Oak Ridge Today

CNS announces employee-directed community grants

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A grant from the CNS Y-12 Community Investment Fund has been awarded to Oak Ridge Schools to provide additional opportunities for at-risk students to engage in reading instruction. (Photo by Y-12)

A grant from the CNS Y-12 Community Investment Fund has been awarded to Oak Ridge Schools to provide additional opportunities for at-risk students to engage in reading instruction. (Photo by Y-12)

 

$125,000 invested in local nonprofits across East Tennessee

Twenty-nine nonprofits from across East Tennessee have received a total of $125,000 in grants from the Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, or CNS, Y-12 Community Investment Fund. The recipients were announced this month at a reception at the New Hope Center at Y-12 National Security Complex.

The CNS Y-12 Community Investment Fund is managed by the East Tennessee Foundation, and it was created in 2014 by CNS. CNS manages and operates the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, where a similar fund is managed by the Amarillo Area Foundation, a press release said.

At Y-12, a committee made up of CNS employees reviewed dozens of grant proposals, conducted staff interviews, and made site visits before recommending funding based on the committee’s four focus areas:  education, senior citizens, veterans, and youth. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge home owner shares energy efficiency success story

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MORE2 Logo“I have won the lottery!” That is an emotional response from one Oak Ridge homeowner who recently received a Make Oak Ridge Energy Efficient, or MORE2, home energy makeover.

Ronald Jackson, an Oak Ridge resident for nearly 50 years, said he “could not believe my luck in finding this program.” Jackson, who has lived in his home for 10 years, learned about the MORE2 program from a poster while visiting the Oak Ridge Library and decided it was worth a try to apply. His application was approved, and in recent months, his home has received a new HVAC unit as well as new duct work and insulation—all at no cost to Jackson.

“This program is so wonderful I want to tell everyone about it!” Jackson said in a press release.

The program responsible for his enthusiasm is called MORE2, and it is helping Oak Ridgers lower their home energy use and their electric bills, the press release said. [Read more…]

Tennessee Mountain Writers Conference set for April 6-8

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Carol Aebersold, keynote speaker at the awards banquet, native Oak Ridger, and author of "The Elf on the Shelf." (Submitted photo)

Carol Aebersold, native Oak Ridger, and author of “The Elf on the Shelf.” (Submitted photo)

“Write Here, Write Now” is the theme of the Tennessee Mountain Writers’ 29th Annual Conference, scheduled Thursday through Saturday, April 6-8, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Oak Ridge.

The conference will include writing contests, workshops, networking, manuscript evaluations, publishers, editors, book signings, a bookstore, vendors, and more, a press release said.

Native Oak Ridger Carol Aebersold will be the keynote speaker at the awards banquet, the concluding event of the conference. Aebersold is the award-winning co-author of the acclaimed book “The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition,” as well as several board books.

Aebersold serves as a spokeswoman for the North Pole, traveling nationally—and sometimes internationally—in support of her books, providing kids with a direct line to Santa, the press release said. She is also a co-founder of The Elf on the Shelf’s publishing company, Creatively Classic Activities and Books (CCA and B, LLC), where she serves as owner and partner. Her book “The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition” has been on the best-seller lists of USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly almost yearly since its 2005 launch. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge keeps it close, but Memphis East prevails in state semifinal

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Oak Ridge junior point guard Levert Smith (10), who is 5-foot-9, drives around Memphis East sophomore center Malcolm Dandridge (35), who is 6-foot-8, during a 63-60 loss for the Wildcats during a Class AAA boys' state semifinal game at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro on Friday, March 17, 2017. Smith led Oak Ridge with 14 points and eight assists. (Photo by Kindell Moore)

Oak Ridge junior point guard Levert Smith (10), who is 5-foot-9, drives around Memphis East sophomore center Malcolm Dandridge (35), who is 6-foot-8, during a 63-60 loss for the Wildcats during a Class AAA boys’ state semifinal game at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro on Friday, March 17, 2017. Smith led Oak Ridge with 14 points and eight assists. (Photo by Kindell Moore)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 4 p.m. March 18.

MURFREESBORO—Oak Ridge kept it close, but Memphis East prevailed 63-60 in a state semifinal basketball game in Murfreesboro on Friday.

