Oak Ridge Today

Obituary: William G. ‘Billy’ Sewell

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William G. "Billy" Sewell

William G. “Billy” Sewell

Former Recreation and Parks director, helped start ORRA

William G. Sewell, affectionately known as “Billy,” passed away peacefully on October 2, 2015, at Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs. The cause of death was acute myeloid leukemia. He was 72.

Billy was born May 24, 1943, to the late Frances and Bill Sewell, in Ravenna, Ohio. His family moved to Oak Ridge when he was very young, and Billy grew up in the Oak Ridge school system.

He is survived by his lover, confidant, his best friend, his beautiful wife of 47 years, Gail. He is also survived by three children: daughter Molly Sewell Tillyer, her husband Mike, and grandchildren Matthew Tillyer (21) and Nolan Tillyer (16); son Russell Wayne Sewell, and grandchild Logan Sewell (7); and daughter Amy Kathryn Sewell Torres, her husband Michael, and grandchildren Allison Arriola (15), Austin Arriola (13), Sophia Torres (3), Aaron Torres (15), and Annalyse Torres (14). Billy is also survived by a sister, Mary Lou Sewell Murphy, her husband John, and their children Mike, Melinda, Marsha, and Matt; brother Frank Sewell, his wife Pam, and their three children, Rachel, Thomas and Daniel; and brother Joe Sewell, his wife Mary (deceased), and their children Jessica and John. [Read more…]

ORPD: Power outage in west Oak Ridge may affect traffic lights

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There was a power outage on the west end of Oak Ridge on Monday morning, and it could affect traffic lights, the Oak Ridge Police Department said.

In a text alert, the ORPD said utility workers are aware of the outage.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Public meeting Thursday to discuss ideas for Manhattan Project Park

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K-25 Building Aerial View

Now demolished, the former mile-long, U-shaped K-25 Building, pictured above, was once used to enrich uranium for atomic weapons and commercial nuclear power plants. Located in west Oak Ridge, the site could become part of a Manhattan Project National Historical Park. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy)

 

A Thursday evening meeting will focus on collecting ideas for the implementation of the new Manhattan Project National Historical Park in Oak Ridge. The Manhattan Project National Historical Park staff will be represented, a press release said.

It’s the regular November meeting of the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association. It starts at 7 p.m. Thursday, November 12, at the Midtown Community Center at 102 Roberstville Road.

The meeting will be held at the end of a day of: [Read more…]

Oak Ridge conducts city-wide disaster training today

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The City of Oak Ridge will be conducting a city-wide exercise of the Emergency Management System and Emergency Operations Center today. The full-participation exercise will begin at 11:15 this morning (Thursday, November 5) at Oak Ridge Fire Department headquarters located in the Municipal Building at 200 South Tulane Avenue in Oak Ridge.

The drill was planned and is administered by 10 instructors from across the United States and former Federal Emergency Management Agency emergency managers and trainers. The lead instructor is Phil McLaughlin, owner of the McLaughlin Training Group, a press release said. Chief McLaughlin is the retired deputy commissioner of the Philadelphia Fire Department.

All city departments are represented in today’s drill, along with representatives from Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, Anderson County Health Department, American Red Cross, Civil Air Patrol, Oak Ridge Schools, Methodist Medical Center, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the city manager’s office. [Read more…]

Thursday ribbon-cutting for historic hotel converted into assisted living center

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Alexander Guest House Front Entrance Sept. 23, 2015

The front entrance is pictured above at the Alexander Guest House, which converted the beloved but long-vacant Alexander Inn into an assisted living center. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A ribbon-cutting ceremony has been scheduled for Thursday evening at The Alexander Guest House, a historic hotel converted into an assisted living center.

The ceremony is scheduled from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, November 5. The ribbon-cutting is scheduled for 5:45 p.m., according to the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce.

“Following this ribbon-cutting, please plan to attend an open house,” organizers said. “We hope you’ll join us to celebrate.”

The Alexander Guest House, which has 64 apartments, is located at 210 East Madison Road in Oak Ridge.

Preserving the former Alexander Inn had been a dream for years. In September, Rick Dover of Dover Development of East Tennessee, said the two-year, $8 million construction and renovation project was almost finished. [Read more…]

School Board endorses recommendation for preschool at Elm Grove

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Elm Grove Park Oct. 21, 2015

Elm Grove Park in east Oak Ridge has been proposed as a site for a new preschool, and it’s considered the best potential location. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Board of Education on Monday endorsed a recommendation to build a new preschool at Elm Grove Park. A new preschool has been on the city’s wish list for years, but this particular proposal is still in the early stages.

