Oak Ridge Today

Man, woman receive sentences of 3-5 years in robbery pleas

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Lindsay Elaine Pressley

Lindsay Elaine Pressley

 

A Powell woman received a five-year sentence and a Knoxville man received a three-year sentence when they pleaded guilty to a robbery in Claxton that authorities said started with an advertisement for escort services posted on backpage.com.

Lindsay Elaine Pressley, 29, entered her plea agreement in Anderson County Criminal and Circuit Court in Clinton on October 29.

Her co-defendant, Richard Paul Pressley, 32, entered his plea agreement last week, on Tuesday, April 2.

As part of their plea deals, an aggravated robbery charge filed against both Pressleys was reduced to robbery. Their charges of especially aggravated kidnapping with a deadly weapon were reduced to kidnapping. And charges of conspiracy to commit especially aggravated kidnapping were reduced to conspiracy to commit aggravated kidnapping. Charges of conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery remained unchanged. All four charges are felony charges.

In each case, the sentences for the individual charges run concurrently, or at the same time.

[Read more…]

Lawsuit seeks up to $5 million in fatal truck-lawn mower crash

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A wrongful death lawsuit filed in Anderson County in December seeks up to $5 million in damages from the driver of a pickup truck who struck a man riding a commercial lawn mower on South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge in September.

The driver of the lawn mower, Danny Palmer, 75, of Oak Ridge, died after the crash.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Palmer in Anderson County Circuit Court in Clinton on December 5 by his wife, Barbara Palmer, who is represented by attorney Bruce D. Fox of Clinton.

The crash between the commercial mower being operated by Palmer and the GMC pickup truck was reported near Summit Place on South Illinois Avenue at about 2 p.m. Thursday, September 13. Preliminary findings indicated that the pickup truck hit the mower, which was in the roadway at the time of the crash, according to the Oak Ridge Police Department. Palmer died of his injuries, the ORPD said. [Read more…]

(For members) NIOSH evaluating another class of Y-12 workers for compensation program

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The sign at the main entrance to the Y-12 National Security Complex is pictured above on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The sign at the main entrance to the Y-12 National Security Complex is pictured above on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The sign at the main entrance to the Y-12 National Security Complex is pictured above on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Federal health and safety officials are evaluating another class of Y-12 employees for a workers compensation program that involves certain illnesses and work at sites that are affiliated with the U.S. Department of Energy.

The petition being evaluated now could include all laborers who fabricated or processed uranium between January 1, 1977, and December 31, 1994, in any area at Y-12. The petition was received November 1 and qualified for evaluation on March 25.

The rest of this story, which you will find only on Oak Ridge Today, is available if you are a member: a subscriber, advertiser, or recent contributor to Oak Ridge Today. 

Already a member? Great! Thank you! Sign in here.

Not a member? No problem! Subscribe here:

Basic

Pro

Temporary

If you prefer to send a check, you may do so by mailing one to:

Oak Ridge Today
P.O. Box 6064
Oak Ridge, TN 37831

Note: Most news stories on Oak Ridge Today are free, brought to you by Oak Ridge Today with help from our advertisers, sponsors, and subscribers. Some are considered premium content. This story is premium content. Premium content can include in-depth, investigative, and exclusive stories.

NRC recommends early site permit for Clinch River Nuclear Site

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

TVA Clinch River Site

The Clinch River Site in west Oak Ridge is pictured above. The road running from bottom to top on the right (east) side of the Clinch River connects to Bear Creek Road in southwest Oak Ridge. Highway 58 is off to the top left of the photo and the Heritage Center is to the north. (Photo courtesy TVA)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11:30 a.m.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a final environmental impact statement, and the staff has recommended, based upon the environmental review, issuing an early site permit for the Clinch River Nuclear Site in west Oak Ridge, where two or more small modular nuclear reactors could be built.

The final environmental impact statement, or EIS, was issued by the NRC on April 3. A notice of the EIS and the staff’s recommendation was published in the Federal Register on Monday, April 8.

