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Secretary’s Honor Awards recognize ORNL employees

Posted at 4:55 pm January 31, 2022
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm speaks at the Secretary’s Honor Awards Ceremony, which was presented virtually. (Photo credit: Jaimee Janiga/ORNL, U.S. Department of Energy)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory employees received Department of Energy Secretary’s Honor Awards from Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm in January for their work on projects related to computer tools and classified information, a new alloy, and the production of plutonium-238 and special components for the Mars Perseverance rover.

The annual awards recognized 21 teams and three individuals for service and contributions to DOE’s mission and to the benefit of the nation, a press release said. More than 50 current employees and recent retirees from ORNL received awards.

“The Department of Energy’s core mission—promoting scientific discovery, maintaining the nuclear deterrent, and remediating environmental harms—have never been more important,” Granholm said. “Our role in tackling the climate emergency and ensuring America’s continued security and prosperity is absolutely critical, and it could not be done without the dedicated and diverse team of world-class scientists, engineers, policy experts, and mission support personnel employed at our headquarters, fields sites, and laboratories across the country.”

The teams and ORNL employees named in achievement awards include:

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Science, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: ACTICI, Advanced Computer Tools to Identify Classified Information Program, Allison Neal, Alloy 617 American Society of Mechanical Engineers Code Qualification, Ben Roach, Bob Morris, Bob Wham, Bryson Hutchison, Chelsey Dunivan Stahl, Chris Jensen, Christopher Stahl, Dean Pierce, DOE, Doug Kyle, Dustin Reinert, Easo George, Eric Vidal, George Ulrich, Glenn Romanoski, Govindarajan Muralidharan, Idaho National Laboratory, Jeff Pryor, Jennifer Granholm, Jessica Osborn, Jim Miller, Joshua Greene, Kevin Hanson, Kevin Redden, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Mars, Michael McAlister, Mike Medley, Nick Sullivan, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, Perseverance Rover, plutonium-238, Porter Bailey, Radioisotope Power Systems, Ray Vedder, Rex Veach, Roger Miller, Secretary's Honor Awards, Steven Young, Tom Lecomte, Tom Muth, U.S. Department of Energy, Yanli Wang

Roger Miller will seek re-election as general sessions judge

Posted at 6:40 pm May 4, 2021
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Roger Miller

Judge Roger A. Miller will seek re-election to a second eight-year term as General Sessions Court Judge, Division II, in Oak Ridge.

Miller was elected to be one of the two general sessions judges in Anderson County in 2014 after practicing law for 16 years in Clinton, a press release said.

A lifetime resident of Anderson County, Miller graduated from Clinton High School in 1980. Prior to practicing law, he served as an EMS paramedic for 13 years with the Anderson County Ambulance Service and Methodist Medical Center. Miller was the first full-time paramedic employed in the Methodist Medical Center Emergency Room in the mid-1990s, the press release said.

Miller obtained an associate degree in applied science from Roane State Community College before obtaining a bachelor’s degree in the social sciences. He obtained his law degree from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law in 1998, the press release said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: 2022 Election, Anderson County, Courts, Front Page News, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, election, General Sessions Court, Roger Miller

Evaluation ordered for Finnegan at Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute

Posted at 4:44 pm September 15, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Sean Finnegan, one of two defendants in a series of gruesome alleged crimes in Oak Ridge some time between December 2019 and August 2020, including murder, sex crimes, and kidnapping, is pictured above in a mugshot from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office.

A forensic evaluation has been ordered for Sean Finnegan—one of two defendants in a murder, sex crimes, and kidnapping case in Oak Ridge—at Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute.

The forensic evaluation was ordered last Tuesday by Anderson County General Sessions Court Judge Roger Miller. The order was based upon a petition by the defense and a recommendation from Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services. Finnegan, 52, had an evaluation scheduled at Ridgeview in Oak Ridge on August 31.

Under the new order, he is to be evaluated at the Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute—Intensive Services Program for a maximum of 30 days regarding his competency to stand trial and his mental condition at the time of the alleged crimes (the insanity defense).

IQ testing is to be included in the evaluation, the order said. The mental health evaluation is also expected to include a finding about whether Finnegan meets specific criteria for being committed.

