Oak Ridge Today

Taste of Anderson County, a fundraiser for United Way, is this week

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The Eighth Annual Taste of Anderson County is next week. It’s scheduled from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, September 15, in the Jackson Square parking lot. (Photo via United Way of Anderson County/Eighth Annual Taste of Anderson County on Facebook)

 

The Eighth Annual Taste of Anderson County is this week. It’s scheduled from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, September 15, in the Jackson Square parking lot.

It’s a fundraiser for United way of Anderson County.

“United Way of Anderson County is thrilled to invite the community to this event, which will feature delicious local food, live music, and free family entertainment including a magic show and balloon animals,” a press release said.

Among the local restaurants offering sample food will be The Soup Kitchen, Swifty’s, Crossroads Coffee, Aubrey’s, and more, the press release said. Tickets are $1, and all food samples will be available for two tickets each.

“This year, we also have an amazing selection of wine, beer, and moonshine tastings,” the press release said. Tasters will be able to vote for their favorite drinks, or simply enjoy an exclusive cocktail, available at the bar. [Read more…]

Last seven days have been great for Oak Ridge, mayor says; read presentation here

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Warren Gooch (2016 file photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This is a lightly edited version of a presentation that Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch gave to the East Tennessee Economic Council on Friday, September 9.

It is a pleasure for me to be here this morning as I begin my 22nd month as mayor and to share my thoughts about the positive direction of our city, and why that is important to you and your companies. First, I want to thank you for supporting Oak Ridge and investing your time and your money here.

My family and I have lived in Oak Ridge for 23 years. But my law firm, Kramer Rayson, has been involved in one way or another with Oak Ridge from its earliest days when our founding partner, Russell Kramer, received a call from an old friend in Washington. (Gooch tells a story about a telephone call with President Roosevelt.)

By any standard, the last seven days have been great for Oak Ridge and have increased the excitement that is being expressed about the momentum of our city.

First, demolition has accelerated at the old mall as construction for Main Street Oak Ridge ushers in a new and exciting era for our community. The tax increment financing (TIF) loan for Main Street had closed, and so has the loan for the new Marriott hotel that is being built. The importance of Main Street Oak Ridge to the image and self-confidence of our city and the economic vitality of Oak Ridge, Anderson, and Roane counties cannot be overstated. The success of Main Street and the continued redevelopment of our center city’s retail, residential, and commercial properties is my number one priority. We must work hard to maintain this momentum and take full advantage of it in the coming months. If we are successful, it will help you recruit the new workers you require for your businesses.

Second, LeMond Composites announced its licensing agreement with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and that the company is coming to Oak Ridge to manufacture innovative, high-volume, low-cost, carbon fiber in the Horizon Center Industrial Park.

Third, the National Park Service named Kris Kirby as the superintendent of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. [Read more…]

East Tennessee charitable organizations can apply for grants from Y-12 Community Investment Fund

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CNS community investment fund enters second cycle; funds distributed through East Tennessee Foundation

Charitable organizations from across East Tennessee can apply for grants from the Y-12 Community Investment Fund that has been established by Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC. Also known as CNS, that contractor operates the Y-12 Nuclear Security Complex in Oak Ridge for the National Nuclear Security Administration.

CNS established the fund through the East Tennessee Foundation last year as part of its commitment to Oak Ridge and the surrounding communities, a press release said. In May, CNS awarded grants totaling more than $180,000 to 30 local nonprofits.

Nonprofit organizations in Y-12’s 20-county service area with projects or programs that address community needs and economic development opportunities are encouraged to apply for one-year grants, the press release said. Eligible organizations must be tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations or other exempt entities, such as public schools and governments/municipalities. [Read more…]

Free energy efficiency program has two workshops (one on Thursday), one public meeting

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The program that provides free energy efficiency upgrades to Oak Ridge homes has two more workshops scheduled—including one on Thursday, September 8—and one public meeting.

The program is called Make Oak Ridge Energy Efficient, or MORE2. It kicked off in April and began retrofitting the homes of Oak Ridge residents with no-cost energy upgrades, such as new HVAC units and water heaters, a press release said.

It’s funded by the Tennessee Valley Authority.

“My home is so refreshing now with my new HVAC unit, and I can’t wait to try out the heat in a few months!” said one Oak Ridge resident, Linda Connolly, reacting to recent MORE2 upgrades to her home. [Read more…]

Secrecy, security, spies program at Turnpike Gatehouse on Saturday

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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)

 

A Manhattan Project National Historical Park program in west Oak Ridge on Saturday will give visitors some insight into what life was like in Oak Ridge during the Manhattan Project with all the security, the need for secrecy, and the worrying about spies.

The program is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, September 10, at the Turnpike Gatehouse. It’s free and open to the public. Parking is limited, so please try to carpool if possible. The gatehouse is also at a trail head for the North Boundary Greenway, and visitors can go for a self-guided hike after the program.

