Oak Ridge Today



 










Renovated Blankenship Field open for public use

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Blankenship-Field-James-Mitchell-Aug-2019
The renovated Blankenship Field—the city’s football field—and its walking track are now open for public use. The main change is that the grass field has been replaced with synthetic turf, but there are other changes as well. The field is pictured above in August 2019. (Photo by James Mitchell via City of Oak Ridge)

The renovated Blankenship Field—the city’s football field—and its walking track are now open for public use.

The main change is that the grass field has been replaced with synthetic turf, but there are other changes as well, including to scoreboards and end zone areas.

The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department and Oak Ridge Schools announced the opening of the renovated field on Tuesday.

The field and track are accessible through a gate adjacent to the lower concession stand, a press release said. Like other public park facilities, public use is permitted from sunup to sundown, except when the field is reserved for special events, the press release said.

[Read more…]

Advertisement

Waste Connections will no longer accept glass for recycling

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Waste Connections of Tennessee, the city’s garbage contractor, will stop accepting glass for recycling next week (Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019). The glass has been accepted for recycling at the Convenience Center on Warehouse Road in east Oak Ridge, pictured above on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Waste Connections of Tennessee, the city’s garbage contractor, will stop accepting glass for recycling next week.

The glass has been accepted for recycling at the Convenience Center in east Oak Ridge.

The last day glass will be accepted at the Convenience Center will be Thursday, August 29, the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release Tuesday.

Beginning Friday, August 30, glass should be placed with regular trash, the press release said.

[Read more…]
Advertisement

Oak Ridge Housing Authority hires executive director

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Maria Catron

Maria Catron

 

Maria Catron, deputy director of the Kingsport Housing and Redevelopment Authority, will become the executive director of the Oak Ridge Housing Authority in September.

Jean Lantrip, ORHA Board chair, announced the board’s decision to name Catron the new executive director, a press release said.

“In her visit to Oak Ridge, Maria impressed us with her serious interest in improving public housing through community projects and her history of collaborating with a number of stakeholders, including city government,” Lantrip said in the press release. “With her outgoing personality, she has the knack of connecting with everyone she meets.”

Catron, who has worked with the Kingsport housing agency since 2004, began her career there as grants and community development coordinator, later serving as Hope VI community supportive services coordinator and self-sufficiency and homeownership administrator before becoming deputy director in 2014. [Read more…]

Advertisement



Advertisement







Council to consider vet services contract, changes to property transfer agreement

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge City Council will consider a contract with a veterinarian at the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter and potential changes to the property transfer agreement with TN Oak Ridge Illinois LLC during a special meeting this evening (Tuesday, August 20).

The veterinary services contract would be with Matt Jinks of Maryville.

TN Oak Ridge Illinois LLC is the company helping to lead the redevelopment of the former American Museum of Science and Energy site, and it is affiliated with the company developing Main Street Oak Ridge at the former Oak Ridge Mall. The changes to the property transfer agreement could include extending the first tax revenue condition by one year and requiring a letter of credit for the community-oriented amenities, according to Council’s meeting agenda.

[Read more…]

Learn to outsmart scammers on Wednesday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Public Library Scam Safety Seminar Aug 21 2019

The Oak Ridge Public Library will host a lunch and learn program next week called “You Have the Power to Outsmart the Scammers” as part of World Wise Wednesdays. The presentation is scheduled for August 21 from noon until 1 p.m.

The discussion will focus on incidents of fraud and some of the complex tactics used by scammers, a press release said. A local financial adviser will lead the presentation and outline steps everyone can take to protect themselves and their loved ones from fraudulent activity, the release said.

[Read more…]

Volunteers needed for new MyRide Oak Ridge Senior Transportation Program

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

MyRide-Oak-Ridge-Training-Session
A training session for MyRide Oak Ridge Senior Transportation Program is pictured above at the Oak Ridge Civic Center. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The new MyRide Oak Ridge Senior Transportation Program is hosting its third Volunteer Driver Information and Training Session from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday, August 17, at the Oak Ridge Senior Center.

MyRide Oak Ridge began with a “soft launch” in the spring and provided its first ride on April 12, a press release said. Through the program, volunteers will use their personal vehicles to drive seniors to doctor appointments, grocery stores, pharmacies, and other essential destinations.

The program allows seniors to keep some of their independence while still participating in social activities like going to church, playing bingo at the Senior Center, or volunteering, the press release said.

[Read more…]

Puppy Pool Party is Aug. 18

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A dog enjoys the Puppy Pool Party at the Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool on Providence Road in 2016. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

The annual Puppy Pool Party is scheduled for Sunday, August 18.

