Oak Ridge Today

Rock slide closes I-75 in both directions in Campbell Co.; detours could last weeks

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A rock slide closed the northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 75 in Campbell County on Friday, and state officials said motorists should be prepared to use detours and alternate routes for weeks. (Photo courtesy Mark Nagi/TDOT)

 

A rock slide closed the northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 75 in Campbell County on Friday, and state officials said motorists should be prepared to use detours and alternate routes for weeks.

The rock slide initially closed just the northbound lanes. But on Friday night, the Tennessee Department of Transportation said the interstate was closed in both directions.

There are detours at Mile Marker 160 on I-75 South and at Mile Marker 134 on I-75 North. [Read more…]

I-75 North in Campbell County closed due to rock slide

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The northbound lanes of Interstate 75 are closed in Campbell County due to a rock slide, state officials said Friday afternoon.

Northbound traffic is being diverted at Exit 134 to US 25W and then back to I-75 North at Exit 160 in Jellico, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Traffic between mile markers 134 and 141 is using Exit 141.

Southbound traffic is not affected.

If you are headed north on I-75 and need updates, you can follow TDOT spokesman Mark Nagi on Twitter. Nagi said he will be providing updates throughout the night.

Next breakfast with legislators is Monday; community invited

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This year’s next Breakfast with the Legislators is Monday.

It’s organized by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, and it’s scheduled from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Monday, February 22, in the Social Room of the Oak Ridge Civic Center, which is located at 1401 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Senators Ken Yager and Randy McNally and representatives John Ragan and Kent Calfee have been invited to give updates on what’s happening in the Tennessee General Assembly during the breakfast. Members of the audience can ask questions and give opinions. A light continental breakfast is provided at no charge. The public is encouraged to attend. [Read more…]

Early voting starts today in Tennessee

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Note: This story was last updated at 1:30 p.m.

Early voting for the March 1 presidential preference primary, or “SEC Primary,” begins today (Wednesday, February 10).

In this election cycle, voting early may be an important option because of unpredictable winter weather, state officials said in a press release. The number of presidential candidates as well as the number of delegates could also create incredibly long ballots for some voters.

Six Southern states will join Tennessee to help decide who could be the next president of the United States. The Volunteer State’s clout could mean more primary interest than in years past. [Read more…]

DA: Anderson County had biggest reduction in state in traffic fatalities in 2015

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Dave Clark

Dave Clark

Anderson County had the greatest reduction in traffic fatalities of any county in Tennessee in 2015, an official said Friday.

In 2014, there were 18 traffic fatalities in Anderson County, District Attorney General Dave Clark said. In 2015, that number dropped to seven, according to statistics maintained by the Tennessee Department of Safety.

“That difference of 11 fewer deaths in Anderson County was the greatest reduction of any Tennessee county,” Clark said.

“The traffic fatality improvements this past year represent 11 people who did not die on our roadways and 11 groups of friends and families who are not grieving this year,” Clark said. “We see the human cost of the deaths on our highways and the utter despair and shock of a family that has suddenly lost someone as the result of a traffic fatality. Therefore, I am particularly pleased with this accomplishment and what it has meant to our community. [Read more…]

Breakfast with the Legislators is Monday morning

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This year’s first Breakfast with the Legislators is Monday morning. It’s scheduled from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Monday, January 25,  in the Social Room of the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

Senators Ken Yager and Randy McNally and representatives John Ragan and Kent Calfee have been invited to discuss the legislative outlook for this session of the Tennessee General Assembly and to respond to questions and hear opinions from the audience. The public is encouraged to attend. A free continental breakfast will be served.

The breakfasts are organized by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge. They are held at the same time and place on the fourth Monday of each month. This year, that will be February 22, March 28, and April 25, or as long as the General Assembly is in session. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge schools open Friday; Clinton, Anderson schools closed

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Note: This story was last updated at 12:25 a.m.

Oak Ridge Schools will have a regular school day on Friday, January 22, and will start on time, officials said.

Schools in the Clinton and Anderson County districts remain closed for a third day.

Roane County Schools announced that, as of Thursday evening, they planned to be open Friday.

