Oak Ridge Today

Whittler, woodworker Bill Henry earns prestigious arts award

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Bill Henry

Bill Henry

Oak Ridge resident, whittler, and woodworker Bill Henry was one of 10 people to earn a Governor’s Arts Award for representing the best in arts and culture in Tennessee in 2015.

Henry won a Folklife Heritage Award. He will receive the award, considered Tennessee’s highest honor in the arts, from Governor Bill Haslam and First Lady Crissy Haslam on March 17.

Distinguished artists honored include Mary Costa, Dr. Bobby Jones, B.B. King, Loretta Lynn, and Cormac McCarthy, a press release said.

“We want to congratulate the recipients for their incredible work adding to the rich cultural heritage of Tennessee,” Governor Haslam said. “Their dedication, leadership, and contributions to the arts have enhanced our way of life and will continue to influence Tennesseans for many years to come.”

The 2015 recipients are: [Read more…]

Updated: Waste Connections won’t pick up garbage Tuesday

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Note: This story was updated at 12:15 p.m.

Waste Connections trucks are “slipping and sliding” on local roads, and they won’t be picking up garbage today (Tuesday, February 24).

So, the company will begin Wednesday by picking up Tuesday’s route for refuse and recyclables, and then move on to Wednesday as time allows until workers are caught up, officials said. [Read more…]

Anderson committee approves third-party review of law director’s office

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Legal Services Advisory Committee Meeting

Resident Larry Ownby, right, addresses the Legal Services Advisory Committee on Monday.

 

Note: This story was updated at 11:57 a.m.

CLINTON—An Anderson County committee on Monday agreed to conduct a third-party review of the county law director’s office. But the move didn’t appear to be enough to satisfy those who have sought to have the law director removed from office.

The review was unanimously approved by the Legal Services Advisory Committee on a voice vote after hearing from a handful of residents, including the man who has helped lead the ouster effort. Some of those who spoke continued to raise concerns about Anderson County Law Director Jay Yeager, including some charges that appeared to be new, while others said they supported Yeager and have not been persuaded by the arguments or complaints against him.

The third-party review was proposed by Anderson County Commissioner Myron Iwanski.

“I’m not accusing Jay of anything,” said Iwanski, who modeled his proposal after a recent resolution to review turnover, morale, and administrative policies in the Oak Ridge Police Department. “It’s not an investigation. We’re just getting a review of practices.” [Read more…]

AC Legal Services Advisory Committee meets this evening

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The Anderson County Legal Services Advisory Committee will meet on Monday, February 23, at 5 p.m. in Room 312 of the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton.

This meeting will be for any other issues, not included in the ouster suit submission or its appeal, which is now before the state courts, that the public or any committee member wishes to address to the committee regarding the Anderson County Legal Services Advisory Committee and its responsibilities.

Inputs to the committee required written submission in advance (not less than 48 hours prior to the meeting) to allow review before the meeting, or be approved by a majority vote to be added to the agenda at the beginning of the meeting, a meeting notice said.

Issues involving the law director may be included as long as they are not already included the Ouster court case documents, the notice said.

Snow: Basketball tournament canceled; city centers, some businesses closed

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Taylor Road Snow Lady Feb. 21, 2015

Ashlynn and Myrah Forgety build a snow woman on Taylor Road in Oak Ridge on Saturday. (Photo courtesy Leah M. Bevins)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:58 p.m.

The snow overnight, which covered some roads that were already treacherous, has forced more closings, cancellations, and delays.

The Oak Ridge Civic Center, Scarboro Center, Senior Center, and Public Library will all be closed today, Saturday, February 21.

The District 3-AAA basketball tournament, which had been rescheduled for today at Central High School in Knoxville, has been canceled. The regional tournament is scheduled to start Monday, and the seedings that stand now will be used in the regional tournament.

Some businesses in Oak Ridge announced they are closed or opening later, possibly after the temperature warms and the precipitation changes to rain. For example, ORNL Federal Credit Union announced that all of its locations will be closed today. Hot Bagel Co. announced it will be closed today but will reopen at 6 a.m. Monday. The Other One in Grove Center said they will not open this morning, but could reopen this afternoon. You might consider calling ahead if you have a question about a specific business. [Read more…]

Water line leak in Anderson County located, repaired

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Terry Frank

Terry Frank

The major water line leak that might have affected some customers in north Anderson County has been located and repaired, but it may take a few hours for residents to see their water service return to normal, Mayor Terry Frank said Friday evening.

