Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge leaf pickup starts Monday

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The citywide leaf pickup program begins Monday, Nov. 19. The schedule is printed below.

Oak Ridge officials said workers will try to follow the schedule as closely as possible, but it is a general guide and pickup dates can vary considerably from the real schedule due to the amount of leaves and weather.

Here a few guidelines for the leaf pickup program:

  • Residents should place their leaves near, but not beyond, the curb. Leaves are not to be placed in the street due to possible clogging of storm drains and posing a traffic hazard. Hazards can be removed by the city at the resident’s cost.
  • Leaves should be free of tree branches and twigs as these can cause the leaf vacuums to clog. Because of their impact on production, leaf piles found to contain these items will not be picked up.
  • All leaves must be placed outside fenced areas. Leaves in plastic bags will also be picked up at the curb during the scheduled program.
  • Only leaves will be collected during this fall’s program. Residents are reminded that the leaf pickup program typically begins the Monday before Thanksgiving each year, while the citywide household trash and brush pickup programs are held during April and May.

For more information, contact Waste Connections of Tennessee at (865) 482-3656.

The leaf pickup schedule can also be found on the city’s website at www.oakridgetn.gov.

 

First Week

  • Monday, Nov. 19—Valparaiso Road, East Vanderbilt Drive, West Vanderbilt Drive, Villanova Road, Virginia Road, Scarboro community, Burnham Woods subdivision, Groves Park Commons
  • Tuesday, Nov. 20—Manhattan Avenue from Rutgers Avenue to Manchester Road, Morris Lane, Nasson Lane, Northwestern Avenue from Manhattan Avenue to South Purdue Avenue, Paine Lane, Paris Lane, Park Lane, Pembroke Road, Phillips Lane, Potomac Circle, Pratt Lane, Princeton Avenue, South Purdue Avenue, Queens Road, Quincy Avenue
  • Wednesday, Nov. 21—West Gettysburg Avenue, Marshall Circle, Nevada Circle, Newberry Circle, Niagara Lane, Northwestern Avenue from Manhattan Avenue to North Purdue Avenue, Parsons Road, Piedmont Road, North Purdue Avenue from Manhattan Avenue to Manhattan Avenue
  • Thursday, Nov. 22—Holiday
  • Friday, Nov. 23—Goucher Circle, Manhattan Avenue from North Purdue Avenue to Manchester Road, Manchester Road, Marietta Circle, Marquette Road, Maryville Circle, North Purdue Avenue from Manhattan Avenue to Marquette Road, Willow Place, Liberty Court, Graham Place

 

Second Week

  • Monday, Nov. 26—Hendrix Creek subdivision, Eastridge Drive, English Court, Esquire Court, Wolf Creek subdivision
  • Tuesday, Nov. 27—Briarcliff subdivision
  • Wednesday, Nov. 28—Emory Valley subdivision east of Caldwell Drive, Amanda Drive, Amanda Place, Adelphi Road, Albion Road, Albright Road, Antioch Drive, Artesia Drive, Asbury Lane, Bay Path Drive, Beechwood Court, Belle Creek Drive, Blue Mountain Court, Bridgewater Lane, Stonebridge Way, Rivers Run subdivision, Park Mead Drive, Center Park Lane, Marywater Lane, Marywood Court, Riverview Drive, Rivers Court, Palisades Parkway, Presidential Drive, Patriot Lane, Pinnacle Way
  • Thursday, Nov. 29—Emory Valley subdivision including west of Caldwell Drive, Emory Heights
  • Friday, Nov. 30—East Drive from Endicott Lane to Athens Road, Eastburn Lane, Eaton Lane, Edgehill Lane, Edison Lane, Elliott Circle, Emerson Circle, Emerson Place

 