It’s not unusual for defendants in homicide cases to have a mental health evaluation of this type. The results are generally not available to the public.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Courts, Courts, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Slider Tagged With: abuse of a corpse, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated rape, aggravated sexual battery, Anderson County General Sessions Court, first-degree murder, forensic evaluation, Jennifer Gail Paxton, kidnapping, Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute, murder, Oak Ridge Police Department, Rebecca Dishman, Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services, Roger Miller, Sean Finnegan, tampering with evidence

Attempted murder charge sent to grand jury

Posted at 10:00 pm September 2, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Miccarrow D. Trice Jr.

An attempted murder charge filed against an Oak Ridge man was sent to the grand jury on Tuesday after a woman was allegedly shot in the face at an apartment complex in May.

There was a preliminary hearing for Miccarrow D. Trice Jr., 25, in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge on Tuesday.

After the hearing, Anderson County General Sessions Court Judge Roger Miller bound over an attempted first-degree murder charge against Trice. That means the Anderson County Grand Jury in Clinton could now consider whether to file charges against Trice. There is no timeline for when the grand jury might hear the case, but the process can take six months or so. A grand jury indictment moves the case from general sessions court to criminal court.

The shooting was reported at Manhattan Apartments on North Purdue Avenue at about 9:45 p.m. Wednesday, May 20.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Courts, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County General Sessions Court, Anderson County grand jury, attempted first-degree murder, attempted murder, Kevin Craig, Manhattan Apartments, Miccarrow D. Trice Jr., Oak Ridge Police Department, Roger Miller

Evaluation ordered for Finnegan, charged with murder, rape, kidnapping

Posted at 11:06 am August 22, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Sean Finnegan, one of two defendants in a series of gruesome alleged crimes in Oak Ridge between December 2019 and August 2020, including murder, sex crimes, and kidnapping, is pictured above in a mugshot from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office.

An evaluation at Ridgeview Psychiatric Hospital has been ordered for a 52-year-old man charged with murder, rape, kidnapping, and abuse of a corpse in a series of gruesome crimes allegedly committed against a 36-year-old woman in a home in east Oak Ridge between December 2019 and August 2020.

The evaluation was ordered for Sean Finnegan in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge on Friday. The evaluation was recommended by Finnegan’s attorney, who was able to show why it should be conducted, Anderson County General Sessions Court Judge Roger Miller said in the order.

Finnegan is represented by Kathy Kroeger, a public defender in the Seventh Judicial District in Anderson County.

The evaluation by Ridgeview is expected to include Finnegan’s competency to stand trial and his mental capacity at the time he allegedly committed the crimes against Jennifer Gail Paxton of Knoxville. It is also expected to include an IQ test and an evaluation of Finnegan’s ability to assess his conduct.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Courts, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: abuse of a corpse, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated rape, aggravated sexual battery, Anderson County General Sessions Court, first-degree murder, Jennifer Gail Paxton, Kathy Kroeger, Marvell Moore, Oak Ridge Police Department, psychiatric evaluation, Rebecca Dishman, Ridgeview Psychiatric Hospital, Roger Miller, Sean Finnegan, Seventh Judicial District, tampering with evidence

Judge denies motion to reduce bond for Dishman, who could face death penalty

Posted at 3:03 pm August 18, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Rebecca Dishman, one of two defendants in a series of gruesome alleged crimes, including murder, sex crimes, and kidnapping, is pictured above in a mugshot from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office.

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

An Anderson County judge on Tuesday denied a motion to reduce the $1 million bond for Rebecca Dishman, and a prosecutor said the state could consider the death penalty in the “especially heinous” murder.

Dishman, 22, is one of two defendants charged with murder, sex crimes, kidnapping, and abuse of a corpse in a series of gruesome crimes allegedly committed against Jennifer Gail Paxton, 36, of Knoxville, in a home in east Oak Ridge sometime between December and August.

Dishman had a hearing in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge on Tuesday afternoon. She was represented by defense attorney Paul Sexton.

Sexton said Dishman waived her right to be in court, and she did not appear to hear the discussion of her case. On Dishman’s behalf, Sexton asked Anderson County General Sessions Court Judge Roger Miller to reduce her bond.

“She’s a woman of limited means,” Sexton said, and there is no way she can afford to be released on bond.

Under the law, Dishman is entitled to a reasonable bond, Sexton said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Courts, Courts, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: abuse of a corpse, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated rape, Anderson County General Sessions Court, Brian Gilliam, Dave Clark, death penalty, first-degree murder, Jennifer Gail Paxton, Marvell Moore, murder, Oak Ridge Police Department, Rebecca Dishman, Roger Miller, Sean Finnegan

Meth, conspiracy charges dismissed after warrantless search

Posted at 12:39 pm January 2, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

William Michael Renfro
William Michael Renfro

Citing a warrantless search, an Anderson County judge has dismissed drug and conspiracy charges in a case where police allegedly found 45.1 grams of methamphetamine in a backpack in an Oak Ridge motel room in May.

