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AMSE foundation, park superintendent create fund for Manhattan Project Park in Oak Ridge

Posted at 3:37 pm December 13, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Wayne-Stevenson-AMSE-Niki-Nicholas-National-Park-Service

Wayne Stevenson, left, and Niki Nicholas sign an agreement to create a Friends of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park—Oak Ridge fund account. (Photo submitted by D. Ray Smith)

 

By D. Ray Smith

The American Museum of Science and Energy Foundation is pleased to partner with the Manhattan Project National Historical Park—Oak Ridge by creating a fund in which tax-deductible contributions can be received to support the specific and defined needs of one of the nation’s newest national parks.

As you may know, funding for the new park will be somewhat limited, as is funding for all our nation’s national parks. The amount planned for Fiscal Year 2016 is $180,000, which will cover the salary requirements of a superintendent and will begin the master planning initiative necessary to begin effective operations of the national park at three sites: Los Alamos, New Mexico; Hanford, Washington; and Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

We, in Oak Ridge, are fortunate to have Niki Nicholas, superintendent of the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area and of the Obed Wild and Scenic River, as the person the National Park Service has selected to manage the Manhattan Project National Historical Park—Oak Ridge. Ms. Nicholas is a dedicated professional with substantial experience managing national park units. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Federal, Front Page News, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: American Museum of Science and Energy, American Museum of Science and Energy Foundation, AMSEF, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, D. Ray Smith, Friends of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park—Oak Ridge, Hanford, Los Alamos, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, national park, National Park Service, Niki Nicholas, Oak Ridge, Obed Wild and Scenic River, Wayne Stevenson

ETEC presents 2015 Muddy Boot Awards, Postma Young Professional Medal

Posted at 2:33 pm December 13, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Jim-Henry-Muddy-Boot-Award-Chris-Whalen-Ron-Woody-Wade-Creswell-Dec-11-2015

Tennessee Deputy Governor Jim Henry, left, received one of two 2015 Muddy Boot Awards on Friday, Dec. 11, 2015. Also pictured are presenter Ron Woody, Roane County executive, second from right; Roane State Community College President Chris Whaley, second from left; and Roane Alliance President Wade Creswell. (DOE photo by Lynn Freeny)

 

Submitted

Two titans of East Tennessee’s business community were honored Friday with the Muddy Boot Award, given by the East Tennessee Economic Council in an ongoing tribute to individuals who, through their work and activities, build a better community.

This year’s honorees are Jim Henry, deputy governor of the State of Tennessee, a former businessman, legislator, and mayor of Roane County; and Dan Hurst, founder of StrataG, an East Tennessee entrepreneurial company and activist in numerous organizations across the region.

The Council also presented the Postma Young Professional Medal to Ann Weaver, a facilities engineer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Anne Harrington, deputy administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration, keynoted the event, which was held at the Doubletree Hotel in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, State, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Ann Weaver, Anne Harrington, Bill Haslam, Chris Whaley, D. Ray Smith, Dan Hurst, Department of Children’s Services, East Tennessee Economic Council, Jim Campbell, Jim Henry, Lamar Alexander, Manhattan Project, Muddy Boot Award, National Nuclear Security Administration, Omni Visions, Pat Postma, Postma Young Professional Medal, Roane County, Ron Woody, StrataG, Tennessee, Wade Creswell

Nickle kicks two field goals—one a record-breaker—in Toyota East-West All-Star Classic

Posted at 12:02 am December 12, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Wildcats Brandon Nickle

Kicker and punter Brandon Nickle (19), who was then a junior, set the record for the most consecutive extra points made without a miss in mid-September 2014. The record was 53. Holding is Wildcats quarterback Logan Fadnek (17). (File photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:30 a.m.

Oak Ridge senior kicker Brandon Nickle kicked two field goals, including one that was a record-breaker, in a win for the East in the Toyota East vs. West Tennessee All-Star Classic in Cookeville on Friday.

Nickle, who has kicked and punted for the Wildcats, had field goals of 29 and 42 yards in the 19-17 victory for the East at Tennessee Tech in the ninth annual game. The 42-yard kick is the longest field goal in the All-Star Classic.

Nickle’s second field goal gave the East a 19-0 lead with 9:41 left in the third quarter.

Nickle also had a 74-yard punt. He had five punts for a total of 230 yards, or 46 yards per punt.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Alex Alcorn, Brandon Nickle, Davon Middleton, Deuce Wallace, kicker, punter, Tennessee Tech, Toyota East vs. West Tennessee All-Star Classic, Tyler Thackerson

Basketball: Undefeated in district, Oak Ridge boys, girls beat Anderson County

Posted at 11:20 pm December 11, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Wildcats Boys Basketball Team Nov. 17, 2015

Members of the Oak Ridge Wildcats boys basketball team are pictured above during the season-opener on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015. From left are juniors Tyshawn Young (15), Tajion Jones (3), and E.J. Bush (2), seniors Geevantay Gee (12) and Javien Johnson (11), junior Deandre Gibson (10), and senior Darel Middleton (33). (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge boys and girls basketball teams both beat Anderson County on Friday, and both teams are now 4-0 in district games.