Third Week

  • Monday, Dec. 3—East Drive from Outer Drive to Endicott Lane, Enfield Lane, Englewood Lane, Essex Lane, Euclid Circle, Euclid Place, Evans Lane, Everest Circle, Reel Heights & Tanglewood Subdivision
  • Tuesday, Dec. 4—North Alabama Road, South Alabama Road, Albany Road, Alder Lane, Alger Road, Alhambra Road, Amherst Lane, Andover Circle, West Arrowwood Road, East Arrowwood Road, Ashland Lane, Atlanta Road, Arizona Road, Arkansas Avenue, Aspen Lane, Athens Road, Audubon Road
  • Wednesday, Dec. 5—California Avenue, Cahill Lane, Carlisle Lane, Cedar Lane, Cedar Road, Chatham Lane, Clarion Road, Outer Drive from East Drive to Delaware Avenue, Oak Lane, Ogden Lane, Ogden Circle, Oglethorpe Place
  • Thursday, Dec. 6—East Tennessee Avenue from California Avenue to Georgia Avenue, Tabor Road, Tacoma Road, North Tampa Lane, South Tampa Lane, Taylor Road, Temple Road, Thayer Lane, Thelma Road, Thornton Road, Tilden Road, Townsend Road, Tomlinson Road, Trevose Lane
  • Friday, Dec. 7—Outer Drive from Florida Avenue to Delaware Avenue, Ogontz Lane, Olean Lane, Olmstead Lane, Olney Lane, Dallas Lane, East Dalton Road, West Dalton Road, East Damascus Road, West Damascus Road, Darwin Lane, Darwin Road, Decatur Road, Delaware Avenue, Delmar Circle, Devon Lane, Dewey Road, Disston Road, Ditman Lane, Dixie Lane

 

Fourth Week 

  • Monday, Dec. 10—Florida Avenue, East Fairview Road, West Fairview Road, East Farragut Road, West Farragut Road, East Faunce Lane, West Faunce Road, East Fernhill Lane, West Fernhill Road, Firestone Road, East Forest Road, West Forest Lane, Fulton Lane, Tyson Road, Turner Road, Tucker Road
  • Tuesday, Dec. 11—Outer Drive from Florida Avenue to Michigan Avenue, Oneida Lane, Ontario Lane, Orange Lane, Kentucky Avenue, Kelvin Lane, Kenwyn Road, Keystone Lane, Kimball Lane, Kingsley Road, Kingfisher Lane, Georgia Avenue, East Geneva Lane, West Geneva Lane, Glendale Lane, Gorgas Lane, Gordon Road
  • Wednesday, Dec. 12—Orchard Circle, Orchard Lane, Orkney Road, Michigan Avenue, Moylan Lane, Milton Lane, Mayfair Lane, Meadow Road, Mead Lane, Maple Lane, Marion Road, East Malta Road, Malvern Road, West Malta Road, East Maiden Lane, West Maiden Lane, West Magnolia Lane, East Magnolia Lane, West Madison Lane, East Madison Road
  • Thursday, Dec. 13—New York Avenue, Norwood Lane, Norris Lane, Norman Lane, Nolan Road, Nixon Road, East Newkirk Lane, West Newkirk Lane, East Newcomb Road, West Newcomb Road, Nesper Road, Tennessee Avenue from New York Avenue to Georgia Avenue, Utah Avenue, Uvalde Lane, Upsal Road, Ulysses Lane, Umbria Lane, Ulena Lane, Underwood Road, Norton Road
  • Friday, Dec. 14—Pennsylvania Avenue from New York Avenue to Providence Road, Vermont Avenue, Valetta Lane, West Vance Road, Vassar Road, Venus Road, Verbena Road, Vernon Road, Victoria Road, Viking Road, Vienna Road, Viola Road, Vista Road, Pacific Road, Packer Road, Palmetto Lane, Paoli Lane, Palmer Road, East Pasadena Road, Panama Road, Pallas Road, Parma Road, Parker Road, North Tulane Avenue, West Pasadena Lane

 

