Local News

The Roane County Sheriff’s Office is better equipped to deal with a high risk situation thanks to the addition of an armored truck.

Chief Deputy Tim Phillips said the security firm WSI Oak Ridge donated the vehicle to the sheriff’s office last week.
“We’re grateful to have it,” he said.

Unlike a patrol car, the used Ford F350 truck is supposed to withstand bullets. Phillips said it’s outfitted with armor plates and bullet-proof glass.

It sits in Kingston, but Harriman owns a medical building it acquired after the contracts were signed to turn over Roane Medical Center operations to Covenant Health.

Harriman officials will be deciding on a lease agreement for the facility at its meeting Tuesday. Currently Roane Medical Center Industrial Medicine is located at that building.

After three years of steady rates, Kingston City Council set the final reading of an ordinance raising city water and sewer rates by 5 percent for fiscal 2012-13.

The decisive final vote will occur at the June 12 full council session. The measure setting the annual budget for the water and sewer departments for fiscal ’12-’13 and establishing rates and expenses passed on first reading at the May meeting.

Roane County juvenile officer Chris Mason and Leonora Spangler, a youth service officer for Roane County Juvenile Court supervise a group of children in the Children’s Attitude Motivational Program at Riverfront Park in Harriman, where Mason is also mayor. The summer program is sponsored by the Roane County Anti-Drug Coalition, on which Spangler also serves as a board member, and the National Guard. Last Wednesday, the group worked to clean up plant growth between pavers at the veterans’ memorial at the park.