The undefeated Wildcats (11-0, 4-0 District 3-AAA) defeated the Mavericks 79-44.

And the Lady Wildcats (6-2, 4-0) beat the Lady Mavericks 58-31.

Oak Ridge junior Tee Higgins had the game high with 19 points in the boys game. Junior Tajion Jones scored 17, again hitting five three-pointers, as he did on Tuesday at Powell, according to Oak Ridge Wildcats.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Sports Tagged With: Anderson County, District 3-AAA, Gibbs High School, Lady Mavericks, Lady Wildcats, Mavericks, Mykia Dowdell, Oak Ridge Wildcats, Tajion Jones, Tee Higgins

Oak Ridge police seize more than 70 pounds of marijuana

Posted at 5:29 pm December 11, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 2 Comments

Nicholas Ryan Salpas

Nicholas Ryan Salpas

With help from other agencies, the Oak Ridge Police Department seized more than 70 pounds of marijuana on Wednesday, authorities said.

Police searched a home on Carlisle Lane in Oak Ridge on Wednesday, December 9, with help from the Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

They seized more than 70 pounds of marijuana in vacuum-sealed bags, as well as one vacuum-sealed bag of suspected concentrated THC resin, a press release said.

Nicholas Salpas, 30, the resident and sole occupant of the home at 102 Carlisle Lane, was arrested at the scene, the release said. He was charged with three counts of manufacture, delivery, sale, or possession of a controlled substance, with an enhancement for this activity occurring within a drug-free school zone; possession of drug paraphernalia; theft of property; and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire Tagged With: Carlisle Lane, controlled substance, Drug Enforcement Administration, drug paraphernalia, drug proceeds, marijuana, Missouri State Highway Patrol, narcotics, Nicholas Salpas, Oak Ridge Police Department, ORPD, Seventh Judicial District Attorney General’s Office, Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force

City moving to radar-based systems to detect vehicles at stoplights

Posted at 4:54 pm December 11, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Stoplight-Radar-Detection-Dec-11-2015

Radar-based traffic detectors can replace in-pavement loops used to detect vehicles at stoplights, and the City of Oak Ridge has long-term plans to move to the radar systems. Above is a radar detector at Oak Ridge Turnpike and West Main Street, in front of Walgreen’s, on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Radar-based traffic detectors at six intersections in Oak Ridge can replace in-pavement loops used to detect vehicles at stoplights, and the city has long-term plans to move to the radar-based systems.

The detectors will be installed on the new stoplight on Oak Ridge Turnpike in front of Oak Ridge High School. They are also included in a plan to improve two intersections on Oak Ridge Turnpike, one at South Tulane Avenue and the other at East Division Road/Tennyson Road.

“We have kind of adopted them because they just work,” said Jon van Eek, power utilization program supervisor in the Oak Ridge Electric Department.

The city has previously tried video detection systems and microwave systems. The video systems did not work well in heavy rain and fog, and had some angle of light issues, according to van Eek and Oak Ridge Electric Director Jack Suggs.

“It was not reliable,” van Eek said Friday. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Illinois Avenue, Jack Suggs, Jon van Eek, Oak Ridge Electric Department, Oak Ridge Turnpike, radar-based traffic detectors, traffic detectors, Wavetronix

New stoplight at ORHS could start flashing next week, begin operating Dec. 30

Posted at 4:11 pm December 11, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

ORHS-Civic-Center-Stoplight-Dec-11-2015

The new stoplight on Oak Ridge Turnpike between Oak Ridge High School and the Oak Ridge Civic Center could start flashing next week and begin operating on Dec. 30, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The new stoplight on Oak Ridge Turnpike could start flashing next week and begin operating on December 30, a city official said. The new stoplight is between Oak Ridge High School and Oak Ridge Civic Center.

City officials want to start operating the stoplight while school is out, said Roger Flynn, director of the Oak Ridge Public Works Department.

The light poles and power have been installed, but the lights themselves still need to be hung and work on signs for the traffic light is under way. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Gary Cinder, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Civic Center, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge Public Works, Oak Ridge Turnpike, Roger Flynn, stoplight

Clinton man dies after two-vehicle crash on Oak Ridge Turnpike

Posted at 12:39 pm December 11, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Police Department Logo

A Clinton man died after a two-vehicle crash on Oak Ridge Turnpike on Thursday, authorities said.

The crash was reported at about 8:22 p.m. Thursday, December 10, at the intersection of the Turnpike and Wisconsin Avenue, the Oak Ridge Police Department said.

Charles Edward Smith, 75, of Clinton was extricated from his vehicle by the Oak Ridge Fire Department and flown to the University of Tennessee Medical Center by a UT Lifestar medical helicopter. He later died from his injuries, the ORPD said.

