• About
    • About Us
    • What We Cover
  • Advertise
    • Advertise
    • Our Advertisers
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Send News

Oak Ridge Today

  • Home
  • Sign in
  • News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Police and Fire
    • U.S. Department of Energy
    • Weather
  • Sports
    • High School
    • Middle School
    • Recreation
    • Rowing
    • Youth
  • Entertainment
    • Arts
    • Dancing
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Premium Content
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds

Groundbreaking Thursday for UPF Construction Support Building

Posted at 3:24 pm August 22, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Y-12 National Security Complex Aerial View

The Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge is pictured above. (File photo courtesy Y-12)

 

A groundbreaking has been scheduled for Thursday morning for the three-story Construction Support Building for the multi-billion dollar Uranium Processing Facility at Y-12 National Security Complex.

This will be the first construction for the UPF project that starts to change the skyline of the Y-12 National Security Complex, a media advisory said.

It said UPF will be a first-of-its-kind complex that supports enriched uranium operations for Y-12 missions. The National Nuclear Security Administration, or NNSA, is using a “build to budget” strategy and has committed to Congress to provide these facilities by 2025 for no more than $6.5 billion, the advisory said.

“As one of the largest construction projects in Tennessee history, UPF will have a significant impact on local and state economies, the advisory said.

Those expected to participate in the Thursday groundbreaking are NNSA Administrator General Frank Klotz, Congressman Jim Cooper, Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District Commander and District Engineer LTC Stephen Murphy, and UPF Federal Project Director Dale Christenson. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, National Nuclear Security Administration, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Chuck Fleischmann, construction project, Construction Support Building, Dale Christenson, enriched uranium operations, Frank Klotz, groundbreaking, Jim Cooper, National Nuclear Security Administration, Oak Ridge, Stephen Murphy, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, UPF, UPF Project Office, uranium processing facility, Warren Gooch, Y-12 National Security Complex

Graham, Higgins combine for five touchdowns in 56-21 rout at Clinton

Posted at 1:22 pm August 21, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak-Ridge-Higgins-TD-Catch-Clinton-Thomas-Aug-18-2016-Web-Cropped

Oak Ridge senior wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) catches a 17-yard pass from junior quarterback Johnny Stewart before falling backward into the end zone for a touchdown near the left pylon, putting the Wildcats ahead of the Clinton Dragons 42-7 with 2:57 left in the first half at Clinton on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. Higgins is defended here on his second TD catch by Clinton senior J’Quan Thomas (5).

 

CLINTON—Senior Tee Higgins and sophomore Jordan Graham scored five of Oak Ridge’s eight touchdowns in a 56-21 rout at Clinton on Thursday.

A wide receiver, Higgins scored on Oak Ridge’s opening play less than one minute into the season-opening game.

He scored again late in the first half with a leaping goal-line catch of a high, arcing pass from junior quarterback Johnny Stewart, who was 5-for-5 passing for three touchdowns, no interceptions, and one rushing touchdown in his first varsity start.

Higgins—a Clemson commitment who also plays cornerback—also had two interceptions that led to Oak Ridge touchdowns. And he became the all-time leader in career receiving yards for Oak Ridge.

Graham, a speedy running back who is also on the high school track team, scored three times for the Wildcats.

The Dragons turned over the ball five times, and the Wildcats converted four of those turnovers into touchdowns. Two of the turnovers were Higgins’ interceptions of Clinton’s sophomore quarterback, Luke Harrison.

Another was an interception by Oak Ridge senior linebacker and defensive playmaker Kyndall Clark, who set up the Wildcats’ sixth touchdown from inside the Clinton 20 with about three minutes left in the first half. [Read more…]

Filed Under: High School, Slider, Sports, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Billy Long, Caelan Thompson, Chase Kimbro, Clinton, DeMarea Whitt, Dragons, football, game stats, J'Quan Thomas, Johnny Stewart, Jordan Graham, Kai'Reese Pendergrass, Kyndall Clark, Luke Harrison, Mark Haste, Oak Ridge, Tee Higgins, Tre Jackson, Wildcats, Wilson Hammer, WYSH Radio

