Tre Hargett
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett will present a $4,000 archives grant in Anderson County on Friday.
The grant, distributed through the Tennessee State Library and Archives, will fund development of the Anderson County Archives, a media advisory said.
“The Anderson County Archives will receive a $4,000 Archives Development Grant to preserve court documents,” the advisory said. [Read more…]
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, that a year-long investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation resulted in a 320-count indictment, and 10 people were arrested, including seven Anderson County residents, on charges of unlawfully filing liens and making false entries into records. (Photo courtesy TBI)
A recent 320-count indictment and the arrests of 10 people after a joint investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Knoxville Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation highlight an ongoing problem with fraudulent liens, state officials said Friday. Seven of those arrested live in Anderson County.
“People are filing fraudulent liens with the Division of Business Services, which can ruin the lives of public officials,” according to the office of Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “Luckily, Senate Bill 726/House Bill 535, currently before the General Assembly, would allow officials to permanently remove fraudulent liens from the filing record.”
The arrests on Wednesday send a clear message, the Secretary of Office said. (See our story on the indictments and arrests here.)
“Public officials as well as state and local government employees shouldn’t be harassed with fraudulent liens just for doing their jobs,” Hargett said. “We believe this will provide an expedited and uncomplicated remedy to this targeted abuse. Additionally, since legal costs associated with this process can be recovered under this legislation, fraudulent filers should think twice before they file.” [Read more…]
Lee H. Cromwell, the Oak Ridge man convicted of vehicular homicide and aggravated assault on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017, has filed $137 million in liens against local law enforcement officials and agencies, as well as against the Internal Revenue Service and a Social Security service center, according to state records. Cromwell, who was convicted after a fatal parking lot crash at the Midtown Community Center after fireworks in Oak Ridge on July 4, 2015, is pictured above during a preliminary hearing in Anderson County General Sessions Court on Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Note: This story was last updated at 12:15 p.m. Feb. 17.
Lee Harold Cromwell, the Oak Ridge man convicted of vehicular homicide and aggravated assault on Wednesday, has filed $137 million in liens against local law enforcement officials and agencies, as well as against the Internal Revenue Service and a Social Security service center, according to state records.
Cromwell has been indicted by a grand jury in Davidson County in Nashville on Class A and Class E felonies. Officials announced those indictments after Cromwell was convicted at the end of his vehicular homicide trial in Anderson County Criminal Court in Clinton on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation elaborated, saying that Cromwell was one of 11 people indicted in a 320-count indictment after a one-year investigation into fraudulent liens in East Tennessee that was conducted with help from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. So far, 10 of the 11 people have been arrested on charges of unlawfully filing liens and making false entries into records, the TBI said. Multiple other state, county, and local law enforcement agencies participated in the arrests on Wednesday.
Seven of those arrested, or more than half of them, are from Anderson County. They claim to be “sovereign citizens,” or people who do not typically “believe that they have to abide by the rules everyone else follows because they have declared their personal independence from government,” said Dave Clark, Anderson County district attorney general.
TBI special agents began their investigation at the request of Clark in May 2016. They were helped by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force. [Read more…]
Early voting for the August 4 state primary and county general elections is under way. Voting will continue Mondays through Saturdays and end Saturday, July 30.
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett is encouraging voters to take advantage of early voting, which allows people to cast a ballot when it’s convenient for them, a press release said.
“Tennesseans broke records during the March 1 ‘SEC Primary’ by taking advantage of early voting,” Hargett said in the press release. “It will be exciting to see Tennesseans participate in the electoral process this August and November.”
The easiest way for voters to find their early voting and Election Day polling locations, view and mark sample ballots, see their elected officials, districts, and county election commission information as well as access online state and federal election results is through the GoVoteTN app. Voters can download the free app in the App Store or Google Play or visit GoVoteTN.com to view voter specific information. [Read more…]
Note: This story was last updated at 1:30 p.m.
Early voting for the March 1 presidential preference primary, or “SEC Primary,” begins today (Wednesday, February 10).
In this election cycle, voting early may be an important option because of unpredictable winter weather, state officials said in a press release. The number of presidential candidates as well as the number of delegates could also create incredibly long ballots for some voters.
Six Southern states will join Tennessee to help decide who could be the next president of the United States. The Volunteer State’s clout could mean more primary interest than in years past. [Read more…]
Tre Hargett
Tennessee residents who want to vote in the March 1 presidential preference primary, or “SEC Primary,†must register to vote by Monday, February 1.
This election cycle, the Volunteer State will join six other Southern states on March 1 to help decide who could be the next president of the United States.
