Oak Ridge Today

Three-vehicle accident at Turnpike and Melton Lake on Tuesday

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Accident at Oak Ridge Turnpike and Melton Lake Drive

Oak Ridge emergency personnel respond to a three-vehicle accident on Tuesday morning at Oak Ridge Turnpike and Melton Lake Drive. (Photo by Tom Scott)

One left turn led to a three-vehicle collision at Oak Ridge Turnpike and Melton Lake Drive on Tuesday morning, an accident report said.

The report said a Mazda pickup driven by Robert L. Ensor of Clinton turned left off the Turnpike in front of a Ford pickup driven by Daniel J. Hendricks, also of Clinton. Hendricks was unable to stop and hit Ensor’s truck as well as a Chevy pickup that was being driven by Jose G. Avalesfernandez of Oak Ridge, the report said.

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Oliver Springs Council agrees to keep new city manager

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The Oliver Springs Town Council voted 4-2 on Thursday to keep Tina Treece as city manager after her probationary period ends in a few days, according to WYSH Radio in Clinton.

The vote followed a 30-minute discussion on Treece’s performance during her first three months.

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Rebels beat Wildcats 38-23

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The Oak Ridge Wildcats lost their first football game of the season on Thursday, falling to the Maryville Rebels 38-23 at Blankenship Field.

The Wildcats are now 4-1, and the Rebels are 5-0.

The Wildcats, who are undefeated in the district, play Anderson County on Friday, Sept. 28, at Blankenship Field.

David Lester Murray

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David Lester Murray, age 48, a resident of the Elverton Community in Roane County, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 18, at Roane Medical Center in Harriman.

Mr. Murray was born Sept. 15, 1964, in Oak Ridge. He was a lifelong resident of Roane County.

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House majority supports Manhattan Project park, but two-thirds required

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Note: This story was updated at 9:10 p.m.

A majority of U.S. House members voted for a bill Thursday to set up a Manhattan Project National Historical Park that would include Oak Ridge, but the vote fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to pass the legislation under special rules.

The vote on the Manhattan Project National Historical Park Act was 237-180, about 50 votes short of a two-thirds supermajority, said Cindy Kelly, president of the nonprofit Atomic Heritage Foundation.

Though it didn’t pass Thursday in a maneuver that could have quickly sent the bill to the Senate, supporters said the bill has bipartisan support. They remained optimistic that it could still be approved soon.

“We’ve shown there is support for this park and will be working towards the goal of enacting this into law before the end of this year,” said U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings, a Washington Republican who has championed the legislation to recognize Manhattan Project sites in Oak Ridge, Los Alamos, N.M., and Hanford, Wash. The Manhattan Project was a top-secret federal program to build the world’s first atomic weapons during World War II.

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Forty-one workers laid off at ETTP, the former K-25 site

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Note: This story was updated at 8:04 p.m.

Forty-one employees have been laid off at the East Tennessee Technology Park, the former K-25 site, a spokesperson said Thursday.

Thirty-five employees worked on the K-25 Building demolition, and six worked on the K-27 project, said Wayne McKinney, spokesperson for UCOR, the U.S. Department of Energy’s cleanup contractor in Oak Ridge.

McKinney said the employees, who worked for subcontractors, were notified of the layoffs Thursday. He said it’s part of the normal ebb and flow of subcontracting.

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Nov. 6 election features city council, county commission, school board candidates

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Note: This story was updated at 4:06 p.m.

There are 17 candidates eligible for election to 10 city council seats in Oak Ridge, Norris, and Lake City in the Nov. 6 election.

There are also nine candidates in a special election for Anderson County Commission District 3. Commissioner Johnny Alley gave up that seat after he became Anderson County property assessor in the Aug. 2 election.

In addition, there are three candidates for Oak Ridge Board of Education and one candidate for Oak Ridge City Judge.

The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 8. Early voting starts Oct. 17 and runs through Nov. 1, Anderson County Election Commission Administrator Mark Stephens said Thursday.

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Finishing three-month term, Hope running for four years on Council

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Chuck Hope

Chuck Hope

Chuck Hope Jr. just won a three-month term on the Oak Ridge City Council, and now he’s running for a regular four-year term in the Nov. 6 election.

A longtime local businessman, Hope won the special three-month term in the Aug. 2 county election. He defeated Trina Baughn, who is also running in the November election.

It was the first run for a political office for both candidates.

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Oak Ridge Community Band begins next concert series on Oct. 14

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The Oak Ridge Community Band begins its next concert series on Sunday, Oct. 14, with a “Cane Mutiny” performance.

The concert starts at 3:30 p.m. at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center.

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UT’s Cronan to speak at Boys, Girls Club campaign kickoff

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Joan Cronan, former University of Tennessee women’s athletic director, will be the guest speaker at a “Great Futures Campaign Kick-Off” for the Boys & Girls Club of Oak Ridge next week.

The kickoff is at 7:30 a.m. Sept. 27 at the Boys & Girls Club at 102 South Jefferson Circle.

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Anderson County man shoots himself in face while cleaning rifle

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An Anderson County man told a sheriff’s deputy Monday that he accidentally shot himself in the face while cleaning a 7.62-millimeter rifle, WYSH Radio reported.

The parents of Wesley Woods called deputies to their home on McCulley Lane Monday night after hearing a gunshot and finding their 22-year-old son Wesley bleeding from his mouth and nose, the radio station said.

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Consortium led by Roane State receives $12.6 million federal grant

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A consortium led by Roane State Community College received a $12.6 million federal grant to offer more training for health care careers and help students finish their degrees, the U.S. Department of Labor announced Wednesday.

The announcement included $500 million in grants for community colleges and universities across the country. The Roane State consortium was one of 27 funded nationwide, Roane State President Gary Goff said in a press release.

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