Oak Ridge Today Staff - Author at Oak Ridge Today

AC Commission meets Tuesday

Posted at 11:31 am January 22, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Information from WSYH Radio

The Anderson County Commission will meet Tuesday evening at the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton. Typically held on the third Monday of every month, this month’s meeting was moved back one day because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Among the items on the agenda include possible discussion of the need for a new roof at the county-owned building in Oak Ridge that houses Anderson County General Sessions Court Division II after rain water infiltrated the building and damaged records and equipment.

Other items of discussion will also focus on working with the City of Oak Ridge and Roane County on developing a strategy to move forward with a proposed hazardous material disposal site on the Oak Ridge Reservation. [Read more…]

CFD: One person dies in mobile home fire

Posted at 11:07 am January 22, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

The Clinton Fire Department said one person died in a Monday evening fire at a home in Lakefront Mobile Home Park.

The fire was reported shortly after 7:15 p.m., and crews remained at the home until about 11 p.m.

The name of the victim had not been released as of the time this report was filed, pending the notification of next of kin. [Read more…]

Updated: Oliver Springs resident dies in collision with truck

Posted at 11:58 am January 21, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Note: This story was updated at 11:15 a.m. Jan. 22.

Information from WYSH Radio

A head-on collision involving a tractor-trailer in Oliver Springs on Sunday night killed one person and shut down Highway 61 leading into Oliver Springs for about 22 hours while crews cleaned up debris.

The Oliver Springs Police Department said that the fatal crash happened when a tractor-trailer dump truck was struck head-on by a car that crossed over the center line. The collision sent the tractor-trailer off the road and down an embankment, where it overturned and spilled diesel fuel and its cargo of sand. [Read more…]

Director of National Museum of Nuclear Science & History to speak in Oak Ridge

Posted at 11:45 am January 21, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Jim Walther (Photo courtesy ORHPA)

The director of the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History in New Mexico will speak in Oak Ridge on Tuesday.

The talk by the director, Jim Walther, is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Tuesday, January, 22, at the American Museum of Science and Energy, which relocated to renovated space near JCPenney at Main Street Oak Ridge in October.

The talk is hosted by the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association and AMSE.

“Make your plans now to attend this exceptional event,” a press release said. “The evening public forum meeting is free, and the public is encouraged to attend. Jim Walther will provide unique museum insights to help us learn more about the opportunities that may be available to Oak Ridge and our museums from an experienced museum professional of 39 years. [Read more…]

ORICL provides scholarships for five Roane State students

Posted at 11:27 am January 21, 2019
By Owen Driskill Leave a Comment

ORICL board president Priscilla McKenney, right, congratulates scholarship recipients Sara Nesbitt, left, and Jessica Osborn. Not pictured are additional ORICL scholarship recipients Candice Day, Gage Dotson, and Ivorie Hicks. (Photo courtesy Roane State)

Five Roane State Community College students received scholarships through the Oak Ridge Institute for Continued Learning, or ORICL.

Roane State and ORICL have a partnership that spans two decades. Established in 1997, ORICL offers dozens of enrichment courses for its members in classrooms provided at Roane State’s Oak Ridge campus.

In addition, ORICL has established multiple scholarships supported by its members.

The John Million Scholarship, supported by a $5,000 annual donation by ORICL members.
The ORICL Scholarship Endowment, established in 2002 in celebration of ORICL’s fifth anniversary.
The Bob Jones Memorial Scholarship, established through memorial donations received by the Roane State Foundation in honor of the longtime ORICL member Bob Jones, who passed away in 2012.

[Read more…]

ORAU promotes Greg Moore to group manager of facilities management services

Posted at 11:17 am January 21, 2019
By Amy Schwinge Leave a Comment

Greg Moore

Submitted

Former Scripps Networks Interactive director brings long-range project management and infrastructure-improvement experience to ORAU

Greg Moore, ORAU senior facilities engineer, has been promoted to group manager of facilities management and engineering.

In his new role, Moore will oversee ORAU facilities engineering, maintenance, custodial services, and building and improvement projects while ensuring regulatory compliance and sustainability goals are met through efficient operating procedures.

“We are excited for Greg to take on this new role as he brings extensive long-range project management and infrastructure-improvement experience with him, said ORAU Director of Facilities and Transportation Department Chad Becker. “We look forward to Greg adding many new ORAU projects to his comprehensive list of successful projects he previously has managed.” [Read more…]

Asian garden specialist to introduce dry landscape gardens Thursday at UT Arboretum

Posted at 11:08 am January 21, 2019
By Kay Brookshire Leave a Comment

Martin McKellar will speak on dry landscape gardens at the University of Tennessee Arboretum in Oak Ridge on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. (Submitted photo)

Martin McKellar will discuss dry landscape gardens at the University of Tennessee Arboretum in Oak Ridge on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. (Submitted photo)

Artistic designs raked in fine gravel around carefully placed boulders offer peaceful settings for contemplation gardens. Known as karesansui (pronounced car-uh-san-swee), the dry landscape gardens are a centuries-old tradition in Japan but rare in the United States.