The season is over for the Wildcats (31-3). The Mustangs, last year’s Class AAA champion, move on to this year’s BlueCross Basketball Championship game against Southwind in Murphy Center at Middle Tennessee State University on Saturday afternoon.

Oak Ridge, which started four seniors, led most of the first half against Memphis East (32-3), which is ranked number two in the nation, according to Wildcats Coach Aaron Green. The Mustangs, a tall team that started two sophomores and two juniors, took their first lead late in the second quarter on a three-point shot by senior Jayden Hardaway with 1:40 remaining in the half.

The two teams traded leads in the third quarter, and Oak Ridge led 44-43 at the end of three.

But Memphis East outscored Oak Ridge 20-16 in the fourth quarter to seal the win. [Read more…]

Slides: See more information on the Oak Ridge Airport project

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Oak Ridge Airport Funding Sources March 15 2017

A Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority committee on Wednesday approved a layout plan for the proposed Oak Ridge Airport. The plan will now be sent to the Federal Aviation Administration for review and approval.

As reported in a Wednesday story, there are additional steps and approvals required. But if all goes well, construction on the airport could start in late 2018 or early 2019, officials said Wednesday.

Slides included in this story include more information about the proposed airport. We encourage you to read the earlier story as well.

The airport could cost an estimated $35 million to $40 million, officials said Wednesday. It would be funded with a mix of federal funding, state aeronautical commission funding, and local funding from the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority, or MKAA. [Read more…]

New Sears Hometown Store opens in Oak Ridge

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A Sears Hometown Store has opened in Oak Ridge. The store is at 142 Fairbanks Road, near the corner of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Florida Avenue. Pictured above in December 2016 are owner Leslie Agron, left; employee Dave Hetes, second from left; Bill Heavilin, right; and Lore Heavilin, second from right. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A Sears Hometown Store has opened in Oak Ridge. The store is at 142 Fairbanks Road, near the corner of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Florida Avenue. Pictured above in December 2016 are owner Leslie Agron, left; employee Dave Hetes, second from left; Bill Heavilin, right; and Lore Heavilin, second from right. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A Sears Hometown Store has opened in Oak Ridge. The store is at 142 Fairbanks Road, near the corner of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Florida Avenue.

Sears Hometown Store will celebrate its grand opening on Friday, March 17, and Saturday, March 18. During the grand opening, customers can enjoy an additional discount of 10 percent off almost everything in the store* plus special giveaways, including a $10 gift card for the first 20 customers on Friday, March 17.

Unlike most retail concepts, Sears Hometown Stores combine the value, selection, and services associated with larger retail stores, but they are owned and operated by a member of the local community, a press release said.

“As a native Oak Ridger, I am very happy to be bringing Sears back to Oak Ridge,” said Sears Hometown Store owner Leslie Agron. [Read more…]

Harlem Ambassadors basketball show to benefit Habitat for Humanity

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Habitat for Humanity Harlem Ambassadors March 17 2017

Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County will host the Harlem Ambassadors basketball show at Oak Ridge High School on Friday evening. Oak Ridge firefighters have volunteered to be the opposing team.

The show is a benefit for Habitat for Humanity. It starts at 7 p.m. Friday, March 17, at Wildcat Arena.

“Please join us for an evening of entertainment, fun, and zany basketball,” organizers said. “The Ambassadors also bring the message ‘Stay in School, Stay off Drugs and Don’t be a Bully.'”

Tickets are only $5, and there will be plenty of food at the concession stand, organizers said. Advance tickets are available in Oak Ridge at TNBank at 401 South Illnois Avenue and at the Habitat ReStore at 105 Randolph Road. They can be purchased at the door on Friday night. [Read more…]

Chief Deputy Lucas running for Anderson County sheriff

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Mark Lucas

Mark Lucas

 

Anderson County Chief Deputy Mark Lucas announced Tuesday that he is running for sheriff in the 2018 election.

Anderson County Sheriff Paul White is retiring at the end of his third term, which ends in August 2018, a press release said.

The press release said Lucas is a veteran law enforcement officer with 39 years of experience. He began his career as a reserve deputy with Knox County in 1978. He joined the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department a year later and worked as a dispatcher and a jailer before being assigned to patrol in 1980. Lucas was promoted to patrol supervisor in 1986 and held that position until 1990. From 1990 until 1994, he worked for the Clinton Police Department, where he also served as patrol supervisor.

