Early voting began last Wednesday for the May 5 Anderson County primary election, and will run until Thursday, April 30.
The key race is for the Republican nomination for county mayor, in which incumbent, Terry Frank faces challenger Joshua Anderson, who is now a District 3 county commissioner.
As of the end of the day Monday, April 20, there had been 1,930 people voting by machine at the three early-voting polling sites, and an additional 77 by mail-in ballots, for a total early-vote count of 2,007.
This traffic signal structure at the intersection of Mariner Point Road and Tennessee Route 61 doesn’t light up yet. The city of Clinton is still waiting on a control cabinet for the new lights. - Ben Pounds
Drivers passing the Mariner Point and Tennessee Route 61 intersection may notice traffic lights that are not yet operational.
Clinton City Manager Roger Houck told The Courier News that the city is waiting on a control cabinet for the new signals to arrive from California.
The city also is working on pavement markings and advance warning signs, he said.
The lights will control traffic coming to and from the Anderson County Senior Center and the adjacent neighborhood.
Houck said that once the signals are ready, they will flash for 14 days before becoming fully operational.
“I’m sure it will take a little bit of getting used to,” he said.
Other
infrastructure
Houck said the city is waiting to complete the downtown project before moving on to other infrastructure priorities.
Once that work is finished, the city plans a paving project for roads, parking lots and paths in several locations.
“We’ve got some parking lots and paths that haven’t been paved in several years, so we want to focus on that,” he said.
Work began Monday on demo;ition of these bleachers at the George Templin Memorial Athletic Field in Rocky Top to make way for expanded seating and other upgrades. - G. Chambers Williams III
Data centers will be allowed in Rocky Top under a special exception in M-1 industrial zones since the City Council passed an amendment to the zoning ordinance on second reading last week.
In March, the council had unanimously passed on first reading Ordinance 620, which amends the city’s zoning regulations to include data centers.
The council gave the measure another unanimous “yes” vote on final reading Thursday night.
The vote came during the regular April council meeting, following a public hearing a half-hour before the meeting. In the hearing and during the council meeting, several people in attendance expressed concerns about allowing the centers in the city.
But Mayor Kerry Templin told them that by law, the city can’t ban data centers – although it can regulate them.
And even though he said no one had yet approached the city about bring one to Rocky Top, he said the ordinance is necessary because without it, a data center could be built “anywhere in town.”
Children moved moments before car struck downtown dance building
by G. Chambers Williams III
First-responders work the scene of a traffic accident on Commerce Street in Clinton last Wednesday afternoon (April 15), in which a Tesla electric car drove through the side of the Dream Dance Studio. - Jackson Pirkle | Special to The Courier News
A woman test-driving a 2024 Tesla electric car crashed the vehicle into the side of the Dream Dance Studio on Commerce Street in downtown Clinton last Wednesday afternoon, knocking a large hole in the building – but miraculously not injuring anyone inside.
The crash, which the woman told bystanders occurred because she “accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake” pedal when pulling out of the Commerce Street parking lot, wrecked the interior of one of three large dance classrooms inside the building.
Only the driver and two male passengers in the car were injured, but not seriously, witnesses and police said. They were all from Knoxville.
Dream Dance Studio owner Olivia Bartley-Hill said that some children had been participating in a dance class in the affected room just minutes earlier, but had been moved to another classroom before the car crashed through.
An assessment of the condition of nearly 14 miles of Norris city streets will be performed by the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization at a cost of just $2,920 to the city under an agreement approved by the City Council last week.
The so-called “Roadway Pavement Condition Analysis” is similar to one just recently completed by the same organization for the city of Clinton, which has resulted in a plan by that city to undergo a comprehensive repaving project.
Norris city officials learned of the Knoxville Regional TPO’s road-assessment program recently, after Clinton’s plan was announced in the media.
The suggestion that Norris find a way to get its street conditions assessed came from a public workshop on roads held just prior to the March 9 City Council meeting by Councilman Bill Grieve.
The Knoxville Regional TPO, founded in 1977, “is federally mandated to provide comprehensive transportation planning in the TPO Planning Area,” according to its website.
Originally including just the city of Knoxville and a surrounding part of Knox County, the TPO planning area has been expanded over the years
As Anderson County prepares to elect its next mayor, The Courier News invited the candidates to respond to questions on leadership, priorities and long-term planning.The questions posed were:
1. Leadership and vision: Based on your political philosophy and your approach to solving problems, why should voters elect or re-elect you as Anderson County mayor?
2. Top challenge: What do you believe will be the most-serious challenge facing the next Anderson County mayor term, and what specific policy or initiative would you pursue to address it?
3. Education: What role does education play in Anderson County’s long-term success, and how would you support the county’s schools and workforce development efforts as mayor?
4. Infrastructure: As mayor, what would be your plan to improve and maintain infrastructure, including road repairs, traffic management and future development?
5. Growth and planning: What specific policies or planning strategies would you support to ensure growth occurs in appropriate areas while reflecting the priorities and quality-of- life concerns of current residents?
Park Road may have collapsed due to erosion, but the Anderson County Commission now has approved funding to fix it.
The commission unanimously voted to approve $395,000 for the stabilization of Park Road near the entrance to Anderson County Park along Norris Lake.
County Finance Director Robert Holbrook said the county needs to repair both the road and the bank erosion below it.
He said the county hopes to fix the problem while the water level is still low for spring.
The road collapsed partially in 2025.
Drivers since then have had to take a detour to reach boat launches and a picnic area. Commissioner Tracy Wandell said the area is set to host a fishing tournament.
Commissioner Robert McKamey made the motion and Commissioner Anthony Allen seconded. Commissioner Sabra Beauchamp was absent.
The commission voted to take $85,000 from Sports Gaming Tax funding and $310,000 from previously unassigned fund balance to pay for the Park Road repairs.
“This is a safety issue,” said Commissioner Chad McNabb. “This is dangerous.”
Other budget items included:
• $700,000 for a bridge replacement on Bridges Road over Byrams Ford Creek.
• $20,000 in unassigned fund balance for evaluations recommending areas of improvement for the Anderson County Animal Shelter.
• $306,500 for asphalt, other charges and other contracted services for the Highway Department.
• $445,000 for rental equipment, crushed stone and and fuel for the Highway Department.
• $17,500 in civil engineering services for a new Emergency Medical Services training facility.
With a proven record of service and a commitment to protecting and strengthening the community, Neil Phillips has officially announced his campaign for County Commission, District 1.
At 61, Neil is stepping forward with decades of real-world experience and a deep-rooted dedication to public service, he said.
Now retired from a career as a journeyman lineman, he has spent years giving back to the community — including 11 years as a volunteer firefighter and four years serving as a sheriff’s reserve deputy.
“Serving this community has always been important to me,” Neil said. “Whether it was responding to emergencies or supporting law enforcement, I’ve always believed in stepping up when it matters most. Now, I’m ready to continue that service in a new way.”
His campaign centers on strong, steady leadership and a focus on issues that matter most to local families.
