Oak Ridge Today

Spotlight: Oak Ridge welcomes travel writer tour

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Travel Writers at ORNL Wall of Flags

Travel writers take a break at the Wall of Flags at ORNL that features flags for all home countries of current employees. Pictured left to right, front row, are Tori Cuddy, Lisa Sonne, Scott Cochran, Tricia Szulewski, and Clement Salvadori; and, second row, Nicole Elliott and Wayne Newton. (Photos courtesy ORCVB)

North American journalists experience adventure in America’s Secret City

Travel writers from across North America were in Oak Ridge on Thursday, researching interesting stories to help promote tourism to the area. With a focus on outdoor adventure and heritage tourism, the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development partnered with the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau, along with surrounding tourism organizations, to host the group.

The team of 17 journalists spent the first day of spring with local experts in heritage tourism and outdoor recreation. Each writer had the opportunity to ask many questions while experiencing both the natural beauty of Oak Ridge and the importance the city plays in scientific and technological discovery. Due to the excellent presentations given at each of the stops on the tour, all journalists left with a newfound love and appreciation for the exciting tourism opportunities Oak Ridge has to offer.

“Working with our partners in the capital and around East Tennessee helps Oak Ridge leverage our exposure in larger markets and reach out to broader audiences,” said Katy Brown, executive director of the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We rely heavily on our tourism partners in Oak Ridge as we roll out the red carpet for these visiting writers.” [Read more…]

Dive team finds more human remains near underwater pickup

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Derek Funk Pickup

A truck pulled from the water in south Knoxville may have belonged to a missing local man, according to Knoxville police. (Photo courtesy WBIR-TV)

More human remains have been found by a dive team near a pickup truck found under water on Thursday and last seen being driven by a man missing since 2010, authorities said.

The Knoxville Police Department said the 1996 Ford Ranger pickup truck found upside down and under water on Thursday is the same vehicle last seen being driven by Derek Ryan Funk, 19, who has been missing since May 12, 2010.

Earlier Friday, a Knoxville Volunteer Rescue Squad dive team had reported finding human remains near the pickup truck in the 1400 block of Island Home Avenue in South Knoxville, although it wasn’t clear if the remains belonged to Funk. Funk went to Oak Ridge High School, and his parents live in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Pickup truck driven by missing man found under water; remains not identified yet

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Derek Funk

Derek Funk (Photo courtesy KPD)

Note: This story was updated at 2:27 p.m.

A dive team has located unidentified human remains near a pickup truck that was last seen being driven by a man with Oak Ridge ties who has been missing since 2010, authorities said.

The 1996 Ford Ranger pickup truck was found upside down and under water in the 1400 block of Island Home Avenue in Knoxville on Thursday, Knoxville Police Department spokesman Darrell DeBusk said. It’s the same vehicle last seen being driven by Derek Ryan Funk, 19, who has been missing since May 12, 2010.

Funk went to Oak Ridge High School—he graduated in 2009—and his parents live in Oak Ridge.

DeBusk said the remains haven’t been identified yet. [Read more…]

Gov. Haslam in Oak Ridge on Friday to discuss development, DOE cleanup

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Governor Bill Haslam

Bill Haslam

Gov. Bill Haslam will be in Oak Ridge on Friday morning to discuss the U.S. Department of Energy’s environmental cleanup program and how it is enabling economic development in East Tennessee.

The government will meet with officials at the East Tennessee Technology Park and will also meet with reporters.

Breakfast with Legislators on Monday

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The Tennessee General Assembly is halfway through this year’s legislative session, and important bills are in committee or being brought forward for vote. On Monday, you have a chance to ask local legislators about the issues during the March Breakfast with the Legislators.

The breakfast is scheduled from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Monday in the Social Room of the Oak Ridge Civic Center, located at 1401 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The public is invited, and a free continental breakfast will be served, a press release said.

Numerous issues impacting the education system are on the legislative agenda, including vouchers, charter schools, Common Core standards, and textbook commission composition, a press release said. Among the bills being considered are changes to lobbying law, the eligibility for TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families), and the distribution of information relating to the Affordable Care Act and other child health programs. [Read more…]

Stan Mitchell named treasurer of David Dunkirk’s juvenile judge campaign

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David Dunkirk

David Dunkirk

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The Committee to Elect David Dunkirk as Juvenile Judge for Anderson County has named a treasurer, Stan Mitchell, the former editor and publisher of The Oak Ridge Observer.

Dunkirk, a long-time local attorney who is running as a Democrat, said he was proud to have Mitchell serve as his treasurer.

“I’ve known Stan long enough to know he is a man of tremendous integrity and honesty. I am honored he is willing to act as my treasurer,” Dunkirk said.