Fifth Week

  • Monday, Dec. 17—Outer Drive from Pennsylvania Avenue to Michigan Avenue, Oxford Road, Osage Road, Providence Road, Pennsylvania Avenue from Providence Road to Outer Drive, Pleasant Road, Plymouth Circle, Pomona Road, West Price Lane, East Price Road, Powell Road, Porter Road, Union Road, Pocono Lane, Pine Lane, East Pawley Lane, West Pawley Road, East Passmore Lane, West Passmore Road, Pearl Road, Pelham Road, Peach Road, Poplar Road, Pickwick Lane
  • Tuesday, Dec. 18—West Outer Drive from North Illinois Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue, Warwick Lane, Ivy Lane, Warrior Circle, Warrior Lane, Waltham Lane, Waltham Place, Walsh Lane, Walpole Lane, Walnut Lane, Wadsworth Circle, Wadsworth Place, Wakeman Lane, Wakefield Road, Wainwright Road, North Walker Lane, South Walker Lane, Wabash Lane, Waddell Circle, Waddell Place, Wade Lane, Wedgewood Road, Westlook Circle, Westoverlook Drive, Westlook Drive
  • Wednesday, Dec. 19—Robertsville Road from Oak Ridge Turnpike to North Illinois Avenue, Raleigh Road, Robin Lane, Iris Circle, Inca Circle, Ivanhoe Road, Hillside Road, North Hickory Lane, South Hickory Lane, Hickory Place, Henley Road, Henley Place, Henderson Lane, Highland Avenue, East Holston Lane, West Holston Lane, Howard Lane, Hollywood Circle, Hoyt Lane, Hamilton Circle, Hunter Circle, Hunter Place, East Hutchinson Circle, West Hutchinson Circle, Hutchinson Place, Hubbell Place
  • Thursday, Dec. 20—West Outer Drive from Louisiana Avenue to North Illinois Avenue, Wellington Circle, Wayside Road, Wayne Place, Wayne Road, Washburn Circle, North Illinois Avenue, Iroquois Road, Ithaca Lane, West Irving Lane, East Irving Lane, Iona Circle, Independence Lane, Indian Place, Indian Lane, Robertsville Road from North Illinois Avenue to Jefferson Avenue, Royce Circle
  • Friday, Dec. 21—Lasalle Road, Locust Lane, Livingston Road, Loyola Lane, Revere Circle, Regent Circle, Jefferson Avenue, Jonathan Place, Jonathan Lane, East Judd Lane, West Judd Lane, Johnson Road, Jarrett Lane, Jasper Lane, Jay Lane, Jersey Lane, Jellico Lane, Lawton Road, Lancaster Road, South Lansing Road, North Lincoln Circle, East Lincoln Road, South Jefferson Circle, North Jefferson Circle, Latimer Road, Jefferson Court

 

Sixth Week

  • Monday, Dec. 24—Holiday
  • Tuesday, Dec. 25—Holiday
  • Wednesday, Dec. 26—West Outer Drive from Morningside Drive to Louisiana Avenue, Robertsville Road from Jefferson Avenue to Mississippi Avenue, Salem Road, Scott Lane, Sanford Lane, South Seneca Road, North Seneca Road, Sequoia Lane, Sheridan Circle, Sheridan Place, Stanton Lane, Seymour Lane, Lindale Lane, Lind Place, Lynwood Lane, West Lincoln Road, Louisiana Avenue, Lawrence Lane, Lewis Lane, Lehigh Lane
  • Thursday, Dec. 27—Windham Road, Windhaven Lane, Moore Lane, Montclair Road, Montreal Lane, Monaco Lane, Middlebury Road, Morgan Road, Morningside Drive, Mississippi Avenue
  • Friday, Dec. 28—Robertsville Road from East Melbourne Road to Mississippi Avenue, Bradley Avenue, West Bryn Mawr Circle, East Bryn Mawr Circle, Beverly Circle, Butler Road, Byron Lane, Bermuda Road, Briar Road, Bunker Lane, Rand Circle, Wiltshire Estates

 

Seventh Week

  • Monday, Dec. 31—Montana Avenue, West Melbourne Road, Mockingbird Lane, Maltese Lane, Mallard Lane, Meadowlark Lane, Macaw Lane, Maywood Road, Macon Lane, East Melbourne Road, Monticello Road, Moss Road, Miramar Circle, Mohawk Road, Jackson Crossing
  • Tuesday, Jan. 1—Holiday
  • Wednesday, Jan. 2—West Outer Drive from Nebraska Avenue to Morningside Drive, Walton Lane, Wendover Circle, Wilderness Lane, Woodridge Lane, Willow Lane
  • Thursday, Jan. 3—Nebraska Avenue, Newridge Road, Newell Lane, Normandy Road, Norway Lane, Newton Lane, Newcrest Lane, Naples Lane, Newhaven Road, Netherland Road, Newark Lane, Neville Lane, Newcastle Lane, Newport Drive, Newhope Lane, Nathan Lane, New Bedford Lane, Nantucket Way
  • Friday, Jan. 4—West Outer Drive from Nebraska Avenue to dead end, Wimberly Lane, Windgate Road, Westwind Drive, Windsong Lane, Oklahoma Avenue, Westover Drive, Wildwood Drive, Mason Lane

