Oak Ridge Today

McCulley, supervisor of court deputies, dies of cancer

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Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Corporal John McCulley, who was supervisor of court deputies, died Friday after a courageous battle with cancer, Sheriff Paul White said Monday. McCulley was 51.

McCulley began his law enforcement career with the Sheriff’s Department in April 1991. He served first as a corrections deputy and worked in court security the last several years, White said. He was promoted to corporal in November 2011 and was supervisor of the court deputies.

“John was a big man with a big smile and a big heart,” White said. “He always had a smile for everyone.”

Known as “Joe” to his family and “Big John” to his law enforcement friends, John is preceded in death by his father, Johnny McCulley; his late wife, Mary McCulley; and brother, Lynn McCulley. [Read more…]

Deputy goes ‘above and beyond’: Replaces student’s lost items on Safety Patrol trip

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Shawn Bannach and Norwood Elementary School Student on Safety Patrol Trip June 5 2016

Anderson County Deputy Shawn Bannach went above and beyond for a Norwood Elementary School student on Sunday, replacing her lost gift bag items during a AAA Safety Patrol Trip in Washington, D.C., school officials said. (Photo used with permission of Norwood Elementary School)

 

Note: This story was updated at 4:15 p.m. June 6.

Anderson County Deputy Shawn Bannach went above and beyond for a Norwood Elementary School student on Sunday, replacing her lost gift bag items during a AAA Safety Patrol Trip in Washington, D.C., school officials said.

“We had a student very upset because she waited in line for over an hour at the National Zoo to buy a stuffed animal, a mug, and a tumbler on our AAA Safety Patrol trip,” Norwood Elementary School said in a Facebook post. “She lost her gift bag and asked Officer Bannach from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department to please let her know if someone turned it in. The next time we saw him, he handed her a bag with the items she had lost.”

Bannach had gone and bought the same things at the gift shop, the school said. [Read more…]

Dodson—teacher, community leader—running for City Council

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Jim Dodson

Jim Dodson

Jim Dodson, an Oak Ridge art teacher and community leader, has announced that he will be a candidate for Oak Ridge City Council in the November 8 election.

Dodson, a teacher with Oak Ridge Schools for 29 years, has a strong record of community service and leadership on several civic boards and organizations, a press release said.

“I will definitely work alongside my Oak Ridge and East Tennessee neighbors for a better quality of life in our community,” Dodson said. “I hope to give our residents a voice on City Council and continue to promote excellent educational opportunities for all our kids and young adults.

“I will also continue to help recruit businesses and families to Oak Ridge as the place to relocate. I look forward to working as an Oak Ridge City Council member to maintain and improve all city services while providing safe and thriving neighborhoods. It’s my vision that what Oak Ridge has to offer should not be a secret anymore.” [Read more…]

Small business owner seeks to retain seat on County Commission

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Angeleque McNutt

Angeleque McNutt

Anderson County Commissioner Angeleque McNutt wants to keep her seat on County Commission, and she has announced that she is a candidate in the August 4 election.

McNutt, who owns Rainbow Florist in Oak Ridge, was appointed to replace Robin Biloski on Anderson County Commission when Biloski resigned on August 3 because she and her husband Bill moved to Madeira Beach, Florida.

McNutt now represents District 8, one of two commissioners in that district (Myron Iwanski is the other commissioner). The district includes Emory Valley, Hendrix Creek, and Woodland in Oak Ridge.

McNutt’s appointment to the seat by the County Commission in August 2015 was through the August 2016 county general election. [Read more…]

Secret City Festival to feature World War II re-enactment

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Secret City Festival World War II Re-enactment 2015

A Flak 88 firing during a Battle of Normandy re-enactment at the 2015 Secret City Festival in Oak Ridge. (Photo by Rob Welton)

 

The Secret City Festival next week will feature a World War II re-enactment.

The re-enactment of the Battle of Bloody Gulch will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 11, at Alvin K. Bissell Park in central Oak Ridge. It’s presented by NSPS, or National Strategic Protective Services.

