Oak Ridge Today

Volunteers dedicate memorial to Windrock coal miners today

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Windrock Miner's Memorial Groundbreaking

Pictured above are Carl Lively, right, who started working in a mine on Windrock Mountain north of Oliver Springs in 1939, when he was 16, and Manuel Tinker, who was born on top of the mountain and later worked in the mines.

 

WINDROCK MOUNTAIN—Volunteers who have worked for months to build a wall honoring more than 1,000 miners who once worked on Windrock Mountain north of Oliver Springs will have a dedication ceremony this afternoon.

The dedication and reception for the Coal Miners Memorial is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. today (Saturday) at Lower Windrock in front of Union Valley Baptist Church.

Descendants of Windrock coal miners, retired miners, and many others have worked together raising money to build the red brick and granite wall. The names of more than 1,000 Windrock coal miners have been engraved into the granite. [Read more…]

Residents file ouster petition against Anderson County law director

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Twenty-two Anderson County residents have filed a petition in Chancery Court seeking to remove Law Director Jay Yeager from office, alleging misconduct that includes perjury, forgery, and having pornography on a county computer.

The ouster petition was filed Friday afternoon in Anderson County Chancery Court in Clinton. It alleges Yeager, who became law director in September 2006, committed perjury on his sworn application to become law director eight years ago, forged the signature of retired Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Capt. Avery Johnson two years ago, and had a pornographic image on a county computer that was found about three years ago.

The petition asks the court to immediately suspend Yeager from his official duties pending a decision by the court, and it requests a trial. If Yeager is guilty of one or more of the charges, the petition said, he should be ousted from office.

“I’m devastated,” Yeager said Friday evening. “It’s just another assassination on my character and on my good reputation and all I’ve done for Anderson County.”

He said he thinks the ouster suit is politically motivated, and he called it “baseless and unwarranted.” [Read more…]

EMS luncheon to honor crews, give awards, name scholarship winner

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Anderson County Emergency Services Logo

Anderson County EMS and UT Lifestar are having their annual EMS Week luncheon on Tuesday, May 20. The event is from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., and it is open to the public.

“We will be honoring our crews and also giving out our EMT-IV, paramedic, and officer of the year awards,” a press release said. “We have received certificates of appreciation from Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam for some crew members involved on a call earlier this year. Plus, we will be announcing our first-ever recipient of the Next Steps Scholarship.”

The luncheon will be at the EMS main garage complex at 314 Public Safety Lane in Clinton. Call Anderson County EMS at (865) 457-8609 for more information. Lunch will be provided for attendees. The event is meant to thank Anderson County emergency providers for the work they do each day, a flyer said. [Read more…]

Anderson Chamber hosts ‘Tribute to Business’ awards ceremony in June

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Anderson County Chamber of Commerce Dinner on the Lawn

The Anderson County Chamber of Commerce will pay tribute to local businesses at the 3rd Annual “Dinner on the Lawn” at the Museum of Appalachia in June.

It’s Friday, June 6, and everyone is welcome to attend, a press release said.

Guests will be treated to valet parking when they arrive at 6:30 p.m., as well as a social hour on the porch, live music on the lawn, and a fun live auction, a press release said. Dinner will be served at 7:30 p.m. followed by the “Tribute to Business” award ceremony, honoring a diverse category of businesses.

Tickets are $70, or $500 for a table of eight, and they can be purchased at the Chamber Office or online at the Chamber website at www.andersoncountychamber.org. [Read more…]

Clinton Public Library seeking teen volunteers for summer

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Submitted

The Clinton Public Library is seeking teen volunteers to assist with its Summer Reading Club.

Volunteers are needed to register children for the Reading Club, assist at programs, help prepare for story times, and more!  All teens interested in volunteering at the Library this summer must attend an informational session on Monday, May 19, at either 3 p.m. or 6 p.m. Please bring your calendar with you!

The Clinton Public Library is located at 118 S. Hicks Street in Clinton.  For more information, call the library at (865) 457-0519.

Firefighting class to be offered in Clinton

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Submitted

The Clinton Fire Department is planning to host a 64-hour basic firefighting class. The dates, times, and cost for the training will be based on the number of people who take part.

This course is designed to provide basic fire ground skills necessary to operate and perform on the fire ground. The program is geared to volunteer firefighters and others who are unable to attend longer duration programs.

