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City Council to consider revised Main Street plan on Friday

Posted at 9:46 am May 24, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge City Council on Friday, May 24, will consider the revised plan for Main Street Oak Ridge, the 58-acre project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall.

The Oak Ridge City Council will consider the revised plan for Main Street Oak Ridge on second and final reading at noon today (Friday, May 24).

The meeting will be in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Courtroom at 200 South Tulane Avenue.

Council approved the revised plan in a 6-1 vote on Monday, May 13. That approval occurred four months after Council rejected an earlier version of the plan in a 3-4 vote in January. Since then, a new revised plan has been submitted to the city, and there have been additional discussions between city officials and RealtyLink, the South Carolina developer. In April, the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission recommended 7-1 that the new plan, which is similar to the earlier plan, be approved with some conditions.

Main Street Oak Ridge is the 58-acre project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Tagged With: Main Street—Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Mall, Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission, RealtyLink, revised plan

Planet Fitness could open July 30

Posted at 3:32 pm May 23, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Planet Fitness is building a gym in Oak Ridge in part of the former Kmart store on South Illinois Avenue. Construction is pictured above on Tuesday, May 21, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Planet Fitness gym in Oak Ridge is tentatively scheduled to open July 30, the company said Wednesday.

“The 27,000-square-foot Oak Ridge club will offer state-of-the-art cardio machines and strength equipment, 30-Minute Express Circuit, fully equipped locker rooms with day lockers and showers, and numerous flat screen televisions,” according to a response to questions provided by Josh Gerber, vice president of marketing for PF Growth Partners LLC in Timonium, Maryland. “The club will also have a signature Black Card Spa area that will feature HydroMassage beds, massage chairs, tanning beds, a Total Body Enhancement booth and more.”

The club will be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the company said. People can begin signing up online starting June 10, Planet Fitness said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: gym, Josh Gerber, Kmart, PF Growth Partners LLC, Planet Fitness

Emergency workers: State your location when calling 911 from cell phone

Posted at 3:15 pm May 23, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge 911 Dispatch Center is pictured above. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

Oak Ridge emergency workers and dispatchers are urging the community to remember a potentially life-saving step when calling 911 from a cell phone: immediately state your location to the dispatcher.

“The Oak Ridge fire and police departments are working to share this important information after incidents involving cell signals were routed to the wrong 911 center, potentially delaying emergency response,” a press release said.

Emergency service organizations (fire, police, ambulance, and dispatch) and 911 callers have no control over which cell tower is used by an individual’s phone. If you are making a 911 call from your cell phone, you should always advise the dispatcher of the city and/or county you are calling from and your exact location, the press release said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: 911, 911 cell phone call, 911 dispatch center, cell phone, emergency response, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Oak Ridge Police Department

Planning Commission to study zoning amendment for self storage facilities

Posted at 2:59 pm May 23, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The developer of Main Street Oak Ridge on Thursday, April 25, 2019, said it has an “immediate opportunity” for a climate-controlled self storage facility at the 58-acre site. Examples of what these types of facilities look like were presented to the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission by Brett Rogers, construction director for RealtyLink, the developer.

The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission will study a potential zoning text amendment for self storage facilities this evening (Thursday, May 23).

The text amendment is being considered after a developer, RealtyLink, proposed a climate-controlled self storage facility at Main Street Oak Ridge, the 58-acre redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall.

The self storage facility, which is not currently allowed under the type of zoning in place at the site, could be along Rutgers Avenue. It could be three stories, with a maximum height of 35 feet. It could have about the same “footprint” as Dick’s Sporting Goods.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Brett Rogers, Main Street—Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission, RealtyLink, self storage facilities, self storage facility, UB-2, zoning, zoning amendment, zoning text amendment

Public Works open house this evening

Posted at 2:33 pm May 23, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Public Works Community Open House (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge Public Works Community Open House is this evening (Thursday, May 23).

It’s from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Central Services Complex at 100 Woodbury Lane. Everyone is invited to attend, a press release said

The Public Works Community Open House is designed to increase public awareness about the contributions of the Oak Ridge Public Works Department, as well as educate the community about the duties, practices, and goals of the department, the press release said. It is being held in recognition of National Public Works Week, May 19-25, with the theme “Public Works, It Starts Here.”

“We’re so pleased to be able to host this free event for the community for the third year, offering everyone an opportunity to see behind the scenes and learn what Public Works is all about,” Public Works Director Shira McWaters said. “This open house will be bigger than ever, featuring fun and educational activities for all ages.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Oak Ridge Public Works Department, open house, Public Works Community Open House, Shira McWaters

DosBros Fresh Mexican Grill opening in Oak Ridge

Posted at 1:32 pm May 22, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

DosBros Fresh Mexican Grill is opening a restaurant in a shopping center on South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge. The shopping center is pictured above on Thursday, May 22, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

DosBros Fresh Mexican Grill is opening a restaurant in Oak Ridge.

The restaurant could open in August, the company said in a response to a customer question on its Facebook page.

