Oak Ridge Today

Methodist recognized for ‘Straight A’ status in hospital safety

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Methodist Medical Center Main Entrance

Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge is pictured above.

 

Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge has continued its “Straight A” recognition in hospital safety scores that were launched four years ago. MMC has never received a grade lower than “A” since the The Leapfrog Group’s Hospital Safety Scores started in June 2012, a press release said.

Also receiving “A” grades in the Spring 2016 scores were Fort Loudoun Medical Center, Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, LeConte Medical Center, and Roane Medical Center. The ranking mean the hospitals are among the safest in the United States, a press release said.

“It is gratifying to be a part of an organization with such a long-standing track record of quality,” said Jeremy Biggs, Methodist Medical Center president and chief administrative officer. “To be among such an elite group of hospitals to have received this type of national recognition and validation is truly an honor.”

“Patient safety and a constant focus on the quality of care we provide are top priorities for Covenant Health,” said Mike Belbeck, executive vice president of operations. “We are pleased that five Covenant hospitals received Leapfrog’s highest scores, and we will continue to focus on patient safety as part of our ongoing commitment to excellence in all aspects of patient care.” [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch has fundraiser at Pie Five Pizza on Thursday

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The Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program has a fundraiser at Pie Five Pizza on Thursday, May 5.

$2 per pizza pie, with beverage, will be donated to the Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program.

The fundraiser is scheduled from 5-8 p.m. Thursday.

Pie Five Pizza is at 441 South Illinois Avenue.

Joana Springmeier is a contributor to Oak Ridge Today.

Oak Ridge Chamber opposes Hall tax changes that hurt local governments

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Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce building is pictured above.

 

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce acknowledges the need for tax reform in Tennessee, but the organization has opposed changing the Hall income tax in a way that would hurt local governments, an official said Thursday.

Specifically, the Oak Ridge Chamber opposes modifying or ending the Hall income tax in a way that would result in a negative financial impact to local governments, Chamber President Parker Hardy said.

The Tennessee General Assembly passed a bill Friday that would lower the Hall tax on stock and dividend income from 6 percent to 5 percent in the 2016 tax year. The tax would be reduced by 1 percent per year after that until it is eliminated by 2022.

Oak Ridge officials expect to lose between about $100,000 and $120,000 in the fiscal year that starts July 1. There is an impact on other local communities as well—including Anderson County, Clinton, and Roane County—but none of them will lose as much as Oak Ridge.

The eventual repeal of the tax could cost Oak Ridge as much as $700,000 per year or more. The city collected $708,454 from the Hall tax in 2015. [Read more…]

Running for Office Workshop offered at Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce

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Oak-Ridge-Schools-Bob-Eby-March-28-2016

Bob Eby

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce is offering a workshop for anyone interested in running for local office on May 19 from 7-8 p.m. in the Joyce Conference Room at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The workshop is free and is open to the public.

Participants will learn about the process of running for office, gain helpful tips, and will have the opportunity to ask questions about what to expect.

The workshop will be conducted by Bob Eby. Eby has successfully run four campaigns over four decades and currently serves on the Oak Ridge Board of Education. He will share advice he has received from elected officials over the years as well as his own observations collected over the past 30 years. Eby will share his list of things you must do, the things to avoid, and things to consider in order to run a successful campaign. [Read more…]

Anderson County Chamber has job fair Thursday, April 28

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Y-12-National-Security-Complex-CNS-Sign-Dec-16-2014

Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, which manages and operates the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge and Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, will be among the exhibitors at an April 28 job fair at the New Hope Center at Y-12. The job fair is hosted by the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Anderson County Chamber of Commerce will host a job fair to recruit employees for local businesses and industries on Thursday, April 28, in Oak Ridge.

The job fair is scheduled from 3-7 p.m. April 28 at the New Hope Center at Y-12 National Security Complex at 602 Scarboro Road.

“This one-day event allows job seekers to connect face-to-face with local businesses and industries seeking employees,” a press release said.

More than 2,000 positions are available.

As of April 14, exhibitors included: [Read more…]

Reichert: CNS hiring for more than 1,150 positions this fiscal year

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Michelle Reichert

Michelle Reichert

From CNS Connect with Michelle Reichert

The NNSA is planning for Pantex and Y-12 to perform a greater amount of mission work in the upcoming years. This increased workload will help ensure the safety and reliability of our nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile, provide capabilities to draw down global weapons inventory, reduce the spread of nuclear weapons and terrorism, and provide highly specialized fuel for the nuclear navy.

Pantex and Y-12 are two of our nation’s key production facilities, and we form the cornerstone of the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise. While we always look to maximize your valuable skill sets to meet mission needs, our future mission success also requires creating new jobs.

As Morgan (Smith) mentioned when he shared the 9 in 90 list, we are completing the study and implementing the plan to address increased demand for our products and services in Fiscal Year 2017 and beyond. As a result of this plan, CNS is hiring for more than 1,150 positions this fiscal year. These new employees will include production, operations, and trades workers; security personnel; and science, engineering, and technology professionals, totaling 650 positions at Pantex and 500 positions at Y-12. To date (as of early March), we have successfully filled 507 positions. As part of our 9 in 90 Plan, we are striving to fill 300 positions within the next few months. [Read more…]

ORPD investigating ‘skimmer’ found at credit union ATM

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ORPD Pic of ATM Skimmer

The Oak Ridge Police Department is investigating a case where a “skimmer” was found attached to an ATM at the ORNL Federal Credit Union on South Illinois Avenue. (Photo by ORPD)

 

The Oak Ridge Police Department is investigating a case where a “skimmer” was found attached to an ATM at the ORNL Federal Credit Union on South Illinois Avenue on Sunday, authorities said.

