Oak Ridge Today

February Breakfast with the Legislators is Monday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Randy McNally

Randy McNally

John Ragan

John Ragan

Submitted

The Tennessee General Assembly has been in session since January 13, and 1,513 bills were filed by the February 12 deadline. Committees are meeting, and legislators are discussing issues dealing with health, education, the judiciary, sales tax, firearms, and federal funding for K-12 programs.

Breakfast with the Legislators provides a forum to get to know key legislative decision makers and to ask questions on issues in state government.

The February Breakfast with the Legislators will be held on Monday, February 23, from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. in the Social Room of the Oak Ridge Civic Center, located at 1401 Oak Ridge Turnpike. A free continental breakfast will be served. [Read more…]

City crews treat all streets by Thursday, now working on water main breaks

Posted at
By 2 Comments

Oak Ridge Snow Plow on Oak Ridge Turnpike on Feb. 17, 2015

An Oak Ridge snow plow is pictured above at center on Oak Ridge Turnpike, which was mostly clear on Tuesday evening, February 17. 

 

Crews from the Oak Ridge Public Works Department had treated all 230 miles of streets by the time they left work on Thursday, and they’re now battling a half-dozen small water main breaks.

Oak Ridge Public Works Director Gary Cinder said crews focused on what are known as Level 3 and Level 4 streets on Thursday. They removed all loose snow. But there could still be patches of ice on some roads, Cinder said.

“You can’t get ice off the street until you get much warmer temperatures,” he said. [Read more…]

Taste of Ireland to feature Irish food, drink, music, dancing

Posted at
By 5 Comments

Shamrock Road

Shamrock Road

 

A Taste of Ireland on Saturday, February 28, will feature Irish food, drink, music, dancing, and a silent auction.

It’s hosted by the Ulster Project of East Tennessee. It’s scheduled from 6-10 p.m. February 28 at St. Mary’s Family Life Center in Oak Ridge. The center is at 327 Vermont Avenue.

The pubs will open at 6 p.m., the buffet is scheduled from 6:30-8:30 p.m., and Shamrock Road will play music from 8-10 p.m.

The Ulster Project was started in 1975 as a way for Northern Irish and U.S. Catholic and Protestant teens to be involved in a project that allowed for opportunities to learn of the similarities and differences between their religious affiliations, as opposed to the prejudices, a press release said. [Read more…]

Waste Connections to resume normal schedule Monday, Feb. 23

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The normal schedule for trash and recycling pickup in Oak Ridge has been affected by the winter storm this week and continually changing weather conditions, and regular collection is expected to resume on Monday.

“We are working diligently to service as many streets as quickly as possible but we always place the safety of the public and our employees first,” a City of Oak Ridge press release said.

Some residents might not have had their trash or recycling picked up this week. [Read more…]

Updated: Driver charged with DUI in four-car crash that damaged home

Posted at
By 2 Comments

Robertsville Road Car and House Crash

No one was injured in a crash involving four vehicles and a house on Robertsville Road on Thursday night.

 

Note: This story was last updated at 4:20 p.m.

The driver of a car that allegedly caused a four-vehicle crash and damaged a home on Robertsville Road has been charged with driving under the influence, authorities said.

Officers located Brandon Kyle Baez, 18, of Oak Ridge, after he walked away from the crash at 184 Robertsville Road and tried to hide in a wooded area, Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Ben Higgins said in a warrant.

The crash occurred at about 10:40 p.m. Thursday just east of North Illinois Avenue. An SUV-type vehicle driven by Baez allegedly left the road, drove through the front yard of one home on Robertsville Road, crashed into a Ford four-door sedan parked in the driveway, and pushed it about three or four car lengths into a neighbor’s front yard—and reportedly caused a collision with two cars parked in the neighbor’s driveway (the home of Mike and Judy Coen).

[Read more…]

Friday: OR Schools closed; AC Courthouse, Y-12 open at 8

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Note: This story was updated at 10:02 p.m.

Oak Ridge Schools will be closed Friday, and the Anderson County Courthouse and Y-12 National Security Complex will open at 8 a.m.

The offices of the Anderson County Clerk and Trustee will not open until 10 a.m.

“County officials still urge that Anderson County citizens stay safe and use extreme caution if citizens must be out and about,” a statement said. “County officials will continue monitoring the weather, and if it worsens earlier than anticipated on Friday, the Courthouse and other county government offices will be closed early.” [Read more…]

International Festival postponed to Feb. 28 at Children’s Museum

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Spice of India dancers at the Children's Museum International Festival

Spice of India dancers at the Children’s Museum International Festival. (Photo by Rob Welton)

 

The International Festival scheduled for this Saturday, February 21, has been postponed due to weather forecasts for a snow and freezing rain Friday night and a wintry mix Saturday morning.

