Norris cuts recycling, ends back-door pickup
Norris residents will no longer be seeing recycling trucks like this one from Waste Connections, Inc., when the city’s new trash collection contract goes into effect July 1. The City Council voted Monday night to end recyling pickups in the city. - G. Chambers Williams III
Residential recycling pickup will be discontinued, and regular trash pickup will be changed to curbside service only as of July 1, the Norris City Council decided Monday night. The council approved a new contract with its current provider, Waste Collections, Inc., which does not include the back-door trash pickup service that Norris residents have enjoyed for years – not because the city didn’t want it, but because the contractor did not offer it. As for recycling, the council could have chosen a contract proposal that would have included biweekly pickups, but that would have raised the residential refuse pickup charge to $24.50 a month from the current $16. Instead, the council picked an alternate contract that eliminates recycling, but also reduces the monthly trash collection fee to $15, which is added to the water and sewer bills of all residents. Norris residents packed the council’s meeting room to hear the waste-collection options and voice their opinions about the changes, with some speaking out against the elimination of back-door service. But City Manager Adam Ledford told the council and residents in attendance that only three companies submitted bids for the new trash contract, and none of them included an option for back-door pickup.
Read MoreDrone zone: Clinton students take flight in competitive racing club
Luke Amos, a member of the Clinton Blaze drone team, concentrates on his drone’s takeoff during a recent competition against Philadelphia Elementary School. The event was held at Clinton Elementary School. - Tony Cox
While some race on foot and others in cars, still others program and control drones that race through the air. Meet the Blaze Drone Club, a group of students in Clinton City Schools’ elementary schools. They’ve so far raced physical drones against each other and against students from Philadelphia Elementary School in Loudon County. Using a simulator, they’ve virtually raced against many other teams across the country, including some high schoolers. Coach Kimberly Odell said there are many reasons why students like to race drones. Some just find it exciting. “Things that go fast are just fun,” she said.
Read MoreBoard approves donation-funded projects for schools
By Ben Pounds ben@mycouriernews.com While the school year was wrapping up, schools presented different projects for approval by the Anderson County Board of Education. The board approved three projects that schools plan to fund with donations. These projects, which did not require any local government funds were: shade structures and a playground for special education pre-kindergarten students at Andersonville Elementary School; a shade structure, tables and landscaping for Grand Oaks Elementary School; and renovations for Lake City Middle School’s gym. These votes happened Thursday, May 8. However, the board put off voting on the one project that would have involved committing funds: additional supplies for Clinton High School’s band. The board delayed its vote after Director of Schools Tim Parrott said he would prefer to put the project on hold until the next budget comes out. He explained to The Courier News that the school system’s policy is to fund similar programs at each of the schools based on number of students rather than just which school requests the money. “By student, everything has to be equal, so when you give more money to one group of students, you have to give it to the other band’s students,” he said.
Read MoreNorris sewer upgrade work expected to begin on July 14
Hurst Excavating LLC. of Knoxville plans to begin work July 14 on its $851,455 contract from the city of Norris for the first phase of sewer-line upgrades, City Manager Adam Ledford told the City Council on Monday night. The project includes replacing older lines to help reduce the influx of stormwater runoff that overwhelms the city’s sewage-treatment plant following significant rainfall. The contract, approved April 14 by the council, will cover about 25% of the sanitary-sewer system, City Manager Adam Ledford said. “These are the areas most in need of repair or replacement to reduce load levels at the sewer plant,” he said. The work is expected to cause some traffic disruptions, mainly on East Norris Road, as the lines are uncovered, Ledford said. “There will be very little damage to roads.” In conjunction with that, the council voted Monday to seek bids for repaving a section of East Norris Road from the Commons to Pine Road. Ledford said the city already has money in the budget to cover that portion, but also plans to extend the work from Pine Road to Cedar Place, near Andersonville Highway, when money is available for that.
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News
Norris cuts recycling, ends back-door pickup Read More
Board approves donation-funded projects for schools Read More
Norris sewer upgrade work expected to begin on July 14 Read More
Sports
Ridenour, Bond lead Mavs to region title Read More
Lady Dragons flag football launches with Friday night scrimmage Read More
Softball honors Read More
Clinton’s season ends short of regionals Read More
Cocke County halts Anderson County’s postseason push Read More
Wildcats to host sectional after winning Region 2-4A Read More
Lady Wildcats’ season closes Read More
Paige Taylor ends tenure with 259 wins, four state trips Read More
Wildcats find their stride in tourney, capture District 3-AAA championship Read More
Greenhalgh returns to state, aims to defend 800 crown Read More
Mavericks’ trio, Clinton’s Butz return to state Read More
Dragons soccer falls to Gibbs in semifinals Read More
Maverick skills camp brings Lofton, lessons to youth Read More
Leveling up: Clinton’s Jeffers inks historic e-sports deal with Winthrop Read More
Mavericks fall in semifinals to Scott Read More
Community
Norris summer concerts begin June 6, will run through July 4 Read More
Paws, piñatas and a party: Gunther the tiger turns 17 at Little Ponderosa Zoo Read More
May Clinton Public Library programs Read More
Vase painting, movie night at Briceville Center Read More
Military free-admissions program at Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge Read More
School
Drone zone: Clinton students take flight in competitive racing club Read More
Clinton Middle School wins second in “Dream it. Do it” competition Read More
AC Schools announces free summer meal packs Read More
Clinton fifth graders experience BizTown life Read More
Business
Fresh start Read More
Scotty’s Hamburgers rolls into Rocky Top with big flavors, small building Read More
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Anderson County High School Homecoming View
Faces at the Fair View
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