Renowned author Dr. Bass to speak in Oak Ridge

Posted at 11:55 pm August 20, 2016
By Devrin Kuipers Leave a Comment

Dr. Bill Bass

Dr. Bill Bass, a world-renowned forensic anthropologist, founded the University of Tennessee’s Anthropology Research Facility—the Body Farm—a quarter-century ago. He is the author or coauthor of more than 200 scientific publications, as well as a critically acclaimed memoir about his career, “Death’s Acre.” Dr. Bass is also a dedicated teacher, honored as National Professor of the Year by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. (Submitted photo)

 

The community is invited to hear forensic anthropologist, bestselling author, and creator of “The Body Farm,” Dr. William M. Bass III at the New Hope Center in Oak Ridge on Monday, August 29, at 6 p.m.

Respectfully referred to as “Dr. Bass,” he is being sponsored by the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge Sunset. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Entertainment, Front Page News, Health, Nonprofits, Top Stories, Writing Tagged With: Bill Bass, Dr. Bass, New Hope Center, Oak Ridge, PolioPlus fund, Rotary Club of Oak Ridge Sunset, Rotary Foundation, The Body Farm, William Bass, William M. Bass III

Photo: Oak Ridge cheerleaders check presentation

Posted at 7:56 am August 16, 2016
By Jesse Lawson Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge cheerleaders recently posed with management representatives and "Lucky" from the Time to Shine Car Wash of Oak Ridge for a check presentation in the amount of $5,361.26 following a very successful fundraising event. (Submitted photo)

The Oak Ridge cheerleaders recently posed with management representatives and “Lucky” from the Time to Shine Car Wash of Oak Ridge for a check presentation in the amount of $5,361.26 following a very successful fundraising event. (Submitted photo)

Filed Under: Business, Education, Front Page News, High School, K-12, Oak Ridge, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: fundraising, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge cheerleaders, Time to Shine Car Wash

United Way 2016 Campaign kicks off today

Posted at 9:40 am August 15, 2016
By naomi asher Leave a Comment

The 2016 United Way of Anderson County Fundraising Campaign starts today (Monday, August 15).

“The fundraising campaign is being valiantly led this year by Bear Stephenson and Carroll Welch,” a press release said.

“This year also unveils a new mission statement for the organization: United Way of Anderson County improves lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community to advance the common good,” the press release said. “We focus on youth development, self-sufficiency, and senior and health services—the building blocks for a good life and strong community.”

The new mission statement focuses on United Way’s renewed goals of mobilizing volunteers, creating lasting change, and empowering social service programs that serve Anderson County citizens, the release said. In addition, the new mission statement highlights United Way of Anderson County’s new focus areas: youth development, self-sufficiency, and senior and health services. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Nonprofits Tagged With: Anderson County, Bear Stephenson, Carroll Welch, community training, Naomi Asher, Oak Ridge, self-sufficiency, senior and health services, United Way, United Way of Anderson County, youth development

Business workshop: Expand your business in the global marketplace

Posted at 12:19 pm August 8, 2016
By Jutta Bangs Leave a Comment

A workshop on Thursday, August 18, at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce will help you take your business to the next level in the global marketplace.

The workshop is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon August 18.

Speakers will cover topics such as:

  • Export financing and export credit insurance with Ex-Im Bank
  • Logistics and freight forwarding, and export compliance
  • Legal issues and International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)
  • Export assistance available through the Tennessee Small Business Development Center

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, Oak Ridge Tagged With: business workshop, Ex-Im Bank, export compliance, global marketplace, Martha Taylor, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Susan Kintanar, Tennessee Small Business Development Center

Youth soccer: Equally rewarding for adult volunteers

Posted at 4:02 pm August 4, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Youth Soccer

The blossoming growth of youth soccer in the United States is creating demand for more and more adult volunteers. (Submitted photo)

 

Reminder: Register for fall AYSO soccer from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, August 4

The blossoming growth of youth soccer in the United States is creating demand for more and more adult volunteers.  Oak Ridge is no exception—as the local American Youth Soccer Association (AYSO) Region is always looking for more volunteers to help grow its youth soccer programs.

