With the devastating floods in the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina mountains from Hurricane Helene capturing everyone’s attention over the past week and a half, people throughout Anderson County have been mobilizing big time to do whatever they can to help, County Mayor Terry Frank said Monday. “Anderson County has really stepped forward in so many heartwarming ways to volunteer and donate to the victims of the hurricane,” Frank told The Courier News. “From first-responder agencies to churches to businesses — small and large — to individual citizens, the people of Anderson County have been extremely generous,” she said. “It is truly inspiring. “I know there are so many amazing efforts from various places — from churches to the Anderson County [Farmers] Co-Op, and I can’t really speak to all of them,” Frank said. “I know that the officials in the impacted counties, as well as the victims, have so many needs, and the citizens of Anderson County have been amazing at answering the calls for help,” she added. Local social media sites have been full of requests for aid, including donations of water and other necessities, and first responders – such as the Anderson County Rescue Squad, Rocky Top Fire Department and many others – have even traveled to the affected areas to help in search and rescue operations.
Read MoreWork is underway this week to dismantle and move the log cabin that previously served as the Anderson County Tourism Council office to make way for a new Take 5 oil-change business just off Interstate 75 in Clinton. Property owner and contractor John Davenport of Jellico said Monday that he plans to begin construction of the oil-change building as soon as the cabin is removed, probably before Nov. 1. “We auctioned the log cabin off, and we gave the new owner a couple of weeks to get it moved,” Davenport said. “Once it’s gone, we will move in and start on the new building.” Davenport obtained a building permit from the city of Clinton on Sept. 10 for a $575,000, 1,835 square-foot building on the nearly half-acre site, whose official address is 115 Welcome Lane. The property fronts on North Charles G. Seivers Boulevard, and sits just to the east of the Golden Gairls restaurant. “Things are rolling, and if the weather stays good, we hope to have it open by the first of the year,” Davenport said.
Read MoreGround was actually being broken in earnest – not just symbolically – on Monday morning as construction got underway on the foundation of the new Anderson County Chamber of Commerce headquarters building at North Charles G. Seivers Boulevard and West Weaver Street in Clinton. This follows a symbolic groundbreaking that was held at the site on Sept. 10, with a long row of chamber officials and special guests using shovels to turn dirt in front of an audience. But on Monday, serious earth-moving equipment was on the site, along with the construction office trailer of Johnson and Gaylon, contractors for the project. On Sept. 16, the city of Clinton issued a building permit to the chamber for the $3.9 million, 7,450 square-foot building, which will be the first headquarters ever built and owned by the chamber, which was started in 1931. “We are thrilled to see the project moving forward,” chamber President Rick Meredith said. “This new building represents our commitment to the community and our mission to continue supporting the success of our local businesses,” he said. “The foundation work is just the beginning, and we look forward to watching the building take shape.” During the groundbreaking ceremony in September, Meredith noted that the chamber is 93 years, and is excited to be building a home of its own. “Now we’re going to go 90 more years,” he told the assembled crowd.
Read MoreA new place for for pre-kindergarten children to stay and learn has opened in Oak Ridge. The Little Learning Lab had a ribbon-cutting Sept. 30 and opened for the children it serves on Monday Oct. 7. It is at 1009 Commerce Park Drive. The program is a partnership between Emory Valley Center and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and works with children of laboratory employees. However, it is open for all children from a few weeks old to those about to start kindergarten. The lab prioritizes children with developmental disabilities. “It’s been wonderful; we’ve been preparing for this for over two years,” said Aaron Price, vice president of community engagement for Emory Valley Center. He said the program was intended to get children ready for Kindergarten, and features “state of the art” equipment. “Everything is brand spanking new,” he said of the facility, including its playground. The program can take 104 students at a time. Applications are available online at Littlelearninglab.org.
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