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Co-workers, firefighters react in minutes to save a life

Posted at 3:24 pm July 7, 2015
By Kay Brookshire 1 Comment

Linda Bridges and Michael Beehan

Linda Bridges has a hug for co-worker Michael Beehan, who started CPR when she experienced cardiac arrest. (Submitted photo)

 

Linda Bridges has returned to her desk at MS Technology Inc. after a four-month absence.

To Kurt Oschman, MSTI president and chief executive officer, that is a miracle resulting from the training and collaboration of her co-workers and the first responders from the Oak Ridge Fire Department who saved her life.

The story of Bridges’ miracle began Feb. 25, when she collapsed at her desk. Co-workers quickly called 911, and two co-workers began assessing her vital signs. At one point, she had stopped breathing and had no pulse.

“With excellent collaboration on decisions about appropriate first aid for Linda’s condition, Michael Beehan began administering CPR, with Karen Hamilton providing on-the-ground assistance,” Oschman wrote in the company’s recent newsletter. The two determined that Bridges needed cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and then Hamilton continued to check Bridges’ vital signs as Beehan provided CPR. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Fire, Front Page News, Health, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Emergency Medical Service, cardiac arrest, cardiac rehabilitation, cardiac support, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR, Darryl Kerley, David Harrington, defibrillator, emergency medical technician, firefighters, IV, Josh Waldo, Karen Hamilton, Kurt Oschman, Linda Bridges, Methodist Medical Center, Michael Beehan, Michael Vanosdale, Mike Morrow, MS Technology Inc., MSTI, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Patricia Neal Center, Ray Burney, Robert Payne, Ryan Cole, Warren Gooch

Frank to host two information sessions to discuss county budget

Posted at 11:31 pm July 6, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Terry Frank and Connie Aytes

Mayor Terry Frank and Connie Aytes, deputy budget director, review Anderson County financial documents. (Submitted photo)

 

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank will host two special budget discussions to give the public a chance to hear and see a financial snapshot of Anderson County’s health, and to provide the public an opportunity to ask questions, a press release said.

Both an evening and a day meeting are scheduled. The evening meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 16, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Club Room at the Oak Ridge Civic Center. The day meeting is scheduled for Friday, July 17, from 12-1 p.m. at the Clinton Community Center. The public is invited to attend. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, budget, Clinton Community Center, financial health, Oak Ridge Civic Center, Terry Frank

Sen. McNally to discuss recent Supreme Court decisions at AC Tea Party meeting

Posted at 6:13 pm July 6, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Randy McNally

Randy McNally

Tennessee Senator Randy McNally will discuss recent Supreme Court decisions and what they mean for the state during an Anderson County Tea Party meeting on Tuesday, July 14, a press release said.

McNally, an Oak Ridge Republican, is also expected to discuss how the Tennessee General Assembly plans to address the decisions, the press release said. Those are among the items McNally is expected to address as he talks about items concerning Anderson County and Eastern Tennessee.

The July 14 meeting starts at 7 p.m. at Clinton Church of God. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Government, Meetings and Events, State Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Tea Party, Clinton Church of God, East Tennessee, Finance Ways and Means Committee, Randy McNally, Supreme Court, Supreme Court decisions, Tea Party, Tennessee General Assembly, Tennessee Senate

Schedule: Installation of Jackson Square fountain could start July 27, last four weeks

Posted at 1:36 pm July 6, 2015
By John Huotari 3 Comments

Angel Rich Johnson and Roger Flynn

Angel Rich Johnson, left, president of Rich Construction Inc. of Lenoir City, and Roger Flynn, Oak Ridge Public Works engineer, are pictured above at Jackson Square on Monday, January 5, 2015. The Jackson Square renovations started in January.

 

Note: This story was updated at 2:15 p.m. July 7.

Installation of the interactive fountain at the center of Jackson Square could start July 27 and last four weeks, according to an estimated construction timeline.

The sidewalks and the majority of the parking lot have been finished, and Roger Flynn, acting Oak Ridge city engineer, said he has discussed project completion with Rich Construction, the contractor for the $1 million rebuild of the Jackson Square parking lot.

Construction started in January, and enough paving work was completed that merchants and vendors were able to have the annual Lavender Festival at Jackson Square on June 20. Renovations are expected to be complete by the end of August.

Flynn told merchants in a June 24 email that the remaining work is expected to take place in this order: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Angel Rich Johnson, Blankenship Field, fountain, interactive fountain, Jackson Square, Jackson Square parking lot, parking lot, Rich Construction, Rich Construction Inc., Roger Flynn, Rogers Group Inc., Tennessee Department of Transportation, Vaughn and Melton

Photo: Independence Day fireworks

Posted at 1:14 pm July 6, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Fireworks

A picture of the Oak Ridge fireworks display on Saturday, July 4, from Oak Ridge Turnpike near Illinois Avenue. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Oak Ridge’s fireworks display was on Saturday, July 4, at Alvin K. Bissell Park. Here is a picture by Julio Culiat taken from Oak Ridge Turnpike near Illinois Avenue.

