Oak Ridge Today

Steve Reddick is Oak Ridge Schools’ Teacher of the Year

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Steve Reddick

Steve Reddick

 

Steve Reddick has been named Teacher of the Year for Oak Ridge Schools.

Reddick is an eighth-grade American history teacher. He has been teaching at Jefferson Middle school for 34 years.

“He believes there is no more relevant or exciting subject to teach, as students are ‘citizens in training,’ who will one day vote, pay taxes, serve our country, and be part of our local, national, and global communities,” a press release said. “Steve notes that democracy requires ‘lots of practice’ and engaged citizens who embrace their civic responsibilities with discernment, reflection, and a seriousness of purpose. He utilizes print and electronic resources to develop his students’ reading, writing, thinking, and discussion skills, as well as the “habits of mind” that they will need to become active, engaged citizens. Students compare differing points of view, weigh evidence, and discuss topics and historical interpretations respectfully.”

Reddick makes a point of framing these habits in both historical and contemporary contexts, the press release said. [Read more…]

Council to consider Blankenship design agreement, money for relocated court

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The renovation work at Blankenship Field and Jack Armstrong Stadium could start in January and be complete by June, officials said Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday, Feb. 12, 2018, will consider an in-kind design agreement for renovation work at Blankenship Field and Jack Armstrong Stadium. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday will consider an in-kind design agreement for renovation work at Blankenship Field and Jack Armstrong Stadium and $70,000 in funding for renovations for Anderson County General Sessions Court, Division II, which is moving to a county-owned building on Emory Valley Road.

The Blankenship Field design contract would be awarded to Barge Design Solutions of Knoxville. It would be an in-kind donation to the project, valued at up to $50,000, and used to help meet the requirement to have matching funds for a Local Park and Recreation Fund grant awarded to the city by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. That $496,000 grant required a 50 percent local match, which is to come from the Blankenship Field Revitalization Foundation.

The Barge Design Solutions work would include surveying, civil engineering, landscape design, permitting, and construction administration.

The roughly $1 million project is called the Oak Ridge Blankenship Field Renovation and Trailhead Improvement Project. [Read more…]

Cole seeks re-election as Anderson County clerk

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Jeff Cole

Jeff Cole

 

Jeff Cole is seeking re-election as Anderson County clerk.

Cole has worked in the Anderson County Clerk’s office since 1989, and he has served as Anderson County clerk since 2002, a press release said.

Cole is a certified public administrator from the University of Tennessee, and he is a graduate of the University of Tennessee Local Government Leadership Program.  Cole was president of the County Clerks Association for the State of Tennessee, and he was chosen as County Clerk of the Year by all county clerks in the state of Tennessee in 2015, the press release said.

The County Clerk’s office is responsible for waiting on more than 120,000 customers a year, the press release said. The office receipts more than $7 million annually, and offers more than 15 different services to the citizens of Anderson County. [Read more…]

Lynch running for Anderson County Circuit Court clerk

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Rex Lynch

Rex Lynch

 

Former Anderson County Mayor Rex Lynch is running for Anderson County Circuit Court Clerk, opposing incumbent William Jones in the May 1 Republican Primary, a press release said.

Lynch, the county’s mayor from 1998 through 2010, has worked the past two years as a court security officer in Anderson County General Sessions Court Judge Don Layton’s courtroom, the press release said.

In the press release, Lynch said he thinks his stint as a court officer, along with his vast county government experience, would allow him to implement the significant changes necessary to make the Circuit Court work better for the citizens of Anderson County. Those changes would begin with an infusion of leadership to establish better public relations and customer service in the office, Lynch said.

Among the various organizations and committees that Lynch has served and led include: chairman of the Anderson County Development Corporation; member of Board of Directors for Anderson County Economic Development Association; CROET Board member; East Tennessee Economic Council Board member; board vice chair for East Tennessee Development District; board vice chair for East Tennessee Human Resource Agency; Cumberland Mountain RC&D Board member; Tennessee Association of Mayors Board member; member Alpha Lodge #376; member of Kerbela Shriners of Knoxville; Clinton Rotary Club; and member of Second Baptist Church in Clinton. [Read more…]

Next City Blueprint meeting is Thursday

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Preserve at Clinch River Invitation

The Oak Ridge Community Development Department is continuing the Oak Ridge City Blueprint effort with a discussion focused on the Preserve at Clinch River neighborhood. An open house will be held between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 8, at The Discovery Center on Broadberry Avenue.

Families living in this subarea are encouraged to attend and provide ideas and suggestions for possible neighborhood improvements, a press release said.

“Please note that no formal presentation is planned for these events,” the release said. “Attendees can come and go anytime during the open house to meet, ask questions, and provide feedback to city staff and board representatives.” [Read more…]

City: Higher energy bills on the way again due to cold weather

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Electric power bills for residents across the region for energy used in December were much higher than normal as a result of the extreme winter temperatures experienced in the area, officials said Monday.

“Judging from the local weather patterns, customers will continue to see significant increases in their utility bills for energy used in January,” a City of Oak Ridge press release said.

“We frequently receive calls from customers who say they have not changed the temperature on their thermostat, but their bill has increased,” said Marlene Bannon, manager of the Oak Ridge Utility Business Office. “Although you may keep the thermostat temperature consistent, your HVAC unit has to work harder to heat the air when temperatures drop, therefore using more power.”

The “degree-days of heating” is used as a measure for how hard your unit has to work to keep your home at a set temperature. In Oak Ridge during December 2017, there were 591 degree days of heating—almost twice the number from November, the press release said. [Read more…]

Updated: Smoke alarms help six escape house fire

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A minor injury was reported and several people escaped from a house fire on Tiffany Place in central Oak Ridge on Monday evening, Feb. 5, 2018, authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A minor injury was reported and several people escaped from a house fire on Tiffany Place in central Oak Ridge on Monday evening, Feb. 5, 2018, authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 4:30 p.m.

