Oak Ridge Today

County sees increase in infant deaths due to unsafe sleeping practices

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Dr. Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan (center), chief medical examiner for Knox and Anderson Counties, speaks about a concerning increase in infant mortality rates in Anderson County on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, as (from left) County Mayor Terry Frank, Regional Forensic Center Chief Administrative Officer Chris Thomas, Anderson County EMS Deputy Director of Education Bobbi Jo Henderson, and EMS Director Nathan Sweet look on. (Photo courtesy Anderson County government)

Anderson County Emergency Medical Services, County Mayor Terry Frank, and the chief medical examiner for both Knox and Anderson Counties are all urging the community—particularly parents and grandparents of children younger than 12 months old—to practice proper “safe sleeping.”

The caution from local officials comes as a result of a rising trend of infant mortality rates in Anderson County, a press release said. The Knox County Regional Forensic Center tracks information related to deaths in 21 counties.

“Since 2019, we have done 185 autopsies on infants under one year (of age). One hundred of those infants died as a result of unsafe sleep environments,” said Dr. Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan, chief medical examiner, during a press conference held Wednesday morning at Anderson County EMS headquarters in Clinton.

In Anderson County, data shows that 14 infant deaths have been recorded since 2019 with 10 of those deaths having been attributed to unsafe sleep practices.

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ASAP of Anderson welcomes new executive director

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Shayla Wilson

ASAP of Anderson hired Shayla Wilson as executive director this summer. The organization’s mission is to prevent and reduce substance misuse among youth and adults in Anderson County.

Wilson is a Clinton native and a graduate of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville with a major in kinesiology, a press release said. She continued her education at Lincoln Memorial University obtaining both a master’s degree in education and an educational specialist degree in educational leadership. She comes from a career in coordinated school health at both the district and state level and statewide non-profit work, the press release said. Some people may formerly know her as Shayla Sanderson.

“Anderson County holds a special place in my heart,” Wilson said. “This county truly helped shape me into the person I am today. I can without a doubt say that the many individuals I grew up with, went to church with, and served in volunteerism alongside poured into me from a very young age. I was able to serve the county in my teens through the Fairest of the Fair and got involved in organizations that set me up for success. My favorite thing would have to be the people, the community, and the rich history that is held here. It is special to be able to step away, allow myself to grow, and walk back into a small town feeling just as welcomed as when I was 17.”

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Briceville Fire Department celebrates new station

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Briceville residents turned out Tuesday evening, Sept. 19, 2023, at Briceville Volunteer Fire Department’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new fire station, located at 1916 Briceville Highway. (Photo credit: Christopher Brewster Photography)

The Briceville Volunteer Fire Department celebrated its new fire station with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday. The ceremony included local residents and federal, state, and county officials, a press release said.

The path to building the new fire station started years ago, the press release said. In 2019, officials with the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development announced a grant to the Briceville VFD for $80,700 and a loan of $74,200, along with a county match of $30,000 to “make the dream of a new station a reality.”

But then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and the project hit a number of snags, the press release said. Market disruptions affected bidders; supply chain issues created cost increases and forced reworking of the project; and there was a need to close a funding gap as prices increased.

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Oak Ridge Schools to host panel discussion, documentary screening for ‘Oppenheimer’

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Oak Ridge Schools will host a free, community-centered red carpet event Wednesday featuring a 90-minute panel discussion and a screening of the documentary film “Oppenheimer After Trinity.”

The panel—made up of local scientists, historians, filmmakers, and Oak Ridge students—will re-examine the conversations held over 80 years ago surrounding the splitting of the atom and discuss the development and deployment of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, and their potential impact on future generations, a press release said.

The event will be held at the Oak Ridge High School Auditorium on Wednesday, July 19, from 6-8:30 p.m. and it will include free popcorn and soda for attendees. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for guests to mingle, enjoy the red carpet, and take photos, the press release said.

“As a nod to the birth of Oak Ridge, 1940s era attire is encouraged, though not required,” the release said

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Anderson County government offices closed Monday, Tuesday

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Anderson County government offices will be closed Monday and Tuesday, July 3-4, to observe Independence Day.

The offices will re-open at 8 a.m. Wednesday morning, July 5, a press release said.

The Anderson County Commission sets the schedule for observed county holidays each year. A full list of the 2023 county holidays can be found online at https://andersoncountytn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/County-Holidays-2023.pdf.

