Oak Ridge Today

Thanksgiving Traffic Safety: Buckle up every time, authorities say

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Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel times of the year, and more people on the road increases the likelihood of a crash and, perhaps, a fatality. These deaths represent needless tragedies for families all across America. But even more tragic is that many of these fatalities could have been prevented with the simple click of a seat belt.

Before you hit the road this Thanksgiving: “Buckle Up. Every Trip. Every Time.”

The national “Buckle Up. Every Trip. Every Time.” seat belt awareness campaign helps remind Thanksgiving travelers and all drivers about the importance of buckling up—every trip—every time.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department is joining in a national effort to send Thanksgiving travelers an important lifesaving reminder to “Buckle Up. Every Trip. Every Time.” Sheriff’s deputies will be out this Thanksgiving holiday to keep the roads and highways safe. [Read more…]

Anderson County Sherif’s Department offers holiday crime prevention tips

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The busy holiday season is almost upon us and many people can become victims of burglary, theft, and other crime. Protecting yourself and your home from crime is the easiest way to have a safe, happy holiday season.

To help ensure everyone has safe and fun holidays, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department would like to offer the following tips for holiday crime prevention.

Shopping:

  • Park in lighted areas at night.
  • Always lock your car.
  • Don’t try to cover items on your seats. Put shopping bags in your trunk or take your packages straight home after shopping and then go back out.
  • Don’t carry large amounts of cash with you, or else, keep it in your front pocket—not in your purse or wallet.
  • Be extra careful when carrying a purse—they are the prime targets of criminals in crowded shopping areas. If you must carry one, make sure it has a strap that can go over the shoulder and be held under the arm, making them more difficult for purse snatchers to grab.
  • Keep a record of all of your debit and credit card numbers in a safe place at home.
  • Beware of strangers approaching you. This is the time of year when thieves may try various methods to distract you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.

[Read more…]

Strunk named top scientist at ORNL’s Awards Night

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Bill Strunk

Bill Strunk

 

Bill Strunk of Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Nuclear Science and Engineering Directorate has received the ORNL Director’s Award for Outstanding Individual Accomplishment in Science and Technology.

ORNL Director Thom Mason presented the top researcher award to Strunk during Friday night’s annual Awards Night event hosted by UT-Battelle, the management and operating contractor of ORNL for the U.S. Department of Energy.

Strunk was recognized for exemplary leadership of ORNL’s uranium science and engineering programs, which has led to enhancements in the nation’s nuclear security, a press release said. He is also credited with the establishment of research and development capabilities and facilities that will enable ORNL to excel in vitally important areas of research. Strunk, who works in the Enrichment Science and Engineering Division, also earned the Division Level Research Leadership award.

Roderick Jackson of the Energy and Transportation Science Division received the Director’s Award for Outstanding Individual Accomplishment in Mission Support. [Read more…]

Holiday Safety: Thanksgiving fire prevention

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Many families will be celebrating Thanksgiving this week, a holiday that tops the list when it comes to how many kitchen fires are called in to emergency dispatchers. The Oak Ridge Fire Department has some important reminders about fire prevention:

  • Always stay in the kitchen when you’re cooking.
  • Keep children at least three feet away from the stove or oven.
  • Be sure electric cords are not dangling off the counter.
  • Check your smoke alarms to be sure they’re working.
  • Keep the kitchen floor clear of items that may cause someone to trip.
  • Make sure the turkey is completely thawed prior to placing it into a turkey fryer.
  • Be sure not to have too much oil in the fryer in order to avoid the oil spilling out when the turkey is lowered into the fryer.
  • Do not use a turkey fryer on wood deck/porch or inside.
  • Never leave a turkey fryer unattended.

[Read more…]

Oak Ridge warns of utility scam

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The City of Oak Ridge is once again receiving calls from customers who have been targeted by scammers posing as city employees. The scams are currently being directed at commercial customers, but have been aimed at residential customers in the past, a press release said.

The scam begins when a caller advises the customer that their utility bill is past due and that a “technician” is on the way to disconnect their utilities. The customer is advised to pay the bill immediately with either cash or a pre-pay credit card to avoid disconnection. The caller can be very convincing and they have garnered a long list of victims across the country. [Read more…]

City leaf pickup program starts Monday

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The citywide leaf pickup program will begin Monday, November 21. City collection efforts will follow the proposed schedule as closely as possible.

The schedule is a general guide and can vary considerably from the actual schedule due to the amount of leaves and weather conditions, a press release said. Please note: Streets will be swept approximately two weeks after leaves are picked up in each designated area.

