Oak Ridge Today

Anderson County Commission meets Monday (today)

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Information from WYSH Radio

The Anderson County Commission will meet Monday, September 19, at 6:30 p.m. in Room 312 of the Courthouse in Clinton.

Among the items on the agenda will be the election of a chair, vice chair, and parliamentarian.

Commissioners could head into executive session during the meeting as Anderson County Law Director Jay Yeager’s report to the Commission indicated that a settlement offer has been made in the wrongful termination lawsuit filed by former Public Works Department employee Lisa Crumpley, who sued the county alleging that she had been fired in retaliation for cooperating with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation on an investigation into her former boss David Crowley. Crowley was indicted last October on charges of illegally inspecting buildings without the proper certification, and he fired Crumpley the day the indictment was unsealed. He was ultimately acquitted in the spring by a jury. No details of that potential settlement have been made public, but it will require Commission approval. [Read more…]

Football: Cougars blank Dragons 35-0, improve to 5-0

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Information from WYSH Radio/Oak Ridge Today

Campbell County improved to a school-record 5-0 and 2-0 in Region 3-5A as they pulled away after halftime at home against Clinton on Friday. The Cougars won 35-0.

Zach Rutherford threw for 278 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Logan Phillips that covered 56 and 58 yards, respectively. Patrick Strunk provided the balance for the Cougar offensive attack as he ran for 147 yards and two touchdowns.

Clinton (1-4, 1-2) was held to eight first downs and was outgained 450-183. Ahmaad “Ro” Hardin led Clinton with 90 rushing yards, and J’Quan Thomas provided the Dragons’ lone defensive highlight with an interception.

Campbell County led 14-0 at halftime but scored 21 points in the third quarter to put the game out of reach and start the clock running continuously. [Read more…]

ADFAC receives Tennessee Housing Development Agency grant

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THDA Executive Director Ralph M. Perrey and ADFAC Executive Director Annie Cachiero cut the ribbon on a rehabilitated home on Wainwright Road in Oak Ridge on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016. (Photo courtesy THDA/Wes Bunch)

 

State officials and local leaders joined Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties in Oak Ridge on Thursday afternoon to help cut the ribbon on a newly renovated home located in the city’s Highland View neighborhood.

The formerly blighted and vacant home was rehabilitated with the help of a $67,410 Housing Trust Fund grant the Tennessee Housing Development Agency awarded ADFAC in 2015. ADFAC obtained the property on Wainwright Road through a donation.

THDA Executive Director Ralph Perrey told those attending the ribbon cutting that it was important for the state to recognize innovative work being done to improve access to affordable housing.

“This project is exactly the kind of work that our Housing Trust Fund grant program was created to assist,” Perrey said. “We are glad to work with partners like ADFAC who continue to have a positive impact on the communities they serve.” [Read more…]

UT Arboretum Society to hold Fall Wildflower Walk, Meet and Greet on Saturday

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The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society will host a fall Meet and Greet followed by a fall wildflower walk on the UT Arboretum grounds on Saturday, September 17, from 9-11 a.m.

The public is invited for a Meet and Greet at the UT Arboretum Visitor’s Center at 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge. Coffee and donuts will be served from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Kris Light, an expert naturalist, educator, and photographer will lead this fun, educational, and easy walk, a press release said. Participants may want to bring a camera to take pictures of the many wildflowers on the Arboretum grounds. [Read more…]

Roane State receives $2 million federal grant

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Roane State Community College Logo

Roane State Community College has received a $2 million federal grant to support student success initiatives.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Strengthening Institutions grant will fund various projects to help students plan their academic goals and achieve them. The $2,013,554 grant will be distributed over five years, with the first installment of $446,493 this fall.

“My role on the House Appropriations Committee allows me to take an active role in securing funding for vital grants such as this,” said Congressman Chuck Fleischmann. “I’m proud to help support Roane State Community College in their work to prepare students for successful careers.”

Grant-funded initiatives will include the purchase of class scheduling software and the addition of more Success Coaches to work one-on-one with students. [Read more…]

Hospitality Houses at MMC win 2016 Historic Preservation Award

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Hospitality Houses

One of the Hospitality Houses is pictured above. (Submitted photo from March 2015)

 

The Hospitality Houses at Methodist Medical Center have won the 2016 Historic Preservation Award, the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association announced Friday.

The award is presented by the ORHPA each year on Oak Ridge’s birthday, September 19. That’s the day in 1942 that General Leslie Groves selected this area as the first site in support of the top-secret Manhattan Project, a federal program to build the world’s first atomic weapons during World War II.

The Hospitality Houses are managed by Kim Maes of Methodist Medical Center, a press release said. These houses are original Oak Ridge E-2 duplexes located at 210 and 216 West Tennessee Avenue. [Read more…]

Mansfield focuses on reading, math, support for all students in school board race

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Myra Mansfield is pictured above with her granddaughters Kyrstin and Kennedy. (Submitted photo)

Myra Mansfield has focused on reading and math proficiency and support for all students in her campaign for Oak Ridge Board of Education.

