Oak Ridge Today

Secret City Festival videos available on Fire Department’s YouTube page

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Secret City Festival Children's Area

This year’s Secret City Festival included expanded areas for children and the Oak Ridge Fire Department, among other changes.

You can now revisit all the fun and excitement of the 2013 Secret City Festival by visiting the Oak Ridge Fire Department’s You Tube page, a press release said.

During the recent festival in June, several hours of footage were collected of the Fire Department zip line and water play areas, and they have now been formatted into short video clips. You can view these clips at www.youtube.com/oakridgefd.

The videos were shot and produced by ORFD Capt. Jason Benjamin, who is also an accomplished actor, producer, and award-winning screen writer, the press release said. [Read more…]

Obama administration delays employer health care mandate until 2015

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Mark Mazur

Mark Mazur

Responding to business concerns, the Obama administration announced Tuesday that it would delay until 2015 the new health care law’s mandate that employers provide workers with health insurance.

New reporting requirements of the Affordable Care Act will also be delayed a year. Questions about the new employer mandate and reporting requirements have been a concern for businesses across the nation, including in and around Oak Ridge.

“We have heard concerns about the complexity of the requirements and the need for more time to implement them effectively,” said Mark J. Mazur, assistant secretary for tax policy. Mazur made the announcement on the U.S. Treasury Department’s website. [Read more…]

Three arrested, crowd pepper-sprayed during arrests at fireworks show

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Information from WYSH Radio

Three people were arrested Saturday night during the “Fire on the Water” fireworks show at Sequoyah Marina on Norris Lake after a disturbance that ended with an Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputy deploying pepper spray on an allegedly angry crowd of onlookers.

The incident began at around 9:30 p.m. Saturday when a homeowner on Sequoyah Drive approached three deputies assigned to a special detail to monitor the festivities and told them that he was having a private engagement party on his property. He told the deputies that two men and a woman had come onto the property from the public area roped off for fireworks viewing, taken beer, threatened party guests, and refused to leave. [Read more…]

July 4 fireworks in Oak Ridge rescheduled to Sunday

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July 4, 2012 Fireworks

The July 4 fireworks show in Oak Ridge has been rescheduled for 10 p.m. Sunday at A.K. Bissell Park. (Photo by Charles Samuels)

The July 4 fireworks in Oak Ridge have been rescheduled from Thursday to Sunday, an official said Tuesday.

“After consulting with the National Weather Service and our fireworks contractor Pyro Shows, I have made the decision to re-schedule the event,” Oak Ridge Fire Department Chief Darryl Kerley said in a press release. “The community investment is too great for the event to not be spectacular.”

He said heavy rain is expected Wednesday and Thursday, and that could cause problems setting up and loading the shells. The rain could also result in misfires during the Independence Day show and make it difficult for residents and visitors to sit outside and enjoy the display. [Read more…]

IDB endorses professional services contract with Chamber

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The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce could provide an office for the Industrial Development Board, store its files, prepare its meeting minutes and agendas, and take care of its accounting under a proposal endorsed Monday.

The Chamber would do the work for $25,000 per year, IDB Chair David Wilson told board members. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge property tax bills delivered

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Oak Ridge announced on Monday that all property tax bills have been mailed and should have been delivered to property owners for the year.

The taxes go to support the operation of many city services, from street maintenance to the library, a city press release said. The Oak Ridge police and fire departments, refuse removal and disposal, recreation and parks, and many other city activities are also supported by the property tax. A portion of the tax also goes to support the Oak Ridge School system. [Read more…]

Responding to traffic delays, Y-12 asks for volunteers to start work later beginning July 8

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Y-12 National Security Complex Traffic

Responding to morning traffic delays, particularly at its east entrance on Bear Creek Road, the Y-12 National Security Complex has asked some employees to volunteer to start their work day later after July 8.

Responding to morning traffic delays at its entrances, the Y-12 National Security Complex has asked some employees to volunteer to come into work later in the day starting July 8.

Significant traffic delays have been an issue since a lost driver who did not have a badge or permission to be at Y-12 said she was waved into the nuclear weapons plant on June 6.

Since then, Y-12 officials have said the plant has changed its approach to checking badges at the east and west gates. The more rigorous security checks are “here to stay,” B&W Y-12 General Manager Chuck Spencer said in a June 27 message to employees.

But the new procedures have led to traffic delays, particularly at the east entrance between 5:15 and 6:15 a.m., when vehicles can back up as far as the former Dean Stallings Ford on South Illinois Avenue. [Read more…]

Volunteer Day at Oak Ridge Animal Shelter on Saturday

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Oak Ridge Animal Shelter

The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter on Belgrade Road is pictured above.

More pets go missing around July 4 than at any other time of year, and noisy fireworks are to blame.

While many of us enjoy the sights and sounds of big fireworks, our pets are often terrified by the loud noises and can become frantic and run away, trying to find a safe haven. According to national statistics, animal control officials across the country see a 30-60 percent increase in lost pets each year from July 4-6.

Julie Armes, the supervisor for the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter, said July 5 is their busiest day of the year.

“People are coming in or calling, looking for their lost pets or bringing in pets they’ve found,” Armes said. “Sadly, many pet owners never come in to retrieve their dogs or cats.” [Read more…]

Council to discuss electronic signs, land banks, mall partnership

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Rivers Total Car Care Electronic Sign

The Oak Ridge City Council will discuss proposed changes to the city’s electronic sign ordinance during a Monday evening work session. Pictured above is Toney Stevens of Rivers Total Car Care, who has participated in the discussion.

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday will discuss a proposed ordinance that would prohibit animated video and scrolling messages on electronic signs.

Council will also discuss economic development options related to a public-private partnership on Oak Ridge Mall properties, and commercial and industrial areas of the city.

During a non-voting work session Monday night, Council will also hear a presentation on land bank legislation. The work session starts at 7 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room at the Central Services Complex on Woodbury Lane. [Read more…]

USEC donates to Emory Valley Center campaign

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USEC Donates to Emory Valley Center

Pictured above from left to right are Robin Biloski, Emory Valley Center development director; Dottie Thompson and Gene Caldwell, co-chairs of the EVC Capital Campaign; and Bob Eby of USEC Inc. (Submitted photo)

Emory Valley Center recently received a donation from USEC for its capital campaign to build a new facility on Emory Valley Road, a press release said.

“Emory Valley Center has always been such a vital part of our community in helping so many adults and children in our region,” said Bob Eby, director of Centrifuge Technology and Process Engineering of USEC in Oak Ridge. “All of us at USEC are so happy to play a part in providing a new center for the many who receive their services.” [Read more…]

IDB to discuss contract on Bethel Valley lot, agreement with Chamber

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The Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board on Monday will discuss a contract to purchase a lot in the Bethel Valley Industrial Park and an agreement with the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce.

The IDB meets at 4 p.m. Monday in the Municipal Building Training Room.

Lecture to focus on translating ORNL technology from lab bench to clinic

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Submitted

The Friends of ORNL will hold its monthly luncheon lecture meeting on Tuesday, July 9.

This month, Cymbeline Culiat will discuss “Translating an ORNL Technology from Lab Bench to the Clinic: The NELL1 Story.” This meeting is open to the public. [Read more…]