Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge city, schools kick off Biggest Loser Competition

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The City of Oak Ridge Wellness Committee and Oak Ridge Coordinated School Health will kick off their 2015 Biggest Loser competition at 12:30 p.m. today (Monday, January 5) in the Oak Ridge Civic Center Social Room.

Employees with the City of Oak Ridge and Oak Ridge Schools will compete against one another during a three-month weight loss challenge. A winner from each organization will be awarded, as well as overall male and female Biggest Loser. The competition will run from January 5 through April 6, a press release said.

Today’s first official weigh-in of the challenge will feature Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch and members of Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson, Oak Ridge Schools Superintendent Bruce Borchers, Oak Ridge Schools Director of Pupil Services Larrissa Henderson, and municipal and school employees.

Alexander, Corker announce committee assignments

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U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander

Lamar Alexander

U.S. Senator Bob Corker

Bob Corker

U.S. senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker have announced their committee assignments for the new Congress.

Alexander will serve on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; Appropriations; Energy and Natural Resources; and Rules and Administration.

Corker will serve on Foreign Relations; Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Budget; and Special Committee on Aging.

Alexander and Corker are both Tennessee Republicans. [Read more…]

Try Zumba Gold class free at Oak Ridge Senior Center

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Been eating way too many sweet treats over the holiday season? Then begin the New Year right by getting some much-needed exercise at the Oak Ridge Senior Center.

The Center is offering a Zumba Gold class beginning on January 13. [Read more…]

Hetrick appointed director of Oak Ridge Recreation, Parks

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Jon Hetrick

Jon Hetrick

Jon Hetrick has been appointed director of the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department, City Manager Mark Watson announced Friday. Hetrick has been the acting director since Josh Collins retired in October.

As director, Hetrick will manage and direct the activities the city’s recreation and parks programs, services, and facilities, including the Civic Center, and Scarboro and Senior centers, as well as the Centennial Golf Course. His work responsibilities will include overseeing summer programs and supervising a staff of more than 80 seasonal and regular employees. [Read more…]

Mayor Frank vetoes resolution dealing with county’s legal bills

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Terry Frank

Terry Frank

Information from WYSH Radio

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank has vetoed a resolution passed unanimously by the County Commission in December that would establish procedures for the county when outside legal counsel is needed for county employees not covered by the law director or counsel from the county’s insurance provider.

The measure would require all requests for outside counsel to be submitted in writing to both County Commission Chairman Robert McKamey and Law Director Jay Yeager.

The Clinton Courier News reported that commissioners found out about the veto on Friday. [Read more…]

Youth Board shopped for Christmas for children through Mission of Hope

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YAB Christmas Shopping Mission of Hope

Pictured above from left to right in front are Marie Denorme and Hannah Oran; second row are Camille Martinez, Claire DiFazio, Ovi Kabir, Caroline Bradshaw, Elizabeth Bradshaw, Shichen Zhang, Lauren Collier, Riley Mosby, Catherine Humphries, and Candace Pang; and back are Julie Heten, Kolton Reedy, Peter Magill, Kevin Reedy, Curtis Rookard, Tyler Boullie, Wesley Robinson, Stella Powell, Mandy Pitz, Brent Robinson, Brandon Stanley, Lewis Wang, and Masa Kato. (Submitted photo)

 

The Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board members recently voted to spend time and money Christmas shopping at Kmart for area children through Mission of Hope.

The board raises funds at various events throughout the year to make this possible, a press release said.

The board spent a total of $1,664.73 on gifts. [Read more…]

New Fit Club will have monthly hikes on Fridays

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Join the Friday Fit Club and hit the trail for a fun new experience, a press release said.

Covenant Health affiliates Methodist Medical Center and Roane Medical Center are joining together with the Anderson and Roane County Parks and Recreation Departments to create a Friday Fit Club, which will meet for monthly hikes.

If you enjoy hiking and are interested in participating in the Friday Fit Club, you are encouraged to attend a planning meeting on Friday, January 9, from 8:45-10 a.m. in the Ridge Conference Room at Methodist Medical Center, located at 990 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge.

Light refreshments will be served, and registration is required. Call (865) 835-4662 to register by January 6.

