Oak Ridge Today

Speed limit reduced on North Seivers in Clinton

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Information from WYSH Radio

The speed limit on North Charles Seivers Boulevard from Clinch Avenue to Longmire Road in Clinton has been reduced from 45 miles an hour to 35 miles an hour. The change went into effect recently.

The Clinton Police Department said that the reduction in the speed limit is being made in response to an increased number of traffic accidents on that stretch of road during the past few months. Chief Rick Scarbrough said that the stretch of North Seivers from Maire Avenue to Longmire was the scene of 45 accidents last year alone.

The reduced speed limit will also be more consistent with the speed limits throughout the rest of the business district.  The speed limit on South Charles Seivers Boulevard from Clinch to the Food City is also 35 miles an hour.

Since Saturday, three crashes in Oliver Springs area required Lifestar response

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Oliver Springs Crash Tri County Boulevard

An Oneida woman driving the car above was flown to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville after a collision with a truck on Tri County Boulevard in Oliver Springs on Monday afternoon. (Photo by Oliver Springs Police Department/Kenneth Morgan)

For the third time since about noon Saturday, a Lifestar medical helicopter on Monday afternoon picked up a patient injured in a car crash in Oliver Springs.

The 1 p.m. Monday crash involved an Old Dominion truck driven by Steven Mayfield and a car driven by Lyndsay Phillips of Oneida. The truck was turning from eastbound Tri County Boulevard onto Knoxville Highway, or State Highway 62, headed toward Morgan County, Oliver Springs Police Chief Kenneth Morgan said. He said the car was traveling west toward Harriman on the Boulevard.

Phillips was flown to the University of Tennessee Medical Center by Lifestar, Morgan said. [Read more…]

Secret City Festival: Deadline extended for early bird tickets

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Kix Brooks with Mic

Country artist Kix Brooks performs at the Great Eastern Exposition in West Springfield, Mass., on Sept. 27. (Submitted photos)

It’s not too late to purchase discounted tickets for Secret City Festival

The deadline for early bird tickets to the 12th Annual Secret City Festival’s headline concerts has been extended through Thursday, June 5. This extension will allow the public to continue to purchase tickets to both the Friday night Eddie Money concert or the Saturday night Kix Brooks concert for the discounted rate of $18 each.

Friday night’s concert will feature 80s rocker Eddie Money as he brings his blue-collar rock ‘n’ roll sound to the UCOR concert stage. Opening for Eddie Money will be local band Jada Blade and Dez Money and The Faze. Dez Money is the son of Eddie Money, but he’ll bring his own unique style to the Friday night line-up. Concert goers can expect to hear hits from Eddie Money’s career including “Two Tickets to Paradise,” “Shakin,’” and “Baby Hold On.” Friday night’s concert is sponsored by Pro2Serve, CROET, and Classic Hits 93.1 WNOX.

Saturday night’s concert brings legendary country music artist Kix Brooks, formerly of Brooks and Dunn, to the UCOR stage. As part of one of the biggest duos in country music history, Brooks has received many industry accolades including two Grammy awards, 20 Country Music Association trophies, and 27 Academy of Country Music honors. After Brooks and Dunn announced their retirement, Brooks has enjoyed success on and off the stage as a solo artist, radio host, and actor. Nashville band, Phoenix Drive, will open the show. Saturday’s concert is sponsored by LDA Engineering and 96.7 Merle FM. [Read more…]

Theresa Scott to seek election to Anderson County Commission in District 7

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Theresa Scott

Theresa Scott

Theresa Scott has announced her candidacy for Anderson County Commission in District 7. The seat is non-partisan and represents the Highland View, Pine Valley, and Glenwood precincts.

Having run previously in 2010, Scott said in a press release that she has been strongly encouraged by community residents to run again for County Commission.

“I am very humbled to see that people in my district continue to show their approval for me to step into this position. I want to be their choice,” Scott said in the release. “My platform remains the same—speaking up for and on behalf of the residents, taxpayers, homeowners, and voters of my district.” [Read more…]

Oak Ridge nuclear engineering student earns scholarship award at UT

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KNOXVILLE—Nuclear engineering students at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville were recently awarded a number of scholarships, with Oak Ridge’s Mikah Rust among them.

Rust, who was named the Junior/Senior Undergraduate Scholarship winner, joins three other students from the College of Engineering’s Department of Nuclear Engineering who were recognized:

  • Alyxandria Wszolek, a sophomore from Madison, Mississippi, won the Operations and Power Division Scholarship;
  • Travis Labossiere-Hickman, a junior from Brush Creek, Tennessee, won the Raymond DiSalvo Memorial Scholarship; and
  • Colton Oldham, from Hurricane, West Virginia, won the Sophomore Undergraduate Scholarship. [Read more…]

Habitat for Humanity has groundbreaking Saturday for Myrick home build

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Tim and Teresa Myrick and Habitat for Humanity

Tim and Teresa Myrick are pictured above. (Photo: Jason Richards)

Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County will have a groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday for a home build that will pay tribute to Tim and Teresa Myrick.

The ceremony starts at 10 a.m. Saturday on Valley View Lane in Heiskell.

“We are about $20,000 away from our goal,” Habitat for Humanity said in an event flyer. “As soon as we reach it, we will begin construction.”

Habitat said Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Oak Ridge Associated Universities, along with friends of the Myricks, have contributed or pledged more than $60,000. [Read more…]

Council to consider DOE wastewater billing; lobbying, economic development contracts

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Oak Ridge City Council

The Oak Ridge City Council is pictured above during an August 2013 meeting. (File photo)

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday night will consider adding a facilities charge to the U.S. Department of Energy’s monthly wastewater bill for costs related to the construction of a holding tank, or equalization basin, near the Y-12 National Security Complex.

