Oak Ridge Today

Council to discuss Rails to Trails, school resource officer program

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The Oak Ridge City Council is pictured above in December 2016. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge City Council will discuss a part of the Rails to Trails program, which could convert a former railway in central Oak Ridge into a bicycle and pedestrian greenway, and the current status of the city’s school resource officer program on Tuesday.

The discussion of the design and acquisition process for the CSX Railroad railway, which is no longer being used, will be led by Jon Hetrick, Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks director, and representatives from Morton, Thomas, and Associates of Kingsport, Tennessee.

The discussion of the current status of the city’s school resource officer program will be led by Oak Ridge Police Chief James Akagi. [Read more…]

Andersonville man dies after jumping into pond while fleeing from deputies

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Ron Walter Austin

Ron Walter Austin

 

An Andersonville man died after jumping into a pond in Claxton while fleeing from Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputies on Thursday night, authorities said.

The man has been identified as Ron Walter Austin, 41.

The chase started at about 11:45 p.m. Thursday when Anderson County Sheriff’s Department narcotics investigators observed what was believed to be a drug transaction between people in two vehicles in a business parking lot near North Charles G. Seivers Boulevard in Clinton, Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said Friday night.

Deputies attempted to stop both vehicles as they left the parking lot, Lucas said. One vehicle did stop, but the other fled from North Charles G. Seivers Boulevard onto Interstate 75, where deputies saw the driver throw out an article out of the car window, Lucas said. [Read more…]

Two Oak Ridge candidates qualify to run for Roane County Commission

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Two Oak Ridge candidates have qualified to run for two seats in District 4 on the Roane County Commission in the August 2 election.

The two Oak Ridge candidates, Charlotte Bowers and Cory Jenkins, are among five candidates who have qualified to run in the election.

The three other candidates are from Oliver Springs. They are James W. Brummett, an incumbent, and Thaxton H. “T.H.” Brown Jr. and Jerry W. White.

Former Roane County Commissioner Steve Kelley, an Oak Ridge resident, had occupied one of the District 4 seats since 2010, and he had been expected to seek re-election in August. But Kelley died in February. [Read more…]

Attempted carjacking charge added in crash that injured officer

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Khristoff Deshawn Lee

Khristoff Deshawn Lee

An attempted carjacking charge has been added to the eight charges already filed against a man accused of injuring an Oak Ridge officer when he fled from police and crashed on South Illinois Avenue last week.

Community Wellness Fair hosted by city, schools on May 16

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Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge

Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge

 

The City of Oak Ridge Wellness Committee and Oak Ridge Schools Coordinated School Health are teaming up to host a Community Wellness Fair. The event will be held on Wednesday, May 16, from noon to 4 p.m. in the Oak Ridge Civic Center. Admission is free and everyone is invited.

The Civic Center is located at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike. Demonstrations, informational booths, and health screenings will be set up inside the gymnasium. According to a press release, topics to be covered include: [Read more…]

ORHS violist earns first chair in Tennessee All-State Orchestra

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Selena Piercy (Photo by Oak Ridge High School Orchestra)

Selena Piercy (Photo by Oak Ridge High School Orchestra)

 

Note: This story was updated at 1 p.m. April 15.

An Oak Ridge High School violist has earned first chair in the Tennessee All-State Orchestra, ORHS Orchestra reported on Twitter.

That means Selena Piercy is the top high school violist in Tennessee, ORHS Orchestra said.

Piercy will be the first chair viola in the All-State Orchestra. This is a first for Oak Ridge High School, according to Oak Ridge Schools.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

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Did you know? Five facts about ‘Calutron Girls’ at Y-12

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Image by Cort Kreer, a graphic designer for the U.S. Department of Energy.

Image by Cort Kreer, a graphic designer for the U.S. Department of Energy

 

Information from U.S. Department of Energy

Did you know? “Calutron Girls” were young women hired to work at the Y-12 site in Oak Ridge during the Manhattan Project in World War II. Many were just out of high school and were tasked with monitoring the calutron, which was the machine that separated enriched uranium isotopes.