Here is some of the equipment scheduled to be involved, according to a press release:

  • Returning from the 2015 reenactment, the only fully live firing German Flak 88 in the United States, which will perform firing demonstrations.
  • Authentic Allied vehicles including jeeps, armored halftracks, scout cars, and anti-tank artillery.
  • Authentic Axis vehicles including a German Stug III Ausf G assault tank, Panzer III command tank, a Sd. Kfz 251 halftrack, and a M3 Antitank Gun just to name a few.
  • Static display pieces include a 1940 Ford 20mm gun truck with gun, a Russian 1944 T34 main battle tank, a 1943 British 25 pound field howitzer with limber, and more.
  • Re-enactors representing American infantry, German Wehrmacht, assault troops, Fallschirmjagers, and more.

[Read more…]

Lavender Festival on June 18 celebrates herbs, crafts, food, music

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2015_LavenderFestival 33

Several thousand people visit Jackson Square Lavender Festival each year, now in a newly renovated Jackson Square. (Photo by Shawn Millsaps)

 

The 18th annual Lavender Festival on Saturday, June 18, will celebrate herbs, crafts, food, and music.

It’s scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 18 in the renovated Jackson Square, which now features a fountain and pleasant sitting area in the center, a press release said.

The festival will celebrate the “Herb of the Year,” Capsicum, or hot peppers.

New this year, “A Taste of Tennessee Wines” brings wine tasting to Lavender Festival, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The tasting is hosted by Great Valley Wine Trail, which is made up of five independent wineries in East Tennessee. Many of these Tennessee wines earned silver, gold, and concordance gold medals in the Wines of the South Regional Wine Competition in October 2015 at the University of Tennessee, the press release said. Adults over 21 may purchase a $10 tasting ticket, and will receive a free glass and wine tote, and the opportunity to buy bottles of Tennessee wine and meet the winemakers. Customers may enjoy the wine at seating areas at the festival, with lunch served all day by several food trucks, caterers, and restaurants. A portion of the proceeds of the wine tasting will benefit the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Part of Manhattan Avenue to be rebuilt, closed for about three weeks

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Manhattan-Avenue-and-Northwestern-Avenue-June-3-2016

Road work is scheduled to begin Monday, June 6, 2016, on a small portion of Manhattan Avenue between South Purdue Avenue and Northwestern Avenue. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A short section of Manhattan Avenue will be rebuilt, and that section of the street could be closed for about three weeks.

The work is scheduled to start Monday, June 6, on Manhattan Avenue between South Purdue and Northwestern avenues.

Manhattan Avenue will be closed there to through traffic, and alternate routes could be in place for about three weeks, a press release said. Only residents will be allowed access to the roadway and their driveways.

“A road reconstruction is a major project for the City of Oak Ridge, as usually we only mill and resurface streets,” the press release said. “Due to the subsurface failure of this portion of Manhattan Avenue, reconstruction of the roadway is necessary.” [Read more…]

Man dies after two-vehicle crash in west Oak Ridge on Thursday

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Dodge Ram Pickup Fatal Crash on Oak Ridge Turnpike June 2 2016

One man died after a two-vehicle crash on Oak Ridge Turnpike on Thursday evening, June 2, 2016. Authorities said a 2015 Toyota Prius was turning out of the Weigel’s parking lot onto the Oak Ridge Turnpike in west Oak Ridge and pulled into the path of this 2013 Dodge Ram pickup truck, which was hauling a livestock trailer. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 6 p.m.

An Oak Ridge man died after a two-vehicle crash on Oak Ridge Turnpike on Thursday, authorities said.

The crash was reported at about 6:30 p.m. Thursday in front of Weigel’s at 2385 Oak Ridge Turnpike, on the west end of town.

A 2015 Toyota Prius was turning out of the Weigel’s parking lot onto the Oak Ridge Turnpike and pulled into the path of a 2013 Dodge Ram pickup truck hauling a livestock trailer, the Oak Ridge Police Police Department said.

