Oak Ridge Today

Anderson County hosts National Day of Prayer at Courthouse on Thursday

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Anderson County Courthouse

Anderson County will participate in the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 7. It’s scheduled from noon to 12:30 p.m. Thursday on the front steps of the Anderson County Courthouse on North Main Street in Clinton.

The Anderson County Mayor’s Office said the Courthouse will remain open but with limited staff during the ceremony, and officials ask residents to be patient if they have business to conduct. All Anderson County citizens are invited to attend the local ceremony, a press release said. Prayers will be offered for county officials, the nation, education, the U.S. military, community relationships, and churches and families, the release said. Local pastors will lead those assembled in prayer, and local residents and students will provide musical selections.

The press release said the National Day of Prayer provides Americans an opportunity to come together to pray for matters concerning present-day America and the nation’s future.

Investigation continues, suspect info released in Y-12 FCU kidnapping, extortion

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Oak Ridge Police Department at Y-12 Federal Credit Union

Oak Ridge Police Department officers and detectives responded to the Y-12 Federal Credit Union on Tuesday morning, April 28, for what was later reported to be a kidnapping and extortion plot involving a credit union employee’s family and the Oak Ridge branch of the credit union.

 

Authorities continue to investigate a kidnapping and extortion plot involving the Y-12 Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge last week, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation has released some information describing the three suspects.

The alleged kidnapping and extortion started at about 8:15 a.m. Tuesday, April 28, when a credit union employee’s family was kidnapped from the Whittington Creek neighborhood in west Knox County in an effort to extort money from the credit union, the FBI said in a press release on Wednesday.

“The employee’s family was held at gunpoint for a period of time before being released in the Gettysvue Country Club parking lot in Knoxville, around 9:25 a.m.,” the release said. “Upon being released, the victims were able to seek help from a nearby residence. During the law enforcement response, the suspects fled and remain at large. No injuries were reported, and no money was taken from the credit union.” [Read more…]

Gooch: Main Street No. 1 priority, gives updates on National Park, reappraisals, airport

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Main Street Oak Ridge Site Plan April 16, 2015

Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch on Tuesday said his number one priority for the community is the successful development of Main Street Oak Ridge, which would redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall. Pictured above is a cropped picture of the Main Street Oak Ridge site plan as of April 16. A link to a larger PDF version of the plan is included in the story below.

 

Note: Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch gave an update on positive developments and challenges during a talk to the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge on Tuesday, May 5. Here is a lightly edited version of his remarks, which organized the positive developments and challenges into sections. Gooch was appointed mayor by the seven-member Oak Ridge City Council on November 24. This is his first four-year term on the City Council.

It is a distinct privilege for me to serve as your mayor, but I always preface my remarks by saying that I am not speaking today for Council or for the city manager. I have one vote on Council, but I do consider myself to be the chairman of the board of directors for the city.

In that capacity, as I enter my sixth month of service as mayor, I want to share my thoughts about positive developments in our city, discuss near-term challenges that we face, share the results that I have from the community survey that I have been conducting, and leave time for your questions and comments.

First. My number one priority for our community is the successful development of Main Street Oak Ridge (which would redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall), and it is moving forward. Last week, Crosland Southeast announced that MDC Development Group of Atlanta will be the hotel developer for the project. MDC is also a major developer in the senior housing industry and 15 months ago opened Canterfield Oak Ridge Assisted Living. It has been very successful and well-received in our community.

I was advised yesterday (Monday, May 4) that the retail leasing component of the Main Street project is moving forward, as are the negotiations with a developer for the multi-family housing component of the Main Street project. Groundbreaking and demolition for Main Street is on schedule to begin by June 30. [Read more…]

Man who allegedly stabbed vehicle, chased driver faces assault charges

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Timothy Jim Phillips

Timothy Jim Phillips

An Oak Ridge man who allegedly stabbed the hood of a vehicle and chased the driver at an apartment complex on Monday morning has been charged with aggravated assault and vandalism, authorities said.

The driver fled the vehicle, but he was allegedly chased by Timothy J. Phillips, 55, a press release said.

“The driver of the vehicle eventually punched Mr. Phillips in the head, causing him to fall to the ground,” said the release, from the City of Oak Ridge. “The driver of the vehicle sustained a minor cut on one finger; Mr. Phillips had a laceration on his forehead and was bleeding from the mouth.”

Phillips was arrested and taken to the Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, where he received treatment for his injuries. He was then taken to the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton and charged with aggravated assault and vandalism, the press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge church goes green

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ORUUC Solar Panels

Rows of solar panels on the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church roof as seen from Oak Ridge Turnpike. (Submitted photo)

 

By Angie Palau

Just in time for Earth Day, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church is now an active Tennessee Valley Authority Green Power Provider.

The 20-kilowatt installation on the ORUUC sanctuary roof was completed in mid-April by Green Earth Solar, and the solar array has begun to generate clean power for the electrical grid. ORUUC is the first church in Oak Ridge to have solar panels, and indeed is one of the first non-residential buildings in town to have made this investment.

