Oak Ridge Today

Sponsored: Insurance agent honored by National Society of CIC

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Cyndi Jeffers

Cyndi Jeffers

Cynthia C. Jeffers, CIC, of S&R Insurance Services, was recently recognized for professional leadership and advanced knowledge by the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors (CIC), a leading national insurance professional organization.

Jeffers was awarded a certificate marking more than 25 years of participation as a designated CIC, which requires annual completion of advanced education and training.

“Cyndi’s ongoing allegiance and support of the CIC Program is a testament to the value she places on ‘real world’ education and customer satisfaction,” said William T. Hold, CIC, CPCU, CLU, president of the Society of CIC.

The CIC Program is nationally recognized as the premier continuing education program for insurance professionals, with programs offered in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, the Society of CIC is a not-for-profit organization and the founding program of The National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research.

Learn more about S&R Insurance Services here.

Construction work starts on $1 million rebuild at Jackson Square

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Jackson Square Parking Lot Fencing

A work crew began installing construction fencing between the city-owned parking lot and the sidewalk in front of businesses at the U-shaped Jackson Square shopping center on Monday. It’s the start of a $1 million rebuild of the parking lot in the city’s original town center. 

 

Construction work has started on the $1 million rebuild of the parking lot area at Jackson Square, Oak Ridge’s original town center.

Crews started putting up construction fencing on Monday. Project executives and city officials plan to complete the work in 180 days, or roughly six months—before the Lavender Festival in June.

The construction contract was awarded to Rich Construction Inc. of Lenoir City by the Oak Ridge City Council in October. [Read more…]

Pellissippi State confirms presidential visit to college, Techmer PM in Clinton

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President Barack Obama

President Barack Obama

 

Pellissippi State Community College has confirmed that President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and Biden’s wife Jill will stop at Pellissippi State Community College during their visit to East Tennessee on Friday.

The college confirmed the visit in an announcement posted on its website. The president, vice president, and the vice president’s wife will stop at Pellissippi State in west Knox County to discuss new initiatives that Obama will propose to help Americans go to college and get the skills they need to succeed, the college said.

Afterward, the three will travel to Techmer PM in Clinton to highlight the administration’s efforts to act to create new, well-paying manufacturing jobs, the announcement said. [Read more…]

President Obama, VP Biden, wife coming to ET on Friday

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President Barack Obama

President Barack Obama

Information from WYSH Radio

President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and the vice president’s wife, Jill Biden, are coming to East Tennessee on Friday to announce a new higher education initiative.

The White House announced the Tennessee visit on Saturday as part of a week-long, cross-country tour to promote presidential policies on housing, economic development, and education.

Knoxville media reported that Obama and Biden will visit Pellissippi State Community College and then stop by Techmer PM, a Clinton company that makes additive and colorant systems for industries. [Read more…]

Tennessee again named economic development ‘State of the Year’

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Governor Bill Haslam

Bill Haslam

Tennessee first state to win award in back-to-back years

NASHVILLE—Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam announced Monday that Business Facilities, a leading national publication focused on site selection and economic development, has named Tennessee its 2014 State of the Year for a second consecutive year.

Tennessee becomes the first state in the award’s history to win back-to-back honors for economic development efforts and the first state to win the designation three times, winning in 2014, 2013, and 2009, a press release said.

“It is an honor to be the first state to receive this recognition two years in a row,” Haslam said. “We have a great story to tell in Tennessee. Businesses continue to make the decision to locate, expand and grow here, and we are grateful for those strong partnerships. We will continue doing all we can to make sure we offer an attractive business climate and skilled workforce to be the number one location in the Southeast for high quality jobs.” [Read more…]

Kristy Neckowicz appointed president of InVizion LLC, a Pro2Serve subsidiary

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Kristy Neckowicz

Kristy Neckowicz

Professional Project Services Inc., or Pro2Serve, has appointed Kristy Tan Neckowicz as president of its software subsidiary, InVizion LLC.

