Oak Ridge Today

Born in Oak Ridge, author Dan Kilday to visit Oak Ridge Schools on Tuesday

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Dan Kilday, author of the new children's chapter book "Molly Warner: School Reporter." Kilday will be visiting several Oak Ridge Schools on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018. (Submitted photo)

Dan Kilday, author of the new children’s chapter book “Molly Warner: School Reporter.” Kilday will be visiting several Oak Ridge Schools on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018. (Submitted photo)

 

Dan Kilday, author of the new children’s book “Molly Warner: School Reporter,” will be visiting several Oak Ridge Schools on Tuesday, February 13. The author will be visiting Linden Elementary School, Woodland Elementary School, and Willow Brook Elementary School, as well as Jefferson Middle School, a press release said.

A graduate of Central High School in Knoxville, Kilday earned a communications degree from Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama, before working as a television anchor and reporter for local stations in three states. Kilday was born in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and currently resides in Austin, Texas, with his wife and three children.

Here is more information about the book: [Read more…]

UT Arboretum Society has Father-Daughter Hike this month

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The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society’s monthly hike for February will be held Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018, at the UT Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue. (Photo courtesy University of Tennessee Arboretum Society)

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society’s monthly hike for February will be held Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018, at the UT Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue. (Photo courtesy University of Tennessee Arboretum Society)

 

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society’s monthly hike for February will be held Saturday, February 17, at the UT Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue. The hike is scheduled to start at 9 a.m.

In 2018, the UT Arboretum Society is offering a monthly hike on the third Saturday of each month. For the ninth year, the Arboretum is showcasing the February hike as the Father-Daughter Hike, but everyone, regardless of age, is welcome on this hike, a press release said.

“We encourage grandfathers to bring their granddaughters, uncles to bring their nieces, older brothers to bring their young sisters, etc.,” the press release said. “This is a great winter occasion to spend some quality time outdoors and to learn about the UT Arboretum’s trails. We’re all tired of the cold weather, so why not come out an enjoy some exercise?”

This is a short trail hike (one to 1.5 hours), the press release said. [Read more…]

Denenberg appointed to vacant AC Commission seat; EMS vote deferred

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Information from WYSH Radio

Meeting Thursday in a special-called session, the Anderson County Commission unanimously voted to appoint Catherine Denenberg of Oak Ridge to serve the remainder of an unexpired term on the Commission.

Denenberg was the only person to apply for the appointment, and no other nominations were made from the floor or by commissioners. The vote to appoint her to serve the remainder of Harry “Whitey” Hitchcock’s term representing Oak Ridge’s District 6 was unanimous. Denenberg has already qualified to run for that seat in the August general election. [Read more…]

Manhattan Project public program: Oak Ridge past to present through A.K. Bissell Park on Saturday, Feb. 17

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A bridge in Alvin K. Bissell Park in central Oak Ridge is pictured above. (Submitted photo)

A bridge in Alvin K. Bissell Park in central Oak Ridge is pictured above. (Submitted photo)

 

Join National Park Service staff for a walk and talk tour through Alvin K. Bissell Park on Saturday, February 17.

The Manhattan Project National Historical Park will present this free program starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 17, at the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge.

“During the program, we will discuss the different lifestyles and challenges that Oak Ridge residents faced during the project,” a press release said. “In this easy to moderate walk of about one mile, we will visit some historical structures and discuss how the town has changed and how it has stayed the same in the 75th anniversary of Oak Ridge. Visitors should be prepared for this walk with weather appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes.” [Read more…]

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Dine & Donate

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Friends from First Presbyterian Church recently gathered to support ADFAC’s Dine & Donate event by eating at Dean’s. Both First Presbyterian and Dean’s have been loyal supporters of ADFAC for years! (Submitted photo)

Friends from First Presbyterian Church recently gathered to support ADFAC’s Dine & Donate event by eating at Dean’s. Both First Presbyterian and Dean’s have been loyal supporters of ADFAC for years! (Submitted photo)

 

On Monday, February 12, thirteen local restaurants will “share the love” by donating a portion of their sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC.

“ADFAC’s February Dine & Donate event provides an early opportunity to treat loved ones to a special meal, all while supporting ADFAC’s charitable work and community restaurants,” a press release said.

Participating restaurants are: [Read more…]

Sean Finnerty to headline Comedy at the Grove on Saturday, Feb. 17

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Comedy at the Grove Sean Finnerty Large

Sean Finnerty, who grew up in Ireland, will be the special guest and headliner at Comedy at the Grove in Oak Ridge on Saturday, February 17. The show will also feature Jay Kendrick and Shane Rhyne of Knoxville.

“Your hilarious host for the evening is Kris Bell,” a press release said.

The show will start at 8 p.m. Saturday, February 17, and doors will open at 7 p.m. Concessions will be available for purchase when the doors open, the press release said. You must be 18 to enter. Admission is $10. [Read more…]

DOE awards environmental sampling contract for possible new waste disposal site

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The U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management has awarded Strata-G LLC a contract to perform environmental sampling as part of an effort to build a new disposal facility on the DOE’s Oak Ridge Reservation. (Photo courtesy DOE's Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management)

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management has awarded Strata-G LLC a contract to perform environmental sampling as part of an effort to build a new disposal facility on the DOE’s Oak Ridge Reservation. (Photo courtesy DOE’s Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management)

 

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management has awarded Strata-G LLC a contract to perform environmental sampling as part of its effort to build a new waste disposal facility on the Oak Ridge Reservation.

Under the contract, valued at about $1 million, the veteran-owned small business is responsible for drilling 16 wells to access groundwater, characterize surface water, and gather soil samples for geotechnical investigations at the Bear Creek Valley site, located on federal land west of the Y-12 National Security Complex, a press release said. That site is known as the Central Bear Creek Valley site.

