Oak Ridge Today

Y-12 protesters work to change nuclear policy, prevent another Hiroshima

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OREPA Peace Cranes at Y-12

Sharon O’Hara-Bruce of Lake Orion, Mich., ties a peace crane to a fence set up in front of the Y-12 National Security during a Tuesday morning ceremony recalling the bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, on Aug. 6, 1945, near the end of World War II.

A few dozen demonstrators from across the eastern United States gathered near the Y-12 National Security Complex on Tuesday morning to remember the bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, near the end of World War II 68 years ago.

Some traveled hundreds of miles by bicycle and car to get to Oak Ridge, where they questioned the nation’s current energy policy and preparations for nuclear war. Four riders arrived after a 458-mile, nine-day “Bikes Not Bombs” trip from Cincinnati to Oak Ridge.

“It’s consciousness-raising and concern for the priorities of our society,” said Tim Kraus of Cincinnati, part of the support group for the “Bikes Not Bombs” trip, which was organized by Footprints for Peace. “What we’re doing is not sustainable.” [Read more…]

Auditorium to be built at UT Arboretum in Oak Ridge

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University of Tennessee Arboretum Auditorium

University of Tennessee AgResearch on Tuesday announced that a new auditorium will be built at the UT Arboretum in Oak Ridge through a public-private partnership. A building design concept is pictured above. (Image courtesy of UT AgResearch)

A new auditorium that could be used for education will be built at the University of Tennessee Arboretum in Oak Ridge through a public-private partnership, officials announced Tuesday.

The partnership includes UT AgResearch, a unit of the UT Institute of Agriculture; the UT Institute for Public Service; and the Rogers Group.

The auditorium was announced during a Tuesday morning breakfast at the Arboretum that was sponsored by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce. [Read more…]

Clinton man charged in Knox

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Information from WYSH Radio

A Clinton man is in custody in Knox County on Tuesday after he allegedly kidnapped his estranged wife early Monday morning, then eluded authorities for several hours.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office said that 41-year-old Stephen Mayes hid in the bushes outside his estranged wife’s workplace and forced his way in to her car at gunpoint at around 5 a.m. Monday. He allegedly drove around for a while before ending up at a gas station in Farragut, where he is accused of trying to force her in to her car’s trunk. The woman fought back and ran into the gas station, where she called for help. [Read more…]

Two injured in separate one-vehicle accidents on Highway 25W

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Information from WYSH Radio

Two people escaped serious injury in the past three days when their cars rolled during accidents on Highway 25W.

The first accident happened Saturday at around 12:45 p.m. on Clinch Avenue near the intersection with Carden Farm Road. The Clinton Police Department reported that 57-year-old Douglas Fairbanks had been headed north in a 2005 Audi when his car left the right side of the roadway, hit an embankment and a tree stump, and came to rest on its side. Fairbanks had to be extricated from the vehicle and was taken to Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge by ambulance. [Read more…]

Nonprofit lease termination could leave vacant space in central Oak Ridge

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Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic building

Oak Ridge officials have been asked to terminate the 50-year lease on the former Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic building on Badger Road, which would leave vacant space in central Oak Ridge. City officials haven’t decided what to do with the building.

A decision to terminate a 50-year lease agreement on a building once used by a national nonprofit organization to record audiobooks for the dyslexic and visually impaired could open up some office space in central Oak Ridge.

But city officials said they haven’t decided what to do with it yet.

Now partially empty, the split-level two-story building on Badger Road was once home to Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic. Located on the south side of Alvin K. Bissell Park, it still houses the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association, which includes the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra and Oak Ridge Chorus. [Read more…]

Demolition under way, construction could start this fall on Kroger Marketplace

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Kroger Marketplace Site Work

A half-dozen excavators, scrapers, dump trucks, bulldozers, and loaders were moving dirt and debris and knocking down trees late Friday afternoon on the north side of the planned Kroger Marketplace, near Raleigh Road and the former Robin Lane in Oak Ridge.

Demolition work is under way, and construction could start this fall on a new Kroger Marketplace shopping center in Oak Ridge that is expected to include a range of services from a fuel center and sushi shop to a drive-through pharmacy and Baby World.

Demolition at the shopping center—named the Westcott Center in honor of renowned photographer James Edward Westcott—began Monday, July 29, said Glynn Jenkins, director of communications and public relations for the The Kroger Co.’s Atlanta Division. Home demolition work is expected to be completed by Aug. 23.

