Oak Ridge Today

Clinton Library has new Chess Club, Teen Book Club

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Clinton Public Library

Clinton Public Library

 

There is a new Chess Club at the Clinton Public Library and the first Teen Book Club.

In a press release, the library said it is offering more new programs and welcoming a new staff member.

The Chess Club met Saturday, February 3, and will meet again on Saturday, February 17, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

“Join us to learn chess or brush up on your skills,” a press release said. “This club is for all ages from pros to beginners.”

Chess Club will take place every first and third Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. [Read more…]

Grace Lutheran Church calls new pastor

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Larry Boudon

Larry Boudon

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Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church of Oak Ridge has called the Rev. Dr. H. Lawrence Boudon as its new pastor, effective January 1, 2018. Boudon is a graduate of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina with a Masters of Divinity. He was ordained May 29, 2010.

Boudon graduated from the University of Rochester with a B.A. in Political Science/Spanish. He has a PhD in International Studies from the University of Miami, and a Master’s degree in Government from the University of Virginia. Prior to entering the ministry, Boudon worked as a journalist, then as a college professor and as editor of the Handbook of Latin American Studies at the Library of Congress.

He was born in Olean, New York, and grew up in Port Allegany, Pennsylvania. He is the oldest of three children. Raised Roman Catholic, he became a Lutheran in 2003. He was drawn to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) by the “openness of dialogue at all levels of the denomination.” He is married to Laura, who holds dual U.S.-French citizenship and is presently Director of Study Abroad at Florida International University (FIU). Their son, Lucas, was adopted from Guatemala in 2007. Lucas is in the 6th grade and plays violin and soccer. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge city manager to discuss issues facing the city on Tuesday

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Mark Watson

Mark Watson

 

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson will give his perspective on issues facing the city at Lunch with the League on Tuesday, February 6. The program will be held at noon in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, which is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

In August 2010, Watson was selected as the city manager of Oak Ridge after a 30-year career in local government, a press release said. Prior to coming to Oak Ridge, he served as city manager of six cities in Texas, Montana, and Arizona. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas, where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration.

Watson is a credentialed public manager as accepted by the International City/County Management Association, where he previously served as vice president, the press release said. He has received numerous awards and has issued numerous publications, the most noted being the “Cities that Think” program, the release said. [Read more…]

Did you know? ORNL produces nickel-63 isotope used in airport detectors

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In 1951, Oak Ridge National Laboratory began producing the nickel-63 isotope that is now used in airport detectors to prevent terrorism. Today, ORNL is the only known producer of this isotope. (Photo courtesy ORNL)

In 1951, Oak Ridge National Laboratory began producing the nickel-63 isotope that is now used in airport detectors to prevent terrorism. Today, ORNL is the only known producer of this isotope. (Photo courtesy ORNL)

 

Did you know? In 1951, Oak Ridge National Laboratory began producing the nickel-63 isotope that is now used in airport detectors to prevent terrorism.

Today, ORNL says it is the only known producer of this isotope.

“Did you know?” is an occasional feature on Oak Ridge Today that highlights interesting facts about Oak Ridge that might not be widely known. This includes information that makes the city and its federal facilities unique or unusual.

No injuries reported after car crashes above river along Melton Lake Drive

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No injuries were reported after a car crashed off the side of the road above the Clinch River on Melton Lake Drive near Rivers Run Boulevard on Friday afternoon, Feb. 2, 2018, authorities said. (Photo by Oak Ridge Police Department)

No injuries were reported after a car crashed off the side of the road above the Clinch River on Melton Lake Drive near Rivers Run Boulevard on Friday afternoon, Feb. 2, 2018, authorities said. (Photo by Oak Ridge Police Department)

 

No injuries were reported after a car crashed off the side of the road above the Clinch River on Melton Lake Drive near Rivers Run Boulevard on Friday afternoon, authorities said.

The Oak Ridge Police Department reported that the single occupant of the vehicle was able to get out of the car on his own before officers arrived.

