Oak Ridge Today

Part of Clinton Highway closed due to fallen trees, power lines

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Clinton Highway Power Lines Down 2 May 1 2017

Clinton Highway (US 25W) south of Clinton between Foust Carney Road and East Wolf Valley Road is closed because of trees and power lines that have fallen, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said Monday afternoon, May 1, 2017. (Photo courtesy Anderson County Sheriff’s Department)

 

Clinton Highway (US 25W) south of Clinton between Foust Carney Road and East Wolf Valley Road is closed because of trees and power lines that have fallen, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said Monday afternoon.

“The highway is completely blocked, and both northbound and southbound lanes are closed,” Lucas said. “The road is expected to be shut down for at least eight hours or more.” [Read more…]

Not clear yet where National Park Service will go when AMSE closes

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former-sears-roebuck-co-oak-ridge-jan-2-2017-web

An agreement signed Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, by the U.S. Department of Energy and City of Oak Ridge calls for the American Museum of Science and Energy missions to be relocated within about one year to 18,000 square feet of space in a two-story building that once housed a Sears Roebuck store next to JCPenney at Main Street Oak Ridge. It’s not yet clear if the National Park Service, which has shared space with AMSE, will also move into this building. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

It’s not clear yet where the National Park Service will go when the American Museum of Science and Energy building closes at the end of the year, but a federal official said the Park Service will stay in Oak Ridge.

It could relocate to a two-story building that once housed Sears Roebuck at Main Street Oak Ridge, the former Oak Ridge Mall. That’s where the U.S. Department of Energy’s public education and outreach missions, now housed at the American Museum of Science and Energy, are moving.

But the National Park Service hadn’t committed to moving there as of April 17, said Niki Nicholas, site manager of the Oak Ridge unit of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. The NPS needs more information, Nicholas said in response to questions after a Monday afternoon presentation to AAUW, or American Association of University Women. (A reader had told Oak Ridge Today of an April 17 letter reportedly sent from the Manhattan Project National Historical Park to federal officials at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which manages AMSE.)

Nicholas said the National Park Service has several options in Oak Ridge, including Main Street Oak Ridge. But she declined to elaborate on the precise number of options, where they might be, or what organizations or businesses might be co-located in those buildings. [Read more…]

Sewer line cleaning scheduled to start April 24, continue through mid-June

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The Oak Ridge Public Works Department was scheduled to start cleaning sewer lines throughout the city on Monday, April 24, and continue the work through mid-June.

The project may cause traffic delays as roads and intersections could be temporarily closed during the cleaning process, the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release.

Crews will be focusing on the area above Oak Ridge Turnpike and below West Outer Drive, concentrating mainly on Louisiana Avenue, Robertsville Road, and side streets, the press release said. [Read more…]

Sewer line repair begins on North Purdue on Monday

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Beginning Monday, May 1, Hurst Excavating, a contractor for the Oak Ridge Public Works Department, will be repairing a sewer line on North Purdue Avenue in the area behind ORNL Federal Credit Union. The project is expected to continue through Friday, May 12.

This work may cause traffic delays as roads and intersections could be temporarily closed during the repair. Please use extreme care and caution, allowing extra time when driving in this area, the city said.

Questions can be directed to the Public Works information line at (865) 425-1875 or submitted through email to PubWorksDis@OakRidgeTN.gov.

Public invited to Congressional Art Competition at Roane State Oak Ridge campus on Sunday

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The public is invited to the 2017 Congressional Art Competition Awards Ceremony on Sunday, April 30, at Roane State Community College’s Oak Ridge campus.

The Art Competition for students in Tennessee’s 3rd Congressional District, represented by Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, is held annually to recognize the artistic talents of high school students.

The Awards Ceremony will be held from 1:30-3 p.m. in the City Room of the Coffey-McNally Building. Visitors are welcome to view the artwork, which is on display on campus, located at 701 Briarcliff Avenue in Oak Ridge. Seating for the Awards Ceremony is limited.

The main goal of the art competition is to support and foster creativity among America’s youth. The winner of the art competition will have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. Also, the winner will be awarded a trip to Washington, D.C., to attend a reception and see their artwork hung inside the U.S. Capitol, a press release said.

This press release was submitted by Owen Driskill.

Land Bank perspective on Oak Ridge housing to be discussed Tuesday

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Charlie Jernigan July 11 2016

Charlie Jernigan, chair of the Oak Ridge Land Bank Corp. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

“Housing in Oak Ridge is a topic of great interest for a large and diverse group of people as well as government and business entities,” said Charlie Jernigan. “To really understand what is happening with housing, it is important to know its status now, the important entities involved, and the game plans going forward.”

Jernigan will be the guest speaker at Lunch with the League on Tuesday, May 2, from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

“Now is an exciting time for Oak Ridge, with growth and positive change in many different arenas,” Jernigan said. “Housing is one of those areas presenting significant challenges, as well as opportunities for significant improvement. The city has reached a hinge point regarding housing: we have several options for our way forward, and one of these paths will take us where we need to be. Instead of choosing the current route of stagnation and further decay, we can decide to move in the direction of renewal and growth, and blaze a trail of improved housing throughout the city.” [Read more…]

Anderson County judges will dedicate plaque in memory of deceased attorneys on Monday

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The judges of Anderson County will dedicate a plaque in memory of deceased Anderson County practicing attorneys on Monday, May 1, “Law Day.” The presentation will take place at noon May 1 on the third floor of the Anderson County Courthouse, in the Circuit Courtroom.

The public is welcome to attend.

