Organizers announced Tuesday that the North Boundary Trail hike that had been scheduled for Saturday, March 14, has been postponed.
“Unfortunately, the weather is not going to cooperate,” a statement from the City of Oak Ridge said. “We will reschedule this event at a later date.”
The six-mile hike has been organized by Oak Ridge municipal and school committees: the City of Oak Ridge Wellness Committee and Oak Ridge Coordinated School Health.
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 Monday, March 9, the Council did not consider a proposal from the Municipal Technical Advisory Service to conduct the 30-day review, but members did call for a special meeting on Friday, March 27, to consider a review or investigation. (File photo)
Note: This story was last updated at 8:20 p.m.
Despite concerns about the timing, the Oak Ridge City Council later this month will consider steps that could be used to help review or investigate—there has been a dispute over which word to use—the turnover, morale, and administrative policies in the Oak Ridge Police Department.
City Council members Trina Baughn and Rick Chinn requested the special meeting, and they asked that it be held at 6 p.m. Friday, March 27. They said the meeting could be used to discuss and vote on the parameters of an investigation and possibly select an investigator. The two members also want the Council to consider the merits, and possibly vote on, placing Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi on administrative leave while the investigation is ongoing.
Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch expressed concern about having the special meeting that week because officials from the National Park Service and the U.S. Department of Energy are expected to be in town. Gooch, who would prefer to discuss the issues in a regular meeting, said he thought it would be a mistake to have a special meeting like this that could interfere with the visit by NPS and DOE officials. [Read more…]
The Belk store at the Oak Ridge City Center, which could be redeveloped as Main Street Oak Ridge, is pictured above on March 2.
Leasing, financing, and pre-construction work on the Main Street Oak Ridge project is progressing as planned, a developer said in late February, and a change to the city’s zoning ordinance approved on Monday will help the redevelopment.
James Downs, Crosland Southeast partner, said his company hopes to start construction late in the second quarter of 2015. It’s part of a plan to have a grand opening in the fall of 2016.
Survey crews from Cannon and Cannon have completed a boundary survey of the 60-acre site, the former Oak Ridge Mall, and field work is under way, said Ray Evans, the city’s retail consultant. [Read more…]
Note: This story was updated at 10:20 a.m. March 10.
The Oak Ridge City Council has postponed a vote on a contract to install a stoplight at the Oak Ridge Turnpike in front of Oak Ridge High School. The light could eliminate the need for a crossing guard.
City officials had said the light could be installed by August 2015, but the postponement of the contract vote to the April meeting will likely delay the completion date, possibly until after school starts later this year.
The installation could cost roughly $177,000. It would be paid for using unspent money from the Special Programs Fund, the fund set up for traffic, pedestrian, and bicycle safety projects using money from the traffic cameras that were removed last year. [Read more…]
Sophomores release balloons as other football players watch during a community candlelight vigil at Oak Ridge High School on Sunday for student-athlete Joey Kocak, who died at home on Wednesday. (Photo by Julio Culiat)
Note: This story was updated at 4:32 p.m.
The Oak Ridge community honored sophomore James Joseph “Joey” Kocak during a candlelight vigil at Oak Ridge High School on Sunday.
Friends and coaches shared their memories of Kocak, who had played on the football and basketball teams this year, during the candlelight vigil at Ben Martin Track at ORHS.
They encouraged the large crowd that attended to preserve their precious memories of Kocak, a 16-year-old sophomore who passed away at his home on Wednesday, March 4.
“I really hope that this isn’t the last time we’ll honor him,” said Mollie Turner.
Friends and coaches recalled Kocak’s memorable smirk, his playful moments, and his high-pitched singing on the back of the bus, belting out tunes like “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” [Read more…]
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 Monday, March 9, the Council will consider a proposal from the Municipal Technical Advisory Service to conduct the review, which will also include administrative policies. (File photo)
Note: This story was updated at 1:10 p.m.
The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday night will consider a proposal to use the Municipal Technical Advisory Service to review turnover, morale, and administrative policies in the Oak Ridge Police Department.
The Council will also consider a contract to install a stoplight on Oak Ridge Turnpike in front of the Oak Ridge High School.
Also on tonight’s agenda is a resolution to appoint members of a joint city-school committee that will study options for repairing, replacing, or moving the Oak Ridge Preschool.