Information gathered from the environmental sampling activities will be used to determine if the site is suited for future waste disposal operations and to support detailed design for the new disposal facility, known as the Environmental Management Disposal Facility. Fieldwork is scheduled for completion in April, and a final report on the effort will be released later this year, the press release said. [Read more…]

Applications being accepted for research opportunities with Higher Education Research faculty program

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Pasquale Fulvio, Ph.D., researched carbon composites during his time in the Higher Education Research Experiences faculty program. (Photo submitted by ORAU)

Pasquale Fulvio, Ph.D., researched carbon composites during his time in the Higher Education Research Experiences faculty program. (Photo submitted by ORAU)

 

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education is currently seeking college faculty for paid research opportunities at Oak Ridge National Laboratory through the Higher Education Research Experiences program, a press release said.

This research program provides opportunities for teaching and non-teaching faculty, like Pasquale Fulvio, to use the unique resources of ORNL to enhance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, encourage careers in science and technology, and improve scientific literacy, the press release said.

Appointments will be located at ORNL and generally take place during the summer; part-time appointments may occur during the semester depending on the requirements of the project. Sabbatical appointments may also be available. The program provides stipends based on the certified academic institution salary for faculty, as well as limited travel and housing assistance, if eligible, the release said.

Applications are open year-round, and appointments are made throughout the year with flexible start and end dates, the press release said. [Read more…]

Three subcontracts awarded for new K-25 History Center

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This is a rendering of the exterior of the K-25 History Center, center, on the second floor of Oak Ridge Fire Station Number 4 at East Tennessee Technology Park in west Oak Ridge. Also planned are an Equipment Building and Viewing Tower. (Image courtesy U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management)

This is a rendering of the exterior of the K-25 History Center, center, on the second floor of Oak Ridge Fire Station Number 4 at East Tennessee Technology Park in west Oak Ridge. Also planned are an Equipment Building and Viewing Tower. (Image courtesy U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management)

 

The U.S. Department of Energy’s cleanup contractor URS|CH2M Oak Ridge LLC, or UCOR, has awarded three subcontracts totaling more than $5.3 million to construct, conduct site improvements, and fabricate and install exhibits for the K-25 History Center at the East Tennessee Technology Park.

The history center will occupy 7,500 square feet in the second floor of the existing, city-owned Oak Ridge Fire Station Number 4. The building is adjacent to the K-25 Building’s 44-acre footprint, which is now part of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. The history center will include a theater and interactive galleries that display equipment, artifacts, and other media to highlight the site’s workers and numerous Manhattan Project and Cold War-era accomplishments, a press release said.

UCOR awarded two subcontracts for construction and site improvements to North Wind Construction Services LLC of Knoxville, and it awarded a third subcontract for exhibit fabrication and installation to Formations Inc. of Portland, Oregon, the press release said. [Read more…]

Settlement reached after crash between motorcycle, city electric truck

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Oak-Ridge-Turnpike-and-Illinois-Avenue-Crash-Aug-14-2016

The Oak Ridge Police Department investigates a crash between a motorcycle and a city electric truck at Oak Ridge Turnpike and Illinois Avenue on Sunday morning, Aug. 14, 2016. The electric truck is pictured at right in the background. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A financial settlement has been reached after a crash between a motorcycle and an Oak Ridge Electric Department utility truck in August 2016 left an Anderson County man with critical, life-threatening injuries, broken bones and compound fractures, a head injury, permanent impairments—and medical bills of almost $1 million, according to court records.

The settlement agreement between Don and Charlotte Wyrick, conservators for Brandon Wyrick, who was critically injured in the crash, and the City of Oak Ridge was approved by Anderson County Circuit Court Judge Don Elledge in Clinton on January 23.

The agreement said Wyrick would be eligible to receive, under Tennessee law (Tennessee Code Annotated 29-20-403), no more than a damage cap of $300,000, if he were successful at trial. In December, the city agreed to pay that $300,000 maximum.

Also as part of the settlement agreement, the city’s insurance provider will “satisfy medical liens and subrogation interests” of about $663,000. That’s reported to be possible through the Tennessee Municipal League Risk Pool.

“This figure is above and beyond the tort cap and will be paid to the medical providers in previously agreed-upon amounts for expenses incurred to date,” the settlement agreement said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Schools absent rate at 12 percent

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Note: This story was updated at 10:55 a.m. Feb. 8.

Oak Ridge Schools reported Wednesday that it is monitoring student and staff attendance as people across the United States monitor the flu and flu-related concerns.

“Currently, our absenteeism rate is at 12 percent, which is clearly lower than surrounding school systems,” Oak Ridge Schools Coordinated School Health reported on Twitter.

Anderson County Schools announced it would be closed Thursday and Friday because of widespread illness among students and staff members. Other area schools have closed as well, including Clinton and Lenoir City schools, and Campbell, Knox, Scott, Sevier, and Union counties. [Read more…]

Anderson County Schools to close Thursday, Friday

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Information from WYSH Radio in Clinton

Note: This story was updated at 10:55 a.m. Feb. 8.

On Tuesday, Anderson County Director of Schools Tim Parrott announced that the system will be closed on Thursday, February 8, and Friday, February 9, because of widespread illness among students and staff members. One of those days will be made up on Monday, April 2, which had been scheduled to be an in-service day for teachers.

Asked after the announcement why schools would be open today (Wednesday, February 7) when officials already knew they would be out the following two days, Parrott in an email said “there is always a chance that both student and teacher attendance will improve (on Wednesday). The leadership team met and decided that it would be best to close school Thursday and Friday. This will give extra time for the students to get well and to clean and disinfect the schools.” [Read more…]