Oak Ridge Today

Engineer, Army veteran, community volunteer running for City Council

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Hans Vogel

Hans Vogel

Hans Vogel, current vice chair of the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission, is running for one of three seats on the Oak Ridge City Council in the November 8 election.

Vogel is also a member of the Board of Directors for Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC, and he is a graduate of the Leadership Oak Ridge 2015 class, a press release said.

He is also an engineer and Army veteran, according to the press release.

The release said Vogel has a strong vision for the city of Oak Ridge that centers around working together to achieve a healthy, vibrant, and sustainable community where people choose to live, work, and play.

“Oak Ridge has unlimited potential if the City Council, business community, and Department of Energy can join together with our citizens to address community priorities,” Vogel said in the release. “In order to achieve this goal, the city must have a plan.” [Read more…]

Manhattan Project public program: Jackson Square, the city center, on Aug. 27

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Historic Jackson Square

Historic Jackson Square is pictured above. (Photo courtesy National Park Service)

 

Join a park ranger for a walk through Jackson Square. Manhattan Project National Historical Park will present a free program on Saturday morning, August 27, at 10 a.m. in Jackson Square in Oak Ridge. The program will begin in the upper parking lot of Jackson Square in front of the fountain.

During the program, park rangers will discuss how routine, tradition, and the comforts of home helped keep Oak Ridge residents focus on the mission and not their hardships, a press release said.

“We will walk to the Alexander Inn Guest House and the Chapel on the Hill during the program,” the release said.

Jackson Square is located three blocks north of the Oak Ridge Turnpike on Broadway Avenue.  If you need directions, maps are available at the National Park desk in the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge or you can call (865) 576-6767. [Read more…]

Dodson has campaign kickoff party, fundraiser on Tuesday

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Jim-Dodson-Campaign-Kickoff-2016

Jim Dodson is having a kickoff party and fundraiser for his campaign for Oak Ridge City Council at Razzleberry’s in Jackson Square on Tuesday, August 15. (Submitted photo)

 

Jim Dodson is having a kickoff party and fundraiser for his campaign for Oak Ridge City Council on Tuesday, August 15.

The kickoff will be from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, August 15, at Razzleberry’s restaurant in Jackson Square. Ridge City Ramblers, a local musical group, will perform. Those interested in showing their support or getting to know Dodson are invited to stop by, a press release said.

Dodson is a 30-year-teacher at Jefferson Middle School. He has a history of community involvement that includes United Way, Explore Oak Ridge (formerly the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau), Secret City Festival, Arts Council, and more, the press release said.

It said Dodson hopes to expand his community coalition building experience by bringing these skills to the Oak Ridge City Council. [Read more…]

United Way 2016 Campaign kicks off today

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The 2016 United Way of Anderson County Fundraising Campaign starts today (Monday, August 15).

“The fundraising campaign is being valiantly led this year by Bear Stephenson and Carroll Welch,” a press release said.

“This year also unveils a new mission statement for the organization: United Way of Anderson County improves lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community to advance the common good,” the press release said. “We focus on youth development, self-sufficiency, and senior and health services—the building blocks for a good life and strong community.”

The new mission statement focuses on United Way’s renewed goals of mobilizing volunteers, creating lasting change, and empowering social service programs that serve Anderson County citizens, the release said. In addition, the new mission statement highlights United Way of Anderson County’s new focus areas: youth development, self-sufficiency, and senior and health services. [Read more…]

Robertsville Middle School Rams 2016 football schedule

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Here is the 2016 schedule for the Robertsville Middle School Rams football team. The Rams started the season Thursday, August 11, at home against Concord.

Games start at 6:30 p.m. [Read more…]

Mavericks tie in jamboree on Thursday

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WYSH Radio/Oak Ridge Today

High school football preseason jamborees got under way Thursday night in East Tennessee.

At Hardin Valley in Knox County on Thursday, Anderson County and Powell played to a 14-14 tie. The Mavericks’ sophomore quarterback Stanton Martin threw a pair of touchdown passes, one covering 23 yards to Ryan Moog and the other to Thashaud Thrasher from 24 yards out.

Powell scored twice late to tie the mini-game, which lasted for one quarter.

