Oak Ridge Today

Haslam announces more than $800,000 for Oliver Springs, Clinton

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Oliver Springs and Clinton have received more than $800,000 in grants for water system improvements and housing rehabilitation, Gov. Bill Haslam announced Tuesday.

Haslam also announced about $1 million total in Community Development Block Grants for sewer system improvements in Lenoir City and a water line extension in Cocke County.

Haslam also announced grants from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation for two local parks. One $100,000 grant will help Oliver Springs develop Carmichael Park and expand Arrowhead Park, and a second $22,000 grant will aid the continued development of Marlow Park in Anderson County, a press release said.

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TDOT offers $1 million in litter grants for special projects

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The Tennessee Department of Transportation is sponsoring a statewide competition for $1 million of grant funds for special litter projects that go beyond routine maintenance.

Local governments, community organizations, and nonprofits can apply, a press release said. Winning proposals may receive a total of $25,000 to $100,000, which will be used to reimburse expenses each quarter for up to three years.

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Anderson zoning, public works changes cut jobs, save $100,000

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Three positions have been eliminated in the Anderson County Zoning and Public Works Department, and taxpayers can expect to save more than $100,000 each year, Mayor Terry Frank announced Monday.

It’s part of an office restructuring triggered by the economic downturn, Frank said.

A press release said a department planning position and geographic information system, or GIS, coordinator job have both been eliminated. The planning work will now be handled by the East Tennessee Development District, working under a contract with the county. The mayor’s office and property assessor’s office will share a GIS coordinator, “reinstating shared services that have existed in the past.”

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Oak Ridge educators host candidate forum Wednesday

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The Oak Ridge Education Association will host a public forum for five Tennessee House of Representatives candidates on Wednesday.

Three of the candidates—Democrat Jack McNew, Independent Allen Cole, and Republican Kent Calfee— are seeking seats in Tennessee’s District 32. That district includes Roane County and part of Loudon County. The seat has been held for one term by Lenoir City Republican Julia Hurley, who lost to Calfee in the Aug. 2 primary.

The other two candidates—Clinton Democrat Jim Hackworth and Oak Ridge Republican John R. Ragan—are battling to represent District 33, which includes most of Anderson County.

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With help from UT, tree inventory under way in Oak Ridge

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The city of Oak Ridge and forestry students from the University of Tennessee are conducting a tree inventory to help develop a tree planting plan.

The inventory started Saturday at the west end of Oak Ridge near Rarity Ridge. The first two-week inventory will move east along State Route 95/58 to State Route 62, also known as Illinois Avenue.

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Council approves $128,000 for Centennial Golf Course renovations

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Despite the objections of one official and one resident, the Oak Ridge City Council on Monday agreed to spend $128,000 to renovate 29 bunkers, or sand traps, at Centennial Golf Course.

The Golf Course Fund will be used to pay for the repairs at the city-owned course. The work will be done by First Place Finish Inc. of Oak Ridge and Signet Golf Associates.

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Frank hires Oak Ridger reporter for county post

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New Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank has named newspaper reporter Leean Tupper as her administrative assistant, a press release said.

An Anderson County native, Tupper has worked as staff reporter and lifestyles editor at The Oak Ridger since November 2004. She previously worked for more than five years at the Courier News in Clinton. Between the two jobs, she has covered Anderson County government and local schools for 13 years, the press release said.

“I am so excited to add Leean to the operations of the mayor’s office,” Frank said. “In addition to being a wonderfully kind and professional woman, Leean brings to county government a great understanding of the history of Anderson County from her years as a reporter.”

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Alley wants to increase property assessor work week, build website

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Johnny Alley

Johnny Alley

New Anderson County Property Assessor Johnny Alley said he wants to increase the number of hours his employees work each week, cross-train employees, and build a website that could help answer public questions.

A Republican, Alley has been a real estate agent for more than eight years and an Anderson County commissioner for about 2.5 years. He defeated Democrat Rick Marlowe in the Aug. 2 county election.

He took office Sept. 1.

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Youth Board calls for ‘cash mobs,’ tennis day, shoe drive, dodgeball

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Youth Advisory Board

Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board

The Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board has set its annual goals, calling for the creation of “cash mobs” to encourage teens to shop at local stores, a tennis play day, a shoe drive, disc golf event, and dodgeball tournament.

The YAB also voted to continue some of its most popular events, including Graduation Celebration, freshman-sophomore dance, summer jobs and career fair, Battle of the Teen Bands, and Breakfast with Santa.

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Council approves Weigel’s rezoning

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Weigels Rezoning

The Oak Ridge City Council has approved a rezoning for a Weigel’s on South Illinois Avenue in the first of two readings.

The Oak Ridge City Council has approved a rezoning that could allow a Weigel’s on South Illinois Avenue.

Council approved the rezoning in a 6-1 vote during the first of two readings on Monday. It will be considered during a second and final reading on Oct. 10.

The rezoning would allow the proposed gas station and convenience store on a 1.5-acre parcel south of TNBank. The 3,900-square-foot store could open by 2013.

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City could return $480,000 railway museum grant

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If the City Council agrees, the city manager could ask the state to take back a decade-old grant that was supposed to help build a railroad museum in Oak Ridge.

The $480,000 grant could be used to help build the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum at the former K-25 site in west Oak Ridge, a project estimated to cost about $1.25 million.

The Oak Ridge City Council agreed to apply for the grant in 2000, and state officials have now set a last-chance Nov. 1 deadline for an authorization to proceed on the 5,000-square-foot project, City Manager Mark S. Watson said in a memo.

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Council considers Weigel’s rezoning tonight

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Weigels Rezoning

The Oak Ridge City Council will consider a rezoning for a Weigel’s on South Illinois Avenue during a meeting at 7 p.m. today.

The Oak Ridge City Council will consider a property rezoning tonight that could allow a Weigel’s on South Illinois Avenue.

The rezoning would allow the proposed gas station and convenience store on a 1.5-acre parcel south of TNBank. The 3,900-square-foot store could open by 2013.

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