Oak Ridge Today

Hazardous driving conditions remain in Anderson County

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A view of snow-covered Dutch Valley from Waldens Ridge in Anderson County on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018. (Photo by Anderson County Sheriff's Department)

A view of snow-covered Dutch Valley from Waldens Ridge in Anderson County on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018. (Photo by Anderson County Sheriff’s Department)

 

Note: This story was updated at 11:05 p.m.

Update: State routes were mostly clear Wednesday afternoon, but secondary roads still had snow and ice in spots, especially where they are shaded. Some roads remained entirely snow-covered. Areas that melted in the sun Wednesday were expected to refreeze overnight as the temperatures will once again be in the single digits. Motorists should continue to use caution.

Three traffic crashes had been reported as of 4 p.m., and deputies planned to continue patrolling and answering calls in four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Hazardous driving conditions remained in Anderson County on Wednesday morning, with some state routes still having snow and ice.

Secondary roads are mostly snow-covered, with ice in places, said Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy.

“Bitter cold temperatures overnight resulted in many roads freezing over and becoming dangerous,” Lucas said. “Motorists should use extreme caution if travel is necessary.”

Three traffic crashes were reported Tuesday, but none have been reported so far Wednesday morning, Lucas said. [Read more…]

Road conditions still bad, police say; Y-12 closed

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An Oak Ridge Public Works Department snow truck is pictured on South Illinois Avenue on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 16, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

An Oak Ridge Public Works Department snow truck is pictured on South Illinois Avenue on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 16, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11:15 p.m.

Update: Driving conditions on main roads and side streets in Oak Ridge seemed to have improved by about 5 p.m. Wednesday, although there were still patches of ice and snow, including in shopping center parking lots.

Wednesday evening, the Oak Ridge Police Department said conditions had improved on main roads, but side streets were still extremely slick. Drivers should use extra caution if they have to get out tonight. There could be some refreezing on the roads overnight with the low temperatures. Oak Ridge Schools will be closed again on Thursday, January 18, due to the conditions.

A few inches of snow fell Tuesday, and road conditions are still bad Wednesday morning, especially in the city’s neighborhoods, the Oak Ridge Police Department said. The Y-12 National Security Complex and the Uranium Processing Facility offices are closed.

Oak Ridge Public Works Department crews are out clearing and treating the roads.

“If you must go out, please use extreme caution,” the ORPD said.

Y-12 said normal operations will resume Thursday, January 18. [Read more…]

Roads slippery, snow-covered; schools, Key Springs closed

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Streets in Oak Ridge, including main roads, were snow-covered and slippery Tuesday evening, Jan. 16, 2018, and schools announced they would be closed again on Wednesday. Above, the Oak Ridge Police Department responds to a crash on South Illinois Avenue near Centrifuge Way on Tuesday afternoon. (Photo courtesy ORPD/City of Oak Ridge)

Streets in Oak Ridge, including main roads, were snow-covered and slippery Tuesday evening, Jan. 16, 2018, and schools announced they would be closed again on Wednesday. Above, the Oak Ridge Police Department responds to a crash on South Illinois Avenue near Centrifuge Way on Tuesday afternoon. (Photo courtesy ORPD/City of Oak Ridge)

 

Streets in Oak Ridge, including main roads, were snow-covered and slippery Tuesday evening, and schools announced they would be closed again on Wednesday. Key Springs Road—a steep, curvy road that goes down Black Oak Ridge from north Oak Ridge to Marlow—was closed.

The Oak Ridge Police Department advised residents to stay home if they don’t have to be on the roads tonight.

“All roads are snow-covered,” the ORPD said Tuesday evening. “(Oak Ridge) Public Works crews are working to clear and treat roads.”

Even heavily traveled main roads such as Illinois Avenue and Oak Ridge Turnpike were snow-covered and slippery Tuesday evening. Side streets were as well.

The snow, which had started at about 1 p.m. Tuesday, continued past 7 p.m. The forecast had called for a few inches. [Read more…]

Council, school board work session has been rescheduled

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The joint work session between the Oak Ridge Board of Education and Oak Ridge City Council that had been scheduled for this evening has been canceled due to snow and winter weather, and it has been rescheduled for Tuesday, January 23.

Among the items to be discussed are the Oak Ridge Preschool project, proposed general aviation airport, and electrical substation project at the Y-12 National Security Complex. [Read more…]

AC Courthouse closed, County Commission meeting rescheduled

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All Anderson County government offices closed at 11 a.m. Tuesday due to the expected snow, and the Anderson County Commission meeting that had been scheduled for this evening (January 16) has been rescheduled to 6:30 p.m. Monday, January 22, in Room 312 of the Anderson County Courthouse at 100 Main Street in Clinton.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Oak Ridge free income tax service opens Jan. 30

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The Oak Ridge Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) office will open Tuesday, January 30.

