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Proposal to close courthouse offices for COVID sent to committee

Posted at 12:05 am December 29, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Anderson County Courthouse

A proposal to temporarily close Anderson County Courthouse offices to the public because of COVID-19 and to have much business conducted remotely was referred to a committee last week.

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Anderson County Courthouse

A proposal to temporarily close Anderson County Courthouse offices to the public because of COVID-19 and to have much business conducted remotely was referred to a committee last week.

The rest of this story is available if you are a member: a subscriber, advertiser, or contributor to Oak Ridge Today.

Already a member? Great! Thank you! Sign in here.

Not a member? No problem! Subscribe here:

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  • Basic monthly subscription ($5 per month)—access premium content
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Pro

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  • Pro annual subscription ($100 per year)—save $20 per year, access premium content, get breaking news emails first, and submit one press release or public service announcement per month

Temporary

  • Temporary access ($3 per week for two weeks)

If you prefer to send a check, you may do so by mailing one to:

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P.O. Box 6064
Oak Ridge, TN 37831

We also have advanced subscription options. You can see them here.

We also accept donations. You can donate here. A donation of $50 or more will make you eligible for a subscription.

Thank you for reading Oak Ridge Today. We appreciate your support!

Filed Under: Anderson County, COVID-19, Front Page News, Government, Government, Health, Premium Content, Slider Tagged With: Anderson County Courthouse, Bob Smallridge, Catherine Denenberg, COVID-19, Denver Waddell, Jerry Creasey, Phil Yager, Shain Vowell, Steve Mead, Terry Frank, Theresa Scott

Anderson County has fireworks Saturday night

Posted at 12:25 pm July 4, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Fireworks at Alvin K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge on July 4, 2017. (File photo by D. Ray Smith)

There are fireworks in Anderson County for Independence Day this evening.

The fireworks are funded by Anderson County with help from private donations from businesses and residents.

Anderson County commissioners debated last month whether to have the fireworks because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They also debated how much to spend, with potential amounts ranging between $12,000 and $20,000. The goal was to get to a total of about $20,000.

The fireworks show will start at 9:45 p.m. today (Saturday, July 4) at Anderson County High School. The high school campus will be closed to the public.

Anderson County High School is at 130 Maverick Circle in Clinton, close to Exit 122 on Interstate 75. The Anderson County mayor’s office recommended that anyone watching the fireworks from public areas around Exit 122 use social distancing, which generally means staying six feet away from people who don’t live with you.

There are normally fireworks in cities such as Oak Ridge, but those displays have been canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, in what could be a one-time event, the county is hosting and helping to fund the display.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Community, Community, COVID-19, Festivals, Front Page News, Government, Health, Slider Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Commission, Bob Smallridge, COVID-19, fireworks, Independence Day, Steve Mead, Terry Frank, Theresa Scott, Tim Isbel

Anderson: Barker elected sheriff; incumbents win in Oak Ridge

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

Russell Barker

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 Department who has served as director of the Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force in Anderson County. Lucas is chief deputy of the Anderson County Sheriff’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 now 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…]

Filed Under: 2018 Election, Anderson County, Anderson County, Front Page News, Government, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Alden Souza, Anderson County Commission, Anderson County Election Commission, Anderson County Sheriff, Anderson County trustee, Anthony Allen, Bob Smallridge, Catherine Denenberg, Chuck Fritts, Denver Waddell, Donnie Rosenbalm, Ebony Capshaw, J. Shain Vowell, Jerry Creasey, Jerry White, Jimmy Bouchard, John Ragan, Joshua Anderson, Mark Alderson, Mark Lucas, Nathaniel Varner, Paul White, Phil Yager, Philip Warfield, Regina Copeland, Rex Lynch, Richard Dawson, Rick Meredith, Robbie Fulton, Robert A. Jameson, Robert McKamey, Russell Barker, Steve Emert, Steve Mead, Terry Frank, Theresa Scott, Tim Isbel, Tracy Wandell

Voter’s guide: Notes from a candidate forum

Posted at 9:30 am August 2, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Note: This story was last updated at 10:35 a.m.

Today, August 2, is Election Day in Anderson County. The election includes the Anderson County general election and state and federal primary elections.

It’s the second of three elections this year. The first was the county primary election on May 1, and the last is the municipal election and state and federal elections on November 6.

