Oak Ridge Today

TVA will blast rock to build substation

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Tennessee Valley Authority is building a substation off Old Edgemoor Lane at Haw Ridge Park, near Edgemoor Road in east Oak Ridge. The construction work is pictured above on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Tennessee Valley Authority and its work crews will blast rock in the next several weeks to build an electrical substation in east Oak Ridge. The new substation is being built before the Bull Run Fossil Plant, across the Clinch River in Claxton, closes in 2023.

The blasting was scheduled to start Thursday, January 21, but it was delayed due to weather. When it starts, the blasting work could last three weeks, TVA said in a press release. Controlled, low-charge detonations will be used to blast the rock. Blasting will occur periodically between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., and traffic and pedestrian controls will be in place, TVA said.

The new Anderson County substation site is off Old Edgemoor Road at Haw Ridge Park, near Edgemoor Road.

[Read more…]

Tammy Dunn appointed Oak Ridge city attorney

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Tammy Dunn

The City of Oak Ridge has appointed Senior Staff Attorney Tammy Dunn as the next city attorney.

Dunn assumes her new position this week, when current City Attorney Kenneth Krushenski retires, a press release said. Dunn, a native Oak Ridger, has been with the city’s Legal Department for more than 20 years, beginning when she was still in law school, the press release said.

“Technically, I worked for the city even earlier than that,” Dunn said in the press release. “I worked at the Oak Ridge Public Library Children’s Room during my break between undergrad and law school.”

She worked as a law clerk in the Legal Department for two years before stepping in as acting staff attorney for six months before officially transitioning to staff attorney, a role she filled for two more years, the press release said.

[Read more…]

Snow possible early Friday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

A winter storm is expected in East Tennessee early Friday, and there is a chance of snow in Oak Ridge, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

Heavy wet snow is expected to develop in parts of East Tennessee early Friday morning. The forecast says heavy snow is most likely in the mountains.

“While temperatures are forecast to be above freezing across the valley, heavy wet snow is forecast to accumulate,” the National Weather Service said. “Forecasts across the valley still have considerable uncertainty, so continue to check back for the latest.” (Read more here.)

[Read more…]

Snow likely this afternoon, evening

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

Snow is likely in the Oak Ridge area starting late this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

The forecast called for rain before 3 p.m. Rain mixed with snow are likely between 3 and 4 p.m., and snow is likely after 4 p.m., the National Weather Service said. A total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch is possible.

There is a chance of snow before 7 p.m. Christmas Eve, then a chance of snow showers, mainly between 7 p.m. and 3 a.m. Christmas Day, the Weather Service said.

The high today (Thursday, December 24) was forecast at 49. Tonight is expected to be mostly cloudy, with a low around 19. The chance of precipitation tonight is 40 percent.

It was raining in Oak Ridge mid-afternoon Thursday, and the rain was mixed with snow starting at 3 p.m.

[Read more…]

Nine churches to stage free nativity drive-through Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Nine Oak Ridge congregations will present a free drive-through nativity from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, December 19.

Everyone is invited to drive through the parking lots of the following churches in order, beginning with First Christian Church on the west end of town, to view scenes from the Christmas story, a press release said. [Read more…]

First snow in Oak Ridge

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A light layer of snow, measured at about one-half inch or less, is pictured above at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Snow fell in Oak Ridge starting Monday afternoon and continuing Tuesday morning, leaving a thin layer of snow on grass, cars, and homes.

Oak Ridge Today measured a maximum of one-half inch of snow at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge.

The National Weather Service in Morristown forecast that Tuesday would be mostly cloudy near Clinton, gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 38. Tuesday night could be mostly clear, with a low around 22.

[Read more…]

Wildcats advance to semifinals after win over West

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Wildcats advanced to a Class 5A football semifinal game after a 31-28 quarterfinal win at West on Friday, Nov. 20, 2020. Above, Oak Ridge senior quarterback Mitchell Gibbons (14) runs with the football as Preston Turner (22) blocks. (Photo by Barry Houchin used with permission)

The Oak Ridge Wildcats advanced to a Class 5A football semifinal game after a 31-28 quarterfinal win at West on Friday.

