Lenoir City News

An 81-year-old Bradley County man was killed this morning when the driver of the vehicle in which he was riding lost control on Interstate 75 in Monroe County and struck three trees, a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper said.

The robbery of a Lenoir City pharmacy bears a strong resemblance to an earlier one in west Knox County, and investigators are looking into whether the two are linked.

A Loudon woman accused of killing her husband in the town's first alleged murder in decades was arraigned Monday in Loudon County General Sessions Court.

State Rep. Jimmy Matlock, R-Lenoir City, says education will be the focus in a special legislative session of the Tennessee General Assembly in January.

Lenoir City attorney Shannon Littleton has been named general manager of the Lenoir City Utilities Board.

Littleton replaces Fred Nelson, who retired as GM in October after 44 years with the utility. LCUB provides electrical service to 66,000 customers including those in West Knoxville and Farragut.

The LCUB board of directors voted unanimously Monday to follow the recommendation of the search committee and elevate Littleton from interim general manager to the role of full-time GM.

A committee, made up of Lenoir City Utilities Board (LCUB) members, made its choice Thursday to recommend Shannon Littleton as the person to fill LCUB's general manager position.

Monday, the committee is set to recommending to the full LCUB board that it hire Littleton, who now holds the assistant general manager post, as well as city attorney, according to members of the committee. The board is scheduled to meet 4 p.m. in the city hall.

(guest editorial, by Amy Vittatoe)

I was recently informed of Angie Housley Vittatoe's interest in running for Loudon County Clerk and the thought of this humors me. Mrs. Angie Vittatoe does not hold the qualifications needed for a position of such importance. If she had the qualifications she still does not possess the morals and ethical standards needed to hold such a respectable job.

I am in disbelief that Mrs. Vittatoe actually feels that she is a good candidate for Loudon County Clerk after the immoral behaviors she has displayed over the past few years while working for Loudon County Government.

Does Mrs. Vittatoe think the community has forgotten her public affair in 2005 with her current husband Jeff Vittatoe while they were both in long-term marriages? Does she believe the public has forgotten her allegations that she was carrying Mr. Vittatoe's child, hoping that he would leave his wife and family to be with her after she developed an infatuation for him while he was investigating her cousin's murder? Does she think she has buried the secret of her past employment, from 2006-2007, hosting novelty parties and selling naughty toys?

On Angie’s campaign web page, none of these matters are in her "About Me" profile.

I personally have not forgotten the lustrous rendezvous that Jeff and Angie Vittatoe were having in motels during Loudon County Government work hours, because their immorality and lack of respect for marriages caused a great deal of hurt and humiliation for both her previous husband and me, Jeff's wife.

At the time of the affair Jeff and I had been married 6 years, and I stayed with him 2 years after the affair trying to work on our marriage.

That was the hardest two years of my life. But I was raised that marriage is a commitment to God and divorce is the last alternative.

Two years and one month later, in October of 2007, I left Jeff. I divorced him in December 2007 under the terms of his marital misconduct. About a month later, I discovered that Jeff and Angie had picked up on their relationship where they had left off, or at least claimed they had left off.

Knowing what I have endured from Angie Vittatoe over the past 4 years, she has demonstrated that she is not a good candidate for public office by her actions of dishonesty, impulsiveness and lack of concern for others.

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A Lenoir City woman who has admitted stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from several employers over the past decade is back in trouble with the law.

Kimberley Michelle Thomas, 44, was arrested earlier this week by the Loudon County Sheriff's Office and charged with theft over $10,000.

Her former employer, Walt Williams Inc., has accused Thomas of embezzling $16,000 in November. Investigators say the total missing over the past year could surpass $100,000.

Commit incest/statutory rape with a teenage stepdaughter, father a child, then get out of jail after only nine months.

For details, contact the offices of District Attorney General Lawrence Russell Johnson and/or Ninth Judicial District Criminal Court Judge Elmer Eugene Eblen.

The list of people who have picked up petitions to qualify for the upcoming election is large and growing.

One of the most watched races will for county mayor. Incumbent Doyle Arp and current school board member Van Shaver have declared for the Republican primary. Lenoir City Mayor Matt Brookshire, a Democrat, will face the winner in the general election.

In county commission races:

District 1, Seat A - incumbent Nancy Marcus faces opposition from two fellow Republicans, William Culvahouse and Kevin Walker.

District 1, Seat B - thus far incumbent David Meers is alone on the ballot.

District 2, Seat A - Democrat Earlena Maples will face Republican Frank Hahn.

District 2, Seat B - incumbent Austin Shaver currently faces no opposition.

District 3 - Republican Bob Franke has no opposition so far.

District 4 - Roy Bledsoe faces a Republican primary challenge from Mike Newman, assistant chief of the Loudon Police Department.

District 5, Seat A - Harold Duff is unopposed so far.

District 5, Seat B - only Republican Kenneth Shockley has declared so far.

District 6: Democrats Wayne Gardin and Christie Kreischer; Republicans Steve Harrelson and Bill Campbell (who is also listed as an Independent).

District 7 - Don Miller is the only candidate so far.

Sheriff - a Republican primary rematch between Tim Guider and Steve Cook will occur.

County Clerk: four Republicans - Nicholas Bradshaw, Mike Cartwright, Darlene Russell and Angie Vittatoe - have all thrown their hats into the ring.

Trustee - Estelle Herron has no opponent so far.

Register of Deeds - Tracie Littleton also has no opponent so far. Road Superintendent - Sean Giles faces Republican primary opposition from Tim Brewster and Gary Kinard.

This list is not necessarily complete. Candidates have until February 18 to declare their intention to be on the ballot.

As Lenoir City Council considered the first reading of an ordinance to adopt a stream buffer regulation in keeping with recent state mandates, local developer Ed Loy warned council members Monday the ordinance could have an "devastating economic impact" on those who own property adjacent to Town Creek.

A project designed to improve traffic flow along Highway 321 in Lenoir City may get started next year.

The former home of a Lenoir City car dealership has been listed for $1.7 million.

Officers are asking the public to help find a missing Lenoir City man who has dementia.

From Staff Reports Originally published: December 02. 2009 3:01AM Last modified: December 02.

A puzzling ring mystery has captured imaginations, fascinating a string of people all the way from central Tennessee, west of Nashville, to Loudon County.

Additions to four dams across East Tennessee have some neighbors in Loudon County questioning why roughly $8 million of public money is being spent in preparation for a type of flood East Tennessee has never seen.

A holiday event that has become an annual tradition locally - the live Nativity scene at Sixth Avenue Church of God - will continue this year for the 11th season, despite an alleged vandal's attack.

Hundreds crowded along Lenoir City's main street Sunday to witness the holiday spirit during the city's annual Christmas Parade.

While funding shortfalls have resulted in a temporary shutdown of the Iva's Place homeless shelter in Lenoir City, hot meals will continue to be available to the hungry, and operations will continue for local victims of domestic violence, thanks to emergency aid from United Way of Loudon County.