Oak Ridge Today

Gloria Johnson to speak Monday at Democratic Women’s Club

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Gloria Johnson

Gloria Johnson

Gloria Johnson, Democratic candidate for the Tennessee House of Representatives in District 13 in Knoxville, will be the guest speaker at the Monday, May 23, meeting of the Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club.

The club will meet at 6 p.m. at the Pizza Inn, 1501 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge.

Johnson is a retired Knox County school teacher with 27 years’ experience educating special needs children, a press release said. Her advocacy work during the past year with health care and education has inspired her new consulting business, Tennessee Alliance for Learning and Leadership, or TALL. [Read more…]

St. Mary’s students selected for multiple honor choirs

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St. Mary’s School students Elizabeth Brands, Sophie Sherlock, and Gabriella Wilkerson were selected to participate in the 2016 Tennessee Treble Honor Choir. (Submitted photo)

St. Mary’s School students Elizabeth Brands, Sophie Sherlock, and Gabriella Wilkerson were selected to participate in the 2016 Tennessee Treble Honor Choir. (Submitted photo)

 

Students at St. Mary’s School in Oak Ridge were selected for multiple honor choirs in what has been a leading year for the school’s music program, a press release said

St. Mary’s School students Elizabeth Brands, Sophie Sherlock, and Gabriella Wilkerson were selected to participate in the 2016 Tennessee Treble Honor Choir, the press release said. The singers sang under the direction of Derrick Fox, assistant professor of choral music education and choral conducting in the Ithaca College School of Music. The Tennessee Music Educators Association commissioned a piece to be performed at the conference opening concert and ceremonies. The piece entitled “Honeybees” was composed by Andrea Ramsey. Ramsey attended the conference and rehearsed with the choir as well as attended the choir’s premier performance of her composition.

The Tennessee Treble Honor Choir is an auditioned choir made up of 130-150 of the best fifth- and sixth-grade students from schools throughout the state of Tennessee, the press release said. Each student submitted a solo audition recording of her or him singing “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” in the keys of F and A Flat. A committee of music educators from across the state adjudicated the auditions listening for pitch accuracy, tone quality, diction, ability to use chest and head registers, and phrasing. The Treble Choir performed at the Tennessee Music Education Association Professional Development Conference held April 13-14 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville. [Read more…]

Y‑12 receives six NNSA Sustainability Awards

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Y‑12 Waste Management’s proposed strategies for operations of the West End Treatment Facility (seen here) allowed processing of 718,000 gallons of production wastewater and eliminated generation of approximately 14,000 gallons of low-level radioactive waste sludge. (Photo courtesy Y-12)

Y‑12 Waste Management’s proposed strategies for operations of the West End Treatment Facility (seen here) allowed processing of 718,000 gallons of production wastewater and eliminated generation of approximately 14,000 gallons of low-level radioactive waste sludge. (Photo courtesy Y-12)

 

Site’s efforts earn half of 2016 honors

The National Nuclear Security Administration recently recognized the Y‑12 National Security Complex with six 2016 Sustainability Awards.

“Y‑12 has a long history of being recognized for their environmental accomplishments, and this year was no exception as acknowledged by U.S. Department of Energy Under Secretary for Nuclear Security and NNSA Administrator Lieutenant General Frank G. Klotz,” a press release said.

“I want to congratulate the winners of this year’s Sustainability Awards and recognize the team effort needed to implement environmentally responsible and sustainable operations and projects,” Klutz said. “NNSA will continue to build on these successes and pursue new and creative solutions as stewards of the environment and our enduring national security mission.” [Read more…]

TN Creates, a juried crafts fair, at Secret City Festival on June 10, 11

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Linda Mabry

Linda Mabry will be demonstrating raku firing in front of the bus and shuttle drop-off area during the festival until 4 pm each day. This ancient process, while seeming almost magical, is a study in the properties of physics as one pulls a white-hot piece from the flame and places it in combustible material to smoke. Come watch Linda “burn” with unbridled passion. (Submitted photo)

 

TN Creates, the juried arts and crafts fair at the Secret City Festival, showcases some of the fine art and craft forms being practiced in our region.

