Oak Ridge Today

Free community school focuses on waste disposal management

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Natalie Landry

Natalie Landry

Three Community School evening seminars on the topic of waste disposal management will be held at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church beginning Tuesday, September 15.

The second and third seminars are scheduled for the following Tuesdays, September 22 and September 29. All seminars will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and free child care will be provided. The church is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

The League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge and Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning have partnered to offer these seminars, a press release said. The Community School is made possible by a $20,000 Community Involvement Fund grant awarded to the Oak Ridge League by the New Mexico Community Foundation, and funded through the U.S. Department of Energy. A portion of the grant helped to fund an environmental program focusing on children at the ORUUC Rainbow Camp in June. [Read more…]

Chief Deputy Lucas to speak to Democratic Women’s Club on Aug. 24

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Mark Lucas

Mark Lucas

Chief Deputy Mark Lucas of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department will be the guest speaker when the Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club meets Monday, August 24. The meeting will be at 6 p.m. at Shoney’s Restaurant at 2405 North Charles Seivers Boulevard in Clinton.

Lucas, who has been in law enforcement for 37 years, will discuss “Duties and Responsibilities of the Office of Sheriff,” a press release said.

He has served as chief deputy for 21 years with three sheriffs, and he is now second in command to Sheriff Paul White. He began his law enforcement career in 1978 as a reserve deputy with the Knox County Sheriff’s Department, joining the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department in 1979. He attended Basic Police School in 1980 and served as a patrol deputy and sergeant. [Read more…]

ORAU recognized as top diversity employer

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Black EOE Journal Best of the Best 2015 Winner

Black Equal Opportunity Employment Journal has recognized ORAU as one of its top diversity employers for 2015.

The magazine is a compendium of career and employment opportunity information for African-Americans, other minority groups, and women, a press release said.

As part of the magazine’s “Best of the Best 2015” series, Black EOE Journal annually polls hundreds of companies to assess and disclose the companies who show excellence in diversity in areas such as: government and law enforcement agencies; insurance, finance and banking companies; utilities, energy, gas, and oil companies; STEM employers; and healthcare, pharmaceutical, and biotech companies. [Read more…]

Expanded Safety Fest 2015 set for September

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Safety Fest TN

Submitted

Safer workplaces result in safer communities. Why? Because workers who learn safe practices on the job take them home and into their communities. In Oak Ridge, once a year, an event is held to ensure safer communities by offering free safety classes to anyone who registers.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Oak Ridge Business Safety Partnership, or ORBSP, partnering with numerous businesses and organizations will host Safety Fest TN, a week of safety classes, live demonstrations, a Safety Expo, and a community safety forum—all free of charge. The event is scheduled for September 14-18, with classes at six locations in Oak Ridge and Knoxville.

“This year’s Safety Fest TN is popping at the seams with classes, demonstrations, seminars, a Safety Expo, and a community brunch that celebrates safety,” said Jenny Freeman, chair of the ORBSP planning committee, which is responsible for organizing the event. “We’ve got something for everyone.”

One of the main events is a community safety forum with Joe Estey, a national safety specialist, who brings innovative solutions to potential safety challenges facing some of the country’s highest hazard and complex industries. [Read more…]

UT Arboretum Society presents urban forestry program Aug. 25

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society is sponsoring a lecture on the “Knoxville Urban Forestry Program” on August 25 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the UT Arboretum’s Program Shelter at 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

The program will be presented by Kasey Krouse, City of Knoxville urban forester, who will discuss the City of Knoxville Urban Forestry program and its attempt to move from a reactive to a proactive urban forestry program. He will also discuss proper pruning, planting, mulching, tree selection, and other arboriculture practices that are pertinent to an urban forestry program. The presentation will conclude by touring trees around the arboretum and discussing some of the issues they face in an urban forest, a press release said.

As the urban forester for the City of Knoxville, Krouse is responsible for the expansion, protection, and maintenance of the city’s urban forest and implementing the city’s Urban Forest Management Plan. [Read more…]

FBI offers reward up to $20,000 for info on kidnapping, extortion at Y-12 FCU, SmartBank

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Police Department at Y-12 Federal Credit Union

Oak Ridge Police Department officers were at the Y-12 Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge on Tuesday morning (April 28, 2015). The branch will remain closed Wednesday, although the credit union’s headquarters will be open. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 12:10 a.m.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to the identification and arrests of the suspects in the kidnappings and extortions involving Y-12 Federal Credit Union and SmartBank.

The FBI, Knoxville Police Department, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and Oak Ridge Police Department are asking the public to help identify and locate the people responsible for the kidnappings and extortions.