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: fireworks, Independence Day, Julio Culiat, July 4, Oak Ridge

City releases IDs in parking lot crash that killed one, injured nine

Posted at 10:51 am July 6, 2015
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Midtown Community Crash Cars

One person died and nine people were injured when a Dodge Ram pickup truck backing up in the parking lot at Midtown Community Center caused a nine-vehicle crash after fireworks in Oak Ridge on Saturday night.

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:17 p.m.

The Oak Ridge Police Department has identified James Robinson, 37, of Knoxville, as the man who died in the parking lot crash that killed one person and injured nine others at Midtown Community Center after fireworks on Saturday.

Robinson was struck by a Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by Lee Cromwell, 65, of Oak Ridge, as Cromwell backed his truck through the parking lot, a City of Oak Ridge press release said. Nine people were injured, and eight vehicles were hit by Cromwell’s truck, authorities said.

Robinson was critically injured in the crash, and he was taken by ambulance to Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, where he later died, the press release said.

A family friend said Robinson, who was with his wife and two daughters, died a hero by pushing his oldest daughter Jaide out of the way of the way of the approaching vehicle.

Seven more patients were taken by ambulance from the scene to local area hospitals. One adult and two juvenile patients with non-life threatening injuries were transported to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. Four juvenile patients with non-life threatening injuries were taken to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, which is also in Knoxville. And two adults who were also injured were transported to Methodist Medical Center in personal vehicles.

Cromwell was not injured. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police, Police and Fire, Slider Tagged With: accident, Alvin K. Bissell Park, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, City of Oak Ridge, Clinton Police Department, crash, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, fireworks, James Robinson, Lee Cromwell, Methodist Medical Center, Midtown Community Center, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Turnpike, parking lot crash, Robertsville Road, Tennessee Highway Patrol, University of Tennessee Medical Center

Anderson County Fairest of Fair, Tiny Miss Pageants on Sunday; entry deadline July 8

Posted at 10:36 am July 6, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Anderson County Fairest of Fair

The 2015 Anderson County Fair Fairest of the Fair and Tiny Miss Pageants will be held Sunday, July 12, at Anderson County High School.

Age divisions range from 0-21 years.

The deadline to enter has been extended to July 8. Contact Shayla Sanderson at (865) 591-5077 or shayla.sanderson@yahoo.com for information, rules, and applications.

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Meetings and Events, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Fair, Anderson County Fair Fairest of the Fair, Fairest of the Fair, Shayla Sanderson, Tiny Miss Pageant

Man dies, others injured in multi-vehicle crash at Midtown Community Center

Posted at 2:42 am July 5, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Midtown Community Center Crash Reconstruction

A man died and at least a half-dozen people went to the hospital after a mutli-vehicle crash in the parking lot of Midtown Community Center after fireworks in Oak Ridge on Saturday night. Above, an accident reconstruction team works in the pouring rain at Midtown Community Center on Robertsville Road at about 2 a.m. Sunday. At right is Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Grant Gouldie.

 

Note: This story was last updated at 10:15 p.m.

One person died after a multi-vehicle crash in the parking lot of Midtown Community Center sent at least a half-dozen people to the hospital after fireworks in Oak Ridge on Saturday night, authorities said.

The man who died has a Knoxville address, but police aren’t identifying him yet because family members are still being notified. It appeared that the man was on foot at the time of the crash, authorities said. The man who died was with his wife and children, Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi said.

Akagi said at least six people, including two children, were sent to three hospitals in three ambulances. The injured were taken to Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge and Children’s Hospital and University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. Their names and conditions weren’t immediately available.

Akagi said a pickup involved in the crash hit several vehicles, although it’s not clear how the man who died was injured.

It’s also not clear how fast the red Dodge pickup truck was going or whether it was backing up, he said. Witnesses said the truck had been parked at the east end of the parking lot facing east, or away from the entrance, and the driver backed up to leave as soon as fireworks were over. Witnesses said the truck was in reverse and driving fast. So far, authorities have been unable to confirm that.

“We don’t know what happened,” Akagi said.

But the truck’s back end appeared to have struck at least one vehicle.

Akagi said there were at least a half-dozen vehicles involved in the crash. He said he didn’t know if any other vehicles were moving at the time of the collision. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police, Police and Fire, Slider Tagged With: accident reconstruction, Adam Daugherty, Alvin K. Bissell Park, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Clinton Police Department, crash, Darryl Kerley, Dave Clark, fireworks, Grant Gouldie, Jim Akagi, Mark Lucas, Midtown Community Center, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Turnpike, ORPD, Robertsville Road, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Wildcat Den

Merchants frustrated with progress at Jackson Square; protest sign posted

Posted at 4:23 pm July 4, 2015
By John Huotari 4 Comments

Jackson Square Parking Lot Renovations Sign

There has been some frustration among merchants at Jackson Square about not being able to use the partially paved parking lot while they wait for renovations to be completed. This protest sign saying “Free Our Parking Lot!!” was posted on Wednesday.

 

Merchants have grown frustrated with the pace of renovations at Jackson Square, and on Wednesday a protest sign was posted. “Free Our Parking Lot!” said the sign, which has since been removed.

