Oak Ridge Today

Isbel withdraws from state rep race

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Tim Isbel

Tim Isbel

Information from WYSH Radio

Anderson County Commissioner Tim Isbel has withdrawn from the race for Tennessee House of Representatives in the 33rd District, which includes most of Anderson County. The seat is currently held by John Ragan, an Oak Ridge Republican.

Last week, Isbel had announced his intention to run against Ragan in the Republican primary in August. The deadline to withdraw from the ballot was noon today (Thursday, April 14), and Isbel has done so.

Isbel said that after speaking with officials at the state level and consulting with his pastor, he has decided to hold off on running for the Tennessee House for at least another two years. He said there are still “some great opportunities and tasks for the people I (currently) represent,” adding that he feels he is “best suited to help accomplish these tasks.”

WYSH will have more on this developing story on Monday on “Ask Your Neighbor,” when Isbel will join the Clinton radio station (AM 1380, FM 101.1) for an exclusive interview.

City publishes summary of Oak Ridge Land Bank Partnership Strategy Workshop

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By City of Oak Ridge

On November 6, 2015, the Oak Ridge Land Bank Corporation, in conjunction with the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, hosted the second Housing Strategy Work Session. The purpose of this meeting was to identify willing partners in the effort to improve housing quality in the City of Oak Ridge.

As a result of this collaborative meeting, feedback was gathered from six identified stakeholder groups, each having their own perspective on what needs to be done and what they could do in addressing the city’s identified housing challenges.

The participating stakeholder groups offered the following input:

Banks

[Read more…]

Sister City Support Organization selects middle school exchange delegates

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Sister City Support Organization and Oak Ridge Schools

Pictured above are back row, left to right, Myles Hebrard, Brion Fuson, Elijah Gardner, Julie Lee (RMS chaperone), Melissa Fox (JMS chaperone), Jakob Nussbaum, and Sarah Hammons; and front row, left to right, Madeline Davis, Lauryn Rouse, Savanna Rouse, Austin Mayes, Jayden Ellis, and Abby Hausladen. (Submitted photo)

 

The Sister City Support Organization in cooperation with Oak Ridge Schools has selected the delegates for the 2016 middle school exchange with the sister city, Naka-shi Japan. The 10 rising eighth-graders representing both Jefferson and Robertsville middle schools will be accompanied by two teacher/chaperones and Myles Hebrard, supervisor of special education of Oak Ridge Schools.

This is the 25th anniversary of the middle school exchange and the occasion will be celebrated in Naka-shi on July 5, 2016. Representatives from the Oak Ridge Schools, SCSO, Girl Scouts, and the City of Oak Ridge will travel to Naka with the student group in recognition of this milestone.

The SCSO and Oak Ridge schools will host a reciprocal celebration when the Naka students visit Oak Ridge in August.

The 2016 middle school delegates in cooperation with Time to Shine Car Wash are raising funds to help defray their travel expenses. Until the end of April, for any car wash patron using the SCSO code (8984) and purchasing the $20 special, Time to Shine contributes $10 to the students.

Jerralyn Luckmann is a contributor to Oak Ridge Today.

Phil Yager announces candidacy for Anderson County Commission

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Phil Yager

Phil Yager

Note: This story was last updated at 12 p.m. June 5.

Phil Yager has announced that he is a candidate for Anderson County Commission in District 8, which includes the Woodland, Hendrix Creek, and Emory Valley precincts.

“I am running for this position because I want to work hard on issues that are important to all of us: safe neighborhoods, economic development, quality education, and improving our housing stock,” Yager said in a press release. He wants to help expand business and industrial opportunities, maintain the county’s quality of life, and make sure children have excellent schools.

Community service is important to Yager, who has served as a community volunteer for a number of organizations, the press release said. He was appointed by Oak Ridge City Council to serve on the Industrial Development Board and serves as treasurer on that board. He was also appointed to serve on the Oak Ridge Board of Building and Housing Code of Appeals.