CodeRed alerts can save lives in emergencies, but many residents disconnecting, not answering

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Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley

Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley

The CodeRed Emergency Notification System used by the City of Oak Ridge can be a life-saving tool during an emergency, officials said, but many residents are not answering their phones or they are disconnecting before a pre-recorded message can begin.

This week, the Oak Ridge Fire Department reminded residents that use of the CodeRed Emergency Notification System is important during severe weather.

But a review of past CodeRed notifications found that many residents either did not answer their phone or they disconnected the call before the pre-recorded message could begin, a City of Oak Ridge press release said.

Here’s how CodeRed works, according to the city: If you have a land-line phone at your home or business through AT&T or Comcast, you will automatically receive a call from CodeRed alerting you of a tornado. If the city has a local emergency, the fire department will send an automated call to affected homes and business in order to provide information about the event. These messages can be a life-saving tool in an emergency, the press release said.

“One of the major issues that has come to light following the Sevier County wildfires is the importance of community notification of a pending emergency,” ORFD Chief Darryl Kerley said. “Oak Ridge is not able to use emergency warning sirens to alert the community of fire or tornadoes. The outside emergency alert sirens in Oak Ridge are for U.S. Department of Energy emergencies only, so the fire department subscribes to the CodeRed Emergency Notification System.” [Read more…]

Bike with a Ranger on the North Boundary Greenway on Saturday

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Join a park ranger for a bike ride on the North Boundary Greenway in Oak Ridge to see how the former communities of the area have changed during the past 70 years. The Manhattan Project National Historical Park will present a free program at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Photo courtesy National Park Service)

Join a park ranger for a bike ride on the North Boundary Greenway in Oak Ridge to see how the former communities of the area have changed during the past 70 years. The Manhattan Project National Historical Park will present the free program at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Photo courtesy National Park Service)

 

You can join a National Park Service park ranger for a bike ride on the North Boundary Greenway to see how the former communities of the area have changed during the past 70 years.

It’s a free program by the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, and it will start at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 29. The program will begin at the Turnpike Gatehouse and travel down Quarry Trail, a press release said

“Along the ride, we will explore the former communities that were here before the Manhattan Project,” the press release said. “Rangers will stop several times along the bike ride to point out the rich history that is found within the Oak Ridge area.”

The Turnpike Gatehouse is located at 2900 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge. Tennessee state law requires that bicycle operators under 16 years of age must wear a helmet, and child passengers under 40 pounds or 40 inches must be seated and secured in a child restraining seat or bicycle trailer, the press release said. [Read more…]

Crowd gathers to watch TVA spill water at Norris Dam

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Crowds gather to see Norris Dam spilling for the first time since 2013 on Tuesday, April 25, 2017. Norris will be spilling for about 15 days, according to the Tennessee Valley Authority. (Photo by TVA)

A crowd gathers to watch Norris Dam spilling water for the first time since 2013 on Tuesday, April 25, 2017. Norris Dam will be spilling water for about 15 days, according to the Tennessee Valley Authority. (Photo by TVA)

 

A crowd gathered Tuesday to watch the Tennessee Valley Authority spill water at Norris Dam for the first time since 2013.

TVA said it could spill water over the top of the dam for about 15 days.

“We are currently spilling about 124,000 gallons per second at Norris Dam,” TVA said Tuesday.

WYSH Radio in Clinton reported that TVA is seeking to lower the water level in Norris Lake, which was about six feet above the summer pool level following last weekend’s relentless rainfall.

“Following last weekend’s record rainfall totals across East Tennessee, TVA on Tuesday opened all three spillway gates at Norris Dam for the first time since the spring of 2013,” WSYH said. [Read more…]

WYSH: TDOT gives Clinton an update on ‘green bridge’ replacement

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Hon. William Everette Lewallen Memorial Bridge

The Hon. William Everette Lewallen Memorial Bridge on Clinch Avenue is pictured above near downtown Clinton in this file photo from December 2013.

 

Information from WYSH Radio

Clinton City Manager Roger Houck gave WYSH Radio in Clinton an update on Wednesday morning on the project to replace the green bridge that connects South Clinton and Clinton on Highway 25W, also known as Clinton Highway and Clinch Avenue. The bridge is currently structurally sound and safe, but the Tennessee Department of Transportation said that could change over the next few years, hence the replacement project.

Houck said that TDOT had earlier indicated that they would put the project out for bids in the second quarter of this year with construction slated to begin in the third quarter, but the city was recently informed that the timetable has been moved back some, with bids expected to be be sought in the third quarter. Construction on the approximately $21 million project could begin late this year or, more likely, early next year. [Read more…]

Anderson County awarded Excellence in Financial Reporting Certificate

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The Excellence in Financial Reporting Certificate being presented by Steve Emert, County Commission chairman, right, and Myron Iwanski, Finance Committee chairman, left, to Natalie Erb, Finance Department director. (Submitted photo)

The Excellence in Financial Reporting Certificate being presented by Steve Emert, Anderson County Commission chairman, right, and Myron Iwanski, Finance Committee chairman, left, to Natalie Erb, Finance Department director. (Submitted photo)

 

The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to Anderson County by the Government Finance Officers Association for its comprehensive annual financial report, a press release said. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of government and financial reporting.

The Anderson County annual financial report was judged by an impartial panel to meet high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story, the press release said.

“The finance staff, lead by Natalie Erb, have done an outstanding job in managing the county’s finances in a challenging year that included a change in the financial management system and several staff changes” said Myron Iwanski, chairman of the Anderson County Finance Committee. “Comprehensive financial policies and practices are being put in place.” [Read more…]