Guest Columns Archives - Page 19 of 19

Guest column: Free speech, an invaluable right

Posted at 1:06 am July 25, 2012
By John Ragan Leave a Comment

John Ragan

What are the limits on freedom of speech? Few would argue that the right of free speech is absolute at all times and under all circumstances. However, would anyone fail to concede that this liberty is one of the most basic rights?

Courts have observed that free speech consists of “utterances” that are essential parts of the exposition of ideas. Nonetheless, these same courts have also held that it does not extend to “utterances” that are obscene, profane, libelous, or tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace.

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Guest column: Emory Valley Center enhances lives

Posted at 11:58 pm July 24, 2012
By Robin Biloski Leave a Comment

Robin Biloski

What is Emory Valley Center?

For many of us, it is just some “buildings” located on Emory Valley Road, in the east side of Oak Ridge. We know generally that it was formed years ago to help “handicapped” people. We recognize it as a busy place with cars coming in and out, and driving around our community with the EVC logo on them.

We know children and adults and many Oak Ridge “seniors” share building space for their daily activities. But, it is much more.

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Guest column advocates for sustainable country

Posted at 11:41 am July 5, 2012
By Kevin Bradford Leave a Comment

Last fall, I entered into a graduate school program for Infrastructure Planning and Management.

The gist of it is that we have critical infrastructure in our country (energy, water, transportation, cyber security/communications, public health, and food), and every sector is in drastic need of attention before we experience catastrophic failure. (Think Hurricane Katrina.)

It is argued that this is a severe vulnerability to our national security … and I would agree.

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Guest column: Alexander supports Manhattan Project park in Oak Ridge

Posted at 1:44 pm July 1, 2012
By Lamar Alexander 5 Comments

Lamar Alexander

The Manhattan Project is one of the most significant events in American history, and according to some historians, it is the single most significant event of the 20th Century.

In 2004, I joined Sen. Jeff Bingaman as a cosponsor of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park Study Act, which directed the Department of Interior to conduct a study of the Manhattan Project sites to determine the feasibility of including the sites in the National Park System.

In 2011, Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Department of the Interior, recommended the creation of a Manhattan Project National Historical Park with units at Oak Ridge, Tenn.; Los Alamos, N.M., and Hanford, Wash. According to Secretary Salazar, “The Manhattan Project ushered in the Atomic Age, changed the role of the United States in the world community, and set the stage for the Cold War.”

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Fire chief explains fireworks policy

Posted at 10:50 pm June 28, 2012
By Darryl Kerley Leave a Comment

Fireworks are devices consisting of a combination of explosives and combustibles, set off to generate colored lights, smoke, and noise for amusement. The explosives or combustibles are used for display.

Of ancient Chinese origin, fireworks evidently developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles and accompanied the spread of military explosives westward to Europe in the Middle Ages.

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Baughn: Let’s lower the property tax rate

Posted at 2:21 pm June 24, 2012
By Trina Baughn 5 Comments

Trina Baughn

The future of Oak Ridge is entirely dependent upon our ability to attract new residents and businesses. To do that, we must first acknowledge an unspoken truth: Outsiders view Oak Ridge as being too expensive. We must work to change that. Oak Ridge must become competitive.

Why do people say that it costs so much to live and work in Oak Ridge? What I hear is that our leases, properties, gas, and even our groceries, all cost more than our neighboring communities. I haven’t verified that to be the case, but those are things that the city government can’t (and shouldn’t) control.

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Iwanski proposes solution to budget standoff over jailers, taxes

Posted at 2:45 pm June 15, 2012
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Editor’s note: Anderson County Interim Mayor Myron Iwanski has proposed a solution to a budget standoff between county officials who don’t want to raise taxes and Sheriff Paul White, who says he needs at least 13 jailers to open a 128-bed minimum security dormitory. Here’s the proposal that Iwanski sent to county commissioners and staff members on Wednesday.

After last night’s meeting, I had a chance to talk to some of you, Sheriff White, and Avery Johnson about the sheriff’s budget. Based on your, the sheriff’s, and Avery’s input, I would like to offer a no-tax-increase solution for the sheriff’s budget that will allow the jail dormitory to be open and also address the longer term jail expansion staffing needs.

My proposal authorizes the sheriff to hire the 13 jailers he said he needs to open the new dormitory—but has some conditions that County Commission and the sheriff would need to agree to for us to do it in a fiscally responsible way.

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Rep. Ragan endorses Frank for county mayor

Posted at 7:19 pm June 9, 2012
By John Ragan Leave a Comment

Editor’s note: The following speech by Tennessee Rep. John Ragan was given during a Saturday grand opening ceremony at the campaign headquarters for business owner Terry Frank, a Clinton Republican who is running for Anderson County mayor.

Over two hundred years ago, our ancestors boldly declared that every citizen stands before the law as an equal. These brave souls wagered their fortunes, their honor and their very lives on the proposition that the Creator endows every person with the same unalienable rights. These patriots recognized that these rights not only include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but economic freedom and many other rights, too numerous to mention.

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