The June 10 and 11 event will be the 10th juried craft fair within the Secret City Festival. Sponsored by the City of Oak Ridge and the Oak Ridge Art Center, the fair will be held in the Shep Lauder gym at the Civic Center until 7 p.m. each day.

“The show promises to have more than 40 of the area’s finest artists and craftsmen creating or selling their work,” a press release said. “Since the show is inside the gym, guests to the fair will find it not only a great place to find some wonderful craft pieces, but a terrific place to cool off.”

During the show, there will be continuous demonstrations in many media by members of the Art Center, including oil and watercolor painting, block printing, pottery, and several jewelry making techniques. There will be seating around the demonstrators for those who are interested in watching and learning more about the processes artists use, many of which are taught at the Art Center. Raku pottery firings will be held both days from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the show’s entrance near the bus drop off.

Parking will be at the mall with continuous bus service during the festival. [Read more…]

Y-12 honors its inventors with Technology Transfer awards

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Y-12 Honors Inventors

Y-12 National Security Complex recently recognized 29 inventors at its annual Tech Transfer award ceremony. The group was awarded 13 patents and submitted more than 30 invention disclosures in the past year. (Photo courtesy Y-12)

 

Twenty-nine inventors at the Y‑12 National Security Complex were recognized for their technology and innovative accomplishments during the recent 12th annual Technology Transfer Awards Ceremony. The site has a long history of producing technologies initially used at Y-12 and later transferred to the private sector.

Thirteen patents were awarded in Fiscal Year 2015 in areas ranging from a wireless sensor for detecting chemical compounds to an apparatus for safeguarding a radiological source, a press release said.

The inventors also were recognized for bringing forward new ideas in the form of invention disclosures that could one day lead to future patents. These employees were acknowledged for both their creativity and innovative ideas in support of the technology development and transfer mission. The new inventions developed by the honorees will be used to further Y-12’s mission work and will be made available to license to benefit the public through Y-12’s Technology Transfer program, the press release said. [Read more…]

Memorial Day Concert to honor veterans, military personnel

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Oak Ridge Community Band July 4 2014

Oak Ridge Community Band leader Dale Pendley directs the Community Band in a summer concert in 2015. (Photo courtesy Barbara Gritzner)

 

Special recognition will be given to area veterans and to the men and women currently serving in the United States Armed Forces at the Memorial Day Concert performed by the Oak Ridge Community Band on Monday evening, May 30. This concert will start at 7 p.m. Monday at A.K. Bissell Park.

The public is encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for outdoor seating. There is no admission fee for this concert, but donations are gratefully appreciated to help offset band expenses.

Also present in the park will be Razzleberry’s Ice Cream Lab, which will continue its tradition of providing refreshments during the community band summer concert season, a press release said. [Read more…]

Children’s minister, local residents among those arrested, cited in human trafficking operation

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Jason Kennedy

Jason Kennedy

Note: This story was last updated at 2:30 p.m. May 23.

A three-day operation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and detectives with the Knoxville Police Department to combat human trafficking in Knoxville has resulted in the arrest of 32 men and women on prostitution and human trafficking-related charges. Two of the men, including a children’s minister, responded to ads for what they thought were girls under the age of 18.

TBI identified Knoxville’s Jason Kennedy, 46, as the children’s minister arrested for patronizing prostitution and human trafficking. Kennedy was a minister at Grace Baptist Church in Karns, but he has now been terminated.

The TBI said there is a warrant out on a trafficking charge for Zubin Parakh, 32, of Oak Ridge. A spokesperson at Lifehouse Church in Oak Ridge said Parakh serves as a volunteer and “creative pastor” there, according to WBIR, a Knoxville television station. The church told the television station that Parakh has never worked with children.

Grace Baptist released a statement to the media after the Friday news of Kennedy’s arrest.

“The children’s pastor of Grace Baptist Church has been terminated as as result of an arrest in a police sting related to prostitution and human trafficking,” the church said. “The actions of the children’s pastor for which he has been arrested were part of his life outside the church, and we have received no questions or concerns related to his conduct within the church or its ministries.

“The children’s pastor was hired two-and-a-half years ago. The church’s background check turned up no issues that indicate any previous problem. In fact, the children’s pastor in his application affirmed that he had no issues in his background of a criminal or other nature.

