• About
    • About Us
    • What We Cover
  • Advertise
    • Advertise
    • Our Advertisers
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Send News

Oak Ridge Today

  • Home
  • Sign in
  • News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Police and Fire
    • U.S. Department of Energy
    • Weather
  • Sports
    • High School
    • Middle School
    • Recreation
    • Rowing
    • Youth
  • Entertainment
    • Arts
    • Dancing
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Premium Content
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds

Gooch elected mayor, Smith mayor pro tem

Posted at 8:50 pm November 24, 2014
By John Huotari 1 Comment

Oak Ridge City Council November 2014

The new Oak Ridge City Council is pictured above. From right they are new member Kelly Callison, continuing member Charlie Hensley, new members Rick Chinn and Warren Gooch, continuing members Chuck Hope and Trina Baughn, and new member Ellen Smith. Council members are elected in staggered terms, so Baughn, Hensley, and Hope won’t be up for election until 2016. Callison, Chinn, Gooch, and Smith won their seats in the November 4 municipal election.

 

Note: This story was last updated at 9 a.m. Nov. 25.

New Oak Ridge City Council member Warren Gooch has been appointed mayor, and returning City Council member Ellen Smith has been elected mayor pro tem.

The two were appointed to serve two-year terms by the seven-member Oak Ridge City Council during a Monday night meeting, the first after the November 4 municipal election.

It’s the first elected office for Gooch, a lawyer, although he previously ran for Anderson County mayor in August 2012. Gooch was the top vote-getter in the November 4 municipal election, and he is the city’s 10th mayor, according to City Council member Chuck Hope, who also sought to be mayor.

“I do think our best days are ahead of us,” Gooch said after two members switched votes and cast ballots for him, breaking an impasse that had lasted through five rounds of voting. “Great things happen here every day, and they have for 70 years.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2014 Election, Government, Government, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Anne Garcia Garland, ballots, Charlie Hensley, Chuck Hope, David Mosby, election, Ellen Smith, Jane Miller, Kelly Callison, mayor, mayor pro tem, November 4 municipal election, Oak Ridge City Council, Rick Chinn, Tom Beehan, Trina Baughn, Warren Gooch

Sheriff’s Department investigates fire that destroyed empty Briceville home

Posted at 2:20 pm November 24, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a Saturday night fire that destroyed an empty house in Briceville that had been the target of thieves, authorities said.

The fire at 230 Brown Flats Lane was reported at about 11:36 p.m. Saturday.

John L. Brown, the victim, who lives at a separate address on Brown Flats Lane, said the empty house was his parents’ old home, and there have recently been several thefts there, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Joshua A. Humphrey said in an incident report. In one of those thefts, someone stole all the copper, and there was no electricity at the home, Brown told Humphrey. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Sheriff's Department, arson, Briceville, Briceville Volunteer Fire Department, Brown Flats Lane, fire, James Wilson, John L. Brown, John Tyler Brown, Joshua A. Humphrey

Sponsored: Enjoy Thanksgiving ride on Secret City Train with Bart Jennings

Posted at 1:58 pm November 24, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Secret City Scenic Excursion Train

Secret City Scenic Excursion Train (Photos courtesy Southern Appalachia Railway Museum)

 

Bart Jennings

Bart Jennings

Enjoy a train ride on Thanksgiving weekend with a professor who was part of the team that started the Secret City Scenic Railroad in Oak Ridge.

Special car host Bart Jennings is a professor of supply chain management at Western Illinois University, and he has a decade of railroad experience, plus more than two decades of railroad consulting and regulatory training, a press release said.

Here is more information about this weekend’s train rides:

WHEN:

  • Friday, November 28, at 11 a.m.—Special Black Friday Sale: 20 percent off in the Gift Shop
  • Friday November 28, at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
  • Saturday, November 29, at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

WHERE: Depart from the Heritage Center at 2010 Highway 58 in Oak Ridge, TN 37830 [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Nonprofits, Sponsored Posts Tagged With: Bart Jennings, Heritage Center, railroad, SARM, Secret City Scenic Excursion Train, Secret City Scenic Railroad, Secret City Train, Southern Appalachia Railway Museum

Webinar on Dreambox Learning for parents, tutors on Dec. 8

Posted at 1:04 am November 24, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Schools Logo

Submitted

Oak Ridge preschool (four-year-old class) and grades K-4 parents and community member tutors are welcome to learn more about the math program Dreambox Learning at a live Webinar to be held on December 8 from 7-7:30 p.m. Space is limited to the first 100 respondents. To register, please go to: https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/124307575.

Dreambox Learning is a highly successful, research-based math program that Oak Ridge Schools provides to its elementary school students and teachers and to some students with special needs at the secondary level. Not every teacher uses Dreambox in the classroom (although many do), but all students in those grade ranges have access to it at home or wherever they may have Internet access. Elementary school Web pages have Dreambox badges on their sites to help families navigate to Dreambox from home.

