Oak Ridge Today

Five clerks cited after beer ‘sting’ in Anderson County

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Paul White

Paul White

Five businesses in Anderson County sold beer to an underage person during a September 29 “sting,” and five clerks have been cited to court, Sheriff Paul White said Monday.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department conducted the sting in cooperation with the Rocky Top Police Department, the Oliver Springs Police Department, and Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County, or ASAP.

Investigators with the Sheriff’s Special Operations Unit visited 20 businesses to try to buy beer during the compliance checks, White said. He said all 20 businesses checked for identification showing the person to be under 21, but five still sold beer to the underage person.

White said the following businesses sold beer to the underage person: [Read more…]

Three speakers to discuss three proposed constitutional amendments

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Corinne Rovetti

Corinne Rovetti

Two college professors and a co-director of a reproductive health center will discuss three proposed constitutional amendments that will be considered by Tennessee voters in the November 4 election.

The proposed amendments will be discussed during a Tuesday evening forum in Oak Ridge.

Corinne Rovetti, co-director and family nurse practitioner for the Knoxville Center for Reproductive Health, will address Amendment 1, which deals with reproductive choice and privacy, a press release said. [Read more…]

Oliver Springs, Rocky Top receive grants for water, sewer system improvements

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Governor Bill Haslam

Bill Haslam

State officials announce 80 Community Development Block Grants

Oliver Springs received a $525,000 grant for sewer system improvements, and Rocky Top (formerly Lake City) received a $360,840 grant for water system improvements, Tennessee officials announced last week.

Oliver Springs and Rocky Top were among the Tennessee communities that will receive funding after Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty approved more than $28 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to help with infrastructure, health and safety projects, and downtown improvements, a press release said.

The Oliver Springs grant will be matched with $225,000 in local funding (for $750,000 in total funding), and the Rocky Top grant will be matched with $27,160 in local funding for a total of $388,000. [Read more…]

Honors: Oak Ridge company wins Telly Award for video production

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M&M Productions USA Telly Award

Mike Brown, M&M Productions USA president and CEO, left, presents the Texas Telly Award at DECA’s Chartered Association Management Conference to his clients, Sandra Hinesly, Texas DECA executive director; Erica Marshall, Texas DECA board member; and Leo Saenz, Texas DECA board member. (Submitted photo)

 

The Telly Awards has selected M&M Productions USA, a full-service event planning and production company based in Oak Ridge, as a Bronze winner in the 35th Annual Telly Awards for its production of “The Stars of Texas DECA” promotional video, a press release said.

With nearly 12,000 entries from all 50 states and numerous countries, this recognition establishes M&M Productions as an industry leader in video production, a press release said.

“The Stars of Texas DECA” video features the story of five DECA alumni who credit their success to their experience in DECA. The video motivates Texas students to participate in the organization, which prepares high school and college students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. [Read more…]

EQAB Climate Action Plan: Oak Ridge reduces emissions, electrical use

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Mark Watson

Mark Watson

The first progress report for Oak Ridge’s Climate Action Plan said greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy use in city buildings are down and so is the annual electrical consumption for the average household.

Traffic signals use about 60 percent less electricity because of LED bulbs, and Oak Ridge has finished a home energy retrofit demonstration project that could be used as a model in the city, the report said.

Meanwhile, Oak Ridge has been recognized as a renewable energy leader by the Tennessee Valley Authority and is the first Green Power Community in Tennessee and in part of the Southeast. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Animal Shelter celebrates 40 years with half-price adoptions

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Oak Ridge Animal Shelter Peabody

Peabody at the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter is pictured above. (Submitted photo)

 

The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter is celebrating 40 years at its 395 Belgrade Road location with a whole month of specials and activities.

Through the month of October, the Shelter will feature half-price adoptions. Every available animal will have an adoption fee of $55 instead of $110. The discount price still includes spaying and neutering, microchips, DHPP and Bordatella vaccines (for dogs), FVRCP vaccine (for cats), a rabies vaccine, a dose of Frontline (for fleas and ticks), and a dose of dewormer.

The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter will be participating in several events for their celebration and invite you to attend: [Read more…]

Oak Ridge relies on two running backs in near-shutout over Campbell County

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Oak Ridge Wildcats T.J. Allison and Campbell County Joseph Elkins

Junior running back T.J. Allison (#6) of the Wildcats runs behind the blocking of senior tight end Ryan Waddell (#86) as senior Joseph Elkins (#5) of Campbell County tries to strip the ball away. Allison ran for 107 yards and two touchdowns on Friday. (Photos by Julio Culiat)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 2:15 p.m.

Wildcats shut down big passing gains for Cougars

The running game was working well and burning up the clock, so Oak Ridge coach Joe Gaddis stuck with it.

Two running backs, juniors T.J. Allison and Jaylen Nickerson, racked up more than 100 yards each and led the Wildcats to three touchdowns in the first, second, and third quarters. Kicker Brandon Nickle added a field goal in the fourth.

