Oak Ridge Today

Honors: Nurse in Family Birthing Center named ‘MMCer of the month’

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Shelia Justice

Shelia Justice

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Shelia Justice, licensed practical nurse (LPN) in the Family Birthing Center at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, has been named the “MMCer of the Month” for September.

In her duties, Justice provides care for post-partum mothers and babies as well as post-operative patients in the Family Birthing and Women’s Services Center. She is a scrub nurse for c-section deliveries and assists with other deliveries. Justice also ensures that the department is well-stocked and at the ready for patients. She has been with Methodist for a cumulative 13 years.

Justice is described by Donna Longmire, director of Surgical Services, as “an asset to Covenant Health, Methodist Medical Center, and the Family Birthing Center. [Read more…]

Retired CIA officer to discuss Middle East foreign policy

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Tony Jordan

Tony Jordan

Tony Jordan, retired CIA Senior Intelligence Service officer, will discuss what he sees as failures in U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East during Lunch with the League on Tuesday, a press release said.

Jordan has extensive experience as an operations manager in the Middle East and South Asia, a press release said.

The Tuesday, October 7, program will start at noon in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church’s new location at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. [Read more…]

Grace Lutheran has Pet Fest, Blessing, 5k Run/Walk on Saturday

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Pet Blessing

A file photo from a previous pet blessing.

Submitted

For all who love animals, Grace Lutheran Church in Oak Ridge presents the 13th annual Pet Fest and Blessing on Saturday, October 4.

Activities commence with the Pets are Blessings 5K Run/Walk at 8 a.m. at Melton Lake.

More festivities follow at the church from 1-5 p.m. The church is located at 131 West Gettysburg Avenue in the Woodland neighborhood. Parking will be available for the mobility-impaired at the church or in the Woodland Elementary School parking lot behind the church. (Follow the pink puppy paw print signs!)

For the second year, the church is offering a 5k run/walk at Melton Lake at 8 a.m. This year, the Pets are Blessings 5K Run/Walk will invite humans to run with their dogs, if desired. [Read more…]

ACAC swimmers exceed expectations in first short course meet

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ACAC Madi Cottrell

Madi Cottrell (13) of the Atomic City Aquatic Club at the SAC Fall Kickoff in Sevierville. (Submitted photos)

 

ACAC Swimmers at SAC Fall Kickoff

Pictured above are Mason Fischer (back to the camera, age 10) and Julia Linkous (9).

By Chip Fischer

If the Atomic City Aquatic Club were a kicker, its performance at the SAC Fall Kickoff would be the ball that soared through the goalposts and out of the stadium.

ACAC swimmers took Sevierville by storm in their very first short course meet of the year, exceeding expectations with performances that demonstrated technical prowess and outcomes beyond expectations.

Top 6 performances scored points for the team. Many swimmers earned points with standout performances that led to trophies for most overall points in their age groups. Daniel Arnold (10) led the way with a dominant performance, taking first place in nine out of 10 individual events, winning the trophy for most overall points in the 10-and-under male group, and barely missing a perfect sweep. Kamden Batchik (12) won seven races and came in second in her other two to take the trophy for most overall points in the 11-12 group. Sydney Goodman (14) placed in all eight of her events, winning the 50 Free, 100 Breast, 200 Breast, and 200IM and taking home the trophy for High Points for the 13-14 age group. In an epic battle of 10-year-old girls, good friends Madeline Linkous and Mason Fischer faced each other in 10 races, each winning five and coming in second in five en route to a tie for most overall points for the 9-10 age group. [Read more…]

Clinton Fire Department has open house Oct. 18

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The Clinton Fire Department will have its annual Open House on Saturday, October 18, from 10 a.m. through 2 p.m. at Clinton Fire Station No. 1 located across from Big Lots and Hammers.

The Fire Department will have inflatables, food, games, live demonstrations, Sparky the Fire Dog, and fire safety and prevention education. The public will also get to tour the station, play on the trucks, and meet their firefighters.

This event is free, and all ages are invited to the rain-or-shine event. For more information, contact Daniel Adams at the Fire Department at (865) 457-2131.

THP: Jacksboro man killed in I-75 crash

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Information from WYSH Radio

One person died in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 75 North in Anderson County on Thursday afternoon.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol responded to the scene just before 3:30 p.m. at exit 129, the Rocky Top (Lake City) exit.

The THP report indicates that a 1998 Ford pickup left the right side of the roadway, traveled into a ditch and flipped, partially ejecting the driver, 29-year-old William Overton of Jacksboro. Troopers say he was not wearing a seatbelt.

Reception for Garcia Garland, running for re-election

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There will be a reception for Oak Ridge City Council member Anne Garcia Garland on Sunday at the Comfort Inn on Rutgers Avenue. Garcia Garland is running for re-election in the November 4 municipal election.

