Church cedes victory to Norris in RV park lawsuit
The former Solid Rock RV Park on the grounds of Covenant Life Church in Norris sits empty now after the remaining rec- reational vehicles were removed under a federal court order in late May. The church will not be allowed to reopen the park as the result of a settlement of its lawsuit with the city of Norris last week. - G. Chambers Williams III
Covenant Life Church has agreed to settle its federal court case versus the city of Norris by accepting a permanent injunction that closed the church’s unauthorized recreational-vehicle park, and must pay all court costs associated with the lawsuit. During a special called meeting last Wednesday evening, the Norris City Council approved a one-page document formally settling the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Knoxville last year by the city seeking to shut down the so-called Solid Rock RV Park. The church opened the RV park, with spaces for up to 16 vehicles, in 2019, without first getting a required zoning change, Planning Commission approval, and building permits from the city for the facility. Last week’s “memorandum of understanding” settling the case was approved unanimously by the council, and then signed by both City Manager Charles A. Ledford and the legal representative for Covenant Life International, Inc., the owner of the church. City Council members met in private with the city’s attorneys at the start of the Sept. 9 regular council meeting to discuss the ongoing lawsuit, and later in the meeting agreed to set a special meeting for Sept. 25 to act on the advice it received from its attorneys during the private meeting. It was that advice that led the council to approve the memorandum that effectively ends the lawsuit and prevents the church from operating a campground/RV park on its campus in Norris.
Read MoreWater foul
Odis Phillips, who lives on New River Highway, showed off this water, which he said is the well water his family uses. He advocated for the county to im- prove water quality in his area. - Ben Pounds
A small New River area with five permanent residents and two churches has cloudy and reportedly infected well water. The Anderson County Commission is discussing how to solve the problem. At the September meeting, the commissioners passed around a clouded bottle of water that resident Odis Phillips said came from his well. He said no utility has ever extended a water line onto his property, which is on New River Highway. Commissioner Shain Vowell proposed talking to the Budget Committee about using American Rescue Plan Funds “for any type of assistance that we may be able to use for the water issues in the New River community.” County Finance Department Director Robert Holbrook agreed. The Budget Committee will meet at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, in Room 312 of the Anderson County Courthouse. If the Budget Committee approves any measure to solve the issue, that proposal will go to the full commission. For now, though, the cloudy well water remains the community’s only water supply. Phillips said the area with poor water includes himself and his wife and, in another house, his granddaughter, her husband and three children. Phillips said there also are two churches in the area, one with the same bad water and another with no water at all.
Read MoreCommision could adopt new rules on citizen comments
Comments from an Oak Ridge resident spurred the Anderson County Commission to discuss the future of its citizen comment period. No vote on changes took place at the Sept. 16 meeting. However, Commissioner Joshua Anderson suggested bringing the topic before the commission’s Rules Committee. Annette Prewitt, Anderson County clerk, said the Rules Committee meeting will take place Nov. 14. Oak Ridge resident Nathan Mullins spoke during the time for citizen comments, disputing the Republican primary election of Rick Scarbrough for District 33. Scarbrough was at the meeting to discuss roads, but did not speak about the election. Mullins also touched on the issue of library books he says he considers inappropriate, a cause he has spoken about during several commission meetings in a row, although the board has taken no votes on that issue recently. Mullins blamed both issues on the Democratic candidate for that seat, Ann Backus, accusing her of helping Democrats fake voting forms by posing as Republicans and voting for Scarbrough. Voters, however, do not need to be registered to a particular party to vote in its primary. “I’ve been a prophet crying in the wilderness exhorting you to take back your children from the High Priest Ann Backus and her leftist sex cult converts pushing gay sex-ed books into your libraries,” Mullins said.
Read MoreOliver Springs plans October Sky Festival for Saturday, Oct. 19
Oliver Springs will again be the site of the annual October Sky Festival, set for Saturday, Oct. 19. This event recognizes the part the town and surrounding area played in the 1999 film “October Sky,” about the West Virginia coal-mining community featured in Homer Hickam Jr.’s best-selling 1998 autobiography, “Rocket Boys.” During the festival, held mostly in Arrowhead Park in the south end of downtown, the Oliver Springs Historical Society Museum will also be open, and guided tours will be available. A daylong event, the festival is expected to attract more than 100 vendors, and bring in thousands of visitors. The historic downtown railroad depot will also be open, allowing visitors to see how it felt to be a station manager, conductor or engineer. The museum has a vintage caboose that will be open to visitors, as well. The movie, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Laura Dern and Chris Cooper, told the story of Hickam, a coal miner’s son who grew up in a small West Virginia mining town. There, he began building model rockets as a prelude to a career in the aerospace industry, rather than following his father into the mines. Based on Hickam’s life, the film was shot primarily on location in Oliver Springs and the surrounding area.
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News
Church cedes victory to Norris in RV park lawsuit Read More
Water foul Read More
Commision could adopt new rules on citizen comments Read More
Fund allocations on Oct. 3 school board meeting Read More
State candidate forum Thursday Read More
Anderson County seeking to fill law director’s position Read More
UCOR safety culture recognized Read More
Sports
Rivalry matchup Read More
Mavericks roll over Hornets 42-7 Read More
Lady Dragons win volleyball title Read More
Weather disrupts Lady Dragons soccer schedule Read More
Oak Ridge avenges 2023 playoff loss, defeats Clinton 48-21 Read More
OR boys golf qualifies for regionals; district champs crowned Read More
Oak Ridge hosts cross-country meet Read More
Bentz wins District 4-AA golf title, eyes state championship Read More
Clinton cross country goes the distance at The Mounds Read More
Jefferson Middle ends season with 31-7 loss Read More
Robertsville wins TVAC regular-season title Read More
Injuries plague Oak Ridge girls Read More
Community
Oliver Springs plans October Sky Festival for Saturday, Oct. 19 Read More
Street Painting Festival rescheduled for Oct. 5 Read More
Norris police, fire open house event set for Saturday Read More
Fall festivals on tap this weekend for Clinton, Little Ponderosa Zoo Read More
School
Oak Ridge Preschool, nonprofit and Y-12 contractor work on garden program Read More
CCS announces free, reduced-price meals for this school year Read More
Education Briefs Read More
Glenwood Elementary named National Blue Ribbon School Read More
Business
Dirt Hippie Kitchen to begin serving takeout in Norris Read More
Chasing Wellness chiropractic clinic opens in Clinton Read More
Photo Galleries
Anderson County vs. Clinton Tennis at Jaycee Park View
Anderson County High School Homecoming View
Faces at the Fair View
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