Oak Ridge Today

City workers repair broken water lines Saturday

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An Oak Ridge Public Works Department crew repairs a broken water line underneath Northwestern Avenue near Nevada Circle at lunchtime Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. The crew here is supervised by Oak Ridge Public Works Department Utility Line Maintenance Crew Chief Michael Brown. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

An Oak Ridge Public Works Department crew repairs a broken water line underneath Northwestern Avenue near Nevada Circle at lunchtime Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. The crew here is supervised by Oak Ridge Public Works Department Utility Line Maintenance Crew Chief Michael Brown, left. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

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

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department continued to repair broken water lines on Saturday as cold winter weather caused ground to shift, breaking some pipes.

One crew was repairing a six-inch water line underneath Northwestern Avenue near Nevada Circle at about lunchtime Saturday, and there was another busted line reported on East Tennessee Avenue just east of Georgia Avenue.

Saturday night, city workers repaired another broken water line underneath Northwestern Avenue, this time near Nasson Lane and Princeton Avenue, and two more water line breaks were reported on Emerson Circle and Kentucky Avenue.

A crew was out past 1 a.m. Sunday finishing repairs on that second water line break under Northwestern Avenue, the one near Nasson Lane, as temperatures dropped again overnight. [Read more…]

Wildlife nature walk at Freels Bend on Saturday, Jan. 20

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A wildlife management nature walk is scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday, January 20, in the Freels Bend area in south Oak Ridge.

“Have you ever seen a deer foraging in a field or heard a field sparrow calling in the distance and wondered what could be done to help these species of wildlife?” a press release said. “Join wildlife experts from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory.”

The wildlife management nature walk in the Oak Ridge Wildlife Management Area is scheduled from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, January 20. Discussions during the tour, which is rescheduled from a rained-out date in October, will include game species, species of concern, and how to manage for them in fields and forests, the press release said. [Read more…]

City reports 20 water line breaks in four days

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A break in a 10-inch water line was reported about 10 feet under Tyler Road at about noon Friday, Jan. 5, 2018. A second crew was expected to provide relief to the first crew at about 10 p.m. Friday. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A break in a 10-inch water line was reported about 10 feet under Tyler Road at about noon Friday, Jan. 5, 2018. A second crew was expected to provide relief to the first crew making repairs at about 10 p.m. Friday. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 1 a.m.

The City of Oak Ridge reported about 20 water main breaks in four days of below-freezing temperatures, and crews were working to repair one 10-inch water line about 10 feet below Tyler Road near Oak Ridge Turnpike on Friday night.

The City of Oak Ridge said the Oak Ridge Public Works Department has been working around the clock in cold temperatures to repair broken water mains and restore service.

The water line break under Tyler Road was reported at about noon Friday. City workers turned off nine valves between that break and Central Avenue and Tennessee Avenue, but water continued to flow. Workers weren’t able to completely close one valve after it broke, and they were waiting for a second crew to relieve them at about 10 p.m. Friday. In the meantime, a short section of Tyler Road remained closed at Oak Ridge Turnpike, and it wasn’t clear how long it would take to repair the water line. [Read more…]

ORPD: Missing teen is safe, back with family

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The teenager who was last seen at her home on Halloween is safe and back with her family, the Oak Ridge Police Department said Friday.

On Thursday, the Oak Ridge Police Department posted on Twitter that the search remained active for Shayla Cook, 16, of Oak Ridge.

On Friday morning, the ORPD said Cook came to the Police Department overnight, and she is now back with her family.

“Thank you to everyone who called and helped in this search,” the ORPD said.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

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Man escapes, home destroyed by fire

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A man escaped with minor injuries, but a home was destroyed in a fire on Friday morning, Jan. 5, 2018, on Lindale Lane in west Oak Ridge. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A man escaped with minor injuries, but a home was destroyed in a fire on Friday morning, Jan. 5, 2018, on Lindale Lane in west Oak Ridge. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A man escaped with minor injuries, but a home was destroyed in a Friday morning fire on Lindale Lane in west Oak Ridge.

The fire was reported at about 6:30 a.m. Friday at 15 Lindale Lane, which is off West Lincoln Road just north of the Dollar General store.

The fire was reported to have started in the basement, where there is a garage in a corner of the house. The cause was unknown, Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley said Friday morning.

