News Archives - Page 34 of 989

ASAP recognizes those who help prevent substance abuse

Posted at 1:19 am January 12, 2022
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

ASAP of Anderson has recognized people who have supported the mission to prevent and reduce substance use among youth and adults in Anderson County.

In December, Anna Hurt of Anderson County Schools, Matt Reedy of City of Oak Ridge, Teresa Seals of Oak Ridge High School, Lisa Steffensen of Roane State Community College, and the City of Rocky Top staff were recognized at a special Community Coalition meeting, a press release said.

“The COVID-19 pandemic brought a special set of challenges, and these amazing community partners continued to go above and beyond to support the work of ASAP during overwhelming times,” the press release said. “The staff at ASAP extends a sincere thank you to their 2021 Partners in Prevention and looks forward to advancing community efforts to prevent substance misuse in 2022.”

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Y-12, Pantex employees celebrated for inventions, patents

Posted at 4:19 pm January 11, 2022
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

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

Employees at Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge and Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, were recently celebrated for inventions and patents.

Y-12 employees filed eight invention disclosures during fiscal year 2021, a press release said. The inventions ranged from environmental and electrical load controllers to diagnostic tools, sensors, and unique material processes. Among those recognized were Eric Spurgeon, Justin Holland, Rachel Bachorek, Robert Cole, Ed Ripley, and Jacob Miller, the press release said.

At Pantex, Stephen Jones and Brian Harlow filed an invention disclosure for laser pulse shaping for a laser-powered bed fusion printer.

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Knoxville reporter to discuss redistricting

Posted at 1:03 pm January 11, 2022
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Knoxville reporter Jesse Fox Mayshark will discuss redistricting during a virtual meeting on Tuesday, January 18.

The talk, sponsored by League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, will be about redistricting transparency and engagement, a press release said. The community is invited to participate in the Lunch with the League talk, which is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. January 18.

“In an effort to keep everyone safe during this time of pandemic, the gathering will again be virtual,” the press release said. “Those who desire to gain access to the meeting may do so by following the instructions provided at the close of this article.”

Here is more information from the press release:

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Free Zoom presentation about conservation fisheries on Jan. 25

Posted at 4:54 am January 11, 2022
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society and Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning have a free Zoom presentation about conservation fisheries on Tuesday, January 25.

The presentation is scheduled to start at 7 p.m., and it will feature Conservation Fisheries, Inc., a nonprofit organization preserving the Southeast’s aquatic biodiversity, a press release said. The presenter, Pat Rakes, is co-director of Conservation Fisheries.

“He will explain the role and mission of CFI as well as its history, pictures of the hatchery, field work, and fish as well as cooperators in this important effort,” the press release said.

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Interested in city boards, commissions? Attend Jan. 19 session

Posted at 4:38 am January 11, 2022
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge City Council will host a drop-in advisory board information session this month, and candidates interested in applying for a city board or commission are encouraged to attend.

The information session is scheduled between 5 and 7 p.m. on January 19 in the Social Room at the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

“The session is an opportunity for those who have applied or are interested in applying to meet with council members, introduce themselves, and ask any questions they have,” a press release said. “Last year, there were 79 applicants for city boards and/or commissions, which is nearly 20 more than the previous year. We hope that offering more chances to get questions answered encourages even more residents to apply and be selected for advisory board service this year.”

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ORPD has memorial, reward funds for Baby Wyatt

Posted at 4:12 am January 11, 2022
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Police Department and Police Chief Robin Smith offered a $1,000 reward for information about the baby boy found dead near the river bank along Melton Lake Greenway on Thursday, March 26, 2020. The Oak Ridge Police Department has named the baby boy “Wyatt,” which means “little warrior,” the city said. On Thursday, April 2, 2020, ORPD officers and the Oak Ridge Fire Department set up a memorial in baby Wyatt’s name near the parking area on Melton Lake at Edgemoor Road. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge Police Department currently has two funds for Baby Wyatt, the unidentified newborn boy found dead in Melton Hill Lake almost two years ago.

The two funds are a memorial fund ($950) and a reward fund ($1,000).

Separate from those two funds, the ORPD has received a $5,246 grant for genetic testing to identify Baby Wyatt. That money will be used specifically for the Baby Wyatt investigation, and any funds left from that grant will be returned to the grant provider, Season of Justice, of Indianapolis, Indiana, the City of Oak Ridge said Monday.

