Oak Ridge Today

ORNL Federal Credit Union to host free bluegrass/Americana concerts

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ORNL Federal Credit Union will continue its free concert series in Oak Ridge this summer. The concerts will feature bluegrass and American bands from throughout the region, a press release said. The musicians will include Jim Lauderdale and Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, among others.

The series kicks off in June and will continue through September, a press release said. All concerts will be held from 6-9 p.m. at Alvin K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge.

The first show will be held on Saturday, June 15, and it will feature legendary songwriter Jim Lauderdale and his band, along with East Tennessee native Steve Gulley and his band, New Pinnacle, the press release said.

“The community is invited to bring their lawn chairs and their friends and family for an evening of free Americana roots music,” the press release said. Local food truck vendors and Oak Ridge’s own Crafter’s Brew will be on site, the release said.

Future concerts will be held on the following Saturdays: 

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Secret City Festival is Friday, Saturday

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Secret City Festival (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The two-day Secret City Festival on Friday and Saturday will feature music, food, history, science, and much more, a press release said.

The festival is hosted by the City of Oak Ridge and presented by Celebrate Oak Ridge. It will be in Alvin K. Bissell Park from 10 a.m. until about 11 p.m. on Friday, June 7, and Saturday, June 8.

The festival showcases Oak Ridge’s unique role in American history and scientific innovation with various events and activities for the entire family to enjoy.

Musical headliners at the concerts will include iconic rock bands Loverboy, performing on Friday, June 7, and 38 Special, performing on Saturday, June 8. Tickets for each concert are available online. The festival is free to attend, but concert-goers must purchase a ticket.

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Tonight: Learn about microplastics in Tennessee River

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Martin Knoll

You can learn about water quality and microplastics in the Tennessee River during a meeting in Oak Ridge tonight (Thursday, June 6).

The program is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Thursday at the University of Tennessee Arboretum Auditorium. It’s a free program offered by the UT Arboretum Society and co-sponsored by Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning. No registration is required.

Microplastics have been in the news recently, a press release said. Martin Knoll, a professor of geology and hydrology at Sewanee: The University of the South, will explain why microplastics are an issue, and he will present his findings on the water quality of the Tennessee River during the program this evening.

As project manager for the Tenneswim in 2016, Knoll directed the most detailed analysis of Tennessee River water quality ever conducted, the press release said. During this project, Knoll and his colleagues found the highest levels of microplastics recorded in any river of the world to date.

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Council to consider budget, tax rate increase

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The Oak Ridge City Council will consider the municipal budget and a proposed two-cent tax rate increase on Monday evening, June 3.

The two-cent tax rate increase would raise the property tax rate from $2.54 per $100 of assessed value to $2.56. It would be the second tax rate increase in the past two years after about a decade of no tax rate increases.

Each cent on the property tax rate generates about $80,000 in revenue.

The city’s general fund is about $26.2 million, and its total budget, including all funds such as school funds and utility funds, is roughly $210 million.

The budget has to be considered in two readings, or meetings. Tonight’s vote is the first reading. The second and final reading will be on Monday, June 10.

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For members: Company ordered to pay $500,000 fine after improperly shipping radioactive materials

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Federal Agents at Berthold Technologies
An Oak Ridge company has been ordered to pay a $500,000 federal fine about two years after pleading guilty to criminal charges related to the improper shipping of radioactive materials in devices used in the oil and gas “fracking” industry. Federal agents search the business, Berthold Technologies USA LLC on Midway Road, on Thursday, Jan. 22. 2015. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

KNOXVILLE—An Oak Ridge company has been ordered to pay a $500,000 federal fine about two years after pleading guilty to criminal charges related to the improper shipping of radioactive materials in devices used in the oil and gas “fracking” industry.

The devices, used to measure the density of fluids in natural gas fracking operations, were shipped from Oak Ridge to Texas and Oklahoma in March and October 2014, according to the United States Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Federal Agents at Berthold Technologies

KNOXVILLE—An Oak Ridge company has been ordered to pay a $500,000 federal fine about two years after pleading guilty to criminal charges related to the improper shipping of radioactive materials in devices used in the oil and gas “fracking” industry.

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Roane State receives $496,888 grant to enhance distance learning

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Students at Roane State’s Scott County campus take a class using Zoom technology. A nearly half-million-dollar federal grant will allow Roane State to expand its use of Zoom technology to give students more access to classes.

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

Roane State Community College has received a $496,888 federal grant to improve distance learning opportunities at three of the community college’s most rural campuses.

For the 2018-19 academic year, Roane State invested in Zoom video conferencing technology to replace legacy interactive video systems at each of its campuses. The Zoom technology allows the college to broadcast a class from one campus to students at other locations. Rather than travel to a campus for a course, students can stay close to home and participate through live interactive video.

The Zoom technology, with its 360-degree cameras, created a more natural classroom experience than the college’s previous distance learning system. Classes taught via Zoom can be easily viewed live on any device, and content can be seamlessly uploaded online for students to access on demand. [Read more…]

Manhattan Project: Walk with a ranger, learn more about Wheat

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The former Wheat community in what is now west Oak Ridge (Photo courtesy National Park Service)

You can join a National Park Service park ranger for a ranger-led walk through the pre-Manhattan Project community of Wheat on Wednesday, June 19. The former community was in what is now west Oak Ridge.