 

Eighth Week

  • Monday, Jan. 7—Rarity Ridge, West Southwood Lane, East Southwood Lane, Sweetgum Lane, Shagbark Lane, Country Club Estates, Greenview, Whippoorwill Drive, Westview Lane, Weldon Lane, Wesley Lane, Winston Lane, William Lane, Wildcat Lane, Winchester Circle, Wisconsin Avenue

TVA will use natural river processes for ash from Kingston spill

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The Tennessee Valley Authority will rely on natural river processes and long-term monitoring to take care of ash in the Clinch and lower Emory rivers as part of the recovery from the 2008 coal ash spill at the Kingston Fossil Plant, a press release said.

The process, known as Monitored Natural Recovery, was the preferred option among several alternatives proposed to manage an estimated 500,000 cubic yards of remaining ash dispersed intermittently over more than 200 acres in the river system, the release said.

The alternatives were proposed in an Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis, which was released for public review and comment in August.

Here is more information from the press release:

TVA’s selection of Monitored Natural Recovery, also called EE/CA Alternative 1, is documented in an Action Memorandum released by the agency. It is based on extensive research, including human health and ecological risk assessments, and aligns with the majority of public comments received on the EE/CA alternatives.

The selection was also approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

Monitored Natural Recovery avoids disturbing legacy contaminants from past U.S. Department of Energy projects in the river system, provides the best balance with respect to effectiveness and implementation, and is the most cost-effective option for consumers of TVA power.

The release said the Action Memorandum has been posted to the Administrative Record for the Kingston Ash Recovery Project at www.tva.com/kingston. It also is available for review at the Kingston and Harriman public libraries.

TVA has encouraged the public to review and comment on the Action Memorandum from Nov. 9 through Dec. 8. Pertinent comments and their responses will be included in a Responsiveness Summary document and placed in the Administrative Record.

The Tennessee Valley Authority is a corporation owned by the U.S. government, and it provides electricity for nine million people in parts of seven southeastern states. TVA also provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists utilities and state and local governments with economic development.

Guest column: Residents encouraged to serve on city boards, applications due Friday

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By Oak Ridge City Manager Mark S. Watson and City Clerk Diana R. Stanley

It might sound like a cliché, but it certainly applies in Oak Ridge these days—exciting things are happening in our town!

The new Kroger Marketplace and the new Weigel’s development will impact economic growth through our Planning Commission. The added beauty and recreation opportunities with the construction of the new Melton Lake Water Pavilion are a major accomplishment of our Recreation and Parks Board. Let’s also not forget about the historic Alexander Inn, which is getting a new lease on life due in part to the work of the Industrial Development Board.

The city’s ongoing pursuance of a Manhattan Project National Park designation and the utilization of the Not in Our City campaign to address neighborhood improvements are also big projects for many other city boards. Make no mistake about it; exciting things are happening in Oak Ridge.

Our city board and commission members play an important part in not only the above projects being achieved, but also in many more. Board members volunteer their time, experience, and expertise to help guide projects, foster ideas, as well as interact with citizens and local businesses to help our community grow, and we would like to thank them publicly for their service.

The city’s boards and commissions oversee a variety of issues to fit the different public interests of our residents. For example, the Trade Licensing Board sets standards and procedures for the qualification, examination, and licensing of electrical, plumbing, and mechanical contractors; the Parks Board advises City Council and city staff on the recreation and parks needs of the city, while the Traffic Safety Advisory Board reviews traffic safety issues and gives advice to the city on other matters concerning traffic flow and speeds within the community.

We all want Oak Ridge to be the best it can be and our best resource for achieving it is the people of our community. We would like to urge residents to be a part of the “Something Big” by applying for membership on a city board or commission.

Oak Ridge residents interested in membership are asked to complete an online 2012 Boards and Commissions Application at http://tiny.cc/12boardsapp. Paper copies can be obtained in the City Clerk’s Office). Applicants may also submit cover letter or resumes in addition to the application. The deadline for all materials is 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16. Interested individuals may view the 2012 Election Notice by visiting the City Clerk’s departmental website for a list of the boards seeking members, terms of office, and special qualifications.