The Mavericks open their season at home this Friday against Greeneville. [Read more…]

Free energy efficiency program has educational classes starting Thursday

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MORE2 Logo

The Make Oak Ridge Energy Efficient, or MORE2, program will begin hosting classes that are aimed at educating homeowners on cost effective ways they can make energy-saving improvements to their homes.

The first class is scheduled from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, August 11, in the Oak Ridge Civic Center Recreation Building—AB Room.

Attendees will get an overview of the MORE2 program and how to register as well as information on ways to lower energy consumption at zero cost to homeowners, a press release said. It will also cover “invisible” areas of the home that may need energy efficiency upgrades.

Those interested in applying can bring the following items with them to the class: [Read more…]

Safety Fest TN scheduled September 12-16

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Submitted

Safety at work, at home, and in the community! Why? Because accidents know no boundaries and safety shouldn’t either. It’s needed everywhere. Once a year, an event is held to promote safer workplaces, home-life, and communities by offering free safety and health classes to everyone. Last year, more than 850 workers from 79 cities in six states registered for the free classes.

For the fifth consecutive year, Safety Fest TN—partnering with numerous public, private, government, and nonprofit organizations—will host a week of safety and health classes, live demonstrations, a Safety Expo, and a community safety forum, all free of charge to everyone who registers. The event is scheduled for September 12-16 with classes in multiple locations in Oak Ridge and Knoxville.

Rosie Abrams organizes Safety Expo, a two-day trade show with booth space for up to 41 sponsors. [Read more…]

BES Technologies receives DOE small business award

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BEST 2015 DOE Award Photo

John Hale III and Drake Russell (at left and right), director and deputy director of the U.S. DOE Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, congratulate Erik Connard, CEO and owner of BES Technologies LLC, on his company’s receipt of DOE’s Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year award. (Photo courtesy Y-12/CNS)

 

Mentor-protégé relationship continues to receive federal accolades

BES Technologies LLC recently received the U.S. Department of Energy’s Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year award.

BES Technologies LLC, or BEST, is a service‑disabled, veteran‑owned small business in its fourth year as a protégé to Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, or CNS.

CNS and the Y-12 National Security Complex were recognized at last year’s awards ceremony as DOE’s Small Business Mentor of the Year for developmental assistance with BEST under the DOE Mentor-Protégé Program.

This year, it was time for the mentor to shine the spotlight on its protégé by nominating them for this DOE distinction and prestigious award. The resulting award confirms CNS’s glowing assessment that BEST truly lives up to its name, a press release said. [Read more…]

Community meeting on Student Activities Center at CHS

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Information from WYSH Radio

A public meeting will be held in the Clinton High School auditorium at 6 p.m. August 22 to provide information regarding the Student Activities Center planned at Clinton High School. The center is often referred to as a “multi-sports complex.”

The meeting could be of interest to community members who want to know more about where the project will be located, the uses of the building, and the status of the fundraising effort. Attendees will be encouraged to ask questions, so if you are a curious Clinton Dragon fan, you should attend and learn more about the ambitious project.

WYSH Radio is an Oak Ridge Today news partner.

Norris fire destroys TVA office building

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Information from WYSH Radio

A fire Saturday night destroyed an administrative office building at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Engineering Laboratory in Norris.

The call came into Norris Public Safety at around 10 p.m. Saturday, and firefighters responded to the building on Pine Road. When Norris fire crews arrived, they reported the building was fully involved and requested assistance from the Andersonville, Claxton, and Medford volunteer fire departments. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Cedar Barren Cleanup, Prairie Grass Extravaganza on Saturday, Aug. 20

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Oak Ridge Cedar Barren

September blooms at Oak Ridge Cedar Barren, courtesy Doug Colclasure. (Submitted photo)

 

There will be a free opportunity to see prairie goldenrod (Solidago ptarmicoides), naked-stem sunflower (Helianthus occidentalis), and Torrey’s mountain mint (Pycnanthemum torrei) at the Oak Ridge Cedar Barren on Saturday, August 20. This will be combined with a workday to remove invasive plants, a press release said.

Located next to Jefferson Middle School in Oak Ridge, this barren is a joint project of the City of Oak Ridge, the State Natural Areas Division, and Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning, or TCWP. The area is one of just a few cedar barrens in East Tennessee, and it is subject to invasion by Chinese lespedeza, Japanese privet, autumn olive, mimosa, Nepal grass, multiflora rose, and woody plants that threaten the system’s prairie grasses. [Read more…]