Oak Ridge Today

Honors: Anderson County commissioners award $500 scholarship

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Anderson County Commissioners Scholarship

 

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The Anderson County Board of Commissioners established and began contributing personal funds to a scholarship fund in 1996. This fund is set up to provide a scholarship annually to a student at each of the three high schools in Anderson County.

Oak Ridge commissioners, from left to right, Myron Iwanski, Whitey Hitchcock, Jerry Creasey, scholarship recipient Jasmannie Garcia, Steve Mead, and Robin Biloski, and John Shuey (not pictured) were pleased to award Garcia, Oak Ridge Class of 2014, with his $500 scholarship to be used at Roane State Community College, where he will enter the nursing program.

Congratulations, Jasmannie!

Knoxville man wins $260 million Powerball, claims record lottery prize

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Roy Cockrum and Rebecca Hargrove

Roy Cockrum of Knoxville accepts the $259.8 million Powerball jackpot winnings from Rebecca Hargrove, president and CEO of the Tennessee Education Lottery, at a presentation July 3 at the lottery headquarters in Nashville (Submitted photo)

Most will go to foundation to support performing arts around U.S.

A Knoxville man has won a $259.8 million Powerball jackpot, and he claimed his $115 million prize on Thursday. It’s the largest prize ever won in the Tennessee Lottery.

Roy Cockrum, 58, presented the winning Powerball ticket to Tennessee Education Lottery officials on Thursday, matching all six numbers selected on June 11. The winning ticket was verified, and the “cash option” prize was claimed.

After taxes, the take-home prize amount is $115,147,525.50, a press release said.

“It’s a hard thing to process; your brain doesn’t want to believe it,” said Cockrum, a businessman, former actor, and monk. “I was in a rush to take Mom to a medical appointment when I first checked the ticket. I saw the Powerball match and three winning numbers and thought, ‘Wow! $500! You never win that much on Powerball.’ I felt really lucky.

“But then—wait a minute, wait a minute—there’s another number, and finally I realized I hit the jackpot. It literally knocked me to my knees. My prayer was simple—‘Lord have Mercy!’ But life goes on, so I picked myself up, put the winning ticket in my wallet and went to pick up my mother. I walked around University of Tennessee Medical Center all that morning with a $259.8 million winner in my pocket.”

Cockrum was born and raised in Knoxville but left Tennessee after graduating from West High School to earn an acting degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and to pursue a career in the theater. After more than 20 years spent working as an actor and stage manager for theater and television, Cockrum became Brother Roy as he followed a call to religious service with The Society of Saint John the Evangelist, an Episcopal religious community in Cambridge, Massachusetts. [Read more…]

City buys, demolishes blighted home in Woodland

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South Purdue Avenue Home Demolition

A work crew demolishes a blighted home on South Purdue Avenue in Woodland on Thursday. (Photos courtesy City of Oak Ridge/Matt Widner)

 

The city of Oak Ridge bought a blighted home at the corner of Northwestern and South Purdue avenues in April and demolished it on Thursday, June 26.

“It was in really bad shape,” Oak Ridge Community Development Director Kathryn Baldwin said. “This one was past saving.”

The home, which had been vacant, was extremely contaminated and dirty inside, and there were problems with every system in the small, single-story house, including the electrical and heating and cooling systems, said Matt Widner, Oak Ridge Community Development housing specialist. The ceilings were collapsing.

“It was a mess,” Widner said.

The straw-covered quarter-acre lot is now vacant. Before the demolition, a yard sign said the project was “Turning Blight into Right.” [Read more…]

All available animals are half-price, $55, at Animal Shelter

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Oak Ridge Animal Shelter Adoptable Animals

 

The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter is offering half-price adoptions on all animals. This half-price adoption special started July 1 and runs through July 12. The adoption price will be $55 instead of the normal price of $110. It is first come, first serve.

The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The shelter is located at 395 Belgrade Road. The shelter can be contacted by phone at (865) 425-3423 or by e-mail at animalshelter@oakridgetn.gov.

For more information, visit animalshelter.oakridgetn.gov or call (865) 425-3423.

TSAB member solicits community input

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Gene Dunaway, a member of the Oak Ridge Traffic Safety Advisory Board, will solicit public comments on pedestrian safety issues in two meetings next week, a press release said.

The first meeting is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 8, at the Oak Ridge Senior Center at 728 Emory Valley Road, and the second is  from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 12, also at the Senior Center, the press release said.

Dunaway is interested in hearing public comments about pedestrian safety at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and an entrance to the Oak Ridge High School, the press release said.

“All responses will be shared with other board members at its July meeting,” the release said. “In August Mr. Dunaway will be conducting community meetings dealing with general traffic issues, including the re-installation of red light and speed cameras.”

Mayor Beehan to report on recent trip to Washington, D.C.

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Tom Beehan, Madeline Rogero with Local Motors at White House Maker Faire

Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan, right, and Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero, center, are pictured above with Local Motors at the Maker Faire at the White House in June. (Submitted photos)

 

Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan and Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero recently went to Washington, D.C., to attend the Maker Faire.

During that first-ever event, President Barack Obama celebrated innovators, entrepreneurs, and tinkerers of all ages from across the country. The Maker Faire featured new and innovative projects, inventions, and designs, and technologies such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and easy-to-use design software.

