Oak Ridge Today

No one injured in electrical fire on Montana Avenue

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No one was injured in a fire on Montana Avenue on Thursday morning, Jan. 14, 2016. The fire appeared to have started on the home’s main electrical panel, which is in the garage, authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 1:11 p.m.

No one was injured in a fire on Montana Avenue on Thursday morning that appeared to have started on the home’s main electrical panel, which is in the garage.

The fire was reported at about 10:44 a.m. Thursday.

“I had just come home from the store, and all of a sudden, I hear this loud roaring sound like wind,” homeowner Shirley McClain said.

But she couldn’t find the source of the noise. [Read more…]

Radionuclide levels dropping at Rarity Ridge Treatment Plant, but sludge shipments continue for now

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Ken Glass, Oak Ridge Public Works environmental compliance officer, said levels of technetium 99 in the wastewater system in west Oak Ridge are dropping, but it’s not clear how long UCOR might have to ship sludge from the Rarity Ridge Wastewater Treatment Plant to an out-of-state landfill. Above, Glass stands near a chlorine contact tank at the treatment plant on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 9:55 a.m.

The radioactive nuclide that was first detected in the city’s wastewater lines more than two years ago near the demolition project at the former K-25 Building doesn’t affect drinking water, and it’s not believed to pose any threat to residents or municipal employees, officials said this month.

The levels of the radionuclide, technetium 99, are dropping at several measuring spots in the sewer system in west Oak Ridge, but it’s not clear how long UCOR, the federal government’s cleanup contractor, might have to ship sludge from the Rarity Ridge Wastewater Treatment Plant to an out-of-state landfill.

Officials said UCOR has already hauled away about 80,000 gallons of sludge using a 5,000-gallon tanker truck about once every one or two months since 2014. The sludge, which is about 3 percent to 4 percent solid, comes from a part of the plant known as a digester, and the shipments vary depending upon how much is processed at the plant each month.

Officials don’t know yet when the shipments might end. The sludge is now being taken to the Perma-Fix Northwest treatment facility in Richland, Washington. The last shipment was this month. [Read more…]

Presidential primaries on March 1; property assessor unopposed

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John K. Alley Jr.

John K. Alley Jr.

The presidential primary and county primaries are March 1 in Tennessee. While there are expected to be several choices for president in both of the party’s primaries—they’re part of the so-called “SEC primaries”—there are no contests in the Anderson County primary, where Republican John K. Alley Jr. is running unopposed for a second four-year term.

Other Anderson County offices such as mayor, sheriff, and commissioner are on a different cycle, so they won’t be subject to an election until 2018.

The Anderson County Elections Commission said this month that the March 1 ballots haven’t been finalized yet.

The state primary and county general election is August 4. [Read more…]

Four young adults indicted in alleged plot to rob a woman for rent money

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Raymond R. Gray

Raymond R. Gray

Four young Oak Ridge adults have been indicted in an alleged plot to rob a woman for rent money.

The alleged armed robbery occurred on Highland Avenue at about midnight April 1, 2015, Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Ben Higgins said in warrants filed last year in Anderson County General Sessions Court.

The victim said three men who had their faces covered robbed her at gunpoint and fled in a black Chevy sedan, the warrants said. The victim followed them north on Highland Avenue.

ORPD Officer Ray Steakley located the car at the intersection of State Route 61 and State Route 62, and he pulled over the car on Midway Road in Oliver Springs.

Christopher D. Ramsey

Christopher D. Ramsey

One of the defendants, Whitney T. Stewart, 22, of Oak Ridge, was driving, Higgins said. The other three co-defendants—Raymond R. Gray, 21; Christopher D. Ramsey, 21; and Tevin M. Springs, 20; all of Oak Ridge—were in the car, Higgins said.

The four were arrested after the alleged robbery last year and charged with aggravated robbery and criminal conspiracy.

They were indicted by the Anderson County Grand Jury on Tuesday, January 5. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge man indicted for reckless homicide

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William Brent James

William Brent James

An Oak Ridge man has been indicted for reckless homicide in the death of another man in November 2014.

William Brent James, 19, of Warrior Circle, was indicted by the Anderson County Grand Jury on January 5 and arrested Friday, January 9, by Oak Ridge Police Department Detective Kevin Craig.

The indictment alleged James “unlawfully and recklessly” killed Michael William James on or around November 27, 2014. It wasn’t immediately clear if the two men are related.

James has an arraignment scheduled for January 29.

He remained jailed in the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton on Wednesday afternoon. His bond has been set at $25,000, according to jail records.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Lady Wildcats now the only undefeated team in district after win over Cougars

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Oak Ridge freshman point guard Jada Guinn (24) led the Lady Wildcats with a game-high 14 points during a 47-31 win over Campbell County at home on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Lady Wildcats are now the only undefeated team in District 3-AAA after beating Campbell County, which had also been undefeated, at home on Tuesday. The final score was 47-31.

Campbell County only scored two points in the second quarter, and Oak Ridge (14-3, 8-0) had a 22-9 halftime lead.

But the Lady Cougars outscored Oak Ridge by 14-9 in the third quarter to narrow the lead to eight points.

But the Lady Wildcats then held Campbell County (15-4, 7-1) scoreless for the first several minutes of the fourth quarter to widen the lead. [Read more…]

Wildcats outscore Cougars 33-13 in second quarter to take 75-42 win

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The Oak Ridge Wildcats outscored Campbell County 33-13 in the second quarter on their way to a 75-42 win at Wildcat Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016. Junior Tajion Jones (3) tied junior E.J. Bush for the game-high 15 points. Also pictured above is Oak Ridge junior Tee Higgins (5). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

It started as a low-scoring basketball game, but Oak Ridge outscored Campbell County 33-13 in the second quarter to take a 75-42 win at home on Tuesday.

