Oak Ridge Today

City to present design for converting railroad to trail

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The former CSX railway is pictured near Jefferson Middle School in Oak Ridge on Dec. 30, 2016. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The City of Oak Ridge continues to work on a Rails to Trails project that has been planned for years and will convert 4.6 miles of unused railroad into a greenway for walkers, runners, and bicyclists.

The city will have a drop-in public meeting about the project from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 10, in the Oak Ridge Civic Center Gym. The trail design and next steps will be presented, and the city will seek input from residents. Masks are encouraged at the meeting, the city said.

The greenway along the former CSX railroad will extend from east Oak Ridge past Jefferson Middle School to Y-12 National Security Complex. It will start at Elza Gate at the Oak Ridge Turnpike; run along Belgrade Road, Warehouse Road, Fairbanks Road, and Lafayette Drive; and cross South Illinois Avenue to the Y-12 National Security Complex entrance on Scarboro Road.

“The greenway system brings parkland nearer to all Oak Ridge citizens,” Recreation and Parks Director Jon Hetrick said. “It provides opportunity for motor-less commuting, enjoyable physical exercise, learning experiences about wildlife, and connections to parks, schools, and shopping areas.”

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Oak Ridge Chamber’s Christmas Parade is Saturday, Dec. 11

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Santa plans to participate in the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas Parade. This year’s traditional parade will be held on Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021, beginning at 6 p.m. (Photo credit: Ray Smith.)

 

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce will have its annual Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 11.

This year’s theme is “The 12 Days of Christmas.”

The sponsor of this year’s parade is The Cowperwood Company.

There is no cost to participate.

The Chamber will be accepting parade entries online through Tuesday, December 7. You can register by visiting the Chamber’s website: www.oakridgechamber.org. [Read more…]

Medicaid expansion to be discussed at Tuesday forum

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Medicaid expansion will be discussed during a virtual forum Tuesday. It’s the first of two community forums about expanding Medicaid in Tennessee.

The first forum is scheduled from noon to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 2. It will feature professionals discussing the need for expanding Medicaid, a press release said.

The second forum, scheduled for November 16, will feature legislators discussing ways to achieve this goal, the press release said.

“Failure to expand Medicaid in Tennessee is severely impacting the health and welfare of Tennesseans,” the press release said. It said there are more than 300,000 uninsured Tennesseans, and Tennessee is second in the number of hospital closures and leads the nation in terms of hospital closures per capita. Also, many of the uninsured are essential workers whose lack of insurance places them at increased risk just to care for their families, the press release said. And Tennessee is failing to accept $900 million in federal money that would cover the cost of expansion for more than six years, the release said.

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City hosts Monster Mash Bash Halloween on Thursday

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The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will host Monster Mash Bash, a citywide Halloween event, on Thursday evening. Monster Mash Bash is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, October 28.

“This year’s event will be a literal ‘walk in the park’ beginning between the Oak Ridge Civic Center and the Senior Center on the west side parking area and looping through the Oak Ridge Civic Center Plaza back to the west parking lot,” a press release said. “Bissell Park and the parking lots will close at 2 p.m. and should be vacated at that time. This is to allow our sponsors and vendors to finish getting ready for the event. Parking in the west parking lot in front of the Senior Center will fill first, then the east parking lot by the Library, secondly.”

Event participants will be able to enjoy Halloween scenes, and children ages 4 years to 4th grade will receive treats throughout the park trail and may participate in a stamped scavenger hunt, the press release said. All families wishing to attend this free event will need to register at Eventbrite.com to help ensure there are enough treats and goodies to go around, the release said.

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UT-Battelle donation supports Roane State’s Middle College program

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Roane State Community College President Chris Whaley and Alan Icenhour, deputy director of operations for Oak Ridge National Laboratory, hold a replica of the $34,000 check that ORNL contractor UT-Battelle awarded the Roane State Foundation to help with college expenses for Roane State Middle College students. Also pictured is Roane State’s Interim Middle College Director Susan Pearson, Roane State Vice President for Student Learning Diane Ward, Roane State Foundation Executive Director Scott Niermann, Deborah Miller of Roane State’s Grants Development Office, Roane State Foundation Board Member Joy Goldberg, former ORNL Community Relations Manager Wade Creswell, Roane State Foundation Scholarship Specialist Pam Rudnitzki, and several RSCC Middle College students. (Photo submitted by Roane State)

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

The tradition of funding scholarships for Middle College students enrolled in Roane State Community College’s innovative program is going strong and continues to help participants reach long-term goals.

A $34,000 annual contribution from UT-Battelle helps cover tuition and other costs for students from Roane County’s five high schools to attend Middle College. This year, 57 Roane County students are enrolled in the curriculum.

UT-Battelle is the contractor that manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory, located in Roane County, for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. Middle College, now in its sixth year, is a two-year program for high-achieving high school students who want to get a head start on college.

