Oak Ridge Today

ORPD working to increase use of seat belts, safety restraints for children

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The Oak Ridge Police Department is working with state officials to increase the use of seat belts and safety restraints for children, a press release said.

The ORPD is partnering with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office, or THSO, for its annual Seatbelts Are For Everyone, or SAFE, campaign. This statewide initiative is designed to increase seatbelt usage and child passenger safety restraint usage through the implementation of occupant-protection programs, public events, and checkpoints throughout local communities across Tennessee, the press release said.

The SAFE campaign began February 24, and it will conclude on August 1. [Read more…]

Buy tickets for Bursting the Blues fundraiser by Wednesday

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Photo credit Clint James Photography

Photo credit Clint James Photography

 

Submitted

Shake off the winter blues with dinner, a silent auction, a balloon pop, and live music at CONTACT Care Line’s annual “Bursting the Blues Gala.” The evening will offer attendees the opportunity to celebrate the coming of spring, win prizes, and help CONTACT raise money to support those most at risk in its nine-county service area. The event is scheduled for Saturday, March 4, from 6-9 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel in Oak Ridge.

Contrary to popular myth, suicide rates are highest in spring and are lowest in winter. Studies dating back as far as the early 1800s have demonstrated that this trend has remained constant since then. Researchers are uncertain of the cause. In 2016, Tennessee lost 938 people to suicide, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To reduce these numbers, CONTACT has joined more than 160 crisis centers across the country to form the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. As the only Care Line call center in East Tennessee, CONTACT Care Line provides a confidential crisis line to anyone who needs a listening ear or a referral for other community resources. [Read more…]

Elm Grove Park, Scarboro Park now being considered for new preschool

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The new preschool could be located at Elm Grove Park in east Oak Ridge or Scarboro Park in central Oak Ridge, pictured above on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017, and the city's school board expects to recommend one of the two sites on Monday, Feb. 27, a school official said Friday. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The new preschool could be located at Elm Grove Park in east Oak Ridge or Scarboro Park in central Oak Ridge, pictured above on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017, and the city’s school board expects to recommend one of the two sites on Monday, Feb. 27, a school official said Friday. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The new preschool could be located at Elm Grove Park in east Oak Ridge or Scarboro Park in central Oak Ridge, and the city’s school board expects to recommend one of the two sites on Monday, a school official said Friday.

Recent discussion had focused on Elm Grove Park and the Scarboro Community Center, where a day care center closed last fall.

But on Friday, Oak Ridge Board of Education Chair Keys Fillauer said expanding the city-owned Scarboro Community Center would require “stair stepping and filling,” essentially work to move dirt and level the site. That’s not cost-effective and not great for the preschool, Fillauer said. Also, the administrative area and gymnasium at Scarboro Community Center would still be used during the day, and the preschool couldn’t be attached to those areas, Fillauer said.

The school board had a non-voting work session Friday morning, and Fillauer said members were shown a very impressive design for a preschool at Scarboro Park, which is across the street from Scarboro Community Center on Carver Avenue. Soil testing has shown that the site is acceptable for building, Fillauer said. [Read more…]

NPS, DOE release document to help guide planning, management at Manhattan Project Park

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Manhattan Project National Historical Park Foundation Document Cover February 2017

After a year of work and open houses in three cities, federal officials have released a document that will be used to guide planning and management at the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, which includes Oak Ridge.

The National Park Service and U.S. Department of Energy announced Friday that the planning and management document, known as the Final Foundation Document, has been released. It’s available online.

The Foundation Document is the result of public input and joint planning by DOE and the NPS. In February 2016, the two federal agencies held workshops in Oak Ridge, as well as in Los Alamos, New Mexico, and Hanford, Washington. Hanford and Los Alamos are also part of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park.

The open houses in the three communities, which had Manhattan Project research and production centers during World War II, gathered input from “stakeholders and interested parties” related to the important resources, stories, and opportunities for the park. The National Park Service has posted a summary of the open house comments, grouped into 11 areas, which you can see below. [Read more…]

Two arrested on drug charges, two on outstanding warrants after Vermont Ave search

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Charges are pending after a search warrant was served as part of an investigation into illegal drug activity on Vermont Avenue on Friday morning, Feb. 24, 2017, authorities said. The search warrant was served by members of the Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force and the Oak Ridge Police Department SWAT and patrol staff. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

Charges are pending after a search warrant was served as part of an investigation into illegal drug activity on Vermont Avenue on Friday morning, Feb. 24, 2017, authorities said. The search warrant was served by members of the Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force and the Oak Ridge Police Department SWAT and patrol staff. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

Two people were arrested on drug charges and two were arrested on outstanding warrants after a search of a Vermont Avenue home on Friday morning, authorities said.

The search of the home at 306 Vermont Avenue, across from St. Mary’s Catholic Church in central Oak Ridge, came after an investigation by the Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force.

The Oak Ridge Police Department SWAT team entered the house early Friday morning with help from ORPD patrol officers.

