Oak Ridge Today

Roane State reports first confirmed case of COVID-19

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RSCC Coffey McNally Building Oak Ridge
The Coffey/McNally Building is pictured at the Oak Ridge campus of Roane State Community College. (Photo by Roane State)

On Thursday, June 18, a Roane State Community College student reported a positive COVID-19 test result to the college. The student has not shown any symptoms and is now quarantining at home, a press release said.

This is the first confirmed case of the virus on any of Roane State’s campuses, the press release said.

The positive case was found during a precautionary health screening required by a state licensing board and was conducted at a local health department, the press release said.

The student was reported to have been inside the Coffey-McNally Building of the Oak Ridge Branch Campus (ORBC) on Tuesday, June 16. Upon learning of the positive test result, the college began the process of closing the building and notifying each person who had been in direct contact with the student.

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Public notice: New document available to the Oak Ridge Community

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Updated DOE Oak Ridge Reservation Property Boundary Map

The U.S. Department of Energy has recently published an updated map of the DOE Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) that shows DOE property boundary demarcations for all areas of the ORR, and it is now available to the public.

The updated map is a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) product developed using records for land holdings the Department of Energy maintains ownership of. The GIS map provides a depiction of DOE property boundary lines throughout the ORR and can serve as an additional reference for current, or future potential non-DOE landowners to understand DOE property demarcations.

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Children’s Museum offers scaled-down summer camps

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A lab station activity at a STEM Carnival fascinates a young child. Oak Ridge Associated Universities hosted the carnival at the Children’s Museum. (Submitted photo)

 

The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge will offer a scaled-down version of Imagination Station Summer Camp beginning June 29, with new safety precautions in place because of COVID 19.

Art, nature, clay, and Star Wars-themed camps—as well as STEM themes, backyard games, Japanese culture, and Oak Ridge history—will be among the camps.

“Our staff has been busy redesigning our exciting Summer Camp program in light of COVID-19 and the need for social distancing and other precautions, as advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” said Beth Shea, Children’s Museum executive director. [Read more…]

Pierce Physical Therapy introduces new physical therapist

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Jocelyn Miller, left, and Ray Pierce of Pierce Physical Therapy are pictured above. (Photo by Kenton Pryor)

Pierce Physical Therapy has introduced a new physical therapist, Jocelyn Miller.

Here is more information about Miller:

Jocelyn Miller, PT, DPT

Born and raised in the rolling hills of southern Indiana, Jocelyn received her bachelor’s degree with honors in anthropology from Indiana University.

She then moved to California, receiving a master’s degree in East Asian studies from Stanford University.

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ETEC honors Hot Bagel owners with ‘Muddy Bagel’ Award

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Donna and Tom Sullivan, owners of Hot Bagel Company, were celebrated Friday morning, May 29, 2020, with a Muddy Bagel Award from the East Tennessee Economic Council for their community service for more than 25 years. At left is ETEC President Jim Campbell. (Submitted photo)

Donna and Tom Sullivan, owners of Hot Bagel Company, were celebrated Friday morning with a Muddy Bagel Award for their community service for more than 25 years.

The Muddy Bagel Award is a spin-off of the Muddy Boot Award. That award from the East Tennessee Economic Council has been given for many years to people who “go above the call of duty to make the community a better place to live and work.”

The Sullivans are retiring. Hot Bagel has been the caterer for ETEC since 1995.

The Muddy Bagel Award was presented during a Zoom meeting of ETEC’s Board of Directors on Friday morning.

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Roane State has virtual information sessions for students and parents

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RSCC Coffey McNally Building Oak Ridge
The Coffey/McNally Building is pictured at the Oak Ridge campus of Roane State Community College. (Photo by Roane State)

Roane State Community College is having two virtual information sessions this week that are focused on addressing questions from students and their parents during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first session, for current and prospective students, was from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 26.

The second session, for parents and caregivers, is from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 28.

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Tennessee Valley Corridor shifts to online events this summer

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The Tennessee Valley Corridor will shift its Annual Summit and 25th anniversary celebration to a series of online events this summer.

The change, which was announced this month, is being made as large summer conferences and gatherings remain in doubt because of social distancing recommendations from public health officials, a press release said.

