Oak Ridge Today

Meet primary candidates at Anderson County Republican meeting tonight

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The Anderson County Republican Party will meet at 6:30 p.m. today (Tuesday), and those who attend will have a chance to meet the party’s primary candidates.

The meeting is at the Staybridge Suites at 420 S. Illinois Ave in Oak Ridge. The Staybridge Suites are located behind Outback Steakhouse, near the Kroger store.

“It should be an informative meeting,” said Aaron Wells, chairman of the Anderson County Republican Party. “It’s an opportunity to meet the candidates who are running in this year’s Republican primary, as well as talk about the important issues affecting Anderson County.” [Read more…]

Pet of the Day: Lizzy

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Lizzy at Oak Ridge Animal Shelter

Lizzy is less than one year old. She weighs about 30 pounds and is a Shetland Sheep mix. She is a very sweet puppy that needs a home.

The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. It’s located at 395 Belgrade Road in east Oak Ridge. The phone number is (865) 425-3423.

See the Animal Shelter’s website here. You can also find more information on adoptable animals at the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter on this Facebook page.

Organ recipient to discuss organ transplants during Altrusa meeting

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Jill McMaster

Jill McMaster

An organ recipient will discuss organ transplants during an Altrusa Club meeting on Wednesday.

The presentation by Jill McMaster will be titled “Allocating Organs for Transplant: Rationing the Gift of Life.” The luncheon meeting will be at the Double Tree Hotel.

“Because the demand for life-saving transplants greatly exceeds the availability of donated organs, the ethical and analytical challenges are enormous,” McMaster said. Those ethical and analytical challenges will be discussed during her presentation.

McMaster has supported organ transplantation in the United States for many years, a press release said. Working with the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network, she brings the public perspective to the process of establishing national policy to allocate organs for transplant. [Read more…]

Ribbon cutting, reception at Boys and Girls Club on Wednesday

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Boys and Girls Club Gym

The renovated gym at the Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

Submitted

The Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge has seen some major changes during the last few months. From the recent efforts to reinvigorate the football and cheerleading program to adding a dance classes to the after-school program, big things have been happening for the kids involved.

Effective Nov. 1, the umbrella corporation Boys and Girls Clubs of the Clinch Valley, which oversees operations at the Oak Ridge unit and the brand new Roane County Unit located at Harriman Middle School, hired Dean Deatherage as CPO of the organization. Deatherage is a native of Knoxville, and his mother Carolyn Montgomery is a former assistant principal of Jefferson Middle School. He has been involved in the Boys and Girls Club movement for more than 10 years, most recently serving as executive director for the Loudon County Club. [Read more…]

Jeep pulling ATV knocks down railroad signal in Oliver Springs

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Tri-County Boulevard and ATV Railroad Crossing Crash

A Jeep pulling an ATV on Tri-County Boulevard on Monday evening went off the road and knocked down a railroad signal. (Photos by Tom Scott)

Information from photographer Tom Scott

A Jeep pulling a trailer hauling an ATV eastbound on Tri-County Boulevard on Monday went off the road near Edmonds Drive and knocked down a railroad crossing signal.

The ATV flipped and landed next to the vehicle after the crash, which occurred at about 5:50 p.m. Monday.

No injuries were reported. The Oliver Springs police and fire departments responded as did the Anderson County Emergency Medical Services. [Read more…]

First Breakfast with the Legislators of 2014 is Jan. 27

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Tennessee Legislators

From left are senators Ken Yager and Randy McNally and representatives John Ragan and Kent Calfee.

The first Breakfast with the Legislators of 2014 is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 27, at the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

“While a good breakfast is considered to be the best way to start the day, attending Breakfast with the Legislators may be the best way to get to know key legislative decision makers and to ask questions on issues moving forward in state government,” a press release said.

