The judges of Anderson County will dedicate a plaque in memory of deceased Anderson County practicing attorneys on Monday, May 1, “Law Day.” The presentation will take place at noon May 1 on the third floor of the Anderson County Courthouse, in the Circuit Courtroom.
The public is welcome to attend.
The destruction of the Oak Ridge rowing course is pictured above after heavy rains in the past week led to flooding and now strong currents on the Clinch River, causing the cancellation of the Dogwood Regatta on April 29-30, 2017. (Photo courtesy Explore Oak Ridge)
The strong current on the Oak Ridge rowing course forced the cancellation of the Dogwood Regatta this weekend, April 29-30, a press release said.
“The rain over the last several days has caused major flooding in the area,” said Sarah McAuliffe, Oak Ridge Rowing Association regatta director. “The current is about 10 times the norm and has done damage to our race course and other infrastructure, but the larger issue is athlete safety. “
The Tennessee Valley Authority and the U.S. Coast Guard have confirmed that the water flow rate will remain too high for safe rowing regatta operations over the weekend, the press release said. [Read more…]
Crafts, storytelling, a teddy bear clinic, and a magician’s visit will be among activities planned for the Celebration of the Young Child from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, April 28, at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge, which is at 461 West Outer Drive.
Magician Danny Gillette will entertain with mystifying magic tricks from 11:30 a.m.-noon, engaging the audience in his family magic show. The Oak Ridge Fire Department will lead a fire safety program, and the Oak Ridge Police Department will present a stranger danger program.
Children’s author Adele Roberts will tell stories from her Sammy the Skunk series of books, accompanied by her Sammy puppets. Her stories are designed to stimulate children’s imaginations and to teach character values based on the situations the animals encounter.
Children may be “kids in motion” with the National Fitness Center’s obstacle course, and they may bring their teddy bears to the clinic hosted by the Methodist Medical Center. Children can make a wind chime craft at the Museum, and take materials to make a Chinese dragon and a hovercraft at home. [Read more…]
Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley
The CodeRed Emergency Notification System used by the City of Oak Ridge can be a life-saving tool during an emergency, officials said, but many residents are not answering their phones or they are disconnecting before a pre-recorded message can begin.
This week, the Oak Ridge Fire Department reminded residents that use of the CodeRed Emergency Notification System is important during severe weather.
But a review of past CodeRed notifications found that many residents either did not answer their phone or they disconnected the call before the pre-recorded message could begin, a City of Oak Ridge press release said.
Here’s how CodeRed works, according to the city: If you have a land-line phone at your home or business through AT&T or Comcast, you will automatically receive a call from CodeRed alerting you of a tornado. If the city has a local emergency, the fire department will send an automated call to affected homes and business in order to provide information about the event. These messages can be a life-saving tool in an emergency, the press release said.
“One of the major issues that has come to light following the Sevier County wildfires is the importance of community notification of a pending emergency,” ORFD Chief Darryl Kerley said. “Oak Ridge is not able to use emergency warning sirens to alert the community of fire or tornadoes. The outside emergency alert sirens in Oak Ridge are for U.S. Department of Energy emergencies only, so the fire department subscribes to the CodeRed Emergency Notification System.” [Read more…]
St. Mark United Methodist Church in Clinton
St. Mark United Methodist Church will have a rummage sale at the church on Friday, April 28, and Saturday, April 29, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The church is located at 252 North Main Street in Clinton.
All proceeds of the sale will go to the American Cancer Society Relay For Life event to support cancer research, community service programs, and advocacy efforts, a press release said. For more information call (865) 457-9320.
This story was updated at 9:55 a.m.
The Dogwood Junior Championship Regatta scheduled for this weekend has been canceled due to increased water flow on Melton Hill Lake and unsafe rowing conditions, the Oak Ridge Rowing Association said on Twitter.
All coaches received a cancellation notice by email through Regatta Central.
“We regretfully announce this cancellation,” the Rowing Association said. “Thank you for all support and understanding that our main goal is to keep rowers safe.” [Read more…]
Join a park ranger for a bike ride on the North Boundary Greenway in Oak Ridge to see how the former communities of the area have changed during the past 70 years. The Manhattan Project National Historical Park will present the free program at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Photo courtesy National Park Service)
You can join a National Park Service park ranger for a bike ride on the North Boundary Greenway to see how the former communities of the area have changed during the past 70 years.
It’s a free program by the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, and it will start at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 29. The program will begin at the Turnpike Gatehouse and travel down Quarry Trail, a press release said
“Along the ride, we will explore the former communities that were here before the Manhattan Project,” the press release said. “Rangers will stop several times along the bike ride to point out the rich history that is found within the Oak Ridge area.”