The project was fully funded by private donations from church members and friends and a grant from the ORUUC Endowment Fund. The configuration of the panels allows for expansion of its generating capacity in the future, something that ORUUC anticipates doing. [Read more…]

Vehicles ram each other, shots fired before police arrest OS man

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David Ramsey Dunlap

David Ramsey Dunlap

A car and a truck rammed each other during a police chase on Wednesday night, and the driver of the sedan fired shots at the truck before he was arrested, authorities said.

It started after Oak Ridge Police Department officers responded to a disturbance at a home in the Hendrix Creek subdivision at about 10:53 p.m. Wednesday, April 29. Officers learned that a man, later identified as David Dunlap Jr., 44, of Oliver Springs, was at the home, armed with a handgun and threatening to harm others, an Oak Ridge press release said.

When officers responded, they learned that Dunlap was at a home in the Highland View neighborhood. Officers then redeployed to that residence, where they encountered two vehicles, a sedan and a truck, on Outer Drive near New York Avenue traveling at a high rate of speed, the press release said.

“As the vehicles approached the responding officers, Dunlap, who was driving the sedan, fired shots at the truck,” the release said. [Read more…]

Dollar General to celebrate grand opening of new store in Oliver Springs

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Dollar General will celebrate the opening of its new location at 105 Jackson Lane in Oliver Springs this Saturday, May 9, at 8 a.m. with free prizes and special deals, a press release said.

Also, the first 50 adult shoppers at the store will receive a $10 Dollar General gift card, and the first 200 shoppers will receive a Dollar General tote bag, among other giveaways.

In the press release, Dollar General said it intends to offer Oliver Springs residents a convenient new place to shop for everyday essentials at low prices. [Read more…]

AC budget process under way

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Information from WYSH Radio

As the budget process begins in earnest for the new fiscal year that begins on July 1, the Anderson County school system is seeking money to pay for employee raises, upgrades to school facilities, and to start a fund to pay for computer devices for each student beginning in the upcoming academic year.

The budget proposal recently approved by the Anderson County Board of Education is currently about $3.1 million out of balance, and in order to fully fund requests, it would require the equivalent of a 45-cent increase in the property tax rate.  Included in the request to the County Commission is roughly $2 million to fund 4 percent pay raises for all employees; $871,852 for capital projects like roof repairs and unfunded mandates from the state dealing with physical education and sports facilities; and $221,484 for textbooks.

The most ambitious request, though, is the creation of a reserve fund through the county government to set aside money to pay for computer devices for students similar to the reserve fund that has been set aside for industrial development. [Read more…]

Broadcaster Hallerin Hilton Hill to speak to AC Tea Party

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Hallerin Hilton Hill

Hallerin Hilton Hill

Radio broadcaster Hallerin Hilton Hill will be the featured speaker for an Anderson County Tea Party meeting on May 12 in Clinton.

The monthly meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, at the Clinton Church of God.

Hill hosts the weekday “Morning Show” on Knoxville FM radio station News Talk 98.7 WOKI, and he hosts “Anything is Possible” on WBIR-TV on Sundays at noon. [Read more…]

Anderson County Democrats to celebrate Cinco de Mayo on Tuesday

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Former State Representative John Litz of Morristown will be the guest speaker when the Anderson County Democratic Party meets at 5:30  p.m. Tuesday, May 5, at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

The Cinco de Mayo gathering will feature Mexican food, and those attending are invited to bring contributions to a taco bar or a side dish to share. The evening will also feature an auction of baked goods and Democratic-themed items.

Litz, a farmer who represented Hamblen County in the state legislature, will speak at 6 p.m. He served for eight years as a representative. Former State Representative Jim Hackworth of Clinton will introduce Litz.

For more information, contact Anderson County Democratic Chair Catherine Denenberg at (865) 483-4662.

Oak Ridge Public Library main area reopens May 4

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Oak Ridge Public Library

The Oak Ridge Public Library is pictured above.

The main area at the Oak Ridge Public Library will reopen Monday, May 4, with new lighting fixtures and will resume regular service hours. All services will be available at the main desk and reference desk, a press release said.

The Children’s Room will close on Monday, May 4, for the lighting renovation. Story times for Monday, May 4, and Tuesday, May 5, will be held in the Social Room at the Civic Center at 10:30 a.m. Limited Children’s Room services will be available in the library auditorium. [Read more…]

AC seniors to protest Tuesday, ask for senior center

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Submitted/WYSH Radio

There will be a protest on Tuesday in front of Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton, and protesters will ask for a senior center and for Anderson County to take over the Anderson County Office on Aging.

The protest is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 5.

In a press release, organizers said that if attendees have trouble standing, they should bring a lawn chair. They are asking Anderson County seniors to bring their friends, family, and neighbors.

Organizers said “our seniors are just as important as our animals,” referencing efforts currently under way to build a temporary animal shelter in Anderson County.