Pictures posted by the ORPD showed the car off the road, over the Melton Lake greenway, and a short distance down the embankment leading down to the Clinch River. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge students earn spots in state chess tournament

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K-3 section winners are pictured above at the Tennessee Chess Association Individual Regional Tournament on Jan. 27, 2018, at Oak Ridge High School. An Nguyen from St. Mary's is at right. (Submitted photo)

K-3 section winners are pictured above at the Tennessee Chess Association Individual Regional Tournament on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, at Oak Ridge High School. An Nguyen from St. Mary’s is at right. (Submitted photo)

 

Oak Ridge students have earned spots in the state championship chess tournament this month.

The Tennessee Chess Association Individual Regional Tournament was Saturday, January 27, at Oak Ridge High School. There were 36 competitors representing Oak Ridge schools: 12 from Oak Ridge High School, six from Jefferson Middle School, six from Robertsville Middle School, four from Willow Brook Elementary School, three each from Linden Elementary School and Woodland Elementary School, and two from St. Mary’s.

Kindergartener An Nguyen from St. Mary’s won a clear first place in the K-3 division with a perfect 5-0 score, a press release said. [Read more…]

Free coding classes for middle school girls offered in Oak Ridge

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Oak Ridge Computer Science Girls, or ORCSGirls, is on a mission to inspire girls in the community to explore the possibilities of technology and computer science. After reaching more than 500 girls in 2017, the organization is ready to do it again, covering topics from Python and virtual reality to information graphics, robots, cyber security, and much more. (Submitted photo)

Oak Ridge Computer Science Girls, or ORCSGirls, is on a mission to inspire girls in the community to explore the possibilities of technology and computer science. After reaching more than 500 girls in 2017, the organization is ready to do it again, covering topics from Python and virtual reality to information graphics, robots, cyber security, and much more. (Submitted photo)

 

Oak Ridge Computer Science Girls, or ORCSGirls, is on a mission to inspire girls in the community to explore the possibilities of technology and computer science. After reaching more than 500 girls in 2017, the organization is ready to do it again, covering topics from Python and virtual reality to information graphics, robots, cyber security, and much more, a press release said.

The classes are for girls in grades 5-8 with no or little experience in programming, the press release said.

“Events are free, and we even provide snacks,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Friends of Oak Ridge Library has book sale through Sunday

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Friends of the Oak Ridge Library (FOL) is having its Winter 2018 Book Sale from Thursday, Feb. 1, to Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018, in the Oak Ridge Public Library Auditorium. (Submitted photo)

Friends of the Oak Ridge Library (FOL) is having its Winter 2018 Book Sale from Thursday, Feb. 1, to Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018, in the Oak Ridge Public Library Auditorium. (Submitted photo)

 

Friends of the Oak Ridge Library is having its Winter 2018 Book Sale from Thursday, February 1, to Sunday, February 4, in the Oak Ridge Public Library Auditorium.

The sale includes fiction and nonfiction books, magazines, audiovisual materials, and other publications covering almost every subject. Most titles are 50 cents or $1 each, a press release said. Titles withdrawn from the Library are half-price Thursday through Saturday.

There was a Thursday evening preview sale for members, and memberships were available at the door ($5/individual; $10 family). (Please contact Friends of the Library for more information about memberships.)

The Silent Auction began on Thursday evening, and it ends at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Friends of the Oak Ridge Library can now accept Visa and MasterCard during its sales, the press release said.

The sale opens to the general public on Friday, February 2, from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday’s sale (February 3) is from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with all non-auction titles selling for half price. Sunday (February 4) is the Buy-A-Bag-of-Books sale from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. with each bag (provided by Friends of the Oak Ridge Library) costing $3. [Read more…]

Smoke alarms help residents escape fire that destroys home

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Smoke alarms helped four people escape from a fire that destroyed a two-story home just west of Clinton on Tuesday morning, Jan. 30, 2018, authorities said. The fire was reported at about 6 a.m. Tuesday at 1604 Hidden Hills Drive, just north of State Route 61 between Oak Ridge and Clinton. (Photo by Bill Gallaher)

Smoke alarms helped four people escape from a fire that destroyed a two-story home just west of Clinton on Tuesday morning, Jan. 30, 2018, authorities said. The fire was reported at about 6 a.m. Tuesday at 1604 Hidden Hills Drive, just north of State Route 61 between Oak Ridge and Clinton. (Photo by Bill Gallaher)

 

Smoke alarms helped four people escape from a fire that destroyed a two-story home just west of Clinton on Tuesday morning, authorities said.

