Oak Ridge Today

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…]

Anderson County EMS director gives ‘State of EMS’ address

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Information from WYSH Radio

On Wednesday night, Anderson County Emergency Medical Services Director Nathan Sweet delivered a “State of the EMS” address to county commissioners and members of the public.

The county EMS became an individual entity not funded by the county six years ago, choosing instead to support itself through fees. When the EMS became a stand-alone entity, the county ignored a recommendation from the County Technical Advisory Service—or CTAS—and provided only $215,000 in start-up money rather than the $1.1 million recommended by CTAS. Despite that early limitation, the department was able to support itself…until last year.

In 2015, the County Commission voted to contribute $600,000 to fund the EMS, which found itself hampered by delays in reimbursement from Medicare and serious problems with the third-party billing company used by the EMS. [Read more…]

Anderson County Commission meeting Monday

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Information from WYSH Radio

The Anderson County Commission will meet for its regular monthly session on Monday, June 20, at 6:30 p.m. in Room 312 of the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton.

Commissioners will be considering appointments of commissioners to the newly-created Budget and Purchasing Committees brought about by the recent change in financial management systems. The Nominating Committee met this week and recommended that Commissioners Chuck Fritts, Whitey Hitchcock, Myron Iwanski, Theresa Scott, and Jerry White serve on the Budget Committee. The Nominating Committee members also recommended that Commissioners Tim Isbel, Angeleque McNutt, Steve Mead, Theresa Scott, and Philip Warfield serve on the Purchasing Committee.

The full Commission will discuss and possibly vote upon the Operations Committee’s recommendation to move forward on a project to refurbish the Glen Alpine Convenience Center in Clinton. The Commission will also discuss a five-year lease extension at a cost of $1,000 per month for the land housing the Wolf Valley Convenience Center in Claxton. [Read more…]

Dragons hang tough, but CAK pulls away 42-21

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Clinton Dragons Football Logo

Information from WYSH Radio

The Clinton Dragons kept it close for a half at second-ranked CAK, trailing 14-7 at halftime on Thursday, but the Warriors pulled away with 21 third-quarter points on their way to a 42-21 win.

Cole Smith threw three touchdowns for the Warriors and ran for two more scores as CAK improved to 8-0.

Clinton’s J’Quan Thomas returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter and caught 12 passes for 135 yards, including a 50-yard scoring catch and run in the fourth quarter. [Read more…]

Kingston property tax, water rates increased

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City of Kingston Logo

Information from WYSH Radio/BBB-TV

On Tuesday, the Kingston City Council voted 5-2 on first reading to increase the city’s property tax rate by 23 cents per $100 of assessed value.

BBB-TV reported that supporters of the increase said it is necessary to avoid laying off five workers and because of flat sales tax revenues.

The Council also voted Tuesday to raise water rates by 5 percent. [Read more…]

Thackerson, Whitt lead Clinton to first region win, 41-27 over Karns

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Clinton Dragons Football Logo

Information from WYSH Radio

Clinton quarterback Tyler Thackerson led the Dragons to a 41-27 win over visiting Karns on Friday night while having a hand in all six Dragon touchdowns and accounting for 299 total yards.

Thackerson ran for two scores and threw a pair of touchdowns to S.J. Powers and one each to Beau Crisp and Isaiah Vibbert as the Dragons outgained the Beavers 374-348 in a shootout.

CHS improved to 2-1 and 1-1 in Region 3-5A while Karns fell to 1-2, 0-1. [Read more…]

AC Senior Center dealt serious setback

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Information from WYSH Radio

The one company that had expressed interest in leasing a building on South Seivers Boulevard to be used as an Anderson County Senior Center informed county leaders on Tuesday that they were withdrawing the offer.

B&B Properties had offered to lease the 10,000-square foot building to the county for five years at a cost of $1,896 per month but, in a letter to Anderson County Commission Chairman Robert McKamey, said that was no longer feasible.

The company recently leased space in Oak Ridge’s Jackson Tower to a group of doctors, which has resulted in a lack of parking for both the insurance operations housed there and the medical practice, so the company said it will be relocating some of those insurance operations to the building near downtown Clinton. [Read more…]

Clinton alumni propose multi-sport facility

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Clinton High School Multi-sports Complex

A group of Clinton Senior High School alumni have proposed a better facility for current and future student athletes. Pictured above is a proposed 12,000-square-foot modern sports facility. It would include universal access for all student athletes, with enough room for multiple teams to practice at the same time. (Image courtesy CSHS Legacy)

 

Alumni from Clinton High School have proposed a better facility for current and future student athletes. They have plans for a 12,000-square-foot multi-sport complex that could be used as a practice facility for several sports and host volleyball matches and wrestling meets.

The facility would include a weight training area, and artificial surface practice field for football, band, cheerleaders, and dance teams. A second story would have office space for coaches and a film room, according to plans posted on the website CSHS Legacy.

WYSH Radio in Clinton reported that the Anderson County Board of Education has given officials at Clinton High School the go-ahead to start exploring the possibility of constructing the new multi-sport facility at no cost to taxpayers.

WYSH said the proposed project would also renovate the existing, but aging, football field house. A second and separate part of the proposed project would also renovate the Don Lockard Gymnasium. [Read more…]

TDOT: Long-term lane closures on SR 61 at I-75 start Wednesday

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The long-term lane closures on State Route 61 at Interstate 75 are scheduled to start Wednesday, July 22, officials said.

One lane will be closed in both directions for bridge repairs, the Tennessee Department of Transportation announced on Twitter.

This is the bridge that crosses over I-75 in east Clinton on the way to the Museum of Appalachia and Norris. [Read more…]

Clinton Council OKs budget, 15.5-cent tax increase

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Clinton City Hall

Information from WYSH Radio

Note: This story was updated at 10:52 a.m. May 20.

The Clinton City Council voted on Monday to approve its budget for the fiscal year that begins on July 1 on first reading, and it includes a 15.5-cent property tax increase.

Last week, WYSH reported that a three- or four-cent tax increase would be necessary to pay for an increase in insurance costs and to pay for the salaries and benefits of four full-time firefighters. The costs associated with those firefighters were paid for by a FEMA grant for the past two years, but they became the responsibility of the city this year.

Following a late-week budget workshop, another seven cents was added to the proposed tax increase to pay for the city taking over all of the costs associated with school resource officers at the city’s three schools ($62,000), hiring a codes enforcement/police officer ($50,000), and to set aside $100,000 to start a street-paving fund aimed at preventing the city from having to borrow money for street improvement projects in the future. [Read more…]

AC seniors rally for new senior center

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Information from WYSH Radio

On Tuesday in Clinton, Anderson County seniors took their quest for a new Senior Center to the front steps of the Courthouse.

At 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 5, seniors convened in front of the Courthouse carrying signs indicating their desire for a new senior center and reminding county officials that they and their demands are not going anywhere.

Currently housed in a small facility in downtown Clinton, the Office on Aging—which serves as the de facto Senior Center—and the Council on Aging have been actively searching for a suitable building. A couple of months ago, they thought they had found a suitable location for a Senior Center, but that deal fell through when the rent turned out to be higher than the East Tennessee Human Resource Agency—or ETHRA—was willing to pay. ETHRA provides a significant portion of the Office’s budget. [Read more…]