Oak Ridge Today

DOE seeks candidates for advisory board vacancies, applications due Sept. 30

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management is seeking volunteers to fill vacancies on the Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory Board, or ORSSAB. The board is a federally chartered citizens’ panel that provides recommendations to the agency regarding cleanup activities across the Oak Ridge Reservation.

Chartered in 1995 under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the board is comprised of up to 22 members that are chosen to reflect the diversity of gender, race, occupation, and interests of people living near the Oak Ridge Reservation.

The board and its EM/Stewardship Committee meet monthly to discuss and develop recommendations on cleanup decisions and topics such as cleanup strategies, hazardous waste management, and long-term stewardship. The board also reviews the Environmental Management program’s planning decisions and cleanup-related documents. All ORSSAB meetings and its committees are open to the public. [Read more…]

Police: Hit-and-run driver in stolen vehicle that crashed arrested in woods at ORNL

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Highway 95 Hit and Run Suspect

The Oak Ridge Police Department said officers arrested a suspect, recovered a stolen car, and cleared a crash on State Route 95 between Bear Creek and Bethel Valley roads on Wednesday afternoon. (Photo by ORPD via Twitter) 

 

A Knoxville man who allegedly crashed a vehicle that had been reported stolen was arrested Wednesday afternoon after he fled into an area between Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 National Security Complex in west Oak Ridge, authorities said.

The Oak Ridge Police Department responded to the single-vehicle crash on State Route 95 at 2:19 p.m. Wednesday, September 16. The crash occurred as the vehicle left the roadway while proceeding northbound, between Bethel Valley Road and Bear Creek Road, a City of Oak Ridge press release said.

The driver of the crashed vehicle fled eastbound on foot toward the federal sites before officers arrived, the release said. Y-12 and Oak Ridge National Laboratory protective force security officers were notified due to the close proximity to the federal reservations.

“Pro Force Security personnel located and detained the driver of the vehicle almost an hour later in a wooded area on ORNL property, east of Highway 95,” the release said. [Read more…]

Taste of Anderson County on Saturday, work continues at Jackson Square

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Jackson Square Fountain Brick Work

Workers install bricks at the interactive fountain area in Jackson Square on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Work continued at the Jackson Square parking lot this week as merchants, organizers, and the city prepare for Taste of Anderson County on Saturday.

The substantial completion date for the parking lot work was expected to be Tuesday, September 15, and the goal is to have the project done in time for Taste of Anderson County.

The annual outdoor festival features food and music. It’s scheduled from 4-9 p.m. Saturday, September 19, in the Jackson Square parking lot. This year, there will be music, more than 20 different restaurant vendors, and a bar stocked with beer, wine, and moonshine cocktails and wings, organizers said.

Taste of Anderson County will benefit two local causes: United Way of Anderson County and the Free Medical Clinic. [Read more…]

Panel discussion to feature author, Y-12 Manhattan Project workers

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Denise Kiernan

Denise Kiernan

Best-selling author Denise Kiernan will host a panel discussion with women employed at Oak Ridge during the top-secret Manhattan Project of World War II.

The panel discussion will start at 6 p.m. Wednesday, September 23, at the American Museum of Science and Energy. Admission is free.

Kiernan is the award-winning author of “The Girls of Atomic City,” a New York Times best-seller that tells the story of the women who worked at Oak Ridge during the war years.

Some of these women, known as “Calutron Girls,” adjusted dials that controlled the workings of the 1,152 calutrons used to separate isotopes of U-235 from naturally occurring uranium, a press release said. The work fueled “Little Boy,” the first nuclear bomb used in warfare. [Read more…]

Soft lockdown lifted at Preschool, SAB after domestic violence suspect arrested

Posted at
By 9 Comments

Domestic Violence at Geneva Road

A soft lockdown was lifted Wednesday morning at the Preschool and School Administration Building after a domestic violence suspect was arrested a few blocks east on West Geneva Lane. (Photo by Oak Ridge Police Department)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 1:45 p.m. Sept. 17.

A soft lockdown was lifted Wednesday morning at the Oak Ridge Preschool and School Administration Building after a domestic violence suspect was arrested on West Geneva Lane.

The call was reported to have started at 10:21 a.m. on Georgia Avenue, which is east of Jackson Square and Blankenship Field, and a few blocks east of the Preschool and SAB. The Oak Ridge Police Department received a report of a domestic dispute, and suspect Timothy Dickens, 34, of Oak Ridge, allegedly kicked in the front door of a home, a City of Oak Ridge press release said.

“Mr. Dickens fled the residence on foot westbound into a densely wooded area,” the release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Chamber launches membership campaign

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Keys Fillauer

Keys Fillauer

Under the leadership of two long-time community leaders, Keys Fillauer and Darrel Kohlhorst, the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce kicked off a new member recruitment campaign on Thursday, September 10. The campaign is focused on identifying new members to bring into the Chamber between now and October 15, a press release said.

