Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge Chamber to host information session on changing retail market

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Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce building is pictured above.

 

Retail Strategies, a national retail real estate consulting firm that partners with cities across the nation to expand retail opportunities, will have representatives in Oak Ridge on September 25, a press release said.

Retail Strategies will offer brief on-site consulting services for retail property owners/managers during the day on a first-come, first-served basis.

From 4-5:30 p.m., representatives of the firm will be on hand for an information session detailing Oak Ridge’s changing retail market, trade area, trends, and targets, the press release said. The session will take place at TownePlace by Marriott, which is 300 South Rutgers Avenue. The session will be hosted by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce and the Oak Ridge Economic Development Initiative. [Read more…]

TVA seeks public comment on Bull Run Environmental Investigation Plan

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The Tennessee Valley Authority's Bull Run Fossil Plant is pictured above in Claxton on Monday, Aug. 27, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Tennessee Valley Authority’s Bull Run Fossil Plant is pictured above in Claxton on Monday, Aug. 27, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Tennessee Valley Authority is asking for public comment on a proposed Environmental Investigation Plan for coal combustion residuals at Bull Run Fossil Plant in Claxton, across the Clinch River from east Oak Ridge.

TVA is developing the plan and seeking public comment following direction from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation regarding coal ash and other coal combustion residuals stored at TVA’s coal plants in Tennessee, a press release said.

The Bull Run Fossil Plant Environmental Investigation Plan provides details on how TVA plans to investigate and assess the risks to soil, surface water, and groundwater from coal combustion residuals stored at Bull Run, the press release said.

This is not related to the review of generating assets announced at TVA’s August board meeting, the press release said. [Read more…]

Dedication ceremony for Friendship Bell Peace Pavilion is Thursday

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The new Peace Pavilion for the Oak Ridge International Friendship Bell will be dedicated Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018, in A.K. Bissell Park. This architect’s rendering shows the large cantilever structure, crossed by a series of beams, that will support the Bell in its new location. (Image courtesy of demianwilburarchitects)

The new Peace Pavilion for the Oak Ridge International Friendship Bell will be dedicated Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018, in A.K. Bissell Park. This architect’s rendering shows the large cantilever structure, crossed by a series of beams, that will support the Bell in its new location. (Image courtesy of demianwilburarchitects)

 

The new Peace Pavilion for the Oak Ridge International Friendship Bell will be dedicated in a ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, September 20, at the bell’s new site in A.K. Bissell Park. The bell’s sound will resonate for the first time from its new location that evening, from a pavilion designed to project harmony, stability, innovation, and peace, a press release said.

“We would not be where we are today without the passion of Shigeko Uppuluri and her son, Ram Uppuluri, who initiated the project by connecting us with a visionary architect, Ziad Demian, who embraced not only the challenge of an innovative design but an entire city,” said Alan Tatum, who co-chaired the International Friendship Bell Citizens Advisory Committee with Pat Postma.

In the press release, Postma said that the architect’s first elegant and contemporary designs introduced a different way of thinking about what was possible for the new bell housing. That, and the decision to move the bell to a new location will make it more visible and accessible to the community, with added benefits of gardens and gathering spaces on benches around the bell, she said.

“This accomplishment and the fundraising it required was not just ambitious,” Postma said. “It was probably audacious, but Oak Ridge has a way of stepping up. Oak Ridgers are willing to support exceptional projects that speak for who we are as a city.” [Read more…]

Update: One injured after vehicle crashes into laundromat

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At least one person was injured after a vehicle was reported to have crashed into the Maytag Laundry near South Illinois Avenue in central Oak Ridge on Tuesday evening, Sept. 18, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

At least one person was injured after a vehicle was reported to have crashed into the Maytag Laundry near South Illinois Avenue in central Oak Ridge on Tuesday evening, Sept. 18, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 12:30 p.m. Sept. 19.

At least one person was injured after a vehicle crashed into the Maytag Laundry near South Illinois Avenue in central Oak Ridge on Tuesday.

The crash was reported at the Tulsa Road business around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. The cause of the crash wasn’t immediately clear. It also wasn’t clear if more than one person was injured.

The man who was injured was transported from the crash in an ambulance.  [Read more…]

Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries opens in Oak Ridge

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Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries opened Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, on South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge. It's the fifth Hwy 55 restaurant in Tennessee, and it will add 35 jobs to the Oak Ridge community, the company said in a press release.

Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries opened Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, on South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge. It’s the fifth Hwy 55 restaurant in Tennessee, and it will add 35 jobs to the Oak Ridge community, the company said in a press release.

 

Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries opened Monday on South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

It’s the fifth Hwy 55 restaurant in Tennessee, and it will add 35 jobs to the Oak Ridge community, the company said in a press release.

Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries is an All-American, retro-themed diner, the press release said.