The free program on June 19 is presented by the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. It is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. at Blair Road and the North Boundary Greenway. The walk will be about 1.5 miles, so wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water to drink, a press release said. Stops will include “downtown” Wheat, George Jones Memorial Baptist Church, Roane College site, and the Crawford Cumberland Presbyterian Memorial. There will be stories about the development and significance of each site, the press release said.

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In June: USA Cycling Individual Time Trial Professional & Para National Championships

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The USA Cycling National Pro Road, Crit, Time Trial, and Para-Cycling Championships will be held in Knoxville and Oak Ridge June 27-30. This will be the second time all U.S. national champions in professional road cycling will be crowned the same week under the organizational umbrella of one host community, a press release said.

“All are invited to join for an exciting, fast-paced national championship event held in your backyard!” the press release said.

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said the city “is pleased to welcome back the officials and participants of USA Cycling’s National Championships for a second year. The new route will take you through a challenging course in our neighborhoods as well as the speeding segments along Melton Hill Lake. We know you will enjoy the spectacle of world-class cycling within Oak Ridge and will learn about the unique sport that it is!”

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Mixed martial arts fitness program begins in June

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Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The City of Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department has announced a new mixed martial arts fitness program set to begin in June 2019. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The City of Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department has announced a new mixed martial arts fitness program set to begin in June.

In honor of this new program, Martial Arts of Oak Ridge will host two free seminars on Saturday, June 1, at the Oak Ridge Civic Center. Seminars will be taught by instructors Cody Jordan and Laban Propst with the Lucas Lepri Brazilian Jiu Jitsu school of Knoxville. 

The first-ever Brazilian Jiu Jitsu seminar will be held from 10:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. in the Civic Center gymnasium. The second seminar will follow immediately in the gym from 11:45 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. and will cover Women’s Self Defense, also a first for Oak Ridge, a press release said.

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Tennessee’s growing wine industry showcased at Nine Lakes Wine Festival in Oak Ridge

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The third annual Nine Lakes Wine Festival has been scheduled for May 31-June 1, 2019, in Melton Lake Park in Oak Ridge. The festival, pictured above in 2018, celebrates Tennessee wines and ciders that are 100 percent locally made. (Photo by Keely Rountree/Courtesy Nine Lakes Wine Festival)

Festival at Melton Lake Park celebrates local wineries with 100+ Tennessee wines, ciders May 31-June 1

The third annual Nine Lakes Wine Festival is this weekend, Friday, May 31, and Saturday, June 1, at Melton Lake Park in Oak Ridge. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee recently proclaimed May as Tennessee Grape and Wine Appreciation Month.

The Nine Lakes Wine Festival is open to the ticket-holding public and produced by the Appalachian Region Wine Producers Association.

On Friday, May 31, the VIP Taste of Gold will be from 6 to 8:30 p.m. featuring only the best in Tennessee wines, a press release said. This all-inclusive evening features gold medal and reserve wines, gourmet small plate foods, and live music by the David Slack Trio.

And then on Saturday, June 1, the Grand Tasting Event will be from 3 to 8 p.m. on the waterfront at Melton Lake Park. This event features 17 wineries pouring more than 100 Tennessee wines and ciders, with live music and a “Barrels of Fun Charity Race” benefitting up to 24 local charities, the press release said. The public can sign up to roll wine barrels in support of their favorite Tennessee charities for fun and competition.

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CTF: Meth, narcotics found during Friday morning searches

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Roughly an ounce of methamphetamine and other narcotics were found during searches on Ridgeview Drive in Oliver Springs on Friday morning, May 31, 2019, law enforcement officers said. (Photo courtesy Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force)

Roughly an ounce of methamphetamine and other narcotics were found during Friday morning searches on Ridgeview Drive in Oliver Springs, law enforcement officers said.

The searches were led by the Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force, which had three search warrants. The search operation included the CTF, Oliver Springs Police Department, Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, and Oak Ridge Police Department, a press release said.

ACSO and ORPD SWAT executed two of the three search warrants at the same time, the press release said. The third search warrant was executed shortly after the first two were clear, the release said.

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Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival this weekend

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Pictured above from left to right are Carmen Agra Deedy, Bill Lepp, and Bobby Norfolk.

The Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival will feature three world renowned storytellers in Oak Ridge this weekend.

This annual event is led by the three Rotary Clubs in Oak Ridge, all volunteers. This second annual storytelling festival will be held at the Historic Grove Theater. Due to public demand at the 2018 performances, a larger venue and an additional performance have been added, a press release said.

Bil Lepp, Carmen Agra Deedy, and Bobby Norfolk will perform for the 2019 festival. They have achieved national and international recognition and appear regularly at festivals, including the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee, the press release said.

On Saturday, June 1, the Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival will present the art and magic of live storytelling with three performances at the Historic Grove Theater: 10 a.m. to noon, 2 to 5 p.m. (with intermission), and 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. (with intermission). There will be different stories at each session. Although the stories would be rated PG, it is suggested that the 10 a.m. performance would be most enjoyable for children five and older as it is a special family-oriented performance, the press release said. A free crafts-for-kids activity will be offered beginning at 9 a.m. at the Grove Theater.

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