The 935-acre Clinch River Nuclear Site is located in Roane County along the Clinch River. [Read more…]

(For members) New lithium building a priority as ceiling materials fall in old one

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Building 9204-2 (Beta 2) is pictured above at center at the Y-12 National Security Complex. Part of Building 9204-2E (Beta 2E) is pictured in the top left. (Photo courtesy Consolidated Nuclear Security)

Building 9204-2 (Beta 2) is pictured above at center at the Y-12 National Security Complex. Part of Building 9204-2E (Beta 2E) is pictured in the top left. (Photo courtesy Consolidated Nuclear Security)

 

Building 9204-2 (Beta 2) is pictured above at center at the Y-12 National Security Complex. Part of Building 9204-2E (Beta 2E) is pictured in the top left. (Photo courtesy Consolidated Nuclear Security)

 

A new lithium processing facility that could be built in Oak Ridge is a priority for the National Nuclear Security Administration, which has cited worker safety and materials that have fallen from the ceiling at the old building now used at the Y-12 National Security Complex.

As a priority, the new lithium processing facility is right behind the number one priorities: the production of plutonium pits at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina and Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and uranium processing at the Uranium Processing Facility, which is now under construction at Y-12, said Charles Verdon, NNSA deputy administrator for defense programs.

NNSA Administrator Lisa Gordon-Hagerty cited the materials that have fallen from the ceiling at the old Y-12 building used for lithium processing, 9204-2, or Beta 2, in her response to questions during a budget hearing with the U.S. House Energy and Water Development Subcommittee on Tuesday.

The rest of this story, which you will find only on Oak Ridge Today, is available if you are a member: a subscriber, advertiser, or recent contributor to Oak Ridge Today. 

Already a member? Great! Thank you! Sign in here.

Not a member? No problem! Subscribe here:

Basic

Pro

Temporary

If you prefer to send a check, you may do so by mailing one to:

Oak Ridge Today
P.O. Box 6064
Oak Ridge, TN 37831

Note: Most news stories on Oak Ridge Today are free, brought to you by Oak Ridge Today with help from our advertisers, sponsors, and subscribers. Some are considered premium content. This story is premium content. Premium content can include in-depth, investigative, and exclusive stories.

Annual egg hunt scheduled for April 13; volunteers needed

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A previous Oak Ridge Egg Hunt is pictured above. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

A previous Oak Ridge Egg Hunt is pictured above. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will host the 2019 Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 13, in A.K. Bissell Park beginning at 11 a.m.

Hundreds of children are expected to participate in this annual spring event, a press release said. More than 15,000 candy and prize-filled eggs will be hidden inside the park with prize eggs in each age group.

The event will be held rain or shine, so participants should dress appropriately. If severe weather prevents hiding eggs outdoors, they will be given away in the Civic Center gymnasium, the press release said.

Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee will be sponsoring additional activities after the egg hunt until approximately 2 p.m., depending upon participation levels, the press release said. East Tennessee Pediatric Dentistry will also bring the “Molar Express” children’s train ride if weather permits. [Read more…]

ORHS Class of 1969 Plans 50th reunion

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge High School Class of 1969 is gearing up for their 50th Reunion. A reunion committee is planning a celebration for Sept. 27-28, 2019. (Submitted photo)

The Oak Ridge High School Class of 1969 is gearing up for their 50th Reunion. A reunion committee is planning a celebration for Sept. 27-28, 2019. (Submitted photo)

 

The Oak Ridge High School Class of 1969 is planning their 50th year reunion.

A Reunion Committee is planning a celebration for September 27-28, 2019. You will not want to miss it, a press release said.

There will be more details available later, but first the Reunion Committee needs to find all missing classmates so they can share the weekend events, the press release said. [Read more…]

Senior Center needs community’s help furnishing building

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

An image showing what the new Oak Ridge Senior Center at Alvin K. Bissell Park could look like. (Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge/Studio Four Design)

An image showing what the new Oak Ridge Senior Center at Alvin K. Bissell Park could look like. (Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge/Studio Four Design)

 

The new Oak Ridge Senior Center is scheduled to open later this year.

Area seniors will enjoy opportunites for recreation, physical fitness, education, health screenings, social activites, nutrition lunch program, and transportation assistance, a press release said.

At this time, the Senior Center needs the community’s help in furnishing the building, the press release said.