“Nearly 100 committed volunteers are working to grow the Oak Ridge Chamber’s collective influence and financial resources,” said Melinda Hillman, vice president of Roane State Community College’s Oak Ridge Campus and chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors. “That represents almost a quarter of the Chamber’s current membership working to expand their organization. Personally, I am appreciative and excited that so many are involved in this effort.”

There are five captains serving as coaches and cheerleaders for the campaign. The five captains are:

  • Rhoni Badsen of Girls Inc.;
  • Bruce Borchers of Oak Ridge Schools;
  • Katy Brown of Comcast Spotlight;
  • Jim Normand of Joyce, Meredith, Flitcroft, and Normand; and
  • Steve Whitson of H-S Whitson Construction.

[Read more…]

ORHS Homecoming pep rally is Thursday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

ORHS Homecoming Pep Rally

The Oak Ridge High School Homecoming pep rally is on Thursday evening at ORHS.

The pep rally starts at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, September 17, on the front steps of Oak Ridge High School. The 2015 Homecoming Court will be introduced.

It’s a community event, and it will feature a senior Wildcat football player dance, ORHS cheerleaders, and Dance Cats.

There will also be prize drawings.

The Homecoming football game is at Blankenship Field at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The Wildcats will play Lenoir City.

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

WYSH: Roane Commission passes tax increase

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Roane County Courthouse

The Roane County Courthouse in Kingston is pictured above. (File photo)

 

Information from WYSH Radio

The Roane County Commission approved a property tax rate increase at its meeting Monday night by a vote of 8-6.

Property taxes will go up by about 30 cents per $100 of assessed value. The increase was needed to support the fiscal budget.

Commissioners approved the county’s budget back in July. Twenty-two cents of the tax increase will go toward the county schools. County Executive Ron Woody said commission members knew the schools needed the money.

Approval of the property tax comes after months of waiting for the state to finish its assessments after the state comptroller’s office took over for the Roane County Assessor’s Office.

BBB-TV owner Ron Berry was elected commission chairman on Monday, and Harriman’s Randy Ellis was elected to his fifth term as vice chairman.

Habitat for Humanity fundraiser at Youth Resource Center this evening

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Youth Resource Center of Oak Ridge is having a fundraiser called Painting with a Twist on behalf of Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County this evening (Tuesday, September 15).

“Valerie is doing an amazing job with the teens that come to the center,” Habitat for Humanity said. “We are so happy they are here with us! If you can’t attend, please consider sponsoring a teen so that they may participate in this fun and educational event.

Painting with a Twist is from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, September 15, at the Youth Resource Center of Oak Ridge at 145 Robertsville Road, in the lower level of the Habitat for Humanity building.

To sign up, click on this link.

For more information, call Habitat at (865) 482-7713 or the Youth Resource Center at (865) 272-3211.

Photos: Oak Ridge and Anderson County, first shutout for Wildcats

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Wildcats Caleb Jackson and Mavericks Sept. 14, 2015

Oak Ridge junior Caleb Jackson (25) makes a tackle in a 41-0 win at Anderson County on Friday, Sept. 11, and Monday, Sept. 14, 2015. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats had their first shutout of the football season, rolling over Anderson County 41-0 in a game that resumed Monday after being suspended because of lightning on Friday.

Here are pictures by Julio Culiat.

Wildcats Tee Higgins Mavericks Sept. 11, 2015

Oak Ridge junior receiver Tee Higgins (5) had two touchdowns against Anderson County in a game that started Friday, Sept. 11, 2015, but was suspended because of lightning, and then resumed Monday, Sept. 14, 2015. Higgins has seven touchdowns this season, leading all Wildcats. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

[Read more…]

AC chancellor intervenes in Andersonville Fire Dept. squabble

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department

Information from WYSH Radio

Earlier this month, Anderson County Chancellor Nichole Cantrell made a ruling in the dispute between two factions of the Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department.

Earlier this year, then-AVFD Chief Del Kennedy suspended the Board of Directors over allegations that they were interfering in the day-to-day operations of the department.

Kennedy then appointed an interim board to oversee the department. That led to the department’s mail delivery service being interrupted and its bank accounts being frozen over questions about who was authorized to use it.

The chairman of the suspended board, David Farmer, asked the Chancery Court to step in. On September 4, Chancellor Cantrell ruled in favor of the suspended board following a hearing that morning. That meant that the board consisting of Farmer, Carl Poore, Robert Seiber, Benny Ridenour, Judy Lenz, Gina Ridenour, John Poore, and Rodney Williams was reinstated. [Read more…]

Dragons routed at Rhea 62-10

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

On Friday night, the Clinton Dragons ran into bad weather and a buzzsaw of a football team as the Rhea County Golden Eagles dismantled them 62-10.

Following an 89-minute lightning delay, the Dragons scored first on a 17-yard Deonta Duncan touchdown run and answered a quick Rhea County score with a Garrett Zody field goal that put them up 10-7 with 6:45 to play in the first quarter.

From there, however, it was all Rhea County as they scored 55 unanswered points on their way to a lopsided victory at home. The numbers tell the story as the Eagles outgained Clinton 502-174, ran for six touchdowns and threw for three more.

See a game summary and stats on the WYSH website.