Here are notes about Anderson County candidates in today’s county general election from a forum at Oak Ridge High School in July. The county general election includes selections for mayor, sheriff, county commission, trustee, circuit court clerk, county clerk, register of deeds, road superintendent, and school board, among other positions. Some of the candidates have no opposition.

Anderson County Sheriff [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2018 Election, Anderson County, Anderson County, Front Page News, Government, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Alden Souza, Anderson County, Anderson County candidates, Anderson County Commission, Anderson County general election, Anderson County Sheriff, Anthony Allen, candidate forum, Catherine Denenberg, Circuit Court Clerk, county general election, election, election day, Jerry Creasey, Jimmy Bouchard, Mark Lucas, Rex Lynch, Robbie Fulton, Russell Barker, state and federal primary elections, Steve Mead, Theresa Scott, voter's guide

Mead seeks re-election to County Commission

Posted at 8:00 am July 13, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Steve Mead

Steve Mead

 

Steve Mead is seeking re-election to Anderson County Commission in District 6.

The Sixth District includes the Oak Ridge City Hall, Robertsville, and West Hills precincts. Those include the Anderson County portion of Oak Ridge, including the areas around the Children’s Museum, the new Kroger, and Main Street Oak Ridge, and west to the Roane County line.

Mead and his family settled in Oak Ridge in 1987 after he served 21.5 years in the U.S. Submarine Force. Mead had worked his way up from seaman recruit to petty officer first class (E-6), and he was then selected for an active duty college program in which he earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, a press release said. He returned as an officer to the submarine force, serving both at sea and overseas.

During his last tour as executive officer of a joint staff near London, England, he earned his master’s degree in business administration from Boston University. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2018 Election, Anderson County, Front Page News, Government Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Commission, August 2 general election, District 6, re-election, Steve Mead

Twenty-nine qualify to run for 16 seats on Anderson County Commission

Posted at 1:38 pm April 7, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Twenty-nine candidates have qualified to run for 16 seats on the Anderson County Commission in the county general election in August.

There are also three people running for the Tennessee House of Representatives in District 33, a new appointed Oak Ridge school board member running in a special election in August, and a Democratic challenger to Tennessee Senator Randy McNally, an Oak Ridge resident who is also lieutenant governor.

The deadline to qualify to run in the August 2 election, which will also feature contested elections for Anderson County sheriff and trustee, was noon Thursday.

Anderson County has eight County Commission districts, and there are two commissioners per district. The offices are non-partisan, meaning that, unlike some other county offices, they are not part of the Democratic and Republican primary elections on May 1. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2018 Election, Anderson County, Education, Front Page News, Government, K-12, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Commission, Anderson County Sheriff, Anthony Allen, Avery Johnson, Ben Stephens, Bob Eby, Bob Smallridge, Cassandra Mitchell, Catherine Denenberg, Chris Silver, Chuck Fritts, county general election, David Queener, Democratic primary, Dennis Powers, Denny Phillips, Denver Waddell, Ebony Capshaw, Felicia Foust, Floyd Grisham, Jeff Cole, Jeff Maxwell, Jerry Creasey, Jerry White, Jimmy Bouchard, John Meyer, John Ragan, Joshua Anderson, Leesa Arowood, Lewis Ridenour, Mark "Hollywood" Whaley, Mark Alderson, Mark Lucas, Michael Foster, Nathaniel Varner, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Phil Warfield, Phil Yager, primary elections, Randy McNally, Regina Copeland, Republican primary, Rex Lynch, Richard Dawson, Rick Meredith, Robert Jameson, Robert McKamey, Russell Barker, Scott Burton, Scott Gillenwaters, Shain Vowell, Steve Emert, Steve Mead, Tabitha Harmon, Tennessee House of Representatives, Tennessee House of Representatives District 33, Tennessee Senate District 5, Terry Frank, Theresa Scott, Tim Isbel, Tim Risden, Tim Shelton, Tracy Wandell, William Jones

AC Charter Commission recommends no changes to county government, no charter

Posted at 2:33 pm February 13, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

With little fanfare, the Anderson County Charter Commission has completed its work and will meet just one more time, this Thursday, February 15, to conclude its business.

Eight people were elected in November 2016 to serve on the commission, which examined the structure of county government.

