Oak Ridge Today

Former police officer charged with aggravated assault after Roane shooting

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Jeremy Alexander Gambrell

Jeremy Alexander Gambrell

A former police officer was charged with two counts of aggravated assault after he allegedly shot his ex-wife and shot at another man at a home near Blair Road in Roane County on Saturday afternoon, authorities said.

Jeremy Alexander Gambrell, 41, of Harriman, was allegedly armed with a handgun when he went to the home of his ex-wife, Jenny Gambrell, at 142 Bridges Drive on Saturday afternoon, according to arrest warrants filed in Roane County General Sessions Court.

Jeremy’s father David Gambrell told the Roane County Sheriff’s Office that he heard gunshots and saw Jenny on the ground, and Jeremy was next to her holding her hand, the warrants said.

“David stated that Jeremy was apologizing to Jenny, and telling her that he loved her,” the warrants said. [Read more…]

Education Foundation grants support robotics, Lego learning projects

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Jefferson Middle School Master Builders

Two members of the Jefferson Middle School Master Builders team are preparing their robot to solve missions at a FIRST Lego League mission table. (Photo by Yvonne Dalschen)

 

At Linden Elementary School, Lisa Buckner’s third-graders are building robots and Lego floats representing continents in a months-long project aimed at engaging them in learning, problem solving, and creative and critical thinking.

The 38 members of Oak Ridge High School’s Secret City Robotics team are solving real-world problems as they build and program a 120-pound robot to enter FIRST Robotics Competitions as an extra-curricular activity.

Teachers view robots and Lego sets as tools giving Oak Ridge students opportunities to collaborate, design, build, and solve problems as they learn engineering, science, and technology skills, both inside and outside the classroom.

The Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation supported these activities with $18,700 in grants last year to teachers at the Oak Ridge High School, Jefferson and Robertsville middle schools, and Linden Elementary School. The grants included a UT-Battelle donation of $10,000 directed to FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRST Tech Challenge, and FIRST Lego League teams, all extra-curricular programs at the high school and middle schools. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Schools nurse named Tennessee School Nurse Administrator of the Year

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Betsy Jernigan

Betsy Jernigan

Betsy Jernigan of Oak Ridge Schools has been named the Tennessee School Nurse Administrator of the Year.

This honor is awarded annually by the membership of the Tennessee Association of School Nurses, or TASN, to the school nurse administrator who demonstrates excellence in her field, based on the American Nurses Association Scope and Standards for Nurse Administrators, a press release said.

Jernigan (BSN, RN) began her nursing career as a hospital nurse after graduating with a diploma in nursing from East Tennessee Baptist Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee.

After she obtained her BSN from the University of Tennessee, she was offered a part-time position as a school nurse with Oak Ridge Schools, the press release said. She worked as a school nurse for eight years and then was promoted to nurse coordinator as additional nurses were hired. Jernigan served on a state committee to update the state health guidelines for schools. [Read more…]

Robertsville Middle competes at Technology Student Association Regional Conference

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RMS TSA Group

The Robertsville Technology Student Association, or TSA, had an outstanding showing at the Regional Conference held in Knoxville on Saturday, January 24. (Submitted photo)

 

The Robertsville Technology Student Association, or TSA, had an outstanding showing at the Regional Conference held in Knoxville on Saturday, January 24. Middle schools and high schools from across the upper east region participated at the conference, a press release said.

Robertsville Middle School TSA members competed in 12 events, and they brought home 11 trophies. The following RMS students placed in their events: [Read more…]

Fire damages home on Old Harriman Highway

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Old Harriman Highway Fire

A fire early Sunday morning damaged a home on Old Harriman Highway in Roane County. (Photo by Tom Scott)

 

A fire caused heavy damage to a large, one-story house on Old Harriman Highway early Sunday morning.

The fire was reported at 883 Old Harriman Highway at 3:40 a.m. Sunday, March 22.

The house was in the Blair Fire Department’s district. The Oliver Springs Fire Department, the Midtown Fire Department, and the Roane County Office of Emergency Services responded with a total of seven engine/tankers and two rescue units. The Anderson County Emergency Services sent a medic unit, and a Harriman Utilities Board crew cut the power to the house, which was heavily damaged, fire photographer Tom Scott said. [Read more…]

Let the games begin: In It to Win It fundraiser gets test run

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MMC In It to Win It Tic Tac Challenge

In It to Win It Game Master and Assistant Superintendant of Oak Ridge Schools Chris Marczak shakes things up as he attempts to empty the mint containers without using his hands. (Photo by MMC)

 

The Methodist Medical Center Foundation’s fun, new event—“In It to Win It”—is just a week away, but Tic Tacs and rubber bands were already flying when the Games Committee, led by Oak Ridge Schools Assistant Superintendant Chris Marczak, did a test run on Wednesday.