Smith had been driving a 2012 Volkswagen.

The second vehicle, a 1998 Cadillac, was driven by Janet Eileen Kelley, 61, of Harriman. Kelley was treated at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge.

The investigation remains ongoing and no further details will be released at this time, the ORPD said.

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: crash, Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Turnpike, Wisconsin Avenue

Council to consider $325,000 for operations at Centennial Golf Course

Posted at 9:00 pm December 10, 2015
By John Huotari 1 Comment

Centennial Golf Course Dec 10, 2015

The Tennessee Centennial Golf Course in Oak Ridge is pictured above on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday will consider a $325,000 transfer for operations at Tennessee Centennial Golf Course. If approved, the operating transfer would be the first non-debt related transfer from the city’s General Fund to the Golf Course Fund since the golf course was built, Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said.

About $225,000 of the transfer, a cash infusion, would be for outstanding accounts payable. Another $100,000 would be operational funding for the winter, including maintenance of the greens.

The General Fund would still have a balance equivalent to two months of operations after the transfer, Watson said in a memo to City Council members.

Watson said the golf course was affected by several factors this past year, most notably weather. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Government, Meetings and Events, Oak Ridge, Recreation, Slider, Sports Tagged With: Billy Casper Golf, Centennial Golf Course, Don Tillar Jr., general fund, Golf Course Fund, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge City Council, Tennessee Centennial Golf Course

D. Ray Smith could be named honorary city historian

Posted at 8:15 pm December 10, 2015
By John Huotari 1 Comment

Bill Wilcox and Ray Smith

Bill Wilcox, right, and D. Ray Smith are pictured above. Wilcox was city historian before he died in 2013, and Smith, a friend of Wilcox’s, could be named honorary city historian during an Oak Ridge City Council meeting on Monday, Dec. 14, 2015. (Submitted photo)

 

D. Ray Smith, who is known for his love of Oak Ridge history, could be named honorary city historian on Monday.

Among other activities, Smith is historian at the Y-12 National Security Complex, has been a guide on U.S. Department of Energy tour buses at federal sites in Oak Ridge, writes a weekly newspaper history column, testified before Congress on the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, and frequently photographs community events.

The Oak Ridge City Council will consider naming Smith as honorary city historian during a regular meeting on Monday.

Oak Ridge City Council member Charlie Hensley drafted the proposal. He said Smith is also a leader in the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association, has been a featured speaker in talks on Oak Ridge heritage, was central to creating a history center at Y-12’s New Hope Center, and serves in a support role for implementation of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Meetings and Events, National Nuclear Security Administration, Oak Ridge, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Bill Wilcox, Charlie Hensley, city historian, D. Ray Smith, Manhattan Project, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, New Hope Center, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge heritage, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex

Wicks appointed Criminal Court judge in 9th District, which includes Roane

Posted at 7:24 pm December 10, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Jeffery-Wicks

Jeffery H. Wicks

NASHVILLE—Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam on Thursday appointed Jeffery H. Wicks of Rockwood as Criminal Court judge for the Ninth Judicial District, replacing Judge E. Eugene Eblen, who is retiring effective December 31.

The Ninth Judicial District serves Loudon, Meigs, Morgan, and Roane counties.

Wicks, 52, has served as General Sessions Court judge in Roane County since 2006. He was an attorney in Kingston from 2003 to 2006, operating a law practice that included criminal, civil domestic, juvenile, and probate matters, a press release said.

“We are fortunate to have a public servant with such a depth of experience as Judge Wicks to fill this role,” Haslam said. “He will serve the Ninth Judicial District well in this capacity.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Loudon County, Morgan County, Roane County, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Criminal Court Judge, E. Eugene Eblen, General Sessions Court judge, Jeffery H. Wicks, Loudon, Meigs, Morgan, Municipal Court judge, Ninth Judicial District, Roane

Basketball: Eight games in two days at ORHS in Rick McGill Toyota Classic

Posted at 8:37 am December 10, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Wildcats Boys Basketball Team Nov. 17, 2015

Members of the Oak Ridge Wildcats boys basketball team are pictured above during an 87-67 season-opening win over Grace Christian at home on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015. From left are juniors Tyshawn Young (15), Tajion Jones (3), and E.J. Bush (2), seniors Geevantay Gee (12) and Javien Johnson (11), junior Deandre Gibson (10), and senior Darel Middleton (33). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Rick McGill Toyota Classic will feature eight basketball games in two days at Oak Ridge High School this month.

The classic is December 18-19 at ORHS. The participating teams are high school boys and girls teams from Cleveland, Dobyns Bennett, Oak Ridge, and Science Hill.

Here is the schedule: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Meetings and Events, Sports Tagged With: basketball, Cleveland, Dobyns-Bennett, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge High School, Rick McGill Toyota Classic, Science Hill

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