“It’s important to ensure you are properly registered now so there won’t be any surprises during early voting or on Election Day,” Secretary of State Tre Hargett said in a press release.
Early voting begins Wednesday, February 10, and runs Mondays through Saturdays until Tuesday, February 23. Election Day is Tuesday, March 1. Note that some counties will be closed on Monday, February 15 for Presidents Day. [Read more…]
The Anderson County Courthouse on Main Street in Clinton is pictured above.
Information from WYSH Radio
Election Day primer
Today is Election Day in Tennessee.
In Anderson County, it is not only state and federal primary day, but it’s also the county general election. All 16 County Commission seats are on the ballot, along with seats on the School Board. This election cycle has been dominated by the high-profile races for county mayor and sheriff, but three judicial races and contested campaigns for Circuit Court clerk and register of deeds will also be decided.
Polls across the county will be open until 8 p.m., and voters are reminded that you must vote at the precinct listed on your voter registration card. Keep in mind, with so many contested local races, judicial and state Supreme Court retention votes, and state and federal primary elections, lines at polling locations could be long, so be patient. If you need a ride to the polls anywhere in Anderson County today, you can call or text Catherine at (865) 230-2594.
To save time in the voting booth, we recommend taking a look at the ballot before you head out to vote. You can find it and a list of all the polling locations on the Anderson County Election Commission’s website. Voters need to bring valid state or federally issued photo IDs to the polls with them. Those who forget to bring valid photo IDs can cast provisional ballots, then return to their local election commission offices before the close of business Monday in order to have their votes counted.
WYSH will broadcast live election results from the courthouse beginning just after the polls close Thursday night. For more election information, including a look at that complete ballot, visit www.acelect.com. You can also call (865) 457-6238 for more information.
State to post statewide, federal election results [Read more…]
From left are Sen. Randy McNally, Rep. John Ragan, Rep. Dennis Powers, Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank, County Historian Mary Sue Harris, and Secretary of State Tre Hargett. (Photo courtesy of Anderson County government)
CLINTON—Anderson County government has received a $3,100 archives grant from the Tennessee State Library and Archives, and Secretary of State Tre Hargett last Tuesday personally presented the grant award to Mary Sue “Susie†Harris, Anderson County’s longtime archivist and historian.
State Sen. Randy McNally and State Rep. John Ragan, both Oak Ridge Republicans, and State Rep. Dennis Powers, a Jacksboro Republican who represents part of Anderson County, joined Hargett and Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank for the presentation.
A full-time historian and part-time sleuth, Harris has dedicated more than 50 years of service to Anderson County as a historian, archivist, author, and genealogist. She has helped thousands of citizens track the history of their ancestors—and even find long-lost relatives—in Anderson County and East Tennessee.
“The importance of history can never be overstated—and Mrs. Harris is one of the best ambassadors we have for keeping the flames of the past alive,†Frank said. [Read more…]
East Tennessee libraries are calling attention to local libraries and funding support with a unique multi-library event.
As libraries across the state spotlight the value of libraries with local Geek the Library campaigns, East Tennessee libraries are joining together for an exciting group event at the March 1 home game of the Knoxville Ice Bears professional hockey team. The game will be held at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum, where the Knoxville Ice Bears will take on the Bloomington Thunder. The game starts at 7:30 pm. March 1.
Library supporters are invited to join in and “get their geek on” in support of public libraries in Tennessee. Local libraries participating in this event include the Clinton Public Library, Meigs County Public Library, and the Englewood Public Library, among others. They invite everyone in the community to come out and enjoy the hockey game with them while showing support for public libraries. [Read more…]
Terry Mullins, the chief executive officer of Oak Ridge Tool-Engineering, Inc., has a pretty simple business philosophy:
“We just go after where the money is,” Mullins said. “We’re able to pick and choose which markets are hot.”
While the philosophy may be simple, the services the company provides are anything but. Oak Ridge Tool-Engineering designs and builds equipment used on some of the world’s most complex machinery—everything from submarines to the International Space Station. [Read more…]
The City of Norris Archives in Anderson County has received a $4,000 grant to help improve the storage conditions of and access to local government records, a press release said.
“I am proud to award this grant to the City of Norris Archives,” Secretary of State Tre Hargett said. “Archives are important because they store and preserve historical records for our county and municipal governments. It is my hope that this grant will help the city with its archival development.” [Read more…]
Information from WYSH Radio
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett and Rep. John Ragan will be presenting the widow of former Medford Fire Chief Ronnie Braden with a plaque commemorating his service to the community at the Medford Volunteer Fire Department chili supper on Saturday.
The chili supper starts at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Clinch River Baptist Church at 407 Cane Creek Road.
