The Tennessee Department of Transportation will restrict large trucks from driving on State Route 116 in Anderson, Campbell and Morgan counties. After complaints from area residents, TDOT officials conducted an operational and safety study on Route 116 and determined that due to sharp, hairpin curves, trucks more than 30 feet long are unable to safely stay in their lane. Additionally, the curves created a sight-distance issue, which TDOT said led to safety concerns. Citizens have shared photos and stories about truck accidents on that road on a Facebook page created especially for the issue, as well as at recent Anderson County Commission and Operations Committee meetings. Route 116 is a nearly 42-mile-long, narrow, winding, two-lane road that connects drivers from State Route 330 in Anderson County and Route 62 in Morgan County to Rocky Top. TDOT has identified three alternative routes for longer trucks to travel. State Rep. Ed Butler, who represents the area in the General Assembly, announced the state’s action on Route 116 on Thursday.
Read MoreA third-quarter scoring blitz carried the Anderson County High School football Mavericks to their eighth-straight Region 2-4A championship Friday night at Ernest Whited Stadium at Gibbs High School. Anderson County beat the Gibbs War Eagles 49-6. The Mavericks will travel to South-Doyle High School this Friday, looking to complete their eighth-straight season without a region loss. Friday night’s game at Gibbs was one that many high school football fans had circled. The Eagles, loaded with senior talent, entered with an 8-0 (3-0 in the region) record, and they put up a fight, at least for the first half. “There was a lot of emotion early, and they [Gibbs] came with a lot of energy,” Anderson County Coach Davey Gillum said. “It was a bit of a sparring match in the first half. They do a lot on offense and defense, with a lot of movement. They know we’re bigger up front, which was smart on their part. A lot of times they were winning because of the chaos [they created].” The Mavericks held a 14-6 lead at the break, but it wasn’t a “pretty” lead. The Mavs punted four times in the first half and turned the ball over on downs once.
Read MoreAt its last meeting, the Anderson County Commission approved receipt of a grant involving educating citizens, especially seniors, about the internet and providing them with devices. On Oct. 21, the commission approved a contract for grant administration for a $100,000 Broadband Ready Community Grant that the state of Tennessee provided to the county. The county won’t need to match the grant with any of its own funds. “For this particular grant, we will be teaching digital literacy skills and digital education, and also be able to provide some low-cost or free digital equipment or devices, as well as possible provision of low-cost internet plans,” County Mayor Terry Frank told The Courier News. “Our target population is senior adults,” she said. “As more agencies move to online platforms, we want to ensure that seniors have the training and skills they need in order to accomplish tasks such as handling online health care enrollment. “We will run the program at our Senior Center and possibly other locations,” Frank said. “Currently, we are seeking proposals from vendors [or] companies who teach digital literacy and education.” The grant is through the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
Read MoreWork at American Nuclear, a toxic-waste site in the Claxton area, is continuing past its deadline. The site, at 147 Blockhouse Road, was originally used to process source material for medical waste starting in 1962. It was seized by the state of Tennessee in 1973. The Environmental Protection agency began cleaning up hazardous material there in April of this year. The EPA said it planned to work on demolishing buildings and removing toxic soil through October. However, community involvement coordinator Marjorie Thomas recently told Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank and county Commissioner Tracy Wandell that the agency continues to work on certain aspects, and work may continue through next June. Specifically it is working on the inside of the hot cell.
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