In 1994, Lucas was appointed chief deputy with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, and he has held that position for more than 22 years. He has the unique distinction of serving as chief deputy under three different sheriffs, the press release said.

The release said Lucas has received extensive training in many areas of law enforcement throughout his career including command-level management and supervision.

“From community policing to criminal investigations, jail management, and court security, as well as communications, incident command, and emergency management, Mark has a vast knowledge of public safety operations,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Council postpones vote on preschool site until after Scarboro meeting

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The new preschool could be located at Elm Grove Park in east Oak Ridge or Scarboro Park in central Oak Ridge, pictured above on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017, and the city's school board expects to recommend one of the two sites on Monday, Feb. 27, a school official said Friday. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The new preschool could be located at Scarboro Park in central Oak Ridge, pictured above on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge City Council has postponed a vote on selecting a site for the new Oak Ridge Preschool until after a meeting in Scarboro next week.

The Oak Ridge Board of Education unanimously selected Scarboro Park, off Carver Avenue in central Oak Ridge, as the site for the new preschool in February.

The Council was expected to vote on that site on Monday.

But after hearing from a few people who had questions about the proposed site, Council agreed in a 4-3 vote to defer its site selection until after a March 23 meeting in Scarboro. Council could now vote during a special meeting on March 27.

Besides Scarboro Park, officials had previously looked at two other options. One, Elm Grove Park in east Oak Ridge, had been identified as the preferred site after a preschool report was published in October 2015. But there has been opposition, including a petition drive, to building the new preschool there. [Read more…]

Visit the Career Coach: Moved inside the Library on Thursday

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Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge

Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge

 

Need to polish your resume, complete an online job application, or find the jobs that match your skill set? The Career Coach, sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development Employment Security Division, will be coming to the Oak Ridge Public Library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 16, April 13, May 18, June 15, and July 20.

Come by any time during those hours and receive job assistance.

For more information on the Career Coach, check out their website at www.getonthecoach.tn.gov. This is a free service for the public, and library memberships are not required for participants.

For more information, call the Library at (865) 425-3455.

Officials break ground on multi-sport facility at Clinton High

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Officials break ground Monday, March 13, 2017, on the $1.6 million multi-sport facility at Clinton High School. (Photo via WYSH Radio in Clinton, an Oak Ridge Today news partner)

Officials break ground Monday, March 13, 2017, on the $1.6 million multi-sport facility at Clinton High School. (Photo via WYSH Radio in Clinton, an Oak Ridge Today news partner)

 

Officials broke ground Monday on the $1.6 million multi-sport facility at Clinton High School.

WYSH Radio in Clinton has posted pictures from the ceremony, which you can see here.

Clinton Dragons Football has also posted pictures, as well as a video. You can see them here.

WYSH Radio, an Oak Ridge Today news partner, has previously reported that the multi-sport facility design calls for a complete replacement of the aging Field House with a two-story structure that has a weight training area and an artificial surface practice field that can be used by the football team, the band, cheerleaders, and the dance team. An additional open area will host the wrestling and volleyball teams. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge man wins regional award for helping wounded, disabled vets

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Photo via WYSH Radio in Clinton, an Oak Ridge Today news partner

Photo via WYSH Radio in Clinton, an Oak Ridge Today news partner

 

Information from WYSH Radio

Steve Brown of Oak Ridge has been named Tennessee Valley Region Volunteer of the Year by Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, or PHWFF, for wounded and disabled veterans. The region comprises the whole state of Tennessee.

Brown is a longtime leader of Trout Unlimited in Tennessee and of the Clinch River Chapter TU, a partner organization of the Knoxville program of PHWFF since its beginning in 2012. He serves as Tennessee’s representative to the National Leadership Council of Trout Unlimited.

In nominating Brown for the honor, Steve Thompson, Knoxville program lead and deputy regional coordinator for PHWFF, wrote: “Since the inception of the Knoxville program, there have been a few critical components to the success of the program. One of those components is Steve Brown. Since October of 2012 Steve has been to almost every single outing, class, meeting or get-together and has played a pivotal role in the healing of many of our veterans. Steve has always given of himself more than most and as a veteran himself is very relatable to all of our participants. [Read more…]