Oak Ridge Today

Early morning fire damages duplex, possibly caused by cigarette

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Hillside Road Duplex Fire

A Hillside Road duplex was damaged by fire early Thursday morning by a fire that officials believe was caused by smoking.

 

A Hillside Road duplex was damaged by fire early Thursday morning by a fire that officials believe was caused by smoking.

The fire at 4:30 a.m. Thursday at 136 Hillside Road forced the evacuation of a father and son. Neither of the residents were injured, and firefighters were able to rescue a pet cat, a City of Oak Ridge press release said.

Fire was visible from the rear of the residence when the Oak Ridge Fire Department arrived, the press release said. Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading into the adjacent residence.

[Read more…]

Council to consider reviewing, investigating ORPD in special meeting Friday

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Oak Ridge City Council on Feb. 9, 2015

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday, Feb. 9, agreed to a third-party review of turnover and morale in the Oak Ridge Police Department but rejected requests for two other probes. On Friday, March 27, the Council could consider reviewing or investigating the ORPD—there has been a dispute over which term to use—placing the police chief on administrative leave, or accepting a proposal from the Municipal Technical Advisory Service to conduct a 30-day review. (File photo)

 

The Oak Ridge City Council will consider whether to review or investigate the Oak Ridge Police Department during a special meeting on Friday, March 27. The Council will also consider whether to place the police chief on administrative leave during the investigation, if one is conducted.

City Council members Trina Baughn and Rick Chinn called for the special meeting earlier this month, and it was set for this Friday, March 27. Baughn and Chinn asked to set the parameters of an investigation and possibly select an investigator during the special meeting. They also asked to discuss and possibly vote on placing the police chief on administrative leave during the investigation.

Once it became clear that the special meeting would be called, Council members Ellen Smith and Charlie Hensley asked to consider selecting a reviewer to conduct the police review, as opposed to an investigation, approved in February. [Read more…]

Main Street Oak Ridge signs first anchor lease, other leases could follow

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Main Street Oak Ridge

Main Street Oak Ridge would redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall as a mixed-use project that could include retailers, restaurants, residential units, and possibly a hotel. The existing space between the two remaining anchors, Belk and JCPenney, would be demolished, although those two stores would remain.

 

Note: This story was last updated at 10:15 a.m. March 27.

The developers who want to convert the former Oak Ridge Mall into Main Street Oak Ridge signed their first anchor store lease last week, an executive said Thursday.

And three to five more leases could be signed in the next month or so, said Tim Sittema of Crosland Southeast, the North Carolina company that has proposed the roughly 60-acre redevelopment.

Main Street Oak Ridge would redevelop the mall as a mixed-use project that would include retailers, restaurants, residential units, and possibly a hotel. The existing space between the two remaining anchors, Belk and JCPenney, would be demolished, although those two stores would remain. [Read more…]

ORPD responds to reports of lockdown, active shooter; no shooter found

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Oak Ridge Police Department Logo

The Oak Ridge Police Department responded to a Jackson Square office that had been locked down on Thursday morning because of reports of an active shooter, but officers could find no signs of one, a press release said.

The office lockdown was reported at about 11:10 a.m. Thursday, March 26, at the Jacobs Engineering offices on Broadway Avenue. The ORPD received several calls that the offices were locked because of an active shooter, the release said. [Read more…]

Big day: Main Street Oak Ridge, Manhattan Project Park on Thursday’s agenda

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Main Street Oak Ridge Presentation

Pictured above during a presentation on Main Street Oak Ridge last week are Crosland Southeast partner James Downs, right; Barry James, Crosland Southeast senior vice president, center; and Houston E. Daugherty, Cannon and Cannon vice president.

 

A vote that could help Main Street Oak Ridge, the redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall, is on Thursday’s agenda. So is an open house on the new Manhattan Project National Historical Park.

They are among two of the biggest projects in Oak Ridge in years, and both are considered key parts of an economic renaissance that also includes new business development along Oak Ridge Turnpike and South Illinois Avenue, a new Kroger Marketplace shopping center, the proposed multi-billion-dollar Uranium Processing Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex, and the announcement by metal powder manufacturing company CVMR this month that it will move its operations from Toronto to Oak Ridge, investing $313 million and adding 620 jobs.

A rezoning has been requested for Main Street Oak Ridge. It will be considered by the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission during a meeting that starts at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26, in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Courtroom. The Planning Commission will also consider a planned unit development, or PUD, master plan for the project. [Read more…]

Planning to preserve history of K-25, which could be part of national park

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K-25 Building Aerial View

Now demolished, the former mile-long, U-shaped K-25 Building, pictured above, was once used to enrich uranium for atomic weapons and commercial nuclear power plants. Located in west Oak Ridge, the site could become part of a new Manhattan Project National Historical Park. There is a separate effort to preserve K-25’s history; that work could be incorporated into the new park. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy)

 

It was once the world’s largest building under one roof and part of the one of the largest industrial projects ever, a top-secret program to build the world’s first atomic weapons in World War II.