“I hate to dismiss serious charges,” said Roger Miller, judge of the Anderson County General Sessions Court, Division II, in Oak Ridge. But, he added, “I don’t think the proof would hold up.”

Suggesting that a search warrant should have been obtained, Miller said he is accessible and signs many search warrants.

The two people charged in the case had been William Michael Renfro, 18, of Oak Ridge, and Carlie Alise Wisman, 22, also of Oak Ridge.

Renfro had been charged with manufacturing, selling, delivering, or possessing a schedule II controlled substance (the 45.1 grams of meth), a Class A felony; criminal conspiracy, a Class B felony; manufacturing, selling, delivering, or possessing a schedule IV controlled substance (9.5 grams of marijuana), a Class D felony; and possession of a firearm (a Ruger Security Six .357 revolver with six rounds) during the commission of or attempt to commit a dangerous felony, a Class D felony.

All four of those charges were dismissed after a preliminary hearing for Renfro in Anderson County General Sessions Court on Thursday, December 12. During a preliminary hearing, a judge can hear from witnesses, victims, and police officers, and determine whether there is probable cause to send the charges to the Anderson County Grand Jury.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Courts, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Adam Fairbanks, Anderson County General Sessions Court, Carlie Alise Wisman, criminal conspiracy, Kevin Angel, manufacturing selling delivering or possessing a Schedule II controlled substance, manufacturing selling delivering or possessing a Schedule IV controlled substance, methamphetamine, Oak Ridge Police Department, possession of a firearm, preliminary hearing, Roger Miller, search warrant, warrantless search, William Michael Renfro

Courts: Attempted murder charges sent to grand jury after apartment shooting

Posted at 10:59 pm August 8, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Kali Annabelle Bailey

Kali Annabelle Bailey

Kali Annabelle Bailey

Two attempted first-degree murder charges filed against a 20-year-old woman after a shooting in an Oak Ridge apartment parking lot in May have been sent to the Anderson County Grand Jury.

The charges against Kali Annabelle Bailey, whose last known address was in Powell, were bound over, or sent to, the grand jury, after a 100-minute preliminary hearing in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge on Tuesday, July 31. A victim and a police officer both testified during the preliminary hearing.

Bailey is accused of shooting into a Kia Optima car that had two people inside and was backed into a parking space in the Manhattan Apartments on North Purdue Avenue at about 11:03 p.m. May 6 as part of a possible dispute between two women over a man, which was described in court as jealousy or a “love triangle.”

The rest of this story, which includes testimony that you will read about only on Oak Ridge Today, is available if you are a member: a subscriber, advertiser, or recent contributor. 

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Filed Under: Anderson County, Courts, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: aggravated assault, Anderson County General Sessions Court, Anderson County grand jury, attempted first-degree murder, attempted tampering with evidence, Bailee D. Bolden, Becky A. Bell, Brian Gilliam, Christopher Wallace, criminal conspiracy to tamper with evidence, Kali Annabelle Bailey, Kevin Angel, Manhattan Apartments, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Police Department, preliminary hearing, reckless endangerment, Roger Miller, Seth M. Davis, Seventh Judicial District, shooting, solicitation of tampering with evidence

Hearing set for Tuesday in attempted murder case

Posted at 4:11 pm May 16, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Kali Annabelle Bailey

Kali Annabelle Bailey

 

A hearing date has been set for Tuesday for a woman charged with attempted murder after she allegedly shot into an occupied vehicle in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Oak Ridge on Sunday, May 6.

The hearing for Kali Annabelle Bailey, 20, of Powell, has been scheduled for 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, in Anderson County General Sessions Court, Division II, in Oak Ridge. The hearing date was scheduled on the assumption that Bailey is not able to be released on a $250,000 bond.

But it’s not clear if the date might change if Bailey is able to be released on bail, or if any of the subpoenas that might be issued in the case are not served between now and Tuesday. Two subpoenas were issued to victims in court on Tuesday this week, according to Anderson County court records. There is one more subpoena that has been issued, but not served, and that’s to an Oak Ridge Police Department officer, the court records said.