“Located at 441 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge, Hwy 55 will provide residents and visitors with an inviting dining experience featuring fresh, never-frozen burgers, premium sliced cheesesteaks piled high on steamed hoagies, and frozen custard made in-house every day,” the press release said. “With its open-grill design, the kitchen’s dedication and care when handcrafting meals is front and center.” [Read more…]

Riverside Drive in Clinton closing for bridge replacement

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Visual of the location of the new bridge over the Clinch River connecting downtown Clinton to South Clinton. (Image via Clinton Mayor Scott Burton/Facebook)

Visual of the location of the new bridge over the Clinch River connecting downtown Clinton to South Clinton. (Image via Clinton Mayor Scott Burton/Facebook)

 

Blalock Construction has notified the City of Clinton that Riverside Drive will be closed between South Charles G. Seivers Boulevard (State Route 61) and Meadowbrook Street, beginning early Tuesday morning, September 18, a press release said.

For the next three years, motorists trying to reach the Riverside/Riverbend areas will need to use one of four alternate routes: Meadowbrook Street, Willow Street, Elm Street, or Redbud Drive, the press release said.

Attempting to make a left turn onto any of these four streets may present a challenge during afternoon hours, when school and work traffic is at its peak, the press release said. To help accommodate this, the City of Clinton is currently upgrading the traffic signal at Willow Street/Sunset Road, the release said. [Read more…]

Low-flying helicopters part of emergency exercise Wednesday

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There will be an emergency exercise on Wednesday, and it will include low-flying helicopters, a press release said.

The emergency exercise is being conducted by emergency responders from the U.S. Department of Energy and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, along with state and local emergency management personnel.

“The public may observe emergency responders simulating response activities in the area surrounding the Oak Ridge Reservation,” a press release said. “Additionally, low-flying National Guard helicopters will be performing training in the area. The helicopters will be flying in the Melton Hill Lake area near ORNL. These activities are part of the exercise.” [Read more…]

City identifies man who died in crash between mower, pickup

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Note: This story was last updated at 11:20 a.m. Sept. 18.

The Oak Ridge Police Department has identified the man who died while driving a commercial mower on South Illinois Avenue on Thursday afternoon as Danny Palmer.

The crash between the commercial mower being operated by Palmer, 75, and a GMC pickup truck was reported near Summit Place on South Illinois Avenue at about 2 p.m. Thursday.

Preliminary findings indicate that the pickup truck hit the mower, which was in the roadway at the time of the crash, the ORPD said. [Read more…]

Mower operator killed in crash on South Illinois

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The Oak Ridge Police Department investigates a crash between a pickup truck and a riding lawn mower on South Illinois Avenue south of Lafayette Drive/Scarboro Road on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 13, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Oak Ridge Police Department investigates a crash between a pickup truck and a riding lawn mower on South Illinois Avenue south of Lafayette Drive/Scarboro Road on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 13, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The operator of a commercial mower died after a vehicle struck it on South Illinois Avenue at about 2 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.

The crash was near Summit Place, just south of Lafayette Drive/Scarboro Road in south Oak Ridge.

The name of the mower operator will not be released at this time, pending notification of family, the Oak Ridge Police Department said in a statement. The driver of the other vehicle, a GMC pickup truck, was not injured. [Read more…]

You can comment on DOE landfill

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You can comment on the proposed new federal landfill in Bear Creek Valley during a public information session in Oak Ridge today (Thursday, September 13).

The landfill would be called the Environmental Management Disposal Facility, and it would be 2.2 million cubic yards on land owned by the federal government. It would be used by the U.S. Department of Energy to dispose of waste from the Oak Ridge Reservation.

The public information session is scheduled from 4:30-6 p.m. Thursday at the DOE Information Center in east Oak Ridge at 1 Science.gov Way. The meeting is hosted by DOE, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

The purpose of the meeting is to share information about the proposed plan and hear public comments, according to a public notice sent to Oak Ridge Today on Wednesday afternoon. [Read more…]

Anderson County ‘visioning’ workshop is next week

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Gary Human

Gary Human

 

Submitted

Anderson County has a rich history, from coal mining to pearling, and the rise from agricultural infancy to become a world-leading technological powerhouse.

But what about Anderson County’s future? What is your vision—as a citizen, business leader, or elected official—for Anderson County?

Come share your ideas at a “Visioning Workshop” from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 20, in the Club Room at the Clinton Community Center, 101 Hicks Street. Sandwiches will be provided during the event, which was originally scheduled to be at the Anderson Courthouse, a press release said. [Read more…]

Council approves initial bond resolution for Preschool, Senior Center

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A rendering of the new Oak Ridge Preschool at Scarboro Park. (Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge/Studio Four Design)

A rendering of the new Oak Ridge Preschool at Scarboro Park. (Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge/Studio Four Design)

 

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday unanimously approved an initial bond resolution of up to $16.5 million to build a new Oak Ridge Preschool and Oak Ridge Senior Center, and redevelop Scarboro Park.

It’s not the final bond resolution for the projects. The initial bond resolution approved in a 7-0 vote on Monday sets a ceiling amount for the debt issuance. A second resolution, a bond issuance resolution, will be brought to City Council, possibly at the October 8 meeting, for the actual bond issuance amount.

The City of Oak Ridge has opened the bidding period for the two projects, which have a total estimated cost of roughly $16 million. That announcement was made Friday.

But the city doesn’t know yet what the actual bids will be. And it’s not clear how steel tariffs might affect the projects, Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said. [Read more…]