AYSO is an all-volunteer organization, with parents, kids, and friends of AYSO working together as coaches, players, referees, and administrators. It’s not unusual to find two, three, or more children in the same family playing AYSO soccer—while Dad serves as a referee and Mom as coach. It can be a family experience like no other that gets everyone outside together.

But here in Oak Ridge, AYSO’s volunteers go well beyond family members. Having seen their children grow up successfully participating in youth sports, many parents whose kids have gone on to college or beyond are still volunteering to help the next generation of youth. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Sports, Top Stories, Youth Tagged With: American Youth Soccer Association, AYSO, AYSO volunteer, fall AYSO soccer, Oak Ridge, soccer, youth soccer

Mall demolition begins

Posted at 11:42 am July 26, 2016
By John Huotari 3 Comments

Oak Ridge Mall Demolition Sears July 26 2016

Demolition of the former Oak Ridge Mall began Tuesday. Crews demolished a significant part of the former Sears store Tuesday morning, July 26, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:15 p.m.

Demolition of the former Oak Ridge Mall began Tuesday. Crews demolished a significant part of the former Sears store Tuesday morning.

The demolition is expected to include the enclosed space between Belk and JCPenney, the two remaining anchors at the former mall.

Plans call for replacing the former mall with Main Street Oak Ridge, a 58-acre, $75 million mixed-use development that could include retailers, restaurants, residential units, and a hotel. Belk and JCPenney are part of Main Street Oak Ridge, and they remain open during demolition of the mall’s enclosed spaces and construction of new stores. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Slider Tagged With: Anderson County Commission, Belk, demolition, Dick's Sporting Goods, Electronic Express, groundbreaking, JCPenney, Main Street—Oak Ridge, Maurice's, Neil Wilson, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Oak Ridge City Center LLC, Oak Ridge Mall, PetSmart, Rack Room, RealtyLink, Rue 21, sales tax revenues, Sears, Steve Emert, T.J. Maxx, TN Oak Ridge Rutgers LLC, Ulta, Warren Gooch

Johnny Majors, standout halfback, winning UT coach, to teach ORICL course

Posted at 9:28 am July 26, 2016
By Carolyn Krause Leave a Comment

Johnny Majors

Johnny Majors, standout halfback and winning coach at the University of Tennessee, will teach a course at ORICL. (Submitted photo)

 

Register by Aug. 17 for fall term

Want to feel more relaxed, less fearful, and flexible during this election season? Consider taking courses presented by the Oak Ridge Institute for Continued Learning, or ORICL, on yoga, meditation, and tai chi.

As a Tennessee football fan or coach, would you like to take a course from Johnny Majors, College Football Hall of Fame standout halfback and winning coach at the University of Tennessee? He will tell about his life and the secrets of coaching to win.

Would you like to know more about driverless cars, Mozart, the Vikings, Russian fairy tales, Chinese diagnosis in medicine, and who should have power and why?

Learn about Indonesia, Myanmar, and Thailand? Explore supernatural phenomena, mitochondria, research at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Spallation Neutron Source in Oak Ridge, and the God question. [Read more…]

Filed Under: College, Education, Front Page News, Sports Tagged With: Johnny Majors, Melanie Neal, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Institute for Continued Learning, ORICL, Roane State Community College

NAACP meeting in Oliver Springs on Tuesday

Posted at 8:57 am July 20, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The next Oak Ridge/Anderson County NAACP meeting will be at the administration building in Oliver Springs at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 26.

“We encourage Oliver Springs residents to attend to share concerns and provide opportunities,” a press release said.

The agenda for the NAACP will remain the same for the next three month: Secretaries Report, Financial Report, Presidents report (feedback from the National Convention and July bi-monthly meeting), Civic Engagement/Political Action, Education Committee, Membership Committee, and timeline for October/November local election. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News Tagged With: Anderson County, NAACP, Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs

Local AYSO region rebrands uniforms with classic Oak Ridge colors

Posted at 6:26 pm July 17, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge AYSO Uniform Colors July 2016

The new Oak Ridge AYSO uniform in classic community colors. (Submitted photo)

By Gerry Palau

The kids playing AYSO soccer in Oak Ridge this fall will be sporting new uniforms—featuring the classic Oak Ridge color palette that includes maroon, silver, and white.