Bailey had allegedly threatened to shoot one of the two people in the vehicle, a female passenger, several months before she allegedly shot into it on May 6, authorities said. Bailey had reportedly tried to argue with the female victim, Bailee D. Bolden of Oak Ridge, about her relationship with the male victim, Seth M. Davis of Oak Ridge, authorities said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Courts, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: aggravated assault, Anderson County General Sessions Court, attempted first-degree murder, attempted murder, Bailee D. Bolden, Christopher W. Wallace, Kali Annabelle Bailey, Kevin Angel, Oak Ridge Police Department, reckless endangerment, Roger Miller, Seth M. Davis

Mental health evaluation ordered for man charged with terrorism

Posted at 10:15 am April 7, 2018
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Agey Christopher Stamey

Agey Christopher Stamey

 

A mental health evaluation has been ordered for a man who was charged with terrorism in January after allegedly threatening to blow up Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge with dynamite and shoot everyone inside with a shotgun.

The first evaluation for Agey C. Stamey II, 40, of Knoxville,was ordered at Ridgeview Psychiatric Hospital by Anderson County General Sessions Court Judge Roger Miller on January 25. The appointment had been scheduled for February 21, according to court records.

A second order, filed March 6, said Ridgeview had recommended that Stamey be referred to the Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute in Chattanooga for an evaluation. A transport order filed Thursday said Stamey has an appointment scheduled for April 19.

The evaluation is expected to determine Stamey’s competency to stand trial and mental condition at the time of the crime (the insanity defense). [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Agey C. Stamey II, Anderson County General Sessions Cout, assault, commission of an act of terrorism, mental health evaluation, Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute, Ridgeview Psychiatric Hospital, Roger Miller, terrorism

Kidnapping, assault charges sent to grand jury in Hibachi Burger robbery

Posted at 4:11 pm December 10, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Dominique Leshawn Gordon

Dominique Leshawn Gordon

 

Sixteen assault and kidnapping charges in a robbery reported at gunpoint at Hibachi Burger in Oak Ridge in January were sent to a grand jury on Tuesday.

An aggravated robbery charge was dismissed due to a technical issue with a warrant, but that charge is expected to also be considered by the Anderson County Grand Jury. An indictment by the grand jury would move the case from Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge, where it has been, to Anderson County Criminal Court in Clinton.

The armed robbery was reported at about 6:10 p.m. Tuesday, January 10, at the Hibachi Burger restaurant, which is in Grove Center.

The defendant, Dominique Leshawn Gordon, 22, allegedly entered Hibachi Burger while displaying a firearm, and he demanded money from the register while showing the gun to several employees and customers, “placing them in fear of serious bodily injury,” according to affidavits filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge.

After getting the money, Gordon fled on foot, but he was caught a short time later by Oak Ridge Police Department patrol officers, the affidavits said. Officers who searched him after his arrest found the money that had been taken from the restaurant, according to the affidavits, which were filed by ORPD Detective A. Marvell Moore. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: A. Marvell Moore, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, Anderson County Detention Facility, Anderson County General Sessions Court, Anderson County grand jury, armed robbery, assault, Christopher Clowers, Derek Burchfield, Dominique Leshawn Gordon, Hibachi Burger, Hollie Green, kidnapping, Lauren Clowers, Lauren Mayes, Matthew Tuck, Nang Crossno, Oak Ridge Police Department, ORPD, robbery, Roger Miller, Vickie Bannach, Wanda Reagan

Mental evaluation ordered in alleged dog stabbing, arson

Posted at 5:28 pm September 26, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Sklyer Christian Griffin

Sklyer Christian Griffin

 

An evaluation of competency and mental capacity has been ordered in the case in which police say a 19-year-old man fatally stabbed a 10-year-old dog and then started a fire in the living room of an apartment on Villanova Road in Oak Ridge.

The evaluation at Ridgeview Psychiatric Hospital was ordered Tuesday by Judge Roger Miller of Anderson County General Sessions Court, Division II, in Oak Ridge.

The evaluation should include a determination of the mental capacity of the defendant, Skyler C. Griffin, at the time of the alleged crime, his competency to stand trial, and his ability to assess the nature of his conduct, according to the order.

Griffin had a court hearing on Tuesday afternoon in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge. He now has a status hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. November 7. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire Tagged With: Anderson County Detention Facility, Anderson County General Sessions Court, dog stabbing, Kenny Prickett, Oak Ridge Police Department, Ridgeview Psychiatric Hospital, Roger Miller, Skyler C. Griffin

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AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

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