Oak Ridge Today

Marshall Tucker Band to headline Friday night concert at Secret City Festival

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The Marshall Tucker Band

The Marshall Tucker Band (Submitted photo)

 

The Marshall Tucker Band will headline the Friday night concert at the Secret City Festival in June.

The band’s hits include “Heard It in a Love Song” and “Can’t You See.”

The Marshall Tucker Band started in Spartanburg, South Carolina, signed with Capricorn Records in 1972, and opened shows for The Allman Brothers in 1973, a press release said.

In 1974, the band began to headline its own shows across America due to the strong sales of its debut album, which went platinum, the release said. The Marshall Tucker Band toured rigorously over the years, playing sheds, stadiums, theaters, fairs, and festivals. [Read more…]

Breakthrough 5K supports programs for adults with autism

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Breakthrough Run Start

Organizers of the ninth annual Breakthrough 5K Run/Walk for Autism on April 18 invite youths and adults who have disabilities to join in the race.

Those with autism and any other disabilities are invited to join more than 400 runners and walkers in the 5K run and walk and one-mile Fun Walk that supports the not-for-profit Breakthrough of Knoxville, which provides a range of services to help adults with autism to live as independently as possible.

The Breakthrough Run/Walk for Autism begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 18, at the Regal Cinemas Pinnacle Stadium 18 at Turkey Creek, in Farragut. The run, on a USATF-certified course, will have chip timing for the 5K. [Read more…]

City, Schools Preschool Building Planning Committee to meet April 9

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Oak Ridge Preschool and School Administration Building

The Oak Ridge City Council has agreed to use $150,000 in unspent red-light camera to repair the lead-based paint on the Oak Ridge Schools Preschool and Robert J. Smallridge School Administration Building on New York Avenue. Officials say the building needs to be renovated or vacated for the Head Start program to receive funding in the 2015-2016 school year. (File photo)

 

The new joint city-school committee that could lay the groundwork for a new preschool by the 2016-2017 school year will meet on Thursday, April 9.

The meeting of the Joint City/Schools Preschool Building Planning Committee will start at 1:30 p.m. April 9 in the School Administration Building conference room.

Members of the committee are Charlsey Cofer, Keys Fillauer, Bruce Borchers, Lee Ann Shelton, Jessica Hill, Allen Thacker, Mark Watson, Janice McGinnis, Ellen Smith, Shirley Raines, Pat Fallon, and Jon Hetrick.

The joint city-schools committee for the Preschool was endorsed earlier this year. For now, officials have agreed to use $150,000 in red-light camera money to repair the lead-based paint on the city’s Preschool, providing what officials hope will be a temporary fix while they develop a plan to permanently repair, replace, or move the Preschool. The city-school committee could work to determine space needs, develop an affordable finance plan, develop a project timetable, and make a public education plan.

City, schools to discuss budget in joint work session on April 8

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The City of Oak Ridge and Oak Ridge Schools will discuss the budget for the fiscal year that starts in July during a joint work session at 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 8, in the Robertsville Middle School Library.

See an updated budget timeline here: Oak Ridge Schools 2015-2016 Budget Timeline.

New film on former ORNL Director Weinberg has premiere on April 23

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Alvin Weinberg Poster

The world premiere of a new film on the life of former Oak Ridge National Laboratory Director Alvin Weinberg will be held on Thursday, April 23, at the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge. The film was written and directed by award-winning documentary filmmaker and Oak Ridge resident Keith McDaniel.

Although McDaniel has written and directed more than a dozen documentary films, he is generally best known for his films “Secret City: The Oak Ridge Story” and “The Clinton 12.”

According to McDaniel, the biographical documentary entitled “Alvin Weinberg” explores the life of the internationally renowned nuclear scientist.

“I didn’t know Dr. Weinberg very well although I did interview him a couple of years prior to his death,” McDaniel said. “His was a fascinating life. In making this film, I wanted to not only tell stories of his professional achievements but I also wanted to show what Dr. Weinberg was like as a person.” [Read more…]

Spring Jamboree at Windrock to include ATVs, side-by-sides, music

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Windrock Spring Jam Mud Bog

The mud bog at a Spring Jamboree at Windrock Park. (Submitted photos)

 

This year’s Spring Jamboree at Windrock Park north of Oliver Springs will include rides and competitions for ATVs and side-by-sides, and concerts, including one featuring Janelle Arthur, a top five performer on American Idol’s Season 12.

The Spring Jamboree is scheduled from April 16 through 18.

“The Spring Jamboree is a weekend full of adrenaline-pumping fun for everyone,” said Kira Smith-Ludwig, marketing manager for Windrock Park. “The jamboree’s numerous competitive events and guided rides are geared toward ATV and side-by-side riders, but anyone can come and watch the competitions and check out the shooting range and the concert.”

