Oak Ridge Today

Police investigate death behind fitness center

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The Oak Ridge Police Department on Sunday morning, April 22, 2018, investigated a death behind National Fitness Center in central Oak Ridge. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Oak Ridge Police Department on Sunday morning, April 22, 2018, investigated a death behind National Fitness Center in central Oak Ridge. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Police Department on Sunday morning investigated a death behind a fitness center in central Oak Ridge.

Police received a call to perform a welfare check at about 9:11 a.m. Sunday behind the National Fitness Center, near Home Depot. They found a dead adult. The name of the person has not been released, pending family notification.

Investigators hadn’t determined Sunday morning whether the death was a homicide or suicide. [Read more…]

Manhattan Project Park premieres Minuteman missile film on Saturday

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The Manhattan Project National Historical Park will have a special premiere showing of the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site film, "Beneath the Plains," in Oak Ridge on Saturday, April 21, 2018. (Submitted photo)

The Manhattan Project National Historical Park will have a special premiere showing of the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site film, “Beneath the Plains,” in Oak Ridge on Saturday, April 21, 2018. (Submitted photo)

 

The Manhattan Project National Historical Park will have a special premiere showing of the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site film, “Beneath the Plains,” in Oak Ridge on Saturday.

The film showing is scheduled at 3 p.m. Saturday at the American Museum of Science and Energy, which is at 300 South Tulane Avenue in Oak Ridge.

The 30-minute film gives visitors a glimpse of how 1,000 missiles were kept on constant alert, a press release said.

“Hidden in plain sight during the Cold War, these nuclear weapons stood as a deterrent against a nuclear attack to the United States and its allies,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Robertsville Middle chosen for Comcast Cares Day, volunteers encouraged to attend

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Pictured above is Carleigh Brown, a fifth-grade student at Robertsville Middle School who helped on the Baker Creek Preserve project last year in Knoxville. This year's Comcast Cares Day is at Robertsville Middle School in Oak Ridge on Saturday, April 21, 2018. (Submitted photo)

Pictured above is Carleigh Brown, a fifth-grade student at Robertsville Middle School who helped on the Baker Creek Preserve project last year in Knoxville. This year’s Comcast Cares Day is at Robertsville Middle School in Oak Ridge on Saturday, April 21, 2018. (Submitted photo)

 

More than 1,500 local Comcast NBCUniversal employees and their families, friends, and community partners will “make change happen” as they volunteer at different projects across East Tennessee on Saturday. It’s part of the 17th annual Comcast Cares Day, the nation’s largest single-day corporate volunteer event, a press release said.

Oak Ridge’s Robertsville Middle School has been chosen as a project site for this annual event. Robertsville students have designed planters that will be constructed and filled during the activity, the press release said. Volunteers will help with general landscaping and clean up around the school grounds.

Robertsville students and parents, community groups, and additional volunteers are needed and encouraged to attend a project, the press release said. For more information on how to get involved and to register, visit the Robertsville Middles School Clean Up Day link here. [Read more…]

Rally for Second Amendment, Constitution on Saturday

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Anderson County residents have organized a rally to show support for the Second Amendment and the U.S. Constitution in Clinton on Saturday.

“Aware of the threat to the Bill of Rights and the Constitution of our great nation, some very concerned citizens of Anderson County, Tennessee, have banded together to demonstrate to those who attack our liberties that they will not be successful in their attempts to destroy America,” a press release said.

“While recognizing there is no immediate threat to to our liberties in East Tennessee, we feel strongly that we must stand with those in other parts of our county who are seeing immediate threats to their right to keep and bear arms, a right that is guaranteed and protected by the Constitution of our country,” the press release said.

The rally is scheduled to start at noon Saturday, April 21, on the steps of the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton. It is meant to “show support and solidarity with freedom-loving citizens throughout the United States,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Run on Saturday will support autism organization

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Joe Judkins, right, of Oak Ridge, gets a high-five from Seth Krichinsky, an adult with autism who cheers on participants and helps hand out awards. Judkins came in first in his age group in the 5K run last year. (Submitted photo)

Joe Judkins, right, of Oak Ridge, gets a high-five from Seth Krichinsky, an adult with autism who cheers on participants and helps hand out awards. Judkins came in first in his age group in the 5K run last year. (Submitted photo)

 

The 12th annual Breakthrough Run for Autism will be held April 21, with Autism Breakthrough of Knoxville inviting individuals, teams, and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities to participate.

