Oak Ridge Today

Assistant DA running for juvenile judge has meet-and-greet on Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Victoria "Vickie" Bannach

Victoria “Vickie” Bannach

Victoria “Vickie” Bannach, a Republican candidate for Anderson County Juvenile Court Judge in the May 6 primary, will have a meet-and-greet in Norris on Saturday.

The event is scheduled from 5-7 p.m. Saturday at the Norris Community Center.

“The ‘meet and greet’ will allow citizens to meet the candidate and discuss important issues and concerns that are occurring with our children and families within the community,” a press release said.

Bannach is now an assistant district attorney general in Anderson County. [Read more…]

Education Foundation accepting applications for international study scholarship

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation is accepting applications now from students for the Dr. Adrian R. Lawler Exchange Student Scholarship, offering students attending Oak Ridge public schools or recent graduates support for participating in international study programs.

Lawler, an Oak Ridge High School graduate who was the second student here to participate in an American Field Service international exchange program, established the scholarship to offer students opportunities to gain tolerance and understanding of people from other cultures through international study programs.

Lawler, who died more than a year ago, was a retired marine scientist living in Mississippi when he designated the Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation to administer the scholarship with a five-member scholarship committee. The foundation awarded the first two Lawler scholarships in 2008 to college students who were participating in international study programs.

The deadline for submitting the application is March 7, 2014. Applications may be picked up at the Oak Ridge High School counseling office. Applicants may also call Jenna Whitney, executive director of the Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation, at (865) 241-3667, or e-mail her at jenna.whitney@orau.org to request an application. [Read more…]

Franchise Lunch and Learn: An overview of franchising opportunities

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Anderson County Chamber of Commerce and the Tennessee Small Business Development Center will host a seminar on “An Overview of Franchising Opportunities” on Thursday, Feb. 20, from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Anderson County Chamber office at 245 N. Main Street, Suite 200, in Clinton.

Jerry Bird with FranNet of Alabama/Tennessee will be the speaker. Attendees may bring their own lunch to enjoy during the seminar.

Topics covered will include: [Read more…]

Marketing your business online: Lessons on LinkedIn

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Daniel Monday

Daniel Monday

The chief operating officer of a Knoxville website company will present a Feb. 19 seminar in Anderson County on marketing your business using LinkedIn.

Daniel Monday of Slamdot will give his presentation, titled “Marketing Your Business Online: Lessons on LinkedIn,” at the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce in Clinton from 12 to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19.

“If you’re not joining the 250 million-plus people on LinkedIn, you may be missing out on business opportunities,” a press release said. “From connecting with potential customers or establishing new referral partnerships, to locating that next great employee or finding reputable vendors and suppliers, LinkedIn can become a very affordable marketing and operations tool for your company or nonprofit organization.

 [Read more…]

Juvenile Judge Fisher taking new job, leaving chancellor’s race

Posted at
By 3 Comments

Brandon FIsher

Brandon Fisher

Anderson County Juvenile Court Judge Brandon Fisher is withdrawing from the race for Anderson County chancellor because he is joining a nonprofit mental health provider in Pennsylvania in September, a press release said.

Fisher will be the assistant general counsel at the national headquarters of NHS Human Services Inc., the release said. The September start will allow him to finish his term, which ends in August.

In the release, Fisher said the decision was difficult. [Read more…]

ORHS staff seizes electronic stun device from 15-year-old student

Posted at
By 4 Comments

Oak Ridge High School

Oak Ridge High School is pictured above.

Note: This story was updated at 8:18 p.m. to correct the age of the student.

Oak Ridge High School staff members seized an electronic stun device from an 15-year-old student in the cafeteria on Tuesday, authorities said.

The ORHS staff notified the Oak Ridge Police Department, which responded, took possession of the device, and interviewed the suspect, a press release said. The student was later released to a guardian.

The student did not threaten anyone with the device, and no injuries were reported, the release said. ORPD is investigating the incident, and charges are pending for the possession of a prohibited weapon on school grounds.

The incident occurred at lunchtime Tuesday.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Information International wins major ORNL IT support contract

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Information International Associates

Pictured above is the headquarters of Information International Associates on Union Valley Road in Oak Ridge.