The FBI said that on April 28, at approximately 8:15 a.m., a Y-12 Federal Credit Union employee and his family were kidnapped from their residence and held hostage at gunpoint.

While the family was held hostage, the employee was coerced to attempt to remove money from the Y-12 Federal Credit Union at 501 Lafayette Drive in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

IDB to consider financing-related resolution for Main Street Oak Ridge on Monday

Posted at
By 7 Comments

Oak Ridge Mall

The Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board will consider a financing-related resolution for Main Street Oak Ridge during a special meeting on Monday. Main Street Oak Ridge would redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall, the L-shaped structure pictured at center above. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board will consider a financing-related resolution for Main Street Oak Ridge during a special meeting on Monday.

The resolution would approve documentation related to the tax increment financing, or TIF, for Main Street Oak Ridge. The $13 million, 30-year TIF agreement would use new property tax revenues generated within the economic impact area to assist in the redevelopment.

The special IDB meeting starts at 4 p.m. Monday, August 24, in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Training Room. [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats open soccer season with 6-0 blowout over AC

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats opened the regular soccer season with a 6-0 blowout over Anderson County at home on Tuesday.

With a few minutes remaining, Oak Ridge had 37 shots on goal, compared to one for the Lady Mavericks.

Oak Ridge Coach Jeff Trombly said the Lady Wildcats have more maturity and a few more older players than Anderson County.

“I think we’re going to be strong,” Trombly said after the district game. [Read more…]

Tourism revenues up 3.7 percent in Anderson County

Posted at
By 2 Comments

Bill Haslam during Presidential Visit at Pellissippi State

Governor Bill Haslam is pictured above during a visit by President Barack Obama at Pellissippi State Community College on Friday, January 9. (File photo by Rob Welton)

Tourists spent a total of $115.77 million in Anderson County in 2014, state officials announced Tuesday. That was an increase of 3.7 percent compared to 2013.

The spending generated a total of $6.72 million in state and $2.47 million in local tax revenues, increases of 4.7 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively. A total of 905 Anderson Countians are employed in tourism-related fields.

State officials also said that tourism’s direct domestic and international travel expenditures reached $17.7 billion in 2014, up 6.3 percent, and an all-time high for the state.

The record-breaking numbers were announced in Nashville on Tuesday by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Commissioner Kevin Triplett of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. [Read more…]

Corker: Bipartisan concern on Iran deal, no comment on Trump

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Bob Corker Regional Business Luncheon

U.S. Senator Bob Corker, a Tennessee Republican, talks about Iran and fiscal issues before fielding questions during a lunchtime speech in Clinton on Tuesday. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

CLINTON—He ruled out running for president himself but declined to comment on Donald Trump, the Republican front-runner, and U.S. Senator Bob Corker on Tuesday said there is bipartisan concern over the Iran nuclear deal.

Corker, a Tennessee Republican, has been asked in the past whether he might run for president. He was asked again during a lunchtime speech in Clinton on Tuesday, this time by Clinton businessman Joe Hollingsworth.

“That ship has sailed,” said Corker, chair of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee.

He said the campaign for the November 2016 election, which features an unusually large field of 17 Republican candidates, is the most entertaining contest he’s seen in a while.

Four of the candidates are senators, and two are on the Foreign Relations Committee, said Corker, who’s not endorsing anyone. [Read more…]

Neighborhood Watch volunteers helping Comfort Inn thank ORFD, ORPD

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Volunteers for the Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program will help thank the Oak Ridge police and fire departments on Tuesday morning, a press release said.

It’s part of National Waffle Day, and it’s hosted by Kate Groover and the Comfort Inn in Oak Ridge.

The “Say Thank You with Waffles” event is from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, August 18, at Comfort Inn at 433 South Rutgers Avenue. [Read more…]

St. Mary’s brings home volleyball gold for second consecutive year

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

St. Mary's Volleyball TeamSubmitted

Several area middle schools were invited to Knoxville Catholic High School on August 15 to participate in the 2015 KCHS Volleyball Feeder Fest Tournament.

The tournament lasted more than eight hours, with some teams playing up to six games each. The varsity volleyball team from St. Mary’s School in Oak Ridge took first place in the overall pool and continued its winning streak through the finals, securing its second consecutive Feeder Fest championship.

The St. Mary’s Junior Varsity team also did very well, as they took first place in their pool and second overall in the finals. Both teams are coached by Laura McKenna and Rob Halcrow.

Coach McKenna said: “Both the JV and varsity teams have exceeded expectations in play, team bonding, and sportsmanship. The girls have laid a strong foundation for another spectacular season. As a coach, I could not be more proud of the hard work and dedication the team has shown and I look forward to helping the girls gain confidence in their volleyball skills and grow on and off the court.” [Read more…]