Oak Ridge Today

Haslam makes case for Insure Tennessee

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Bill Haslam during Presidential Visit at Pellissippi State

Governor Bill Haslam is pictured above during a visit by President Barack Obama at Pellissippi State Community College on Friday, January 9. (Photo by Rob Welton)

 

Governor says his plan provides health care coverage to more Tennesseans at no cost to the state

NASHVILLE—Tennessee Govenor Bill Haslam on Monday evening addressed a joint convention of the 109th General Assembly as legislators began an extraordinary legislative session to consider his Insure Tennessee plan.

The proposal, a two-year pilot program to provide market-based health care coverage to more than 250,000 Tennesseans who currently don’t have access to health insurance or have limited options, does not create any new taxes for Tennesseans and will not add any state cost to the budget, the governor’s office said.

“Two years ago, the General Assembly made two requests of us,” Haslam said in a press release. “First, to bring a unique and specific plan to Tennessee that met the needs of our citizens and was financially responsible for our state and the country, and secondly, to bring that plan back to the General Assembly for a vote.

“I have done both of those things. This plan is overwhelmingly supported by Republicans and Democrats in our state. Tonight, I am asking for your vote to help Insure Tennessee.” [Read more…]

Johnson Gap Road bridge being repaired

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Johnson Gap Road Bridge

The Johnson Gap Road Bridge is pictured above closed on January 1, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari) 

 

Information from WYSH Radio

Note: This story was updated at 12:45 p.m. Feb. 3.

Work on the long-awaited project to repair the CSX Railroad-owned bridge on Johnson Gap Road in the Dutch Valley community has finally begun.

Anderson County Commission Chairman Robert McKamey told WYSH Radio in Clinton that the railroad has assured him the work should be done within the next three to four weeks.

Crews on Monday began the long-awaited repair of the bridge. [Read more…]

Regions Foundation donates $20,000 for new Emory Valley Center building

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Regions Capital Donation to Emory Valley Center

Pictured above from left are Dottie Thompson, Emory Valley Center Capital Campaign co-chair; Jenks Bostic, Regions Bank consumer banking executive for East Tennessee and North Carolina presenting check to Emory Valley President Jennifer Enderson; Janet Wood, Emory Valley Center development director; Gene Caldwell, Emory Valley Center Capital Campaign co-chair; and Kevin Crateau, Regions Bank East Tennnessee and North Carolina Area marketing director. (Submitted photo)

 

Regions Foundation recently presented a check for $20,000 to President Jennifer Enderson for Emory Valley Center’s Capital Campaign for a new building on Emory Valley Road.

Jenks Bostic, Regions Bank consumer banking executive for East Tennessee and North Carolina. and Kevin Crateau, Regions Bank East Tennessee and North Carolina area marketing director, recently participated in a tour of Emory Valley Center and were inspired by the people supported by the agency to request a donation from Regions Foundation.

Bostic also has a personal connection to Emory Valley Center. His mother, Bertie Bostic, was a well-respected, longtime teacher at the Daniel Arthur Rehabilitation Center (DARC) and his father, Paul Bostic, was the superintendent of Anderson County Schools under whose administration both the DARC and the Emory Valley School operated for many years. Bostic is well acquainted with the work and mission of Emory Valley Center, a press release said. [Read more…]

Electric, Public Works directors at Lunch with League on Tuesday

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Jack Suggs

Jack Suggs

Submitted

As we go about daily life in Oak Ridge, we don’t ordinarily think about where wastewater goes or where the electricity we use comes from. When the monthly utility bill arrives from the City of Oak Ridge, the cost of electricity, water, and sewer may surprise us and make us wonder about the cost and changes in rates.

Gary Cinder, director of Oak Ridge Public Works, and Jack Suggs, Oak Ridge Electric Department director, will be the guest speakers at Lunch with the League on Tuesday, February 3, and they will provide insights into their departments’ activities and responsibilities. The program will be held at noon Tuesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church’s new location at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. [Read more…]

Tennessee Titans VP to headline DOE Oak Ridge Women’s Workshop

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Jenneen Kaufman

Jenneen Kaufman

Jenneen Kaufman, vice president and chief financial officer of the Tennessee Titans, will give the keynote speech at the annual Oak Ridge Women’s Workshop in March.

The workshop will be presented by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office Federal Women’s Program, or FWP, and the Oak Ridge Chapter of Federally Employed Women, or FEW. It’s on Thursday, March 12 at the New Hope Center at 602 Scarboro Road in Oak Ridge.

In conjunction with the annual FWP Workshop on March 12, the FEW Southeast Region will offer its annual Regional Training Program from March 11 to 13, a press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Schools announces three teachers of the year

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Oak Ridge Schools has announced three teachers of the year.

The three building-wide teachers of the year are:

  • Amelia Bell, Glenwood Elementary School;
  • Amy Fuqua, Linden Elementary School; and
  • Lisa Meidl, Willow Brook Elementary School.

