Oak Ridge Today

City sewer line inspections begin Monday

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Sewer Line Inspections Map

The sewer line inspections will take place in the area pictured above.

 

Inspections of the city’s sewer lines will start Monday, March 23.

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department will use a state-of-the-art system that employs a sonar machine that emits a repeating series of tones, similar to a musical scale. In open areas, the sounds can be heard over long distances, a press release said.

“The tones emitted by the machine, while harmless, are low enough in frequency that residents nearby may be able to feel and, in some instances, hear them,” the release said. [Read more…]

Marlow Fire Department has fundraising chili supper, dessert auction on Saturday

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Marlow Volunteer Fire Department

The Marlow Volunteer Fire Department will have a Community All-You-Can-Eat Chili Supper and Dessert Auction at Grand Oaks Elementary School on Saturday, March 21.

Chili, drinks, and hot dogs with all the trimmings will be served starting at 6 p.m.

Auctioneer Bear Stephenson will oversee the 7 p.m. auction of homemade desserts provided by Marlow volunteers, along with gift cards donated by local businesses. [Read more…]

OS Council takes interim tag off Campbell

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Information from WYSH Radio

The Oliver Springs City Council voted unanimously Thursday to take the interim tag off of City Manager Becky Campbell’s title and install her in that position on a full-time basis. She will be paid slightly more than the previous city manager, whom she replaced in October of 2014.

Campbell, who has been an Oliver Springs employee for almost 18 years, will not be subject to the standard 90-day probationary period and, according to our partners at BBB-TV, would not have accepted the job had that been part of the deal.

The Council also voted to hire Lisa Relford as Campbell’s assistant. Relford currently serves as a dispatcher for the Oliver Springs Police Department.

3M gets permit to expand Clinton facility

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Food Lion Distribution Center and 3M Company Manufacturing

The 3M Company purchased the former Food Lion Distribution Center on J.D. Yarnell Industrial Parkway in the Eagle Bend Industrial Park in Clinton in December. (Photo courtesy Tim Thompson/Anderson County Economic Development Association)

 

Information from WYSH Radio

Clinton city officials confirmed Friday morning that the 3M Company, which announced late last year that it had purchased the former Food Lion Distribution Center in the Eagle Bend Industrial Park, has obtained a building permit to make roughly $18 million worth of upgrades and improvements to the facility and build a 45,000-square-foot addition.

3M, one of the world’s largest manufacturers, said that product for the oil, gas, and automotive industries will be made at the Clinton facility, but have not said exactly what they will be producing. [Read more…]

Greenway project to connect Knox, Oak Ridge

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Information from WYSH Radio

The region’s paved greenway trail system is set to expand, according to plans unveiled Wednesday.

The Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization, or TPO, announced plans to link West Knoxville and Knox County to Oak Ridge. An additional 13.2 miles will be added to the more than 100 miles of paved greenway trails that already exist throughout the area. The project is estimated to cost $8.8 million.

The project will link three existing greenways: the Ten Mile Creek Greenway in West Knoxville and West Knox County, the Pellissippi Greenway in West Knox County, and the Melton Lake Greenway in Oak Ridge.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Fires destroy vacant Marlow home, Medford storage building

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Information from WYSH Radio

A vacant home in the Marlow community was destroyed by a fire Monday afternoon.

The property owner told Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputies and firefighters that the house at 143 Talley Lane had been vacant for eight years after a previous fire destroyed much of the structure. She said her son had been cleaning the property the previous day and had started a burn pile about 50 feet from the home to get rid of trash and wood from inside the building. [Read more…]

Chancellor rules no conflict on school propane deal

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Information from WYSH Radio

A specially appointed chancellor has ruled on a seemingly routine propane gas contract awarded last year that became controversial when some county officials learned of a possible conflict of interest.

Last spring, the county awarded a propane gas contract to Blossman Gas Incorporated to supply propane to the county school system after it had gone through the Purchasing Committee. Scott Daugherty, the manager of Blossman’s Knoxville location, is an Anderson County resident and serves on the Purchasing Committee. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Egg Hunt on March 28

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The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will host the 2015 Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 28, at 11 a.m. Hundreds of children are expected to participate in this annual spring event, a press release said. More than 15,000 candy- and prize-filled eggs will be hidden in Alvin K. Bissell Park with a first-, second-, and third-place prize egg in each age group.

This event will be held rain or shine so participants should dress for the weather. If severe weather prevents hiding the eggs outdoors, they will be given away in the gym and a drawing will be held for the prizes. [Read more…]

Star Farm co-owner to discuss ‘Farm to Table’ movement

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Kellye Wilson

Kellye Wilson

Kellye Wilson, co-owner of Star Farm in Anderson County, will discuss the “Farm to Table” movement and the trend toward organically grown produce during a Wednesday presentation in Oak Ridge.

Wilson will be the featured speaker at a Wednesday luncheon meeting of the Altrusa Club of Oak Ridge. That meeting on Wednesday, March 25, will be at the DoubleTree Hotel.

The title of Wilson’s presentation will be “Farm to Table: Support your Local Farmer.” [Read more…]

IRS tax scam reported again in Anderson County

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The IRS scam has been reported again in Anderson County, said Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy.

“Scammers are making calls threatening arrest for not paying taxes or similar ploys to obtain money from unsuspecting citizens,” Lucas said. “The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department warns everyone not to fall victim to these frauds and scams.

“Please be aware the IRS does not make such calls.” [Read more…]

UT: Expertise in materials science, additive manufacturing helps draw CVMR to Tenn.

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Michael Hargett and Kamran Khoza of CVMR USA

CVMR President Michael Hargett, left, and Kamran Khozan, chairman and chief executive officer, joined local, state, and federal officials on Friday, March 13, to announce they’re moving company headquarters from Toronto to Oak Ridge, investing $313 million and adding 620 jobs.

 

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd announced last week that CVMR Corporation is relocating its global headquarters to Oak Ridge from Toronto, Canada. CVMR provides materials for additive manufacturing and announced it will create 620 jobs.

During recruitment of CVMR, University of Tennessee officials assisted the state and hosted the company at UT Knoxville to visit with engineering and chemistry faculty and learn about graduate programs, such as the Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education, as well as internships and co-ops for students, a press release said. UT System officials provided information about technology transfer, the UT Research Foundation, and Cherokee Farm Innovation Campus. CVMR also learned more about the University’s role in leading the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation, or IACMI, a $259 million partnership announced by President Barack Obama in January. [Read more…]

Letter: What is a volunteer firefighter?

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To the Editor:

Question: What is a volunteer firefighter?

Answer: A volunteer firefighter is no different then those who get paid to do this job. In fact, when you think about those who work in the paid fire services, they too are technically a “volunteer” because nobody held a gun to their head and told them they have to do that job.

Every firefighter must remember that the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) standards do not differentiate between paid firefighters and volunteer firefighters in relation to who has to comply with what standards. Every firefighter is expected to do the job safely, quickly, and efficiently so that lives can be saved, property can be salvaged, and our communities are protected. [Read more…]