Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge Schools selects Teacher Leaders

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The Oak Ridge School system has announced its selections for Teacher Leaders for the 2014-15 school year.

The Teacher Leader initiative was conceived and launched as a result of the Tennessee Department of Education’s push to create a differentiated pay scale for teachers in all counties. The department encouraged systems to either adopt a structure where teachers receive pay bonuses based on student test scores and eliminate increases in pay for advanced degrees or years of service, or adopt programs that ask teachers to take on greater responsibilities in schools.

“When presented with the opportunity to reward teachers for their dedicated and outstanding service, we decided not to get rid of our steps and lanes that reward teachers for their time and dedication to the classroom and earning advanced degrees, but rather recognize teachers that step up and take on greater leadership roles around STEM, analyzing data, and reinforcing professional learning communities,” said Bruce Borchers, Oak Ridge Schools superintendent. [Read more…]

ETCompetes! Speaker Series: Secrets of successful communities

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In the ever-changing world of economic development, it is imperative that communities in East Tennessee recognize the paradigm shift that is happening nationally in regards to enhanced community character, retail, real estate, and economic changes. In an effort to foster change and growth all around our beautiful region, ETCompetes!—in conjunction with their partners East Tennessee Quality Growth, NAI, US Bank, and University of Tennessee School of Landscape Architecture—are sponsoring two workshops featuring nationally recognized speaker, Ed McMahon, Urban Land Institute senior resident fellow.

McMahon spent 14 years as the vice president and director of land use planning for the Conservation Fund in Arlington, Va., where he helped protect more than five million acres of land that has historic or natural significance. McMahon is also the cofounder and former president of Scenic America, a national nonprofit organization devoted to protecting America’s scenic landscapes. [Read more…]

Health night lecture to discuss Carpal Tunnel Syndrome on Tuesday

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Daniel Branaham

Daniel Branaham

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Join Methodist Medical Center and board-certified orthopedic surgeon and hand specialist, Daniel Branham, M.D., for a look at carpal tunnel syndrome during Health Night on the Town. The lecture will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 25, in the Ridge Conference Room of Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, 990 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which the median nerve is compressed as it passes through an opening from the wrist to the hand called the carpal tunnel. While it doesn’t have a specific cause, there tend to be certain contributing factors including frequent, repetitive, small, or grasping movements with the hands; joint or bone disease; hormonal or metabolic changes; or wrist injuries. Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome come on gradually and can include pain in the wrist and forearm; weakness and loss of mobility in the hand; numbness in the fingers, except the little and ring fingers; tingling in the fingers when the wrist is tapped; and decreased grip strength.

Dr. Branham will discuss this common condition and its treatment options at Health Night on the Town, a free lecture series that is open to the public. [Read more…]

Boyd to discuss Gov. Haslam’s ‘Drive to 55’ campaign at Altrusa

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Randy Boyd

Randy Boyd

Randy Boyd, Knoxville CEO of Radio Systems and special education adviser to Gov. Bill Haslam, will discuss the statewide initiative “Drive to 55” during a Wednesday luncheon in Oak Ridge.

Boyd will also discuss the Tennessee Promise, which aims to raise the percentage of Tennesseans with degrees or certificates from 32 percent to 55 percent by 2025, during a Wednesday meeting of the Altrusa Club at the Doubletree Hotel.

“The Tennessee Promise will provide all Tennessee high school graduates with the opportunity to attend a community college or Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) free of tuition and fees and provide them with a mentor to ensure their success,” Boyd said. [Read more…]

Sewer rehab work continues this week

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More rehabilitation work of the city’s sewer collection pipes is scheduled to continue this week

The work is being done by Hurst Excavating and Morgan Contracting under contract with the City of Oak Ridge. It includes rehabilitating sewer collection pipes within city easements in yards and in roadways, a press release said.

Residents should already have received color-coded letters and door hangers (orange for Hurst Excavating and purple for Morgan Contracting) providing general information and each contractors’ contact information. [Read more…]

Boys and Girls Club has baseball sign-ups, evaluations this week

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The Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge has baseball sign-ups through March 28.

