morning, authorities said.

The body of Freddy Shultz, 66, was located on the slope of the bank of Bull Run Creek at Bull Run Park at about 3:48 p.m. Wednesday, according to information from Anderson County Sheriff Paul White and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office. The body was located near the New Henderson Road bridge after four days of searching.

Divers from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department and a boat with personnel from the Anderson County Rescue Squad assisted in the recovery, said Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy.

White said identification in the man’s wallet identified him as the missing man. His black pickup truck had been foundÂ parked alongside New Henderson Road across the creek from Bull Run Park at about 12:45 p.m. Sunday. [Read more…]

Anderson County Rescue Squad to resume search for missing man

Posted at 4:08 pm February 19, 2018
By John Huotari 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)

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. DeputiesÂ found it near Bull Run Park at about 12:45 p.m. Sunday.

But rescuers arenâ€™t certain that the man is in the water, said White, who was among those on rescue boats searching the cold water on Sunday.

â€œWe donâ€™t know where heâ€™s at or if heâ€™s here,” White said. [Read more…]

Rescuers search for missing man in water at Bull Run Park

Posted at 4:59 pm February 18, 2018
By John Huotari 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)

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

CLAXTONâ€”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…]

Briceville man charged with murder in fatal shooting at Clinton Walmart

Posted at 4:25 pm May 18, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Robert Keith Myers

A Briceville man has been charged with murder and attempted murder in two separate violent incidents this year, one a fatal shooting at Walmart in Clinton in April and the other a serious alleged beating and shooting in February that left a woman with cuts, broken bones, and a brain injury, authorities said Thursday.

Robert Keith “Robbie” Myers, 32, was indicted during a special grand jury session Tuesday. He was arrested Wednesday night by the Clinton Police Department.

In the first case, Myers has been indicted on a second-degree murder charge in the death of Marshal Pinsly, 23, of Blaine, from a single gunshot wound in the parking lot of the Walmart in Clinton on Friday, April 28. Pinsly was married to the the ex-wife of Myers.

“The two are believed to have been involved in a disagreement over child visitation,” Anderson County District Attorney General Dave Clark said in a Thursday afternoon press release. “Mr. Pinsly approached Mr. Myers’ vehicle in the Walmart parking lot, and Mr. Myers is accused of shooting Mr. Pinsly without legal justification.” [Read more…]

Chief Jailer Avery Johnson named Jail Administrator of the Year

Posted at 5:04 pm April 18, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Anderson County Chief Jailer Avery Johnson, second from right, is pictured above with Sheriff Paul White, right; Chief Deputy Mark Lucas, second from left; and Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally. (Submitted photo)

Anderson County Chief Jailer Avery Johnson was recently presented the Jail Administrator of the Year award by the Tennessee Corrections Institute, or TCI.

The Tennessee Corrections Institute is the state agency that regulates local jails and workhouses. The award was presented at the annual TCI Jail Issues Conference in Franklin, Tennessee.

Also attending the award ceremony were Anderson County Sheriff Paul White, Chief Deputy Mark Lucas, Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, and Johnson’s wife Diane with other family members.

The Jail Administrator of the Year award is awarded to a worthy candidate who must be a full-time jail administrator responsible for operations within a local correctional facility, a press release said. The nominee must have demonstrated a high level of professionalism and dedication in the area of corrections within the agency and community. They must have initiated or promoted programs enhancing the operations of a correctional facility within the State of Tennessee. They must also have contributed toward the overall mission of TCI in working to develop a professional corrections environment for today and tomorrow.

Chief Jailer Avery Johnson began his career with the Anderson County Sheriff Department in February 1981. [Read more…]

Chief Deputy Lucas running for Anderson County sheriff

Posted at 6:24 pm March 14, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Mark Lucas

Anderson County Chief Deputy Mark Lucas announced Tuesday that he is running for sheriff in the 2018 election.

Anderson County Sheriff Paul White is retiring at the end of his third term, which ends in August 2018, a press release said.

