Oak Ridge Today

Christmas tree recycling available in Oak Ridge

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Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge

Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge

The City of Oak Ridge has two drop-off locations available for residents to recycle their Christmas trees after the holidays, and employees will help with drop-offs on two Saturdays in January.

Signs are already posted in both locations. The drop-offs are:

  • Big Turtle Park, 2525 Oak Ridge Turnpike (parking lot)
  • Solway Park, 205 Edgemoor Road (parking lot adjacent to the boat launch)

Trees will be accepted any time through January 28, 2018. On Saturday, January 13, and Saturday, January 20, Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department employees will be on site to help with unloading trees at the Big Turtle Park drop-off location from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., a press release said. [Read more…]

Claxton woman indicted in alleged backpage.com robbery

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Lindsay Elaine Pressley

Lindsay Elaine Pressley

 

A Claxton woman has been indicted in an alleged robbery at gunpoint in Claxton in 2016 that authorities said started with an advertisement for escort services posted on backpage.com.

Lindsay Elaine Pressley, 27, was indicted by the Anderson County Grand Jury on November 7. She was arrested Thursday and remained jailed in the Anderson County Detention Facility on Saturday night, with her bond set at $100,000.

The grand jury indicted Pressley on four charges: aggravated robbery, especially aggravated kidnapping with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, and conspiracy to commit especially aggravated kidnapping.

In July, the grand jury indicted a Knoxville man, Richard Norman Pressley, 31, in the case. He was also charged with aggravated robbery, especially aggravated kidnapping using a weapon, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, and conspiracy to commit especially aggravated kidnapping. The Pressleys had been identified as husband and wife in a press release from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department after the alleged robbery and kidnapping in a mobile home on Queen Street in Ben’s Mobile Home Park off Edgemoor Road in Claxton on May 21, 2016. [Read more…]

Arctic cold expected, starting Saturday night through at least mid-week

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Bitterly cold air with prolonged sub-freezing temperatures are expected early next week. From Saturday night, Dec. 30, 2017, through at least mid-week next week, temperatures will be at or below freezing across much of the area. (Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown)

Bitterly cold air with prolonged sub-freezing temperatures is expected early this week. From Saturday night, Dec. 30, 2017, through at least mid-week next week, temperatures will be at or below freezing across much of the area. (Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown)

 

Bitterly cold air with prolonged sub-freezing temperatures is expected early this week, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

From Saturday night, December 30, through at least mid-week this week, temperatures will be at or below freezing across much of the area, the National Weather Service said.

The forecast in Oak Ridge calls for a low of 18 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday night, a high of 30 on Sunday, a low of 15 on Sunday night, a high of 25 on Monday, and a low of 9 on Monday night. The high on Tuesday is forecast at 29. [Read more…]

Small businesses can learn about government procurements in Jan. 18 conference

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Small business owners can learn about local, state, and federal government procurement opportunities during a January 18 conference in Clinton.

The conference is the East Tennessee Business Growth Conference, which is co-hosted by the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce. It’s scheduled from 8 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Thursday, January 18, at the Hollingsworth Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at 2135 North Charles G. Seivers Boulevard in Clinton.

“The purpose of the conference is to connect small business owners to local, state, and federal procurement opportunities,” a press release said. “There will also be a variety of educational workshops.” [Read more…]

Jason Davis named health physicist for ORISE REAC/TS facility

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Jason Davis, health physicist at the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site, received the 2017 Elda E. Anderson Award from the Health Physics Society earlier this year. He is pictured with his wife, Samantha. (Photo by ORAU)

Jason Davis, health physicist at the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site, received the 2017 Elda E. Anderson Award from the Health Physics Society earlier this year. He is pictured with his wife, Samantha. (Photo by ORAU)

Award-winning health physicist has worked at ORAU since 2009

Jason Davis has been named health physicist for the Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site, a world-renowned U.S. Department of Energy asset located at the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education and managed by ORAU.

Davis is a highly regarded health physicist, bringing more than 14 years of experience in health physics and radiological engineering to REAC/TS, a press release said. He has worked in academia as well as for DOE and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. His primary area of interest is internal dosimetry, and he has experience in external dosimetry, diagnostic medical imaging, radiation biology, and radiation protection.

REAC/TS is a deployable DOE asset and a leader in emergency medical response to radiological/nuclear incidents, the press release said. The REAC/TS team provides emergency response, advice, and consultation for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Counterterrorism and Counterproliferation. REAC/TS also offers continuing education for medical personnel, emergency planners, and others on the medical management of radiological/nuclear incidents, as well as decontamination techniques, through instructional and hands-on education. [Read more…]

ORAU seeking applications for IACMI—Composite Institute internship program

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The Institute for Advanced Composite Manufacturing Innovation, or IACMI, is currently seeking graduate and undergraduate students interested in participating in a short-term, 10-week summer program at one of IACMI’s partner sites, a press release said.

