Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge teacher to receive Geography Teacher of the Year Award

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Brian-Smith-Geography-Award-2016

Brian Smith, seventh-grade social studies teacher in Oak Ridge, will receive the 14th Tom and Stella Mullane Geography Teacher of the Year Award during the 2016 Tennessee Council for the Social Studies Annual Conference at the Cool Springs Marriott in Franklin on Friday, March 11. (Submitted photo)

 

An Oak Ridge teacher will receive a Mullane Geography Teacher of the Year Award in March.

Brian Smith, seventh-grade social studies teacher in Oak Ridge, will receive the 14th Tom and Stella Mullane Geography Teacher of the Year Award during the 2016 Tennessee Council for the Social Studies Annual Conference at the Cool Springs Marriott in Franklin on Friday, March 11.

The Mullane award is bestowed for superior achievement in the teaching of geography in the social studies in grades 7-12, a press release said. The award carries a $500 cash prize.

Smith has been informed that he will be this year’s recipient of the Mullane Teacher of the Year award for the outstanding work he does, ensuring that geography is a daily part of instruction in the Oak Ridge school system, the press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Schools supervisor receives state Pioneer Award

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Holly-Cross-Pioneer-Award

Holly Cross, center, career and technical education supervisor at Oak Ridge Schools, has received a Pioneer Award from the Tennessee Department of Career and Technical Education. Presenting the award at right is Danielle Mezera, assistant commissioner of education in the Tennessee Department of College, Career, and Technical Education. (Submitted photo)

 

Holly Cross, career and technical education supervisor at Oak Ridge Schools, has received a state Pioneer Award.

The Pioneer Award is granted by the Tennessee Department of Career and Technical Education, or CTE, to recognize CTE directors who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in their home county and at the state or national level, a press release said. In order to receive this award, the CTE director should have five years or less experience as the CTE director.

Cross was named the the 2015-16 recipient of the state Pioneer Award.

Here are some highlights of accomplishments that contributed to the granting of this award, according to information provided by Oak Ridge Schools: [Read more…]

Next breakfast with legislators is Monday; community invited

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

This year’s next Breakfast with the Legislators is Monday.

It’s organized by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, and it’s scheduled from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Monday, February 22, in the Social Room of the Oak Ridge Civic Center, which is located at 1401 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Senators Ken Yager and Randy McNally and representatives John Ragan and Kent Calfee have been invited to give updates on what’s happening in the Tennessee General Assembly during the breakfast. Members of the audience can ask questions and give opinions. A light continental breakfast is provided at no charge. The public is encouraged to attend. [Read more…]

Anderson County Democratic Party to select convention delegates on March 5

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Anderson County Democratic Party will help select Tennessee’s delegates to the Democratic Presidential Convention during a March 5 meeting in Oak Ridge.

The Democratic Party County Delegate Convention will be in the Oak Ridge Civic Center Social Room on Saturday, March 5, a press release said. The doors will open at 11:45 a.m. and close promptly at 1 p.m. EST.  No one will be admitted after the doors are closed. Those who are in the room and in the process of registering will be allowed to finish. The gavel will fall and the convention will convene at precisely 1:05 p.m. EST, as directed by the Tennessee Democratic Party, the press release said.

The event is open to all registered voters in the county, supporters of the Democratic Party, and those who agree to support the nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2016 Presidential election, the release said. The Party welcomes all to attend who wish to participate in selecting Tennessee’s delegates to the Democratic Presidential Convention.

Information about becoming a Democratic National Committee (DNC) delegate and the rules governing the DNC Delegate Selection Process may be obtained from tndp.org, or from the Tennessee Democratic Party, 1900 Church Street, Suite 203, Nashville, TN 37203, telephone, (615) 327-9779.

Jefferson’s Master Builders St. Louis-bound as LEGO champions

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Jefferson-Middle-School-Master-Builders-Feb-2016

Members of Jefferson Middle School’s Master Builders are, from left, Amelia Thomson, Iliana Spence, Henry Scott, Jessica Mohr, and Thora Spence. Not pictured is Andrew Brady. (Submitted photo)

 

Jefferson Middle School’s Master Builders are bound for St. Louis in April after they won the Champions Award as the overall winner of the FIRST LEGO League Tournament held February 13 at Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville.

By virtue of their victory, the Master Builders have qualified to travel to St. Louis in April representing East Tennessee in the FIRST LEGO League World Championships, a press release said.

The Master Builders are the second team from Jefferson during the past two years to win the Champions Award. The Atomic Eagles were Champions Award winners a year ago. [Read more…]

Consolidated Nuclear Security has more leadership changes

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Michelle Reichert

Michelle Reichert

The company that manages and operates the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge and Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, has announced two more leadership changes.

Effective Monday, Michelle Reichert became the deputy enterprise manager for Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, or CNS. She will report directly to CNS President and Chief Executive Officer Morgan Smith.

Todd Ailes is succeeding Reichert as the Pantex site manager.

