Oak Ridge Today

Cub Scouts, Elks collect donated items to help Oklahoma tornado victims

Posted at
By 3 Comments

Moore, Oklahoma, Tornado Damage

Members of the Oklahoma National Guard’s 63rd Civil Support Team conduct search and rescue operations in response to the EF-5 tornado that ripped through the center of Moore, Okla., on May 20. (Photo by The National Guard/Used under a Creative Commons license)

Since the tragic storms that struck Moore, Okla., on May 20, the Cub Scout Pack 226 of Linden Elementary School and Oak Ridge Elks Lodge #1684 have begun a donation drive to aid victims of deadly tornadoes.

“A generous donation from EnergySolutions of Oak Ridge has put us well on our way,” a press release said.

The Oak Ridge Elks Lodge has offered their facility at 684 Emory Valley Road as a donation center for anyone that wishes to help the community fill a truck with the relief items for the victims of these deadly tornadoes, the press release said. The Cub Scouts will be assembling “comfort kits” for donation to the American Red Cross. These kits contain hygiene items, toothbrush, comb, razor, soap, and other items to give to disaster victims as first-need items. [Read more…]

ORCMA elects officers, appoints board members

Posted at
By 1 Comment

Carmen DeLong and Carol Plasil

Carmen DeLong, left, and Carol Plasil were recently appointed to the board of the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association. (Submitted photo)

The Oak Ridge Civic Music Association recently elected new officers and appointed four new board members to its organization, a press release said.

New officers are Audrey Stelson and Syd Ball, co-presidents; Richard Ward, vice president; John Gunning, treasurer; and Jerry Eddlemon, secretary.

Board members added to the organization include Carmen DeLong, Carol Plasil, Alicia Randisi-Hooker, and Mary Childress. [Read more…]

Free community meal at ORUUC this evening

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

ORUUC Community Meal

Poppy Sherline and her father Todd at a recent Stone Soup Ministry meal. The two are part of the team of regular volunteers who lend a hand at the ORUUC free monthly community meal. (Submitted photo)

Everyone is welcome to come to a free community meal at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church this evening, a press release said.

Tonight’s menu includes Southwestern bean salad, tortilla chips, chocolate chip granola bars, and icy cold watermelon. Dine-in or take-out will be available from 5 to 6 p.m.

ORUUC is located at 1500 Oak Ridge Turnpike (traffic light number 11) in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

‘Do the math’ about fossil fuels, global warming, activist says

Posted at
By 2 Comments

Bill McKibben

Bill McKibben

Since April 21, environmental activist Bill McKibben’s “Do the Math” movie has been shown around the nation and world. Its message is that catastrophic climate change looms large this century if fossil fuel use is not restricted.

In Oak Ridge, the movie has been shown several times at First Presbyterian Church, which is sponsoring McKibben’s lecture on Sunday, Aug. 18, at 7 p.m. at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center. The movie can be downloaded from McKibben’s grassroots organization www.350.org.

The author of two classics of environmental literature, “The End of Nature,” and “Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet,” McKibben had the movie made after 350.org’s successful “Do the Math” tour of cities last fall. “Global Warming’s Terrifying New Math,” McKibben’s article a year ago in Rolling Stone magazine, inspired the tour. [Read more…]

Residents, pastors celebrate ‘In God We Trust’ signs on Anderson County Courthouse

Posted at
By 99 Comments

Bates Family of Lake City TN

The Bates family of Anderson County, including County Commissioner Zach Bates, left, and father and pastor Gil Bates, second from right, and mother Kelly Bates, right, sing “This Land is Your Land” and “God Bless America” during a Tuesday ceremony for new “In God We Trust” signs at the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton.

CLINTON—In a ceremony that featured pastors, prayers, and patriotic songs, a group of about 150 people watched Tuesday morning as the first of four signs emblazoned with the national motto “In God We Trust” was unveiled at the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton.

Supporters celebrated the installation of the seven-foot, 180-pound sign as a victory for the majority, a chance to honor the nation’s heritage.

“Whether you agree with this or disagree with this, the democratic process took place,” said Tom Byrge, director of missions for Clinton Baptist Association. “The majority of the U.S. citizens will continue to believe, and will not be ashamed to say, ‘In God We Trust.’” [Read more…]

Picture: United Way celebrates ‘Christmas in July’

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

United Way Christmas in July

United Way of Anderson County kicked off its annual campaign with a “Christmas in July” fundraiser at the DoubleTree Hotel in Oak Ridge on July 13. Proceeds will help fund UWAC’s 34 agency partners and their three core areas of service: providing basic needs, developing our youth, and enabling seniors to live with honor. (Photo by D. Ray Smith)

United Way of Anderson County kicked off its annual campaign with a “Christmas in July” fundraiser at the DoubleTree Hotel in Oak Ridge on July 13. The evening included a cocktail hour, silent auction, buffet dinner, ugly Christmas sweater contest, and a live auction.

