Oak Ridge Today

Firefighters train in house fire on Waddell

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Waddell Place Training Fire 1

Oak Ridge firefighters trained Monday at a blighted home set on fire on Waddell Place.

 

Firefighters trained this week in a blighted house that they burned on Monday on Waddell Place in Oak Ridge.

If all goes well, two more blighted city-owned homes on Waddell Place could also be set on fire and used for training, said Josh Waldo, Oak Ridge assistant fire chief.

The city had state approval to burn the home on Monday. A plume of smoke that rose above the ridge top could be seen for miles on Monday morning. Non-wood products such as shingles and plastic were removed before the home was burned. [Read more…]

Tennessee again named economic development ‘State of the Year’

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Governor Bill Haslam

Bill Haslam

Tennessee first state to win award in back-to-back years

NASHVILLE—Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam announced Monday that Business Facilities, a leading national publication focused on site selection and economic development, has named Tennessee its 2014 State of the Year for a second consecutive year.

Tennessee becomes the first state in the award’s history to win back-to-back honors for economic development efforts and the first state to win the designation three times, winning in 2014, 2013, and 2009, a press release said.

“It is an honor to be the first state to receive this recognition two years in a row,” Haslam said. “We have a great story to tell in Tennessee. Businesses continue to make the decision to locate, expand and grow here, and we are grateful for those strong partnerships. We will continue doing all we can to make sure we offer an attractive business climate and skilled workforce to be the number one location in the Southeast for high quality jobs.” [Read more…]

Oak Ridge city, schools kick off Biggest Loser Competition

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The City of Oak Ridge Wellness Committee and Oak Ridge Coordinated School Health will kick off their 2015 Biggest Loser competition at 12:30 p.m. today (Monday, January 5) in the Oak Ridge Civic Center Social Room.

Employees with the City of Oak Ridge and Oak Ridge Schools will compete against one another during a three-month weight loss challenge. A winner from each organization will be awarded, as well as overall male and female Biggest Loser. The competition will run from January 5 through April 6, a press release said.

Today’s first official weigh-in of the challenge will feature Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch and members of Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson, Oak Ridge Schools Superintendent Bruce Borchers, Oak Ridge Schools Director of Pupil Services Larrissa Henderson, and municipal and school employees.

Alexander, Corker announce committee assignments

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U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander

Lamar Alexander

U.S. Senator Bob Corker

Bob Corker

U.S. senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker have announced their committee assignments for the new Congress.

Alexander will serve on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; Appropriations; Energy and Natural Resources; and Rules and Administration.

Corker will serve on Foreign Relations; Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Budget; and Special Committee on Aging.

Alexander and Corker are both Tennessee Republicans. [Read more…]

Kristy Neckowicz appointed president of InVizion LLC, a Pro2Serve subsidiary

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Kristy Neckowicz

Kristy Neckowicz

Professional Project Services Inc., or Pro2Serve, has appointed Kristy Tan Neckowicz as president of its software subsidiary, InVizion LLC.

Neckowicz has served as the senior vice president of InVizion since March 2014.

“InVizion develops and markets project portfolio management (PPM) applications that allow executives and managers to rapidly address the impact of changing resource constraints, objectively develop and optimize revised execution strategies, and clearly communicate resulting critical decisions to stakeholders,” a press release said. [Read more…]

Knox commissioner, SNS manager to speak at MLK Breakfast in Atomic City

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Sam McKenzie

Sam McKenzie

Knox County Commissioner Sam McKenzie will be the featured speaker at the 27th annual Martin Luther King Fellowship Breakfast.

The breakfast has been organized by the Atomic City Sportsmen. Everyone is welcome to attend. It’s scheduled to start at 8 a.m. Monday, January 19, at the Oak Valley Baptist Church at 194 Hampton Road in Oak Ridge. The breakfast was previously held at the East Tennessee Family Services Building. [Read more…]

Report: Car runs red light, hits truck, which crashes into building

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Car Crash at Oak Ridge Turnpike and Florida Avenue

A two-car collision at Oak Ridge Turnpike and Florida Avenue on Friday, December 26, caused a 2012 Nissan pickup truck to crash into this two-story building south of the Turnpike. (Photos by Daniel Powers)

 

The driver of a four-door sedan allegedly ran a red light at Florida Avenue and Oak Ridge Turnpike last week and hit a pickup truck that then crashed into the side of a two-story commercial building, authorities said.

The driver of the car, Geary Q. McPeters, 59, of Oak Ridge, was taken by ambulance to Methodist Medical Center with possible injuries, an Oak Ridge Police Department report said.

ORPD Patrolman Kevin Merritt said McPeters was driving a 1996 Oldsmobile four-door sedan south on Florida Avenue at about 8:35 p.m. Friday, December 26, when he didn’t stop at a red traffic light on Oak Ridge Turnpike and collided with a 2012 Nissan pickup truck being driven east on the Turnpike by Ted M. Chapman, 73, of Sevierville. [Read more…]

Gas sells for less than $2 per gallon in Clinton, Anderson County

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Git 'N Go Gas Station in Clinton

Gas was selling for $1.98 per gallon at several stations near Interstate 75 on State Route 61 in Clinton on Thursday, including at this Git ‘N Go Market, right, and at a BP station, left, across the street.

 

Gas was selling for less than $2 per gallon at several gas stations in Clinton and Anderson County on Thursday.

At least three gas stations near Interstate 75 and State Route 61 in Clinton were selling regular unleaded gasoline for $1.98 per gallon. Several other gas stations in Anderson County along SR 61, which turns into Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge, were also selling fuel for $1.98. [Read more…]

Baby Dylan rings in new year at Methodist Medical Center

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New Year's Baby 2015 MMC

Photo courtesy Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge

 

He was due on December 28, and Dylan Cohen Williams was supposed to be one of the last babies of 2014.

But after making Mom and Dad wait a few days longer, on January 1, 2015, at 12:53 p.m. he became Methodist Medical Center’s first baby of the New Year.

Dylan weighed in at 8 pounds, 2 ounces, and he was 20 inches long. [Read more…]

Sen. McNally receives Champion of Commerce award from state, city chambers

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Randy McNally

Randy McNally

The Tennessee and Oak Ridge chambers of commerce have awarded the Champion of Commerce award to Senator Randy McNally, a press release said.

It said the award is presented locally in coordination with the Tennessee Chamber and local chambers of commerce.

“The prestigious award recognizes individuals that exemplify outstanding achievement promoting business and free enterprise during the 2013–2014 108th General Assembly,” the release said. [Read more…]

Hetrick appointed director of Oak Ridge Recreation, Parks

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Jon Hetrick

Jon Hetrick

Jon Hetrick has been appointed director of the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department, City Manager Mark Watson announced Friday. Hetrick has been the acting director since Josh Collins retired in October.

As director, Hetrick will manage and direct the activities the city’s recreation and parks programs, services, and facilities, including the Civic Center, and Scarboro and Senior centers, as well as the Centennial Golf Course. His work responsibilities will include overseeing summer programs and supervising a staff of more than 80 seasonal and regular employees. [Read more…]

Mayor Frank vetoes resolution dealing with county’s legal bills

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Terry Frank

Terry Frank

Information from WYSH Radio

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank has vetoed a resolution passed unanimously by the County Commission in December that would establish procedures for the county when outside legal counsel is needed for county employees not covered by the law director or counsel from the county’s insurance provider.

The measure would require all requests for outside counsel to be submitted in writing to both County Commission Chairman Robert McKamey and Law Director Jay Yeager.

The Clinton Courier News reported that commissioners found out about the veto on Friday. [Read more…]