In a Facebook post, Frank said the leak was on a fire line that supplies a major industry, SL Tennessee.

“That is a 10-inch line—they were losing a thousand gallons a minute on that line,” Frank said.

She said water service might not return to normal until as late as midnight in some of the higher elevations of the county.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

February Breakfast with the Legislators is Monday

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Randy McNally

Randy McNally

John Ragan

John Ragan

Submitted

The Tennessee General Assembly has been in session since January 13, and 1,513 bills were filed by the February 12 deadline. Committees are meeting, and legislators are discussing issues dealing with health, education, the judiciary, sales tax, firearms, and federal funding for K-12 programs.

Breakfast with the Legislators provides a forum to get to know key legislative decision makers and to ask questions on issues in state government.

The February Breakfast with the Legislators will be held on Monday, February 23, from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. in the Social Room of the Oak Ridge Civic Center, located at 1401 Oak Ridge Turnpike. A free continental breakfast will be served. [Read more…]

City crews treat all streets by Thursday, now working on water main breaks

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Oak Ridge Snow Plow on Oak Ridge Turnpike on Feb. 17, 2015

An Oak Ridge snow plow is pictured above at center on Oak Ridge Turnpike, which was mostly clear on Tuesday evening, February 17. 

 

Crews from the Oak Ridge Public Works Department had treated all 230 miles of streets by the time they left work on Thursday, and they’re now battling a half-dozen small water main breaks.

Oak Ridge Public Works Director Gary Cinder said crews focused on what are known as Level 3 and Level 4 streets on Thursday. They removed all loose snow. But there could still be patches of ice on some roads, Cinder said.

“You can’t get ice off the street until you get much warmer temperatures,” he said. [Read more…]

Waste Connections to resume normal schedule Monday, Feb. 23

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The normal schedule for trash and recycling pickup in Oak Ridge has been affected by the winter storm this week and continually changing weather conditions, and regular collection is expected to resume on Monday.

“We are working diligently to service as many streets as quickly as possible but we always place the safety of the public and our employees first,” a City of Oak Ridge press release said.

Some residents might not have had their trash or recycling picked up this week. [Read more…]

Friday: OR Schools closed; AC Courthouse, Y-12 open at 8

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Note: This story was updated at 10:02 p.m.

Oak Ridge Schools will be closed Friday, and the Anderson County Courthouse and Y-12 National Security Complex will open at 8 a.m.

The offices of the Anderson County Clerk and Trustee will not open until 10 a.m.

“County officials still urge that Anderson County citizens stay safe and use extreme caution if citizens must be out and about,” a statement said. “County officials will continue monitoring the weather, and if it worsens earlier than anticipated on Friday, the Courthouse and other county government offices will be closed early.” [Read more…]

Updated: Thursday closings—schools, Y-12, Roane State, AC Courthouse

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Oak Ridge Turnpike and Bus Terminal Road Snow on Feb. 18, 2015

Schools and many offices remained closed Thursday after a icy winter storm on Monday followed by this snow on Wednesday morning.

 

Note: This story was updated at 10:21 a.m. Feb. 19.

The temperature the next few days is expected to be brutally cold, and schools and some government offices and contractors have announced they’ll be closed Thursday, or for the rest of the week, because of the weather and road conditions.

Schools in Oak Ridge, Anderson County, Clinton, and Roane County will all be closed Thursday. Roane State Community College will also be closed.

Schools in Clinton and Anderson and Roane counties will also be closed Friday. The Central Office in Anderson County will be closed for the rest of the week, and the Central Office in Roane County will not report Thursday. [Read more…]

Updated: More closures, delays Wednesday as snow falls, temperatures drop

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Winter Weather Advisory

Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:56 p.m.

Many offices and schools will remain closed on Wednesday because of the weather and road conditions, and some will open late. The National Weather Service in Morristown has issued a winter weather advisory for snow on Wednesday and a wind chill watch for Wednesday night.

Schools in Oak Ridge and Clinton and Anderson and Roane counties will be closed again Wednesday. So will Roane State Community College campuses. Pellissippi State Community College will also be closed.

Anderson County Schools will be closed the rest of the week, officials said Wednesday, and the Central Office is closed as well.

Anderson County government offices and all courts will be closed Wednesday.

City of Oak Ridge offices will open at 9 a.m. City Hall in Rocky Top will close at noon Wednesday for deteriorating weather conditions. [Read more…]