Proceeds from this year’s event will help fund UWAC’s 34 agency partners and their three core areas of service: providing basic needs, developing our youth, and enabling seniors to live with honor.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory kicked off its United Way campaign in June with the help of University of Tennessee football coach Butch Jones. [Read more…]

Habitat for Humanity seeks USDA grant for critical home repair in rural Anderson County

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County, or HFHAC, is seeking U.S. Department of Agriculture Section 533 grant funding through the Housing Preservation Grant Program in order to provide critical home repairs and weatherization services to very low and low income homeowners. As part of their grant application, HFHAC would like to announce a Statement of Activities and encourage the public to express any concerns or make any suggestions to assist in the proposed project. [Read more…]

UT Arboretum Society has presentation on NOAA weather station

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

UT Arboretum Weather Station

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society is sponsoring a presentation this evening on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s weather station at the UT Arboretum in Oak Ridge. (Image courtesy of UT)

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society is sponsoring a presentation this evening (Monday, July 22) on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s weather station located at the UT Arboretum in Oak Ridge.

The program will be led by Tilden Meyers, deputy director of the Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Division of NOAA.  A scientist with NOAA for nearly 28 years, Meyers has worked on issues related to acid deposition, air quality, and climate change. Much of his research is focused on land-atmosphere interactions, particularly the role various land surface types (grasslands, forests, crops) play in both the water and carbon cycles and how these are affected by significant climatic events such as droughts and extreme temperature events, a press release said. [Read more…]

Boys and Girls Club raffle features Coach Gaddis, $10,000 grand prize

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Joe Gaddis

Football coach Joe Gaddis will be the master of ceremonies at a July 27 reverse raffle for the Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge. (Photo courtesy D. Ray Smith)

The Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge is holding a reverse raffle on Saturday, July 27, at Lincoln’s Sports Grille. The grand prize is $10,000.

The special guest master of ceremonies is Oak Ridge High School Football Coach Joe Gaddis.

“If anyone hasn’t had the opportunity to welcome Coach Gaddis back, this would be a great opportunity to do so,” said Ann Likens, chief volunteer officer of the Oak Ridge Unit Board. “This is always a fun event for the people that attend, and we think this year will be even more so. We really want the community to come out, have some fun, and support the Boys and Girls Club.” [Read more…]

Climate change to be discussed at Saturday afternoon event

Posted at
By 3 Comments

An event organized by a nonprofit set up to support President Barack Obama is hosting a Saturday afternoon event meant to raise awareness about climate change.

The event—”Turn Up the Heat on Climate Change”—is scheduled from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the planned new home of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church in front of the Joe L. Evins Federal Building. It’s been set up by Organizing for Action. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge emergency workers, preschool checking child car seats

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Child Seat Safety Checkpoint

The Oak Ridge police and fire departments have teamed up with the Oak Ridge Schools’ Preschool and East Tennessee Children’s Hospital to have a quarterly child seat safety checkpoint. By mid-morning Thursday, they had replaced seven expired or damaged seats.

The Oak Ridge police and fire departments have teamed up with the Oak Ridge Schools’ Preschool and East Tennessee Children’s Hospital to have a quarterly child seat safety checkpoint.

By mid-morning Thursday, the team had replaced seven expired or damaged seats.

The free safety checkpoint continued until 12:30 p.m. Friday on New York Avenue across from the preschool. Car seats were checked and installed by certified technicians.

On Friday night, Oak Ridge Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Josh Waldo said the team had checked 72 car seats and removed 31 unsafe seats.

“Great to know that we have made 31 kids that much safer over the past two days,” Waldo said. [Read more…]

Forensic tooth doctor featured at community lecture Thursday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Mike Tabor

Mike Tabor

The 16th Annual Dick Smyser Community Lecture Series continues on Thursday, July 18, and it will feature Dr. Mike Tabor, chief forensic odontologist for the Tennessee State Medical Examiner’s Office. He will discuss “Forensic Identification at Ground Zero and Other High Profile Cases.”

The event is sponsored by Friends of ORNL. It’s free of charge and will be held at the American Museum of Science and Energy at 300 S. Tulane Ave. in Oak Ridge.

The lecture by Tabor starts at 6 p.m., and a reception and a book signing starts at 7 p.m. (snacks will be served). This talk should be of interest to the general public. [Read more…]