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Historic Downtown Clinton celebrates sign project

Posted at 3:57 am January 11, 2022
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Historic Downtown Clinton celebrated the completion of new landscaping that draws attention to the gateway sign on Main Street.

“Our committee felt this was an important project to welcome people to the Historic District,” a press release said. “WADEscapes Total Lawn and Landscape Management did an amazing job designing, building, and planting to make the sign stand out.”

The sign is located in front of the Walgreens on Main Street.

[Read more…]

Two face death penalty in murder, kidnapping, rape case

Posted at 4:30 pm January 10, 2022
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Sean Finnegan, one of two defendants in a series of gruesome alleged crimes in Oak Ridge in December 2019, including murder, sex crimes, and kidnapping, is pictured above in a mugshot from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office.

An Oak Ridge man and woman face the death penalty after allegedly kidnapping, raping, torturing, and murdering a 36-year-old woman, and mutilating her body and putting it into a freezer in December 2019.

Dave Clark, Seventh Judicial District attorney general, announced the death penalty decision on Monday.

Oak Ridge Today has previously reported that a decision was expected this month in the criminal case against Sean Shannon Finnegan, 54, and Rebecca Elizabeth Dishman, 23. They have both been charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the strangling death of Jennifer Gail Paxton and 10 other charges, including aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with evidence.

In a press release, Clark said a district attorney general can seek the death penalty only in certain first-degree murder cases “when one or more factors established by state law are alleged to exist.” Then, it is up to the DA to decide whether to ask the court to impose the death penalty. That decision has now been made, Clark said.

Here are the factors in this case that make the death penalty applicable, according to Clark:

The murder was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel “in that it involved torture or serious physical abuse beyond what was necessary to produce death.”
It was committed to avoid being arrested and prosecuted for aggravated kidnapping and aggravated rape.
It was committed during an aggravated kidnapping and aggravated rape.
Finnegan and Dishman mutilated Paxton’s body after she died.

Since the state is now seeking the death penalty, special procedures will apply in the court case. These include the appointment of an attorney qualified in death-penalty cases and the right to a second attorney for Finnegan and Dishman.

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Sean Finnegan, one of two defendants charged in a series of gruesome alleged crimes in Oak Ridge in December 2019, including murder, rape, and kidnapping, is pictured above in a mugshot from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office.

Note: This story was last updated at 6 p.m.

Dave Clark, Seventh Judicial District attorney general, announced the death penalty decision on Monday.

Here are the factors in this case that make the death penalty applicable, according to Clark:

The murder was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel “in that it involved torture or serious physical abuse beyond what was necessary to produce death.”
It was committed to avoid being arrested and prosecuted for aggravated kidnapping and aggravated rape.
It was committed during an aggravated kidnapping and aggravated rape.
Finnegan and Dishman mutilated Paxton’s body after she died.

The rest of this story is available if you are a member: a subscriber, advertiser, or contributor to Oak Ridge Today.

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

Not a member? No problem! Subscribe here: Basic

Pro

Temporary

Temporary access ($3 per week for two weeks)

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

We also have advanced subscription options. You can see them here.

We also accept donations. You can donate here. A donation of $50 or more will make you eligible for a subscription.

Thank you for reading Oak Ridge Today. We appreciate your support!

*Part of the ORAU campus in central Oak Ridge is pictured above on May 29, 2017. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)*

ORAU has re-launched its Extreme Classroom Makeover competition, which will award a math or science teacher $25,000 for new classroom equipment, and video applications are due Friday, January 14.

“The mission of Extreme Classroom Makeover is to improve science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education in public schools,” a press release said.

The competition will award one 3^rd through 10^th grade math or science teacher at a public school within a 50-mile radius of Oak Ridge with $25,000 in new equipment to update their classroom with the latest technology, the press release said. One runner-up will receive $5,000 in new equipment. There will also be a $2,500 viewers’ choice award selected by the general public from among all entries received.

Teachers interested in an ORAU Extreme Classroom Makeover need to complete a video application by Friday, January 14, the press release said. Winners will be notified before Spring Break, and the technology will be purchased and installed in their classrooms for the start of the 2022-23 school year.

“The pandemic has taught us that technology is vital for every teacher in every classroom in every school,” said Pam Bonee, director of communications and marketing for ORAU. “Still, some schools do not have the budgets to keep pace with changing technology. Having $25,000 worth of interactive technology would give a boost to any student trying to learn STEM in today’s world!”

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