The 24-8 victory was an important district win for the Wildcats, who are now 6-0 overall and 4-0 in District 3-AAA. The only other undefeated team in the district is Anderson County (7-0, 6-0). The two teams will face off in the season finale on Thursday, October 30.

Oak Ridge came close to picking up its fourth shutout of the season on Friday night at Blankenship Field, preventing the Cougars, who had averaged 42 points per game, from scoring until late in the fourth quarter.

“Our defense played really well,” Gaddis said.

[Read more…]

Grace Lutheran has Pet Fest, Blessing, 5k Run/Walk on Saturday

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Pet Blessing

A file photo from a previous pet blessing.

Submitted

For all who love animals, Grace Lutheran Church in Oak Ridge presents the 13th annual Pet Fest and Blessing on Saturday, October 4.

Activities commence with the Pets are Blessings 5K Run/Walk at 8 a.m. at Melton Lake.

More festivities follow at the church from 1-5 p.m. The church is located at 131 West Gettysburg Avenue in the Woodland neighborhood. Parking will be available for the mobility-impaired at the church or in the Woodland Elementary School parking lot behind the church. (Follow the pink puppy paw print signs!)

For the second year, the church is offering a 5k run/walk at Melton Lake at 8 a.m. This year, the Pets are Blessings 5K Run/Walk will invite humans to run with their dogs, if desired. [Read more…]

Come watch artists chalk the walks Saturday

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Street Painting Festival Einstein

Sidewalk chalk painting of Einstein by a high school student at last year’s Oak Ridge Street Painting Festival at Roane State Community College. (Submitted photo)

The 15th annual Oak Ridge Street Painting Festival is from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday (rain day on Sunday) at the Oak Ridge Campus of Roane State Community College.

Dozens of artists will be brushing up on their skills as they transform concrete sidewalk squares into colorful chalk paintings. The public is invited to this free festival organized by the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge.

While would-be Rembrandts are chalking the walks, young children will enjoy face painting, chalking, and other free activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the Kid Zone.

Music will be provided by the Roane State Celebration Singers at 9 a.m. [Read more…]

Y-12 employees recognized for excellence in nuclear weapons program

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NNSA Defense Programs Award of Excellence Penny Cunningham

Defense Programs 2013 Award of Excellence recipient Penny Cunningham, left, receives congratulations from Jim Haynes, CNS president and chief executive officer; Tim Driscoll, NNSA uranium program manager, and Mark Padilla, NNSA Production Office’s assistant manager for programs and projects. Thirteen teams at Y-12 received DP Awards of Excellence for 2013 at an annual ceremony held recently at the New Hope Center. (Photos courtesy CNS)

 

Thirteen teams at the Y-12 National Security Complex received Defense Programs Awards of Excellence from the National Nuclear Security Administration at an annual ceremony held recently at the New Hope Center.

A total of 209 recipients were recognized, with several participating on more than one team. In total, 235 awards were presented for significant achievements in 2013.

NNSA’s newly appointed Uranium Program Manager Tim Driscoll gave the keynote address.

“I’m here today as a patriot, a citizen, a father, a friend to some of you, and as a customer,” Driscoll said. ”These awards are a testament to the good work that goes on here every day at every level. They’re a testament to the loyalty and dedication of all those involved.”

Mark Padilla, the NNSA Production Office’s assistant manager for programs and projects, and Jim Haynes, CNS president and chief executive officer, joined Driscoll in presenting the awards. [Read more…]

THP: Jacksboro man killed in I-75 crash

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Information from WYSH Radio

One person died in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 75 North in Anderson County on Thursday afternoon.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol responded to the scene just before 3:30 p.m. at exit 129, the Rocky Top (Lake City) exit.

The THP report indicates that a 1998 Ford pickup left the right side of the roadway, traveled into a ditch and flipped, partially ejecting the driver, 29-year-old William Overton of Jacksboro. Troopers say he was not wearing a seatbelt.

National Night Out Celebration to feature food, family-friendly activities

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Bucket Ride

The National Night Out celebration on Saturday, October 11, will feature bucket rides on an Oak Ridge Electric Department bucket truck. (Submitted photo)

 

A National Night Out celebration at A.K. Bissell Park this month will feature free food, family-friendly activities for children and adults, and crime prevention presentations and information.

The National Night Out is from 3-7 p.m. Saturday, October 11, at A.K. Bissell Park near the Oak Ridge Civic Center. The community is invited.

The Oak Ridge Police Community Resource Office and the Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program will host the 2014 National Night Out celebration, a crime prevention program promoted by National Association of Town Watch. This year marks the 31st anniversary of this community-police partnership, a press release said.

Magician Danny Whitson will perform feats of magic during the celebration. Festivities will also include Oak Ridge Police K-9 demonstrations, the Mobile Meth Lab exhibit, safety and health exhibits, Oak Ridge Electric Department bucket rides, drug abuse prevention information, Doug LaVerne on steel drums, music, and games. Child fingerprinting and bike registration will be offered. In case of rain, the celebration will move into the Civic Center. [Read more…]