“Every child in our schools should achieve proficiency in reading and math,” Mansfield said in a press release announcing her campaign.

Mansfield is one of three candidates to qualify to run for one of two school board seats in the November 8 election. The other two candidates are the two incumbents, Angi Agle and Keys Fillauer.

In the press release, Mansfield said she is running because she believes that all children, regardless of their background, are capable of achieving greatness.

“I was compelled by what I read in the local newspapers,” Mansfield said. “Students are underachieving from all backgrounds across the city and that demands our attention.”

Mansfield said she is the daughter of K-25 retiree Stanley Finch and Oak Ridge National Laboratory retiree Shirley Garrison (Finch) Frykman. She said she is a lifelong Oak Ridger and proud product of Woodland Elementary, Jefferson Middle, and Oak Ridge High schools. She has degrees in accounting, business management, and a master’s degree focused in counseling, the press release said. Her daughters Esther and Elizabeth are graduates of MTSU and son Jonathan is a student at Roane State Community College. [Read more…]

Former county commissioner running for Charter Commission, supports term limits

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Dusty Irwin

Dusty Irwin

Former Anderson County Commissioner Dusty Irwin is running for one of eight seats on the Anderson County Charter Commission, and he said he supports term limits.

Irwin is running for a seat in District 3, which includes the Andersonville, Norris, Fairview, and Glen Alpine precincts.

In a press release, Irwin said he was an active part of the petition effort to give citizens the opportunity to have term limits through charter—or Home Rule—government.

“I am committed to giving the voters an opportunity to vote on term limits for two consecutive terms for county commissioners and the office of mayor,” Irwin said in the release. “I feel strongly about citizen service on county committees, open and transparent meetings, and ensuring citizens have a right to speak at all meetings.” [Read more…]

See student art at Oak Ridge library this month

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The art display at Oak Ridge Public Library for September 2016 is a collection of illustrations created by art students of Jim Dodson from Jefferson Middle School. (Submitted photo)

 

The art display at Oak Ridge Public Library for September is a collection of illustrations created by art students of Jim Dodson from Jefferson Middle School.

These 19 tempera paintings were inspired by Ed Westcott’s photographs of early Oak Ridge. Some of the paintings were submitted as entries for the 2015 Congressional Medal of Honor Student Art Exhibit held at the Tennessee Valley Fair.

Painted in black, white, and gray tones, the images reflect the black and white photographs of Westcott, the famed Manhattan Engineer District’s photographer. Although the pictures depict the somber time period of World War II, youthful energy and movement can be seen in the artwork. [Read more…]

Roane State to host events to help displaced ITT Tech students

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Roane State Community College is reaching out to students affected by the recent closure of ITT Technical Institute.

Roane State will host an information session for former ITT students from 3:30-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 20, at the college’s Oak Ridge campus, which is at 701 Briarcliff Avenue. The meeting will be in the advising area inside the Coffey-McNally Building.

Former ITT Tech students are also invited to an Open House on Monday, September 26, at the college’s Clinton Higher Education and Workforce Training Facility, which is at 214 Nave Street in Clinton. The event will last from 5-8 p.m. and include demonstrations of equipment used to train students in mechatronics.

Roane State admissions and financial aid staff will be available at the events to answer questions. [Read more…]

Bargains galore at Church Rummage Sale on Friday, Saturday

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Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church will have its popular semi-annual rummage sale on Friday, September 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, September 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., a press release said. Bargain hunters have come to rely on the low prices for much-needed or desired items, the release said.

ORUUC is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. Proceeds raised will help to support various ministries of the church, the press release said.

Shop the sale and find very low prices for linens, kitchenware, small appliances, furniture, home décor items, DVDs, CDs, books, baby items, toys, tools, athletic equipment, garden equipment, low cost computers, TVs, and other electronic devices, the press release said.

For many shoppers, the sale is highly anticipated for renewing and refurbishing the wardrobe for the entire family, the release said. Clothing, shoes, and accessories will be available. [Read more…]

Show appreciation for first responders Saturday

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Police Lives Matter Rally Crowd

About 65 people attended a Police Lives Matter rally last year at Alvin K. Bissell Park on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Second Annual First Responders Appreciation Day is Saturday in Oak Ridge.

There are two events: an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast in the morning to raise money for the family of Maryville Police Department Officer Kenny Moats and a ceremony in the evening to honor local first responders.

The First Responders Appreciation Day is on Saturday, September 17, at Swifty’s Atomic Bar & Grill at 119 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

The fundraising pancake breakfast is from 8 a.m. to noon at Swifty’s. The donation is $10. Moats was shot and killed while responding to a domestic violence call in late August. [Read more…]