The driver of the Toyota Prius, Lawrence Landau of Oak Ridge, was taken by ambulance to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where he later died, the ORPD said. [Read more…]

Photos by Culiat: Oak Ridge High School graduation, II

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The Oak Ridge High School commencement ceremony was Thursday evening, June 2, 2016, on Blankenship Field. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

The Oak Ridge High School commencement ceremony was Thursday evening, June 2, 2016, on Blankenship Field. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

The Oak Ridge High School commencement ceremony was Thursday evening, June 2, on Blankenship Field. Here are photos by Julio Culiat.

The Oak Ridge High School commencement ceremony was Thursday evening, June 2, 2016, on Blankenship Field. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

The Oak Ridge High School commencement ceremony was Thursday evening, June 2, 2016, on Blankenship Field. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

The Oak Ridge High School commencement ceremony was Thursday evening, June 2, 2016, on Blankenship Field. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

The Oak Ridge High School commencement ceremony was Thursday evening, June 2, 2016, on Blankenship Field. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

[Read more…]

Burglars caught in Butcher Mansion when SWAT team arrives for training, ACSD says

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Gerald Lynn Brummett

Gerald Lynn Brummett

Two burglars were caught inside the former Butcher Mansion when the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department SWAT team arrived for monthly training on Thursday, May 26, authorities said.

The owner of the property allows deputies to conduct training exercises at the home, which is under renovation, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said. The Butcher Mansion is on Whirlwind Point off Old Emory Road in Claxton.

The SWAT team arrived for monthly training at about 7:30 a.m. May 26, Lucas said. They found two people had broken into the home and were preparing to steal several items, including appliances, Lucas said. [Read more…]

After ‘stellar spring,’ Wildcat tennis team honored at banquet

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2016-ORHS-Boys-Tennis-Team

2016 ORHS Boys Tennis Team (From left: Eric Thorton, Jeremy Simmons, Wilder Dodson, Peter Magill, Joshua Bridges, Viet Quach, Christian Thompson, Trystan Bordeau, Jaipal Narula, Archer Marlow, Stuart Dorman, Ethan Brady, and Arthur Nelson. Not pictured: Oumar Diallo and Curtis Rookard)

 

Oak Ridge High School’s 2015-2016 tennis team was honored at its post-season banquet for players and their families on Wednesday, May 18, at the Comfort Inn in Oak Ridge.

“Both of Oak Ridge High School’s tennis teams had a stellar spring,” said ORHS tennis coach David Bowman.

The Wildcats finished second in District 3 with a regular-season record of 7-1. The Lady Wildcats finished third in the district with a 6-2 record for the regular season.

The doubles team of senior Jaipal Narula and junior Viet Quach led the way for the Wildcats in the post-season, capping off 2016 with a TSSAA berth in the Region 2 semifinals, where they played the eventual 2016 state champion doubles team. [Read more…]

Westcott photo exhibit of Oak Ridge during World War II opens Friday

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Ed Westcott and Ray Smith

Ed Westcott, right, was the only official photographer in Oak Ridge during the Manhattan Project in World War II, a top-secret project to build the world’s first atomic bomb. Westcott is pictured above with D. Ray Smith, Y-12 National Security Complex historian and newspaper history columnist. (Photo courtesy D. Ray Smith)

 

An exhibit of more than 50 historic photographs by James Edward “Ed” Westcott, the official photographer of the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge during World War II, will open Friday in Knoxville.

The exhibit is titled “Through the Lens of Ed Westcott: A Photographic History of World War II’s Secret City.” It’s scheduled to be on display from June 3 to August 6 at the University of Tennessee Gallery at 106 South Gay Street in Knoxville.

A First Friday Opening Reception is scheduled from 5-9 p.m. Friday, June 3. Westcott will be in attendance from 6:30-8:30 p.m., a press release said.

There will be a gallery talk with Baldwin Lee, UT art professor emeritus, starting at 7 p.m. Friday. Baldwin will discuss the photos in the exhibition, the press release said.

Here is more information from the press release: [Read more…]