Oak Ridge Today

Archives for June 2012

Anderson County race key to Republican House majority

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John Ragan Campaign Kickoff

Tennessee Rep. John Ragan, right, talks to Andrew Kern, left, of Lenoir City, and Ken Wood, of Tellico Village, during a campaign kickoff ceremony Wednesday.

The state House district that includes Oak Ridge and most of Anderson County could be key to Republican plans to maintain a majority this fall–and possibly even gain a supermajority.

“This is one of those races that is going to make or break that supermajority,” said Holt Whitt, a member of the Republican Caucus field staff in Nashville.

Whitt is helping Rep. John Ragan, an Oak Ridge Republican, prepare for the Nov. 6 election, and he attended a Wednesday morning campaign kickoff ceremony for Ragan.

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DOE facility disposes of 1.4 million tons of waste

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DOE's waste management facility

Aerial photo of EMWMF. (Photo submitted by UCOR)

After 10 years of operation, the Environmental Management Waste Management Facility has safely disposed of 1.45 million tons of waste from cleanup projects across the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Reservation, a press release said.

The waste management facility, which is located near the Y-12 National Security Complex, began operating in May 2002. It accepts a variety of wastes, including soil, sludge, sediments, vegetation, personal protective equipment, and scrap equipment.

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Anderson County jail budget standoff continues Monday

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Anderson County Commission Budget Meeting

Anderson County commissioners try to resolve a funding standoff with Sheriff Paul White, right, during a Monday night meeting. Also pictured from left are commissioners Johnny Alley, Jerry White, and Rick Meredith.

CLINTON–The sheriff insisted he needs at least 13 jailers to open a new dormitory this summer but the county commission would not raise property taxes again, so a budget standoff remained unresolved after a special meeting Tuesday night.

The Anderson County Budget Committee will wrestle with the budget again during an afternoon meeting next Monday, and the County Commission will hear any new proposals during its regular meeting that evening.

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Small business workshop on June 27

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The Tennessee Small Business Development Center is having a free workshop for small business owners and entrepreneurs on Wednesday, June 27, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

This workshop, in partnership with the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, is designed for small business owners and entrepreneurs who want a better understanding of starting a new business.

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Ragan kicks off Tennessee House campaign

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Tennessee Rep. John Ragan will kick off his 2012 campaign for the state House of Representatives during a Wednesday morning ceremony in Oak Ridge.

The ceremony starts at 11 a.m. at Ragan’s campaign headquarters at 103 Jefferson Ave.

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Rogers Group wants to expand mining, quarry through land swap

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Rogers Group Inc. wants to expand its mining and quarry operations in Oak Ridge, hoping to acquire 56 acres at the University of Tennessee Arboretum on Union Valley Road in exchange for 83 acres in Sweetwater, plus $400,000.

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture-Forest Resources Research and Education Center has already agreed to the exchange, said Mark Stephens, Rogers Group division vice president.

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‘Life of a Secret City Kid’ book for sale at Secret City Festival

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Life of a Secret City Kid book cover

Life of a Secret City Kid book cover

Don Bell, a local author and musician, will have his book, “Life of a Secret City Kid,” for sale at the Secret City Festival on Saturday at the Secret City Kid’s booth. The cost of the book is $10.

The book is from a compilation of articles that Bell wrote starting in 2008  for The Oak Ridger and Oak Ridge Observer. Gayla Turner Bailey helped put the book together, and Clifford Smith drew the cover.

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Ronald E. Smith

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Ronald E. Smith

Ronald Smith

Ronald E. Smith, age 76, of Clinton passed away Friday, June 8, at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge.

Ronald was born Aug. 16, 1935, in Detroit, Mich., to the late Clayton and Mildred Tait Smith.

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Laney Bryge Duncan

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Laney Bryge Duncan

Laney Duncan

Laney Byrge Duncan of the Dutch Valley Community entered into eternal life June 10 at Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge.

She was born to the late Calloway and Nancy Reynolds Byrge of New River on Feb. 7, 1921.

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Young Professionals has June 23 business ‘cash mob’

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Young Professionals of Oak Ridge has organized a cash mob on June 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The two featured businesses are J&M Butcher Shop and Mickey’s Produce.

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Oak Ridge Mall redevelopment could require public money

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Oak Ridge City Center

The Oak Ridge Mall is for sale for $10.5 million, and city officials say redeveloping it will likely require the use of new property tax revenues to help pay for public infrastructure improvements.

Voters said “no” the last time they were asked to consider whether to invest public money into a massive redevelopment of the Oak Ridge Mall.

This time, they might not have a choice.

Potential developers are likely to ask for public money to help pay for infrastructure improvements ranging from rerouted roadways and new traffic lights to building upgrades and property demolition, city officials said Monday.

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Report: Woman takes boyfriend’s medicine, threatens to beat him ‘like a man’

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An Oliver Springs woman has been charged with robbery after she allegedly took her boyfriend’s prescription hydrocodone and threatened to beat him “like a man” if he tried to take it back, Anderson County court records said.

Jayne Marie Davis-Clark, 44, remained in jail Monday afternoon on $50,000 bond.

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