Oak Ridge Today

Clinton attorney Harber running for AC chancellor

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Phil Harber

Phil Harber

Clinton Attorney Phil Harber is campaigning for the Republican nomination for chancellor of the Anderson County Chancery Court. Harber, 59, a Clinton native, has practiced law more than 28 years in most of the trial and appellate courts in East Tennessee, including the United States federal courts, a press release said.

A Republican, Harber described himself in the press release as the only true conservative and the only true Republican seeking the Republican nomination for chancellor.

“Phil believes in faith, family, and freedom,” the release said. [Read more…]

AC school board gives director new contract, raise

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Information from WYSH Radio

On Thursday, the Anderson County School Board voted to award Director of Schools Larry Foster a new contract that runs through June 30, 2017. Foster has indicated he would like to retire at the end of the new contract.

The new deal raises his annual salary to $128,000, increases his number of vacation days to 20, and provides up to $4,000 a year for school-related travel expenses, up to $1,000 a year for continuing training, and up to $3,500 a year to cover the dues in professional organizations and subscriptions to academic publications.

Foster has been director of schools since 2009.

Photo: White House science adviser gives lecture at ORNL

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John Holdren and Thom Mason at ORNL

White House science adviser John Holdren, right, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory Director Thom Mason are pictured above. (ORNL photo/Jason Richards)

John Holdren, assistant to the president for science and technology and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, delivered the fourth talk of the Eugene P. Wigner Distinguished Lecture Series in Science, Technology, and Policy on Thursday at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The lecture series started in November at in the Iran Thomas Auditorium at ORNL’s Spallation Neutron Source. Other speakers have included former Energy Secretary Steven Chu.

Pet of the Day: Daisy

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Pet of the Day Daisy

Submitted

Remember the old song about me? “Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer due. I’m half crazy, all for the love of you!

“Well sweetie pie, I can’t get on a bicycle built for two, but you can bet I’ll run beside you! I’m a pretty young Labrador mix and I am oh-so-friendly! I got nabbed on 3/14, so if my owners don’t spot me, I’m available on 3/20!” [Read more…]

Pet of the Day: Valentino

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Pet of the Day: Valentino

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Big, beautiful Valentino was the pet of the day on Thursday. He has been at the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter for a while and clearly has an opinion on the matter.

“I have been waiting a long time for my forever home. I need my human to get off the couch, turn off the tube, walk in the door, and march on over to my cage. I am the big guy in the back corner of the cat room! Just ask…they know where to find me!” [Read more…]

Sewer rehab work continues this week

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More rehabilitation work of the city’s sewer collection pipes is scheduled to continue this week.

The work is being done by Hurst Excavating and Morgan Contracting under contract with the city of Oak Ridge. It includes rehabilitating sewer collection pipes within city easements in yards and in roadways, a press release said.

Residents should already have received color-coded letters and door hangers (orange for Hurst Excavating and purple for Morgan Contracting) providing general information and each contractors’ contact information. [Read more…]

Registration for city summer camp begins April 1

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Registration for the 2014 Summer Camp sponsored by the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will begin on Tuesday, April 1. A link to ActiveNet online registration will be available at www.orrecparks.org and www.oakridgetn.gov.

All applicants should create an online profile/account since camp information will be distributed to parents through ActiveNet email. Online registration is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week while walk-in registration is only available during regular Civic Center hours from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday, a press release said. Payment can be made online with a credit card or the applicant can pay with cash or check at the Civic Center. Convenience fees will apply for all credit card payments. The city’s summer camp fills up fast, so early registration is advised. [Read more…]

Third annual Parkinson’s walk fundraiser on April 5

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The Parkinson’s Disease Support Group of East Tennessee, or PK Hope Is Alive, will host its third annual walk on Saturday, April 5, to raise money for Parkinson’s Disease research. The walk will be held at A.K. Bissell Park at the Oak Ridge Civic Center, with registration starting at 9 a.m. The walk will take place between 10 a.m. and noon.

Last year, PK Hope Is Alive raised more than $21,000.

The local walk will be in conjunction with the 20th annual Parkinson’s Unity Walk in New York City organized by the Parkinson Alliance, a nonprofit umbrella organization dedicated to raising funds to help finance the most promising research to find the cause and cure for Parkinson’s Disease. All the funds raised will be distributed to seven major U.S. Parkinson’s Disease foundations, including the Michael J. Fox Foundation. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge talent showcase, pub quiz benefit Grove Theater on March 28, 29

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High Places Community Church

An Oak Ridge talent show and pub quiz night will benefit the historic, renovated Grove Theater on March 28 and 29.

An Oak Ridge talent show and pub quiz night will benefit the historic, renovated Grove Theater on March 28 and 29.

On Friday, March 28, the new nonprofit organization Friends of the Grove Theater will have a showcase titled “Oak Ridge Has Talent.” It will benefit the Grove, a legacy of the Manhattan Project era that is celebrating 70 years of history and a decade since its re-opening by High Places Community Church, a press release said.

The Manhattan Project was a top-secret federal program to build the world’s first atomic bombs during World War II.

All proceeds from the March 28 show at the Grove will be used to maintain the facility as a performing arts center for Oak Ridge and East Tennessee organizations, the press release said. The show starts at 7 p.m., and it will include performances from community partners and other locals who want to support the Grove. Comedian and humorist Tyler Gooch will entertain between acts. [Read more…]

Shelton seeks re-election as register of deeds

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Tim Shelton

Tim Shelton

Anderson County Register of Deeds Tim Shelton recently announced he will seek re-election to the position he has held for 12 years, a press release said.

“The people of Anderson County have placed a great deal of trust in allowing me the opportunity to hold the position of register of deeds, and for that I am truly thankful,” said Shelton, who has served three terms. “With that trust, comes the responsibility of working to make this the best office it can possibly be. In looking back over the past 12 years, I believe we have done just that.”

In a press release, Shelton outlined his accomplishments while serving as register of deeds and stressed the importance of creating an environment that is welcoming to the public. [Read more…]

AC Commission to consider workhouse designation for jail

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Anderson County Detention Facility Expansion

The 212-bed expansion of the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton is pictured above under construction in December.

When it meets on Monday, the Anderson County Commission will consider a resolution declaring the Anderson County Jail as a county workhouse.

The proposal was unanimously approved on Monday by the county’s Operations Committee. If approved Monday by the full Commission, it will give judges more options when sentencing certain offenders. Additionally, some inmates could get time taken off their sentences in exchange for days spent on county work details.

The resolution declaring the jail a workhouse will allow some offenders to serve their jail sentences at night after being allowed to go to their jobs or in some cases to take care of their families during the day. [Read more…]

State high court declines to hear appeal in Rogers, Clinton suit

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Information from WYSH Radio

Last week, the Tennessee Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of the dismissal of a lawsuit filed against the city of Clinton and a road-paving company, effectively ending a nearly 20-year-old legal battle.

A grassroots organization called Citizens for Safety and Clean Air made up of Norris residents formed to fight plans by the Rogers Group to reopen a rock quarry and build an asphalt plant on land in the Bethel community annexed several years ago by the city of Clinton. The group filed a lawsuit in Anderson County Chancery Court to stop those plans from going forward, alleging that the city’s rezoning of the property for heavy industrial use constituted illegal spot zoning and that the project would cause increases in heavy truck traffic and air and noise pollution.

Chancellor William Lantrip dismissed the suit, saying that zoning is essentially a legislative matter and not the domain of the courts. An appeals court agreed last fall, and last week, the state’s high court declined to hear the case, essentially clearing the way for the project to move forward.