Closures of East Norris Road between the Norris Commons and Pine Road for sewer construction will end this week, and that section of the road will be ready for repaving, the city’s water and sewer superintendant told the City Council on Monday night. - G. Chambers Williams III
Sewer rates in Norris tentatively will be going up beginning Dec. 1, the City Council decided Monday.
On first reading, the council voted 4-0 to add a special sewer-rehabilitation charge of $20 a month to the bills of all sewer customers, but will phase it with $5 increments every three months, beginning Dec. 1.
The full $20 charge would kick in as of Sept. 1, 2026.
The additional charges will be added to the base sewer rate to help finance state-mandated upgrades to the system.
Council members will consider approving the increase on second and final reading during their Nov. 10 regular meeting, which begins at 6 p.m.
There will be a public hearing on the proposed ordinance at 5:45 p.m., just prior to the council meeting.
Residents would see the first $5 increase on their Dec. 1 utility bills, followed by an additional $5 every three months through Sept. 1, 2026.
That would raise the base sewer rate from the current $55.01 a month for the first 2,000 gallons to $60.01 on Dec. 1, $65.01 on March 1, $70.01 on June 1, and $75.01 on Sept. 1.
Usage in excess of 2,000 gallons a month would continue to be billed at $9.44 per 1,000 gallons for the next 7,000 gallons, then $12.48 per 1,000 gallons beyond the first 9,000 gallons.
Jeff Pack has announced his candidacy for the Anderson County Commission’s District 5.
Pack, a lifelong resident of the Dutch Valley community, said his deep roots in the area and decades of professional experience inspired his decision to seek office.
“I am a lifelong resident of the Dutch Valley community, a graduate of the Anderson County School System, and a local business owner for the last 28 years,” Pack said in a statement.
“I have worked with the county on contracts various times over the last 35 years.”
Pack said he hopes to continue contributing to the county’s progress and growth.
“My desire is to help keep Anderson County moving forward as one of the best places to live in this country,” he said.
“I would consider it an honor and a privilege to hold the office of commissioner.
“I hope I can count on you for your support,” Pack said.
Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank was recently elected to serve as president of the Tennessee Association of County Mayors.
The election was held during a board meeting at the annual fall conference of the Tennessee County Services Association.
While Frank was elected to serve as president, Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden was elected first-vice-president; Decatur County Mayor Mike Creasy was elected second-vice-president; and Cumberland County Mayor Allen Foster was elected as secretary.
“I am very grateful and humbled to be elected to serve by some incredible mayors and executives,” Frank said. “Tennessee is blessed with very hard-working and caring mayors and executives, and I truly love working on the issues that matter to local government.
“Our entire system of government is important, but because local government is so close to people on a day-to-day basis, it holds a very special place in my heart,” she said.
Past-President Mayor Jake Bynum stepped down as county mayor in Weakley County to serve in a new role at the University of Tennessee Martin in May 2024.
At that time, Frank was elected to serve the remainder of his unexpired term.
With the new election, along with Golden, Creasy, and Foster, she will serve a one-year term.
An Anderson County Grand Jury has returned indictments against Thomas Schrimpscher, 27, on one count of rape and one count of contributing to dependency and neglect.
Following an investigation by the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, the District Attorney General’s Office presented the case to the Anderson County Grand Jury, which returned indictments against Schrimpscher, a news release from District Attorney David Clark’s office stated.
The charge of rape is categorized as a Class B felony, and the contributing to dependency and neglect is categorized as a Class A misdemeanor, the news release stated.
Schrimpscher has been booked into the Anderson County Detention Facility on a $150,000 bond. He was set for arraignment on Oct. 27 in the Anderson County Criminal Court.
Work and spending on renovations to the Anderson County Health Department building continues.
The building is at 710 North Main Street in Clinton.
During its September meeting, the Anderson County Commission approved $250,000 for renovations.
It also added a $349,000 grant of state and federal funds to its budget.
Mayor Terry Frank told The Courier News these renovations involve moving the dental clinic to the end of the building rather than having its offices spread out over the rest of the building.
Frank said this will give the dental clinic more space as well as improve efficiency for the whole building.
The new dental clinic space is one of many phases of renovations.
This section of Main Street, between Leinart and Church streets, remained closed to vehicular traffic this week as construction work continued on the street and sidewalks. - G. Chambers Williams III
Again this week, street and sidewalk construction continues to keep part of Main Street closed in downtown Clinton, even as downtown stores remain open for business.
The section from Church to Leinart streets, which was closed last Tuesday, remained blocked to traffic Monday, and will remain that way about another week, until work moves into the Phase 3 area, from Leinart to Broad streets.
As the schedule was originally announced in mid-August, Main Street was to be shut down in three phases, two times each, from Aug. 24 through Nov. 24.
In the first phase, Main Street was closed from Cullom to Church streets Aug. 24 until week before last.
After Phase 3 is completed, the three-step process will repeat, with the final work planned to be finished in late November to mid-December, weather permitting.
Traffic disruptions are the result of street, sidewalk and utility construction work that has already kept most of Market Street shut down since mid-July, blocking vehicular access to the fronts of most of the downtown businesses along Market Street.
All of the Market and Main street businesses remain open throughout the construction, with parking available in the two downtown parking lots – on Commerce Street and on North Main Street at North Hicks Street.
Jefferson Middle’s Easton Knipp tucks the ball and runs in heavy traffic during the Eagles’ home stand against Jacksboro at Blankenship Field. The Jefferson Eagles won 34-6. - Dwane Wilder
In a game cut short by storms, Jefferson Middle School’s football team still made the most of its return to the win column.
The Eagles bounced back from a loss to Norris by defeating Jacksboro 34-6 on Tuesday, Sept. 2, at Blankenship Field. The game was called in the third quarter due to inclement weather.
Quarterback Easton Knipp delivered a two-way performance to remember.
He completed 9-of-10 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns, while also picking off two passes and making two tackles in the defensive secondary.
Brandon Zamora carried five times for 80 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Jefferson rushing attack.