“Your donation of any of the pieces of furniture will greatly be appreciated,” the release said. “You can choose from the furniture on our list or assist with a cash donation.” [Read more…]

ORAU, Thurgood Marshall College Fund expand STEM opportunities for HBCU students, faculty

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

ORAU and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund have joined forces to expand STEM research opportunities for students and faculty at historically black colleges and universities. On hand to sign a memorandum of understanding on March 29, 2019, were, left to right, Harry Williams, president of TMCF; Joyce Payne, founder; Andy Page, ORAU president and CEO; Desmond Stubbs, ORAU director of diversity initiatives; and Michael Stubblefield, vice chancellor for research and strategic initiatives at Southern University and A&M College, an ORAU consortium member institution. (Photo by ORAU)

ORAU and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund have joined forces to expand STEM research opportunities for students and faculty at historically black colleges and universities. On hand to sign a memorandum of understanding on March 29, 2019, were, left to right, Harry Williams, president of TMCF; Joyce Payne, founder; Andy Page, ORAU president and CEO; Desmond Stubbs, ORAU director of diversity initiatives; and Michael Stubblefield, vice chancellor for research and strategic initiatives at Southern University and A&M College, an ORAU consortium member institution. (Photo by ORAU)

 

The nation’s historically black colleges and universities and minority-serving educational institutions are often untapped resources abounding in talent, ingenuity, and expertise, but lacking in the material resources necessary for scientific research, a press release said.

Tapping into those resources is a big part of the reason ORAU and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund officially began a working relationship with the signing of a memorandum of understanding in Oak Ridge on Friday, March 29, the press release said.

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund is the nation’s largest organization exclusively supporting all 47 public historically black colleges and universities.

ORAU is a national leader in connecting the best and most diverse students, recent graduates, faculty members, and professionals with meaningful mentored research experiences at national labs and other federal research facilities around the country, the press release said. [Read more…]

Kiwanis Club to hear about Oak Ridge Library on Tuesday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Julie Forkner

Julie Forkner

The Kiwanis Club will hear about the Oak Ridge Public Library on Tuesday, April 9.

At noon meeting will include a program by Julie Forkner, who is director of the Oak Ridge Public Library. She will describe library facilities and services. Included are the Oak Ridge Room, Center for Oak Ridge Oral History (COROH), the Library’s Organizations Index of Non Profit Groups, and the help that can be given to the Library through the Friends of the Oak Ridge Public Library (FOL).

Kiwanis Club of Oak Ridge meets at the Golden Oak Buffet in Oak Ridge. There is an optional luncheon at 11:40 a.m., and the program will start at 12:10 p.m. Tuesday. The meeting will be held in the small meeting room at the Golden Oak Buffet on the right side of the entrance door. The restaurant is located on 401 South Tulane Avenue in Oak Ridge, near the stores in the Main Street Oak Ridge shopping center. [Read more…]

ADFAC’s Dine & Donate is Monday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Joey and Steve Sherman at the Mediterranean Delight (Submitted photo)

Joey and Steve Sherman at the Mediterranean Delight (Submitted photo)

 

On Monday, April 8, several area restaurants are donating a portion of their sales to Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC).

“Enjoy a fantastic lunch or dinner out, and help a valuable organization at the same time,” a press release said. “It’s a win-win!”

The featured partner restaurant for April is Mediterranean Delight, located at 160 Bus Terminal Rd, #A, in Oak Ridge.

“This little restaurant is one of the Secret City’s best kept secrets!” the press release said. “Fresh treats that you just can’t get anywhere else in town!” [Read more…]

Burkes Outlet to open in Oak Ridge on Thursday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Burkes Outlet will open its new store at Main Street Oak Ridge on Thursday, April 11, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Burkes Outlet will open its new store at Main Street Oak Ridge on Thursday, April 11, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Burkes Outlet will open its new store at Main Street Oak Ridge on Thursday, April 11.

Burkes Outlet has a changing assortment of name-brand fashion, beauty, and home items at up to 70 percent off other stores’ prices, a press release said.

“From clothing and shoes for the family to unique home items to handbags, accessories, beauty items, and more, Burkes Outlet is constantly bringing in new product,” the press release said.

“We shop the competition so you don’t have to,” says Dave Alves, president of Burkes Outlet. “Our buyers are constantly in market looking for one-of-a-kind buys and excess inventory. We negotiate deep discounts with manufacturers all over the world, which translates into huge savings for our customers. We love surprising our customers. It’s all about the treasure hunt. That’s why when you see something you love, you have to grab it fast.” [Read more…]