Oak Ridge Community Band performs on Independence Day

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The Oak Ridge Community Band performs in Alvin K. Bissell Park during a July 4 celebration. (Photo courtesy Explore Oak Ridge/Piper Communications)

The Oak Ridge Community Band will perform in Alvin K. Bissell Park on Tuesday, July 4 (Independence Day), before the city’s annual fireworks show.

The band is scheduled to play patriotic melodies starting at 7:30 p.m., a press release said.

“The music will stir your soul, bringing us closer as we honor our nation’s heritage,” the press release said. “As the final notes fade, prepare for a breathtaking fireworks display.”

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Fireworks show, music on July 4

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A file photo of the annual fireworks show in Alvin K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge on Thursday, July 4, 2019. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

Oak Ridge’s annual fireworks show is scheduled to being at dark Tuesday, around 9:45 p.m. on Independence Day, July 4. There will be music before the show.

The celebration, which is sponsored by the City of Oak Ridge, will be at Alvin K. Bissell Park in central Oak Ridge.

The Oak Ridge Community Band will perform prior to the fireworks. The concert is free, but donations are accepted by the band to help cover the cost of equipment and other expenses, a press release said. The music is expected to begin at 7:30 p.m.

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Library announces check-out changes

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The new outdoor book drop is pictured above at the Oak Ridge Public Library. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

Ten days after celebrating renovations, the Oak Ridge Public Library has announced changes to its check-out procedures and policies that take effect on Saturday, July 1. Among the changes:

  • The library will no longer charge overdue fees for materials that are returned late (interlibrary loans are an exception).
  • The library will automatically renew eligible items that have not been returned if the item does not have a hold. However, there is a limit to the renewals, and library patrons will still be charged for lost or damaged items.

The City of Oak Ridge described the new check-out procedures in a press release.

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Read Lavender Festival schedule, details

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Lavender Festival (Submitted photo)

The Lavender Festival has expanded. Here is a schedule of musicians and presentations, and information about additional events.

The free festival, the 23rd Jackson Square Lavender Festival, is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 17, in Jackson Square. Since 1999, the Lavender Festival has been held the third week of June, which is when the lavender is in bloom in Tennessee. In addition to several local lavender farms, the festival features 150 artisan and food vendors, live music, informative presentations, and free children’s activities.

For information about vendors, parking, road closures, children’s activities, and more, visit  www.JacksonSquareLavenderFestival.org. The festival is “rain or shine,” a press release said.

Here is what is new this year:

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Sholl named interim executive director of UT-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute

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David Sholl will serve as interim executive director of the UT-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute. (Photo credit: Genevieve Martin/ORNL, U.S. Department of Energy)

David Sholl, director of the Transformational Decarbonization Initiative at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has been appointed interim executive director of the University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute. His appointment was effective Monday, June 12.

“Sholl’s background, passion, and expertise will ensure continued progress as the institute recruits exemplary joint research faculty, builds its research portfolio, develops students and prepares them to become leaders, and contributes to workforce development in areas important to Tennessee,” a press release said.

“The work UT faculty and students are doing in partnership with ORNL researchers is advancing the frontiers of knowledge and strengthening Tennessee’s leadership role in areas like clean energy, future mobility, advanced materials, and next-generation manufacturing,” said UT Chancellor Donde Plowman. “We look forward to working with David and to leveraging our strategic partnership with ORNL to advance discoveries, learning, and innovations that make life and lives better here in Tennessee and around the world.”

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Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool public input meeting set for June 13

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The Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool on Providence Road is pictured above. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will hold its first public open house for the Outdoor Pool Renovation Project this month.

On Tuesday, June 13, at 6 p.m., the public is invited to join the department for a brief presentation at the Scarboro Community Center followed by an interactive open house, a press release said.

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Oak Ridge Public Library East Wing grand reopening set for June 20

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Renovations of the East Wing of the Oak Ridge Public Library include a brand-new Children’s Room and bathrooms that meet Americans with Disability Act standards.

The library will celebrate with a June 20 grand reopening.

The projects were made possible through a combination of funding from the City of Oak Ridge, a Support Grant to Local Governments, and the Friends of Oak Ridge Public Library administering a bequest (a personal property gift) on behalf of Jerry Kinnamon.

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