The postponement was announced by Carroll Welch, deputy director of the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge.

The festival has been rescheduled for Saturday, February 28, at the museum, which is at 461 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge. It will feature the same entertainment line-up, food, and culture booths originally set for this weekend. [Read more…]

TVA sets all-time power demand record; stores sell out of heaters

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Downtown Hardware on Nov. 2013

The Downtown Hardware crew is pictured above in November 2013. Co-owners Ann Clary Bratton and Roger Clary are pictured second from right and at left. (File photo)

 

The Tennessee Valley Authority set an all-time record for power demand in February on Thursday morning, and local stores have sold out of heaters.

TVA said the record set at 7 a.m. Thursday was 32,109 megawatts, with an average temperature of 7 degrees Fahrenheit.

Downtown Hardware in Oak Ridge reported that they were down to two electric heaters.

“We’re completely sold out of kerosene and propane,” said Ann Bratton, who co-owns the store with her brother Roger Clary. “That seems to be what people are asking for.” [Read more…]

Habitat to dedicate home built in honor of Myricks on Feb. 28

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County

The Cook-Brown family is pictured above with Tim and Teresa Myrick at right. 

 

Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County: The House That Love Built is complete!

Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County will dedicate a house built in Heiskell in honor of Tim and Teresa Myrick on Saturday, February 28.

The dedication service will start at 10:15 a.m. February 28 at Wolf Valley Baptist Church, which is at 1031 East Wolf Valley Road in Heiskell. The house is located just three blocks from the church at 119 Valley View Lane and will be open for touring from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Honorary Committee, Board of Directors, and staff of HFHAC invite the public to join in this very special celebration.

The Cook-Brown Family will be moving in shortly. Eddie, Amanda, and their three children will  have a four-bedroom, two-bath home to call their own. They have been working diligently to complete their 400 hours of sweat equity and have paid their down payment. Home ownership is no longer a dream, but a reality for them. [Read more…]

CASA’s Barbeque and Bluegrass Bash is Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

 

Ridge City Ramblers

The Ridge City Ramblers are pictured above. (File photo/submitted)

 

Submitted

CASA of the Tennessee Heartland’s 12th Annual Barbeque and Bluegrass Bash is this Saturday. After all the snow and crazy weather, it’s time to get out of the house and have some fun!

Once again, the Ridge City Ramblers will be pickin’ and singin’ through the night, a delicious barbeque buffet will be provided, and the night will hold lots of entertainment. The event moves this year to an exciting new venue—205 Main (previously the Ray Viles Ford Building in Clinton).

A full barbeque buffet dinner (including pulled pork, grilled chicken, salad, mac and cheese, and baked beans—vegetarian option available) will be provided along with desserts, wine and beer bar, and moonshine tastings. Silent and live auctions include vacation packages, Raku Pottery from Bill Capshaw, fine jewelry, and many more exciting baskets and packages. [Read more…]

Church Women United seeks support in Blankets+ Campaign

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

CWU 2015 Blankets+ Campaign

Church Women United participants Fay Martin (from left), Gay Marie Logsdon, Clara Chambles, Carolyn Mayes, Goldie Kennedy, and Laura Robbins encourage individuals, organizations, and churches to collect blankets and donations in support of the 2015 Blankets+ Campaign. (Submitted photo)

 

Church Women United in Oak Ridge invites area individuals, organizations, and church groups to join its spring 2015 Blankets+ Campaign benefiting disaster victims locally and worldwide. People are asked to support the campaign in two ways: by collecting bedding for Ecumenical Storehouse in Oak Ridge and by collecting cash donations for CWU to send to the Blankets+ Program managed by Church World Services.

Ecumenical Storehouse serves displaced individuals and families from Anderson, Campbell, Morgan, Roane, and Scott counties who have lost their homes because of fire, flood, or other emergencies and have been referred to the storehouse for support in setting up a new household. The storehouse offers basics such as bedding, towels, dishes, and furniture regardless of the client’s color, race, faith, gender, or handicap. Ecumenical Storehouse is located at 134 East Division Road in Oak Ridge and can be contacted at (865) 481-0274. [Read more…]

Dangerous wind chills Wednesday night, Thursday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Dangerous Wind Chills

Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

 

The National Weather Service in Morristown has issued a wind chill advisory for Wednesday night and Thursday, with the wind chill forecast at five below zero to 15 below in parts of East Tennessee and southwest Virginia.

The wind chill advisory is in effect until 1 a.m. Friday, and it applies to Anderson, Campbell, Morgan, Scott, and Union counties. It includes Clinton, Oak Ridge, LaFollette, Maynardville, Oneida, and Wartburg.

There is also a winter storm watch in effect from Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon, bringing a threat of wintry precipitation. [Read more…]