“Residents have always been very cooperative and we ask for their continued cooperation this year by following a few guidelines,” the press release said: [Read more…]

UT-Battelle donates $150,000 for new Friendship Bell pavilion

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Oak Ridge National Laboratory Director Thom Mason, center, presented a check to Pat Postma, right, and Alan Tatum, co-chairs of the International Friendship Bell Citizens Advisory Committee, during a ceremony at Oak Ridge Associated Universities’ Pollard Auditorium on Thursday, Nov 17, 2016. (Photo by ORNL)

 

UT-Battelle has announced a $150,000 gift toward construction of a new Peace Pavilion to house the International Friendship Bell located in Oak Ridge’s Alvin K. Bissell Park.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Director Thom Mason presented a check to Pat Postma and Alan Tatum, co-chairs of the International Friendship Bell Citizens Advisory Committee, during a Thursday evening ceremony at Oak Ridge Associated Universities’ Pollard Auditorium.

The check presentation was the start of a public campaign to raise $750,000 for the project. A total of $416,000 has either already been raised or pledged.

“The International Friendship Bell is an important symbol of the heritage and future of Oak Ridge,” Mason said. “UT-Battelle is proud to support the construction of a new Peace Pavilion that will make the bell a focal point for the city and for the new Manhattan Project National Historical Park.” [Read more…]

One hospitalized for burns from kitchen fire

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One person was taken to the hospital for burns from cooking oil during a fire in Oak Ridge on Thursday evening, authorities said.

The structure fire on Brandeis Lane was reported at about 5:57 p.m. Thursday. There were reports of flames in the kitchen and one disabled person inside the residence, the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release.

“The first units on the scene found that everyone was out of the home and assisted those occupants away from the structure,” the press release said. “The fire was out upon arrival with smoke still in the residence.” [Read more…]

TN College of Applied Technology gets $5.7 million grant for Anderson County facility

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The Tennessee College of Applied Technology Knoxville will receive a $5.7 million Drive to 55 Capacity Fund Grant to be used for a training facility in Anderson County, state officials said Thursday.

The grant was announced by Tennessee Senator Randy McNally, an Oak Ridge Republican; Representative John Ragan, an Oak Ridge Republican; and Representative Dennis Powers, a Jacksboro Republican after they were notified by Governor Bill Haslam and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, or THEC.

“It is critical that we prepare our students with the skills they need for 21st century jobs,” said McNally, who as Finance Committee Chairman has supported the Drive to 55 Capacity grants. “This grant not only aids us in that effort, but also helps us bring new jobs to Tennessee as businesses are looking for a skilled workforce. I am very pleased that these funds will be coming to Anderson County.” [Read more…]

Enjoy Danny Brian playing famous Tchaikovsky ‘Piano Concerto,’ with ‘Nutcracker’ bonus

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Danny Brian

Danny Brian

 

By Dale Gedcke

The Friday and Saturday concerts by the Oak Ridge Philharmonia will feature two of the most enjoyable compositions by Tchaikovsky. Danny Brian will play the exhilarating “Piano Concerto No. 1,” and the orchestra will perform selections from the enchanting “Nutcracker Suite.” For more information, continue to read below.

Danny Brian may be best known locally for serving as organist/pianist for 30 years at Cokesbury United Methodist Church. He has also been the accompanist for the Knoxville Choral Society and Knoxville Chamber Chorale for many years. Brian is an active local artist playing solo recitals and chamber music in the Knoxville area. He has been on the faculty at Knoxville College, and was staff accompanist at the University of Tennessee for several years. Brian won first place in the Mid-South Piano Competition, and has played with many orchestras throughout the Southeast. He began his musical studies at Blair School of music in Nashville, and he received his undergraduate degree in piano performance from Middle Tennessee State University, where he studied with Jerry Perkins. He also studied with David Northington at the University of Tennessee while he worked on his master’s degree. [Read more…]

New International Friendship Bell Peace Pavilion plans to be unveiled Thursday

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Friendship Bell

Friendship Bell (Submitted photo)

 

The community is invited to view striking new plans for the International Friendship Bell Peace Pavilion and to learn of its new location in Bissell Park at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, November 17, at Oak Ridge Associated Universities’ Pollard Auditorium, which is at 1000 ORAU Way.

The International Friendship Bell Advisory Committee will host the community gathering to unveil the Peace Pavilion and plaza design for the bell’s new location in Bissell Park. The bell, an Oak Ridge icon now sitting in silence, will bring its message of peace to the tens of thousands of visitors expected to visit the new Manhattan Project National Historical Park, a press release said. Next steps are being taken to position the bell to ring again.

Ziad Demian, architect who designed the new Peace Pavilion and its surrounding plaza, will bring to life, in images and narrative, the real and symbolic importance of the bell that has become an important icon of Oak Ridge. The new pavilion will immediately become a community landmark and contribute to Bissell Park’s “sense of place,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Maintenance, testing of Y-12 warning siren on Quincy Ave. scheduled for Wednesday

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Emergency management personnel from the Y-12 National Security Complex will perform maintenance on an emergency warning siren located on Quincy Avenue in Oak Ridge on Wednesday.

During the maintenance, the siren will sound for short periods to ensure it’s operating once repairs are completed, a press release said.

The Quincy Avenue warning siren is located in the Woodland neighborhood about one block west of Lafayette Drive and north of State Highway 62 (South Illinois Avenue). [Read more…]