In a press release, school officials said they will soon announce the selection of the system-wide Teacher of the Year, selected from one of these three candidates. [Read more…]

Light snow falling in Oak Ridge

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Snowfall Forecast Feb. 2, 2015

Images courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

 

A light snow fell in Oak Ridge on Monday morning, and the forecast called for a 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before 2 p.m.

The forecast near Oak Ridge calls for mostly cloudy skies, with a steady temperature around 34, and a northwest wind of 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

The snowfall was expected to be concentrated mainly in the higher elevations. [Read more…]

Reminder: Fundraiser for Secret City Wildbots features award-winning film on world’s water

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Sling Shot Press Release

A film screening this month will feature an inspirational movie about a tiny technological solution that could be used to clean up the world’s water supply. The screening of the award-winning documentary will also raise money for the Oak Ridge High School’s FIRST Robotics Team 4265, the Secret City Wildbots.

The fundraiser and screening will start at 7 p.m. Friday, February 20, in the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center, a press release said. The Secret City Wildbots will begin the evening with a short demonstration of the team’s robot from 7-7:20 p.m. The screening of the 97-minue film will begin promptly at 7:30 p.m. [Read more…]

ORFD will recognize members for cardiac arrest save; honor firefighter, officer

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Steve London

Steve London

Eric Mocsari

Eric Mocsari

The Oak Ridge Fire Department will host a February ceremony that will recognize members for a cardiac arrest save in November and honor the firefighter and fire officer of the year.

The ceremony will be at 6 p.m. February 13 at Fire Station Number 3, which is at 333 Tuskegee Drive.

The Department will recognize Engine Company 2C for the cardiac arrest save, a press release said. This was the sixth cardiac arrest save within the last 12 months for the Oak Ridge Fire Department. [Read more…]

History teacher, ORHS grad to appear on Jeopardy! Teachers Tournament

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Lydia Cuffman

Lydia Cuffman, a 2004 graduate of Oak Ridge High School, will compete in the Jeopardy! Teachers Tournament on Tuesday. The show will air at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday on WBIR-TV in Knoxville. (Photos courtesy Jeopardy Productions, Inc.)

 

Lydia Cuffman, a 2004 graduate of Oak Ridge High School, will compete in the Jeopardy! Teachers Tournament on Tuesday. The show will air at 7:30 p.m. on WBIR-TV in Knoxville.

Cuffman is now a history teacher at Sequoia High School in Redwood City, California.

Her mother, Kym Cuffman, said 200,000 people sign up to take the Jeopardy test each year. One hundred fifty thousand actually take the test, and 400 make it to the final contestants’ pool, Kym Cuffman said. There were 15 K-12 teachers chosen to be in the Teachers Tournament. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge knocks out Knox Central on Autism Awareness Night

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Hoops for Autism at Wildcat Arena

The student section holds up a poster for autism awareness during Hoops for Autism on Friday night during the Oak Ridge and Central basketball game at Wildcat Arena. (Photo by Trenton Duffer)

 

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats and Wildcats battled the Knox Central Lady Bobcats and Bobcats on Friday night in Wildcat Arena. Both sets of Wildcats left their home stage victorious against their district rivals on Autism Awareness Night.

Lady Wildcat head coach David Scott discussed Autism Awareness Night and its significance after the game.

“It’s part of our responsibility to get the word out,” Scott said. “We’ve been blessed in Oak Ridge. We have some great teachers and therapists…It’s (autism) a number that’s going up and not going down. The more word we can get out there that the autism spectrum is so large…There’s a lot to it, and no two are the same. Anytime we can get the word out, we appreciate that opportunity. To have people respond really means a lot to us.”

At the halftime of each game, fans were encouraged to come down to the court and pay $1 for a half-court shot contest. These proceeds are going to autism awareness foundations.

Lady Wildcats keep Lady Bobcats winless with physical play

The Lady Wildcats of Oak Ridge improved to 88-1 all-time against the Knox Central Lady Bobcats (0-22, 0-14 District 3-AAA) on Friday night by defeating Central 64-26. Oak Ridge could do no wrong in this game. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Schools have health, wellness panel, screening on Saturday

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Oak Ridge Schools Logo

The Oak Ridge Schools Office of Coordinated School Health and the Allergy, Asthma, and Sinus Center are hosting a free Health and Wellness Panel Discussion and Health Screening this Saturday, January 31, at Oak Ridge High School Auditorium from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

The event will be hosted by Dr. Bob Overholt of the Dr. Bob Show. The panel will consist of Dr. Karthick Krishnan (asthma/allergy specialist), Dr. Chris Nolte (sleep specialist), Dr. Randy Robbins (orthopedic specialist), and Dr. Matthew McCallister (concussion/pediatric health). The panel will answer audience questions from 10:15 a.m.-11:15 a.m. [Read more…]