Information International Associates has won a five-year contract worth up to $24 million to provide information technology support to Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The contract includes a one-year base and four one-year options. IIa will lead a team that includes Science Applications International Corp. and other partners with special capabilities, including Qbase, CADRE5, and EMC2 Corp., a press release said.

The work will include application development, systems administration, cyber security, help desk support, and data center management.

 

[Read more…]

Firehouse Subs Foundation donates equipment to ORFD, Roane County

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Firehouse Subs and Oak Ridge Fire Department Thermal Imaging Camera

Above, representatives of Firehouse Subs present a $10,000 thermal imaging camera to the Oak Ridge Fire Department in January. (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Fire Department)

Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation recently donated a thermal imaging camera worth more than $10,000 to Oak Ridge Fire Department.

The foundation also donated first-aid kits and six automated external defibrillators, worth a total of more than $10,200, to Roane County Sheriff’s Office.

The equipment was presented in ceremonies at Firehouse Subs in Oak Ridge and Lenoir City.

The thermal imaging camera donated to ORFD will detect body heat and hot spots in burning buildings, allowing firefighters to reach victims quickly and put out deadly fires. [Read more…]

Anderson school system celebrates energy-efficiency project

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Anderson County Schools ESG Groundbreaking

Anderson County officials and ESG representatives celebrate the kickoff of a $9.7 million energy-efficiency project in Anderson County Schools. (Photo courtesy Pam Crawford)

On Friday morning, the Anderson County school system celebrated the kickoff of a $9.7 million energy efficiency project that will make significant improvements to all 17 county schools, all with the aim of improving the learning environment, reducing energy use and, subsequently, the cost of energy across the system.

The Anderson County Commission recently approved a 15-year contract with Energy Systems Group—or ESG—to design and implement a $9.7 million energy efficiency and building modernization project throughout Anderson County Schools. All 17 county schools will receive energy improvements, including upgrades to the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning—or HVAC—systems and electrical systems as well as energy-efficient lights, water conservation measures, and advanced energy management controls—including sensors that will detect when a room is occupied and adjust heating and lighting automatically, and new suspended ceiling systems. [Read more…]

Officials say little about Monday hearing on Y-12, Pantex contract

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Y-12 National Security Complex

The Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge is pictured above.

Officials said little about the federal hearing held Monday to discuss the consolidated but contested contract to manage the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge and Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas.

The hearing is related to the protest filed by Nuclear Production Partners LLC, or NP2, which has contested the decision to award the contract to Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC of Reston, Va. Originally announced in January 2013, the contract could be worth up to $22.8 billion over a decade.

The hearing had originally been scheduled for Jan. 29, but it was rescheduled. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge team wins regionals in National Science Bowl, headed to finals

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Jefferson Middle School National Science Bowl Regional Champs

Pictured above from left are coordinator Ken Mayes, Catherine Humphreys, Sadie Lloyd, coach Sharon Wiliford, Joseph Andress, Lawrence Zhang, Henry Shen, and Greg Mills, DOE-ORO representative.

Competition managed by DOE Office of Science

A team of students from Oak Ridge was among 14 teams of middle and high school students who won their regional competitions for the 2014 National Science Bowl this past weekend and are advancing to the National Finals in Washington, D.C., in April.

The Oak Ridge team is from Jefferson Middle School. U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz announced the winners on Monday.

“The National Science Bowl challenges students to excel and heightens their interest in fields vital to America’s continued scientific advancement,” Moniz said. “Congratulations to these students for advancing to the National Finals. I wish them the best of luck in the competition.” [Read more…]

Found in Woodland: Black-and-white pot-bellied pig

Posted at
By 3 Comments

Pot-bellied Pig on Nasson Lane

A black-and-white female pot-bellied pig roams loose on Nasson Lane in Woodland on Monday morning.

Note: This story was updated at 1:53 p.m.

A black-and-white pot-bellied pig roaming loose in Woodland was picked up by animal control officers and taken to the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter on Monday morning.

The slow-moving female pig roamed through several yards on Nasson Lane before it was corralled in a a backyard, where it was picked up by an animal control officer.

It wasn’t clear where the pig came from. It did not have a collar or identification tags.

Some people keep pot-bellied pigs as pets and one officer said he has encountered them before, although it’s not clear if they would be allowed in the center of the city. [Read more…]