The 5K Run/Walk and 1-Mile Fun Run begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 21, at Regal Cinemas Pinnacle Stadium 18 in Farragut’s Turkey Creek. The run, held during National Autism Awareness Month, supports Autism Breakthrough of Knoxville, a nonprofit organization committed to helping adults facing the challenges of autism in the East Tennessee region.

Lori Tucker, WATE-TV news anchor, will serve as honorary chair of the run and will be the emcee during the awards ceremony. Happy Lee, a Breakthrough volunteer, is the race director.

Autism Breakthrough of Knoxville invites any individual with a disability to register for the run or walk as a “breakthrough buddy,” a press release said. A “buddy” may request to participate with a volunteer, who will run or walk the course with the buddy. Breakthrough buddies receive special recognition during the award ceremony. [Read more…]

Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit Community Mediation Services

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Oak Ridge Country Club Golf CourseAn annual golf tournament that helps Community Mediation Services of Anderson Country is next week in Oak Ridge.

The 17th Annual Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament is Friday, April 27, at the beautiful and challenging Oak Ridge Country Club, a press release said.

Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament benefits Community Mediation Services of Anderson Country, “providing participants a great way to give back to the youth and families in our community while having a great day of golf,” the press release said.

The Tournament starts at 8 a.m. Friday, April 27, in a scramble format. Golfers will get a complimentary breakfast, beverage carts, and a smoked barbecue lunch provided by Big Ed’s. Prize contests for participants will be awarded and a Hole-in-One Grand Prize will be available. Free Big Ed’s shirts and golf towels for all golfers are included. An on-site silent auction will be available, the press release said. [Read more…]

Anderson County Democrats have candidate forum Thursday

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The Anderson County Democratic Party will have a candidate forum at Oak Valley Baptist Church in Oak Ridge from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 19, 2018. (Submitted photo)

The Anderson County Democratic Party will have a candidate forum at Oak Valley Baptist Church in Oak Ridge from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 19, 2018. (Submitted photo)

 

The Anderson County Democratic Party has a candidate forum in Oak Ridge on Thursday.

The forum is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Oak Valley Baptist Church.

Candidates expected to attend include Ebony Capshaw, Richard Dawson, Mark Lucas, Alden Souza, and Nathaniel Varner, an event notice said.

Capshaw and Lucas are both running unopposed in the May 1 primary for Anderson County Democrats. Capshaw is running for Anderson County trustee, and Lucas is running for Anderson County sheriff. After the May 1 elections, they will face the winners of the Republican Party primaries, which are also on May 1, in the August 2 county general election for trustee and sheriff. [Read more…]

UT MBA team to present Rails to Trails study findings

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The former CSX railway is pictured near Jefferson Middle School in central Oak Ridge on Dec. 30, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The former CSX railway, which could be converted into a bike and pedestrian greenway, is pictured near Jefferson Middle School in central Oak Ridge on Dec. 30, 2016. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A team of graduate students from the University of Tennessee’s Master of Business Administration program will present recommendations next week to the City of Oak Ridge from a recent project that focused on how the city can promote its proposed Rails to Trails program.

The presentation, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, will be in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Courtroom on South Tulane Avenue. It is open to the public.

The Rails to Trails project in Oak Ridge would convert about 4.85 miles of unused CSX railroad into a pedestrian and bicycle trail. The city has received a $1.2 million grant for the project and approved a $1.5 million contract with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, but there is still much work to be done, including acquiring the property and designing and building the trail. Officials suggest it could be several years at least before the project is completed.