A “skimmer” is an unauthorized device that is attached to the credit/debit card slot on an ATM, or automated teller machine, to fraudulently capture customers’ account information, the ORPD said.

The Oak Ridge Police Department recommends that consumers exercise caution when using ATMs. If you notice anything unusual about the ATM, contact the bank or credit union that operates the ATM, the ORPD said. [Read more…]

Chamber has Primetime networking event on Thursday; public invited

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Primetime Fiesta 2016

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Spring Primetime networking event is Thursday, April 21.

As of April 12, more than 40 Chamber-member organizations had reserved exhibit space for the event, which is titled “Fiesta Primetime.” It’s scheduled from 4-6 p.m. under the tent in the parking lot of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, which is at 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Primetime is one of the Chamber’s biggest networking events of the year, a press release said. Anyone—Chamber member or not—is encouraged to attend. [Read more…]

Karen’s Jewelers hosts Estate Show on Friday, Saturday

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Estate Jewelry 2

Karen’s Jewelers in Oak Ridge wil host an Estate Show on Friday, April 22, and Saturday, April 23, 2016. (Submitted photo)

An Elvis Presley fan who hung around the gates of Graceland in Memphis from the 1950s to the 1970s was lucky enough to meet the rock ‘n roll star and receive a gift from him of gold-plated “EP” initial lapel pins.

Elvis’ lapel pins and other estate, vintage, and celebrity-owned jewelry will be on display at Karen’s Jewelers on Friday and Saturday, April 22 and 23.

The Estate Jewelry Show and Sale will be from 3-7:30 p.m. Friday, April 22, and from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 23, at Karen’s Jewelers, 1120 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge. The show will feature jewelry from bygone eras and celebrity jewelry with stories to tell.

Among the treasures will be vintage engagement rings, pearls, cameos, diamonds, gold, signed pieces, gems in exotic colors, platinum and filigree designs gathered from estates around the world, according to Martha Hart of Karen’s Jewelers.

Rings, bracelets, earrings, brooches, pendants, and necklaces are among hundreds of pieces that will be on display. A wide selection of colors of gems and karats of gold will be included. Jewelry reflecting the beauty and craftsmanship from Art Nouveau, Belle Époque, Edwardian, Art Deco, and Retro eras through the late 20th century will be featured at the event. [Read more…]

Main Street Oak Ridge update: City staff ready for mall redevelopment

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Main-Street-Oak-Ridge-Sign-Install-Complete-Dec-21-2015

Workers from Masstar Signs of Greenville, S.C., install a new shopping center pylon sign at South Illinois Avenue and East Tulsa Road that announces Main Street Oak Ridge, the planned $80 million redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall. Pictured above on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015, is Will Biggs of Masstar Signs. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Site plans have been approved for the first phase of Main Street Oak Ridge—the project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall—and construction drawings have been approved for most buildings in Phase I, a city official said Thursday.

The city staff is ready to issue demolition permits, and the staff has a utility disconnect “game plan,” said Kathryn Baldwin, director of Oak Ridge Community Development.

“We’re very much ready,” Baldwin said at a Thursday evening work session of the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission.

The Planning Commission will consider adding a lot to the subdivision plat for the roughly 60-acre site on Thursday. If approved, that change would create 11 interior lots. Officials said that requested change has to do with project financing and it’s a minor change from what was approved several months ago. [Read more…]

Hobby Lobby opening in Oak Ridge

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Former-Kroger-Store-April-14-2016-2

Hobby Lobby has signed a lease at the former Kroger store on South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge, the company said Thursday, April 14, 2016. The company plans to start renovating the property around the beginning of June. The store is projected to open in September. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Hobby Lobby has signed a lease at the former Kroger store in Oak Ridge, the company said Thursday.

The company plans to start renovating the property around the beginning of June. The store is projected to open in September.

Hobby Lobby expects to hire 35 to 50 employees with full-time employees earning at least $15.35 and part-time employees earning at least $10.23 an hour.

“Hobby Lobby is constantly looking for locations to better serve our customers, and this location in Oak Ridge seems to fit the bill,” said Bob Miller, Hobby Lobby communications coordinator.”We look forward to getting the store up and running and being a part of the community. Including the Oak Ridge location, Hobby Lobby plans to open 50 stores this year.” [Read more…]

City publishes summary of Oak Ridge Land Bank Partnership Strategy Workshop

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By City of Oak Ridge

On November 6, 2015, the Oak Ridge Land Bank Corporation, in conjunction with the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, hosted the second Housing Strategy Work Session. The purpose of this meeting was to identify willing partners in the effort to improve housing quality in the City of Oak Ridge.

As a result of this collaborative meeting, feedback was gathered from six identified stakeholder groups, each having their own perspective on what needs to be done and what they could do in addressing the city’s identified housing challenges.

The participating stakeholder groups offered the following input:

Banks

[Read more…]