The school board received a report from the Joint City/Schools Preschool Planning Committee on Monday and endorsed the committee’s report in a 4-0 vote. The recommendation will now be considered by the city.

There was once a school at Elm Grove Park in east Oak Ridge, and the committee’s report, presented to City Council and the BOE in a work session in October, recommended using that city-owned site, officials said.

“We think that after the factors we discussed, it was the most appropriate site,” Oak Ridge Schools Superintendent Bruce Borchers said. [Read more…]

Today: City planner to discuss demographic changes in Oak Ridge

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Sherith Colverson

Sherith Colverson

Sherith Colverson, senior planner for the City of Oak Ridge, will discuss the changing demographics of Oak Ridge at the Women’s Interfaith Dialogue meeting on Monday, November 2, at 11 a.m. The program will be held in the social hall of Grace Covenant Church, Trinity Center, 320 Robertsville Road.

Colverson will focus on the historical and current demographics of the city, a press release said. In a synopsis of her presentation, she said that these demographics tell the story of how Oak Ridge has changed, “both in form and function, throughout the past seven-and-a-half decades.”

She will also discuss how the city’s current demographics can help shape the future of our neighborhoods.  Colverson said she is also very interested in ideas of how to gain more involvement from all citizens in the future social and structural development of the city. [Read more…]

City provides info on Oak Ridge street resurfacing

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The Oak Ridge Public Works Department expected to start resurfacing city streets as listed below on Tuesday, October 27. The city recommends that motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists use extra care and caution when traveling on the following streets:

Street Name From Street/Business To Street/Business
Access Road 1 Karen’s Jewelers Rocky Top
Access Road 3 Krystal Taco Bell
Bear Creek Road, West 1510 Bear Creek Road Hwy 58 Ramp
Division Road, East Oak Ridge Turnpike 270 South
Vanderbilt Drive, East Villanova Road Illinois Avenue, S.
Vanderbilt Drive, West Oak Ridge Turnpike Virginia Road
Vanderbilt Drive, West 1 Villanova Road Virginia Road
Elmhurst Drive Briarcliff Avenue Eastridge Drive
East Drive 4 Audubon Road Athens Road
East Drive 3 Alger Road Audubon Road
Alger Road 2 Amherst Lane East Drive

[Read more…]

Hayes, a former RMS principal, City Council member, dies at 76

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Tom Hayes Gym Dedication

On Thursday, January 16, 2014, Robertsville Middle School recognized former Principal Thomas W. Hayes, third from left, by naming the school gymnasium in his honor. (Photo by Oak Ridge Schools)

 

Tom Hayes, a former middle school principal and city council member in Oak Ridge, died peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, according to his obituary. He was 76.

Hayes, who lived in Oak Ridge, was a former principal at Robertsville Middle School and a former member of the Oak Ridge City Council.

A native of Parsons, Tennessee, Thomas Warren Hayes was born November 2, 1938, and he graduated from Riverside High School. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in social studies and a master’s degree in education supervision from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Land Bank hosting neighborhood strategy work session

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Partnership Strategy Agenda Flyer Nov. 6, 2015

The Oak Ridge Land Bank Corporation is hosting a strategy work session November 6 to focus on partnerships and “collaborative efforts to improve and promote our Oak Ridge neighborhoods,” a press release said. The work session is from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday, November 6, at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce.

Agenda items include demonstrated successes, a small group exercise, and a group discussion.

For reservations, contact Alicia Bailey at the City of Oak Ridge at (865) 425-3531 or by email at abailey@oakridgetn.gov by Wednesday, November 4.

Watson to discuss State of the City on Tuesday

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Mark Watson

Mark Watson

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson will give his perspective on issues facing the city at the next Lunch with the League on Tuesday, November 3. The program will be held at noon in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, Lunch with the League is open to the public. There is no cost to attend, and reservations are not needed. Box lunches will be available starting at 11:30 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis for $8, or you may bring your own. Coffee and tea are provided.

In August 2010, Watson was selected as the city manager of Oak Ridge after a 30-year career in local government. Prior to coming to Oak Ridge, he served as city manager of six cities in Texas, Montana, and Arizona. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas, where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration, a press release said. [Read more…]

Haw Ridge Park, greenways to be closed during TWRA hunts

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City of Oak Ridge SealHaw Ridge Park and the North Boundary and Gallaher Bend greenways will be closed for hunts in the Oak Ridge Wildlife Management Area on several dates starting this weekend, the City of Oak Ridge said.  The closure on Haw Ridge includes the portion of Melton Lake Greenway through the park, from the lake to the parking lot on Edgemoor Road.

The hunts will take place on the following dates:

  • October 31-November 1
  • November 14-15
  • December 12-13

[Read more…]