Margaret Mead once wrote “Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world: Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Positive changes are happening in Oak Ridge, so come and join your City Council in helping Oak Ridge achieve excellence in the years to come.

Oak Ridge mayor, mayor pro tem seek re-appointment

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The city’s mayor and vice mayor are both seeking to be re-appointed to two-year terms when the new City Council meets on Dec. 10.

Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan and Mayor Pro Tem Jane Miller have both written to their fellow City Council members, asking to be re-appointed. (Beehan’s letter is here, and Miller’s is here.)

The mayor and mayor pro tem are not elected by voters in Oak Ridge. Instead, they are appointed by the seven-member council after each regular municipal election.

A new council was elected Nov. 6. One on the incumbents, Ellen Smith, lost in her re-election run, and two other incumbents, Charlie Hensley and Chuck Hope, were re-elected. They will be joined by new council member Trina Baughn.

The mayor leads council meetings, serves as the ceremonial head of the city, and signs ordinances, resolutions, bonds, and contracts, among other things. The mayor votes at council meetings but has no veto power.

The mayor pro tem fills in for the mayor when the mayor is absent or disabled.

Beehan has been mayor since July 2007. Before that, he was mayor pro tem for six years.

Miller has been mayor pro tem since July 2007.

Beehan has been a council member since 2001, and Miller has served since 2003.

The other two council members are Anne Garcia Garland and David Mosby. Council members serve staggered four-year terms, so three are elected in one municipal election, and then, two years later, four more are elected.

The Dec. 10 council meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Courtroom.

Bird feeders to be installed at Melton Lake Park

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The city hopes to cut down on the number of people feeding bread to geese and ducks at Melton Lake Park by installing bird feeders this week.

The new coin-operated feeders will dispense a handful of high-protein pellets for $0.25, which can then be thrown into the Clinch River to feed the waterfowl, a city press release said.

The feeders are being installed on a trial basis by Vaulted Vending.

The press release said Oak Ridge officials have discouraged bird feeding because the waterfowl create a mess and bread can be harmful to them. Feeding them the wrong kind of food can also make them more aggressive.

“We hope the new feeders will eliminate the harmful bread from the bird’s diet and will also move the birds away from the picnic facilities at the park,” said Josh Collins, Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks director.

The press release said the installation of the new feeders could also produce some money to be used for park improvements.

“These feeders have been successful in numerous other communities that have large populations of geese and ducks,” the release said.

For more information, contact Collins at (865) 425-3450 or visit the city’s website at www.oakridgetn.gov.

City allows ‘brown bagging’ of beer, wine in some restaurants

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A city ordinance change approved Monday allows diners to bring their own beer or wine into certain restaurants when they have the owner’s permission. The practice is known as “brown bagging.”

The new ordinance was unanimously approved by Oak Ridge City Council on Monday, and it takes effect Thursday.

It applies to restaurants that have a beer permit or managers with Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission server permits, a city press release said. The ordinance does not allow “brown bagging” in other public places.

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Oliver Springs liquor vote, Norris Council race remain close

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Unofficial results from Tuesday’s election remained close on an Oliver Springs liquor referendum and the race for a fifth seat on the Norris City Council, and it wasn’t clear how provisional ballots could change the final vote tallies.

Oliver Springs voters appeared to have rejected the liquor referendum, with 486 voting yes and 519 voting “no” in Anderson and Roane counties. The referendum would allow package stores to sell alcoholic beverages.

But there are about 50 provisional ballots in Anderson County and an unknown number in Roane County, election officials said Wednesday. It wasn’t clear how many of those were from Oliver Springs, or how the ballots and a post-election audit might affect the final vote when results are certified Nov. 19.

Results in the race for four of the five seats on Norris City Council seemed clear. Chris Mitchell, Bill Grieve Jr., Loretta A. Painter, and Jack Black all received more than 500 votes, according to the unofficial results.

But the write-in race between four candidates competing for a fifth seat was close. York Haverkamp had 166 write-in votes and Eugene F. Oates had 154.