The former railroad starts at Elza Gate Park at Melton Lake Drive in east Oak Ridge, runs past the Emory Heights neighborhood and Jefferson Middle School, crosses Emory Valley Road near Hank’s Market, and then continues through the Hendrix Creek neighborhood along Lafayette Drive before ending near South Illinois Avenue, Scarboro Road, and the Y-12 National Security Complex.

The study of the Rails to Trails program took the group of four MBA students about seven weeks to complete, a press release said. [Read more…]

Retired pilot, former Democratic Party chair running for Tennessee House

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Richard Dawson

Richard Dawson

 

Richard Dawson, a retired pilot who flew helicopters in Vietnam and is a former Democratic Party chair, is running for Tennessee House of Representatives in Anderson County.

Dawson is running in Tennessee’s 33rd District, which includes most of Anderson County, including Clinton and the Anderson County portion of Oak Ridge. Dawson lives in Clinton, and he is a native Oak Ridger, a press release said.

“My dad was an electrical maintenance supervisor at K-25 for 20 years and was able to provide enough for my mom, sister, and me to live comfortably,” Dawson said in the press release. “Republicans have been in power in Tennessee for years, but their policies have only made it more difficult for people who work hard, like my dad, to take care of their families. I am running because Anderson County and Tennessee deserve better.”

The press release said Dawson was raised in Oak Ridge, and he and his family lived and experienced the “American Dream.” He benefitted from the top-notch public education in Oak Ridge and when he graduated, Dawson felt called to serve, the press release said. He voluntarily enlisted in the Army, flying helicopters in Vietnam. Returning home, he used the GI Bill to earn a degree in labor and industrial relations from East Tennessee State University, the press release said. [Read more…]

UT Arboretum Society has plant sale this weekend

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University of Tennessee Arboretum Society Spring Plant Sale (Submitted Photo)

University of Tennessee Arboretum Society Spring Plant Sale (Submitted Photo)

 

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society will have a spring plant sale this weekend that will gather the best of four local nurseries in one location.

The public sale, the 51st Annual Spring Plant Sale, will be held on Saturday, April 21, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the UT Arboretum at 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge. The “Members Only” sale will be on Friday evening, April 20 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Memberships may be purchased at that time for this “early bird” shopping opportunity, a press release said.

“By joining UTAS on Friday night, people can enjoy the membership benefit of having the first pick of our beautiful selection of plants, some of which sell out that evening,” the press release said.

Checks, cash, and credit cards will be accepted. [Read more…]

Ebony Capshaw running for Anderson County trustee

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Ebony Capshaw

Ebony Capshaw

 

Ebony Capshaw has announced that she is seeking election to the office of Anderson County trustee.

Capshaw said her local background and sense of community, combined with her organizational experience and management skills, have led to her interest in local government and public office.

“I love to serve the people,” Capshaw said in a press release. “I have a servant’s heart, and you can trust me to get the job done. With my auditing background and code of ethics within a multibillion-dollar company, I feel confident I can do this job and serve the people of Anderson County with enthusiasm.”

Capshaw is unopposed on the ballot in the Democratic primary election on May 1. She will face the winner of the Republican primary in the August 2 general election. The office is presently held by Myron Iwanski, former Anderson County Commissioner, who was appointed by his fellow commissioners to fill the office following the resignation of Rodney Archer. Archer left to take the position of executive director for the County Officials Association of Tennessee. Iwanski is not seeking election as trustee. [Read more…]

Lynch names Bradshaw as campaign treasurer

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David Bradshaw and Rex Lynch

David Bradshaw and Rex Lynch

Former Oak Ridge Mayor and local bank official David Bradshaw has been named treasurer of the Rex Lynch for Circuit Court Clerk Campaign. Bradshaw served as mayor of Oak Ridge while Rex Lynch was mayor of Anderson County.

“I have known Rex for more than 20 years and have a great deal of respect for Rex and his family,” Bradshaw said in a press release earlier in the campaign. “Rex worked closely with the City of Oak Ridge while serving as Anderson County mayor, and I believe he will do a great job as Circuit Court clerk.”

Lynch is seeking the Republican nomination for Anderson County Circuit Court clerk in the May 1 primary. [Read more…]