Oak Ridge Today

National Park Service, DOE have three meetings on Manhattan Project Park

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Oak-Ridge-Group-Manhattan-Project-National-Historical-Park-Signing-Nov-10-2015

Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz shortly after they signed a memorandum of agreement and created the 409th park in the National Park System, the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. The park was authorized by Congress in December 2014. The park will have three sites in Los Alamos, New Mexico; Hanford, Washington; and Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The signing ceremony took place at the South Interior Building in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 10, 2015. (NPS Photo by Anthony DeYoung)

 

First meeting on Monday, February 1

The National Park Service and the U.S. Department of Energy will have three public meetings in early February to solicit input on planning for the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. The meetings will be held at the three sites associated with the park: Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Hanford, Washington; and Los Alamos, New Mexico. The public is encouraged to come to the meetings and meet with representatives of the NPS and the DOE to share their thoughts about the key stories and interpretive ideas related to the park.

Locally, there will be a public meeting held on Monday, February 1, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. (Eastern time) at Oak Ridge High School (in the Food Court) at 1450 Oak Ridge Turnpike. [Read more…]

Voter registration deadline is Monday for March 1 primary

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Tre Hargett

Tre Hargett

Tennessee residents who want to vote in the March 1 presidential preference primary, or “SEC Primary,” must register to vote by Monday, February 1.

This election cycle, the Volunteer State will join six other Southern states on March 1 to help decide who could be the next president of the United States.

“It’s important to ensure you are properly registered now so there won’t be any surprises during early voting or on Election Day,” Secretary of State Tre Hargett said in a press release.

Early voting begins Wednesday, February 10, and runs Mondays through Saturdays until Tuesday, February 23. Election Day is Tuesday, March 1. Note that some counties will be closed on Monday, February 15 for Presidents Day. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra has free family concert Sunday

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Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra Family Concert

The Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra has a free family concert on Sunday, January 31.

The concert was rescheduled because of the weather last week. It starts at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center (the ORHS auditorium).

The ORHS Chamber Orchestra will also play, and children will have a chance to participate in the instrument “petting zoo.”

An event flyer said the concert, “The Thrill of the Orchestra” concert, will feature music from “Star Wars” and “Jurassic Park.” Cellist Jerry Zhou, winner of the 2015 Youth Aliyah Competition, will be a special guest. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Community Band has Showcase Concert on Sunday

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Tanasi-2016

Pictured above are bassonist Ardyce Lee, clarinetist Dave Greenwood, horn player Bill Schwenterly, flutist RaNaye Dreier, and oboist Dana Fox. They are members of the Tanasi Winds Quintet and will perform in the Showcase Concert on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016. (Submitted by Oak Ridge Community Band/Wind Ensemble)

 

The Oak Ridge Community Band/Wind Ensemble has a Showcase Concert on Sunday afternoon, January 31.

It’s a good way to usher out a cold and dreary January, organizers said.

The concert starts at 3:30 p.m. Sunday and will be held in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church at 1101 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

“Band members look forward every year to the Showcase Concert because it gives them and area musicians the opportunity to perform in small ensembles showcasing their talents with an array of musical selections including classical, jazz, blues, swing, show tunes, and novelty pieces,” a press release said. [Read more…]

Reminder: Voting ends today for ASAP’s Anderson County Ally of the Year

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Reminder: Voting ends today for the Anderson County Ally of the Year. The contest is sponsored by Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County, or ASAP.

The 2016 candidates are Michael Foster, Becky Grubb, Kim Pouncey, Theresa Scott, and David Vudragovich.

You can donate in support of your candidate by voting at www.ASAPofAnderson.org or by calling (865) 457-3007.

Voting ends Thursday, January 28.

Copyright 2016 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Most significant issue during snow last week was traffic jam on I-75

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Turnpike-Administration-Road-Snow-Plow-Jan-20-2016

Roads in Oak Ridge are becoming slipperier as snow continues to accumulate. Above, an Oak Ridge snow plow is pictured at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Administration Road on Wednesday morning, Jan. 20, 2016. Heavy snow continued to fall more than 1.5 hours later. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The most significant issue during the snow and winter weather last week was the closure of Interstate 75 in Campbell County, which caused a long traffic jam on Wednesday, January 20, authorities said.

Traffic was very light Friday evening when the snow started again as most everyone stayed home, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said.

“As an update on our weather-related calls, from Wednesday, January 20, through Sunday, January 24, we responded to 18 non-injury traffic crashes, two crashes with injury, 12 disabled or abandoned vehicles, and five calls where there were some traffic hazards,” Lucas said. “There were a number of cars in the ditch or that ran off the road where we did not respond due to weather conditions.” [Read more…]

Red Ribbon Rivalry this month, buy ribbon for substance abuse prevention

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ASAP Logo

The 2016 Red Ribbon Rivalry is this month. It’s sponsored by Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County, or ASAP.

