Oak Ridge Today

Backyard chickens, Centennial Golf Course among items for Council work session

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Oak Ridge City Council on July 27, 2015

The Oak Ridge City Council is expected to discuss backyard chickens, Centennial Golf Course, and Anderson County General Sessions Court during a non-voting work session on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A change in city ordinances that would allow backyard chickens is on the agenda for an Oak Ridge City Council work session tonight (Tuesday, May 17). Also on the agenda during the non-voting work session are options for the city-owned Centennial Golf Course and an update on the relocation of Anderson County General Sessions Court, Division II.

The work session starts at 6 p.m. in the Central Services Complex Multipurpose Room on Woodbury Lane, which is behind the Kmart shopping center.

The City Council approved the backyard chicken ordinance in the first of two readings on Monday, May 9. There could be amendments to the ordinance on second and final reading in June. [Read more…]

Knoxville Opera’s Salesky brings program to Oak Ridge on Tuesday

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Brian Salesky

Brian Salesky

Maestro Brian Salesky, executive director and conductor of Knoxville Opera, will present a dynamic program illustrating the history of opera and musical theater at Lunch with the League on Tuesday, May 17. The program starts at noon Tuesday in the sanctuary of Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, which is located at 309 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Salesky will be joined by two opera singers in his exposition of Opera 101, soprano Sarah Fitch and baritone Kevin Doherty. Both have performed roles in Knoxville Opera’s productions at the Tennessee Theatre and are graduates of the University of Tennessee, a press release said.

Opera 101, which can be adapted for different age groups, is one of several in the Knoxville Opera Education Program. In information provided for the upcoming program, Salesky said Knoxville Opera annually presents 75-100 education events for the community, including the recent Rossini Festival, Knoxville Opera Goes to Church, African-American Voices Series, and in-school operas, reaching up to 100,000 people. [Read more…]

Running for Office Workshop on Thursday at Oak Ridge Chamber

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Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce building is pictured above.

 

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce is offering a free workshop for anyone interested in running for local office on Thursday, May 19. The workshop is scheduled from 7-8:30 p.m. May 19 in the Joyce Conference Room at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce. It’s open to the public.

The workshop will be conducted by Bob Eby, who has successfully run four campaigns over four decades and currently serves on the Oak Ridge Board of Education. He will share advice that he has received from elected officials over the years as well as his own observations and experiences during the past 30 years. Eby will share his list of things you must do, the things to avoid, and things to consider in order to run a successful campaign. There will be an opportunity for participants to ask questions and discuss issues. [Read more…]

Learn about gravitational waves at ORION astronomy lecture

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Michael Guidry

Michael Guidry

Learn about gravitational waves during an ORION astronomy club meeting on Wednesday.

The meeting will feature Mike Guidry, professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Tennessee and an adjunct staff member with Oak Ridge National Laboratory Physics and Computer Science departments.

On September 14, 2015, the event detectors from the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory, or LIGO, facilities in Washington and Louisiana recorded data that was consistent with the merging of two black holes, a press release said. Together, the recorded data form the event known as GW150914. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge High School has Honors Night for Class of 2016

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Oak Ridge High School

The main entrance at Oak Ridge High School is pictured above.

 

Oak Ridge High School will celebrate the accomplishments of this year’s graduating senior class on Monday, May 23. The celebration will start at 7 p.m. in the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center.

Those members of the senior class who have earned a “B” average and above through the end of their junior year will receive a cord and certificate to commemorate their outstanding achievement. [Read more…]

Car, Truck, Motorcycle Show to benefit Emory Valley Center at Calvary Baptist

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2015-Winner_Ken-Wetherinton_1923-Model-T

2015 Winner—Ken Wetherinton—1923 Model T (Submitted photo)

 

Calvary Baptist Church will host its second annual Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Show on Saturday, May 14. The show is scheduled from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., and it’s free. It’s open to the public, and it will include fun for the entire family, a press release said.

“Everyone is welcome and encouraged to come out and enjoy the variety of cars, trucks, and motorcycles featured—this event is open to all vehicles,” the press release said.