The course covers sections of NFPA 1403: Live Fire Training Evolutions, meeting the basic skill level for the student to participate in “live” fire fighting training activities. This course is a prerequisite for students who wish to attend the 16-hour F111 – Firefighter I Live Burn course at the Academy. The students will receive a certificate for basic firefighting upon successful completion of written and practical testing. [Read more…]

Honors: Anderson County FFA first in state for veterinary science career development

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Anderson County FFA State Winning Team

The state winning team from Anderson County FFA is pictured above. From left to right they are Advisor Philip Warfield, Allison Brown, Taylor Brown, Carlin Frost, and Brian Moore. (Submitted photo)

 

Headed to national convention in October

MARTIN—On May 10, 25 FFA chapters from all three regions competed in the State Veterinary Science Career Development Event, or CDE.

The state winner of the Veterinary Science CDE was the Anderson County FFA Chapter from East Tennessee. They will represent Tennessee at the National FFA Convention in October and compete against teams from across the nation for the national title.

The teams that participated completed a written exam that determined the team members’ broad understanding of the veterinary science field, and completed an identification round that consisted of equipment ID, parasite ID, and breed ID. Teams also participated in a math practicum that included conversions, dose calculations, dilutions, cost calculations, and invoices. The Top 10 teams then completed a team activity that consisted of completing a scenario to cure a horse of colic to determine the state winner. [Read more…]

UT solar house donated, moving Saturday to Children’s Museum

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

ut-living-light-house

 

KNOXVILLE—The University of Tennessee in Knoxville is donating the Living Light House— its award-winning, solar-powered project—to the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge.

The Living Light House will move to its permanent home on Saturday, May 17. Starting at 7 a.m., the 750-square-foot, zero-energy structure, will be transported from the UT Gardens to the Oak Ridge museum at 461 W. Outer Drive. The move is expected to take several hours.

“The house has served as an ambassador for good design and energy efficiency,” said James Rose, UT architecture lecturer and lead faculty member of the Living Light project. “One of the most satisfying things about giving tours of the house is the response from children. Young people are always fascinated by the house and leave it excited about the future. I cannot think of a better place for the Living Light house to carry on this mission than at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge.”

The Living Light House, which was built through the efforts of more than 200 UT students, was an entry to the 2011 U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon in Washington, D.C. It has traveled nearly 6,000 miles, been toured by more than 50,000 visitors, and was on exhibit at the 2012 Smithsonian Folklife Festival. [Read more…]

Combined choirs to sing ‘Sunrise Mass’ Sunday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Anna Thomas and Andrew Duncan

Anna Thomas, FPC music director, will conduct the first half of the concert, and Andrew Duncan, FUMC music director, will conduct the four-movement “Sunrise Mass.” (Submitted photo)

The combined choirs of First Presbyterian and First United Methodist churches will sing the “Sunrise Mass” by Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo during a concert on Sunday, May 18, at 6:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church.

String players from the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and FUMC’s Sandi Henry on piano will accompany the choirs. The 32-minute symphony mass will be performed in the second half of the concert.

The first half of the concert will include choral music by various composers, including “Ave Verum Corpus” by W.A. Mozart, Dan Forrest’s setting of John Wesley’s “Covenant Prayer,” and Mack Wilberg’s arrangement of Isaac Watts’ version of Psalm 23, as well as works by Kevin Siegfried, Philip R. Dietterich, and Stephen Paulus. [Read more…]

MOTH-ers Night Out at UT Arboretum on Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Tiger Moth

Tiger Moth

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society will sponsor the fifth annual MOTH-ers Night Out program Saturday evening.

The program starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the UT Arboretum in Oak Ridge

“Have you ever wondered about what kind of insects are out hunting and eating while you sleep snugly in your bed at night?” a press release said. “Come learn about these creatures with naturalist Kris Light. After an introductory program in the main office building, we will venture outdoors to check the sheets to observe the insects that have been attracted by the black lights.” [Read more…]

What’s happening in Oak Ridge from May 15-21

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Here is a summary of events happening in Oak Ridge starting Friday, May 16, and continuing through May 21.

This weekly listing of events is compiled by the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau: [Read more…]

Sewer rehab work continues next week

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

More rehabilitation work of the city’s sewer collection pipes is scheduled to continue next week.

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.

Residents should already have received color-coded letters and door hangers (orange for Hurst Excavating and purple for Morgan Contracting) providing general information and each contractors’ contact information. [Read more…]