Oak Ridge Today

Preliminary injunction stops use of Rocky Top as trademark for goods, services

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Ryan Levy

Ryan Levy

Note: This story was updated at 12:40 p.m.

A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction to stop a group of developers who are trying to revitalize the former Lake City from using Rocky Top as a trademark for goods or services.

The preliminary injunction was issued on Friday by Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas Varlan of the Eastern District of Tennessee.

The former Lake City Council changed the town’s name to Rocky Top in June 2014. The idea was to use the name change to spur developments along Interstate 75 that could be worth up to $237 million. Proposed projects include an indoor and outdoor water park, interactive theater with a children’s museum, a coal miners music theater, and laser tag, among other things. Officials had said those developments—which have also included other options such as a hotel, restaurant, and candy company—wouldn’t happen without the name change. [Read more…]

Outdoor pool opens Memorial Day weekend, full time May 30

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Oak Ridge Municipal Pool

Hundreds of swimmers enjoy the cool water at the Oak Ridge Municipal Pool on Memorial Day, 2012. (File photo)

The Oak Ridge Municipal Swimming Pool is scheduled to open full time May 30 and close August 2. Season passes, swimming lessons registration, and ORCA swim team registration all open May 1 at the Oak Ridge Civic Center front desk.

The Municipal Swimming Pool will have some new activities and schedule changes this summer. On May 23, 24, and 25, the pool will be open noon-6 p.m. for Memorial Day weekend. On May 29, the pool will be open to the public from 1 to 6 p.m. for “The Last Day of School” celebration.

On May 30, the pool will open full time with new hours. Saturday and Sunday, the pool will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, the pool will be open to the public from noon-7 p.m. Monday through Friday, the pool will be open for lap swim only on the 100-meter course from 11 a.m. to noon. Wednesday nights, the pool will re-open from 7:30-9:30 p.m. for public swimming under the lights. Other than Wednesdays, the pool is available for private party rentals from 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Visit the website at www.orrecparks.org for information on all of the swimming classes, swimming level guides, pricing, and Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department programs.

North Boundary Hike on Saturday, May 16

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North Boundary Hike 2015

The North Boundary Hike is from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 16. It’s a six-mile hike of the North Boundary Trail.

Hikers will leave the West End Guard Shack parking area at 9 a.m. May 16. They will follow the Quarry trail, make a right onto Hunley, a right onto North Boundary, and down the Big Oak Ridge connector that will take them back to the West End Guard Shack.

The hike is considered moderate in difficulty due to varied elevations and length. [Read more…]

Anderson County reappraisal shows overall 4 percent drop in total assessments

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John K. Alley Jr.

John K. Alley Jr.

By Anderson County Property Assessor’s Office

The 2015 reappraisal in Anderson County shows an overall drop in total assessments.

“In the past, values have always increased,” Anderson County Property Assessor John K. Alley Jr. said. “I promised a fair and accurate assessment for Anderson County, and I feel that is what I have delivered to the property owners.”

The primary purpose of this article is to explain the reappraisal process and set the guidelines for making an appeal, if desired.

2015 is a reappraisal year for Anderson County. [Read more…]

Anderson County budget workshops, meeting dates

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Anderson County has scheduled budget workshops and meetings for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

There will be no motions made during the budget workshops. Instead, they will include only discussion and formulation.

The workshops will be held in Room 312 in the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton at these times: [Read more…]

ORNL scientists generate landmark DOE hydropower report

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2014 Hydropower Market Report Cover

The 2014 Hydropower Market Report provides comprehensive data and trends useful for industry and policymakers. (Submitted by ORNL)

 

For the first time, industry and policymakers have a comprehensive report detailing the U.S. hydropower fleet’s 2,198 plants that provide about 7 percent of the nation’s electricity.

The 98-page report by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers Rocio Uria-Martinez, Patrick O’Connor, and Megan Johnson is a resource that describes key features of the nation’s hydro resources and systematically tracks trends that have influenced the industry in recent years.