The Puppy Pool Party is scheduled the day after the season ends at the city’s Outdoor Pool on Providence Road. The last day for open swim at the pool will be Saturday, August 17, from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. The Puppy Pool Party will take place on Sunday, August 18, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

“This is the fourth year for the puppy pool party, an event that marks the end of the summer swimming season at the outdoor pool,” a press release said. “Owners may only wade in water up to knee deep and must clean up after their pet.”

Children are not allowed in the pool during the event, the press release said.

[Read more…]

Fallen tree causes widespread power outages

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A fallen tree caused the widespread power outages in Oak Ridge on Sunday afternoon, city officials said.

On Monday, the city didn’t have an exact number of homes and businesses affected by the power outages after heavy rain and lightning hit Oak Ridge on Sunday afternoon. The Oak Ridge Police Department had reported on Sunday that the power outage was nearly citywide.

On Monday, the Oak Ridge Electric Department said a fallen tree along Oak Ridge Turnpike near Gum Hollow Road caused the outage on Sunday. Three substations were affected, which led to outages across much of the city. The outage lasted about one hour, the city said.

Power restored after being out across most of city

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Note: This story was updated at 4:30 p.m.

Power has been restored to most, if not all, customers after being out across nearly all of Oak Ridge on Sunday afternoon, the Oak Ridge Police Department said.

If you are still without power, you can call (865) 425-1803.

The cause of the power outages weren’t immediately clear, but there were thunderstorms over Oak Ridge on Sunday afternoon. The storms brought heavy rain and lightning and thunder.

It wasn’t immediately clear how long the power was out for different customers and where.

It would be the second major outage in Oak Ridge since mid-June, the weekend of the Secret City Festival, when the city had several electrical power outages. The most widespread outage that weekend occurred Saturday afternoon, when approximately 11,455 homes and businesses were affected across the city. The outage area included nearly everything north of the Oak Ridge Turnpike and west of Rutgers Avenue. Other areas in the central-south part of the city were also affected. Power was out for about two hour and 20 minutes.

[Read more…]

City will work to improve visibility at Tyler, Tennessee

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Tyler Road Tennessee Avenue Intersection July 29 2019
The intersection of Tyler Road and Tennessee Avenue is pictured above on Monday, July 29, 2019, looking west down Tennessee Avenue.

The City of Oak Ridge on Friday said the recommended sight distance is already available at the intersection of Tyler Road and Tennessee Avenue, where the stoplight will be removed, and the city will be taking action to improve the line of sight for drivers looking left from Tyler Road.

An Oak Ridge Today reader had asked about obstructions at the intersection that affect visibility looking left from Tyler Road to Tennessee Avenue. There are two utility poles there, as well as a hospital sign and utility box, and the reader had mentioned vegetation and the roadside hill alongside the eastbound lanes of Tennessee Avenue.

This week, City of Oak Ridge spokesperson Sarah Self said the utility box, which appears to be the widest of the obstructions next to the intersection, will be removed when the traffic signal is decommissioned in October.

Public Works crews will soon trim the trees and other vegetation there to provide an extended view, Self said.

[Read more…]

Outdoor Pool hours extended into August

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool on Providence Road is pictured above. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department is extending open hours at the outdoor pool into the month of August. The new schedule will begin on Thursday, August 1, as follows: 

  • Monday-Friday: 100-meter Lap Swim from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  • Monday-Friday: Kiddie/Shallow Open Swim from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
  • Wednesdays: After-school Open Swim from 3-8 p.m.
  • Saturday and Sunday: Open Swim from 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
[Read more…]

Stop sign going in, stoplight coming out

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The intersection of Tyler Road and Tennessee Avenue, which now includes a stoplight, is pictured above on Thursday, July 18, 2019.

A new stop sign will be installed and the traffic signal will be removed at the intersection of Tyler Road and Tennessee Avenue in the Jackson Square area in central Oak Ridge.

The new stop sign will be uncovered on Tuesday, July 23, at about 8 a.m., the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release Thursday.

“At present, both Tyler Road and Tennessee Avenue are controlled by a traffic signal,” the press release said. “The change is being made after a traffic study indicated the traffic pattern and crash history at this location does not justify the need for a traffic signal. The study also indicated that changing the right-of-way assignment to favor Tennessee Avenue will reduce delays.”

[Read more…]

About Us

About Oak Ridge Today
What We Cover

How To

Advertise
Subscribe

Contact Us

Contact Oak Ridge Today