Oak Ridge Today

Amateur Radio Club demonstrates World War II-era military radio at Secret City Festival

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Sterling Edmunds of the Roane County Amateur Radio Club explains historical communication to visitors during the Secret City Festival. In the background are working, restored military “morale” radios and receivers from WWII and the Cold War. (Submitted photo)

Sterling Edmunds of the Roane County Amateur Radio Club explains historical communication to visitors during the Secret City Festival. In the background are working, restored military “morale” radios and receivers from World War II and the Cold War. (Submitted photo)

 

By Kathryn King

The Oak Ridge Amateur Radio Club demonstrated World War II-era military radio communications Friday and Saturday as part of the Secret City Festival. The group also hosted communications as part of the National Parks on the Air Program, celebrating the centennial of the National Park Service and the newly established Manhattan Project National Historical Park. A special event radio call sign, N4M, was issued for this event. The concurrence of these three events represented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for local amateur radio operators.

Approximately 200 people visited the exhibit, which, along with live, on-the-air radio operations, also featured replays of historic broadcasts, such as news programs from World War II, including the announcement of the existence of Oak Ridge and the Manhattan Project. [Read more…]

U.S. Cellular, Boys & Girls Clubs partner to improve STEM education, career exploration

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Boys and Girls Clubs of the Clinch Valley Logo

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U.S. Cellular and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Clinch Valley in Oak Ridge announced a donation of $5,000 for 2016 science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM, programming.

This contribution will expand efforts to help Oak Ridge students succeed in school and prepare for future careers, a press release said. Together with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, U.S. Cellular is committed to building better communities by championing K-12 educational programs.

This is the second year U.S. Cellular will support academic programming at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Clinch Valley and nearly 60 additional club locations this year, with an emphasis on promoting literacy, STEM learning, and career exploration and preparation, the press release said. [Read more…]

VP Humphrey’s executive assistant to be guest speaker at AC Democratic Women’s Club on Monday

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John Stewart

John Stewart

John G. Stewart, who served as executive assistant to Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, will be the guest speaker at the Monday, April 25, meeting of the Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club. The club meets at 6 p.m. at the Clinton Community Center, which is at 101 South Hicks Street in Clinton.

Stewart, who was also a legislative assistant to Vice President Humphrey when he served in the U.S. Senate, will speak on a topic titled “The Privatization Scam: Once Again the People Lose.”

“Stewart has raised concerns about Governor Bill Haslam’s efforts to turn publicly-owned assets in Tennessee, including state parks, prisons, state universities and colleges, and other facilities, over to private management,” a press release said.

Stewart served as vice president of Tennessee Valley Authority for economic and community development and assistant general manager of administration at the Tennessee Valley Authority. Before that, he was staff director of two subcommittees in the U.S. Senate and served as director of communications for the Democratic National Committee. [Read more…]

Two ORHS seniors win Brad Sturm scholarships

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Sean Badurina, Mel Sturm, and Jade Lesher

Sean Badurina and Jade Lesher are winners of the Brad Sturm Memorial Scholarships established by businessman Mel Sturm (center). (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Schools)

 

Sean Badurina and Jade Lesher, two seniors at Oak Ridge High School, were selected by the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge as recipients of the Brad Sturm Memorial Scholarships for 2016.

Sean, who likes to build machines and take them apart to see how they work, said he plans to attend the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and major in mechanical engineering.

Jade, president of the ORHS drama club with eight years of theater experience and section leader in the marching band, plans to attend UT in Knoxville and major in political science.

To qualify for the scholarships, first established 40 years ago by 92-year-old businessman Mel Sturm, ORHS students this year had to read Larry Arnn’s 2015 book “Churchill’s Trial: Winston Churchill and the Salvation of Free Government.” [Read more…]

ORION astronomy club to feature talk on origin of universe, life on Earth

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Bob Compton

Bob Compton

The ORION astronomy club will have a discussion of the origin of the universe and life on Earth during a talk next week.

The talk will be presented by Robert N. Compton, senior corporate fellow emeritus, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and professor emeritus (physics and chemistry), University of Tennessee.

His talk is titled “On the Origin of the Universe and Life on Earth.”

Humans have long desired to understand our origin and place in the grand cosmos, a press release said. [Read more…]

Boys & Girls Club Gala is Saturday—enjoy the evening, support youth

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Boys-Girls-Club-Clinch-Valley-Gala-2016The Boys & Girls Club of Oak Ridge has its Gala 2016 on Saturday, February 13.

The Gala includes dinner, dancing, and an auction. Tickets are $100 per person, and black tie attire is encouraged. You must be 21 to attend.

“This will be a beautiful evening to celebrate an early Valentine’s Day and support the youth in our community!” organizers said.

