Oak Ridge Today

Election is Thursday

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The Anderson County general election and state and federal primary elections are Thursday.

Competitive races include the Democratic and Republican primaries for U.S. Senate, Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives in District 33 in Anderson County, an Anderson County Commission seat in District 6 in Oak Ridge, and seats on the Anderson County School Board.

Voters can cast ballots in the county general election and either the Democratic or Republican state and federal primary election.

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Kairos Power begins construction on demonstration reactor​

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Kairos Power has started construction on a test nuclear reactor in west Oak Ridge. The Hermes Low-Power Demonstration Reactor is the first of its type to be approved for construction by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the first non-light-water reactor to be permitted in the U.S. in more than 50 years, a press release said. (Image courtesy Kairos Power)

Kairos Power has started construction on a test nuclear reactor in west Oak Ridge.

The Hermes Low-Power Demonstration Reactor is the first of its type to be approved for construction by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the first non-light-water reactor to be permitted in the U.S. in more than 50 years, a press release said.

The NRC approved a construction permit for the test reactor at Heritage Center industrial park, the former K-25 site, in December.

“Hermes represents a critical milestone on Kairos Power’s iterative path to commercializing advanced reactor technology,” the press release said.

Kairos Power said it has contracted with Barnard Construction Company Inc. to perform sitework and excavation at the Hermes site in Oak Ridge, and that work began earlier this month.

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County law director dies at 65

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Jay Yeager

Anderson County Law Director Nicholas “Jay” Yeager, of Clinton, died Friday. He was 65.

Yeager was assistant attorney in Anderson County from 2001 to 2006, and he has been law director since then.

“Mr. Yeager was known for his unwavering commitment to his profession and Anderson County government, having joined Anderson County nearly 23 years ago, on October 29, 2001,” officials said in a statement from Anderson County Commission Chair Tyler Mayes, Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank, and Anderson County Commission. “His expertise and leadership significantly contributed to our community. He was a constant presence at meetings, active in the operations of government, and his legacy will be felt for years to come.

“His contributions extended beyond his professional role; he was a mentor, a colleague, and a friend to many. In his committed dedication to his work, he built relationships that he held for a lifetime.”

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Outdoor Pool to close for season Aug. 12

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The Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool is pictured above on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Indoor Pool to re-open Monday

The Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool will closed for the season on Monday, August 12, and the Indoor Pool will re-open Monday, July 29, after being closed for a few months for renovations.

The last day the Outdoor Pool will be open is Sunday, August 11, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for open swim, the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release.

The Puppy Pool Party, marking the official end of the season, is set for Saturday, August 17, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

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Tennis court dances recreate wartime event

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Photo courtesy Manhattan Project National Historical Park

Monthly dances by the Manhattan Project National Historical Park recreate the open-air tennis court dances that entertained 75,000 workers and their families in the Secret City during World War II.

“Put on your dancing shoes, another summer of tennis court dances are kicking off on the Jackson Square tennis courts,” a press release said.

The all-ages dances are scheduled monthly on the third Thursday.

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County wants to improve access to government services

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Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank is asking residents for help improving physical and electronic access to county government facilities and services.

A kickoff meeting for the “Access Anderson County Initiative” is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Thursday, August 1, in Room 118A of the Anderson County Courthouse at 100 North Main Street in Clinton.

“Clear and effective government signage, as well as website navigation, can help county government facilities and departments communicate effectively with citizens, as well as improve safety,” a press release said. “It can also help provide citizens with the information they need to access government and resources.”

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Candidate forums this week

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There are two forums this week in Oak Ridge featuring candidates in the Tennessee primary election and Anderson County and Roane County general elections in August.

The forums have been organized by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, and the public is invited.

Early voting begins in both counties on Friday, July 12.

The Anderson County forum is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 9. It will take place at the Oak Ridge Campus of Roane State Community College in Room 107 in the Goff Building.

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Manhattan Project Park: Walk through Wheat

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Photo courtesy National Park Service

You can walk through Wheat with a National Park Service ranger on Saturday, July 13, and learn more about the history of this community before the Manhattan Project.

Wheat was in an area that is now west Oak Ridge, and it was one of the communities displaced by the Manhattan Project, a top-secret federal program to build the world’s first atomic bombs during World War II.

The free July 13 walk is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

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Oak Ridge announces Independence Day concert, fireworks

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Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge

The City of Oak Ridge is sponsoring its annual fireworks show to celebrate Independence Day. The display will be held in Alvin K. Bissell Park on July 4, and it is scheduled to begin at dark, around 9:45 p.m.

The Oak Ridge Community Band will perform prior to the fireworks, a press release said. The concert is free, but donations are accepted by the band to help cover the cost of equipment and other expenses. The music is expected to begin at 7:30 p.m.

Anyone planning to attend is advised to bring a lawn chair or blanket for outdoor seating. A safety zone will be established by the Oak Ridge Fire Department, the press release said. Please sit only in the designated areas. The walking trail and most of A.K. Bissell Park will be closed for safety reasons during the fireworks show and set up.

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Paddle with a Ranger: Learn about Clinch River Valley history

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Bring your human-powered watercraft and explore the history of life on the Clinch River on Saturday.

“On a quiet bend of Melton Hill Lake sits the oldest surviving structure in Oak Ridge, the Freels Bend Cabin dating back to 1810,” the National Park Service said. “On a 1.5-mile roundtrip paddle from Guinn Park, explore the history of the Clinch River Valley leading up to the Manhattan Project.”

Note: This is a paddle program on Melton Hill Lake. Freels Bend Cabin is on U.S. Department of Energy property, and no landings will be permitted. 

The trip is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 22. To participate, please bring your own self-propelled watercraft. No boats are provided by the NPS.

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Learn about K-25 history with park ranger Saturday

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K-25 (Image credit: U.S. Department of Energy/Ed Westcott)

You can get an introduction to the history of the K-25 plant, which once had the world’s largest building, with a National Park Service ranger on Saturday.

K-25 was built as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project during World War II. That was a federal program to build the world’s first atomic bomb, before Germany could.

Saturday’s talk is titled “K-25: Enriching Uranium in Happy Valley.” It is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. at the K-25 Overlook across from the K-25 site, which is now known as Heritage Center or East Tennessee Technology Park. The talk is free, and it is expected to last about one hour.

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Victory & pollinator gardens open to public June 1

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Victory and pollinator gardens at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge will be open to the public on Saturday, June 1, the Manhattan Project National Historical Park said.

The gardens will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 1 for the Seeds of Victory Program, the park said in a newsletter.

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