Oak Ridge Today

Energy Communities Alliance supports Manhattan Project park bill

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Tom Beehan

Tom Beehan

A group of local governments associated with U.S. Department of Energy sites has reaffirmed its support for a Manhattan Project national park.

Proposed through legislation in the U.S. Congress, the park would commemorate the Manhattan Project, the top-secret federal program to build the world’s first atomic weapons during World War II. The park would include Oak Ridge; Los Alamos, N.M.; and Hanford, Wash.

“We are thrilled to see this step toward making the new national park a reality,” said Steve Young, secretary of the nonprofit Energy Communities Alliance and mayor of Kennewick, Wash. “There’s no question that the story of the Manhattan Project and the contributions of the men and women who supported it are of high interest to the American public. This creates a real opportunity for our communities to share our collective history while realizing the benefits of the heritage tourism industry a national park is likely to create.”

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Rotary International president visits Oak Ridge for peace forum

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Sakuji Tanaka

Sakuji Tanaka

When Rotary International President Sakuji Tanaka of Japan visits Oak Ridge on Friday and Saturday, he will talk about and hear innovative ideas on how to achieve peace through service.

On Friday, Thom Mason, director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, will give Tanaka a tour of ORNL. At 3 p.m., the RI president will tour the Secret City Commemorative Walk built by the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge. City Manager Mark Watson, who is president-elect of this Rotary club, will present a gift to Tanaka, who will make some remarks.

At 3:45 p.m. Tanaka will then visit the International Friendship Bell, where he will be welcomed by Oak Ridger Jack Bailey, district governor of RI District 6780, which encompasses 65 clubs in East Tennessee. Shigeko Uppuluri will present a history of the bell and give a bell replica to Tanaka, who will make remarks and ring the bell.

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City egg hunt March 23, volunteers needed

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The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will host the 2013 Egg Hunt later this month.

Hundreds of children are expected to participate in this annual spring event, a city press release said. It starts at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 23, at A.K. Bissell Park.

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Open house scheduled for planned dog park

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Oak Ridge Dog Park Layout Draft

A recent draft of a proposed dog park at Big Turtle Park. (Image submitted by city staff)

The Oak Ridge Dog Park Committee and Recreation and Parks Advisory Board have scheduled an open house this month to share information on the progress of the dog park, as well as give the public an opportunity to comment or share concerns.

The meeting will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 21, in the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

“Please plan to attend this meeting,” a press release said. “We will soon have an opportunity to have a safe place for our dogs to exercise.”

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Guest column: Electronic signs a reality, responsible use should be allowed

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Note: This is a copy of a Jan. 28 letter from the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce that was received by the Municipal Planning Commission during a recent public hearing on electronic signs.

On Aug. 23, 2012, the City’s Community Development Director sent a letter to the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce requesting Development Forum help in clarifying and updating the city’s electronic reader board (moving copy) sign regulations. The Forum first discussed this issue with Community Development staff on Sept. 6 and provided broad feedback associated with issues such as light intensity and the need to incorporate new sign technologies into the city’s regulations. The Chamber remained in contact with city staff, but proposed language was not provided until December.

Since then, the Development Forum and representatives of the Oak Ridge Business Coalition have collaborated in discussions associated with proposed revisions to the city sign ordinance pertaining to reader board signs (moving copy signs). It is our shared opinion that:

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Applewood Apartments could be demolished, replaced by new complex

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Note: This story was last updated at 5:38 p.m. March 6.

Eight of the 10 Applewood Apartments buildings could be demolished, and a new apartment complex could replace them under a plan proposed by an Alabama company.

The project, proposed by Huff Management Company of Opelika, Ala., is a “strong candidate” for a potential tax credit, Oak Ridge City Manager Mark S. Watson said. He said Huff Management has a contract with the present owner, Knoxville attorney Joe Levitt.

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Oak Ridge celebrates Arbor Day on Friday with tree planting

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The Environmental Quality Advisory Board and the City of Oak Ridge are sponsoring a 28th Annual Arbor Day Observance on Friday.

The ceremony, which starts at 10 a.m. at Willow Brook Elementary School, will also mark the 25th year that Oak Ridge has been recognized as a Tree City USA.

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Council approves $18 million in borrowing for sewer system repairs

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Trina Baughn

Trina Baughn

After more than an hour of discussion, the Oak Ridge City Council on Monday approved the borrowing of $18 million in low-interest state loans to help pay for a $23 million project to fix the municipal sewer system.

Council voted 6-1 to borrow the money at a 1.23 percent interest rate through the State Revolving Fund program, which is administered by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

The work is being done to comply with a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency order that requires Oak Ridge to repair all sewer system overflows by Sept. 28, 2015.

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City asked to strike balance between businesses, community over electronic signs

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Misty Robbins at Electronic Signs Public Hearing

Misty Robbins, right, of Snappy Tomato Pizza, said the restaurant could buy an electronic sign but wants to see what new regulations might be issued to govern them.

Business owners call them effective, a great way to get out their messages.

But a few residents call them distracting and offensive, at least in some cases.

Caught in the middle are Oak Ridge officials. They are trying to write new regulations for the electronic signs, considering how to govern brightness, display times, and transitions between messages.

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Former officer drops lawsuit that alleged hostile workplace, sexual rumors

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Note: This story was updated at 3:51 a.m. Feb. 21.

A former Oak Ridge police officer who had alleged she was the subject of sexual rumors that had created a hostile work environment has withdrawn a $1.25 million federal lawsuit against the city.

Former Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Christina Targonski had alleged that another officer had spread sexual rumors about her—allegedly telling other officers that she had invited him to an orgy and was distributing nude photos of herself to “whoever wanted them,” federal court records said.

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Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch has 5K race, food, fun to raise funds

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Daniel McFee at Citizens Police Academy

Oak Ridge Community Resource Officer Daniel McFee is pictured above during a presentation on bicycle and motorcycle officers during a Citizens Police Academy.

The Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program will host a 5K race and community event on April 20 to raise funds for the program.

The race will begin and end on Badger Avenue behind the American Museum of Science and Energy. It will start at 8:30 a.m. and the fun, food, and games will begin at 10 a.m., immediately after the race awards ceremony, a city press release said.

The Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program began in 2005 with Sgt. Shannah Newman partnered with a handful of citizens, the release said. The program has since grown to about 1,000 members, 180 blocks, 21 districts, and an executive board of citizen volunteers.

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City: Turn recyclables into rewards

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Waste Connections of Tennessee will be placing new stickers on brown recycle carts during the next few weeks in order to remind residents of the rewards offered by RecycleBank for recycling.

“If you don’t have a RecycleBank Account, remember to activate, recycle, and redeem your points in order to receive great rewards like discounts for groceries, merchandise, and more at local businesses and national retailers,” a press release said.

You can activate your account at www.recyclebank.com or by calling (888) 727-2978. You will need to supply your full address to sign up for rewards.