The Gala is from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Oak Ridge.

You can contact Boys & Girls Club staff or board members for tickets, or you can email Jennifer Pettyjohn at [email protected]. You can also visit the event page here.

Copyright 2016 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Sunset Rotary expands Da Vinci Arts, Science Fair; winners announced today

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In 2016, the Oak Ridge Sunset Rotary Club expanded its annual Da Vinci Arts and Science Fair to include middle school grades. The middle school fair is being held today (Saturday, January 30) at the New Hope Center in Oak Ridge.

Winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony in the New Hope Center auditorium at the Y-12 National Security Complex at 3 p.m. Saturday. That will be preceded by an afternoon open house with all entries will be available for viewing. All participants, parents, teachers, and the public are invited to attend.

The middle school grades arts and science fair provides a gateway for students to participate in other regional science fairs. Science project winners in grades 6-8 will qualify to participate in the Junior Division of the Southern Appalachian Science and Engineering Fair to be held in Knoxville April 4-7. [Read more…]

Partnership benefits Children’s Museum, model railroaders

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Knoxville-Area-Model-Railroaders-Tutt-Acly-December-2015

Brad Tutt, left, and Peter Acly, with the Knoxville Area Model Railroaders, run a model of the American Freedom Train at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge. The train with its steam engine is a replica of the 1976 train that carried symbols of America throughout the country to celebrate its 200th birthday. (Submitted photo)

 

Larry Burkholder grew up next to the railroad tracks in Portsmouth, Ohio, where the mainlines of the Norfolk and Western Railroad guided thundering steam engines through town.

“I spent a lot of time next to the tracks, to the consternation of my parents. It just got into my blood back then, all the big and smoky steam engines. You’d stand beside them and cinders would blow down on you head,” Burkholder recalled. That childhood experience inspired a lifelong interest in model railroading, though it wasn’t until he retired that he had the time and space to set up a train layout in his basement.

He joined the Knoxville Area Model Railroaders soon after that, and the donation of an extensive model train layout by Milton Lloyd and his family to the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge kicked off a long-term and mutually beneficial relationship linking the museum with Burkholder and the model railroaders. [Read more…]

Alexander to visit Oak Ridge, Knoxville, Johnson City this week

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U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander

Lamar Alexander

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander will visit Oak Ridge, Knoxville, and Johnson City this week. The senator’s stops on Thursday include the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Manufacturing Demonstration Facility on Cherahala Boulevard in Knoxville and the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge.

The visits start at the Johnson City on Wednesday, where Alexander will deliver remarks at the Upper East Tennessee Chamber Luncheon and will be presented with the Spirit of Enterprise Award, which recognizes members of Congress who consistently cast votes that help businesses create jobs, a press release said.

Also Wednesday, the senator will visit Rocky Fork to commemorate the completion of efforts to protect the largest unprotected tract of land in the Southern Appalachians, the press release said. The Conservation Fund, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation will host the event to celebrate the final transfer of land for inclusion into the Cherokee National Forest. [Read more…]

Boys, Girls Club releases football, cheerleading sign-up info

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Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge

The Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge have released fall sports sign-up information for youth tackle football, youth cheerleading, and Oak Ridge High School Football Camp.

See this PDF for more information: Boys and Girls Club Fall Sports Sign Up 2015.

Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club has summer picnic Saturday

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The Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club will host a summer picnic Saturday, June 20, at Gibbs Ferry Park between Oak Ridge and Clinton.

All Democrats and families are invited to attend, a press release said. The picnic is a Democratic tradition, and it starts at 11 a.m. Saturday, the release said.

Hot dogs and accompaniments will be provided, and those attending are invited to bring a side dish or dessert to share. The press release said. there is no charge, but donations are welcome. Jenny the Donkey, who came to last year’s picnic, is expected to put in an appearance again. [Read more…]

Drug Awareness Day at Oak Ridge Pool on Saturday, June 6

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Drug Awareness Day at the Oak Ridge Pool

The Third Annual Drug Awareness Day is at the Oak Ridge Municipal Pool on Saturday, June 6.

It’s hosted by the Oak Ridge Chapter of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks. The pool is located at 172 Providence Road, near Oak Ridge High School.

Drug Awareness demonstrations will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. June 6 inside the pool area. Hundreds of prizes will be given away to those participating in a drug awareness activity, a press release said. Some of the prizes include T-shirts, coloring books, and Frisbees.

This event is a partnership with Anderson County Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, Oak Ridge City Recreation and Parks Department, Roane County Anti-Drug Coalition, and the Tennessee Meth and Pharmaceutical Task Force. [Read more…]