Beehan will discuss his trip during a Thursday, July 10, meeting of the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association. That meeting starts at 7 p.m. July 10 at the Midtown Community Center at 102 Robertsville Road.

Tom Beehan at White House Podium

Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan standing near the podium that President Barack Obama uses when he speaks.

Besides the Maker Faire, Beehan also met with elected officials and was involved in numerous interactions where he expressed the desires of the city of Oak Ridge, an ORHPA press release said.

“He also assured our nation’s leaders of our intent to continue serving our nation in the special role that Oak Ridge holds,” the release said. “His meeting with the Secretary of Energy, Dr. Ernest Moniz, was of special significance to us. He will present some of the details of that conversation.” [Read more…]

No garbage pickup on July 4

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Waste Connections Inc. will not pick up refuse or recyclables on Independence Day. Friday’s routes will be picked up on Saturday, July 5.

In a press release, the City of Oak Ridge asked residents to have all refuse and recyclables out by 7 a.m. for a Saturday route.

For additional information you can contact Waste Connections Inc. at (865) 482-3656 or visit www.WasteConnectionsTn.com.

Guest column: ECA highlights local government’s role with Energy Secretary Moniz

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ECA Board and Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz

From left to right are Aiken County Council Chairman Ronnie Young, Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson, Los Alamos County Councilor Fran Berting, Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan, ECA Executive Director Seth Kirshenberg, Secretary Ernest Moniz, Aiken County Council Member Chuck Smith, Kennewick Mayor Steve Young, SRSCRO Executive Director Rick McLeod, Los Alamos County Administrator Brian Bosshardt, and ECA Deputy Executive Director Allison Finelli. (Submitted photo)

 

On June 23, the Energy Communities Alliance Executive Board met with U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz to highlight the importance of the Department of Energy’s environmental cleanup, national security, nuclear energy, and waste management missions. The ECA Executive Board, including Chair and Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan, and other elected local government officials also stressed the importance of regular communication and partnership between DOE and the local governments that are adjacent to DOE facilities. Secretary Moniz agreed that working with local governments is important to the success of DOE.

Earlier in the day, the ECA Executive Board also met with National Nuclear Security Administration Administrator Frank Klotz, Acting Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management Dave Huizenga, and other DOE and administration officials, as well as congressional staff.

Mayor Beehan stated that local governments can be DOE’s asset for gaining support for missions and for infrastructure development at the sites, but in order for that to occur, local governments must be involved in decision-making. Mayor Beehan also stressed the importance of land transfer to local communities. [Read more…]

Outdoor pool operating on holiday schedule on July 4

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Oak Ridge Outdoor Swimming Pool

Hundreds of swimmers enjoy the Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool on Providence Road on Memorial Day 2012. (File photo)

The Oak Ridge Municipal Swimming Pool will operate on its holiday schedule on Friday, July 4. The outdoor pool will open at 10 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.

The day is Fun Day at the pool as the lifeguards will conduct different activities starting at 2 p.m. for patrons to participate in fun events, balloon toss, intertube relays, etc.

Admission is $2 for children ages 3 to 12 and people 65 and older, $3 for ages 13-17, and $3.75 for adults. Children under 12 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult during public hours at the outdoor pool.

The city’s indoor pool and Oak Ridge Civic Center will be closed on July 4.

Please visit the website at www.orrecparks.org for information on all of the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department programs.

Railroad tracks removed from South Illinois, Emory Valley

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South Illinois Avenue Railroad Track Removal

A work crew from Rogers Group removes unused railroad tracks from South Illinois Avenue just south of Lafayette Drive and Scarboro Road on Saturday night. After the tracks were removed, the railroad crossing was repaved, and the road reopened on Sunday.

 

Note: This story was last updated at 6:30 p.m.

Unused railroad tracks that crossed Briarcliff Avenue, Emory Valley Road, and South Illinois Avenue were removed on Thursday and Saturday night.

Railroad company CSX split the traffic control costs with the city and paid to remove the tracks, Oak Ridge Public Works Director Gary Cinder said. In exchange, the city agreed to repave the roadways as part of street maintenance. The crossing lights were removed as well so that commercial vehicles, including school buses, no longer have to stop at the abandoned crossings and, in the case of school buses and other vehicles that carry children, open and close their doors before proceeding.

The project has been in the works for two years.

“We’re thrilled to finally get to this stage,” Cinder said last week. “It’s been a long time coming.” [Read more…]

AARP driver’s safety classes offered at Oak Ridge Senior Center

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The Oak Ridge Senior Center will be offering the AARP Smart Driver Driver’s Safety Program in July and August. This program can help make drivers safer and more aware and may help lead to a discount on auto insurance premiums, a press release said.

The cost for the class is $15 for AARP members and $20 for non-members. The July class will be held on Saturday, July 19, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This all-day class is open to anyone 50 and over but could be especially helpful to those seniors who are still working Monday to Friday.

The August class will be held on August 6 and 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each day. To register for either class, call the Senior Center at (865)-425-3999. Space is limited so reserve your spot soon, the release said.

For more information about this and other programs and activities at the Oak Ridge Senior Center, call (865)425-3999 or visit the website at orrecparks.org.