Smoke alarms helped six people escape a house fire on Tiffany Place in central Oak Ridge on Monday evening, authorities said. One person had minor injuries.

The fire was reported just before 7 p.m. Monday. It started in the home’s garage, Oak Ridge Fire Department Chief Darryl Kerley said. The cause was not immediately known.

Oak Ridge Fire Department crews were able to knock it down quickly. But the fire burned a bedroom above the garage. It also burned the engine of a vehicle in the driveway. Authorities said the home received extensive smoke damage.
[Read more…]

ORPD accepting applications for Citizen Police Academy

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The Oak Ridge Police Department will be conducting a Citizen Police Academy in 2018. Classes will start Feb. 27, 2018. Applications will be accepted until Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. Pictured above in the Citizen Police Academy in 2012. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge/Oak Ridge Police Department)

The Oak Ridge Police Department will be conducting a Citizen Police Academy in 2018. Classes will start Feb. 27, 2018. Applications will be accepted until Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. Pictured above in the Citizen Police Academy in 2012. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge/Oak Ridge Police Department)

 

The Oak Ridge Police Department will be conducting a Citizen Police Academy this year. Classes will start February 27 and continue through May 8. Applications will be accepted until February 21 at 5 p.m.

Class will be held on Tuesday of each week with the exception of two sessions that will be conducted on Saturday. Each class will start at 6 p.m. and end at 9 p.m. The Saturday classes will be scheduled to fit the needs of the students, a press release said.

“Students will learn the policies and procedures of the Oak Ridge Police Department and experience firsthand how the department operates,” the press release said.

It said the mission of the Citizen Police Academy is to debunk myths about law enforcement as well as open lines of communication between officers and civilians. [Read more…]

Exhibit featuring Syrian refugee artists on display at Roane State’s Oak Ridge campus through Feb. 9

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An exhibit of artwork by refugees from war-ravaged Syria will be on display at Roane State Community College’s Oak Ridge campus, 701 Briarcliff Ave., through Feb. 9. (Submitted photo)

An exhibit of artwork by refugees from war-ravaged Syria will be on display at Roane State Community College’s Oak Ridge campus, 701 Briarcliff Ave., through Feb. 9. (Submitted photo)

 

An exhibit of artwork by refugees from war-ravaged Syria will be on display at Roane State Community College’s Oak Ridge campus, 701 Briarcliff Avenue, through February 9.

Roane State’s International Education Department has coordinated with St. Louis Community College to bring the traveling exhibit to Oak Ridge, a press release said. The exhibit is located in the Coffey-McNally Building next to room C-120.

Scholar Rihab Sawah from St. Louis Community College organized the traveling exhibit. Sawah began presenting on topics related to Syria and the Middle East in her early 20s, when Amnesty International invited her to speak about her father, who was a political prisoner in her homeland, the press release said. [Read more…]

Rock to Bach Music Festival on Saturday will benefit Oak Ridge Civic Music Association

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Kelle Jolly on ukelele (Submitted photo)

Kelle Jolly on ukelele (Submitted photo)

 

Note: This story was updated at 12:55 p.m.

The sixth Oak Ridge Rock to Bach Music Festival, presented by the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association, will showcase talented local musicians on Saturday, February 10, at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

A feast for music lovers, Rock to Bach will feature 19 live performances from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., a press release said. The performers include bands with singers, such as the Ridge City Ramblers and Mt. LeConte Jug Band, as well as string quartets, a flute choir, a jazz band, and two klezmer bands.

Solo artists are Allen McBride on the hammer dulcimer and vocalist Kelle Jolley, one of East Tennessee’s most celebrated jazz musicians. She is the host of Knoxville’s radio show on WUOT 91.9FM, “Jazz Jam with Kelle Jolly,” an hour-long show on Friday at 8 p.m. that celebrates great local, national, and international singers of jazz, the press release said. [Read more…]

UT Arboretum, Tennessee Bluebird societies have two programs on bluebirds this month

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BLUEBIRD PIC 3

Learn about bluebirds and their environments

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society and the Tennessee Bluebird Society will present two programs on bluebirding this month, a press release said.

A program titled “Bluebirding Basics” will be held on Tuesday, February 6, from 7 to 8 p.m. at Roane State Community College, Oak Ridge campus, Goff Room 104.

A second program, “Bluebird Nest Box Trail Monitoring Training,” will be held on Thursday, February 15, at Roane State Community College, Oak Ridge campus, from 7 to 8 p.m., City Room.

If you are interested in bluebirds or want to learn more about them, you are invited to attend these free programs, the press release said. [Read more…]

Asher of United Way to discuss community needs, issues, opportunities on Monday

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Naomi Asher

Naomi Asher

Naomi Asher will give the Monday, February 5, presentation at 11 a.m. to the Women’s Interfaith Dialogue of Oak Ridge, to be held at the Jewish Congregation at 101 West Madison Lane in Oak Ridge. The public is invited to learn and bring their questions, a press release said.

She will speak about how the United Way of Anderson County improves lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community to advance the common good, the press release said. The organization focuses on youth development, self-sufficiency, and senior and health services, all building blocks for a good life and strong community.

Asher, executive director of the United Way of Anderson County since May 2015, has lived in Oak Ridge since 1992, graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 2001, and returned to Oak Ridge in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree from Johnson University. She earned an MBA in marketing from King University in 2012, and left the executive director’s position with CASA for United Way. [Read more…]