Oak Ridge has announced the results of the Dec. 16 special meeting to elect members of boards and commissions and a board of directors for a new Oak Ridge Land Bank.
Here are the results:
ELECTIONS—EXISTING BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS [Read more…]
Letter: Remembering Minnie Thompson
To the Editor:
I keep thinking of Minnie Thompson and some of her attempts to make things better for Oak Ridge citizens.
She showed the documentation of how she had attempted to get automatic doors added to the Oak Ridge Post Office.
I said, “Minnie, this is a prime example of how Oak Ridge sets up a power of ‘four’ that never writes letter for its citizens that have no spokesman.” [Read more…]
Signs installed for Top Secret Trail that stops in Oak Ridge
The Tennessee Department of Transportation has recently installed signs for a new “top secret” 465-mile, self-guided driving trail that stops in Oak Ridge.
The brown signs were erected to direct visitors and curious local travelers along this important tourism route, a state press release said. They lead travelers to picturesque views in the Upper Cumberland and the “inside scoop on the state’s biggest secret.”
The Top Secret trail has 111 stops within Knox, Anderson, Campbell, Overton, Fentress, Morgan, Scott, Clay, Roane, and Pickett counties, giving visitors extensive history, culture, music, and cuisine experiences. The trail is part of the 16 Discover Tennessee Trails and Byways, an initiative by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, connecting Tennessee’s 95 counties to encourage guests to travel “off the beaten path” and to explore treasures of the state.
“Start the trip off at the site of the 1982 World’s Fair at World’s Fair Park, home to the world-famous Sunsphere, one of the only two remaining original fair structures,” the press release said. “Travel through the Upper Cumberland region, where guests can find out why Oak Ridge is considered Tennessee’s ‘secret city,’ the smallest library in the United States in Coalfield, and Tanners Café, Sundries & Antiques, housed in a 1906 bank that still has the original vault. Learn the history and culture of the region by stopping off at Old Union Meeting House, which is one of the oldest in the country and the Museum of Scott County, the only one of its kind created and curated by high school students. [Read more…]
Y-12 Community Relations Council adds members
Bruce Borchers
Bruce Borchers, Veronica O’Hearn, and John W. Smith have joined the Y-12 Community Relations Council. The volunteer group is comprised of 29 community and business leaders who are charged with helping to exchange information between Y-12’s management team and the Oak Ridge and East Tennessee region. The new members were selected by the CRC membership, a press release said.
“B&W Y-12 launched the Community Relations Council in 2002 because we understand the importance of having a strong relationship with our neighbors in and around the Oak Ridge area,” said Bill Reis, B&W Y-12’s vice president of public and government affairs. “We work hard to keep the group updated on the projects/programs and activities at Y-12 and look to them to provide us feedback from the community and to serve as ambassadors for Y-12. It’s a wonderful partnership, and we appreciate each and every one of the CRC members for their commitment to Y-12 and the community.”
B&W Y-12 operates the Y-12 National Security Complex for the National Nuclear Security Administration. [Read more…]
Oak Ridge fraternal lodges donate to Ben Atchley State Veterans Home
Pictured above in front row are Ginny Howe, Gene Wenzel, and Elizabeth Shirley; second row, Jeff McDonald, Daniel Humphreys, Donna Forstrom, Joy Brown, Jim Lutrell, and Mary Lutrell; and third row, Ralph Pate and Sarah Pate.
Not pictured is Bobby Hensley. (Submitted photo)
In a combined effort, Veteran’s Day committee members from three Oak Ridge fraternal lodges donated $780 in gift cards to Ben Atchley State Veteran’s Home. The Fraternal Order of the Eagles, Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, and the Loyal Order of the Moose worked to collect donations during each lodge’s Veteran’s Day events. Ben Atchley State Veteran’s home was the charity of choice for each lodge’s Veteran’s Day committee.
On Thursday, Dec. 12, members from each lodge met at the Ben Atchley Home to deliver the gift cards. The gift cards purchased included Regal Cinema and three local restaurants. The veteran residents will enjoy several outings for dinner and a movie thanks to the donation.
“Thank you all so much for your overwhelming kindness and generosity of the gift cards for our well-deserving veterans,” said Ginny Howe, Ben Atchley’s programs coordinator. “We appreciate you more than you will ever know.”