The press release saidÂ Lucas is a veteran law enforcement officer with 39 years of experience. He began his career as a reserve deputyÂ with Knox County in 1978. He joined the Anderson CountyÂ Sheriffâ€™s Department a year later and worked as a dispatcher andÂ a jailer before being assigned to patrol in 1980. Lucas wasÂ promoted to patrol supervisor in 1986 and held that position untilÂ 1990. From 1990 until 1994, he worked for the Clinton PoliceÂ Department, where he also served as patrol supervisor.

In 1994, Lucas was appointed chief deputy with the Anderson County Sheriffâ€™sÂ Department, and he has held that position for more than 22 years. He has theÂ unique distinction of serving as chief deputy under three different sheriffs, the press release said.

The release said Lucas has received extensive training in many areas of law enforcement throughout hisÂ career including command-level management and supervision.

“From community policingÂ to criminal investigations, jail management, and court security, as well as communications,Â incident command, and emergency management, Mark has a vast knowledge of publicÂ safety operations,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Mayors, sheriffs also had fraudulent liens filed against them, indictment says

Posted at 5:20 pm February 17, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

More public officials, including at least two county mayors and two sheriffs, have been the victims of the allegedly fraudulent liens that led to the indictment announced by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation in Nashville on Thursday, after arrests in East Tennessee on Wednesday.

Information about the liens is containedÂ in the 302-count indictment filed in Davidson County on January 20. That indictment came after a one-year investigation by state and federal authorities into fraudulent liens filed by East Tennessee residents. The TBI said 11 people were indicted, and 10 had been arrested as of Thursday afternoon. Seven of those arrested were from Anderson County.

Among the officials that have confirmed that they they were the victims of liens alleged to be fraudulent are Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett and Roane County Executive Ron Woody, and Anderson County Sheriff Paul White and Roane County Sheriff Jack Stockton.

Oak Ridge Today has already reported on some of the police officers and law enforcement officials and agencies in Oak Ridge and Anderson County that have been named in the $137 million worth of liens filed by Lee Harold Cromwell, who was one of the 10 people arrested Wednesday.

Other victims named in the 302-count indictment that haven’t previously been identified:Â Don A. Layton, Daryl R. Fansler, Jimmy Jones, Ronald Nathan Murch, and Steve R. Queener. [Read more…]

Sheriff warns against drunk driving this holiday weekend

Posted at 12:46 pm July 2, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

By Anderson County Sheriff’s Department

Every year, Americans head out on the nationâ€™s highways to celebrate the Fourth of JulyÂ at picnics, parties, parades, and more. Unfortunately, for many, the celebrating includesÂ drinking alcohol, which too often leads to drunk driving on one of the most heavily traveledÂ holidays of the year.

To crack down on drunk driving this Independence Day weekend, Anderson County lawÂ enforcement will be out in full force, aggressively targeting those who put lives in danger.

Sheriffâ€™s deputies will be out working to make the roadways safe.

â€œDonâ€™t even think about drinking and driving this Fourth of July, or you will be arrested,â€Â said Sheriff Paul White. â€œThe â€˜Drive Sober or Get Pulled Overâ€™ campaign means zeroÂ tolerance for drunk driving…no excuses.â€ [Read more…]

McCulley, supervisor of court deputies, dies of cancer

Posted at 12:16 pm June 6, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Corporal John McCulley, who wasÂ supervisor of court deputies, died Friday after a courageous battle with cancer, Sheriff Paul White said Monday. McCulley was 51.

McCulley began his law enforcement career with the Sheriffâ€™s DepartmentÂ in April 1991. He served first as a corrections deputy and worked in court security the last several years, White said. He was promoted to corporal in November 2011 and was supervisor of theÂ court deputies.

“John was a big man with a big smile and a big heart,” White said. “He always had a smile for everyone.”

Known as â€œJoeâ€ to his family and â€œBig Johnâ€ to his law enforcement friends, John is preceded in death by his father, Johnny McCulley; his late wife, Mary McCulley; andÂ brother, Lynn McCulley. [Read more…]