Today the building is gone—demolition was completed in December 2013—but the stories of what took place inside the former mile-long, U-shaped K-25 Building could live on in a replica equipment building, viewing tower, and history center.

And K-25 could become part of a new Manhattan Project National Historical Park approved by Congress in December and signed into law by President Barack Obama on December 19. The 14-page bill was the culmination of 15 years of work, said Colin Colverson, Manhattan Project Park lead in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office.

The law recognizes the Manhattan Project as one of the most significant events in U.S. history, with assets and history that must be preserved. It’s considered one of the top scientific achievements of the 20th century, and Oak Ridge residents still marvel at how quickly the three local sites (K-25, X-10, and Y-12) were built and began operating in all-out race to build an atomic bomb before Germany. [Read more…]

Spring Cleaning at future home of Coal Creek Miners Museum

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Coal Creek Miners Museum Building

The proposed remodel of the building that will house the Coal Creek Miners Museum in Rocky Top. (Submitted photo)

 

The Coal Creek Miners Museum Board of Directors, volunteers, and the City of Rocky Top have been working hard to obtain funding for the remodel of the new Coal Creek Miners Museum building, a press release said.

Before the holidays, they applied for an Appalachian Resource Commission grant and applied to two other private foundations for funds. They are still waiting to hear whether or not they will receive any funding, the release said.

In the meantime, they are planning a Spring Cleaning at the future home of the Coal Creek Miners Museum. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge joins statewide effort to plant 50,000 trees

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Oak Ridge Tree Day Group

The City of Oak Ridge participated in the 50K Tree Day on Saturday, March 14, a statewide planting throughout Tennessee with the goal of planting 50,000 trees in one hour. (Submitted photo)

 

The City of Oak Ridge participated in the 50K Tree Day on Saturday, March 14, a statewide planting throughout Tennessee with the goal of planting 50,000 trees in one hour.

With the help of 61 volunteers, including students from Oak Ridge High School, members of Keep Anderson County Beautiful, and other community supporters, volunteers were able to plant about 400 trees at the disc golf course on Tuskegee Drive. The variety of Tennessee native trees planted included elderberry, silky dogwood, staghorn sumac, shumard oak, and ninebark.

Purchasing Department hosts inaugural Vendor Breakfast

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Purchasing Vendor Registry

Pictured from left are Anderson County Chamber of Commerce’s Norm Nelson, Anderson County Purchasing Department employees Karen Whaley, Toni Romero and Sheila Davis, Purchasing Agent Pamela Cotham, Mayor Terry Frank, and Vendor Registry’s Brian Strong. (Photo courtesy of Anderson County government)

 

CLINTON—On Tuesday, Anderson County Purchasing Agent Pamela Cotham and the Anderson County Purchasing Department hosted the inaugural Vendor Breakfast event.

Inspired by the City of Knoxville’s vendor events, the program was designed to educate local people and businesses on how to do business with Anderson County government, a press release said. Anderson County Purchasing partnered with both the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce and Vendor Registry to help spread the word, and also to answer questions. [Read more…]

ORPD search for man charged with attempted first-degree murder

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Asante Devon Harris

Asante Devon Harris

The Oak Ridge Police Department is searching for a man considered armed and extremely dangerous after officers responded to a report of gunfire in the Scarboro neighborhood on Monday, authorities said.

The gunfire was reported at about 9:45 a.m. Monday, March 23, in the 200 block of South Dillard Avenue, the ORPD said.

Officers established a crime scene and recovered evidence that indicated several shots were fired at a person by Asante Devon Harris, 23, of Oak Ridge, the Police Department said. [Read more…]

Habitat for Humanity to dedicate home in honor of Myricks on March 28

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Tim and Teresa Myrick Home Build

Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County has built a new home on Valley View Lane in Heiskell in honor of longtime volunteers Tim and Teresa Myrick, pictured at right. A family of five will live in the four-bedroom, 1,200-square-foot home. From left, they are Alexia, Amanda Cook, Edward Brown (back), Eddie (front), and Ethan.

 

Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County: The House That Love Built is complete!

Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County will host a dedication of the house built in Heiskell in honor of Tim and Teresa Myrick on Saturday, March 28. The dedication service will start at 10:15 a.m. will be held at South Clinton Baptist Church at 1000 Clinch Avenue in Clinton.

The church faces Clinton Highway and is located near East Wolf Valley Road. The house is located about six miles from the church at 119 Valley View Lane and will be open for touring from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

“The Honorary Committee, Board of Directors, and staff of HFHAC invite the public to join us in this very special celebration,” a press release said. [Read more…]

St. Mary’s opens new soccer field with first-ever home match

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St. Mary's School

St. Mary’s School of Oak Ridge is officially opening its soccer field today (Tuesday, March 24).

The opening ceremony starts at 5:15 p.m. today with a blessing of the field and ribbon-cutting ceremony. After the ceremony, at 5:30 p.m., St. Mary’s Varsity Coed Soccer team will play the Paideia Academy in its first-ever home soccer match. [Read more…]