“The people who make critical decisions about U.S. hydropower can now turn to one place to find information that has broad implications,” said Uria-Martinez, who noted that the existing fleet has been constructed over the course of an entire century. “Hydropower has a long history but also a promising future as it continues to grow and play a key role in the nation’s power system.”

People who access the report can easily search the database to make highly informed decisions that have a direct impact on the lives of potentially millions of people, Uria-Martinez said. [Read more…]

Student loan debt challenges, solutions to be discussed Monday

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Student loan debt challenges and solutions will be discussed during a Monday evening meeting of the Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club.

The featured speaker will be Beth Hickman, who is on the Tennessee Democratic Party Executive Committee and a former field representative for Congressman Lincoln Davis.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. Monday, April 27, in the Clinton Community Center Club Room at 101 South Hicks Street in Clinton. There will be free pizza and soft drinks.

“Student loan debt is a huge challenge for students and the economy,” organizers said. “Student loan debt is at a record high of $1.1 trillion,” according to the New York Times, organizers said.

They said student loans are now the second-largest source of consumer debt in the country, surpassed only by home mortgages, and an average undergraduate borrower leaves college $30,000 in debt.

AC Animal Welfare Task Force meets Thursday

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The next meeting of the Anderson County Animal Welfare Task Force will be at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 30, in Room 118A at the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton.

AC committee to discuss review of law director’s office on May 4

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The Anderson County Legal Services Advisory Committee will discuss the review of the law director’s office during a May 4 meeting.

The committee approved the third-party review in February. It was proposed by Anderson County Commissioner Myron Iwanski and modeled after the proposal to review turnover, morale, and administrative policies in the Oak Ridge Police Department.

The review of the Anderson County law director’s office could use County Technical Assistance Service, or CTAS, at the University of Tennessee. The ORPD review could use Municipal Technical Advisory Service, or MTAS. [Read more…]

Gooch to discuss positive developments, challenges, community survey

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Warren Gooch

Warren Gooch

Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch will give an update on positive developments and identify challenges during a lunchtime meeting on Tuesday, May 5. Gooch will also discuss the results of a recent community survey and could discuss other issues that affect Oak Ridge, a press release said.

The mayor will be the guest speaker at Lunch with the League on Tuesday, May 5. The program will start at noon in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

The press release said Gooch ran for Oak Ridge City Council in 2014 because he believed in Oak Ridge, had great pride in a city with an unparalleled history of accomplishments, and wanted to be an active part of the city’s future. He was elected in November 2014 and then chosen by fellow City Council member to serve as Oak Ridge mayor. [Read more…]

ORPD review expanded to include all employees, some former workers

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Oak Ridge Police Department Cars

But MTAS will have to agree to changes

The review of the Oak Ridge Police Department has been expanded to include interviews with all employees. The review could also include interviews with former employees who have left the Police Department since Police Chief Jim Akagi started almost four years ago.

Initial plans had called for a limited review of the Oak Ridge Police Department and interviews of a random sample or cross-section of employees.

But the Oak Ridge City Council expanded the review during a special meeting on Tuesday. That special meeting was called after concerns were raised about the initial list of randomly selected interviewees being sent to the police chief, city manager, and all Police Department employees, which raised questions about the impartiality and confidentiality of the review.

By one estimate, the expanded review could include interviews with more than 100 people. And it’s not clear if the Municipal Technical Advisory Service at the University of Tennessee will agree to the expanded review, or if they might charge the city.

The City Council agreed to expand the review during a three-hour special meeting on Tuesday that included criticism of MTAS, accusations of collusion between Council members, and an attempt by Council member Trina Baughn to have resident Joe Lee, one of her chief critics, stop taking pictures during a public comment session. [Read more…]

Alternatives to Incarceration meets April 29

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There will be a meeting to discuss updates to the Anderson County Alternatives to Incarceration program on Wednesday, April 29.

The meeting starts at 4 p.m. April 29 at the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton in Room 118 A.

The notice was sent by Mary Ann Young, the new director of the Alternatives to Incarceration program.