And Council members will consider a zoning ordinance amendment that could help the Main Street Oak Ridge project, which will redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall. [Read more…]
James Joseph “Joey” Kocak
There will be a community candlelight vigil for student-athlete Joey Kocak (#79) at 7 p.m. today (Sunday, March 8) at Ben Martin Track at Oak Ridge High School.
Kocak was 16 and a sophomore at ORHS. He died at home on March 4.
Kocak was the youngest of four children, and he was also a musician and loved the outdoors, his family said in his obituary. Kocak had been on both the football and basketball teams this year.
The Kocak family will be receiving friends on Monday, March 9, at St. Mary’s Church from 5-7:30 p.m., followed by the memorial service. A reception will be held at St. Mary’s gym, immediately following the services.
Oak Ridge Wildcat Football is asking the community to attend the candlelight vigil on Sunday evening. The vigil is hosted by the Oak Ridge Wildcat Football staff and boosters.
Senior guard Rachel Griffith (22) of Oliver Springs, who scored 15 points, looks for a shot during a 63-45 loss to Clarkrange in a Class A state tournament semifinal game in Murfreesboro on Saturday. (Photo by Kindell Moore)
Note: This story was last updated at 11:19 p.m.
MURFREESBORO—The Lady Bobcats made it to the final four, but they fell short of advancing to the state championship game, losing to Clarkrange 63-45 in a state semifinal game in Murfreesboro on Saturday.
The Lady Bobcats (29-7) were unable to repeat their shooting performance of a day earlier. On Friday, Oliver Springs shot 60 percent from the field in a 67-41 blowout over Decatur County Riverside in a Class A quarterfinal game. But on Saturday, the Lady Bobcats were 32 percent from the field (16 of 50).
The Lady Buffaloes (31-5) got off to a 17-1 start and were up 34-17 at halftime, thanks in part to six three-point shots, or 18 points total. The Lady Bobcats were able to narrow the lead to seven (20-13) on a jumper by senior guard Emily Griffith late in the first quarter, but that was as close as they got.
Oliver Springs, which hadn’t been to the state tournament since 2009, narrowed the lead to 44-33 on a 15-10 run in the third quarter. [Read more…]
Rishi Chatterjee Malakar
Note: This story was updated at 12:18 p.m. March 9.
A California man was arrested by police and questioned by federal agents after he demanded tours of the New Hope Center at the Y-12 National Security Complex and Oak Ridge National Laboratory on Friday evening, authorities said.
The Oak Ridge Police Department responded to the call at about 6:22 p.m. Friday. A man had been found trying to get into the New Hope Center at 602 Scarboro Road through a rear door, Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi said.
An employee at the New Hope Center confronted the man, who demanded a tour of the building, Akagi said.
After he was denied a tour, the man reportedly left the area in a maroon-colored Jeep sport utility vehicle bearing a Texas license plate. [Read more…]
Submitted photo
Keep Anderson County Beautiful is hosting a kick-off event for the Great American Clean-up on Saturday, March 7, from 9 a.m. to noon in front of the Oak Ridge Civic Center.
“If you were provided a free litter grabber and large plastic bags would you take the challenge to help keep your part of Anderson County litter free?” asks Linda Kimmel, co-chair of the event. These materials will be available on Saturday and from KACB for litter pick-ups throughout the Great American Clean-up, which runs from March-May. [Read more…]
Spring is in the air at Nature’s Marketplace, located on the east end of Oak Ridge. The restaurant features freshly made soups, sandwiches, side dishes, and baked goods as well as gourmet market items. Nature’s Marketplace is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. (Submitted photo)
Our driveways are no longer covered in ice, and the first buds of the season are beginning to bloom—there are many reasons to celebrate the approach of spring! Why not observe the change of seasons by dining out to support the less fortunate?
On Monday, March 9, several local restaurants will donate a portion of their sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC.
Restaurants participating on Monday are: [Read more…]
Daniel B. Poneman
Daniel B. Poneman, former deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, has been picked to be president and chief executive officer of Centrus Energy Corporation.
Centrus was formerly known as USEC Incorporated, and it has operations in Oak Ridge.
The selection of Poneman by the Centrus Board of Directors was announced Thursday. Poneman will join Centrus immediately and become the chief executive later this month. He will also be a member of the board. [Read more…]