The Manhattan Project National Historical Park was established in November 2015. It includes Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Hanford, Washington; and Los Alamos, New Mexico. The Manhattan Project was a top-secret federal program to build the world’s first atomic weapons during World War II, before Germany could. Oak Ridge was a production site for the project, and at the time, it was a secret city not shown on maps. [Read more…]

Football: Oak Ridge Wildcats ranked No. 2 in Class 5A

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Information from WYSH Radio

The high school football polls for this week were released on Monday, and here is how area teams stack up.

In Class 6A, Maryville remains at number one.

In Class 5A, Oak Ridge remains number two, with Knox West at number three. Farragut is number nine, and Campbell County enters the poll at number 10. Two teams that local teams could see in the postseason are also ranked, with Cleveland at number four, and this week’s Clinton opponent, Rhea County, coming in at number six. [Read more…]

Kirby named superintendent of Manhattan Project National Historical Park

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Kris Kirby

Kris Kirby (NPS photo)

Kris Kirby, a 20-year career employee of the National Park Service, has been selected as superintendent of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, which includes Oak Ridge.

The announcement was made in Denver on Thursday by Intermountain Regional Director Sue Masica.

Kirby will assume her new duties October 16, 2016.

Kirby currently serves as the chief of business and revenue management at Yosemite National Park in California. Prior to her assignment there, she served as chief of commercial services at Lake Mead National Recreation Area and previously worked in concessions management at Glacier National Park, a press release said.

“Kris has spent her career fostering relationships inside and outside the service,” Masica said in the press release. “Those skills are an excellent match for this park and its many partners.” [Read more…]

Soccer photos: Oak Ridge vs. Science Hill

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Oak Ridge senior Olivia Hoyt (18) plays defense against Science Hill during a 3-1 win for the Lady Wildcats at home on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge girls soccer team beat Science Hill 3-1 at home on Wednesday. Here are photos by John Huotari of Oak Ridge Today. [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats outshoot Science Hill in 3-1 win

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The Oak Ridge girls soccer team beat Science Hill 3-1 at home on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016. Pictured above, Science Hill junior goalkeeper Tess Mrozek (28) makes a save against Oak Ridge. Trying to score for Oak Ridge are Maddie Peters (21), left; Zoe Van Hook (17); and Ashlyn Riikola (33). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge girls soccer team beat Science Hill 3-1 at home on Wednesday.

It was the first match between the Lady Wildcats and Lady Hilltoppers since September 2014, when Oak Ridge lost 2-1 in the Science Hill Invitational.

Oak Ridge won the Science Hill Championship at Science Hill in Johnson City last year, but the two teams did not meet because the Lady Hilltoppers were bumped out of the tournament, Lady Wildcats Coach Jeff Trombly said.

Oak Ridge (6-1, 3-0 District 3-AAA) had a big shot advantage throughout the game on Wednesday at the Pro2Serve Oak Ridge Soccer Complex. With one minute to play, for example, the shot margin was 27-7.

“I think it was a good effort, good to get three goals,” Trombly said. Oak Ridge could have had even more, he said. [Read more…]

Opinion: Alexander discusses ETTP demolition, development; Oak Ridge cleanup work

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Lamar Alexander

Lamar Alexander

By Lamar Alexander

This week marked the end of an era. The last of the five uranium enrichment buildings in Oak Ridge has been cleaned up, making land available for new companies and new jobs coming to East Tennessee.

Tennessee should be extremely proud of the men and women who have worked for more than a decade to complete the demolition and cleanup at the East Tennessee Technology Park.

The story of how these buildings first came to be built is by now a familiar one. In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Senator Kenneth McKellar, the Tennessean who chaired the Appropriations Committee, to hide $2 billion for a secret project to win World War II. McKellar replied, “Mr. President, I have just one question: Where in Tennessee do you want me to hide it?”

They hid it in Oak Ridge, on 2,200 acres along the Clinch River, where they quietly built K-25, the largest building in the world, to enrich uranium through gaseous diffusion—a complicated and now mostly obsolete process. [Read more…]

Football photos II: Oak Ridge in 41-28 win over Dobyns Bennett

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Football Caleb Brinkman and Dobyns-Bennett Aug 26 2016 Culiat

Oak Ridge senior lineman Caleb Brinkman (76) is pictured on the sideline above during a 41-28 win for the Wildcats at home on Friday, Aug. 26, 2016. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats beat the Dobyns-Bennett Indians 41-28 on Blankenship Field on Friday. Here is the second of two sets of photos by Julio Culiat. [Read more…]

Football photos I: Oak Ridge in 41-28 win over Dobyns Bennett

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Oak Ridge Wildcats and Dobyns-Bennett Football Clark and Thompson Tackle Aug 26 2016

Oak Ridge senior linebacker Kyndall Clark (54) tackles Dobyns-Bennett senior quarterback Cole Maupin (6) with help from Oak Ridge sophomore Caelan Thompson (32) during a 41-28 win for the Wildcats at home on Friday, Aug. 26, 2016. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats beat the Dobyns-Bennett Indians 41-28 on Blankenship Field on Friday. Here is the first of two sets of photos by Julio Culiat. [Read more…]