A Vanderbilt University professor who is well-known for “blowing the whistle” on the school’s efforts to force Christian organizations off-campus will be the guest speaker at a Friday lecture hosted by state Rep. John Ragan, a campaign press release said.
The lecture by Carol Swain is at 7 p.m. at the Pollard Center Auditorium.
A 19-year-old Oak ridge man was arrested Friday after he allegedly drove a 16-year-old girl to his home on West Outer Drive, punched her, forced her into his home, and raped her before threatening to possibly kill her, Anderson County court records said.
Marvin J. Slater has been charged with aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping, assault, and coercion of a witness. He remained in the Anderson County jail on Tuesday afternoon, and his bond has been set at $500,000.
Slater faces a June 26 hearing in Anderson County General Sessions Court.
According to court records, the girl said Slater had been giving her a ride home from a friend’s house when he stopped by his West Outer Drive home. When she refused to go into Slater’s house, he allegedly punched her on the arms and face and pushed and pulled her from the car and into the house, an affidavit said.
He is also accused of assaulting her in the bedroom, but the girl stopped resisting when she saw a handgun on Slater’s dresser, the records said.
The girl told Oak Ridge Police Officer John Criswell that Slater warned her that “he better not hear about this (rape) or he was going to kill her.”
The affidavit said the girl had a bruise on her leg and a cut on her lip.
A new federal office has been created to oversee nuclear production work at the Pantex Site in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge.
The new office is called the National Nuclear Security Administration Production Office. Its mission includes contract management and oversight of work to maintain the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile, provide enriched uranium, and support activities that reduce the global nuclear threat, according to an NNSA press release.
After weeks of wrangling, a budget standoff between Anderson County officials and the sheriff was quickly resolved Monday as county commissioners voted 13-0 to approve a budget that doesn’t include a tax increase but sets aside money for more jailers.
The goal was to give Anderson County Sheriff Paul White a total of 13 jailers so he can open a new 128-bed minimum security dormitory this summer. After a tax hike last year, county officials didn’t want to raise the property tax rate again this year.
Candidates for Oak Ridge City Council and Anderson County Commission have been asked to speak at an Anderson County Republican Party meeting tonight.
That meeting, the last general monthly meeting before the Aug. 2 election, starts at 7 p.m. at 103 Jefferson Ave.
A University of Tennessee assistant professor will lead a discussion on urban forestry and a potential Oak Ridge tree survey on Thursday.
The talk starts at 7 p.m. at Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge and features Sharon Jean-Philippe, an assistant urban forestry professor and member of the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council.
Elese P. Steward Meadows, left, sells decorated gourds at the 14th Annual Lavender Festival in Oak Ridge on Saturday.
The 14th annual Lavender Festival in historic Jackson Square was in Oak Ridge this past weekend.
There were many repeat vendors, such as Erin’s Meadow Herb Farm and Heaven Scent, as well as musical performances and food. Performers included Allen McBride, Liz and Tim, and Frost Bottom Boys.
American military forces attack the Germans in a re-enactment of a World War II battle during the Secret City Festival on Saturday.
For some spectators, the annual World War II re-enactments in Oak Ridge are more than just entertainment.
Some fought in the war or had relatives who did.
Jonathan Tackett said the re-enactments during the Secret City Festival give him an idea of what his grandfather experienced when he fought in the U.S. Army in Europe.
About 80 federal employees could go back to work today in a new place as officials scramble to find space for staff members after the Federal Building closed last week.
Workstations have been set up for those employees in the Building 2714-G Conference Center on Laboratory Road, said Mike Koentop, spokesman at the U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Office.
Federal officials are looking for more work space at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Office of Scientific and Technical Information.
Vocalist Donnie VanZant, left, and guitarist Danny Chauncey play with 38 Special during the Secret City Festival on Saturday. (Photo by John Westcott)
Several thousand people danced and sang as Southern rock band 38 Special played a Saturday night concert in Oak Ridge.
It was likely one of the largest crowds ever for a concert at the Secret City Festival, but organizers could not immediately estimate the crowd size.
Betty Jo Braden, age 82, a resident of Oliver Springs, passed away Saturday, June 16, 2012, at Harriman Health Care and Rehabilitation Center.
Mrs. Braden was born January 9, 1930, in Kentucky. She has lived in Tennessee since early childhood.
Willard K. Johnson
Willard K. Johnson, age 56, a resident of Oliver Springs, went home to be with the Lord, Saturday, June 16, 2012, at the family home.
Willard was born June 4, 1956, in Oliver Springs. He was a lifelong resident of this area.