For now, the parking lot inside Jackson Square remains closed off behind construction fencing as work continues on a $1 million renovation mostly funded by a state grant awarded in 2012.

But merchants wonder why they can’t use the parking lot since it was used for the Lavender Festival on June 20.

Compounding their frustration is the closure of the lower parking lot at Blankenship Field. It’s one of two lots on the north side of Broadway Avenue and Jackson Square. Employees at nearby businesses who used to park in the Blankenship Field lot are now using the second lot, the one used by the Farmers Market, reducing the parking spaces available there, one merchant said.

The Blankenship Field work, which was approved by the Oak Ridge City Council in June, is also causing concern for the Farmers Market. The Farmer Market’s vendors set up in the second parking lot on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings, and they now don’t have parking available at either the Blankenship Field lot or inside the Jackson Square lot. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Angel Rich Johnson, Anne Garcia Garland, Bill Haslam, Blankenship Field, Broadway Avenue, City of Oak Ridge, construction, Ellen Smith, farmer's market, Gary Cinder, interactive fountain, Jack Armstrong Stadium, Jackson Square, Lavender Festival, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Farmers Market, parking lot, pedestrian plaza, protest, Rich Construction, Rich Construction Inc., Roger Flynn, Rogers Group, TDOT, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Tennessee Department of Transportation Enhancement Grant, Trina Baughn, Warren Gooch

Habitat for Humanity celebrates volunteers of the month

Posted at 2:02 pm July 4, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

By Charlotte Bowers

Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County has been blessed with incredible volunteers. Last year, we decided that we would like to recognize individual volunteers each month. Our community retailers and restaurants have been very generous in donating gift certificates and other items to reward our special monthly volunteers. Oak Ridge Floral, located in Grove Center, donated bouquets of flowers. Terry Stansberry, owner of Terry Tags, made a beautiful plaque. Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches, The Soup Kitchen, Red Lobster, Krystal, and IHOP all donated gift certificates for these special volunteers.

Mary McKeethan

Mary McKeethan 

 

The Volunteer of the Month for April was Mary McKeethan. Mary has been volunteering her time in the ReStore since 2010. Her warm smile and friendly attitude make her a favorite of our customers. After Mary retired from the Jackson Square Pharmacy, she decided she wanted to do something for the community. Liz Vane, former family services coordinator at Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County, told her about Habitat. She decided that working at the ReStore would be a fun way to serve because she likes people. Working in retail made her realize she loved interacting with the public. She also loves working with children. After substitute teaching for many years and teaching Sunday School at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Oak Ridge, she now volunteers with the after-school program at Willow Brook Elementary School.

Jim Bailey

Part of the Wednesday crew with Jim Bailey at center. (Submitted photo)

 

 

The Volunteer of the Month for May was Jim Bailey. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Nonprofits Tagged With: Cal Knoke, Charlotte Bowers, Donna Mosby, habitat, Habitat for Humanity, Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County, HFHAC, Jim Bailey, Mary McKeethan, Nancy Richards, ReStore, volunteers

ORNL FCU names new vice president of investment services

Posted at 1:32 pm July 4, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Alex Minge

Alex Minge

Alex Minge has been appointed vice president of investment services for ORNL Federal Credit Union.

In this role, Minge will be responsible for managing and overseeing all of ORNL FCU’s non-deposit investment products for its members. He will also mentor, develop, and establish accountability with staff “to ensure the Credit Union’s investment-focused client experience standards are being met and are consistent,” a press release said.

“Alex’s wealth of knowledge and diverse background will enable him to truly help our members pursue their long-term goals through comprehensive, individualized planning,” said Janita Clausell, chief member experience officer. “It’s yet another step in ORNL FCU’s commitment to delivering superior value to our members.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, Oak Ridge Tagged With: Alex Minge, investment services, Janita Clausell, ORNL FCU, ORNL Federal Credit Union

Centrus donates $2,500 to ADFAC

Posted at 1:16 pm July 4, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Centrus Donates to ADFAC

Centrus Energy Corporation’s Jeff Cooper, right, presents the 2015 Corporate Membership contribution to ADFAC’s Executive Director Annie Cacheiro, left, and Corporate Committee members Ray Smith, second from left, and Barry Stephenson. (Submitted photo)

 

Centrus Energy Corporation donated $2,500 to ADFAC and became the first 2015 Grand Benefactor Corporate Member, the nonprofit organization’s Corporate Committee announced this week.

Jeff Cooper, Centrus’s Lead Cascade Project Manager, recently presented the donation to Ray Smith and Barry Stephenson, ADFAC Corporate Committee members.

“This corporate contribution is going to help lead the way for other corporate contributions for ADFAC,” said Smith, who is a member of the ADFAC Board of Directors. “It’s so appreciated and will truly help AFDAC fulfill their mission of ‘neighbors helping neighbors.'” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Community, Front Page News, Nonprofits, Oak Ridge Tagged With: ADFAC, ADFAC Corporate Committee, Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, Annie Cacheiro, Barry Stephenson, Centrus, Centrus Energy Corporation, corporate membership, Jeff Cooper, Ray Smith

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