Anderson County Election Commission Administrator Mark Stephens said the write-in ballots will have to be checked vote by vote.

“We have really never had to do this in the past,” he said.

In other races in Anderson County, Steven R. Emert received the most votes in the special election to represent District 3 on Anderson County Commission. That district includes Andersonville, Fairview, Norris, and Glen Alpine. Former commissioner Johnny Alley resigned from the seat after he was elected Anderson County property assessor in the Aug. 2 election.

Also Tuesday, Shain Vowell and Andrew Howard won two seats on Lake City City Council, Vowell with 231 votes and Howard with 191.

Most of the other results mirrored results in larger regions, with the exception of the presidential race. Republican Bob Corker beat Democrat Mark E. Clayton in the U.S. Senate race, Republican Chuck Fleischmann defeated Democrat Mary M. Headrick in the battle to represent Tennessee’s Third District in the U.S. House of Representatives, and Republican Dennis Powers trounced Independent Virgil Kidwell.

Except for Smith, incumbents re-elected in Oak Ridge, state House

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John and Liz Ragan

Tennessee Rep. John Ragan, an Oak Ridge Republican, pictured at right, and Liz Ragan, his wife, celebrate the legislator’s re-election to the Tennessee House at the Buffalo Mountain Grille on Tuesday night.

It was a good night for incumbents in five local races in Oak Ridge and the Tennessee House and Senate. With one exception, they were all re-elected.

Chuck Hope and Charlie Hensley had hundreds of votes to spare as they easily won re-election to Oak Ridge City Council. Keys Fillauer and Angi Agle, the two incumbents on the Oak Ridge Board of Education, also coasted to victory.

Tennessee Rep. John Ragan, an Oak Ridge Republican, won a narrower victory over former Rep. Jim Hackworth, a Clinton Democrat. Ragan received 699 more votes than Hackworth, according to unofficial results. He finished ahead by 51.4 percent to 48.6 percent.

The one newcomer elected Tuesday was Trina Baughn. She will join Hope and Hensley to serve on Council.

Gone will be incumbent Ellen Smith, who was soundly defeated. Hope and Baughn each finished ahead of Smith by more than 2,000 votes, according to unofficial results in Anderson and Roane counties.

Baughn first campaigned for a City Council seat in an August special election, when she lost to Hope. Hope was appointed to Council last summer after former member Tom Hayes resigned.

Baughn and Hope both said the August special election helped prepare them for Tuesday’s municipal election.

Midtown Polling Station

Andrew McCulloch, right, signs in at the Midtown Community Center polling station on Tuesday. Also pictured are poll workers Margaret Terrell, left, and Jim Young.

The training paid off. Hope finished first Tuesday with 6,887 votes, and Baughn was second with 6,739, according to the unofficial results.

Baughn, a communications professional, credited hard work and the efforts of some 20 to 50 volunteers making phone calls and visiting voters.

“We knocked on doors, and we went to the voters,” said Baughn, who is perhaps best known for her newspaper columns and work challenging city and school system spending. “The supporters that I have are elated that I won.”

Top priorities for the new council member are controlling spending, lowering the property tax rate, and reducing the city’s debt.

Hope, owner of Chuck’s Car Care, was not available for comment late Tuesday night.

It was a disappointing night for Smith, who served one term on City Council. She collected 4,624 votes.

“The results are surprising, and I don’t understand them,” said Smith, a research staff member at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. “I was pretty roundly defeated.”

A fifth candidate, business executive and Oak Ridge planning commissioner Kelly Callison, finished fourth in the City Council race, with 5,450 votes.

Campaign Signs at Midtown Community Center

David Hughes, left, supports presidential candidate Gary Johnson and Sherry Bath supports Oak Ridge Board of Education candidate Keys Fillauer at Midtown Community Center on Tuesday.

In the school board race, Agle and Fillauer both trounced Leonard Abbatiello, a former Oak Ridge City Council member, by more than 2,000 votes.

“I’m thankful that the people of Oak Ridge put the priority on students because that was the focus of my campaign and the focus of Keys’ campaign,” said Agle, who was battling for a third term.

Like Baughn, Agle credited door-to-door campaigning for her win, as well as her daily work during early voting and the newspaper articles she’s written during the past few years.