The Turnpike Gatehouse is located at 2900 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge. Tennessee state law requires that bicycle operators under 16 years of age must wear a helmet, and child passengers under 40 pounds or 40 inches must be seated and secured in a child restraining seat or bicycle trailer, the press release said. [Read more…]
A crowd gathers to watch Norris Dam spilling water for the first time since 2013 on Tuesday, April 25, 2017. Norris Dam will be spilling water for about 15 days, according to the Tennessee Valley Authority. (Photo by TVA)
A crowd gathered Tuesday to watch the Tennessee Valley Authority spill water at Norris Dam for the first time since 2013.
TVA said it could spill water over the top of the dam for about 15 days.
“We are currently spilling about 124,000 gallons per second at Norris Dam,” TVA said Tuesday.
WYSH Radio in Clinton reported that TVA is seeking to lower the water level in Norris Lake, which was about six feet above the summer pool level following last weekend’s relentless rainfall.
“Following last weekend’s record rainfall totals across East Tennessee, TVA on Tuesday opened all three spillway gates at Norris Dam for the first time since the spring of 2013,” WSYH said. [Read more…]
The Hon. William Everette Lewallen Memorial Bridge on Clinch Avenue is pictured above near downtown Clinton in this file photo from December 2013.
Information from WYSH Radio
Clinton City Manager Roger Houck gave WYSH Radio in Clinton an update on Wednesday morning on the project to replace the green bridge that connects South Clinton and Clinton on Highway 25W, also known as Clinton Highway and Clinch Avenue. The bridge is currently structurally sound and safe, but the Tennessee Department of Transportation said that could change over the next few years, hence the replacement project.
Houck said that TDOT had earlier indicated that they would put the project out for bids in the second quarter of this year with construction slated to begin in the third quarter, but the city was recently informed that the timetable has been moved back some, with bids expected to be be sought in the third quarter. Construction on the approximately $21 million project could begin late this year or, more likely, early next year. [Read more…]
The Excellence in Financial Reporting Certificate being presented by Steve Emert, Anderson County Commission chairman, right, and Myron Iwanski, Finance Committee chairman, left, to Natalie Erb, Finance Department director. (Submitted photo)
The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to Anderson County by the Government Finance Officers Association for its comprehensive annual financial report, a press release said. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of government and financial reporting.
The Anderson County annual financial report was judged by an impartial panel to meet high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story, the press release said.
“The finance staff, lead by Natalie Erb, have done an outstanding job in managing the county’s finances in a challenging year that included a change in the financial management system and several staff changes” said Myron Iwanski, chairman of the Anderson County Finance Committee. “Comprehensive financial policies and practices are being put in place.” [Read more…]
Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank, left, Animal Care and Control Director Brian Porter, and Officer Jimmy Miller display the new website andersonanimals.org and the new smart phone app to connect lost pets with owners. (Submitted photo)
Anderson County Animal Care and Control announced a new partnership this week with Finding Rover, a new facial recognition app for your pet. Anderson County Animal Care and Control, or ACACC, will now use smart phone facial recognition technology to help identify and reunite lost dogs with their worried owners, a press release said.
It’s one of several developments announced this week by Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank, Anderson County Animal Care and Control Director Brian Porter, and Officer Jimmy Miller. The other announcements: a new website, www.andersonanimals.org, to help better connect Anderson County citizens with the information they need and an updated name for the department.
The new website will help citizens understand local laws and procedures, provides helpful tips in areas such as locating a lost pet, and helps direct residents to the appropriate agency for animal issues not under the purview of Anderson County Animal Care and Control, among other information, the press release said.
The department is also announcing an updated name that adds the word “care” to its department identity, the press release said. Now called Anderson County Animal Care and Control, the change is to reflect the department’s broadened efforts in animal welfare, education, and partnership with the community—not just “controlling” animals at large, the press release said. [Read more…]
CLINTON—The videos are in, and it is now time to vote in Anderson County’s “Dream It. Do It.” middle school competition. The program is in its second year and has grown from four to six schools, including two from the Oak Ridge school system.
“Dream It. Do It.” is sponsored by the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce, Anderson County Schools, Oak Ridge Schools, and Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, or CNS, the managing contractor at Y-12 National Security Complex. It is designed to bring student awareness of job opportunities in advanced manufacturing, a press release said.
Using GoPro cameras provided by CNS, six teams of eighth-graders were paired with area industries to create videos to tell the companies’ stories. These videos are then posted online for public voting. Each winning team member receives a GoPro camera, also provided by CNS.
This year’s participant teams included: Clinton Middle School and Aisin, Jefferson Middle School and Protomet, Lake City Middle School and Techmer PM, Norris Middle School and Eagle Bend, Norwood Middle School and Clayton Homes, and Robertsville Middle School and SL America. [Read more…]