IACMI, which accelerates the adoption of advanced composites to create energy savings and new manufacturing jobs, has an interest in developing the skills of strong technical students who might one day support the workforce in both talent and leadership, the press release said. Interested applicants have the opportunity to apply for internships specializing in various composite and materials research in the following five technology areas at one of IACMI’s partner locations: [Read more…]

Model railroad items sale benefits Children’s Museum during Holiday Express display

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Holiday Express at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge features G-scale model trains and a miniature village decorated for the holidays, filling the Museum's gymnasium. (Submitted photo)

Holiday Express at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge features G-scale model trains and a miniature village decorated for the holidays, filling the Museum’s gymnasium. (Submitted photo)

 

Knoxville Area Model Railroaders are offering model railroad items for sale during the Holiday Express model railroad display that fills the gymnasium at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge.

HO-scale, N-scale, and large-scale items are being offered at attractive prices. They could be gifts for your child or that grown child who still plays with trains. Sales will be open during the Holiday Express operating hours, with a portion of all sales donated to the Museum, a press release said.

Holiday Express features a miniature holiday village with 10 garden-scale model trains and thousands of lights at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge Visitors may wander through a 2,500-square-foot G-scale railroad display inside the gymnasium, open weekends and during Christmas week through January 1. [Read more…]

Roane State eligible to compete for prestigious Aspen Prize

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Chris Whaley

Chris Whaley

Roane State Community College officials will learn in May if the college is among 10 finalists for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, among the nation’s most prestigious awards for community colleges, a press release said.

Roane State is among only 150 community colleges nationwide eligible to compete to become a finalist, the press release said. The college was selected from a pool of approximately 1,000 two-year colleges using publicly available data on student outcomes.

After a rigorous application process, the top 10 finalists for the 2019 Aspen Prize will be named in May 2018. Aspen Institute officials will then conduct site visits to each of the finalists and collect additional data, the release said. A distinguished prize jury will select a grand prize winner, finalists with distinction, and rising stars in spring 2019. [Read more…]

NWS: Colder than normal temps forecast, bitter cold expected later

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Bitterly cold air is on the way this weekend. Temperatures 10 to 20 degrees below normal and dangerously low wind chills are expected, especially across the higher elevations. Remember to dress warmly in layers, provide shelter for pets and animals, and take precautions around your home or business to avoid frozen pipes. (Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown)

Bitterly cold air is on the way this weekend, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown. Temperatures 10 to 20 degrees below normal and dangerously low wind chills are expected, especially across the higher elevations. Remember to dress warmly in layers, provide shelter for pets and animals, and take precautions around your home or business to avoid frozen pipes. (Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown)

 

High temperatures today will be about 10 degrees below normal, and bitterly cold air is on the way this weekend, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

Lows in the area around Clinton and Oak Ridge are forecast to be between about 16 and 18 degrees Fahrenheit today (Wednesday, December 27).

Highs are forecast between 34 and 36, with mostly sunny skies today and mostly clear skies tonight.

Temperatures are expected to remain cold this week, with some slight warming on Thursday and more Friday, with colder weather again on Saturday and Sunday and a slight chance of snow on Sunday. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Chamber’s Christmas Parade award winners announced

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The Southern Alliance Dance Company (SADC), winner of the Director's Award, clogged a Christmas routine on the parade route. (Photo courtesy Ray Smith)

The Southern Alliance Dance Company (SADC), winner of the Director’s Award, clogged a Christmas routine on the parade route in the 2017 Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade. (Photo courtesy Ray Smith)

 

A cold, snowy night seemed a fitting way to celebrate one of Oak Ridge’s favorite tradition—the Oak Ridge Christmas Parade. Approximately 120 entries participated in the parade. This year’s parade theme was “A Toyland Christmas” and was a part of the 75th Anniversary Celebration of Oak Ridge.

Judges awarded seven awards following the parade: [Read more…]

ORICL winter-spring classes begin Feb. 5

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Submitted

Looking for a way to beat the winter blahs? Oak Ridge Institute for Continued Learning announces that registration for its winter/spring term will open on January 2, 2018. ORICL is a not-for-profit organization offering a full catalog of classes, field trips, and other activities for area residents of all backgrounds and education levels. All of this is available for as little as $100 for full year of three terms beginning in September, $80 for two terms beginning in February, or $45 for the summer term only. What a bargain for all these opportunities for enlightenment and intellectual stimulation.

Classes are held at the Oak Ridge campus of Roane State Community College. Some meet once a week for several weeks; others are held for only one or two sessions. There are no tests and, in most cases, no homework. This is learning for the fun of it. [Read more…]

Nuclear engineering science lab program at ORNL accepting applications for spring, summer 2018

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The Nuclear Engineering Science Laboratory Synthesis program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is accepting applications for spring and summer 2018. NESLS is a cooperative research initiative at ORNL administered through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education and geared toward undergraduate and graduate students interested in nuclear engineering and science, a press release said.

NESLS offers students educational and research opportunities at a multidisciplinary national laboratory, the press release said. Research areas of interest may include nuclear security technologies; nuclear systems analysis, design, and safety; and fuels, isotopes, and nuclear materials.

To qualify, applicants must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student in a nuclear engineering, science, or eligible related program at an accredited U.S. college or university. Students working toward an associate of science or associate of engineering degree at a community college are also eligible to apply. All applicants must be 18 years or older and have at least a cumulative grade point average of 3.0. For a complete list of eligibility requirements, visit http://www.orau.org/ornl/nesls/. [Read more…]