Now, she said, the first priority of the school board is to select a new superintendent, possibly on Dec. 8. Tom Bailey, the current superintendent, is retiring at the end of the year.

Agle said she also wants to continue making improvements in school curricula and student performance.

It was the second time Ragan and Hackworth ran against each other in the state’s 33rd District, which includes most of Anderson County. Ragan beat Hackworth in the 2010 election.

Midtown Community Center

Jake Phillips supports Tennessee Rep. John Ragan at the Midtown Community Center polling station on Tuesday.

This year’s contest between the two men was one of a half-dozen key races in the Tennessee House of Representatives, and it was expected to help Republicans gain a supermajority.

“I knew it was a close race,” Ragan said in a Tuesday night celebration at Buffalo Mountain Grille in Oak Ridge. “It was a hard-fought race.”

Ragan, a retired Air Force pilot, said Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly have cut spending and taxes, and created a more job-friendly environment. Jobs and education will remain top priorities for him in the upcoming legislative session, Ragan said.

Another local incumbent who was re-elected was Oak Ridge City Judge Robert A. McNees III. He had no opposition.

Neither did Tennessee Sen. Ken Yager, who was re-elected in the 12th Senatorial District. Yager’s district includes Roane, Morgan, Rhea, Scott, Campbell, and Fentress counties.

In other elections, the vote on a liquor referendum to allow package stores to sell alcoholic beverages in Oliver Springs appeared to have been rejected, with 486 voting yes and 519 voting “no” in Anderson and Roane counties.

Three-quarters of Clinton voters agreed to move the city’s general elections from December of odd-numbered years to November of even-numbered years, when they will coincide with state and federal elections.

Republican Kent Calfee defeated Democrat Jack W. McNew by a 68.6 percent to 26.7 margin in Roane County for a chance to represent the 32nd District in the Tennessee House, according to unofficial Roane County results. The district includes Roane County and part of Loudon County.

Unofficial results showed Calfee, who beat the incumbent, Julia Hurley, in the August primary, had an even higher victory margin in Loudon County: 72.4 percent to 20.8.

Here are highlights of Tuesday’s unofficial results in Anderson and Roane counties:

 

Oak Ridge City Council

Hope—6,887

Baughn—6,739

Hensley—6,301

Callison—5,450

Smith—4,624

 

Oak Ridge Board of Education

Agle—7,738

Fillauer—7,495

Abbatiello—4,988

 

Tennessee House of Representatives, 33rd District:

Ragan, Oak Ridge Republican—12,825 (51.4 percent)

Hackworth, Clinton Democrat—12,126 (48.6 percent)

 

Oliver Springs liquor referendum (To allow retail package stores to sell alcoholic beverages in the city of Oliver Springs):

Yes—486

No—519

 

Clinton charter question (To move Clinton general elections from December of odd-numbered years to November of even-numbered years):

For—2,556 (75.7 percent)

Against—819 (24.3 percent)

 

Note: This story has been corrected to show new vote totals for Ragan and Hackworth.

Election leaders: Baughn, Hensley, Hope; Agle, Fillauer; Ragan

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Note: This story was updated with unofficial voting results at 12:54 a.m. Nov. 7.

With 51 of 53 precincts reporting in Roane and Anderson counties, Trina Baughn, Charlie Hensley, and Chuck Hope have commanding leads over Kelly Callison and Ellen Smith in the race for three Oak Ridge City Council seats.

Angi Agle and Keys Fillauer, both seeking re-election to the Oak Ridge Board of Education, had large leads over challenger Leonard Abbatiello, a former Oak Ridge City Council member. There are two seats available.

Meanwhile, Tennessee Rep. John Ragan, an Oak Ridge Republican, held a 696-vote lead (51.4 percent to 48.6 percent) over his challenger, former Rep. Jim Hackworth, a Clinton Democrat. It is considered one of a half-dozen key races in the Tennessee House of Representatives and could help decide whether Republicans gain a supermajority, which means they could conduct business even if Democrats walk out.

The vote on a referendum to allow retail package stores to sell alcoholic beverages in Oliver Springs remained very close, with 360 voting yes and 357 voting no.

Three-quarters of Clinton voters agreed in a referendum Tuesday to move the city’s general elections from December of odd-numbered years to November of even-numbered years.