High school juniors enrolled in Middle College take college courses at one of Roane State’s campuses in the mornings and return to their respective high schools in the afternoons. That way, they can graduate from high school at the same time they earn an associate degree from Roane State. Graduates can then transfer to other colleges and enroll as juniors.

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Trunk or Treat at Roane State is Thursday

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Trunk or Treat is at Roane State Community College on Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021. (Submitted photo)

The always popular Trunk or Treat event is back this year at Roane State Community College, scheduled for the evening of Thursday, October 28, a press release said.

Trunk or Treat festivities will begin at 5 p.m. and wrap up around 7 p.m., the press release said. College students, employees, and members of the community are welcome to attend. Admission is free.

The event will take place in the student parking lot next to the O’Brien Theatre on the Roane County campus, located at 276 Patton Lane in Harriman. Signage on campus will direct visitors where to go when they arrive.

Participants will be able to collect candy and other treats as they visit vehicles lined up in the parking area. Many event volunteers will be in costume.

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CORRE has membership meeting Nov. 8

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The Coalition of Oak Ridge Retired Employees will have its annual meeting on Monday, November 8. The meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m. online on Zoom.

CORRE is an organization of retirees that works to improve the welfare of all former employees and surviving spouses of the managing contractors of U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge facilities, a press release said.

The November 8 agenda includes reports about 2021 activities, election of board members and officers, and a report to the CORRE membership from President Dave Whitehead.

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Roane State volleyball wins conference title

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The 2021 Roane State Raiders volleyball team shortly after winning the program’s first-ever conference championship 3-2 over Walters State on Tuesday night, Oct. 19, 2021. (Photo submitted by Roane State)

It came down to the last game of the regular season for the Roane State Raiders volleyball team to become the 2021 Tennessee Community College Athletic Association regular season champion.

In only the program’s second season, the Raiders achieved the unexpected with a come-from-behind, five-set win over five-time defending champion Walters State (19-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-16, and 16-14), a press release said. By winning the regular season crown, the Raiders earned the top seed in the upcoming National Junior College Athletic Association Region VII tournament. It is scheduled for October 29 and 30 at Walters State Community in Morristown.

Led by freshman Mattie Arnett’s 32 kills on 61 attempts, Roane State came back from a 2-1 deficit in what was certainly the program’s most hard-fought and exciting match, the press release said.

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Georgia man died in Monday crash

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One person died after a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike at Wisconsin Avenue late Monday afternoon, Oct. 18, 2021. (Submitted photo)

Steven D. Hinson of Georgia has been identified as the person who died in the Monday afternoon crash on Oak Ridge Turnpike at Wisconsin Avenue.

The Oak Ridge Police Department said the two-vehicle crash remains under investigation and no other details will be released at this time. However, the police department is asking anyone with information that may help investigators to call ORPD at (865) 425-4399. Crime tips can also be submitted online at http://oakridgetn.gov/department/ORPD/Home. Information can be given anonymously, the ORPD said.

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Howl-O-Ween dog costume contest at PetSmart

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There will be a Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest at PetSmart in Oak Ridge on Saturday, October 30.

The contest is presented by the Anderson County Animal Shelter and the County Mayor’s Office, a press release said.

It will begin at 11 a.m. that day. Registration for the contest will begin at 10:15 a.m. under the tent in the parking lot, the press release said.

PetSmart is at 203 Main Street in Oak Ridge.

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RMS RamSat team to discuss cube satellite

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Robertsville Middle School students and mentors assembling the RamSat cube satellite. (Submitted photo)

ORION will welcome the Robertsville Middle School RamSat cube satellite team to a Zoom session on Wednesday evening, October 20.

The Robertsville Middle School CubeSat began its construction in the 2015-2016 school year after Robertsville became the first middle school selected by NASA’s Cube Sat Launch Initiative program. RamSat is a two-unit cube satellite, with dimensions of 20 centimeters by 10 centimeters by 10 centimeters. Its mission is to take pictures of the forests around Gatlinburg, which were destroyed by wildfire in 2016.

RamSat has an educational co-mission to develop a middle school STEM curriculum, a press release said. The mission has been designed and carried out by students, teachers, and mentors. The cube satellite has been dubbed RamSat for the school’s mascot.

The Wednesday Zoom session will start at 7 p.m. It is open to the public. [Read more…]

Missing Goats to perform at Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Event

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From left to right are Tom Beehan, Mary Tuskan, and Steve Reddick. (Submitted photo)

 

ADFAC will host “The Starry Night,” their ninth annual Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Event, in Oak Ridge on Saturday, October 23.

The fundraising event will honor this year’s award recipient, Jim Dodson, and feature music by local band The Missing Goats, a press release said.

“This self described ‘pub band’ features members Tom Beehan, Mary Tuskan, and Steve Reddick as well as guest player Gary Coleman with a repertoire including Irish, Scottish, bluegrass and Appalachian songs,” the press release said. “Band members have a love for Ireland so much so that they have travelled to Ireland for concerts (and a little travel fun along the way) and performed at many local St. Patrick’s Day activities.” [Read more…]