Oak Ridge Today

Hotel developer selected for Main Street Oak Ridge

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Main Street Oak Ridge Master Plan March 26, 2015

Here is the master plan for Main Street Oak Ridge as of late March 2015. See a larger version of the plan in the link below.

 

Crosland Southeast, the developer of the $80 million, 60-acre Main Street Oak Ridge project, announced Thursday that Atlanta-based MDC development group, through its affiliated company Canterfield Hotel Group LLC, will build a new 120-room hotel at the site. The hotel brand has yet to be determined, and feasibility studies are ongoing to determine which brand would best complement the Oak Ridge community.

“While pursuing ‘best in class’ operators for the hotel component within Main Street, it quickly became apparent that Canterfield was a natural fit,” said James Downs, Crosland Southeast partner. “Not only do Win Porter and his team have years of hospitality development experience, they have also already successfully developed the highly regarded Canterfield Retirement Community in Oak Ridge, so they are familiar with the community.  We are delighted with Canterfield’s decision to continue investing in Oak Ridge.”

Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch said that this announcement for the property is an exciting milestone, and he’s looking forward to more details about the development in the near future. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge branch of Y-12 FCU will remain closed Wed., re-open Thursday

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Oak Ridge Police Department at Y-12 Federal Credit Union

Oak Ridge Police Department officers were at the Y-12 Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge on Tuesday morning. The branch will remain closed Wednesday and reopen Thursday, although the credit union’s headquarters will be open on Wednesday.

 

The Oak Ridge branch of the Y-12 Federal Credit Union will remain closed Wednesday and re-open Thursday, a spokesman said. The branch was closed Tuesday during an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and Oak Ridge Police Department into a report of a bank robbery, kidnapping, and extortion.

Police responded to the Oak Ridge branch at about 9:15 a.m. Tuesday. There were at least a half-dozen officers and detectives at the scene, and they blocked the entrance to the credit union.

Customers were not able to use the bank while authorities investigated. Chris Smith, vice president of marketing at Y-12 Federal Credit Union, said officials were only allowing staff and investigators to enter on Tuesday morning.

He said the Credit Union branch will remain closed Wednesday and reopen for normal hours on Thursday. But employees remain at the Oak Ridge headquarters, which shares a five-story building with the branch, and all staff will report to work on Wednesday, Smith said Tuesday afternoon. [Read more…]

Kragenbrink named president, CEO of Tech 2020

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Kevin Kragenbrink

Kevin Kragenbrink

Kevin Kragenbrink, who has been serving as interim executive director of Tech 2020, has been named president and chief executive officer, a press release said.

Kragenbrink is the co-founder and CEO of Estrada Strategies Inc. He stepped away from his day-to-day responsibilities at the coaching and consulting organization in early November to accept the interim role at Tech 2020, the press release said. He assumed the top position following the resignation of John Morris.

Both Kragenbrink and Tech 2020 Board Chair Teri Brahams acknowledged that what was originally viewed as a role for not more than six months has evolved into a longer term relationship. [Read more…]

World-renowned leaders to be featured at New Hope Center

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Community and business leaders can access the knowledge and experience of world-renowned leaders by attending Leadercast at New Hope Center in Oak Ridge on May 8. The Oak Ridge event is sponsored by the Center for Leadership and Community Development, part of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce.

The Leadercast event is broadcast live from Atlanta, Georgia, to hundreds of sites around the world, including Oak Ridge. This year’s speaker lineup includes: [Read more…]

Update: Anderson Chamber job fair at New Hope on April 30

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New Hope Center

New Hope Center

The Anderson County Chamber of Commerce will host a job fair to recruit employees for local businesses and industries on Thursday, April 30, at the New Hope Center. This one-day event, which is scheduled from 3-7 p.m. April 30, allows job seekers to connect face-to-face with local businesses and industries seeking employees, a press release said.

The New Hope Center is at 602 Scarboro Road at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge.

Job fair exhibitors to date include: [Read more…]

Man charged in attempted ATM theft with Bobcat on Christmas Day 2013

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Bobcat and ATM Safe from Y-12 Federal Credit Union

A Bobcat allegedly involved in a plot to steal a safe from an ATM in east Oak Ridge on Christmas Day 2013 is tipped over on its side in a small ditch next to the safe, which had not been opened. (File photo/December 25, 2013)

 

Stanley Wallace II

Stanley Junior Wallace

A Kingston man has been arrested and charged in the alleged conspiracy to steal an ATM safe loaded with $26,000 in cash using a Bobcat and pickup truck on Christmas Day 2013.