After being closed two days, Anderson County government offices will be open on Friday. [Read more…]

Radionuclide levels dropping at Rarity Ridge Treatment Plant, but sludge shipments continue for now

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Ken Glass, Oak Ridge Public Works environmental compliance officer, said levels of technetium 99 in the wastewater system in west Oak Ridge are dropping, but it’s not clear how long UCOR might have to ship sludge from the Rarity Ridge Wastewater Treatment Plant to an out-of-state landfill. Above, Glass stands near a chlorine contact tank at the treatment plant on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 9:55 a.m.

The radioactive nuclide that was first detected in the city’s wastewater lines more than two years ago near the demolition project at the former K-25 Building doesn’t affect drinking water, and it’s not believed to pose any threat to residents or municipal employees, officials said this month.

The levels of the radionuclide, technetium 99, are dropping at several measuring spots in the sewer system in west Oak Ridge, but it’s not clear how long UCOR, the federal government’s cleanup contractor, might have to ship sludge from the Rarity Ridge Wastewater Treatment Plant to an out-of-state landfill.

Officials said UCOR has already hauled away about 80,000 gallons of sludge using a 5,000-gallon tanker truck about once every one or two months since 2014. The sludge, which is about 3 percent to 4 percent solid, comes from a part of the plant known as a digester, and the shipments vary depending upon how much is processed at the plant each month.

Officials don’t know yet when the shipments might end. The sludge is now being taken to the Perma-Fix Northwest treatment facility in Richland, Washington. The last shipment was this month. [Read more…]

Presidential primaries on March 1; property assessor unopposed

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John K. Alley Jr.

John K. Alley Jr.

The presidential primary and county primaries are March 1 in Tennessee. While there are expected to be several choices for president in both of the party’s primaries—they’re part of the so-called “SEC primaries”—there are no contests in the Anderson County primary, where Republican John K. Alley Jr. is running unopposed for a second four-year term.

Other Anderson County offices such as mayor, sheriff, and commissioner are on a different cycle, so they won’t be subject to an election until 2018.

The Anderson County Elections Commission said this month that the March 1 ballots haven’t been finalized yet.

The state primary and county general election is August 4. [Read more…]

OR Schools asks for state help with military program, consistency for teachers

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Tennessee Education Commissioner Candice McQueen, center, visited Oak Ridge High School on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016. Also pictured are ORHS Principal Martin McDonald, left, and Tennessee Rep. John Ragan, an Oak Ridge Republican. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Oak Ridge Schools could use help with a military program, one of the so-called “seven keys” to college and career readiness, education officials told a state official on Thursday.

State officials can also help by “keeping teachers on the same path for more than one year,” Oak Ridge Board of Education Chair Keys Fillauer told Tennessee Education Commissioner Candice McQueen during a Thursday afternoon tour of Oak Ridge High School.

“Let’s give them (teachers) some consistency,” Fillauer said. McQueen’s path is called TNReady, Fillauer said. That’s described as a “new and improved” TCAP (Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program), which students have taken since 1988.

McQueen is visiting all districts as part of a statewide tour. On Thursday, it was Oak Ridge’s turn. In addition to Oak Ridge High School, McQueen toured Glenwood Elementary School and Robertsville Middle School. [Read more…]

Roane Commission to appoint General Sessions judge on Monday

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Jeffery-Wicks

Jeffery H. Wicks

The Roane County Commission will appoint a new General Sessions Court judge during a special session on Monday.

The new judge will serve until the next general election in August and fill a vacancy created when Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam appointed General Sessions Court Judge Jeffery H. Wicks as Criminal Court judge for the Ninth Judicial District. Wicks is replacing former Criminal Court Judge E. Eugene Eblen, who retired December 31.

The Ninth Judicial District serves Loudon, Meigs, Morgan, and Roane counties. Eblen had been Criminal Court judge since 1978. [Read more…]

City Council to discuss state legislative agenda with legislators on Tuesday

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The Oak Ridge City Council will discuss the state legislative agenda for 2016 with Tennessee legislators on Tuesday.

The working lunch is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, December 22, in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Training Room.