“In It to Win It” features 60-second party games, which take ordinary objects and turn them into challenges between you and your fellow guests. Bring your best sense of balance, coordination, aim, and humor for these creative challenges. [Read more…]

ORNL, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics cooperate on salt-cooled reactors

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ORNL and SINAP Salt-cooled Test Reactors

Representatives from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics (SINAP) met at ORNL to discuss plans for building a salt-cooled test reactor. Pictured in front of ORNL’s molten salt test loop are (from left) David Felde, ORNL; Yang Zou, SINAP; Guanyuan Wu, SINAP; Xiaohan Yu, SINAP; Naxiu Wan, SINAP; Zhimin Dai, SINAP; David Holcomb, ORNL; Kun Chen, SINAP; Kevin Robb, ORNL; Mike Laufer, University of California at Berkeley; Guimin Liu, SINAP; and Weiju Ren, ORNL. (Photo courtesy ORNL)

 

Representatives from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics met at ORNL last week as part of an agreement between the two institutions to work together on the advancement of salt-cooled nuclear reactor technologies.

At the meeting, SINAP staff members were expected to describe their plans for building the first salt-cooled test reactor, and the two sides began planning the next steps in the shared research project.

The Cooperative Research and Development Agreement, or CRADA, between ORNL and SINAP focuses on accelerating scientific understanding and technical development of salt-cooled reactors, specifically fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactors, or FHRs. The project will draw on ORNL’s expertise in fuels, materials, instrumentation and controls, design concepts, and modeling and simulation for advanced reactors, as well as the lab’s experience in the design, construction and operation of the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment, the only molten salt reactor ever built. [Read more…]

Altrusa to award scholarships for women

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Altrusa Scholarships

Altrusa International of Oak Ridge is offering scholarships starting at $1,000 to deserving women to support their pursuit of education and/or training, a press release said.

The Sarah Ketron Scholarship is intended for women who are non-traditional students and have interrupted their studies for work or family obligations and are returning to school to complete their education. It is named in honor of the late Sarah Ketron, Altrusa president in 1973-74. She was for many years a school counselor in Oak Ridge as well as a community leader and volunteer.

The Altrusa Scholarship is available for women who are continuing their education, post-high school, at an institution of higher learning, such as a university, community college, or technical college, the release said. [Read more…]

UCOR accepting proposals for new education mini-grant program

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UCOR Logo

UCOR, the federal government’s cleanup contractor in Oak Ridge, is accepting proposals from area schools for educational grants with a specific goal of enabling new instructional methods in science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM.

UCOR is a partnership between URS and CH2M Oak Ridge LLC.

The UCOR Education Mini-Grants will be awarded directly to teachers and schools for specific projects. All teachers are welcome to apply, but proposals should focus on STEM projects. For instance, a music teacher might apply for a grant for a math-related project within the field of music.

Schools in Roane, Anderson, Loudon, Knox, and Morgan counties are eligible to submit proposals. [Read more…]

Main Street Oak Ridge rezoning, master plan to be considered Thursday

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Main Street Oak Ridge Presentation

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

 

The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission will consider a rezoning request for Main Street Oak Ridge during a Thursday meeting.

The Planning Commission will also consider a planned unit development, or PUD, master plan for the project.

Main Street Oak Ridge is the redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall, now officially known as the Oak Ridge City Center.

The Thursday meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Courtroom. [Read more…]

City sewer line inspections begin Monday

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Sewer Line Inspections Map

The sewer line inspections will take place in the area pictured above.

 

Inspections of the city’s sewer lines will start Monday, March 23.

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department will use a state-of-the-art system that employs a sonar machine that emits a repeating series of tones, similar to a musical scale. In open areas, the sounds can be heard over long distances, a press release said.

“The tones emitted by the machine, while harmless, are low enough in frequency that residents nearby may be able to feel and, in some instances, hear them,” the release said. [Read more…]

3M gets permit to expand Clinton facility

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Food Lion Distribution Center and 3M Company Manufacturing

The 3M Company purchased the former Food Lion Distribution Center on J.D. Yarnell Industrial Parkway in the Eagle Bend Industrial Park in Clinton in December. (Photo courtesy Tim Thompson/Anderson County Economic Development Association)

 

Information from WYSH Radio

Clinton city officials confirmed Friday morning that the 3M Company, which announced late last year that it had purchased the former Food Lion Distribution Center in the Eagle Bend Industrial Park, has obtained a building permit to make roughly $18 million worth of upgrades and improvements to the facility and build a 45,000-square-foot addition.

3M, one of the world’s largest manufacturers, said that product for the oil, gas, and automotive industries will be made at the Clinton facility, but have not said exactly what they will be producing. [Read more…]