Oak Ridge Today

Former UT president named to Roane State Foundation board

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Joe Johnson

Joe Johnson

Former University of Tennessee President Joe Johnson has been named to the board of directors for the Roane State Community College Foundation.

“We are honored to welcome Dr. Johnson to our board,” said Paul Phillips, executive director of the Roane State Foundation. “Having a board member with his expertise and distinguished record in higher education will be a great benefit to the college.”

Johnson served as UT’s president from 1990-1999 and continues to serve as president emeritus. His tenure as president capped a lengthy career at UT that included alumni relations, public relations, fundraising, governmental relations, campus planning, capital construction, and serving as a liaison between the president’s office and intercollegiate athletics. [Read more…]

ORNL, UT receive Energy Department awards for nuclear training, technologies

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The U.S. Department of Energy on Friday announced more than $60 million in nuclear energy research awards and improvements to university research reactors and infrastructure, including about $1.5 million to Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee.

The 91 awards are meant to help train and educate the next generation of leaders in America’s nuclear industry as well as support new and advanced nuclear technologies from reactor materials to innovative sensors and instruments to more efficient manufacturing, DOE said in a press release. [Read more…]

One killed in crash involving car, two motorcycles on Highway 95

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One person was killed in a collision involving a car and two motorcycles on Highway 95 early Sunday evening, authorities said.

The fatal crash occurred about one-half mile south of Bethel Valley Road, west of Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Oak Ridge Police Department said the names of the people involved, and the descriptions of their vehicles, will not be released until notifications have been made. The ORPD is currently investigating the incident, a statement said.

Local agencies receive more than $350K in highway safety funds

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Tennessee officials last week announced $21.1 million in grants to Tennessee agencies to support highway traffic safety efforts, with more than $350,000 designated for local law enforcement agencies.

The grants include about $180,000 to the Anderson County District Attorney General’s Office for driving-under-the-influence abatement and prosecution, and roughly $40,000 to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department for reducing fatalities in the county. The Oak Ridge Police Department received about $25,000 for alcohol saturation and checkpoints. [Read more…]

CONTACT Care Line celebrates 40 years with concert, workshops, new director

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Submitted

CONTACT Care Line of East Tennessee is marking 40 years of service to neighbors in crisis with a fundraising concert, a new series of listening workshops, a new executive director, and a new look.

The Oak Ridge-based nonprofit fields some 10,000 telephone calls annually from people who are lonely, facing a crisis, and at times contemplating suicide. It is staffed almost entirely by volunteers, including a contingent of University of Tennessee psychology students whose time listening to callers provides valuable experience. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Symphony has free family concert this afternoon

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The Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra has a free family concert at 3 p.m. today (Sunday) at Oak Ridge High School.

“Hop on the music train as we perform a family-friendly concert ranging from ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’ to ‘Polar Express’ to Eduard Strauss’s ‘Bahn Frei (Fast Track!)’ polka,” the ORCMA website says. “Come early for pre-concert activities, and come dressed in your railroad finest to join our costume parade. Train whistles allowed! Our own ‘conductor’ will lead you on a journey of fun musical times!” [Read more…]

No one injured as ammunition explodes in SUV fire

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SUV With Ammunition in Car Crash

No one was injured after an SUV with several hundred rounds of ammunition was hit by a pickup truck on Melton Lake Drive on Saturday, overturned, and caught fire. (Photos courtesy Oak Ridge Fire Department)

No one was injured, but several hundred rounds of ammunition started exploding after a sport utility vehicle returning from a Wounded Warriors shooting event was hit by a pickup truck on Melton Lake Drive, overturned, and caught fire, authorities said.

The accident happened at about 5:05 p.m. Saturday, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said.

A southbound Toyota pickup truck crossed the center line and hit the SUV, which was driven by Jeff Douglas. The SUV hit the guardrail, spun, and overturned, the ORFD said. [Read more…]

Fifth ‘In God We Trust’ sign, flagpole, vets memorial celebrated at courthouse

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Anderson County General Session Court In God We Trust Sign

Steve McDonald of Calvary Baptist Church introduces a new “In God We Trust” sign on the side of the Anderson County General Sessions Division II Courthouse in Oak Ridge.

A sign inscribed with the national motto “In God We Trust” was unveiled on the side of a Anderson County courthouse in Oak Ridge on Friday.

It’s the fifth “In God We Trust” sign to be posted on a county courthouse since July in a citizen-led initiative that has prompted a debate over the proper separation of church and state.

Also celebrated during a lunchtime ceremony Friday were a flagpole and memorial to five Anderson County veterans killed in the past decade in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. [Read more…]

Pellissippi State receives $4.6 million federal grant

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WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez on Wednesday announced $474.5 million in grants to community colleges and universities around the country, including Pellissippi State Community College, for the development and expansion of innovative training programs in partnership with local employers, a press release said.

The 57 grants will support 190 projects in at least 183 schools in every state plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Pellissippi State’s grant is valued at about $4.6 million. Located near Oak Ridge in west Knox County, the community college is the leader of a consortium that received a total of roughly $12.7 million. [Read more…]

DOE employees boost donations to local food bank

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DOE Employees Donate to Second Harvest Food Bank

U.S. Department of Energy employees donate 13,872 pounds of food to the Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee. (Photo courtesy DOE/Lynn Freeny)

U.S. Department of Energy employees donated 13,872 pounds of food to the Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee. The donation was part of the national Feds Feed Families campaign.

This is the fourth year the DOE’s Oak Ridge site has participated in the annual summer campaign, which helps replenish local food banks and raises awareness about the prevalence of hunger nationally. The campaign continues to garner high participation and serve as a cornerstone charitable event for local federal employees, who have tallied more than 11,000 pounds in donations every year. In addition, the program continues to be a success, as this year’s donation total reached an all-time high. [Read more…]

Two sacks prove critical in Wildcats’ 600th win

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Ted Mitchell

Ted Mitchell, a junior wide receiver for the Oak Ridge Wildcats, tries to go around a defender for the McMinn County Cherokees on Friday at Blankenship Field.

Two sacks late in the fourth quarter proved critical in the milestone 600th win for the Oak Ridge Wildcats on Friday.

The Wildcats (3-1) were leading 28-19 with less than three minutes to play, but the McMinn County Cherokees had driven downfield and were threatening to score with 2:32 left in the game.

But the Cherokees’ drive stalled with back-to-back sacks by two Oak Ridge defenders, sophomore linebacker Gavin Warrington and senior defensive end Kyler Jones. The Cherokees (1-4) were pushed back from a second-and-7 at the Oak Ridge 18 to a fourth-and-long at about the Oak Ridge 38. [Read more…]

Tax financing meeting for Oak Ridge Mall postponed

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Oak Ridge Mall

A meeting to consider a tax financing agreement for the redevelopment of the Oak Ridge Mall has been postponed. The L-shaped mall is pictured at center above.

The meeting to consider a tax incentive that could be used to help redevelop the Oak Ridge Mall has been postponed in order to allow a city board to update its policy to reflect current state law, a city consultant said Friday.

The meeting, which had been scheduled for Sept. 26, could be rescheduled two to three weeks later, economic development consultant Ray Evans said.

He said the Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board has a tax increment financing, or TIF, policy that was initially enacted in 2008 and last updated in 2011. [Read more…]