The issue was placed on the ballot after a group obtained enough signatures to call for the election of a charter commission. The race ended up coming down to two groups, one in support of things like term limits and making the county law director an elected position, and the other in support of a more measured approach to the process.

Meeting last week, the Charter Commission voted unanimously to recommend no changes to the current form of government and that no charter be drafted. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Government Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Charter Commission, Charter Commission, county government, County Law Director, Steve Mead, term limits, V.L. Stonecipher

County takes action on General Sessions Court, Senior Center

Posted at 2:15 pm May 22, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Anderson County could renovate the former Oak Ridge Senior Center, which was once housed in this part of a building owned by Anderson County on Emory Valley Road, and use the space for Anderson County General Sessions Court, Division II. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Anderson County could renovate the former Oak Ridge Senior Center, which was once housed in this part of a building owned by Anderson County on Emory Valley Road, and use the space for Anderson County General Sessions Court, Division II. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

CLINTON—Anderson County officials are taking steps to move the General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge from a privately owned building to a county-owned building and to move the county’s Senior Center into a larger space in Clinton.

Both projects have been discussed at the most recent meetings of the Anderson County Commission in Clinton.

Last Monday, May 15, Anderson County Commission approved about $1.4 million in borrowing through capital outlay notes that can be used for capital projects, including the General Sessions Court and Senior Center. The funding will include $500,000 for renovation work for the Anderson County General Sessions Court, Division II, and $600,000 to purchase the new Senior Center building, Anderson County Commissioner Robert McKamey said. The money is being borrowed at a 2.35 percent interest rate for 12 years. The $1.4 million also includes $300,000 for capital projects, which could include roofs on a few buildings.

The county will repay the capital outlay notes from the general fund, McKamey said.

The bids on the renovation work for Anderson County General Sessions Court, Division II, in Oak Ridge, had come in higher than expected in April. The low bid of about $530,000 from Preen Construction of Knoxville was announced during County Commission’s April 17 meeting.

Officials had previously said the renovations could cost about $300,000, citing an estimate from Michael Brady Inc., a Knoxville architectural firm. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Government, Government, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Commission, Anderson County General Sessions Court Division II, Anderson County Office on Aging, Charles Grant, Cherie Phillips, Chuck Fritts, General Sessions Court, Jay Yeager, Mark Alderson, Michael Brady Inc., Michael Farley, Myron Iwanski, Oak Ridge City Council, Phil Yager, Preen Construction, Robert McKamey, Senior Center, Steve Mead, Teresa Portwood

Anderson County Commission allocates $10,000 to Friendship Bell fund drive

Posted at 8:24 pm April 3, 2017
By Kay Brookshire 1 Comment

Anderson County Commissioners present a $10,000 check for the new Peace Pavilion to house the International Friendship Bell to Shigeko Uppuluri, left, and Pat Postma, right. Commissioners are Theresa Scott and Steve Emert, Commission chair, front; and in back from left, Jerry Creasey, Myron Iwanski, Phil Yager, Whitey Hitchcock, and Steve Mead. (Submitted photo)

Anderson County Commissioners present a $10,000 check for the new Peace Pavilion to house the International Friendship Bell to Shigeko Uppuluri, left, and Pat Postma, right. Commissioners are Theresa Scott and Steve Emert, Commission chair, front center; and in back from left, Jerry Creasey, Myron Iwanski, Phil Yager, Whitey Hitchcock, and Steve Mead. (Submitted photo)

 

Several Anderson County Commissioners recently gathered at the International Friendship Bell in Oak Ridge to present a $10,000 check for the new Peace Pavilion that will become the Bell’s new home in Bissell Park.

The Commission voted unanimously earlier this year to allocate $10,000 to help replace the pavilion housing the Bell after structural beams in the original pavilion deteriorated and the structure had to be demolished in 2014.

“We have to preserve the Bell,” said County Commission Chair Steve Emert. “It is important for tourism, for history, and especially for its message of friendship.”