Mitchell released a statement explaining his decision to serve as Dunkirk’s treasurer. [Read more…]

Sheriff White has meet-the-candidate fundraiser Tuesday

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Paul White

Paul White

Anderson County Sheriff Paul White has a meet-the-candidate fundraiser on Tuesday.

The fundraiser is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Holiday Inn Express on Hillvale Road near the Clinton/Norris exit off Highway 61.

“Refreshments will be served,” a press release said. “Bring your family and friends.”

For more information, contact the campaign at paulwhiteforsheriff@gmail.com or https://www.facebook.com/paul.white.31.

AAUW talk to focus on legacy, challenge of women’s suffrage

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Wanda Sobieski

Wanda Sobieski

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“The Legacy and the Challenge of Women’s Suffrage” will be the subject of a talk by Knoxville attorney Wanda Sobieski during a Monday meeting of the Oak Ridge Branch of AAUW, the American Association of University Women.

The meeting starts at 11:30 a.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church, Room 102.

Sobieski—who established her law firm, Sobieski, Messer, and Associates in 1993, after having practiced law with Baker, Worthington, Crossley, Stansberry, and Woolf—was instrumental in organizing the Suffrage Coalition, which funded the statues of the three Suffragests: Lizzie Crozier Franch, Anne Dallas Dudley, and Elizabeth Avery Meriweather, which stand in Market Square in Knoxville. [Read more…]

Roane Chamber seeks nominations for April 25 awards banquet

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Chris Ahler Roane Chamber Award

Roane Chamber Board Chair Chris Ahler won the 2011 Paul Goldberg Young Professional Award. (Submitted photo)

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KINGSTON—The 68th annual Roane Chamber Awards Banquet—the spring social event of the year—will be held on Friday, April 25, to present this year’s coveted business awards: the Distinguished Service, Business of the Year, Woman of the Year, and Young Professional awards.

The awards have been an integral part of the Chamber for decades, with the Distinguished Service Award dating back to 1970. Some of the previous award-winners include such renown community names as Jim Henry, Ken Yager, David Webb, Rocky Top General Store, Patterson’s Home Appliances, Junior’s Restaurant, Dr. Sherry Hill, Live and Let Live Drug Store, Harriman Mayor Chris Mason, and Dr. Paul Goldberg, who was also additionally honored in 2010 with becoming the namesake of the Chamber’s newest award, the Paul E. Goldberg Young Professional Award. For a list of all the past winners visit www.RoaneChamber.com/Awards. [Read more…]

Coal Creek Miners Museum has March 29 chili supper, fundraiser

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Bank of America Lake City

The Anderson County Commission has agreed to buy this former Bank of America building in Lake City for a Coal Mining Museum, storage space, and satellite county offices.

Information from WYSH Radio

The Coal Creek Miners Museum will host a chili supper and fundraiser on March 29 at Main Street Baptist Church in Lake City to raise funds for the remodeling and display construction of the museum’s new home on Main Street. The 6 p.m event will include live entertainment provided by the Coal Creek Old Time String Band and a live auction. The plans for the remodel will also be revealed.

“Coal Creek, the city that is now known as Lake City, has a fascinating story to tell about its coal mining heritage,” said Tim Isbel, chairperson of the Coal Creek Miners Museum. “The miners that lived, worked, and died here left a significant mark on history and it is our goal to make sure that story gets told.”

The Coal Creek Miners Museum has set a goal of $500,000, which will fund the renovations to the former Bank of America building and construct the displays for the historical artifacts. [Read more…]

Rocky Top name change advances

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Lake City Council Approves Rocky Top Name Change

The Lake City Council votes 4-0 in November to change the town’s name to Rocky Top, and Rep. John Ragan said he has draft legislation to approve the name change to introduce in the state legislature.

Information from WYSH Radio

A legislative proposal that would allow Lake City to officially change its name to Rocky Top will soon be debated by the Tennessee House of Representatives.

On Thursday, the House Calendar and Rules Committee voted to put the plan, also known as HB 1469, on the House’s agenda for Monday, March 31.

This comes after The House of Bryant Publications filed a lawsuit against the city to stop the name change. The House of Bryant owns the trademark to the song “Rocky Top.” [Read more…]

Council considers ending, extending traffic cameras on Monday

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

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday will consider extending or ending the traffic camera contract.

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday will consider extending a controversial traffic camera contract for two years, or ending it.

The Council postponed a vote earlier this month. It will now be considered during a special 7 p.m. meeting on Monday.

The current five-year contract with Redflex Traffic Systems Inc. of Arizona expires April 21. If it’s not extended, the city staff has asked Council to consider installing a traffic signal in front of the Oak Ridge High School on Oak Ridge Turnpike.

The high school stoplight would have to be approved by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. It could cost $150,000 to $200,000 and take nine months to install. [Read more…]