“We are praying for his family and will continue to provide the services of our ministry to them.”

Oak Ridge Today has not been able to reach LifeHouse Church for comment.

The TBI said the arrested men also include an engineer and a volunteer firefighter.

Kennedy has been charged and booked. Most of the others were charged on a citation, the TBI said. [Read more…]

McNally ‘roast’ on Saturday will benefit Blankenship Foundation, raise money for synthetic turf

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Blankenship Field Overall Plan

An overall view of the proposed renovation of Blankenship Field and Jack Armstrong Stadium. A Saturday morning, May 21, 2016, “roast” of Tennessee Senator Randy McNally will benefit the nonprofit Blankenship Foundation and raise money for new synthetic turf on Blankenship Field.

 

A “roast” of Tennessee Senator Randy McNally on Saturday will benefit the Blankenship Foundation and raise money for synthetic turf at Blankenship Field.

The “roast” will include Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam. It starts at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 21, at Blankenship Field.

“We will have Big Ed’s Pizza under the tent and hear lots of Randy’s old friends telling stories on him,” an invitation said.

Tables of 10 sell for $1,000, or you can buy individual tickets for $100 each, the invitation said. Event sponsorships are available, and all funds will go to the Blankenship Foundation, which is raising money for the synthetic turf field. [Read more…]

Students prepare for summer break, but learning opportunities just beginning for teachers

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Oak Ridge Associated Universities Building MC-100

The Oak Ridge Associated Universities Building MC-100 is pictured above.

 

ORAU hosting free professional development workshops for area teachers beginning June 1

ORAU will host several short professional development workshops for East Tennessee educators in grades K-12. The free workshops start June 1.

Held at ORAU’s Center for Science Education in Oak Ridge, the half-day or full-day workshops are free and offer educators the opportunity to engage in hands-on activities that will enhance their STEM knowledge and curricula. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The workshops will cover a variety of topics: [Read more…]

Splash pad work under way in Clinton

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Information from WYSH Radio

Clinton Public Works Department employees are working to get the new Lakefront Park Splash Pad ready for this summer.

The fun should begin soon. [Read more…]

Three Oak Ridge elementary schools earn AdvancED STEM Certification

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Pictured here are STEM leaders Evan Parker (left) and Kim Howard (right), with Principal Nancy West (center). Woodland Elementary School is the 42nd AdvancED STEM Certified school. (Submitted photo)

Pictured here are STEM leaders Evan Parker (left) and Kim Howard (right), with Principal Nancy West (center). Woodland Elementary School is the 42nd AdvancED STEM Certified school. (Submitted photo)

Three Oak Ridge elementary schools have earned AdvancED STEM Certification. Glenwood, Linden, and Woodland elementary schools are now officially three of 40-plus schools worldwide that have earned this certification so far, a press release said.

“The process is ongoing, and we look forward to adding more of our schools to this distinguished list in September,” the press release said.

For several months, Oak Ridge Schools STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) leaders have been working to provide evidence to a team of evaluators who have undertaken a data-driven internal review and an external diagnostic review process that demonstrates the school district’s ongoing commitment and capacity to prepare students for STEM fields of study and work, the release said.

“STEM students have the skills, knowledge, and thinking strategies that prepare them to be innovative, creative, and systematic problem solvers in STEM fields of study and work,” the release said. “Engaging in this process long term will provide educators with detailed findings and a clear roadmap to stimulate and sustain dramatic improvement.” [Read more…]

Four ORHS seniors sign to continue athletics in college

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Rizk Welsh Thompson and Beckett Signings May 2016

Jasmine Rizk, Katie Welsh, Caelyn Thompson, and Daniel Beckett are pictured above from left at signings to continue their athletic careers in college in May 2016. (Submitted photo)

 

Four Oak Ridge High School seniors recently signed to continue their athletic careers in college.

Daniel Beckett signed to run cross country with Maryville College. Caelyn Thompson signed to compete in track and field at Milligan College. Jasmine Risk signed to play girls soccer with Carson Newman College. And Katherine “Katie” Welsh signed to play girls soccer with Centre College.

Daniel Beckett Signing May 2016

Daniel Beckett signed to run cross country with Maryville College. (Submitted photo)

[Read more…]