We hope you will join us to ask questions, experience a lesson, and learn how you can support your child with DreamBox at home.

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12 Tagged With: 2013 Oak Ridge Women’s Workshop, Dreambox Learning, math program, parents, tutors

Oak Ridge leaf pickup starts Monday

Posted at 4:11 pm November 23, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

City of Oak Ridge Seal

The annual citywide leaf pickup program will begin Monday, November 24.

City collection efforts will follow the schedule below as closely as possible, a press release said. The proposed schedule is a general guide and can vary considerably from the actual schedule due to the amount of leaves and weather conditions.

Here are a few guidelines for the program: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge Tagged With: leaf pickup, Oak Ridge, Waste Connections of Tennessee

Oak Ridge company wins $15.9 million contract

Posted at 3:00 pm November 23, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

HME Minority Business Excellence Award

HME Inc. Co-Founder Henry Perry, right, with Tony Spezia, Covenant Health president and CEO, when HME was awarded the Knoxville Chamber Partnership’s Minority Business Excellence Award in May 2011. (Submitted photo)

An Oak Ridge company has won a $15.9 million contract to provide facilities operations and support services to the Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston, Alabama.

The contract was awarded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency, a press release said.

HME is a Small Business Administration-certified HUB (Historically Underutilized Business) Zone and economically disadvantaged woman-owned business headquartered in Oak Ridge. HME first received the contract to provide facilities operations and support services for the CDP facility in 2009.

The CDP is a national training facility that prepares state and local emergency response personnel to respond to terrorist attacks involving weapons of mass destruction by providing advanced, hands-on training. This national training program was developed for firefighters, law enforcement personnel, emergency medical technicians, E-911 operators, and other emergency response personnel, their trainers, and supervisors.

During Fiscal Year 2013, the CDP trained a total of 49,500 students, including 14,000 resident students, 2,500 non-resident, 8,000 indirect, and 25,000 Academy students, the press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Federal, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: CDP, Center for Domestic Preparedness, contract, Department of Homeland Security, emergency response, FEMA, Henry Perry, historically underutilized business, HME Inc., HUB Zone, Monica Perry, small business, support services, terrorist attacks, weapons of mass destruction

Sheriff offers holiday crime prevention tips

Posted at 2:45 pm November 23, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Paul White

Paul White

Many people can become victims of burglary, theft, and other crimes during the holidays, and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department has released crime prevention tips.

In a press release, Anderson County Sheriff Paul White said the department hopes to help residents have safe and fun holidays.

Shopping

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Sheriff Paul White, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, burglary, crime prevention, holiday crime prevention, holidays, theft

Free Medical Clinic needs volunteer nurses

Posted at 2:34 pm November 23, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Free Medical Clinic

The Free Medical Clinic in Oak Ridge needs nurses and is offering active and retired nurses a great opportunity to give back to the community by volunteering. FMC provides high quality primary health care to low-income, uninsured people in Anderson, Morgan, and Roane counties. Various shifts are available.

“Nursing at FMC is a true joy,” said Monica Musrock, director of nurses. “The art of nursing is practiced in a warm and supportive environment. We take the time to provide excellent care for our patients who would otherwise go without. Four hours is all it takes to directly impact the health care crisis in our community. Your skill and compassion can make a difference. And we have fun to boot! You never know who you might find here. Many old friendships have been rekindled here at FMC.”

“Volunteers are the lifeblood of the clinic,” said FMC Executive Director Teresa Brittain. “The use of volunteer physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals allow us to keep costs low while providing free care. Many of our patients are facing unimaginable hardships, but they’re the lucky ones, the ones who have been able to get care. But the demand is getting higher. We simply need more nurses.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Health, Nonprofits, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson, FMC, Free Medical Clinic, health care, Monica Musrock, Morgan, nurses, nursing, Oak Ridge, Roane, Teresa Brittain, volunteer nurses

2014 Startup Day emphasizes startup-friendly culture, assets in ET

Posted at 2:24 pm November 23, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Startup Day Logo

KNOXVILLE—Knoxville’s second annual Startup Day kicked off Thursday afternoon at The Standard in downtown Knoxville. The event celebrated the success of Knoxville’s growing startup community and raised awareness about resources that support East Tennessee entrepreneurs.

Among the presenters were Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Tech 2020.

