An armed robber made off with pain medication from Tallent Drugs in Copperhill Monday morning.
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January
2010
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Officials with the Tennessee Department of Transportation announced last week that work will be completed by March 31.
The grueling commute from East Polk to work, doctors office, and school will continue for another 11 weeks before the Nov. 10 rockslide can be cleared off Hwy. 64. Officials with the Tennessee Department of Transportation announced last week that work will be completed by March 31. TDOT originally estimated clean-up would take at least eight weeks.
In addition to adding to the burden of commuters, the new deadline will force a change to the beginning of whitewater rafting, which normally starts in mid-March. TDOT spokesperson Jennifer Flynn said repairs to the ramp will be made when the debris is cleared from the road and river. “The put-in will be in good shape before we leave the area in March,” she said.
After several weeks of work at the site, crews have successfully removed approximately 6,000 cubic yards of debris and have stabilized the portion of Little Frog Mountain located immediately west of the slide. Crews must now work to stabilize the area immediately east of the slide, which is complicated by the presence of the TVA Dam directly beneath the unstable rock shelf.
“Crews must work safely, quickly and carefully around the TVA Dam, which was originally built in the early 1900s, in order to ensure public safety,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “We understand the hardship this has placed on residents of Copperhill and Ducktown who must continue driving a considerably longer route to reach the other side of the slide and we will continue to work closely with the contractor to reopen the roadway as quickly as possible.”
Workers used blasting and scaling (hand removal of loose rocks and debris) to stabilize the western side of the slope. On the eastern side, a large, diagonal rock shelf about 22 feet thick must be stabilized before material can be removed from the roadway beneath it. Workers must use small controlled blasts to split the rock shelf in order to reduce the possibility of a second large rockslide, which would likely impact the TVA Ocoee Dam No. 2. Crews will also drive large 40-foot long rock anchors into the rock to secure it in place.
Once all the rock is stabilized, workers will begin removing the large boulders at the bottom of the mountain. The contractor will then repair the damaged roadbed and TDOT crews will repave U.S. 64 and reopen it to traffic. Currently the contractor is working only during daylight hours because of the treacherous nature of the work, said TDOT Chief Engineer Paul Degges. As rock drilling progresses and safety improves, the contractor plans to move to a 24-hour a day schedule in order to reopen the roadway as quickly as possible, he said.
TDOT originally estimated some 30,000 cubic yards of material would need to be removed from the site, but has revised that estimate to 15,000 cubic yards of debris to be removed, of which 6,000 cubic yards has already been hauled from the site.
While the road is closed TDOT maintenance crews are working to improve some areas along the U.S. 64 corridor by reinforcing shoulders and removing other potentially loose and hanging rock from the slopes in other areas. Removing rocks and material from the sides of some of the sharper curves also improved the safety and sight distance along the roadway.
TDOT has created a special web page for the U.S. 64 rockslide (http://bit.ly/1Tlc8m) that includes news releases, photos and a map of the slide detour. TDOT has also posted progress updates, updated photos, periodical video updates and a live time-lapse camera of work at the site. A link to the site is available at www.polknewsonline.com. Due to the dangerous and unpredictable nature of the work, no one will be allowed on the work site without a TDOT escort.
The Polk County Planning Commission voted last month to send a letter of intent to call in the remaining $24,000 of the road bond for Phase V of Ocoee Mountain Club.
State-of-the-art mapping technology is located in every ambulance now that Rural/Metro has takesnover, thanks to the foresight of the Polk County 911 Board.
The McMinn County Living Heritage Museum’s iconic schoolhouse quilt has been replicated on an 8-foot-square block and installed above the museum’s front entrance as part of the Appalachian Quilt Trail program.
After the social hour and meal the business session was held and several important items were discussed, including the selection of the 2010 scholarship recipient from Polk County High School.
Polk County High School students put their skills and talents together at the National Technology Students Association Conference and came away as National Champs in the On-Demand Video Competition.
The Museum Center is pleased to host an exhibition that looks at the history of the fraternal lodges in Bradley County and the impact that they have made on the development of our area.
The Bonnie Blues 956 Chapter of the Children of the Confederacy made a trip to Franklin, Tennessee on June 18 and 19 to attend the Tennessee Division Convention.
