Oak Ridge Today

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.

[Read more…]

Register by Friday for ORICL’s summer online, off-site classes

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Dan Robbins leads an ORICL class on observing birds and butterflies at the Oak Ridge Greenway. (Submitted photo by Don Miller)

Because of the coronavirus pandemic and restrictions on use of Roane State Community College buildings on the Oak Ridge campus, the Oak Ridge Institute for Continued Learning (ORICL) is offering 25 online and off-site classes for its summer term.

Online registration is now open for the term, which runs from June 1 through July 31 for most classes. The summer 2020 catalog is available on the RSCC website at www.roanestate.edu/oricl. Click on the “Complete list of cancellations/Zoom list” link to see which classes are available and then, if you wish, read about the classes in the online catalog.

Please register by Friday, May 22, by emailing a list of the numbers and names of classes you wish to take to the ORICL office at oricl@roanestate.edu. If you are not an ORICL member, the fee for the summer term membership is $45. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Public Library begins curbside pickup

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Oak Ridge Public Library
The Oak Ridge Public Library is pictured above.

The Oak Ridge Public Library started curbside pickup of library materials on Monday, May 18. The library will have its roof replaced this summer, and there is no re-opening date yet.

Here’s how the curbside pickup works:

[Read more…]

Council meets electronically this evening

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The Oak Ridge Municipal Building is pictured above on Tuesday evening, May 5, 2020. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Oak Ridge City Council will meet electronically this evening (Monday, May 11).

Council members will participate in the virtual meeting, which starts at 7 p.m., through audio and video conferencing. It will be streamed online on the City of Oak Ridge website and broadcast on Comcast Channel 12.

Residents are asked to watch the meeting because the executive order by Tennessee Governor Bill that limits public gatherings in order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Oak Ridge Municipal Building will not be open to the public, a press release said.

[Read more…]

Oak Ridge City Court to re-open today

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Oak Ridge City Court was scheduled to resume in-person court proceedings today (Monday, May 11), with some changes because of COVID-19.

The changes, made for health and safety reasons, include:

[Read more…]

Municipal Building, playgrounds remain closed; greenways, parks open

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The Oak Ridge Municipal Building is pictured above on Tuesday evening, May 5, 2020. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Oak Ridge Municipal Building remains closed to the public but is moving to a public check-in area where visitors can be escorted to secured areas of the building, City Manager Mark Watson said in an update Tuesday.

Playgrounds and basketball courts remain closed. Disinfection options are being reviewed for limited open times, the update said.

The Oak Ridge Public Library will begin curbside delivery of library materials beginning in mid-May, the update said.

Oak Ridge City Court is working to resume in-person hearings on May 11 with COVID-19 precautions, the update said. COVID-19 is a contagious respiratory illness that can be deadly. It has caused a global pandemic.

The city manager’s update said there is planning for a phased re-opening of the Oak Ridge Senior Center.

[Read more…]

Oak Ridge volunteers making cloth masks

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On Tuesday, April 14, 2020, members of the Sew Good Mask Project and representatives from two of Oak Ridge’s Rotary Clubs donated 212 cloth masks, filters to be inserted into cloth masks, 80 N95 masks, 100 medical masks, 200 pairs of gloves, and one hazmat suit to Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge. Pictured are, from left, Sew Good Mask member Linda Johnston, MMC marketing manager Crystal Jordan, Sew Good Mask Project lead organizer Judi Gray, and Rotary Club officers Elaine Bunick and Anne Dunthorn. The Sew Good Mask Project has donated more than 1,100 cloth masks to Oak Ridge organizations. (Submitted photo)

The Sew Good Mask Project is a new organization in Oak Ridge formed to coordinate those making cloth masks with the organizations that are requesting them.

The three Rotary Clubs in Oak Ridge are working together to provide funding for the purchase of supplies for the Sew Good Mask Project as well as other much-needed personal protective equipment.

More than 65 volunteers have joined the Sew Good Mask Project since its creation on April 8. More than 1,100 masks have been donated to places including Methodist Medical Center, Emory Valley Center, the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge Senior Center, Summit Medical Group Oak Ridge, Commonwealth Senior Living at Oak Ridge, Diversicare of Oak Ridge, and more, a press release said.

There are many ways to contribute to the project.

“You don’t need to be a sewer to help out,” said Judi Gray, the main force behind the Sew Good Mask Project.

[Read more…]

Children invited to enter Children’s Museum coloring contest

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Charlie the Curious Bear, the Children’s Museum mascot, clowns around with a helper at a past Children’s Museum Gala. (Submitted photo)

The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge is inviting children to participate in its first coloring contest featuring the Museum’s mascot, Charlie the Curious Bear. Children from one-year-old toddlers through fourth graders are invited to submit entries by April 30.

Families may print the official coloring page from the Children’s Museum’s home page at https://www.childrensmuseumofoakridge.org. Once the page has been colored and the form at the bottom of the page is completed, the original artwork may be mailed to the Children’s Museum at 461 W. Outer Dr., Oak Ridge, TN, 37830. Original artwork is preferred, but entries may also be scanned and emailed to newsy@childrensmuseumofoakridge.org.

[Read more…]

Free drive-through COVID-19 testing available Sunday

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Free drive-through testing for COVID-19 will be available at Roane State Community College’s main campus in Roane County on Sunday, April 19.

The testing is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Patients can remain in their vehicles throughout the process, a press release said.

The Roane County Health Department and the Tennessee Department of Health are organizing the testing event. Nurses and/or National Guard medics will collect nasal swabs from those who want to be tested, the press release said. Test results may be available within 72 hours after the samples arrive at the lab, depending on lab volume, the release said.

Anyone with health concerns, or who has concerns about the health of a family member, is invited to receive testing for COVID-19 at the event on April 19, the press release said. Participants do not need to provide a doctor’s note or prescription to access testing.

[Read more…]