The pre-registration entry fee per vehicle is $10, and the registration fee the day of show is $15 per vehicle. Proceeds from donations and registration fees will be donated to support Emory Valley Center. In the case of rain, the event will be moved to Saturday, May 21.

For more information, please contact John Ellis at [email protected]. [Read more…]

County veterans invited to community breakfast

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Military veterans from Anderson County will come together this weekend for the first Veterans Breakfast.

The first breakfast, hosted by Anderson County citizens and sponsored by County Mayor Terry Frank, will be held from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday, May 14, at the Clinton Community Center, a press release said. There will be a brief program at 9 a.m. All of the Veterans Breakfasts will recognize and honor local veterans and their families for their service to the United States.

Anderson County residents and community volunteers are working together to make the breakfast a free monthly event that will allow veterans to fellowship and share stories together. The City of Clinton is recognized as a special sponsor for hosting the monthly location and setup, the press release said. [Read more…]

Proposed schools budget would include raises, ask city for more money

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The budget proposed for Oak Ridge Schools for the fiscal year that starts July 1 includes 3 percent salary increases and a request for an additional $538,048 from the city. As proposed, the budget also includes the reduction of the full-time equivalent of four teachers and an increase in five technology positions.

The budget was presented to the Oak Ridge Board of Education on Tuesday. The board has a work session to discuss the Fiscal Year 2017 budget at 5:30 p.m. today (Thursday, May 12) and a work session to review the budget line by line at 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 16.

If implemented as proposed, the budget would ask the city for a 3.6 percent increase in funding. It would also include experience-based pay increases known as step increases for staff.

It would include money to fund a 6.2 percent increase in health insurance rates and another 10 percent for dental insurance. [Read more…]

Schools budget presented to BOE this evening

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Oak-Ridge-Schools-Bruce-Borchers-March-28-2016

Oak Ridge Schools Superintendent Bruce Borchers

 

The budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1 will be presented to the Oak Ridge Board of Education at 5:30 p.m. today (Tuesday, May 10).

The school board will have a work session to discuss the Fiscal Year 2017 budget at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 12, and a work session to review the budget line by line at 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 16.

Then, the BOE will consider the budget in the first of two readings at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 18. That meeting will include a public hearing. [Read more…]

Youth Pride Fest hosted in Oak Ridge on May 14

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Diversity will be celebrated at the third annual Youth Pride Fest on Saturday, May 14, in Oak Ridge, a press release said.

“The fun planned event is an opportunity for LGBTQ youth and allies to celebrate themselves through awareness, visibility, and pride,” the press release said. Youth Pride Fest will take place from noon to 5 p.m. May 14 at First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge. The church is located at 1051 Oak Ridge Turnpike, which is at the corner of Lafayette and Oak Ridge Turnpike.

All East Tennessee LGBTQ youth and allies under the age of 21, and parents are invited, the press release said. There is no charge to attend, but registration is required and can be made at youthpridefest.weebly.com. Click on sign-up. [Read more…]

Officials to report on multi-county criminal investigation on Monday

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Dave Clark

Dave Clark

Note: This story was updated at 5:48 p.m.

Local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies will report on Monday on a multi-county criminal investigation that has lasted several years, authorities said Thursday.

The investigation has been complex and is unprecedented in several ways, according to a brief statement on Thursday afternoon from Dave Clark, district attorney general in the Seventh Judicial District (Anderson County).

Media have been invited to attend the Monday afternoon press conference in Clark’s office in Clinton. [Read more…]

Tonight: UT professor to discuss impact of invasive insects on forests

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University of Tennessee Professor Scott Schlarbaum will present a program on “Invasive Insects’ Effect on our Forests” at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 5, at the UT Arboretum. It has been reported that this presentation will “scare the pants off you.”

Our area is currently beset by hemlock woolly adelgids, emerald ash borers, and other invasive insects, a press release said.

Schlarbaum has served as a faculty member of UT’s Department of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries since 1984, and has served in a variety of professional positions and committees regarding forest health and genetics. [Read more…]