It’s for boys and girls from five to 12 years old.The sign-ups are $25 for active club members and $40 for inactive or non-club members.

Baseball evaluations are at 6 p.m. Thursday for children who are seven and eight years old, and at 6 p.m. Friday for kids from 9-12.

Roane State has open house for home-schoolers, private school students

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Roane State Community College will host an April 3 open house for home-school students, private school students, and their families.

The open house will be Thursday, April 3, from 6-8 p.m. in the City Room at the college’s Oak Ridge campus, 701 Briarcliff Ave.

Visitors will learn about Roane State’s academic programs and its dual enrollment program, which allows students to earn college credit and high school credit at the same time. Guests will also be able to meet with Roane State faculty and staff.

For more information about the April 3 open house, contact Priscilla Gitschlag at (865) 354-3000 ext. 2200, or gitschlagp@roanestate.edu. Please RSVP by March 31.

Highland View spring cleanup on Saturday

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The Highland View Neighborhood Watch will have a spring cleanup on Saturday morning. It’s scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, and volunteers can sign in at the Oak Ridge Children’s Museum.

“Join us as we work toward making our neighborhood something to be proud of,” a flyer said. “From Highland Avenue to Illinois and side streets, we’re conquering the accumulated trash and garbage. The more participants, the easier and faster we get to enjoy spring in our home neighborhood.”

The flyer said the goal is to eliminate garbage along West Outer. [Read more…]

Breakfast with Legislators on Monday

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The Tennessee General Assembly is halfway through this year’s legislative session, and important bills are in committee or being brought forward for vote. On Monday, you have a chance to ask local legislators about the issues during the March Breakfast with the Legislators.

The breakfast is scheduled from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Monday in the Social Room of the Oak Ridge Civic Center, located at 1401 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The public is invited, and a free continental breakfast will be served, a press release said.

Numerous issues impacting the education system are on the legislative agenda, including vouchers, charter schools, Common Core standards, and textbook commission composition, a press release said. Among the bills being considered are changes to lobbying law, the eligibility for TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families), and the distribution of information relating to the Affordable Care Act and other child health programs. [Read more…]

Stan Mitchell named treasurer of David Dunkirk’s juvenile judge campaign

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David Dunkirk

David Dunkirk

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The Committee to Elect David Dunkirk as Juvenile Judge for Anderson County has named a treasurer, Stan Mitchell, the former editor and publisher of The Oak Ridge Observer.

Dunkirk, a long-time local attorney who is running as a Democrat, said he was proud to have Mitchell serve as his treasurer.

“I’ve known Stan long enough to know he is a man of tremendous integrity and honesty. I am honored he is willing to act as my treasurer,” Dunkirk said.

Mitchell released a statement explaining his decision to serve as Dunkirk’s treasurer. [Read more…]

Sheriff White has meet-the-candidate fundraiser Tuesday

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Paul White

Paul White

Anderson County Sheriff Paul White has a meet-the-candidate fundraiser on Tuesday.

The fundraiser is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Holiday Inn Express on Hillvale Road near the Clinton/Norris exit off Highway 61.

“Refreshments will be served,” a press release said. “Bring your family and friends.”

For more information, contact the campaign at paulwhiteforsheriff@gmail.com or https://www.facebook.com/paul.white.31.

AAUW talk to focus on legacy, challenge of women’s suffrage

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Wanda Sobieski

Wanda Sobieski

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“The Legacy and the Challenge of Women’s Suffrage” will be the subject of a talk by Knoxville attorney Wanda Sobieski during a Monday meeting of the Oak Ridge Branch of AAUW, the American Association of University Women.

The meeting starts at 11:30 a.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church, Room 102.

Sobieski—who established her law firm, Sobieski, Messer, and Associates in 1993, after having practiced law with Baker, Worthington, Crossley, Stansberry, and Woolf—was instrumental in organizing the Suffrage Coalition, which funded the statues of the three Suffragests: Lizzie Crozier Franch, Anne Dallas Dudley, and Elizabeth Avery Meriweather, which stand in Market Square in Knoxville. [Read more…]