The fire was reported at about 6 a.m. Tuesday at 1604 Hidden Hills Drive, just north of State Route 61 between Oak Ridge and Clinton.

Firefighters determined that the fire started on a porch, although the cause is unknown, said Stephanie Fox, chief of the Marlow Volunteer Fire Department.

All four people inside the home escaped with no injuries, Fox said. Smoke alarms went off and woke up the residents, Fox said Wednesday.

By the time firefighters arrived, the front porch and roof were on fire, or “fully involved,” Fox said. Firefighters fought the fire from outside the home in what is known as a defensive attack. [Read more…]

Rep. Fleischmann says he’s OK after train collides with truck

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Chuck Fleischmann

Chuck Fleischmann

Note: This story was last updated at 1:35 p.m.

U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann, a Republican whose district includes Oak Ridge, said he is okay after a train collided with a large truck in Virginia while carrying Republicans to a retreat on Wednesday morning.

“I was standing up when the accident happened,” Fleischmann said on Twitter. “A little bit shaken up, and praying for all of my fellow colleagues.

“I am ok, and working with doctors that have arrived.”

An Amtrak spokesman said the train hit a vehicle on the tracks at 11:20 a.m. in Crozet, Virginia, northwest of Charlottesville, according to The New York Times. There were no immediate reports of injuries to passengers, crew members, lawmakers, or their staff, but one person reportedly died in the train crash and another was seriously injured. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Schools names teachers of the year

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From left to right, top row, are Lauren Blair, Lisa Buckner, Linda Dalton, Donna Gilbert, and Donna Grove, and from left to right, bottom row, are Michael Martin, Bob O'Connor, Steve Reddick, and Leslie Shelton.

From left to right, top row, are Lauren Blair, Lisa Buckner, Linda Dalton, Donna Gilbert, and Donna Grove, and from left to right, bottom row, are Michael Martin, Bob O’Connor, Steve Reddick, and Leslie Shelton.

 

Oak Ridge Schools has named its teachers of the year.

Here are the teachers of the year:

  • Oak Ridge Schools Preschool—Linda Dalton
  • Glenwood Elementary School—Lauren Blair
  • Linden Elementary School—Lisa Buckner
  • Willow Brook Elementary School—Donna Grove
  • Woodland Elementary School—Michael Martin
  • Jefferson Middle School—Steve Reddick
  • Robertsville Middle School—Bob O’Connor
  • Secret City Academy—Donna Gilbert
  • Oak Ridge High School—Leslie Shelton

Here is more information about the teachers and their schools from Oak Ridge Schools: [Read more…]

Atomic Heritage Foundation launches new audio, visual program on Oak Ridge

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Bill Wilcox 90th Birthday Party

Oak Ridge City Historian Bill Wilcox, who died in 2013, was a longtime advocate for preserving the city’s history, including parts of its federal facilities. Wilcox is pictured above at his 90th birthday party in the spring of 2013.

 

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“There was construction going on everywhere you looked,” Bill Wilcox remembered, describing his first impressions of Oak Ridge, Tennessee. “Trucks and people just crawling all over the place, hammers and banging. Wooden structures going up everywhere. Nothing was paved, and there weren’t any sidewalks.”

Wilcox was one of the thousands of people who moved to the new “Secret City” of Oak Ridge to work on the Manhattan Project, the top-secret World War II effort to develop an atomic bomb.

The Atomic Heritage Foundation has launched a new online interpretive program on Oak Ridge with 16 audio/visual vignettes. This beta program is part of AHF’s “Ranger in Your Pocket” series on the Manhattan Project, which focuses on former Manhattan Project sites and features vignettes with eyewitness accounts and expert commentary. AHF welcomes feedback and will improve and expand upon the program over the next year, a press release said.

In September 1942, Manhattan Project director General Leslie Groves designated “Site X,” approximately 59,000 acres of land on the Clinch River in rural eastern Tennessee, as the site for the project’s uranium production facilities. Approximately 3,000 people living in the area in five small farming communities were forced to leave their homes and land with minimal compensation. Construction of a new city began at breakneck speed. By the end of World War II, some 75,000 people would call Oak Ridge home, making it the fifth-largest city in Tennessee. [Read more…]