The semifinal game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, November 27, against South Doyle (10-3) on Blankenship Field in Oak Ridge.

Before Friday, the Wildcats (10-3) had lost to the Rebels 22-7 during the regular season in September. A year ago, their season ended at West (12-2) in a 34-14 second-round loss.

The Wildcats led early in the Friday night game, but West took the lead late in the second quarter and held it into the fourth quarter. Then, the two teams traded leads three times in the fourth quarter. Oak Ridge senior quarterback Mitchell Gibbons threw the winning touchdown to senior wide receiver Jonathan Stewart with 2:33 remaining in the game.

[Read more…]

City: Watson feeling better, reported mild COVID symptoms

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Mark Watson

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson is feeling better, and his COVID-19 symptoms remained mild all week, a spokesperson said Friday.

Watson learned a week ago that he had tested positive for COVID-19.

The city manager worked remotely this past week, Oak Ridge spokesperson Lauren Gray said. He will continue to work from home at the beginning of next week and will be off for the Thanksgiving holiday at the end of the week.

The city has urged residents to use caution during the holiday season as the positivity rate remains high; wastewater testing shows the disease is present across the city; and new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths grow to record-setting levels in Anderson County, Tennessee, and the United States.

[Read more…]

City manager tests positive for COVID-19

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Mark Watson

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson learned on Friday that he had tested positive for COVID-19.

The positive result came after a test on Saturday, City of Oak Ridge spokesperson Lauren Gray said.

She said Watson has mild symptoms and no fever; he is just tired.

It’s unclear when and where he was exposed to the virus.

[Read more…]

City alarmed by 12.5 percent COVID positivity rate

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A daily snapshot of COVID-19 cases in Anderson County on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020, includes, among other information, the daily number of new cases and the daily positivity rate. (Graphic by Tennessee Department of Health)

In a press release Thursday, the City of Oak Ridge said it is alarmed by the 12.5 percent positivity rate for COVID-19 in the Oak Ridge area, and wastewater testing shows the disease is present across the city.

The positivity rate measures the percentage of tests that return positive results out of the new tests each day. A 12.5 percent positivity rate means that 12.5 tests are positive out of each 100 new tests, on average.

A 12.5 percent positivity rate is high. World Health Organization guidelines call for a positivity rate below 5 percent for 14 days before activities re-open.

In its press release, the city said the 12.5 percent positivity rate in the Oak Ridge area was measured earlier this week and was obtained from zip-code specific data from the Tennessee Department of Health.

[Read more…]

Children’s Halloween Party was rescheduled to today (Friday)

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Children’s Halloween Party that had been scheduled for Thursday was rescheduled to today (Friday, October 30) due to the forecast of heavy rain and high winds earlier this week.

The event, called Halloween Hollow, is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

As a result of the schedule change, the sold-out Día de los Muertos Celebration hosted by the City of Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department has been moved to Monday, November 2, a press release said. For questions about this event, contact Eddie Chavez at (865) 425-3450.

The drive-through Children’s Halloween Party will now begin at the Oak Ridge Civic Center west side parking area and end at the Oak Ridge Public Library east side parking area. Event participants will be able to enjoy Halloween scenes and pick up preordered T-shirts, and children four years old to fourth grade will receive treats, the press release said.

[Read more…]

Robbery reported at One Bank

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A bank robbery was reported at One Bank in Oak Ridge on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020, and the Oak Ridge Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation are searching for a suspect. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

A bank robbery was reported in Oak Ridge on Friday, and the Oak Ridge Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation are searching for a suspect.

The robbery was reported by a silent alarm at One Bank on Oak Ridge Turnpike at about 8:35 a.m. Friday, and dispatchers then received a phone call reporting the robbery, a press release said.

Officers responded and determined a white male, in his 20s, wearing a black knit watch cap, red face mask, black or dark gray hoodie, and blue jeans presented a note to tellers advising it was a bank robbery and demanding money, the press release said.

[Read more…]