Oak Ridge Today

Roane State presents philanthropy awards to Oak Ridge, Anderson County

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Oak Ridge Roane State Philanthropy Award

From left, Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan and City Council member Charlie Hensley accept the Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Philanthropy from Roane State President Gary Goff. (Photo submitted by RSCC)

The Oak Ridge and Anderson County governments recently received state philanthropy awards for their support of an expansion of the local Roane State Community College branch campus.

Both governments contributed $500,000 to a new Health Sciences and Technology Building at the college’s Oak Ridge campus. Roane State said those contributions were key to reaching a $2.5 million fundraising goal.

Recognizing those contributions, Roane State President Gary Goff recently presented Oak Ridge and Anderson County officials with Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in Philanthropy.

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Oak Ridge plans for Manhattan Project’s 70th anniversary

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Organizers in Los Alamos, N.M., and Hanford, Wash., are having special events today to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Manhattan Project, the top-secret national effort to create the world’s first atomic bombs during World War II.

Although nothing is planned in Oak Ridge, local volunteers are considering whether to have a celebration on Sept. 19, the 70th anniversary of the decision to select Oak Ridge for the first Manhattan Project site, newspaper columnist and Y-12 National Security Complex Historian D. Ray Smith said in an e-mail.

The volunteers plan to begin discussing the possible celebration during a 4 p.m. Tuesday meeting in the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau conference room.

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City needs school crossing guards

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The city of Oak Ridge is looking for school crossing guards. The guards play an important role in the lives of children who walk or bike to school by helping children safely cross the street at key locations, a city press release said.

This is an ideal job for students, homemakers, and/or retirees to make extra spending money, the press release said. Applicants must be responsible adults at least age 18 and will work for one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon on school days.

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Patrick says ‘no’ to other elected offices, Iwanski to chairmanship

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Myron Iwanski

Myron Iwanski

Buzz Patrick

Buzz Patrick

After losing by a wide margin in the Aug. 2 election, Anderson County Commissioner Buzz Patrick on Monday said he has no plans to run for any other elected office.

And the man who beat him, Anderson County Interim Mayor Myron Iwanski, said he is not interested in becoming Anderson County Commission chairman, a position he has held before.

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November election features city council, judge, school board

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The three incumbent Oak Ridge City Council members—L. Charles “Charlie” Hensley, Charles J. “Chuck” Hope Jr., and Ellen Smith—have picked up qualifying petitions to run in the Nov. 6 election, and Trina Baughn, the first-time candidate defeated days ago in the Aug. 2 special election, plans to run again in November.

Also qualifying to run in November is Kelly S. Callison, who sought an appointment to City Council after former member Tom Hayes resigned in June 2011.

There are three seats available. They are the seats now held by Hensley, Hope, and Smith. Hope was appointed to the position after Hayes resigned.

Meanwhile, former Oak Ridge City Council member Leonard Abbatiello has picked up a petition to run for school board, and the two incumbents, Angi Agle and Keys Fillauer, have also picked up petitions, said Stephanie Gamble, Anderson County Election Commission deputy administrator.

She said Oak Ridge City Judge Robert A. McNees III has also qualified to run in November.

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Tennessee tax-free weekend continues through Sunday

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The annual tax-free weekend in Tennessee started early Friday morning and ends late Sunday, and it allows shoppers to save nearly 10 percent on sales tax on clothing, school and art supplies, and computer purchases.

Consumers will not pay state or local sales tax on clothing with a price of $100 or less per item, school and art supplies with a price of $100 or less per item, and computers with a price of $1,500 or less.

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Frank, Iwanski, Hope win election in Anderson County, Oak Ridge

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Terry Frank

Terry Frank

Business owner Terry Frank, a Clinton Republican, has defeated attorney Warren Gooch, an Oak Ridge Democrat, in the race for Anderson County mayor.

Frank received 7,074 votes, or 58 percent, while Gooch collected 5,032, or 42 percent, according to unofficial results Thursday night.

She will serve a two-year term, completing the unexpired term of former mayor Rex Lynch, who resigned in January 2011.

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Frank, Iwanski, Hope lead in early election returns

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Terry Frank

Terry Frank

Business owner Terry Frank, a Clinton Republican, has an early voting lead over attorney Warren Gooch, an Oak Ridge Democrat, in the race for Anderson County mayor, according to early results posted Thursday evening on the Anderson County Election Commission website.

Results continue to be tabulated, but Frank has been collecting about 56 or 58 percent of the early, absentee, and election day votes, compared to about 42 to 44 percent for Gooch.

Also taking an early lead was City Council candidate Charles J. “Chuck” Hope Jr., who had about 58 percent of the vote around 8:42 p.m., compared to 42 percent for Trina Baughn.

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Today is Election Day

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Today is election day. Polls are open until 8 p.m.

Elections in Anderson County includes special elections for Oak Ridge City Council, Anderson County Commission, and Anderson County mayor. There are also elections for Anderson County property assessor and Anderson County School Board.

Elections in Roane County include Roane County property assessor, Roane County road superintendent, and Roane County school board.

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Iwanski raises slightly more than Patrick

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Myron Iwanski

Myron Iwanski

Buzz Patrick

Buzz Patrick

CLINTON—Anderson County Interim Mayor Myron Iwanski raised slightly more in campaign contributions in the past four months than County Commissioner Buzz Patrick.

Iwanksi raised $7,075 in campaign contributions from April 1 to July 23, and Patrick collected $6,237, according to campaign financial disclosure reports.

Patrick and his wife Laurel loaned the campaign $2,809, making their total receipts higher than Iwanski’s. Iwanski loaned his campaign $1,000.

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Republican primary voting may not predict outcome of local election

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Republicans outvoted Democrats 2-to-1 during early voting this year, but that could be because some Democrats “crossed over” and voted in state and federal Republican primaries, an election official said Tuesday.

“I would assume that some Democrats crossed over and voted in the Republican primary for U.S. House,” Anderson County Elections Administrator Mark Stephens said.

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New voter ID law not a problem in Anderson County

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A new voter photo identification law challenged in court has not caused a significant problem in Anderson County, Election Administrator Mark Stephens said Tuesday.

The new law, which went into effect this year, says registered voters in Tennessee have to show government-issued photo identification to cast ballots at polling places.

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