Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge hires former Clinton city manager as industrial, commercial recruiter

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Steve Jones

Steve Jones

Former Clinton City Manager Steve Jones has been hired by the City of Oak Ridge to provide economic development support services, with a particular emphasis on industrial and commercial recruitment.

The term of the support services agreement is April through October 2013. Jones will be paid $3,500 per month and will report to Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson.

“Steve was extremely successful as a recruiter during his 10-year tenure as city manager of Clinton,” Watson said. “With the advent of the Uranium Processing Facility project and the upswing in industrial activity in the region, the city will benefit from having a professional business developer focusing everyday on opportunities for Oak Ridge. I look forward to having Steve representing us at the regional and state levels.” [Read more…]

SARG donates $10K to Animal Shelter, has Gala Auction Friday

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SARG Donates to Oak Ridge Animal Shelter

At front left are Vada Oberlin and Secretary Shirley Auble of SARG presenting a check to Julie Armes of the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter. In back are President Jack Archer, Secretary Jan Baker, Police Chief James T. Akagi, Vice President Sara Moore, ORPD Capt. Mike Uher, Linda Gonda, and Lt. Robin Smith. (Submitted photo)

Shelter Animal Rescue Group recently presented a $10,000 check to the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter from an auction last year, and SARG is getting ready for this year’s auction. It’s scheduled for Friday.

The $10,000 check was from the 2012 Paws for Life Gala Auction. The funds are going to assist the shelter with updating and creating a clinic area to do exams, shots, microchipping, and other general exams. SARG will also use the funds to help some animal owners with surgical and medical needs for their pets, a press release said.

This year’s gala auction is at 6 p.m. Friday at the DoubleTree Hotel in Oak Ridge. The press release said the gala will benefit many programs that help hundreds of dogs and cats in Anderson County. [Read more…]

Hazardous waste drop-off on Saturday

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The Household Hazardous Waste Collection event will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Oak Ridge Public Works Building.

Items accepted include: [Read more…]

Mayor to testify to Congress: Manhattan Project park would honor most significant event of last century

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Tom Beehan

Tom Beehan

A new national historical park that could include Oak Ridge would honor the history of the Manhattan Project, the most significant event of the 20th Century, Mayor Tom Beehan will tell a U.S. House subcommittee in testimony this morning.

The Manhattan Project was a top-secret U.S. program to build the world’s first atomic weapons. The three Manhattan Project sites that could be included in the new park are Oak Ridge, Los Alamos, N.M., and Hanford, Wash.

Despite what some detractors might say, the proposed park is not about weapons, Beehan wrote in prepared testimony.

“I believe this historical park is about scientific and engineering accomplishments at a time when our country was defending itself, both during World War II and the Cold War,” he said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge to fly flags at half-staff Friday, Saturday to remember fallen soldier

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Flags at the Oak Ridge Municipal Building and city facilities will be flown at half-staff from noon Friday until sunset Saturday in honor of a solider killed in Afghanistan last week, City Manager Mark Watson said.

Funeral services for U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Michael Ward, 24, start at 10 a.m. Saturday at Weatherford Mortuary in Oak Ridge. Ward’s mother lives in Oak Ridge, and he attended Oak Ridge High School before enlisting in the Army at 17. [Read more…]

Civic Center pool closes for maintenance April 12, 13

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The Oak Ridge Civic Center swimming pool will be closed on April 12 and 13 for deck maintenance. The pool is scheduled to re-open April 15 on normal schedule.

For more information, call the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department at (865) 425-3450 or visit the city’s website at www.oakridgetn.gov

New China Palace still open on waterfront, moving to Central Avenue this summer

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New China Palace Restaurant

The New China Palace on Melton Lake Drive has been granted a three-month lease extension, and the restaurant will be open on the city’s waterfront through May. The restaurant plans to re-open on Central Avenue by July.

The New China Palace restaurant will be open on the Oak Ridge waterfront through May, and the new owner plans to open in a new place on Central Avenue by July.

In a letter last June, Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson told the restaurant’s former owners Chung-Nan Chou and Fu-Li Chou that the city would not renew the lease when it expired in February.

But the new owner Cheng Ping Ren said the city gave the restaurant a three-month lease extension on the waterfront site on Melton Lake Drive. It expires May 31. [Read more…]

Council approves Protomet tax break, ends recycling rewards program

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A five-year, 100 percent tax break for parts manufacturer Protomet was approved in a 4-1 vote by the Oak Ridge City Council on Monday.

The tax break could be used to help Protomet more than double the size of its 15,000-square-foot plant in the Bethel Valley Industrial Park, consolidate operations with a Blount County facility, and add 20-30 workers.

Also Monday, the City Council agreed in a voice vote, with no objections, to end the RecycleBank Reward Program and determine later what to do with the savings of $0.84 per household per month. The savings are expected to add up to about $124,000 each year. [Read more…]

Council to consider tax incentives for Protomet, ending recycling rewards

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In a cost-cutting move, the Oak Ridge City Council tonight will consider ending the rewards part of the city’s recycling program.

Ending those rewards, which can be redeemed for discounts at local businesses, could save about $124,000, city officials said.

Also tonight, the City Council will consider approving a five-year, 100 percent tax break for Protomet. The incentive could help the parts manufacturer more than double the size of its plant on Larson Drive in the Bethel Valley Industrial Park and add 20-30 workers. [Read more…]

Workers, volunteers celebrate animal shelter renovations

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Oak Ridge Animal Shelter Lobby

Workers and volunteers celebrate renovations at the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter during an open house Monday.

The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter has a new exam room and a renovated surgery room.

It also has new paint, hospital-grade flooring, and a more inviting lobby area with a lower front desk and an animal adoption room.

The renovations, which included cleaning and electrical work, started in January. Except for the flooring, the work was done by the Oak Ridge municipal staff.

City workers and animal rescue volunteers celebrated with an open house Monday. They said the shelter seems more pleasant and inviting now, and the animals seem less stressed. [Read more…]

Household trash pickup starts Monday

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The Oak Ridge household trash pickup program starts Monday.

Household rubbish, old appliances, and minor remodeling materials will be picked up. Compressors must be removed from refrigerators and air conditioners, however.

A city press release said workers will follow the schedule as closely as possible, but it is a general guide and can vary considerably from the actual schedule due to weather conditions and the amount of trash left by residents. [Read more…]

Learn about electronic lending at Oak Ridge library Thursday

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A Thursday seminar at the Oak Ridge Public Library will focus on using Kindles to check out audiobooks and eBooks.

The free class will be taught by Joan Kearney, and it starts at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in the library’s auditorium. [Read more…]