Oak Ridge city manager being considered for job in Texas
Mark Watson
Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson is being considered for a job in Texas, three council members confirmed Thursday evening.
Watson is a finalist for a city manager position, and a decision could be made in January, Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan said.
The mayor said he hopes Watson, who started here in August 2010, stays in Oak Ridge.
“Mark Watson has been an outstanding city manager,” Beehan said. “He was a great hire.” [Read more…]
What’s happening in Oak Ridge from Dec. 19-25
Here is a summary of events happening in Oak Ridge starting Thursday, Dec. 19, and continuing through Dec. 25, Christmas Day.
This weekly listing of events is compiled by the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Bojangles’ restaurant opening in Oak Ridge on Dec. 27
Bojangles’ restaurant will open on South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge on Friday, Dec. 27.
Bojangles’ restaurant will open in Oak Ridge on Friday, Dec. 27.
The new restaurant is at 490 S. Illinois Ave., just south of the former Dean Stallings Ford.
The company said Bojangles’ is “a Southern-style restaurant famous for serving made-from-scratch biscuits, hand-breaded chicken, and mouth-watering breakfast all day.”
Bojangles’ is offering $100 gift cards to the first 100 customers at 5 a.m. Dec. 27, and one lucky customer will win free breakfasts for a year, a press release said. [Read more…]
Alexander will oppose two-year budget bill being considered by Senate
Lamar Alexander
U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander said he will oppose a two-year budget agreement that cleared a key Senate hurdle on Tuesday and is expected to keep the government open through 2015.
The bill passed the Republican-controlled House of Representatives on Thursday in a 332-94 vote. It’s now being considered in the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats, and could win congressional approval this week.
“I will vote against the budget agreement because it avoids the federal government’s most urgent need: reducing the growth of runaway entitlement spending,” said Alexander, a Tennessee Republican. “Instead, it spends savings that should be used to strengthen Medicare, pensions, and the air transportation system.”
Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, a Tennessee Republican whose district includes Oak Ridge, supported the legislation last week.
Passage of the bill is likely to offer relief to federal employees and government contractors in Oak Ridge—and to the businesses that support them. Many reported impacts during the last partial government shutdown in October. [Read more…]
What’s happening in Oak Ridge from Dec. 12-18
Here is a summary of events happening in Oak Ridge starting Thursday, Dec. 12, and continuing through Dec. 18.
This weekly listing of events is compiled by the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau: [Read more…]
Passed in House, Manhattan Project Park amendment falls short in Senate
Now mostly demolished, the former mile-long, U-shaped K-25 Building is pictured above. The site could be included in a Manhattan Project National Historical Park. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy)
The legislation to create a Manhattan Project National Park that would include Oak Ridge has fallen short in the U.S. Senate, but the representative from Washington state who wrote the House amendment vowed to press ahead next year.
The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives in June as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. But it was not included in the final text of the defense bill released late Tuesday night, said U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings, the Washington Republican who wrote the amendment.
Besides Oak Ridge, the park would include Hanford, Wash., and Los Alamos, N.M. The three cities played key roles in the Manhattan Project, a top-secret program to build the world’s first atomic weapons during World War II.
“I’m disappointed, but not deterred,” said Hastings, chair of the House Natural Resources Committee. “To all the advocates for this park: You’ve given great energy, enthusiasm, and expertise to this effort to date, and I know that will continue until our goal is accomplished, which I am confident it will ultimately be.” [Read more…]
Council agrees to buy car wash to build sewer system tank
The Oak Ridge City Council has approved the purchase of Mullins Performance Car Wash in south Oak Ridge to allow the city to build a sewer system holding tank.
A car wash in south Oak Ridge could soon be replaced by a sewer system holding tank.
The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday voted 5-1 to buy the car wash, owned by businessman Terry Mulllins, for $125,000.
The land is at the southern gateway to Oak Ridge, near the intersection of Scarboro Road and South Illinois Avenue. The city agreed to buy the property so workers can place the proposed tank, officially called an equalization basin, farther away from the busy intersection and make it less visible. The intersection is used by thousands of drivers every day, including workers at the Y-12 National Security Complex.
The tank is one of three equalization basins that the city plans to build in order to comply with a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency order that requires Oak Ridge to repair all sewer system overflows by September 2015. [Read more…]