The fire was fueled by natural gas, Kerley said. A gas line comes into the house in that area, and there is a water heater next to the gas line in the garage, he said.

The fire burned up a wall on that side of the house, went into the attic, and set the attic on fire, Kerley said. [Read more…]

Shelton named Outstanding County Official of the Year in 2017

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Anderson County Register of Deeds Tim Shelton was named Outstanding County Official of the Year in 2017 by the County Officials Association of Tennessee. (Submitted photo)

Anderson County Register of Deeds Tim Shelton was named Outstanding County Official of the Year in 2017 by the County Officials Association of Tennessee. (Submitted photo)

 

Anderson County Register of Deeds Tim Shelton was named Outstanding County Official of the Year in 2017 by the County Officials Association of Tennessee in November.

COAT had its three-day 49th Annual Conference in Franklin in early November.

The only other Anderson County official named Outstanding County Official was former Anderson County Trustee Patsy Stair-Lomeli. She received the award in 2000.

Applications being accepted for NSF Mathematical Sciences Internship Program

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Call for applications closes February 1, 2018

The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) is accepting applications for the National Science Foundation (NSF) Mathematical Sciences Graduate Internship Program, a 10-week summer program for graduate students pursuing a doctoral degree in mathematics, statistics, or applied mathematics.

To qualify, applicants must be enrolled as a graduate student pursuing a doctoral degree in mathematics, statistics, or applied mathematics at an accredited U.S. college or university, and have a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher, a press release said. For a complete list of discipline areas, visit http://www.orise.orau.gov/nsf-msgi/. Students graduating with a doctoral degree prior to the expected internship start date are not eligible, the press release said.

Selected participants will receive a stipend of $1,200 per week for their participation in the internship and limited travel reimbursement. All applications must be submitted by February 1, 2018. [Read more…]

Jones running for re-election as AC Circuit Court Clerk

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Willliam T. Jones

Willliam T. Jones

 

Anderson County Circuit Court Clerk William T. Jones is running for re-election this year, a press release said.

Jones kicked off his re-election campaign in late September with a fundraiser in Oak Ridge that was attended by Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally and District 33 State Representative John Ragan, the press release said.

Jones was elected to the Circuit Court Clerk’s office in 2014 after a 24-year career in law enforcement, the press release said. His duties include supervision of Circuit Court, General Sessions Court Divisions I and II, and Juvenile Court.

“Under his direction, the clerk’s office has run more cost effectively by cutting operating cost,” the press release said. “All surpluses were returned to the county’s general fund. Jones has also been fiscally responsible and able to reduce the annual operating budget.” [Read more…]

Green McAdoo has prayer breakfast on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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The Green McAdoo Cultural Organization and its Board will host a prayer breakfast on Monday, January 15 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day), at the Green McAdoo Recreation Center in Clinton.

The MLK Prayer Breakfast will begin with breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and the prayer service will start at 9, a press release said.

The community is invited, and there is no charge. If you have questions, call the Center at (865) 463-6500.

The Green McAdoo Cultural Center is at 101 School Street, just north of and up the hill from downtown Clinton.

Secretary of State to present $4,000 archives grant to Anderson County

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Tre Hargett

Tre Hargett

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett will present a $4,000 archives grant in Anderson County on Friday.

The grant, distributed through the Tennessee State Library and Archives, will fund development of the Anderson County Archives, a media advisory said.

“The Anderson County Archives will receive a $4,000 Archives Development Grant to preserve court documents,” the advisory said. [Read more…]

County schools closed through Friday; Clinton schools welcome back students

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Information from WYSH Radio

Anderson County Schools were closed today (Thursday, January 4) and will remain closed on Friday, January 5, due to what school leaders called “extreme temperatures and wind chill factors.”

Classes in Anderson County had been set to resume today after the holiday break, but with wind chills in the low to mid teens this afternoon and likely wind chills near zero on Friday morning, students will return to class in Anderson County on Monday, January 8. [Read more…]

ORPD asks for help finding missing teen

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Image by Oak Ridge Police Department

Image by Oak Ridge Police Department

 

The Oak Ridge Police Department is asking for the public’s help in finding a missing teenager.

Shayla Cook, 16, of Oak Ridge, was last seen at her home on the evening of October 31, 2017, the Oak Ridge Police Department said.

She was reported missing the following day by a family member who believes Shayla left on her own and may be with a non-custodial parent, the ORPD said. [Read more…]