It appears that the restaurant will be located where the former Chipotle Mexican Grill was on South Illinois Avenue, according to a photo posted by DosBros Fresh Mexican Grill. That is in a shopping center next to Great Clips, Fast Pace Urgent Medical Care, Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries, and Aspen Dental.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: DosBros, DosBros Fresh Mexican Grill, restaurant

Planet Fitness building gym in Oak Ridge

Posted at 12:30 pm May 22, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Planet Fitness is building a gym in Oak Ridge in part of the former Kmart store on South Illinois Avenue. Construction is pictured above on Tuesday, May 21, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: We have posted a second story here with more information about the new gym, which is tentatively scheduled to open July 30.

Planet Fitness is building a gym in Oak Ridge.

The new gym will be in part of the former Kmart store on South Illinois Avenue.

The new gym has been announced on the company’s website, which says the Oak Ridge fitness club is coming soon.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Recreation, Slider, Sports Tagged With: fitness club, gym, Kmart, Planet Fitness

Warrants: Man charged with attempted murder after pointing gun at deputy, pulling trigger

Posted at 11:42 pm May 21, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Charles Edward Mason

An Anderson County man is facing 24 charges, including attempted murder, after he allegedly showed a gun, threatened several people, refused to let two of them call for help, and pointed the weapon at responding deputies and pulled the trigger twice, officers said.

The gun did not fire after Charles Edward Mason, 51, pointed it at a deputy because Mason’s T-shirt got caught in the gun, according to arrest warrants filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Clinton by Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Jake Stone.

The charges filed against Mason include:

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Anderson County, Courts, Front Page News, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, Anderson County Detention Facility, Anderson County General Sessions Court, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, attempted first-degree murder, Black Oak Road, Charles Edward Mason, drug violations, Jake Stone, methamphetamine

FBI, Clinton PD searching for suspected bank robber

Posted at 9:25 pm May 21, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Clinton Police Department are looking for a man suspected of robbing the Ft. Sill Bank inside the Walmart in Clinton on Tuesday, May 21, 2019. (Photo courtesy FBI)

Note: This story was updated at 11:40 a.m. May 22.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Clinton Police Department are looking for a man suspected of robbing a bank in Clinton on Tuesday afternoon.

The FBI and CPD said a man robbed the local branch of the Fort Sill National Bank inside the Walmart in Clinton. The man entered the bank at 4:15 p.m. and demanded money, the FBI said.

“Reports say a suspect entered the bank, located inside the Walmart store, and passed a note demanding money,” the CPD said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Clinton, Front Page News, Police and Fire, Top Stories, U.S. Tagged With: bank, bank robber, Clinton Police Department, FBI, Federal Bureau of Investigation, robbery

‘The Polio Epidemic: A Personal Story’ topic of Lunch with League today

Posted at 8:24 am May 21, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Jerry Creasey

Anderson County Commissioner and longtime Oak Ridger Jerry Creasey will talk about the history of polio in the United States, and his childhood experience with the polio epidemic of 1944 during a meeting today (Tuesday, May 21).

Creasey will be the featured speaker at Lunch with the League, which starts at noon at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Health, Nonprofits Tagged With: Jerry Creasey, League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, Lunch with the League, polio

Sponsored: Award-winning Tennessee Medieval Faire celebrates 5th annual festival

Posted at 12:45 pm May 18, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Photo courtesy Tennessee Medieval Faire

Discounted rooms at Baymont Inn and Suites for Faire fans

New online ticket sales and discounts available 

Earlier this year, the Tennessee Medieval Faire was awarded by 9 Lakes of East Tennessee and the Middle East Tennessee Tourism Council (covering 16 counties) an Excellence in Tourism Award as the “2018 Best Annual Festival.”

“We are very grateful for the recognition that we are adding value to our community,” said Barrie Paulson, vice president-manager and entertainment director.

Now celebrating its fifth year, the Tennessee Medieval Faire invites patrons to go back in time to the High Middle Ages (circa 1190s) and “Live the Age of Chivalry!” with Robin Hood. This outdoor interactive PG festival will spring to life on May 25 and run for three weekends, including Memorial Day.

The dates are May 25-27, June 1-2, and June 8-9. The hours are 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Easter Time.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Entertainment, Sponsored Posts Tagged With: Age of Chivalry, Barrie Paulson, comedy, crafts, folktale, human combat chess, jousting, Lars Paulson, Middle Ages, music, Noble Cause Productions, Robin Hood, Sheriff of Nottingham, Tennessee Medieval Faire

DOE awards new contract to support environmental cleanup in Oak Ridge

Posted at 12:04 pm May 18, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Five contracts worth up to $24.9 million total have been awarded to small businesses to help support the cleanup of federal sites in Oak Ridge.

The awardees include one company based in Oak Ridge and two based in Knoxville.

The awards were announced last week by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management as part of its Characterization, Deactivation/Demolition, and Remediation Services contract.

The Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, or OREM, said it will use the awards to advance cleanup progress across the Oak Ridge Reservation by issuing task orders to conduct characterization, demolish lower hazard buildings, dispose waste, and provide technical support.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, East Tennessee Technology Park, Front Page News, Knoxville, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Aerostar SES LLC, ARS Aleut Remediation LLC, Ben Williams, cleanup, contract, CTI and Associates Incorporated, demolition, East Tennessee Technology Park, environmental management, GEM Technologies Incorporated, Jay Mullis, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, Oak Ridge Reservation, OREM, remediation, TerranearPMC LLC, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex

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