“When most Americans think ‘startup community,’ they think Silicon Valley in California, New York City, or Seattle,” said Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero. “It’s significant that East Tennessee is nurturing its startup culture, making resources available to startups, and generally creating a welcoming environment for entrepreneurs. Creating a startup-friendly city will keep and attract talent, capital, and more resources.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, College, Education, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Ben Brown, East Tennessee, entrepreneurs, General Graphene, Innova, Ken Woody, Knoxville, Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, Launch Tennessee, Madeline Rogero, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Pershing Yoakley and Associates, Startup Day, Startup Day 2014, startup-friendly culture, SwiftWing, Tech 20/20, University of Tennessee Business Incubator, University of Tennessee Research Foundation, Vig Sherrill, Vuture

ORAU exceeds $100,000 in annual giving for seventh year in a row

Posted at 2:05 pm November 23, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

2014 ORAU Annual Giving Campaign

The 2014 ORAU Annual Giving Campaign Chair Michael Ickowitz, left; Co-Chair Arlene Garrison, right; and ORAU President and CEO Andy Page reveal ORAU’s combined giving total of $125,207.92. (Submitted photo)

 

For the seventh year in a row, Oak Ridge Associated Universities has broken the $100,000 mark in donations as part of the annual giving campaign for the United Way and Community Shares.

During a concluding ceremony on November 20 in the ORAU Pollard Technology Conference Center, ORAU President and Chief Executive Officer Andy Page announced the 2014 ORAU Annual Giving Campaign total donation amount—$125,207.92. As part of the total donation, ORAU and its employees pledged $95,009.92 to the United Way and $30,198.00 to Community Shares.

Filed Under: Community, Nonprofits, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Andy Page, Arlene Garrison, Community Shares, Michael Ickowitz, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, ORAU, ORAU Annual Giving Campaign, United Way

Sewer rehab work continues week of Nov. 24

Posted at 1:26 pm November 23, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

More rehabilitation work of the city’s sewer collection pipes is scheduled to continue this week, starting Monday, November 24.

The work is being done by Hurst Excavating and Morgan Contracting under contract with the City of Oak Ridge. It includes rehabilitating sewer collection pipes within city easements in yards and in roadways, a press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge Tagged With: Central City I Rehabilitation Project, City of Oak Ridge, East Plant IV Rehabilitation Project, Hurst Excavating, Morgan Contracting Inc., Oak Ridge Public Works Department, Portland Utilities Construction Co. LLC, sewer collection pipes, sewer rehab, West End I Rehabilitation Project, Y-12 I Rehabilitation Project

Photos: Demolition of Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church

Posted at 12:53 pm November 23, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church Sanctuary Demolition

Workers demolished the former Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at Oak Ridge Turnpike and Robertsville Road on Monday. Pictured above at right is the stone-and-glass west end of the sanctuary. (Photos by Peter Scheffler)

 

Workers demolished the former Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at Oak Ridge Turnpike and Robertsville Road on Monday. The congregation has moved to a new church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike, on the north side of the Joe L. Evins Federal Building, home to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office.

Church members agreed in September 2012 to sell their former site, which they had used for almost six decades, to make way for a new Kroger Marketplace shopping center.

The new UU church was dedicated in October. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Churches, Community, Community, Faith, Media, Photos, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: demolition, Kroger, Kroger Marketplace, Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, ORUUC, Peter Scheffler, Robertsville Road

« Previous Page
Next Page »

Search Oak Ridge Today

Recent Posts

  • Democratic Women’s Club Hosts State Rep. Sam McKenzie
  • Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival Announces 2025 Storytellers
  • Laser-Engraved Bricks Will Line Walkway of New Chamber Headquarters
  • Democratic Women’s Club to Discuss Climate Change, Energy and Policy
  • Estate Jewelry Show at Karen’s Jewelers Features Celebrity Jewelry
  • Keri Cagle named new ORAU senior vice president and ORISE director
  • ORAU Annual Giving Campaign exceeds $100,000 goal+ORAU Annual Giving Campaign exceeds $100,000 goal More than $1 million raised in past 10 years benefits United Way and Community Shares Oak Ridge, Tenn. —ORAU exceeded its goal of raising $100,000 in donations as part of its internal annual giving campaign that benefits the United Way and Community Shares nonprofit organizations. ORAU has raised more than $1 million over the past 10 years through this campaign. A total of $126,839 was pledged during the 2024 ORAU Annual Giving Campaign. Employees donate via payroll deduction and could earmark their donation for United Way, Community Shares or both. “ORAU has remained a strong pillar in the community for more than 75 years, and we encourage our employees to consider participating in our annual giving campaign each year to help our less fortunate neighbors in need,” said ORAU President and CEO Andy Page. “Each one of our employees has the power to positively impact the lives of those who need help in the communities where we do business across the country and demonstrate the ORAU way – taking care of each other.” ORAU, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, provides science, health and workforce solutions that address national priorities and serve the public interest. Through our specialized teams of experts and access to a consortium of more than 150 major Ph.D.-granting institutions, ORAU works with federal, state, local and commercial customers to provide innovative scientific and technical solutions and help advance their missions. ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org. Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org. Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakRidgeAssociatedUniversities Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/orau Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/orau ###
  • Children’s Museum Gala Celebrates the Rainforest
  • Jim Sears joins ORAU as senior vice president
  • Oak Ridge Housing Authority Receives Funding Assistance of up to $51.8 Million For Renovating Public Housing and Building New Workforce Housing

Copyright © 2025 Oak Ridge Today