Once the house was secure, agents from the Crime Task Force searched the home, detained several people, and conducted interviews as part of their investigation, a press release said. [Read more…]

Charges pending in drug investigation

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Police officers from the Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force and Oak Ridge Police Department serve a search warrant at 306 Vermont Avenue as part of an investigation into illegal drug activity on Friday morning, Feb. 24, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Police officers from the Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force and Oak Ridge Police Department serve a search warrant at 306 Vermont Avenue as part of an investigation into illegal drug activity on Friday morning, Feb. 24, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 4:40 p.m.

Charges are pending after a search warrant was served as part of an investigation into illegal drug activity on Vermont Avenue on Friday morning, authorities said.

The search warrant was served by members of the Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force and the Oak Ridge Police Department SWAT and patrol staff.

Police were at the home at 306 Vermont Avenue, which is across from St. Mary’s Catholic Church in central Oak Ridge, for several hours Friday morning. The Oak Ridge Codes Enforcement Department was also there.

The Task Force is currently processing the house and conducting interviews, a City of Oak Ridge press release said late Friday morning.

“Charges are pending,” the press release said. “No further details regarding the investigation will be released by ORPD at this time.” [Read more…]

Mason leaving ORNL for Battelle

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Thom Mason May 23 2016

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Director Thom Mason is pictured above on Monday, May 23, 2016, in Chattanooga. (File photo by ORNL)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 3:05 p.m.

Thom Mason, the director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory since 2007, is leaving the lab for a job at Battelle.

Mason announced the move in an email to employees on Friday morning.

He will become senior vice president for laboratory operations at Battelle in Columbus, Ohio. Battelle, in partnership with the University of Tennessee, has managed and operated ORNL for the U.S. Department of Energy since April 2000.

“I’m privileged to take on the challenges that lie ahead,” Mason said. [Read more…]

Edgemoor Road maintenance project extended, traffic delays still possible

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The right-of-way maintenance project that began earlier this month on Edgemoor Road has been extended through Friday, March 3, providing there are no issues with weather or other unforeseen circumstances, a press release said.

Oak Ridge Public Works Department crews originally expected the work to be complete by Friday, February 17.

Drivers should plan for possible delays while the project continues.

As stated in an earlier release, the road work will take place between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. [Read more…]

Female candidates, elected officials to discuss campaigns at Monday meeting

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Ellen Smith

Ellen Smith

The Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club will present a panel discussion by a group of women who have been candidates or elected to public office at its meeting on Monday, February 27. The club will host a soup dinner at 6 p.m. Monday at the Clinton Community Center, which is at 101 South Hicks Street in Clinton.

The women will discuss campaigns—what works and what doesn’t—as they also encourage other women to become candidates for office, a press release said.

On the panel will be Ellen Smith, current Oak Ridge City Council member; JoAnn Garrett and Ann McNees, both former Oak Ridge Board of Education members; and Mary Headrick and Melody Shekari, both former Democratic Congressional candidates in the Third Congressional District. [Read more…]

Wilsons expand Roane State Foundation endowment to provide scholarships for more students

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James Frank and Patricia Ann Wilson (Photo courtesy Roane State)

James Frank and Patricia Ann Wilson (Photo courtesy Roane State)

 

James Frank and Patricia Ann Wilson recently established a scholarship endowment with the Roane State Foundation, the James Frank and Patricia Ann Wilson Morgan County Campus Scholarship Endowment.

Now, they have submitted an additional gift that will expand scholarship opportunities to nursing and allied health sciences students in Morgan County, a press release said. The Wilsons said: “We are pleased to double down on our commitment to these scholarship beneficiaries. It is very important to us. We ask that you determine what is important to you and do the same now rather than later.”

Recipients must be a current or former Morgan County resident, have financial need, and meet special criteria as set by the Roane State Community College Foundation Scholarship Committee. [Read more…]

Author Mascaro to speak at Roane State Oak Ridge campus March 1

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Knoxville area author Marilyn Mascaro will be the featured speaker at the new Arts and Lectures series at Roane State’s Oak Ridge campus.

Mascaro—an educator, writer, traveler, and East Tennessee native—will discuss her latest book, “Surviving History: The Life of B.Y. Harris in East Tennessee.”

It’s described as “creative non-fiction” and is about a relative who fought in the Civil War.

The event will be held in the Oak Ridge City Room (A111) at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1. Mascaro will be introduced by DeAnna Stephens, a Roane State assistant professor of English and humanities. Stephens organized the new Arts and Lectures series, titled “Writers at Roane State.” [Read more…]

Wetland restoration project on Melton Lake Greenway on March 5

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Melton Lake Wetland Restoration

The Healthy Waters Program in Oak Ridge will be conducting an invasive plant removal on the Melton Lake Greenway, under the Edgemoor Road bridge, on Sunday, March 5, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.

This is in an effort to restore a wetland along the greenway by removing non-native invasive plants, cleaning up trash, and planting native trees, grasses, and flowers, a press release said.

Tina Ball and Caitlin Craighead, the AmeriCorps members serving in Oak Ridge with the Public Works Department’s Stormwater Management Program, have received a grant through the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, or TWRA, to make this project possible, the press release said. [Read more…]