Serving on those boards, Yager has been actively involved in important issues facing Oak Ridge—industrial and retail growth, as well as the issue of distressed housing, the press release said. Yager was also selected to serve on the Oak Ridge Charter Review Committee. [Read more…]

TORCH hosts day of free family fun at Children’s Museum

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TORCH hosted a day of free family fun at the Children’s Museum on Saturday, April 2. (Submitted photo)

TORCH hosted a day of free family fun at the Children’s Museum on Saturday, April 2. (Submitted photo)

 

TORCH hosted a day of free family fun at the Children’s Museum on Saturday, April 2.

It was the first TORCH Springtastic! Elaine Graham of Balloonacy Lunacy presented the children with balloon animals, flowers, among other things, while Kelly Mules of Faces Gone Wild painted exquisite designs on their faces. Jeffery Bell portrayed Carley, the dog who is the main character in the TORCH Children’s book series. Nathan Zieger read Dr. Seuss, and Sheila Michel told stories and worked puppets.

Andy O’Quinn, TORCH executive director, put together music videos to which the children could dance. There were arts and crafts, fruits, vegetables and juice boxes to enjoy, and the opportunity to plant a fresh flower in a small pot to take home.

“It was a celebration of spring and healthy life choices,” a press release said. [Read more…]

ORION astronomy club to feature talk on origin of universe, life on Earth

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Bob Compton

Bob Compton

The ORION astronomy club will have a discussion of the origin of the universe and life on Earth during a talk next week.

The talk will be presented by Robert N. Compton, senior corporate fellow emeritus, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and professor emeritus (physics and chemistry), University of Tennessee.

His talk is titled “On the Origin of the Universe and Life on Earth.”

Humans have long desired to understand our origin and place in the grand cosmos, a press release said. [Read more…]

Specialist to discuss the importance of sleep to good mental health

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Gurecki Sleep

Paul Gurecki

Everyone knows that not getting enough sleep at night can impact your energy level the next day, but do you know how much a lack of sleep can impact your mental well-being?

Dr. Paul Gurecki, certified sleep specialist, will discuss the role of sleep in good mental health on Saturday, April 23. The presentation will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the fellowship hall at Grace Lutheran Church, which is at 131 West Gettysburg Avenue in Oak Ridge.

Gurecki said he will also address the value of sleep hygiene and the difficulties that mental health issues, such as medications and depression, can add to sleep habits. A neurologist also specializing in psychiatry and sleep laboratory medicine, Gurecki holds certification in both neurology and sleep medicine from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He has had a successful practice in Oak Ridge for more than 20 years. [Read more…]

All lanes of I-75 reopen in Campbell County

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I-75 Northbound Lanes Campbell County April 13 2016

Tennessee Department of Transportation contract crews on Wednesday, April 13, 2016, reopened a second lane of travel on Interstate 75 North near mile marker 142 in Campbell County after cleaning up a February 26 rockslide that initially shut down both the northbound and southbound lanes. (Photo courtesy Mark Nagi of TDOT via Twitter)

 

Tennessee Department of Transportation contract crews on Wednesday reopened a second lane of travel on Interstate 75 North near mile marker 142 in Campbell County. All lanes, both northbound and southbound, are now open.

The opening is ahead of schedule, following a rockslide on February 26 that initially forced the closure of the entire interstate. An emergency contract set a schedule for the repairs and allowed all southbound lanes to be reopened on March 9. A single northbound lane was reopened two weeks later on March 24.

While all lanes of travel are now open, a work zone remains off the roadway as crews continue to remove debris and stabilize the existing slope. This work is anticipated to last until the end of May. Motorists are encouraged to use extra caution, especially while workers are present. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge students experience success at Southern Appalachian Science, Engineering Fair

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Gabe Vacliuc with Poster and Trophy

Oak Ridge High School student Gabe Vacaliuc earned first place for his project titled “dQCuts: Simplifying Molecular Dynamics Datasets Using Higher Order Statistical Signatures” under the mentorship of Arvind Ramanathan at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Vacaliuc is pictured above with his poster and trophy at the Southern Appalachian Science and Engineering Fair at the University of Tennessee earlier this month. (Submitted photo)

 

Seventeen research students from Oak Ridge High School competed in the 64th Annual Southern Appalachian Science and Engineering Fair hosted at the University of Tennessee. The competition was held April 4-7 with the awards ceremony on Thursday evening. There were 52 Senior Division projects in competition.