“The Bell will be a key part of the story that the Manhattan Project National Historical Park is going to tell. This benefits the whole county, not just Oak Ridge,” added County Commissioner Myron Iwanski. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Community, Front Page News, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Commission, International Friendship Bell, International Friendship Bell Citizens Advisory Committee, Jerry Creasey, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, Myron Iwanski, Oak Ridge International Friendship Bell, Pat Postma, Peace Pavilion, Phil Yager, Shigeko Uppuluri, Steve Emert, Steve Mead, Theresa Scott, Whitey Hitchcock, Ziad Demian

County taking steps to move General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge

Posted at 11:07 am March 23, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Anderson-County-General-Sessions-Court-Exterior-Nov-19-2015

Anderson County officials are taking steps to move General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge from a privately owned building on Bus Terminal Road, pictured above, to a county-owned building on Emory Valley Road. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 12:50 p.m.

Anderson County officials are taking steps to move General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge from a privately owned building on Bus Terminal Road to a county-owned building on Emory Valley Road.

An 18-month lease on the current privately owned building, where the court has been since 2009, expires in June, officials said Wednesday.

Renovations are planned at the county-owned building on Emory Valley Road before the court moves there. Bid packages for the renovation work could go out to contractors this week, and the bid could be awarded in mid-April, said Anderson County Commissioner Phil Yager, one of two commissioners who represent District 8 in Oak Ridge.

The renovation work could take two to three months, Yager said. Michael Brady Inc., a Knoxville architectural firm helping Anderson County, has estimated the renovations could cost around $300,000. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Government, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs, Police and Fire, Rocky Top, Slider, Tennessee Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Commission, Anderson County General Sessions Court Division II, Emory Valley Center, General Sessions Court, Michael Brady Inc., Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Senior Center, Phil Yager, Steve Emert, Steve Mead, Terry Frank, Tony Cappiello, United Way of Anderson County, Vintage Development Corporation

New Charter Commission meets Tuesday

Posted at 10:34 pm January 2, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The new Anderson County Charter Commission will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Room 312 in the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton.

Agenda items include a consideration of rules, according to an agenda submitted by Charter Commission Chair V.L. Stonecipher.

The Charter Commission members are Stonecipher (District 1), Mark Alderson (District 2), Steve Emert (District 3), Tim Isbel (District 4), Jerry White (District 5), Steve Mead (District 6), David Stanley (District 7), and Bob Smallridge (District 8). [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Election, Anderson County, Front Page News, Government Tagged With: Anderson County Charter Commission, Bob Smallridge, Charter Commission, David Stanley, Jerry White, Mark Alderson, Steve Emert, Steve Mead, Tim Isbel, V.L. Stonecipher

Seven of eight term-limit candidates defeated in Charter Commission race

Posted at 1:23 am November 9, 2016
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Bob Smallridge

Pictured above is Bob Smallridge, a District 8 candidate who received the most votes of any candidate for Anderson County Charter Commission. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Steve Emert

Pictured above is Steve Emert, a District 3 candidate who received the second-highest number of votes in the Anderson County Charter Commission election.

Seven of the eight candidates who said they will support term limits if elected to a new charter commission lost in the Tuesday election, according to unofficial election results posted by the Anderson County Election Commission.

In District 1 (Claxton, Bull Run), V.L. Stonecipher, a former director of Anderson County Schools, defeated Floyd Grisham, the term-limit candidate, by 1,500 votes to 1,292. A third candidate, Tim Risden, had 412 votes.

In District 2 (Clinton), Anderson County Commissioner Mark Alderson beat Jim Cooper, the term-limit candidate, 1,954 to 1,340.

In District 3 (Andersonville, Norris), Steve Emert, the Anderson County Commission chair, earned about 300 votes more than former commissioner Dusty Irwin, the term-limit candidate. Emert had 2,157 votes to Irwin’s 1,846.

In District 4 (Briceville, Rocky Top), Tim Isbel, an Anderson County commissioner, defeated Dennis Hashbarger, the term-limit candidate, 1,567 to 1,024. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Election, Anderson County, Front Page News, Government Tagged With: Anderson County Charter Commission, Bob Smallridge, David G. Stanley, Dennis Hashbarger, Dusty Irwin, Floyd Grisham, Howard Farmer, Hugh Ward, Jerry White, Jim Cooper, Kathy Moore, Marjorie Mott Lloyd, Mark Alderson, Robert McKamey, Steve Emert, Steve Mead, term limits, Theresa Scott, Tim Isbel, Tim Risden, V.L. Stonecipher

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