The hour-long breakfast starts at 7:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 27, in the Social Room of the Oak Ridge Civic Center, located at 1401 Oak Ridge Turnpike. A free continental breakfast will be served. [Read more…]

Sewer rehab work continues this week

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Beginning this week, a city contractor will be rehabilitating sewer collection pipes within city easements in yards and in roadways this week.

Residents should already have received colored letters and door hangers (orange for Hurst Excavating and purple for Morgan Contracting) providing general information and each contractor’s contact information.

All construction work is subject to change based on such unknowns as weather, equipment, and access issues, a press release said. The construction work schedule for the week beginning Jan. 20 is as follows: [Read more…]

CASA’s Barbeque and Bluegrass Bash will feature music, food, entertainment

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CASA of the Tennessee Heartland’s 11th Annual Barbeque and Bluegrass Bash is scheduled for February, and organizers said this year’s fundraiser will “uphold the tradition of amazing musicians, great food, and lots of entertainment.”

Cindy Alpert of 106.1 The River will serve as master of ceremonies again this year, a press release said.

Judge James L. Cotton will be at the bash to talk about his newly released book “The Greatest Speech Ever,” and autographed books will be available at the event for $25, with 50 percent of the proceeds donated back to CASA. A full barbecue buffet dinner will be provided by Texas Roadhouse, and decadent desserts will be available from Emma Lou Bakery, the press release said. Silent and live auctions include vacation packages, Raku Pottery from Bill Capshaw, fine jewelry, and many baskets and packages of interest. [Read more…]

Anderson County EMS offers free CPR course

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Information from WYSH Radio

Anderson County EMS will host a free community CPR class on Saturday, Feb. 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the headquarters of the Anderson County Rescue Squad at 145 JD Yarnell Industrial Parkway in Clinton.

This class will teach attendees how to perform CPR and use an automated external defibrillator—or AED—as well as how to recognize the signs of a heart attack and/or stroke. This is a Heart Saver class for the general public and is not intended for first responders.

Class size is limited to the first 30 people. For information or to sign up, call (865) 457-8609.

State: Anderson County led state in meth lab seizures in 2013

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Information from WYSH Radio

According to information released by the state on Friday, Anderson County led the state in the number of meth lab seizures in 2014.

Authorities in Anderson County made 83 meth lab busts in 2013. Anderson County is one of two East Tennessee counties that ranked in the top five for meth lab seizures in the state during the 2013. The other was Monroe County, which ranked fourth. [Read more…]

Pet of the Day: Katie

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Katie at Oak Ridge Animal Shelter

Katie was the featured pet of the day at the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter on Saturday. She is a 13-year-old dog and needs a comfortable home with someone to love her.

The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. It’s located at 395 Belgrade Road in east Oak Ridge. The phone number is (865) 425-3423.

See the Animal Shelter’s website here. You can also find more information on adoptable animals at the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter on this Facebook page.

Ridgeview sobriety program recognized for excellence

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Ridgeview MIST Program Award

Receiving the award for the Ridgeview MIST program are Michelle Jones, program manager; Brian Buuck, chief executive officer; Kristin Bales, therapist; and Stacy Park, outpatient services director. (Submitted photo)

Mothers and Infants Sober Together, or MIST, was presented a Program of Excellence award at the recent annual meeting of the Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations, held in Nashville.

The MIST program provides outpatient treatment for mothers who disclose use or abuse of substances during pregnancy or test positive at delivery. The service includes in-home case management, individual and group therapy, and alcohol and drug support groups. The program serves between 80-100 families a year.

A primary goal of the program is to coordinate and provide mental health and substance abuse treatment services to prevent Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and to promote a stable, drug-free environment for the infant and family, a press release said. Families learn about bonding, attachment, parenting techniques, and addiction and recovery, to replace harmful parenting practices with safe, positive, and nurturing ones. Another goal is to assure access to and compliance with medical care and routine, consistent contact with a primary care physician and/or pediatrician. Urine drug screens are conducted to ensure the safety of the unborn and newborn babies. [Read more…]