Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge police chief placed on leave

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Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi

Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi

 

Note: This story was updated at 12:35 a.m.

Oak Ridge Police Chief James T. Akagi has been placed on administrative leave, and Deputy Chief Robin Smith has taken over daily operations for now, City Manager Mark Watson said Thursday.

Akagi is on leave until Watson can meet with him after returning from a trip to China, the city manager said.

Three anonymous letters were sent in June and July to Watson, Oak Ridge City Council members, other law enforcement officials, and local media outlets. The letters have been reviewed and have been a catalyst for concern, Watson said Thursday.

The letters are not signed, but they said they are from Oak Ridge Police Department employees. One letter said it represented an “overwhelming majority” of ORPD members. Among other things, the letters raised concerns about harassment, a hostile work environment, hostility, retaliation, policy decisions, and turnover. The letters ask for Akagi’s removal or termination, and an investigation by the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission or some other “independent and unbiased agency.” They said conditions have not improved since the 2015 review by the Municipal Technical Advisory Service at the University of Tennessee and have gotten worse instead. [Read more…]

Meet the candidates in Oak Ridge on Thursday

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There will be a Meet the Candidates event in Oak Ridge on Thursday, July 12. It will allow residents of Oak Ridge and Anderson County to become acquainted with the candidates for contested offices in the August 2 state and federal primary and Anderson County general elections, a press release said.

The Meet the Candidates event is scheduled from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, July 12, in the gymnasium at the Oak Ridge Civic Center. It’s sponsored by Democracy for East Tennessee.

Among the contested offices on the Anderson County general election ballot are mayor, commissioners for Districts 6 and 7 in Oak Ridge, Circuit Court clerk, sheriff, and trustee, the press release said. [Read more…]

DOE will not test warning sirens on July 4

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DOE Warning Siren

DOE Warning Siren

The public warning sirens that you normally hear in Oak Ridge around noon on the first Wednesday of each month will not be tested today (Wednesday, July 4).

The siren is not being tested today in the areas around the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Reservation because of the Independence Day Holiday.

“However, if an actual emergency were to take place during the Independence Day holiday (July 4), the sirens will be sounded,” a press release said. [Read more…]

Learn about secrecy, security, spies during Manhattan Project

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The Oak Ridge Turnpike Gatehouse is pictured above on the west end of town. (Submitted photo)

The Oak Ridge Turnpike Gatehouse is pictured above on the west end of town. (Submitted photo)

 

This month, you can learn about security, the need for secrecy, and the concerns about spies during the Manhattan Project in World War II.

The Manhattan Project was a top-secret federal program to build the world’s first atomic weapons during the war. Oak Ridge was the main production site.

The program on secrecy, security, and spies will be presented by the Manhattan Project National Historical Park from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Friday, July 13, at the Turnpike Gatehouse in west Oak Ridge.

“The program will give visitors some insight to what life was like in Oak Ridge during the Manhattan Project with all the security, the need for secrecy, and the worry of spies,” a press release said. “This program is free and open to the public; parking is limited, so please try to carpool if possible.” [Read more…]

Oak Ridge ranked No. 4 in nation for ‘green power’ sales rate

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Oak Ridge Electric Department worker on a utility pole. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

Oak Ridge Electric Department worker on a utility pole. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge Electric Department has ranked number four in the nation on a list of Top 10 utility “green power” programs, officials said.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado, granted the award to the Oak Ridge Electric Department in recognition of its leadership in voluntary renewable energy programs, a press release said.

The Oak Ridge Electric Department was ranked number four on the NREL list for Top Green Power Sales Rate in 2017, achieving a sales rate of 7.09 percent.

“The City of Oak Ridge Electric Department has made great strides in promoting renewable energy solutions, and CORED customers are active participants in the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Green Power Switch (GPS) and Green Power Switch Southeastern RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates) programs,” the press release said. “These programs allow residential and commercial customers to support the environment through the purchase renewable energy. Both programs are Green-e Energy certified.” [Read more…]

First Water Safety Day will have demonstrations on life jackets, water rescues

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Oak Ridge Water Safety Day 2018

A first-ever Water Safety Day in Oak Ridge will feature demonstrations on boating and life jacket safety, open water rescues, lifeguard skills, and more, a press release said.

The Water Safety Day was announced by the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department. It’s scheduled from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at the Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool.

Water Safety Day is a partnership between the Recreation and Parks Department, Oak Ridge Fire Department, and Oak Ridge Police Department, as well as the Anderson County Volunteer Rescue Squad and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the press release said. [Read more…]

Drug Awareness Day is Saturday at Oak Ridge Pool

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2018 Drug Awareness Day at the Pool (Flyer)

The Sixth Annual Drug Awareness Day is Saturday at the Oak Ridge Municipal Pool.