Here are some more surprising facts about the “Calutron Girls”, according to DOE: [Read more…]

Soccer: Wildcats have young, winning team

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The 2018 Oak Ridge Wildcats boys soccer team is pictured above. (Submitted photo via Tom Gorman)

The 2018 Oak Ridge Wildcats boys soccer team is pictured above. (Submitted photo via Tom Gorman)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats boys soccer team lost 11 seniors last year, but this year’s young team has a winning 6-2-2 record, Coach Tom Gorman said Tuesday.

Gorman said he has been pleased with the team’s growth. The Wildcats have three seniors and 11 juniors, and only three starters returned from last year.

Despite that turnover, though, the boys have had district wins over Powell and Campbell County, and they will play district games at Halls on Tuesday and at home against Karns on Friday next week. If they win those two district games, they would be the top seed, which would get them through the district championship and into the regional tournament semifinal.

Gorman, who is coaching both boys and girls soccer this year, previously coached the girls team from 2010-2013. [Read more…]

Jail death probed by TBI

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Information from WYSH Radio

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating the death of an inmate at the Anderson County Detention Facility that occurred in March.

Preliminary investigations have not turned up anything suspicious, according to the TBI, but their investigation is ongoing.

Patricia Jones, 53, of Oliver Springs was booked into the jail on March 17 on charges of forgery and theft filed by the Oliver Springs Police Department. Jones was found dead inside her cell the following day, March 18, by a jailer who checked on her after noticing that she had stopped snoring, and found her unresponsive. [Read more…]

Veteran challenging Fleischmann in Republican primary

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Bill Spurlock

Bill Spurlock

 

William E. “Bill” Spurlock, a Chattanooga native and veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, is challenging U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann in the Republican primary in Tennessee’s Third District on August 2. The Third District includes Oak Ridge and its U.S. Department of Energy facilities.

Spurlock, 60, officially announced his candidacy in Chattanooga on Tuesday, April 3.

He has served in the Army, Marine Corps, and the National Guard, completing five combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, the press release said. He is the recipient of the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with a total of more than 50 ribbons and medals earned before recently retiring, as a major, after 34 years of service.

A press release said Spurlock was raised on Lookout Mountain by a single mother, and he attended The Baylor School. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. After three years on active duty in the Marines, he came home to attend the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, earning a bachelor’s degree in business management. [Read more…]

Rocky Top City Manager Foster running for AC register of deeds

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Michael Foster is pictured above. (Submitted photo)

Michael Foster is pictured above. (Submitted photo)

 

Rocky Top City Manager Michael Foster is running for Anderson County register of deeds in the May 1 primary election.

In a press release, Foster said he would bring conservative values and proven, experienced leadership to office.

“I am pleased and honored to announce my candidacy for register of deeds for Anderson County,” Foster said in the press release. “During my time as city manager of Rocky Top, I have gained an understanding of the complexities of city, county, and state government.”

Foster has named his father, Larry Foster, a former director of Anderson County Schools, as his treasurer.

“Conservative principles are real for me,” Michael Foster said in the press release. “I am the only lifelong Republican candidate in this race, and I am the only candidate who has operated within their budget. I promise every resident of our county that I will operate the office without going back to the County Commission for more of the taxpayers’ money.” [Read more…]

Anderson County Mayor Frank running for re-election

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Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank is pictured above. (Submitted photo)

 

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank is running for re-election in the Republican Party primary election on May 1.

“I can say without a doubt that I believe my job is serving people, and I am enormously thankful for the opportunity I have had to work for the people of Anderson County,” Frank said in a press release. “During the coming weeks of the campaign, I look forward to sharing the positive progress we’ve made and the accomplishments we’ve celebrated.”

In the press release, Frank said she has been focused on education, youth development, jobs, and economic opportunity, but has also devoted much time and energy to veterans, senior adults, and animal welfare issues, as well as the issues surrounding opiate addiction. Calling herself solution-minded, Frank said she maintains a commitment to fiscal restraint and business-minded leadership on behalf of Anderson County taxpayers. [Read more…]