Here are the unofficial results we have so far from Anderson and Roane counties:

Oak Ridge City Council

Hope—6,882

Baughn—6,735

Hensley—6,297

Callison—5,445

Smith—4,621

Oak Ridge Board of Education

Agle—7,733

Fillauer—7,493

Abbatiello—4,984

Note: The total number of votes cast for Keys Fillauer has been updated. An earlier version of this story contained an incorrect number.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Live election results posted, early totals available

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Midtown Community Center Voting

Rex Sanders, left, picks up his voting machine code before casting a ballot at the Midtown Community Center on Tuesday afternoon. Also pictured is poll worker Dave Anderson.

Note: This story was last updated at 9:37 p.m.

Voting results are being posted on the Anderson County Election Commission website.

The results below, which include early voting and absentee ballots, will be updated, and we’ll post the new numbers here as we can.

The following results include 26 of 28 precincts in Anderson County. We’ll add Roane County election results as we can. The early voting and absentee ballot results in Roane County don’t contradict the current Anderson County results in the Oak Ridge City Council or Board of Education elections, or the Oliver Springs liquor referendum.

 

Oak Ridge City Council (five seats):

Trina Baughn—5,842 (23 percent)

Kelly Callison—4,641 (18.3 percent)

L.C. “Charlie” Hensley—5,298 (20.9 percent)

Charles J. “Chuck” Hope Jr.—5,718 (22.5 percent)

Ellen Smith—3,909 (15.4 percent)

 

Oak Ridge Board of Education (two seats):

Leonard Abbatiello—4,287 (24.9 percent)

Angi Agle—6,603 (38.4 percent)

Keys Filauer—6,319 (36.7 percent)

 

Tennessee House of Representatives, 33rd District:

John Ragan, Oak Ridge Republican—12,810 (51.4 percent)

Jim Hackworth, Clinton Democrat—12,114 (48.6 percent)

 

Oliver Springs liquor referendum (To allow retail package stores to sell alcoholic beverages in the city of Oliver Springs):

Yes—360 (50.2 percent)

No—357 (49.8 percent)

 

Clinton charter question (To move Clinton general elections from December of odd-numbered years to November of even-numbered years):

For—2,556 (75.7 percent)

Against—819 (24.3 percent)

New traffic signal at Woodland Town Center, South Illinois

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A new traffic signal is expected to start operating Wednesday, Nov. 14, in front of the Woodland Town Center on South Illinois Avenue.

The new shopping center includes a Aubrey’s restaurant and a larger, relocated Panera Bread.

The traffic light is at the intersection of South Illinois and a new road called Woodland Terrace East. It replaces a short section of Quincy Avenue that was removed to make way for Woodland Town Center.

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Oak Ridge tourism leader recognized as leading young professional

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Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau President Katy Brown has been recognized by the Southeast Tourism Society as one of the leading young professionals in the tourism industry.

Brown was recently honored as a member of the inaugural “Forty for the Future” Class of 2012, a press release said. She is one of 40 honorees chosen under the age of 40 who represent tourism-related businesses and organizations across the country.

“All of them have demonstrated leadership in their careers and communities and are beacons for others,” said Bill Hardman, president and chief executive officer of the Southeast Tourism Society. “Our objectives with ‘Forty for the Future’ are to recognize leadership, demonstrate how varied tourism jobs are, and inspire even younger people to consider tourism as a career.”

The press release said Brown has been with the ORCVB since 2001. She started as sales manager, then worked as vice president of communications, and has served as president of the organization for the past six years. She also received the Postma Young Professionals Medal in 2011 from the East Tennessee Economic Council.

“It’s an honor to be recognized for something that is truly a passion for me,” Brown said. “I’ve been given a story to tell, that so many here lived, so I feel like I am truly blessed by my surroundings and our unique history. I’m so honored to work with an incredible group, from our staff to our volunteers to our entire tourism team, I am only a cog in the wheel of this unique story.”

Brown has been recognized by other regional and state travel organizations that rely upon her leadership and experience for their own organizations, the release said. She serves on the Anderson County Tourism Council, the Middle East Tennessee Tourism Council Executive Committee, and the Southeast Tourism Society Board of Directors.

Visit the ORCVB website at www.oakridgevisitor.com or call (865) 482-7821 for more information.