Kingston has canceled the July 4 parade scheduled for 7 p.m. today, the city announced on its website.
Officials will meet at 7 a.m. Thursday, July 4, to determine whether to cancel more Independence Day events. [Read more…]
Sheriff: Eight pounds of marijuana found, $23K cash seized, five arrested
Investigators allegedly found about eight pounds of marijuana, seized roughly $23,000 in cash and three vehicles, and arrested five Knoxville men after traffic stops in Anderson County on Tuesday morning, authorities said.
The five men were arrested after the three vehicles were intercepted on Clinton Highway bringing marijuana into the county, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department said in a Wednesday afternoon press release.
“These arrests are the result of surveillance and investigation into this drug activity, which includes receiving, transporting, and distributing marijuana on several occasions in the Claxton community of Anderson County,” the press release said. [Read more…]
Roane State to offer QuickBooks course
Roane State Community College’s Community Outreach and Professional Training Department is offering a QuickBooks 2012 course on Friday, July 12, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The class will meet at the college’s Oak Ridge campus, 701 Briarcliff Ave. The cost is $179. [Read more…]
NWS forecasts wet holiday week, flood watch in effect
The National Weather Service is forecasting a wet holiday week, and a flood watch is in effect through 8 p.m. Friday. (Image courtesy NWS/Morristown)
The National Weather Service in Morristown in forecasting a wet holiday week, and a flood watch remains in effect in East Tennessee from 8 p.m. today to 8 p.m. Friday.
Between two to five inches of rain is expected, with some local levels exceeding that, the Weather Service said.
The Weather Service is forecasting heavy rain tonight and Thursday, with thunderstorms or a chance of thunderstorms continuing through Sunday. The heavy rain could start tapering off late Friday. [Read more…]
Clinton, Norris, Lake City postpone fireworks
Information from WYSH Radio
The city of Clinton has postponed its Independence Day fireworks show to 9:30 p.m. Saturday at Lakefront Park. This will be a fireworks-only display as all other pre-show festivities have been canceled.
The threat of steady, soaking rainfall Wednesday through Friday has also forced Norris to postpone Norris Day and all the activities on the Norris Commons until Friday, July 26. [Read more…]
Secret City Festival videos available on Fire Department’s YouTube page
This year’s Secret City Festival included expanded areas for children and the Oak Ridge Fire Department, among other changes.
You can now revisit all the fun and excitement of the 2013 Secret City Festival by visiting the Oak Ridge Fire Department’s You Tube page, a press release said.
During the recent festival in June, several hours of footage were collected of the Fire Department zip line and water play areas, and they have now been formatted into short video clips. You can view these clips at www.youtube.com/oakridgefd.
The videos were shot and produced by ORFD Capt. Jason Benjamin, who is also an accomplished actor, producer, and award-winning screen writer, the press release said. [Read more…]
Obama administration delays employer health care mandate until 2015
Mark Mazur
Responding to business concerns, the Obama administration announced Tuesday that it would delay until 2015 the new health care law’s mandate that employers provide workers with health insurance.
New reporting requirements of the Affordable Care Act will also be delayed a year. Questions about the new employer mandate and reporting requirements have been a concern for businesses across the nation, including in and around Oak Ridge.
“We have heard concerns about the complexity of the requirements and the need for more time to implement them effectively,” said Mark J. Mazur, assistant secretary for tax policy. Mazur made the announcement on the U.S. Treasury Department’s website. [Read more…]
Three arrested, crowd pepper-sprayed during arrests at fireworks show
Information from WYSH Radio
Three people were arrested Saturday night during the “Fire on the Water” fireworks show at Sequoyah Marina on Norris Lake after a disturbance that ended with an Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputy deploying pepper spray on an allegedly angry crowd of onlookers.
The incident began at around 9:30 p.m. Saturday when a homeowner on Sequoyah Drive approached three deputies assigned to a special detail to monitor the festivities and told them that he was having a private engagement party on his property. He told the deputies that two men and a woman had come onto the property from the public area roped off for fireworks viewing, taken beer, threatened party guests, and refused to leave. [Read more…]
Teen Battle of the Bands on July 20
A guitar player is pictured above at a previous Battle of the Teen Bands at A.K. Bissell Park.
Y-12 Federal Credit Union is hosting a Teen Battle of the Bands at 6 p.m. July 20 at the A.K. Bissell Park Pavilion behind the Oak Ridge Civic Center.
This is an all-ages community event, and admission is free. Concessions and T-shirts will be available.
In case of rain, the event will be moved to the gym inside the Oak Ridge Civic Center. For more information, send an e-mail to bands@y12fcu.org.
July 4 fireworks in Oak Ridge rescheduled to Sunday
The July 4 fireworks show in Oak Ridge has been rescheduled for 10 p.m. Sunday at A.K. Bissell Park. (Photo by Charles Samuels)
The July 4 fireworks in Oak Ridge have been rescheduled from Thursday to Sunday, an official said Tuesday.
“After consulting with the National Weather Service and our fireworks contractor Pyro Shows, I have made the decision to re-schedule the event,” Oak Ridge Fire Department Chief Darryl Kerley said in a press release. “The community investment is too great for the event to not be spectacular.”
He said heavy rain is expected Wednesday and Thursday, and that could cause problems setting up and loading the shells. The rain could also result in misfires during the Independence Day show and make it difficult for residents and visitors to sit outside and enjoy the display. [Read more…]
IDB endorses professional services contract with Chamber
The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce could provide an office for the Industrial Development Board, store its files, prepare its meeting minutes and agendas, and take care of its accounting under a proposal endorsed Monday.
The Chamber would do the work for $25,000 per year, IDB Chair David Wilson told board members. [Read more…]
Oak Ridge property tax bills delivered
Oak Ridge announced on Monday that all property tax bills have been mailed and should have been delivered to property owners for the year.
The taxes go to support the operation of many city services, from street maintenance to the library, a city press release said. The Oak Ridge police and fire departments, refuse removal and disposal, recreation and parks, and many other city activities are also supported by the property tax. A portion of the tax also goes to support the Oak Ridge School system. [Read more…]