It’s hosted by the Oak Ridge Chapter of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks.

The pool is located at 172 Providence Road.

Drug awareness demonstrations will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside the pool area Saturday. [Read more…]

Independence Day fireworks show is July 4 at A.K. Bissell Park

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Fireworks at Alvin K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge on July 4, 2017. (Photo by D. Ray Smith)

Fireworks at Alvin K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge on July 4, 2017. (Photo by D. Ray Smith)

 

The annual Oak Ridge fireworks show is Independence Day, July 4, at Alvin K. Bissell Park. The fireworks are sponsored by the City of Oak Ridge.

The show is scheduled to begin at dark, around 9:45 p.m.

The Oak Ridge Community Band, now in its 74th year, will perform prior to the fireworks, a press release said. The concert is free, but donations are accepted by the band to help cover the cost of equipment and other expenses. The music is expected to begin at 7:30 p.m.

Anyone planning to attend is advised to bring a lawn chair or blanket for outdoor seating. A safety zone will be established by the Oak Ridge Fire Department. [Read more…]

Meet the Roane County candidates on Friday

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There is a Meet the Candidates Yard Party on Friday in Oak Ridge.

It’s scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. Friday, June 15, at 106 Oklahoma Avenue. It’s hosted by Roane County Commissioner Renee Kelley.

The event is primarily for the residents of the Fourth District of Roane County, but everyone is welcome to come and discuss the issues and have their concerns addressed, a press release said.

The event is not a fundraiser. Instead, it is presented in loving memory of Commissioner Steve Kelley, the press release said.

This press release was submitted by Renee Kelley.

Children learn through play at Children’s Museum Imagination Station Summer Camps

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Children enjoy making slimy concoctions during Junior Wizarding Summer Camp last year (2017) at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

Children enjoy making slimy concoctions during Junior Wizarding Summer Camp last year (2017) at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

 

Children will create art, join the wizarding world, generate some “mess-terpieces,” become gumshoes and chefs, shape designs with clay, delve into science and STEAM, and more during Imagination Station Summer Camps beginning June 4 at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge.

Summer camps, from June 4-July 27, are for children from age 3 through rising fifth graders. The Children’s Museum’s enriching environment provides the backdrop as an experienced staff helps campers learn and grow through play in fun and safe surroundings, a press release said. Each camp is created with age-appropriate activities aligned with the child’s developmental stage.

“We hope to foster campers’ imaginations and passion for lifelong learning through our wide range of themes and activities, as well as our many hands-on exhibits,” said Beth Shea, Children’s Museum executive director.

The fee for Monday-Friday half-day camps is $115 for members, lower fees this year, and $135 for non-members. A discount is available if two siblings register for camp during the same week or if a child registers for two half-day camps in the same week. A limited number of scholarships for camp are available. Download the scholarship application from the museum’s website. [Read more…]

Reminder: Oak Ridge will try to set world record in ‘knockout’ basketball today

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Guinness World Records Knockout Basketball Attempt 2018

A reminder: Oak Ridge will try to set a Guinness World Record on Saturday in a basketball game known as “knockout” today (Saturday, June 9).

The attempt to break the previous world record is part of the Secret City Festival this weekend. The game will start at noon in the parking lot of Dick’s Sporting Goods at Main Street Oak Ridge. The first 702 people will get a free T-shirt, organizers said. Then, every 30 minutes, prizes will be awarded from Electronic Express and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Once you have taken your shot (and missed…), you get to register for a Jeep awarded at no cost from Secret City Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Every 30 minutes, one of those registrations will be pulled as a finalist for the drawing for the Jeep on June 27, organizers said. (You must be present to win and 18 and over with a valid driver’s license).

The Dallas Mavericks set the record for the largest game of basketball knockout with 701 participants in Dallas, Texas, on October 4, 2015. The game lasted 27 rounds and more than three hours, according to Guinness World Records. Team owner Mark Cuban was there before the record-setting attempt to check out the court and the turnout, and he also motivated the basketball shooters.

Organizers of this year’s Secret City Festival in Oak Ridge want to do better than Cuban and the Mavericks. They need at least 702 shooters to set the new world record. [Read more…]

USA Cycling selects Oak Ridge for individual time trial championships

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USA Cycling National Championships June 2018 Oak Ridge

USA Cycling has selected Oak Ridge for one of three national championships in East Tennessee this month.

The USA Cycling Professional Road, Individual Time Trial (ITT), and Criterium National Championships will be in Knoxville and Oak Ridge from June 21-24.

The ITT National Championships will be on Melton Lake Drive on June 21, kicking off the championships, a press release said.

The City of Oak Ridge is hosting the ITT National Championships in partnership with Visit Knoxville, the press release said. [Read more…]