Oak Ridge Today

Teaching Climate Change workshop part of ORAU professional development series

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Barry Golden at ORAU Workshop

University of Tennessee Assistant Professor Barry Golden, right, discusses data with a group of educators during ORAU’s Teaching Climate Change workshop on Thursday. (Photo by Sara Wise)

 

On Thursday, Oak Ridge Associated Universities’ Center for Science Education hosted the Teaching Climate Change workshop as part of their Summer Technology Professional Development series of workshops.

ORAU’s summer workshop program hosts 13 STEM-based lectures offered free to K-12 teachers.

ORAU Program Manager Meiko Thompson said the organization “sees a benefit in making sure that local educators have the opportunity to get professional development” outside of the typical school system offerings.

“One thing I know is that just because you’re a scientist doesn’t make you a good teacher,” Thompson said. “So, what I would really like for them to do is really know how to engage their students.” [Read more…]

More red-light, speeding violations since cameras disabled, Redflex says

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Red-light Camera at Oak Ridge Turnpike and New York Avenue

Redflex Traffic Systems Inc. said an eastbound traffic camera at Oak Ridge Turnpike and New York Avenue/Lafayette Drive had the third-highest rise in detected speeding violations, a 243 percent increase in the number of drivers traveling at 46 mph or more, after the cameras were disabled April 21. Pictured above is the westbound camera.

 

The Arizona company that operated traffic cameras in Oak Ridge for five years said reckless driving has increased significantly, average speeds have risen, and there has been an increase in red-light running and speeding violations since the systems were disabled April 21.

The two biggest increases in speeding violations were in school zones on eastbound and westbound Robertsville Road near Willow Brook Elementary School, camera vendor Redflex Traffic Systems Inc. said in a report that could be discussed during a Traffic Safety Advisory Board meeting on Tuesday. The average number of school zone violations jumped from a little more than two per day in the 14 days before the cameras were disabled to 10 or 11 per day afterward.

A school zone violation occurs when a driver is detected traveling at 21 mph or more in a 15 mph school zone.

Meanwhile, detections of red-light violations, which can lead to the most serious accidents, increased from an average of 20 per day at four locations in the three weeks before the cameras were disabled to up to 28 per day in the fourth week afterward, Redflex said. [Read more…]

Labor Secretary announces proposal to raise minimum wage for federal contract workers

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Proposed rule would raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour for covered workers

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez on Thursday announced a proposed rule raising the minimum wage for workers on federal service and construction contracts to $10.10 per hour. The proposed rule implements Executive Order 13658, which was announced by President Barack Obama on Feb. 12.

“A core American value is that hard work should be rewarded with fair pay,” Perez said in a press release. “And as the president said in his State of the Union address, if you cook our troops’ meals or wash their dishes, you shouldn’t have to live in poverty.

“Raising the minimum wage for workers on federal contracts will provide a much needed boost to many who are working hard, but still struggle to get by, and it will also benefit taxpayers with improved employee retention and productivity. Today the department took an important step toward making the promise of the executive order a reality for thousands of workers.” [Read more…]

WYSH: Storm damage follow-up; EF0 tornado confirmed in Kingston

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Mike Marsh Home Storm Damage

One of several pictures showing the storm damage Tuesday to the home of Mike and Wanda Marsh on Timbercrest Drive in Oak Ridge. (Photo courtesy Mike Marsh)

 

Information from WYSH Radio

The National Weather Service has confirmed the powerful storms that rolled through the area on Tuesday included an embedded tornado in Kingston.

Officials with the NWS office in Morristown assessed the damage and said an EF-0 tornado touched down along 3rd Street in Kingston. The winds of an EF-0 tornado are around 65-85 miles per hour.

The NWS said the widespread damage throughout East Tennessee was almost entirely from straight-line winds and down-bursts. Kingston is the only site suspected of sustaining tornado damage.

The Weather Service says straight-line winds estimated at 80 mph packed a destructive punch in Clinton, which appeared to bear the brunt of the damage from Tuesday’s severe weather. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Fire Department teams with MDA this weekend

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Oak Ridge Bicycle Center

Oak Ridge Fire Department Muscular Dystrophy Chairperson Duane Chase announced Thursday that the Oak Ridge Firefighters Association will conduct its annual MDA Boot Drive this Friday and Saturday, June 13 and 14, at the Secret City Festival at A.K. Bissell Park.

An MDA booth will be located at the fire department youth area and Zipline landing to make your contribution. Each contribution of $5 will enter the contributor in a drawing for a youth bicycle from Oak Ridge Bicycle Center on Jefferson Avenue. [Read more…]

Support local media, subscribe to Oak Ridge Today

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Oak Ridge Today

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Tours of Manhattan Project sites a highlight of Secret City Festival

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Secret City Festival Logo

One of the highlights of the annual Secret City Festival, taking place Friday and Saturday at A.K. Bissell Park, is the series of tours that run all day both days.

Each of the four tours will depart from the American Museum of Science and Energy at scheduled times. In addition, the Secret City Scenic Excursion Train will be chugging along during the festival.

Visitors will have a unique opportunity to tour three historic Manhattan Project World War II sites. On Friday, June 13, Y-12 will host tours from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. The one-hour tour will include the Y-12 History Center, Building 9731, the Chestnut Ridge Overlook, and Bear Creek Road.