This year, in Anderson County, ASAP is holding the Red Ribbon Rivalry during the month of January, culminating on Sunday, January 31. The main goal is to raise funds to prevent and reduce substance abuse here in Anderson County.

Local businesses are competing against each other by selling red ribbons for a $1 donation and displaying them in their businesses to show support for substance abuse prevention. The winning businesses and employees will receive recognition for their efforts as well as individual prizes for the top sales associates. Anderson County High School, Clinton High School, and Oak Ridge High School are also competing this year to see who will be the recipient of the Red Ribbon Rivalry trophy to be displayed at their school for the year. [Read more…]

New Public Works director hired in Oak Ridge

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Shira McWaters

Shira McWaters (From LinkedIn profile)

Shira McWaters, a civil engineer who is now an associate at a company in Arizona, has been hired as Public Works director in Oak Ridge.

McWaters will replace former Public Works Director Gary Cinder, who retired in September 2015.

The appointment was announced by Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson.

McWaters will administer all Public Works activities for the city. The Public Works Department, with approximately 100 full-time employees, is responsible for the maintenance of city streets, all city-owned buildings, stormwater management, water treatment, distribution, and wastewater collections systems, and for the maintenance, service, and repair of all city automotive vehicles, heavy equipment, and stationary equipment.

The Department also prepares and administers the Solid Waste Collection contract and provides staff representation to the Traffic Safety Advisory Board. [Read more…]

Four Morgan Co. correction officers, one inmate indicted in TBI jail assault cases

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Denny Hughett

Denny Hughett

COOKEVILLE—In two separate cases, special agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation have obtained indictments for a total of five people in connection to allegations of the mistreatment of inmates in the Morgan County Jail.

In the first case, which began November 24, 2015, at the request of Ninth District Attorney General Russell Johnson, TBI agents investigated an allegation of official misconduct by correction officers in the Morgan County Jail. The allegation, brought by an inmate’s family, accused officers of encouraging the assault of an inmate on November 21, 2015, in the presence of correction officers, who were also accused of not intervening in the incident.

On Monday, the Morgan County Grand Jury returned indictments, charging Correction Officer Denny Hughett, 31, of Wartburg, with two counts of official misconduct and one count of coercion of a witness. The Grand Jury also returned an indictment for an inmate, charging Samuel Jennings, 39, with one count of aggravated assault. [Read more…]

Mayor Frank seeks help setting up monthly breakfast for veterans

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Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank, center, and the Ward brothers on their visit to the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives. Clinton resident William Ward, left, is a veteran of World War II and notably the Battle of Midway. (Submitted photo)

 

Work slowly progressing on a museum for veterans memorabilia, artifacts

Submitted

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank is seeking help from people interested in participating in a planning group to organize a free, monthly breakfast for all Anderson County veterans—from the cities to the rural areas. A meeting has been scheduled for 5:30 p.m. February 2 in Room 118A at the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton. All interested citizens are invited to help develop plans. No military service background is required.

In 2014, Frank traveled with local World War II veteran William Ward and Anderson County’s Veteran Service Officer Leon Jaquet to visit the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives in Athens, Alabama. Frank, Ward, and Jaquet were given a tour by William Ward’s son and veteran, Billy Ward. Billy Ward serves on the Board of Directors for the Alabama Veterans Museum. Frank and Jaquet also met with organizers of the Alabama Museum, as well as the museum’s director Sandra Thompson. [Read more…]

Knoxville woman dies, Andersonville women injured in crash on Norris Freeway

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A Knoxville woman died and two Andersonville women were injured in a Tuesday morning crash on Norris Freeway at Pedigo Road in north Knox County, authorities said.

The woman who died has been identified as Nellie Gunter, 70, of Knoxville, according to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.

The KCSO said Gunter was driving north on Norris Freeway in a Nissan Versa when she lost control of her car due to the wet road and hit a Buick LeSabre, which was going south. Gunter died at the scene, authorities said.

The Buick was driven by Alice Overdyk, 67, of Andersonville. She and her passenger, Susan Moses, 58, also of Andersonville, were taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville by Rural Metro. [Read more…]

Reminder: Jan. 31 is the deadline for enrolling in health insurance for 2016 under ACA

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David Vudragovich

David Vudragovich

The deadline to sign up for a health insurance plan for 2016 under the Affordable Care Act is Sunday, January 31. Enrolling by then will provide a plan that starts on March 1.

If you do not enroll by January 31, the only way to enroll in coverage is if you have a special enrollment situation, such as a marriage, divorce, or birth of a child, or change jobs, etc.

Insurance agent David Vudragovich can help you with your health insurance needs. His office is located at 1970 Oak Ridge Highway (also known as Oak Ridge Turnpike and State Route 61), east of Elza Gate in Oak Ridge, at the first stop light in the county headed toward Clinton.

Vudragovich can help with health, life, and supplemental insurance; Medicare; and long-term care and retirement. [Read more…]