The equalization basin on Scarboro Lane, near the intersection of Scarboro Road and South Illinois Avenue, will service wastewater coming out of the federal reservation, city officials said. Wastewater flows from DOE facilities are estimated to be 67 percent of the total wastewater flow coming into that equalization basin, which will replace a now-demolished car wash near the intersection.

Assuming a 67 percent-33 percent split between DOE and the city, DOE’s share of the cost for construction of the Scarboro Lane equalization basin is estimated at $1.4 million, city officials said. DOE could pay another $24,190 per month as part of its wastewater bill for 60 months starting in July, Oak Ridge Finance Director Janice E. McGinnis said. [Read more…]

Y-12 licenses high-powered hydraulic tool to Chattanooga company

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Omni Jaw 5

The Omni Jaw 5—a patented, portable, high-powered hydraulic tool invented to shear and trap bolt heads during demolition projects—has been licensed by Y-12 to Green Arc Labs (GAL) of Chattanooga. (Photo courtesy B&W Y-12)

 

A patented, portable, high-powered hydraulic tool—invented to shear and trap bolt heads during demolition projects—has proven its worth and is moving to market. Y-12 National Security Complex signed a licensing agreement with start-up company Green Arc Labs, or GAL, of Chattanooga for Omni Jaw 5. This is the first time the two companies have partnered.

The hand-held tool, invented a decade ago by Lee Bzorgi of Y-12’s National Security Technology Center, generates up to five tons of force on the cutting jaw and simultaneously collects the trimmings, eliminating environmental and safety hazards. It was designed during demolition of the East Tennessee Technology Park, where asbestos cyanide-dipped bolts posed a problem.

“We are excited about our connection with Y-12. This is a first for us,” said Casey York, founder of the GAL start-up company. “We have existing manufacturers in Chattanooga, and the Omni Jaw tool will be machined right here. There’s such an apparent need for this tool in the construction or demolition of any commercial building, for example, or in ship deconstruction, asbestos removal, or equipment dismantlement.” [Read more…]

Roane State launching new surgical technology program this fall

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Roane State Community College will launch a two-year program in surgical technology this fall.

The associate of applied science in surgical technology is co-sponsored by Roane State and Walters State Community College through the Smoky Mountain Health Sciences Consortium. The program will be offered at the Sevier County campus of Walters State and the Oak Ridge campus of Roane State. Streaming video technology will be used to offer courses to students at both colleges.

Labs will be held in the Goff Health Sciences and Technology Building at Roane State’s Oak Ridge campus. The new 64,000-square-foot, $13.8 million building will host its first classes this fall. Students will complete clinical requirements at area hospitals.

Surgical technologists prepare operating rooms, arrange equipment, and assist doctors during surgeries. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment of surgical technologists is projected to grow 30 percent through 2022. [Read more…]

Harriman man dies in head-on crash in Oliver Springs on Saturday

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Oliver Springs Fatal Crash

A Harriman man died in a head-on two-car crash on State Highway 61 in Oliver Springs on Saturday night. (Photo by Tom Scott)

A Harriman man died in a head-on two-car crash on State Highway 61 on Saturday night, authorities said.

John E. Manis Jr., 57, was driving a 2000 Subaru Outback station wagon westbound on Highway 61 near Cemetery Road in Roane County, just outside Oliver Springs, when an eastbound Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck driven by a teenager crossed the center line and hit his vehicle head-on, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said in a preliminary crash report. The collision resulted in fatal injuries to Manis.

The crash occurred at about 9:57 p.m. Saturday. The 17-year-old driver of the pickup truck was injured, but she was not identified because she is a juvenile. Charges are pending, according to the THP report. The accident was investigated by Trooper Matthew Armes.

The THP said the teenager was not wearing a seat belt, and that would have made a difference. Manis was wearing a seat belt, the report said.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Myra Mansfield running for County Commission in District 8

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Myra Mansfield

Myra Mansfield

Myra Mansfield has announced she is running to serve as an Anderson County Commissioner for District 8 in Oak Ridge. The district includes the Emory Valley, Hendrix Creek, and Woodland voting precincts.

Mansfield is a native Oak Ridger who grew up in the district where she is asking to serve, a press release said. She attended Woodland Elementary School, Jefferson Middle School, and is a graduate of Oak Ridge High School. After high school, she received an associate degree in accounting and a bachelor degree in business management. Later in life, she returned to school to receive her master’s degree while studying counseling.

The release said Mansfield has invested her adult life in business and nonprofit leadership, government and community service, parenting, writing, and public speaking. As a hobby, she has been involved in numerous multimedia projects. She loves history and historical research. Over the years, she found herself being offered a series of opportunities to use her leadership skills to bring positive transition to organizational structure, the release said. [Read more…]

Whitey Hitchcock announces re-election bid for county commission

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Harry "Whitey" Hitchcock

Harry “Whitey” Hitchcock

Harry “Whitey” Hitchcock has announced he is seeking re-election to the Anderson County Commission, representing District 6 in Oak Ridge, which includes the City Hall, Robertsville, and West Hills voting precincts, a press release said.

“It has been my honor, privilege, and joy to get to know and represent the very diverse citizens of District 6, a task I take seriously,” Hitchcock said in the press release. “When first elected in 2006, I pledged to

  1. help reduce crime,
  2. bring tax dollars back to Oak Ridge, and
  3. help re-new an effective working relationship between the city and the county. I feel that this has been largely accomplished, yet there is more work to do with a city-county partnership: housing, jobs, and retail development.”

Hitchcock said crime is everyone’s concern, and its cost cannot be overestimated. [Read more…]