The local AYSO Region Board listened to feedback from parents and the community that the uniform style that’s been worn for years would benefit from an update. While considering options for a new uniform style, a factor that stood out as important was to have uniforms that create an AYSO identity that links to the Oak Ridge community. The new jerseys will echo the colors associated with high school sports in our community, and the new jersey style brings a fresh, modern design to our AYSO teams.

With the start of the new soccer season in September, local AYSO players will get to wear these new jerseys and new colors—both for their home games in Oak Ridge, as well as for the away matches that the older age groups play throughout East Tennessee. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Recreation, Sports Tagged With: AYSO, AYSO Region 390, AYSO soccer, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge colors, soccer

Mountain land gift honors Myrick, a leader, volunteer, Nature Conservancy Board member

Posted at 6:01 pm July 17, 2016
By Paul Kingsbury Leave a Comment

John R. Dickey Birch Branch Sanctuary in Shady Valley is pictured above. (Submitted photo)

John R. Dickey Birch Branch Sanctuary in Shady Valley is pictured above. (Submitted photo)

 

Eighty acres of beautiful mountain land in Johnson County have been added to a Nature Conservancy preserve in Shady Valley, thanks to the foresight and generosity of a local couple. Sadly, the May 20 land donation is not just a gift, but also a loving tribute to a departed spouse and friend of conservation.

Back in 2007, Teresa Myrick and her late husband Tim wanted to leave a legacy of protected mountain land for future generations. That’s why they donated a conservation easement to The Nature Conservancy, restricting development on a treasured tract of mountain land they bought for their retirement. The property is located adjacent to the Conservancy’s John R. Dickey Birch Branch Sanctuary in Shady Valley. Teresa and Tim, a former Oak Ridge National Laboratory engineer and community leader and volunteer, became solid supporters of The Nature Conservancy, and Tim went on to become a board member for the Tennessee Chapter of the Conservancy. The couple looked forward to spending many years together on the scenic property.

However, Tim passed away far too early, in December 2014, at age 60, of cancer. As Teresa thought about the future of their mountain land, she knew what Tim would have wanted. She realized he would want her to donate it outright to The Nature Conservancy to be protected and cared for. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News Tagged With: conservation, Gabby Lynch, John R. Dickey Birch Branch Sanctuary, Nature Conservancy, Oak Ridge, Shady Valley, Tim Myrick

« Previous Page
Next Page »

Search Oak Ridge Today

Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

Recent Posts

  • ORAU Annual Giving Campaign raises $91,479 in 2025
  • Alan Forbes named director of Safeguards & Security for ORAU and ORISE
  • ORAU and American Museum of Science and Energy Foundation formalize partnership to advance Manhattan Project 2.0
  • Author and Law Professor Derek W. Black to Speak on Public Education and Democracy
  • Anderson County Chamber Headquarters Dedication Set for October 17
  • ORISE announces winners of 2025 Future of Science Awards
  • SL Tennessee Supports New Anderson County Chamber Headquarters
  • ORAU 2025 Pollard Scholarship recipients announced
  • Democratic Womens Club Hosts State Rep. Sam McKenzie
  • Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival Announces 2025 Storytellers

Recent Comments

  • Eric Wilson on Guest column: Former superintendent rebuts Baughn’s school safety allegations
  • Eric Wilson on Guest column: Former superintendent rebuts Baughn’s school safety allegations
  • Raymond Mitchell on City manager’s ‘State of the City’ canceled due to weather
  • Raymond Mitchell on City manager’s ‘State of the City’ canceled due to weather
  • Mysti M Desilva on Crews clearing roads, repairing water line breaks
  • Mel Schuster on Crews clearing roads, repairing water line breaks
  • Cecil King on Crews clearing roads, repairing water line breaks
  • Rick Morrow on Roads, schools, businesses closed after heavy snow
  • Diana lively on Free community Thanksgiving Dinner on Nov. 25
  • Anne Garcia on School bus driver arrested following alleged assault on elementary student

Copyright © 2026 Oak Ridge Today