Free guitar, banjo lessons for seniors 50 and older

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Senior Guitar Lessons Class 2014

First Row: Jack Copeland, Rosevelt Gilliland, Lu Ann Christy, Ken Carter, Wendall Cook, Instructor, Don Snouffer. Second Row: Dee Williams, Don Bourgrand, George Davis, Bobby Neal, John Dorflinger, Roe Sutherland, Charlie Orr, Billie Joe Campbell. Third Row: Ernie Blair, Jim Sells, Joe Henderson, Unidentified Visitor, Ken Newton. (Submitted photo)

 

Free guitar lessons for senior citizens will resume on Friday, January 9, at 9 a.m. at the Oak Ridge Senior Citizen Center on Emory Valley Road.

All levels of guitar players are welcome, a press release said. Beginner’s lessons start at 9 a.m. and intermediate lessons at 10 a.m. Wendall Cook, who has many years of experience playing and teaching, conducts the lessons. [Read more…]

More than 80,000 Tennesseans pick Health Insurance Marketplace plan in first month

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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Logo

Federal officials announced Tuesday that 87,137 people in Tennessee selected plans through the Health Insurance Marketplace leading up to the December 15 deadline for coverage beginning January 1.

It was the first month of open enrollment this year.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said 83 percent of Tennesseans who selected a 2015 plan are getting financial assistance to lower monthly premiums. That compared to 75 percent who selected plans over a similar period last year.

Of the 87,137 Tennesseans who selected a plan, 51 percent re-enrolled in a Marketplace plan in 2015, and 49 percent signed up for the first time, HHS said in a press release. [Read more…]

Gov. Haslam announces Insure Tennessee plan

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Governor Bill Haslam

Bill Haslam

NASHVILLE—Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam this month unveiled his Insure Tennessee plan, a two-year pilot program to provide health care coverage to Tennesseans who currently don’t have access to health insurance or have limited options. The program rewards healthy behaviors, prepares members to transition to private coverage, promotes personal responsibility, and incentivizes choosing preventative and routine care instead of unnecessary use of emergency rooms, a press release said.

The governor announced that he plans to call a special session to focus on the proposal after the 109th General Assembly convenes in January.

“We made the decision in Tennessee nearly two years ago not to expand traditional Medicaid,” Haslam said in the press release. “This is an alternative approach that forges a different path and is a unique Tennessee solution. This plan leverages federal dollars to provide health care coverage to more Tennesseans, to give people a choice in their coverage, and to address the cost of health care, better health outcomes, and personal responsibility. [Read more…]

Tennessee legislators request support for TennCare waiver extension

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U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander

Lamar Alexander

U.S. Senator Bob Corker

Bob Corker

Submitted

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Nine members of Tennessee’s congressional delegation sent a letter this month to Marilyn Tavenner, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, requesting an extension of TennCare’s waiver approval from earlier this year.

Because Tennessee does not receive funding through the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital, or DSH, program that every other state participates in, the lawmakers are requesting continuing funds to support Tennessee hospitals that help tens of thousands of low-income patients receive medical coverage they otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford. Just last year, these hospitals provided $950 million in charity care and $720 million in unreimbursed medical services to low-income Tennesseans.

Unlike hospitals in every other state, Tennessee hospitals are unable to offset these expenses with the help of the Medicaid DSH program. [Read more…]

Lodge, Walter sworn in as TVA board members

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Virginia Lodge

Virginia Lodge

Ronald Walter

Ronald Walter

Virginia Lodge of Nashville and Ronald Walter of Memphis became members of the Tennessee Valley Authority board on Tuesday, taking their oaths of office in ceremonies in Memphis and Nashville. Their terms expire on May 18, 2019.

The two were nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate on December 9. One vacancy remains on the nine-member board.

“I am honored to have been nominated to this very important post by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate,” Lodge said in a press release. “I look forward to serving on the TVA board and representing the people of the Tennessee Valley.”

“I am honored the president and Senate have confidence in my abilities and look forward to serving on the board,” Walter said. “During my tenure at Memphis Light, Gas and Water, I worked with TVA and I’m looking forward to my expanded role in working with the people of the Tennessee Valley.” [Read more…]