The competitive events include the ATV Rodeo; Windrock Wide Open, which is a three-lap race; drag races; the Windrock Challenge, which is an obstacle course race; a mud drag; a poker run; and a dash for cash just for the ladies. The competitive event rules can be found at www.windrockpark.com under events. [Read more…]

Substance abuse the topic of Tuesday health lecture

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Melody Morris

Melody Morris

Substance abuse comes in many forms. It can be the abuse of legal substances, such as alcohol or prescription drugs, or it can be illegal, such as the abuse of marijuana, cocaine, or methamphetamine. And it affects more than just the person using the drugs. Substance abuse can break apart families, ruin personal relationships, and make it difficult to keep a job.

Learn more about substance abuse when Methodist Medical Center partners with Ridgeview Behavioral Health to discuss this important topic during Health Night on the Town on Tuesday, March 31, at 7 p.m. in the Ridge Conference Room of Methodist Medical Center, located at 990 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Staff from Ridgeview will discuss substance abuse and its co-occurring mental health issues as well as an innovative treatment for expectant mother’s who have used or are at risk of using drugs. [Read more…]

Roane County Budget Committee meets Monday

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The Roane County Budget Committee will at 4:30 p.m. Monday, April 6, in the first floor conference room at the Roane County Courthouse in Kingston.

The meetings are open to the public.

The Budget Committee includes Ron Woody, Steve Kelley, Bobby Collier, Randy Ellis, and Ron Berry.

Easter services at Grace Evangelical Lutheran include Sunrise Service, Breakfast

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Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church will provide four services on Easter Sunday, including a 7 a.m. Sunrise service, in addition to its regular services at 8:30, 9:30, and 11:15 a.m. The men of the church will provide breakfast following the first three services, a press release said.

Also, there will be a Good Friday service at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 3.

“Everyone is welcome,” the release said.

Easter is Sunday, April 5.

The church is located at 131 West Gettysburg Avenue in Oak Ridge. Call (865) 483-3787 for more information.

School board to consider balanced calendar, budget timeline

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The Oak Ridge Board of Education will consider a balanced calendar for the 2016-2017 school year during a regular meeting tonight. The school board will also consider an updated budget timeline for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

The Board of Education could consider salary proposals from the Oak Ridge Education Association and principals during the meeting tonight (Monday, March 30). It starts at 6 p.m. at the Robert J. Smallridge School Administration Building at 304 New York Avenue.

The school board approved a balanced calendar for the 2015-2016 school year in a meeting in April 2014. This fall will be the first time that Oak Ridge has had a balanced calendar. [Read more…]

20th Anniversary Tennessee Valley Corridor Summit at ETSU May 27-28

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Tennessee Valley Corridor Logo

Submitted

The Tennessee Valley Corridor will hold its 20th Annual TVC National Summit in Johnson City at East Tennessee State University on May 27-28.

The Summit will be hosted by ETSU President Brian Noland, in cooperation with Congressman Phil Roe, with the theme “Education Fuels the TVC Economy.”

“From our region’s community colleges to our outstanding four-year universities, the Corridor has a strong foundation to prepare the next generation of the workforce,” Roe said. “As co-chairman of the Tennessee Valley Corridor Caucus, I look forward to sharing some of the work that is ongoing in Congress. The Summit will look at education from the business and industry perspective and discuss how to ensure the workforce has the skills they need to find quality jobs at home, and how our educational institutions can partner with businesses and organizations for better success, which is critical for us all to learn about.” [Read more…]

Council to consider reviewing, investigating ORPD in special meeting Friday

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Oak Ridge City Council on Feb. 9, 2015

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday, Feb. 9, agreed to a third-party review of turnover and morale in the Oak Ridge Police Department but rejected requests for two other probes. On Friday, March 27, the Council could consider reviewing or investigating the ORPD—there has been a dispute over which term to use—placing the police chief on administrative leave, or accepting a proposal from the Municipal Technical Advisory Service to conduct a 30-day review. (File photo)

 

The Oak Ridge City Council will consider whether to review or investigate the Oak Ridge Police Department during a special meeting on Friday, March 27. The Council will also consider whether to place the police chief on administrative leave during the investigation, if one is conducted.

City Council members Trina Baughn and Rick Chinn called for the special meeting earlier this month, and it was set for this Friday, March 27. Baughn and Chinn asked to set the parameters of an investigation and possibly select an investigator during the special meeting. They also asked to discuss and possibly vote on placing the police chief on administrative leave during the investigation.

Once it became clear that the special meeting would be called, Council members Ellen Smith and Charlie Hensley asked to consider selecting a reviewer to conduct the police review, as opposed to an investigation, approved in February. [Read more…]