The main fire truck for the city of Norris lies on its side along West Norris Road on Wednesday evening, Nov. 12, after rolling over while responding to a call. No injuries were reported, but the 2012 Emergency One pumper truck was deemed a total loss. - G. Chambers Williams III
A rollover accident last Wednesday night destroyed the main fire truck for the Norris Volunteer Norris Fire Department, but neither of the two firefighters on board was injured, Assistant City Manager Bailey Whited said.
According to emergency personnel at the scene, the truck was responding to a traffic accident on Norris freeway around 8:30 when its right-side wheels slipped off the pavement on West Norris Road, causing the truck to roll over when the driver brought it back onto the road.
The 2012 Emergency One brand pumper truck, carrying firefighting equipment and a 750-gallow water tank, reportedly rolled over three times, then came to rest on its side on the grass off the left side of the road.
It ended up pointing back in the direction from which it had come. It was left in pieces by the crash, with the hood smashed on the driver’s side, among other extensive damage.
Whited said that while the truck itself was considered a total loss, “We had minimal equipment loss.”
Anderson County is looking to build a new shelter in Carden Farm Park to replace its current facility on Blockhouse Valley Road. - Ben Pounds
With the bids in, Anderson County now expects construction costs for a new animal shelter to be $5,797,512.
The Anderson County Commission at its Monday, Nov. 17, meeting approved a motion awarding the bid to the architect’s recommended bidder, subject to U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development approval, with the county paying what Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank called the “soft costs.” Frank said she would write a letter to the USDA to explain how the county would cover those soft costs. Neither the resolution nor Frank named the officially recommended bidder, which she said she did not yet have.
The new animal shelter will be near the Carden Farm Dog Park and will replace the county’s current animal shelter on Blockhouse Valley Road. Frank said the commission had earlier authorized a bond ceiling of $5.9 million for the USDA loan-funded project. Given the construction and other costs, the county will be left with $102,488 from the USDA loan for the shelter’s equipment.
Frank stated the county had already paid $202,013.06 of $284,730 in architect fees and had the capacity to pay the initial debt-service payments out of the debt-service fund to cover the cost differential.
Lacresha Logan, Programs Director at the Anderson County Detention Facility received the Tennessee Corrections Institute (TCI) Programs Facilitator of the Year honor.
“This statewide award honors individuals who go above and beyond to create meaningful change through education, rehabilitation, and personal development programs within correctional facilities,” an announcement from Anderson County Sheriff’s Office stated.
“Director Logan’s compassion, dedication, and leadership have made a lasting impact on the lives of countless individuals working toward a better future.”
Sheriff Russell Barker praised Logan’s commitment, stating, “Lacresha’s work reflects the highest standards of professionalism and care. Her passion for helping others rebuild their lives represents the best of what we strive for here in Anderson County.”
Work on a traffic light on the intersection of Mariner Point and State Route 61 has paused as the city of Clinton waits on supplies.
Clinton City Manager Roger Houck discussed the project at the Oct. 27 Clinton City Council meeting.
He said the city was waiting on a mast arm and other items for that light’s construction. Installation, he said, should be ready to start by Jan. 1. He estimated the light will take a few months to complete with workers installing it early spring or late winter.
Houck previously said the project will cost the city $299,000. While it involves a state road, he said the Tennessee Department of Transportation did not believe after studies that a light was warranted but would let the city install one at its own expense. City officials, including Clinton Mayor Scott Burton, however, have said traffic is worsening at that intersection.
The area includes the Anderson County Senior Center, The Lantern at Morning Pointe Senior Living facility, an Exxon station and a residential neighborhood.
A section of East Norris Road in Norris sports a fresh coat of asphalt after repaving was completed on Thursday afternoon, Nov. 13. Striping of the center line and edges was completed later. - G. Chambers Williams III
Repaving work was completed last week on a section of East Norris Road from Norris Square to Pine Road, and part of Dogwood Road, under a contract approved in June by the Norris City Council.
Duracap Asphalt Paving Contractors of Knoxville moved equipment into place on Monday, Nov. 10, and began grinding off part of the old road surface on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the paving crew put a new 1.5-inch asphalt overlay on East Norris and Dogwood, from Norris Square to 36 Dogwood Road.
Friday, restriping of traffic lanes was done on East Norris Road.
The East Norris Road work was $119,000, and the work on Dogwood Road cost $58,000.
Norris already had enough money in its current budget to cover those sections.
Workers have begun pouring new concrete curbs and putting up low brick barriers along Market Street in downtown Clinton as work on the city’s key business district continues. Sidewalks are scheduled to be poured next. - G. Chambers Williams III
The section of Main Street from Leinart to Broad streets was closed to traffic beginning this week as road and sidewalk construction continues, and will remain that way for the next couple of weeks.
Also, most of Market Street continues to be closed to vehicles, but improvements that have been promised under the downtown street and sidewalk project have begun showing up. New curbs and some low brick walls along Market Street were installed over the past few days, and sidewalk repaving is not far behind, city officials say.
The newest Main Street closure is a continuation of a schedule announced in mid-August that said it would be shut down in three sections and phases, two times each, from Aug. 24 through mid-December.
In the first phase, Main Street was closed from Cullom to Church streets, then in Phase 2, it was closed from Church to Leinart streets.
Last week, Main Street was open to traffic all the way through, but a short section was restricted to a single lane, with flaggers allowing traffic to alternate directions through the one-lane area.