The reception is from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, October 5.

“Citizens are invited to have a bit of punch or wine and small finger foods and talk with the candidate,” a press release said. “Those interested will be able to pick up a campaign sign and even volunteer to canvas a few houses or blocks.”

Hidden needs in our community—filling the gaps

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Altrusa Oak Ridge, TN

A panel of community organizations assisting the homeless and precariously housed will be presenting to the Altrusa Club at their lunch meeting on Wednesday, October 8. This panel will be comprised of Annie Cacheiro from ADFAC, Zabrina Minor from TORCH, Teresa Brittain from the Free Medical Clinic, and Jennifer Enderson of Emory Valley Center. The meeting will take place at the Doubletree Hotel Oak Ridge.

“ADFAC places emphasis on the prevention of homelessness and the development of self-sufficiency,” Cacheiro said of ADFAC’s services here in Anderson County. “Short-term financial assistance and counseling are provided with the goal of stabilizing the family during times of crisis. We respond to over 6,000 requests each year.”

“Everyone should have access to health care, regardless of their ability to pay or insurance status,” Brittain said. “These clients exist here in Anderson County, and these services must be provided.” [Read more…]

Eby, school board vice chair, receives TSBA award

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Bob Eby TSBA Award

Bob Eby, vice chair of the Oak Ridge Board of Education, receives the TSBA Level IV Boardmanship Award during a recent district meeting in Newport, Tennessee. (Submitted photo)

Bob Eby, vice chair of the Oak Ridge Board of Education, was honored with a Boardmanship Award at a recent Tennessee School Boards Association meeting.

Eby received the Level IV Boardsmanship Award, which was presented by TSBA Executive Director Tammy Grissom during the Fall District meeting in Newport, Tennessee, a press release said.

To achieve the award, Bob accumulated more than 200 credits in various school board activities, including attending TSBA leadership conferences, policy workshops, summer law institutes, state and national conventions, and a TSBA “day on the Hill” in Nashville, and he met with state legislators, the release said. Eby also presented Oak Ridge school board activities at various conferences as well as to local civic groups.

The release said Eby has served as a judge for state school architectural competitions and as an evaluator of other school boards seeking to be recognized as Boards of Distinction as the Oak Ridge School Board is. Level IV also requires a self-evaluation of board activities completed by the candidate for the award.

Meet and greet with Paine at Cedar Hill on Monday

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Laurie Paine

Laurie Paine

There will be a meet-and-greet for Laurie Paine, a candidate for Oak Ridge Board of Education, at Cedar Hill Park at 6 p.m. Monday, October 6.

“Bring the kids for some fun!” a press release said. “With all the recent events happening in Oak Ridge, this is also a safety awareness event.”

Light finger foods will be offered along with free face painting for the children, the release said.

It said Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank will be attending as a guest.

DOE to begin Building K-31 demolition on Wednesday

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K-31 Transite Panel Removal

Workers began removing transite paneling from the outside of the K-31 Building at East Tennessee Technology Park earlier this year. (May 2014 DOE Photo/Lynn Freeny)

 

The U.S. Department of Energy will start demolishing Building K-31 at the East Tennessee Technology Park, the former K-25 site, on Wednesday afternoon, and reporters have been invited to witness the beginning of the work.

The event is meant to provides participants, including senior DOE and contractor leadership, a “firsthand look at the continuing cleanup and transformation at the East Tennessee Technology Park,” a media advisory said.

The K-25 site was built to enrich uranium for atomic bombs during the top-secret Manhattan Project in World War II. It’s been shut down since the mid-1980s, and ETTP is slowly being converted into a large industrial park.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Phillips to return as county budget director, step down as commissioner

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Chris Phillips

Chris Phillips

CLINTON—Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank announced Thursday that Chris Phillips will be rejoining Anderson County government as budget director.

“I never wanted Chris to leave, but I certainly understood from the beginning that Lake City, now Rocky Top, was in search of next-level management in modernizing their accounting structure,” Frank said. “Though Chris tried to accomplish Rocky Top’s goals by working part-time on weekends, it really took him leaving the county to be in Rocky Top full-time. I made it clear from the get-go that if I had not filled the budget director position, he was always welcome back home here in Anderson County government.”

“While the thought of disappointing those who were kind enough to vote for me weighs heavily on me, I know I can best serve the people of this county by implementing and directing policy, rather than making policy, and that requires that I step down from my position as Commissioner to serve Anderson County in another way,” said Phillips, who was elected to one of two Anderson County Commission seats in District 4 on August 7.

Phillips will resign his County Commission seat effective October 10, a press release said.

Former Anderson County Commissioner Zach Bates, who ran for county mayor in the May 6 Republican primary, did not seek re-election in District 4, which includes the Lake City (Rocky Top), Briceville, and Rosedale voting precincts. [Read more…]