The plot to steal the 4,000-pound safe was unsuccessful. But the suspects were able to demolish the stand-alone Y-12 Federal Credit Union automated teller machine near Tractor Supply in east Oak Ridge and pull the safe several hundred feet across a field before the Bobcat tipped over in a small culvert next to Bogola Road. An attempt to remove the cash box with a stolen Ford F250 pickup truck also failed, so the suspects left the area, authorities said.

Stanley Junior Wallace, 25, of Lawnville Road in Kingston, has been charged in the case. He was arrested March 26 and faces charges of attempted theft of more than $10,000, vandalism of more than $10,000, attempted aggravated burglary, auto burglary, conspiracy, aggravated trespassing, and joyriding.

Oak Ridge Police Department Detective William Weaver said he interviewed Wallace at the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton on April 21, 2014. Wallace was given his Miranda warning and agreed to speak with Weaver, according to arrest warrants. [Read more…]

Anderson County Chamber has Job Fair in Oak Ridge on April 30

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The Anderson County Chamber of Commerce will host a Job Fair on Thursday, April 30, to recruit employees for local businesses and industries. It’s scheduled from 3-7 p.m. April 30 at New Hope Center at 602 Scarboro Road in Oak Ridge.

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

As of late March, Job Fair exhibitors included Eagle Bend Manufacturing, Express Personnel Professionals, MAG-USA, SL Tennessee, Temp Systems Inc., Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville, and Y-12 National Security Complex. [Read more…]

Curves re-opens in Oak Ridge

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Josee Tousignant

Pictured above are Mary Ann Gubank, director of St. Joseph’s Food Pantry, and Josee Tousignant, new owner of Curves of Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

 

Curves of Oak Ridge re-opened in March, with a new location at 130 Ridgeway Center, a new local owner, and new classes, a press release said.

The release said Curves is a facility specifically designed for women featuring a complete 30-minute workout that is fun, fast and safe.

“The new owner, Josee Tousignant, is thrilled about reopening the Curves now at Ridgeway Center, and is most proud to say that there will always be a ‘personal coach’ on site, which is included in the membership plan,” the release said. “One of the most appealing things about Curves is that women can complete an entire body workout designed specifically for women in 30 minutes.” [Read more…]

Tech 2020 Announces autoXLR8R 2015

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Application process now open

Tech 2020 of Oak Ridge is accepting applications for autoXLR8R 2015, a business accelerator for startups seeking to commercialize technology in the automotive industry. The application process is detailed on the program website: www.autoXLR8R.com. The deadline for applications is May 29.

The program opens in Oak Ridge on July 6 and runs through the week of August 31.

autoXLR8R is in it’s third year, having started at the Southern Middle Tennessee Entrepreneur Centers in Tullahoma, Tennessee.

Tech 2020 has been involved with providing educational support since its inception, a press release said. [Read more…]

Jackson Square fountain won’t be ready by Lavender Fest, but other work should be

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Jackson Square Parking Lot Work

The interactive fountain in the center of the Jackson Square parking lot won’t be finished before the Lavender Festival in June, but work around the fountain should be completed by then, a city official said Monday.

 

The interactive fountain won’t be in place by the Lavender Festival in June, but other perimeter work around the Jackson Square parking lot should be completed, a city official said Monday.

Construction work on the $1 million rebuild of the parking lot area at Jackson Square started in January. The construction contract was awarded to Rich Construction Inc. of Lenoir City by the Oak Ridge City Council in October.

The work is funded with help from a $741,609 Tennessee Department of Transportation Enhancement Grant that was awarded to the city in June 2012. The TDOT grant covers 80 percent of the work, and it requires a 20 percent city match.

Jackson Square is Oak Ridge’s original town center. [Read more…]

Planning Commission considers revised master plan for Main Street Oak Ridge

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The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission will consider a revised master plan for Main Street Oak Ridge, the project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall, during a Thursday meeting.

It’s a planned unit development, or PUD, master plan.

The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23, in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Courtroom.

Shop the Historic Grove Center Day is Saturday

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The shop keepers of the Historic Grove Center would like to announce “Shop The Historic Grove Center Day” on Saturday, April 18, from 10:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. The day will include live music, karaoke, and more, organizers said.

“This event is to bring awareness to people that Historic Grove Center is here, and we have some awesome shops,” organizers said. “Shop small and help the small businesses.”