Operating primarily out of CNS offices at Pantex, Reichert will share leadership responsibilities with Smith, focusing on communications with employees, customers, and other key stakeholders, a press release said. Reichert will also coordinate integration activities between the two sites to ensure they are aligned in the best interest of CNS and the NNSA. [Read more…]

American Employer Group moves from Oak Ridge to Clinton

Posted at
By 6 Comments

Anderson County Chamber of Commerce

American Employer Group, or AEG, is moving from Oak Ridge to Clinton, relocating more than 90 employees, officials said Tuesday. The move was announced by the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce.

AEG is now located at 439 South Charles Seivers Boulevard in Clinton. It was previously located in Jackson Plaza, Oak Ridge’s tallest business building on Oak Ridge Turnpike.

“Although we enjoyed our time in Oak Ridge, we needed a larger space due to our recent growth,” said Anne Heath, AEG vice president of operations and finance. “We are excited to have the Clinton community be a part of our future success.”

American Employer Group specializes in a wide range of business solutions, including human resources outsourcing, workers’ compensation, payroll services, and more, the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce said. [Read more…]

ORPD accepting applications for Citizens Police Academy

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Police Department Cars

The Oak Ridge Police Department is accepting applications for the next Citizens Police Academy, which will begin on Thursday, March 17, and run through May 19.

The Citizens Police Academy allows residents to learn how the Oak Ridge Police Department is organized and how it functions. It also gives an improved understanding of the challenges in serving and protecting the community, a press release said.

“The goal of the Citizens Police Academy is to create well-informed citizens who have an enhanced understanding of the Police Department and how it serves the City of Oak Ridge,” the press release said.

The academy requires a 10-week commitment from participants, and it will be held one night a week, on Thursdays beginning at 6 p.m. and ending at 9 p.m. [Read more…]

Clinton Police Department asks for help locating missing juvenile

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Alexis-Maynard

Alexis Maynard

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

The Clinton Police Department is asking for help locating a missing juvenile.

“If you have any information as to the whereabouts of 17-year-old Alexis Maynard, please contact Detective Sergeant Danielle Alexander at (865) 457-3112,” the CPD said in a notice posted on its website on Tuesday and also on Facebook.

Maynard may be in the company of a white male, 18-year-old Dylan Legon, and she could be in the area of Ashland City or Nashville, Tennessee, the CPD said.

She is approximately 5 feet, 3 inches and 110 pounds, with blue eyes. She was last known to have brown hair, the CPD said. [Read more…]

AC mayor has public forum on financial management change on Tuesday, Feb. 16

Posted at
By 1 Comment

Terry-Frank-Jan-29-2016

Terry Frank

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank has scheduled a Tuesday evening public forum on a proposed change in the county’s financial management system.

The public forum will start at 6 p.m. Tuesday, February 16, in Room 312 of the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton.

The mayor has issued a notice of veto to Anderson County Commission on the proposed change to the 1981 Act. The Tuesday forum comes before a County Commission vote on Monday, February 22.

See the mayor’s column on the proposed change here.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Copyright 2016 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Opinion: County mayor objects to financial management change; schedules public forum

Posted at
By 1 Comment

Terry-Frank-Jan-29-2016

Terry Frank

The financial story of Anderson County in the last three years has been one of stability and progress. For the first time since 2006, Anderson County was removed from high-risk audit status in 2013, and placed on low-risk status. That held for 2013, 2014, and 2015.

As we closed out the books on 2015, our Accounts and Budgets and Schools cheered zero audit findings in our Comprehensive Annual Financial Report by the State of Tennessee’s Division of Local Government Audit.

Through partnership of our Budget Committee and County Commission, we saw three consecutive years of growth in fund balance, improved cash flow position, and a commitment to raising the bar on dipping into the fund balance by requiring a supermajority approval (12 of 16 members.) In 2013, we raised the supermajority requirement to $3.5 million, in 2014 to $4 million, and in 2015 to $4.5 million.

We kept new debt to a minimum, and for two consecutive years also modified existing debt agreements to save taxpayer money over the life of the bonds without extending the maturity dates of the debt. [Read more…]

Lunch today: ORNL Climate Change Science Institute, impact of climate on society

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Melissa-Allen

Melissa R. Allen, post-doctoral research associate, Computational Science and Engineering Division at ORNL (Submitted photo)

Joseph Kennedy and Melissa Allen of Oak Ridge National Laboratory will discus the lab’s Climate Change Science Institute and the impact of climate on society during a lunchtime meeting today (Tuesday, February 16).

Kennedy and Allen will be the guest speakers at the Lunch with the League. Kennedy is a postdoctoral research associate and computational glaciologist at the Institute. Allen is a post-doctoral research associate in the Computational Science and Engineering Division. 

Presented by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, the program will be held at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday in  the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The public is invited, and no reservations are necessary. Lunches are provided on a first-come basis for $8 or you may bring your own. Coffee and tea are provided.

Also at the meeting, there will be a formal announcement and details of an ORNL CCSI and a League partnership on climate change issues, a press release said. League member Chris Iversen, who leads the climate change action group for the LWVOR, has been working extensively with ORNL to develop this partnership. ORNL is already working with the city of Knoxville on similar partnership. [Read more…]