All 17 students are a part of either the Experimental Scientific Research, or ESR, course or Math, Science, and Computer Science Thesis course at ORHS. The ESR course is led by Sharon Thomas and Thesis is led by Tammy Carneim and Jessica Williams.

Gabe Vacaliuc earned first place for his project titled “dQCuts: Simplifying Molecular Dynamics Datasets Using Higher Order Statistical Signatures” under the mentorship of Arvind Ramanathan at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Along with a $1,000 scholarship and trophy, Vacaliuc will travel to Phoenix, Arizona, in May to compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair.

“SASEF was a great experience because I was able to get substantial feedback in a professional setting,” Vacaliuc said. “I’m so grateful to SASEF for the opportunity to represent my school at ISEF in May.” [Read more…]

Methodist’s In It to Win It fundraiser earns more than $45,000 for Hospitality Houses

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Dr. Adam Shrewsberry- Junk in the Trunk Champ

Hospitality House Manager Kim Maes presents urologist Adam Shrewsberry, MD, with the “Junk in the Trunk” trophy after he won the special physician challenge, which required him to shake ping pong balls out of a tissue box attached to his waist. (Submitted photo)

 

Second annual fundraiser offered evening of fun and games

The Methodist Medical Center Foundation hosted its second annual “In It to Win It” fundraiser benefiting the Hospitality Houses on Saturday, April 2. Community members, hospital staff, and physicians turned out for the event, which gave guests the opportunity to compete in a series of 60-second party games. Cups, ping pong balls, and pencils were flying as game participants battled to be the first to complete the challenges.

The winners of the six preliminary games had the opportunity to compete for the grand prize: a two-night stay at the Riverside Tower hotel in Pigeon Forge and two tickets to Dollywood. The evening’s big winner was Joey Dembek.

Competing with Dembek for the grand prize were Susan Kuhling, Matt Meslsendori, and Jamie Lesko. These finalists put their hand-eye coordination to the test with the “Tilt-a-Cup” challenge, which required contestants to build a wobbling, hand-held tower of plastic cups separated by ping pong balls. Dembek completed the challenge first to earn the title of “In It to Win It” Champion. [Read more…]

Kickoff meeting for home energy-saving program is April 26

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City of Oak Ridge Seal

The “Make Oak Ridge Energy Efficient (MORE2)” Program will be hosting a kickoff event for Oak Ridge residents on Tuesday, April 26, from 4-6 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Civic Center Social Room. The event is an opportunity for anyone interested in learning more about this new program for qualified, low-income residents in the community, a press release said.

Information on other energy-saving programs will also be available for those who do not qualify for the MORE2 program.

The City of Oak Ridge is kicking off the MORE2 program to perform “whole-home, deep energy retrofits” for 229 qualified residents in homes that are at least 20 years old. The project goal is to reduce electrical energy usage in all-electric homes to improve the quality of life for lower income residents and homeowners by significantly increasing the efficiency and comfort of their homes.

Attendees at this event will receive energy-saving items and informant about low- to no-expense energy-saving practices that can immediately improve energy savings in homes. [Read more…]

Roane County executive to speak at Lunch with the League

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Ron Woody, Roane County

Ron Woody

Ron Woody, Roane County executive, will be the guest speaker at Lunch with the League on Tuesday, April 19. The program will begin at noon in the Social Hall at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Woody will address issues of importance to the county such as where your tax dollars go, problems the county has solved, and problems it is still facing, according to information provided by his office. Among the topics he will address or update in his presentation, “The State of Roane County,” are education, property appraisal, business recruitment, and development of tourism and funding of public services.

What happens in Roane County is of importance to Oak Ridge since a significant portion of Oak Ridge is located in Roane County, and present and future planning affect the lives and wellbeing of these residents and, consequently, all of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]