The VITA program is an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) initiative to help taxpayers by providing trained volunteers to prepare and electronically file individual tax returns at no cost to the taxpayers, a press release said.

During the 2017 tax season, almost 2,000 returns were prepared at the Oak Ridge site, and taxpayers received more than $2,100,000 in tax refunds, the press release said. The site served taxpayers from 17 Tennessee counties. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge-Powell basketball games postponed

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The Oak Ridge-Powell basketball games scheduled for Tuesday have been postponed due to the expected winter weather.

Oak Ridge Schools will be closed on Tuesday due to the weather, which could include a few inches of snow.

The games are expected to be rescheduled, but a new date hasn’t been announced yet.

Lunch with the League on Tuesday has been canceled

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Erin Darby

Erin Darby

The Lunch with the League that had been scheduled for Tuesday has been canceled due to the expected winter weather, which could include a few inches of snow.

Lunch with the League is hosted by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge. The presentation on Tuesday had been scheduled to include a discussion of Jerusalem by Erin Darby, an assistant professor of religious studies at the University of Tennessee.

The League of Women Voters has a snow policy that says if Oak Ridge Schools are closed due to weather, then League meetings that day are canceled. Oak Ridge Schools are closed Tuesday.

The next Lunch with the League is scheduled for Tuesday, February 6.

Few inches of snow possible Tuesday

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An arctic cold front will move across the Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachians Tuesday, bringing with it accumulating snow and frigid temperatures. Snowfall of 1 to 3 inches is expected Tuesday into early Tuesday night, Jan. 16, 2018. Please stay tuned to the latest forecast for further updates. (Image by National Weather Service in Morristown)

An arctic cold front will move across the Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachians Tuesday, bringing with it accumulating snow and frigid temperatures. Snowfall of 1 to 3 inches is expected Tuesday into early Tuesday night, Jan. 16, 2018. Please stay tuned to the latest forecast for further updates. (Image by National Weather Service in Morristown)

 

A few inches of snow are possible on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

There is a 30 percent chance of snow after 4 a.m. Tuesday in Oak Ridge, and snow is likely, mainly after 7 a.m., with a 70 percent chance of precipitation, forecasters said. Local school districts will be closed Tuesday because of the winter weather.

One to two inches of snow are possible Tuesday, and the high is forecast at 28 degrees Fahrenheit, the National Weather Service said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge, other schools closed due to weather Tuesday

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Accumulating snow is expected to begin along the plateau in the morning hours and progress eastward through the day. Roads may become snow-covered and slick soon after the beginning of snow, with temperatures below freezing on Tuesday afternoon and evening, Jan. 16, 2018. (Image by National Weather Service in Morristown)

Accumulating snow is expected to begin along the plateau in the morning hours and progress eastward through the day. Roads may become snow-covered and slick soon after the beginning of snow, with temperatures below freezing on Tuesday afternoon and evening, Jan. 16, 2018. (Image by National Weather Service in Morristown)

 

Oak Ridge Schools and other local school systems will be closed due to winter weather, possibly including a few inches of snow, on Tuesday.

The other districts that will be closed include Anderson County, Clinton, and Roane County.

The National Weather Service in Morristown said an arctic cold front will move across the Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachians Tuesday, bringing frigid temperatures and snow that will accumulate.

“Snowfall of one to three inches is expected Tuesday into early Tuesday night,” the National Weather Service said. “Please stay tuned to the latest forecast for further updates.” [Read more…]

Religious studies professor to discuss Jerusalem on Tuesday

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Erin Darby

Erin Darby

 

A religious studies professor will discuss Jerusalem in Oak Ridge on Tuesday.

Erin Darby is an assistant professor of religious studies at the University of Tennessee. Her presentation on Tuesday is titled “Understanding Jerusalem: The Holy City and Why It Matters.” It will introduce attendees to the modern history of Jerusalem and explain the city’s political, cultural, and religious significance, including its role in regional and international conflict, a press release said.

Darby is the speaker at Lunch with the League on Tuesday, January 16. The meeting will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, which is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. [Read more…]

Mattress Firm open on South Illinois

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The new Mattress Firm store is pictured above on South Illinois Avenue on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The new Mattress Firm store is pictured above on South Illinois Avenue on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A Mattress Firm store is now open on South Illinois Avenue.

The store is near Panda Express, a relatively new restaurant that is, like, Mattress Firm, on property that was once home to a Ruby Tuesday restaurant near Walmart, Rutgers Avenue, and Main Street Oak Ridge.

On its website, Mattress Firm says it has more than 3,500 company-operated and franchised stores across 49 states and the largest geographic footprint in the United States among multi-brand mattress retailers. The company was founded in 1986, and it is based in Houston. [Read more…]