Neckowicz has served as the senior vice president of InVizion since March 2014.

“InVizion develops and markets project portfolio management (PPM) applications that allow executives and managers to rapidly address the impact of changing resource constraints, objectively develop and optimize revised execution strategies, and clearly communicate resulting critical decisions to stakeholders,” a press release said. [Read more…]

Gas sells for less than $2 per gallon in Clinton, Anderson County

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Git 'N Go Gas Station in Clinton

Gas was selling for $1.98 per gallon at several stations near Interstate 75 on State Route 61 in Clinton on Thursday, including at this Git ‘N Go Market, right, and at a BP station, left, across the street.

 

Gas was selling for less than $2 per gallon at several gas stations in Clinton and Anderson County on Thursday.

At least three gas stations near Interstate 75 and State Route 61 in Clinton were selling regular unleaded gasoline for $1.98 per gallon. Several other gas stations in Anderson County along SR 61, which turns into Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge, were also selling fuel for $1.98. [Read more…]

Sen. McNally receives Champion of Commerce award from state, city chambers

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Randy McNally

Randy McNally

The Tennessee and Oak Ridge chambers of commerce have awarded the Champion of Commerce award to Senator Randy McNally, a press release said.

It said the award is presented locally in coordination with the Tennessee Chamber and local chambers of commerce.

“The prestigious award recognizes individuals that exemplify outstanding achievement promoting business and free enterprise during the 2013–2014 108th General Assembly,” the release said. [Read more…]

Thanks to your support, Oak Ridge Today traffic up 30-40 percent in 2014

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We hope everyone has enjoyed their holidays, and we also want to wish you a Happy New Year! We also want to share some good news: Thanks to your support, Oak Ridge Today continues to grow.

We checked our Google Analytics website statistics for 2014, and here’s what they show:

  • Oak Ridge Today had 435,187 users in 2014;
  • 927,739 sessions; and
  • 1.75 million page views.

[Read more…]

Afraid of heights? This work might not be for you

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Telecommunications Tower Work

A crew was working high above the ground at the top of a telecommunications tower on Tuskegee Drive, near East Tulsa Road, on Wednesday. A Barnhart crane was also at the site. Here are a few pictures. [Read more…]

Photos: Downtown Shopping Center

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Crowd Outside Walgreen Drugs on December 2, 1955

A crowd outside Walgreen Drugs at the former Downtown Shopping Center on December 2, 1955. (Photos courtesy Don Hunnicutt/Ed Westcott)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 8:20 a.m. Dec. 31.

After we learned that Guilford Glazer died last week, we asked Don Hunnicutt if he or Ed Westcott, the government’s official photographer in Oak Ridge during World War II, had any pictures of the former Downtown Shopping Center that we might use on Oak Ridge Today. Don sent five pictures Tuesday morning. (Thank you, Don and Ed!)

Glazer, who was born in Knoxville, died last week in Beverly Hills, California, at 93. His company built the former Downtown Shopping Center in Oak Ridge in the 1950s, and he still owns property in Oak Ridge and Knoxville. [Read more…]

Area credit unions join to launch CU Community Title Company LLC

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Submitted

CU Community and Credit Union Services of East Tennessee, or CUSET, have teamed up to launch CU Community Title Company LLC, effective January 2, 2015.

The joint venture represents a groundbreaking collaboration between East Tennessee’s most successful subsidiaries of ORNL Federal Credit Union and Y-12 Federal Credit Union, both headquartered in Oak Ridge, a press release said.

“Title companies are a natural extension of the mortgage business,” said Ron Honeycutt, CUSET chairman. “Y-12 FCU and ORNL FCU are two of the area’s largest and most successful mortgage providers. Forming a title company gives us added flexibility in meeting the mortgage needs of our respective membership, while ensuring they receive the best value, convenience, and peace of mind.” [Read more…]