Oak Ridge Today

Letter: Fond memories of EVC prom, ‘An Evening with the Stars’

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To the Editor:

What a night May 11 was for over 100 individuals served through Emory Valley Center in its mission to enhance the lives of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities!

Maggie and Andy Owen, supported by many volunteers, led the charge to hold EVC’s second Prom, “An Evening with the Stars.” This year’s theme was a Hawaiian Luau, with decorations, food, and personal photos all relating to a fun adventure for our individuals.

The Y-12 National Security Complex graciously donated New Hope Center for our individuals to enjoy this evening in a way they had never experienced. Donations to underwrite costs by local businesses and private sponsors were greatly appreciated to make the evening possible. We are so fortunate to have the dedication of the Owen’s family and their circle of volunteers to help the Center further its quest for person-centered activities for those we are dedicated to support. Feel free to visit our website, www.emoryvalleycenter.com, to relive that night with photos, which I know will bring a smile to your face.

Robin Biloski

Development Director

Emory Valley Center

Letter: Recommends Anderson County establish fire district

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To the Editor:

This month’s Operations Committee meeting included discussion on a proposed resolution that would disqualify any fee- or membership-based fire department from participating in Anderson County’s annual appropriations plan for major asset purchases. Under the current agreement, property taxes fund equipment purchases for both the municipal and volunteer fire departments on a yearly rotational basis.

According to current state statutes, local governments have only two options available to fund or contribute to the county fire departments. Either a county fire district is established, whereby a separate account is created (for funding purposes), which allows for oversight and accountability, or the source of funding is limited to a donation which allows little input from the legislative body. [Read more…]

Letter: Donate to honor women during National Women’s Build Week

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To the Editor:

“There are women who make things better… simply by showing up. There are women who make things happen. There are women who make their way. There are women who make a difference. And women who make us smile. There are women of wit and wisdom who—through strength and courage—make it through. There are women who change the world everyday…” -Ashley Rice

Mother. Grandmother. Aunt. Sister. Daughter. Friend.

No matter what name she goes by, she has always been there to support you.

Now you can put all the love she has shown you into the walls of another family’s home. [Read more…]

Letter: EVC thanks city worker for help with signs

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To the Editor:

Emory Valley Center has been researching new signage for our campus in Oak Ridge. Before purchasing new signs, we asked for assistance from the City of Oak Ridge to learn all the specifics for sign regulations.

Monica Austin, Oak Ridge Community Development division manager, could not have been more helpful. She visited our campus with me, told me the proper signs we needed for safety for the many people that come and go in our busy buildings every day, and followed up with me with accurate drawings for placements. [Read more…]

Letter: Thanks ORPD, Ridgeview, mental health community for ‘Preventing Tragedy’ seminar

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To the Editor:

I would like to express appreciation for the “Preventing Tragedy: A Community United” presentation on Monday, April 15, at the New Hope Center. The Oak Ridge Police Department and Ridgeview are to be applauded for providing a public discussion about avoiding shooting tragedies. It is clear both the police and the mental health community, including the East Tennessee Mental Health Association, care deeply about the public’s being better informed with regard to mental health issues.

As Ben Harrington of the ETMA said, the public can use the Head in the Sand approach and hope that the problem will go away, or they can inform themselves and find ways to address it. It was pointed out that about 26 percent of persons will need some form of mental health treatment in any given year, so that it is not rare for people to need help.

Police Chief Jim Akagi described the sequence of events in Newton, Conn., and how the school “did everything right,” and yet the gunman was able to shoot his way into the building. He indicated that there is more needed in preventing a similar tragedy than more police officers. [Read more…]

Letter: WSI leaves Oak Ridge with ‘flags flying’

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To the Oak Ridge Community:

As WSI Oak Ridge completes its transition to the new security contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Protective Force contract, I wanted to take this opportunity to say farewell.

We have provided protective nuclear security services to DOE and the National Nuclear Security Administration in the valley for the past 13 years, and are proud that our employees have answered our nation’s call to duty in an exceptionally worthy manner. The WSI Oak Ridge Protective Force has led the DOE Security Complex in professionalism, mission performance, and innovation. [Read more…]

Letter: Disappointed by commissioners who use religion to govern

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To the Editor:

To answer Marion Burger’s letter and maybe a question that has been bothering me and probably other folks too.

Why were there only Baptists listed in a list of citizens supporting placing “In God We Trust” on the Anderson County Courthouse?

[Read more…]

Letter: Anderson County not interested in liberal politics

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To the Editor:

The very fact that Commissioner Myron Iwanski is outraged the county mayor would respond (in public) to defamatory comments, made against her (in public) by another county official, I find rather amusing. And, his further attempts to define the narrative by suggesting the mayor should “learn” that divisive D.C. style politics will only serve to further pit and divide, I think makes perfect sense…

For liberals love to preach about being “open-minded”, but to a liberal, this has nothing to do with seriously considering other people’s ideas. To the contrary, liberals define being “open-minded” as agreeing with them.

[Read more…]

Letter: Thanks Mayor Frank for ‘standing up’ for Anderson County people

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To the Editor:

I just wanted to thank Mayor Terry Frank for standing up for the people of Anderson County.

Mayor Frank has been in office since September 2012, and she stepped into a very dysfunctional, unorganized “business” that needs a lot of cleanup and reorganization.

[Read more…]

Letter: Urged Council to defer debt increase for sewer system

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Note: This is a copy of a letter that Oak Ridge resident Martin McBride wrote to City Council prior to a Monday night meeting. During that meeting, Council approved the borrowing of $18 million in low-interest state loans to pay for sewer system work meant to comply with a federal order.

Dear City Council Members,

A sizable increase in the Oak Ridge city debt will be placed before the Council at a special meeting this coming Monday.

Passing this debt so hurriedly:

[Read more…]

Letter: Autism insurance coverage possible thanks to Yager, Powers, Ragan

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To the Editor:

Much gratitude and admiration goes to local area state lawmakers Sen. Ken Yager, Rep. Dennis Powers, and Rep. John Ragan for their vision and dedication to the people in our Tennessee autism community. By signing on to the widely-supported state autism insurance reform bill SB 1286/HB 1265, these legislators join 20 of their colleagues across the state as co-sponsors of this legislation.

Countless studies show that providing vital, medically necessary treatments to people on the autism spectrum greatly improves their chances of becoming self-sufficient, income-earning members of our society. Yet health insurance plans very rarely cover these therapies, and families are left to incur enormous debt to provide these treatments for their loved ones, or worse, are unable to provide these treatments at all due to the high cost of this non-covered crucial care, greatly reducing their children’s potential for success as an independent adult.

[Read more…]

Letter: Wants sign on courthouse supporting ADA enforcement

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To the Editor:

Regarding the passage of the “In God We Trust” resolution: I want to be the next to add a sign to the top of courthouse since we can now put signs on the courthouse in Anderson County.

I want to have a sign placed on the top of the courthouse stating that Anderson County is in full support of the enforcement of the ADA civil rights laws (Americans with Disabilities Act) passed in 2011.

Failure to do this will say that you are in opposition to the ADA civil rights laws.

[Read more…]