Soon, however, Oak Ridge will have its own karesansui garden. As landscaping begins around the International Friendship Bell Peace Pavilion in Oak Ridge, the Japanese karesansui gardens will lend a distinctive and contemplative element to the Oak Ridge landmark.

Introducing the gardens to Oak Ridge will be Martin McKellar, retired from the University of Florida International Center and now a volunteer as the Asian garden specialist at the university’s Harn art museum. He will present a public talk at 7 p.m. Thursday, January 24, on “Dry Landscape Gardens around the World and in Oak Ridge” at the University of Tennessee Arboretum auditorium, which is at 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

The karesansui gardens at the Friendship Bell site will be maintained by volunteers who learn the skills to create the designs and maintain the gardens for the city. McKellar will hold four-hour training sessions for volunteers interested in designing, raking, and taking care of the Oak Ridge karesansui gardens on at 1 p.m. Friday, January 25, and at 8:30 a.m. and again at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, January 26. [Read more…]

Residents can share opinions for City Blueprint

Posted at 10:54 am January 21, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission and the city’s Community Development Department continue to accept ideas from residents as those officials finish the City Blueprint Plan.

That plan is a citywide vision and guide for future growth and development in Oak Ridge, a press release said. It identifies the important issues that affect the community, desired goals and outcomes, and action steps that can be prioritized by city leaders each year, based on resources.

“In order to be an inclusive and successful tool for decision-makers and stakeholders, the City Blueprint must also demonstrate broad community input and support,” the press release said.

Everyone is encouraged to provide feedback as the draft blueprint approaches adoption. There are several opportunities for public review and comment: [Read more…]

Green McAdoo has MLK Prayer Breakfast on Monday

Posted at 12:28 pm January 20, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Green McAdoo Cultural Organization and its board members will host their annual Martin Luther King Prayer Breakfast on Monday morning in Clinton.

The Prayer Breakfast is to observe the Martin Luther King Holiday. It will be at the Green McAdoo Recreation Center in Clinton.

The event will begin with breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and the prayer service beginning at 9. The community is invited and there is no charge, a press release said.

If you have questions or need more information, please contact the Green McAdoo Center at (865) 463-6500.

Martin Luther King Fellowship Breakfast is Monday in Oak Ridge

Posted at 12:21 pm January 20, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Judy Gooch

The Atomic City Sportsmen Club is having its 31st annual Martin Luther King Fellowship Breakfast on Monday morning. The community is invited, a press release said.

The Breakfast will be held on Monday, January 21, at Spurgeon Chapel AME Zion Church at 100 South Benedict Avenue in Oak Ridge. The program begins at 8 a.m., and this year’s keynote speaker will be Judy Gooch, owner of Judy Gooch Interiors of Oak Ridge.

Gooch has been active in community affairs for the past 25 years.

In 2005, she was appointed to serve on the Tennessee Board of Regents by Governor Phil Bredesen. In 2008, Tennessee State University, formerly known as Tennessee A & I, requested that honorary degrees be awarded to the university’s fourteen Freedom Riders from the early 1960s. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge firefighter named Roane State Paramedic Student of the Year

Posted at 1:32 pm January 19, 2019
By Owen Driskill Leave a Comment

Roane State paramedic program director David Blevins, left, and Dr. Todd Heffern with TEAMHealth, right, congratulate Brandon Payne of Oak Ridge, Roane State’s Paramedic Student of the Year. (Submitted photo)

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

An Oak Ridge Fire Department captain has been elected by his peers as Roane State Community College’s Paramedic Student of the Year.

Brandon Payne, 40, an Oak Ridge firefighter since 2007, received the tribute during a luncheon last year that continues a longstanding tradition of honoring graduating paramedic students.

TEAMHealth, a hospital staffing firm based in Knoxville, sponsored the luncheon for paramedic students who were in the spring semester cohort.

“It was challenging,” Payne said of the three-semester program to obtain certification as a paramedic. “There was a lot of information in a short amount of time.” [Read more…]

Director named at Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site

Posted at 1:05 pm January 19, 2019
By Amy Schwinge Leave a Comment

Carol Iddins

Carol J. Iddins has been named director of the Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site in Oak Ridge.

In this position, Iddins will provide direction and medical leadership while managing the operations of REAC/TS, a press release said.

“Dr. Iddins will ensure support to multiple government and non-governmental agencies for national readiness as well as provide advice and consultation for the medical management of radiation injuries and illnesses,” the press release said. “She will lead REAC/TS as the United States’ only collaborating center for radiation emergency management for the World Health Organization and coordinate international response through the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Radiation Assistance Network.”

Iddins served as associate director of REAC/TS for four years. Before that, she worked for five years as a staff physician at REAC/TS. In these roles, she provided subject matter expertise for patients with radiological injuries and illnesses; disaster medicine; emergency readiness and preparedness; research; and developing and delivering educational courses, the press release said. She has participated in many U.S. Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration national-level exercises as well as deployments to actual real-world incidents, the press release said. [Read more…]