The Wildcats were led by junior guards Tajion Jones and E.J. Bush, who each had 15 points. Senior forward Javien Johnson had a game-high seven rebounds. And junior guard DeAndre Gibson hit four more three-point shots.

The Wildcats (20-2, 8-0 District 3-AAA) are undefeated in the district, and they play another district game at Clinton on Friday, January 15. Oak Ridge beat Clinton (11-6, 3-4) by 85-51 in their first meeting on December 1.

Bush opened the scoring early in the first quarter on Tuesday, giving Oak Ridge a 2-0 lead at 7:40 in the first quarter. No one scored again until halfway through the quarter, when Johnson hit two free throws, giving the Wildcats a 4-0 lead at 4:21. [Read more…]

Rationalists representative tells Council it shouldn’t invoke deities at meetings

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Aleta Ledendecker, secretary of Rationalists of East Tennessee, told the Oak Ridge City Council on Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, that no gods should be invoked at the openings of their meetings, and the Council should recognize that secular authority in government is not only sufficient but preferable. (Image from City of Oak Ridge video)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 3:34 p.m.

A member of Rationalists of East Tennessee told the Oak Ridge City Council that no gods should be invoked at the openings of their meetings, and the Council should recognize that secular authority in government is not only sufficient but preferable.

“In honor of separation of church and state, no deities need to nor should be invoked at the openings of your meetings,” said Aleta Ledendecker, secretary of Rationalists of East Tennessee. “Doing so gives the appearance if not actual governmental preference to one group of citizens over others.”

It was an unusual invocation. They are generally led by local pastors, ministers, or reverends of various faiths. The secular Monday night invocation by Ledendecker has apparently caused some backlash.

“The City Council is a civic body, not a religious one, so should recognize that secular authority in government is not only sufficient but preferable,” Ledendecker said. [Read more…]

KCSO identifies man pulled from submerged vehicle in Melton Hill Lake

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Knox County Sheriff Badge

The man who drove his sport utility vehicle off the boat ramp into Melton Hill Lake late Friday afternoon has been identified, authorities said.

He is Michael Ferguson, 54, of Joneva Street, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office said.

Witnesses told officers that he accelerated his vehicle as he headed toward the water, the Sheriff’s Office said. Divers with the Knox County Rescue Squad pulled his body from the submerged vehicle. [Read more…]

High school hoops round-up Jan. 8, 9

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Information from WYSH Radio

It was another busy weekend of local high school basketball.

On Friday at Clinton, the Anderson County Lady Mavericks pulled away from Clinton to win 45-29 in round one of the girls’ edition of the Crosstown Showdown.

Anderson County (5-12, 4-3 District 3-AAA) was led by Klarissa Roberts, who scored 11 points, and Brooklin McCoy, who tallied nine points and nine rebounds. [Read more…]

Normally not controversial, this proclamation, recognizing the sanctity of human life, was

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Oak Ridge City Council on July 27, 2015

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, approved a proclamation that recognizes Sunday, January 17, as Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. Ellen Smith, third from right, cast the only vote against the proclamation, saying it was a controversial political statement. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 7:48 a.m. Jan. 13.

Proclamations by the Oak Ridge City Council are normally not controversial, but one that passed on Monday was. It was perceived by some as a controversial political statement that entered the abortion debate.

The proclamation recognizes Sunday, January 17, as Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. It says Tennessee residents “aspire to honor the dignity and worth of every person and to defend the sacredness of each human life.” Also, the proclamation says Tennessee residents care for “society’s weakest and most vulnerable, including the infirm, the elderly, and the unborn,” and no person shall be deprived of his life, liberty, or property.

The question of what rights to grant to the unborn or fetuses can be controversial because of the impact they might have on abortion rights. There is also considerable debate about when life begins.

Tim-Stallings

Tim Stallings

Tim Stallings, executive director of Choices Resource Center in Oak Ridge, requested the City Council proclamation, and he did not think it weighed in on the political debate.

“It’s not just about the unborn,” Stallings said. “It’s about people with infirmities, the elderly.”

He said the day started with former President Ronald Reagan and has been recognized by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam. Reagan established National Sanctity of Human Life Day on Sunday, January 22, 1984, the 11th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the still-controversial Supreme Court decision that granted women the right to an abortion in 1973.

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is on the third Sunday in January, near the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. [Read more…]

Council agenda: Preschool report, Waste Connections contract extension

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Elm Grove Park Oct. 21, 2015

Elm Grove Park in east Oak Ridge has been proposed as a site for a new preschool, and it’s considered the best potential location. The Oak Ridge City Council will consider accepting a report recommending that site during a 7 p.m. meeting on Monday, Jan. 11, 2016. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Other items on the Oak Ridge City Council agenda tonight include possible acceptance of a report that recommends building a new preschool at Elm Grove Park and a five-year contract extension for Waste Connections of Tennessee, the city’s garbage and recyclables contractor.

As previously reported, tonight’s meeting (Monday, January 11) will also include a report on city manager evaluations, with possible discussion of a one-year contract extension and 2 percent pay raise, and a brief update on Main Street Oak Ridge, the $80 million project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall.

The preschool report was presented to Oak Ridge City Council and Oak Ridge Board of Education in October. It came from the Joint City/Schools Preschool Planning Committee, which determined whether to remodel the 70-year-old Preschool building on New York Avenue, lease and renovate a building, or build a new one. [Read more…]