Oak Ridge Today

UT Arboretum Society has spring plant sale in April

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Submitted photo

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society will have its annual plant sale in Oak Ridge in April.

It’s the 57th Spring Plant Sale, and it’s scheduled for April 12 and 13 at the UT Arboretum at 901 South Illinois Avenue (State Route 62). There will be a “members only” sale from 4-7 p.m. Friday, April 12, and the public sale is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, April 13.

Society memberships or membership renewals may be purchased on Friday evening for the “early bird” shopping opportunity, a press release said.

“By joining UTAS?on Friday?night, people can enjoy the membership benefit of having the first pick of our beautiful selection of plants, some of which sell out that evening,” the press release said.?Checks, cash, and credit cards will be accepted.

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Motorcyclist dies in crash on S. Illinois

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A motorcyclist died in a crash on South Illinois Avenue on Saturday.

The motorcycle was traveling south on South Illinois Avenue (State Route 62) at the Bethel Valley Road overpass at about 6:13 p.m. Saturday when it struck another vehicle and left the road, the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release. The motorcyclist died at the crash site, the city said.

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City manager to present State of City on Tuesday

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Randy Hemann (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

Oak Ridge City Manager Randy Hemann is scheduled to present the State of the City of Oak Ridge during a lunchtime meeting on Tuesday.

Hemann has been city manager since November 1, 2023.

His Tuesday presentation is to the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge. It is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The presentation will begin at noon, and it has been organized by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge. You don’t have to be a League member to attend.

“All are welcome to bring their lunch or purchase a boxed lunch for a nominal fee,” a press release said. “Coffee and tea will be served.”

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City’s egg hunt is March 23

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A previous community egg hunt is pictured above in Alvin K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge. (File photo by City of Oak Ridge)

The annual Community Egg Hunt is scheduled for Saturday, March 23.

The egg hunt is scheduled to start at 11 a.m., and it has been organized by the City of Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department.

The free egg hunt will be a traditional-style Egg Hunt held at Alvin K. Bissell Park, a press release said. Parking will be available at both the east and west parking lots at the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

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Melton Hill Reservoir to be lowered for cleaning, maintenance

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Melton Hill Reservoir (Photo courtesy Tennessee Valley Authority)

Melton Hill Reservoir will be temporarily lowered two to four feet between March 24 and April 3 to allow property owners to perform annual spring cleaning and dock maintenance.

The Tennessee Valley Authority will hold the reservoir between 790 and 792 feet for about 12 days beginning Sunday, March 24, a press release said. Melton Hill will be returned to its normal winter elevation by April 4.

“Please note that drawdown targets and dates could change due to potential rainfall, so residents are asked to remain flexible,” the press release said.

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Clinton desegregation book wins history award

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A book about the desegregation of Clinton schools won the Tennessee History Book Award for 2023.

The book is “A Most Tolerant Little Town: The Explosive Beginning of School Desegregation.” It was written by Rachel Louise Martin, a historian and writer, a press release said.

The award was announced by the Tennessee Historical Commission and the Tennessee Historical Society. The award prize includes $2,000.

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Crews prepare to demolish Graphite Reactor support facilities

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An aerial view of a filter house, fan house, and 200-foot-tall exhaust stack that provided support to the Graphite Reactor, which is located about 100 feet away from these facilities. (Photo courtesy U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management)

Federal cleanup crews are preparing to demolish three support facilities for the historic Graphite Reactor at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The demolition of the support facilities is planned for next year.

The deactivation work at the three facilities is being done by UCOR, a cleanup contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management.

The buildings include the filter house, or Building 3002; fan house, or Building 3003; and exhaust stack, or Building 3018. They were previously used to filter and release exhaust from Graphite Reactor operations.

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Three students, schools selected for ORNL FCU art, mural program

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Three students and schools have had their art work selected for the ORNL Federal Credit Union’s Community Art and Mural Program.

Introduced in 2017, the Community Art and Mural Program was created to support initiatives that make the arts accessible to all and help our communities thrive. The 2024 mural theme was “new beginnings,” a press release said.

“Congratulations to the following students and schools,” the press release said:

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Household hazardous waste drop-off in Roane County on Saturday

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The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation mobile household hazardous waste collection service will be in Roane County on Saturday, March 9.

Tennesseans are encouraged to bring household hazardous waste – including cleaning fluids, pesticides, swimming pool chemicals, and more – to a designated drop-off location, a press release said. A person does not need to live in the county to participate.

On Saturday, the drop-off location is:

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Chamber’s Small Business of the Month: Bob’s Washboard Laundromat

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Bob’s Washboard Laundromat, the only wash and fold service in Anderson County, has been named the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month for February 2024. (Submitted photo)

Bob’s Washboard Laundromat, the only wash and fold service in Anderson County, has been named the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month for February 2024, a press release said.

“This award recognizes Bob’s Washboard Laundromat’s unique business concept, their commitment to providing superior service to their clients, as well as their contributions to the Oak Ridge community,” the press release said.

Bob’s Washboard Laundromat was founded in October 2010 by Robert Burseth. In the summer of 2023, he remodeled and relocated the business to 113 Robertsville Road in Oak Ridge, which now includes a wash and fold service inside. There are traditional self-serve washers and dryers available, but unlike most, their laundromat has attendants available to assist patrons, the press release said. [Read more…]

ORAU Education Grants applications now open for 2024

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Rebekah Bozeman, STEM teacher at Lake City Elementary School, used her 2023 ORAU Education Grant to purchase building blocks, fort boards, interactive gloves, Spirographs, mazes, and iPad minis to use in a variety of ways to teach kindergarten through sixth grade students. (Photo courtesy ORAU)

Proposals now being accepted from educators in five East Tennessee counties; deadline is April 19

ORAU is accepting applications for its Education Grants program for 2024, offering $30,000 in grant funding for teachers in five East Tennessee counties.

Educators in Anderson, Campbell, Morgan, Roane, and Scott county public schools are invited to submit proposals to fund programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), a press release said.

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Playhouse has Maskapalooza! fundraiser on March 9

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The Oak Ridge Playhouse will have a Maskapalooza! fundraiser on Saturday, March 9. (Submitted photo)

The Oak Ridge Playhouse will have a Maskapalooza! fundraiser on Saturday, March 9.

It’s a fan favorite, a press release said.

“Dress to impress, don a creative mask, sample delectable heavy hors d’oeuvres, take home unique auction items, and dance the night away to the tunes of DJ Luther Simmons,” the press release said.

The party starts at 6 p.m. March 9 in Calhoun’s Banquet Hall in Oak Ridge.

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