The long-awaited book is an update of the very popular “Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests: A Field Guide for Identification and Control,” published by the Station in 2003.
How effective have plastic bag bans and restrictions been on reducing plastic litter and other problems associated with their proliferation? And is it really better to use paper bags, which will just lead to more deforestation?
Wildlife linkages can have a significant impact on decreasing animal deaths on roadways as well as highway safety, according to An Assessment of Wildlife and Aquatic Habitat Linkages.
A pair of juvenille White Ibis have been visiting the East Tennessee Nursery during the last two weeks ... seemingly content to feed on the abundant Junebug population.
Jim Caldwell snapped this picture last week, commenting that he couldn't believe he saw something so unusual as a deer grazing in the middle of the Hiwassee River.
Subscriber Carol Cooper captured what appears to be a special moment between two cardinals at about 7:15 last Wednesday morning at Campbell Cove Lake in Turtletown.
A group of Copper Basin High School students learned about environmental cleanup, the importance of clean water and the history of copper mining during Earth Day activities hosted by Glenn Springs Holdings.
The new, easier-to-use site provides new ways to explore Living Heritage Museum’s current and upcoming exhibitions, its programs and events, and detailed information about the Museum and its collection.
The Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association (TOHA) hopes to capitalize on that trend by promoting driving tours that link the Cherohala Skyway and Ocoee Scenic Byway.
Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Officials report that three American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (stimulus) funded projects in the Cherokee National Forest were recently completed.
Each year, the State of Tennessee Department of Tourist Development publishes a Vacation Guide that includes a collection of Tennessee’s finest communities.
A Tennessee Overhill trail will be included in the initiative, and the Cherohala Skyway between Monroe County and North Carolina is included in the byways section.
Linda Caldwell, executive director of the Tennessee Overhill Heritage Tourisim Association, is helping to coordinate the local effort under the state guidelines.
In addition to destroying part of the county’s major highway, last week’s rockslide also damaged the county’s major tourism infrastructure – the whitewater rafting put-in.
Governor Phil Bredesen today announced the 2010 Back to School CoverKids outreach campaign to help enroll Tennessee’s children in the state’s free, comprehensive health insurance plan.
A man claiming to be a representative of Volunteer Energy Cooperative (VEC) telephoned at least two Meigs County residents early Wednesday morning attempting to get money.
The Department of Revenue is reminding Tennessee shoppers that during these three days of savings, you can save almost 10 percent on tax-free clothing, school and art supplies and computer purchases.
Volunteer Energy Cooperative (VEC) officials were recently alerted of a person trying to gain access to a VEC customer’s home by claiming to be an employee of “the electric company.”
In fact, due to ARRA incentives, initial federal data shows the average tax refund for 2009 is up nearly 10 percent, or $266, from the previous year, according to Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Doug Shulman.
While the economy slowly recovers, many budget-conscious homeowners are looking for simple, cost-effective ways to transform their homes' exteriors into inviting outdoor "land-escapes" that can be enjoyed year around.
Dear EarthTalk: I see a lot of “healthy snacks” being marketed for kids that list “natural flavors” but don’t identify them. Should I use these products?
Flowers and plants are blooming, the sun is shining and the weather is finally getting warmer after winter's chill. So why not bring some of spring's beauty into your home so you can enjoy it day after day?
Reports from across the nation indicate fake agents and sales representatives are going door-to-door claiming to be with the federal government to peddle phony health insurance policies.
At a Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission meeting, action was taken which reduced the bear archery season to three weeks from the originally proposed five week season.
The second Kid’s Fishing Day, hosted by TWRA, Forest Service and the Cherokee Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, will be at McCamy Lake in the Chilhowee Recreation Area on May 15th, 8 am-12 pm.
An economic benefit study of trout fishing in Tennessee showed total expenditures of $1.5 million for the Hiwassee River during a 6-month period in 2002.
What many consider the "King of American Game Birds", the wild turkey is quite vocal during the spring breeding season. The call (gobble) of the wild turkey in the mountains of east Tennessee is an unforgettable sound.
TWRA officials met with the county’s Fish & Wildlife Committee and more than a dozen citizens to discuss the planning process for a new five-year management plan for the river.
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