The Annual Summit had been scheduled for July 15-16 at Milligan College in Johnson City.

But the Tennessee Valley Corridor will instead have people participate in a series of weekly Summit sessions for five consecutive weeks starting Thursday, July 16. Each session will highlight many of the same speakers, topics, and organizations, but the new virtual format aims to maximize participation during the continued COVID-19 crisis, the press release said.

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Children’s Museum re-opens June 2 on three-day-a-week schedule

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Children enjoy the Healthy Living exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge before it closed in mid-March. (Submitted photo)

The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge will reopen on a three-day-a-week schedule and welcome visitors beginning Tuesday, June 2, now that museums across the state are allowed to re-open.

The Museum will take precautions recommended as a result of COVID-19, including social distancing and increased cleaning of the facility, to protect the safety of visitors and staff, a press release said.

“Children’s Museum visitors will be expected to practice social distancing, and visitors ages 5 and older will be required to wear a mask. Masks will be optional for visitors ages 3-4,” said Beth Shea, executive director of the Museum. “All staff and volunteers in public areas of the Museum will wear masks, and the Museum will be vigilant about cleaning and visitor safety protocols.”

The Museum’s new schedule will be 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday until further notice, and the staff hopes to eventually expand the schedule, the press release said. [Read more…]

ORAU announces recipients of 2020 Pollard Scholarships

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Audra Jean “AJ” Jones

 

ORAU has awarded five William G. Pollard Scholarships of $2,500 each toward undergraduate studies for the 2020-2021 academic year. The recipients of this year’s scholarships are Jamie Batson, Cody Blankenship, Olivia Hudson, Audra Jean “AJ” Jones, and Savannah Jones.

Each year, ORAU awards these scholarships to employees’ children or stepchildren who display exceptional achievements in their high school or undergraduate studies. Applicants must submit official transcripts from all high schools and colleges attended, three references (at least two of which must be from teachers), and a 500-word essay describing professional and personal interests.

Here are more details about this year’s winners: [Read more…]

ORAU awards $25,000 to Union Grove Elementary in Extreme Classroom Makeover

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The winner of ORAU’s 2020 Extreme Classroom Makeover competition, Amy Buchanan from Union Grove Elementary School, was surprised at her house with the Extreme Classroom Makeover winner reveal. Her principal, Kristy Brewer, and fellow staff from Union Grove Elementary School joined in the celebration. (Photo courtesy ORAU)

 

Amy Buchanan encourages students at Union Grove Elementary School to imagine a world of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) beyond the limitations of the classroom.

ORAU (Oak Ridge Associated Universities) wanted to help Buchanan and her students do more than imagine.

ORAU recently surprised Buchanan at her house with $25,000 for new classroom technology. This award will allow students to explore, touch, and see the STEM classroom they’ve only imagined.

ORAU chose Buchanan, who serves as the STEM teacher for all of Union Grove Elementary in Blount County, to be the recipient of this year’s Extreme Classroom Makeover competition. She was selected after a review of her submitted video, which demonstrated the rural school’s need for STEM resources. [Read more…]

CUB, TVA partner to donate $20,000 to ADFAC

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Clinton Utilities Board has partnered with the Tennessee Valley Authority to award $20,000 to ADFAC to help the local community during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, a press release said.

“In this time of crisis, CUB is proud to partner with TVA to help our neighbors in need,” said Greg Fay, CUB general manager. “ADFAC will use this donation to assist people struggling to pay their utility bills.”

“On behalf of ADFAC, we are very grateful for the partnership we enjoy with CUB and TVA” said Joey Collins, program director for ADFAC’s Household Assistance Program. “We expect these funds to be a significant help to the struggling families of Anderson County as it will assist us in providing them with stability in these uncertain times.” [Read more…]

Police investigating after female shot in face

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A female was shot in the face at the Manhattan Apartments on Wednesday night, the Oak Ridge Police Department said.

The shooting was reported at about 9:45 p.m. Wednesday, the ORPD said.

When officers arrived, they found a female victim with a gunshot wound in her face, police said. The female was taken to a local hospital to be treated.

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