The demolition of the former Super 8 motel, Vista Inn, and Cancun’s restaurant on Oak Ridge Turnpike and North Illinois Avenue is expected to start next week. [Read more…]

Arte Musica plays at Dean’s on Saturday

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Arte Musica

Arte Musica will play at Dean’s Restaurant in Jackson Square on Saturday. From left are banjoist Wade Darnell, pianist Rudolph Nemeth, and double bassist Travis Witherington. (Submitted photo)

Local three-piece band Arte Musica will perform at Dean’s Restaurant in Jackson Square from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10.

The group will have its CD, titled “1”, available for purchase.

Arte Musica consists of pianist Rudolph Nemeth, banjoist Wade Darnell, and double bassist Travis Witherington. The band said its repertoire focuses on originality, while blending elements of classical, jazz, blues, and rock to create a vibrant crossover of musical styles. [Read more…]

Tuesday morning ceremony near Y-12 recalls Hiroshima bombing

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OREPA Protest at Y-12 National Security Complex

A Tuesday morning ceremony in front of the Y-12 National Security Complex will recall the bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, on Aug. 6, 1945, near the end of World War II. Y-12 enriched uranium for the bomb. Pictured above are protesters at last year’s annual event.

A Tuesday morning ceremony near the Y-12 National Security Complex will recall the bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, on Aug. 6, 1945, during World War II, organizers said.

The annual event at the front of Y-12 includes a Names and Remembrance Ceremony. It’s sponsored by the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance.

Organizers say they will “raise voices in solidarity with survivors of the bombing of Hiroshima who say, ‘Never Again!’” [Read more…]

Soul Candy and The Traffic Jam play free concert on Friday

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Soul Candy and the Traffic Jam

Twelve-piece Knoxville band Soul Candy and the Traffic Jam plays a free concert Friday evening in Oak Ridge. (Photo by J.L. Kirk)

Secret City Sounds continues their Summer Concert Series with Soul Candy and The Traffic Jam on Friday, Aug. 9. This concert replaces Dishwater Blonde, who had to cancel do to unforeseen circumstances. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Civic Center Pavilion located at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

“What do you get when you mix one smokin’ hot horn section, a hard-drivin’ funky rhythm section, and three talented and energetic female singers with musical theater experience?” a press release said. “You get Knoxville’s own Soul Candy and The Traffic Jam!” [Read more…]

UCOR celebrates two years in Oak Ridge

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Leo Sain at K-25

Leo Sain, president and project manager for cleanup contractor UCOR, near the east wing of the mostly demolished K-25 Building, built to enrich uranium during World War II and also used during the Cold War.

It’s been two years since UCOR, the federal government’s cleanup contractor in Oak Ridge, started working in the Secret City.

UCOR president Leo Sain celebrated with an Aug. 1 letter to employees that thanked them but also issued a reminder and challenge. Read the letter here.

Sain said he is very proud of the workforce—he called the company’s performance spectacular—and said work has been done safely, under budget, and ahead of schedule.

“At the end of two years, we’re one of the safest sites in the U.S. Department of Energy complex,” Sain said. “The credit for that goes entirely to you, the workforce, for staying focused on your work through all the distractions and changing hazards that come with the tasks we perform.” [Read more…]

Machines start moving dirt, debris; knocking down trees at Kroger Marketplace

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Kroger Marketplace Site Work

A half-dozen excavators, scrapers, dump trucks, bulldozers, and loaders move dirt and debris and knock down trees late Friday afternoon on the north side of the planned Kroger Marketplace shopping center in central Oak Ridge. The heavy equipment pictured above is working near Raleigh Road and the former Robin Lane.

An official groundbreaking for the new Kroger Marketplace shopping center hasn’t been announced yet, but a half-dozen bulldozers, dump trucks, excavators, loaders, and scrapers were moving dirt and debris and knocking down trees late Friday afternoon on the north side of the 25-acre site in central Oak Ridge.

The heavy equipment was working near Raleigh Road and the former Robin Lane, just southwest of Grove Center.

Oak Ridge Today has requested more information from a Kroger spokesman in Atlanta and will provide additional details as they become available. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge school bus routes announced

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Oak Ridge High School

Oak Ridge Schools have announced the bus routes for the 2013-2014 school year, including at Oak Ridge High School, pictured above.

Oak Ridge Schools have announced the 2013-2014 bus routes for Glenwood Elementary School, Jefferson Middle School, Linden Elementary School, Oak Ridge High School, Robertsville Middle School, and Woodland Elementary School.

The routes have been uploaded to Oak Ridge Today.

The links to the routes are below. The Oak Ridge Schools’ Preschool and Willow Brook Elementary School are on separate calendars. [Read more…]