Also on Friday, visitors can take the U.S. Department of Energy Facilities Bus Tour, which is included with a $1 admission to AMSE. This tour includes stops at the Y-12 New Hope Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Graphite Reactor, and a tour around the East Tennessee Technology Park. A separate tour that focuses on the X-10 Graphite Reactor is available at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday.

On Saturday, there will be four opportunities to tour the ORNL Graphite Reactor. All tours will begin at the American Museum of Science and Energy. The Secret City Scenic Excursion Train will be running three tours as well. Departure times for both tours are listed below: [Read more…]

Community Orchestra performs at Secret City Festival on Saturday

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Oak Ridge Community Orchestra at the Secret City Festival

The Oak Ridge Community Orchestra performs at the 2013 Secret City Festival. (Submitted photo)

 

Submitted

While you attend the Secret City Festival in Oak Ridge on Saturday morning, stop by the pavilion and listen to the Oak Ridge Community Orchestra from 11:15 to 11:45 am. It’s free entertainment.

You will enjoy the program of popular renditions: music from the movies with highlights from “Jurassic Park” and “The Lord of the Rings (The Fellowship of the Rings),” jazz from the big band era in A Salute to the Big Bands, and favorite Broadway hits in Curtain Up!

A Salute to the Big Bands includes memorable melodies such as “April in Paris,” “I’m Getting Sentimental Over You,” “Pennsylvania Six-Five-Thousand,” “Serenade in Blue,” and “Sing, Sing, Sing.”

Curtain Up features the famous Broadway tunes “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “If He Walked Into My Life,” “One,” “The Phantom Of The Opera,” and that rousing chorus, “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” [Read more…]

Proton Power named Roane County’s 2014 Industry of the Year

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Industry of the Year: Proton Power

Proton Power was named 2014 Industry of the Year in Roane County. From left to right are Roane County Industrial Board Chair Tommy Thompson, Proton Power Human Resources Manager Sean Hensley, and Wade Creswell, president and CEO of The Roane Alliance. (Photos courtesy of The Roane Alliance)

 

Submitted

HARRIMAN—The annual Roane County Industry Appreciation Breakfast was held at the end of May at Roane State Community College. The Roane County Industrial Board announced this year’s Industry of the Year and Roane Beautification Awards.

The event was sponsored by the Harriman Utility Board and Rockwood Electric Utility.

Thom Mason, director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, was the guest speaker, speaking about how the lab wants to be used as a resource to businesses and industry in the state—and especially to Roane County. More than 95 percent of the lab is in Roane County. According to Mason, more than $450 million in products and services were spent by the lab last year, with around 40 percent of that being spent in the state, and much of that from local business and industry.

Mason spoke about specific examples of how ORNL was working with local businesses to help them grow and develop. He encouraged industries in attendance to reach out to them for their help with any challenges they may have.

“ORNL is a research and technology facility,” Mason said. “If we can help business and industry expand and ultimately grow jobs, then we have done our job.”

Proton Power was named 2014 Roane County Industry of the Year, and Volkswagen received the 2014 Roane Beautification Award. [Read more…]

American Legion has fundraiser, flag disposal ceremony on Saturday

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Submitted

The commander of Clinton American Legion Post 172 would like to invite everyone to an open house fundraiser and flag disposal ceremony on Saturday, June 14.

The open house fundraiser will run from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., with the flag disposal ceremony at 12 p.m. at the American Legion Post home at 436 Spring Street in Clinton. The fundraiser is to help the American Legion Post raise funds to help the veterans of Clinton and Anderson County, and the flag ceremony is designed to ensure the proper disposal of all worn U.S. flags in accordance with the U.S. flag code.

Anyone interested in attending these events is welcome. Anyone having old, worn U.S., state, or any other type of flag that needs to be disposed, can drop them off at the office of the director of Anderson County Veteran Services in Room 114 of the Anderson County Courthouse, or bring it to the ceremony on Saturday, June 14.

Drug Awareness Day at Oak Ridge Pool on Saturday, June 21

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Drug Awareness Day at Oak Ridge Municipal Pool

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The Oak Ridge Chapter of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks will be hosting the second annual Drug Awareness Day at the Oak Ridge Municipal Pool located at 172 Providence Road on Saturday, June 21.

Drug awareness demonstrations will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. inside the pool area. A few of the planned activities include the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Jet Ski simulator and fatal vision goggle demonstrations. “Elroy the Elk” the national mascot for the Elks Drug Awareness Program, will be in attendance to remind kids that hugs are better than drugs. Hundreds of prizes will be given away to those participating in a drug awareness activity. Some of the prizes include T-Shirts, coloring books, Frisbees, and free pool passes that can be used anytime during the summer. [Read more…]

Two caught carrying stolen items in Marlow burglary, sheriff says

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Marcus Dewayne Bowling

Marcus Dewayne Bowling

Two people were arrested Tuesday evening after a sheriff’s deputy caught them carrying stolen items from a Marlow home where a burglary-in-progress had been reported, authorities said.

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to the home on Binkley Acres Lane near Oliver Springs at about 8:42 p.m. Tuesday. The homeowner was contacted by a neighbor who saw a strange car in the driveway, Anderson County Sheriff Paul White said. The owner went to the home and saw the vehicle parked at the gate near the entrance to his driveway.

“Upon checking his property, he observed two persons inside the home,” White said. “The homeowner called 911 and deputies responded.” [Read more…]