Oak Ridge Today

Nineteen candidates for Oak Ridge City Council, School Board

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

Ten candidates have qualified to run for Oak Ridge City Council in the November 4 municipal election, and there are nine candidates for Oak Ridge Board of Education—a total of 19 candidates.

It’s the largest field of candidates in recent memory, and it’s not immediately clear when, or if, there has been a field as large.

The deadline to qualify as a candidate in this fall’s municipal elections in Anderson County was noon Thursday.

There is a mix of incumbents and newcomers in Oak Ridge, Clinton, Rocky Top (Lake City), Norris, and Oliver Springs.

Oak Ridge

In Oak Ridge, two incumbents, including Mayor Tom Beehan and Mayor Pro Tem Jane Miller, are not seeking re-election. Meanwhile, the other two incumbents whose terms expire this November, Anne Garcia Garland and David Mosby, are running for another four-year term.

In addition to Garcia Garland and Mosby, the other Oak Ridge City Council candidates are:

  • Kelly Callison,
  • R.G. “Rick” Chinn,
  • Warren L. Gooch,
  • Gary L. Love,
  • Pedro J. Otaduy,
  • Aditya “Doc” Savara,
  • Ellen D. Smith, and
  • Eric Tobler.

[Read more…]

Board orders demolition of five homes in Highland View

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117 Wade Lane Home

A city board on Thursday declared this home at 117 Wade Lane to be unfit for human habitation and ordered it demolished within 90 days.

Note: This story was updated at 11:40 p.m.

From the outside, the homes look they’re in decent shape and not the worst in the neighborhood.

But inside and underneath, problems range from collapsing floors and settling foundations to leaking roofs and tens of thousands worth of mold damage.

On Thursday, a city board declared the five vacant homes to be unfit for human habitation, and members ordered them demolished within 90 days. The city could use federal money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to buy and demolish the homes. [Read more…]

ORCVB board elects new officers

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Aaron Wells

Aaron Wells

The Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau board of directors elected a new slate of officers at its regularly scheduled meeting in February. Aaron Wells was elected chairperson, Mark Harvey will serve as vice chairperson, and Patti Shelton will serve as secretary/treasurer, a press release said. They will each hold their respective positions until January 2015.

The board is comprised of seven community volunteers and three hotel representatives, and it is appointed by the Oak Ridge City Council. Remaining members are Carol Smallridge, Mary Ann Damos, Hugh Ward, Troy Patel, Gretchen Julius, and Misty Williams. There is currently one vacancy.

The ORCVB is a nonprofit organization, formed to strengthen the area economy through the marketing and promotion of Oak Ridge as a destination for meetings, business, and leisure travel. Visit them online at oakridgevisitor.com or call (865) 482-7821 for more information.

Anderson County Republicans also have April 8 candidate forum

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The Anderson County Republican Party will have an April 8 forum for GOP candidates running for county offices in the May 6 primary election.

The forum starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, at the Midtown Community Center in Oak Ridge. It’s expected to last about two hours, a press release said.

“This year’s election is especially important for Anderson County’s future,” said Aaron Wells, chairman of the Anderson County Republican Party. “A forum will provide an excellent opportunity to showcase our great candidates and the Republican vision for the county. We invite folks to join us for what should be an interesting and informative evening. ”

The Republican Party forum is scheduled at the same time and the same night as a candidate forum organized by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge. The League forum is for both Democratic and Republican candidates in the May 6 primary elections. It’s not clear yet if either event might be rescheduled to allow Republican candidates to attend both. [Read more…]

Boys and Girls Club has Valentines Gala on Saturday

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The Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge will be bringing its annual Valentines Gala back to Oak Ridge this year. The event will be held at St. Mary’s in Columbus Hall and the Gymnasium from 6:30-11 p.m. Saturday. The theme will be The Roaring Twenties, with an authentic time period band and Knox Vegas DJs to entertain the crowd throughout the evening.

“We’re thrilled to bring the club’s largest fundraiser back to town and offer a theme that is sure to be the highlight of the season for Oak Ridgers,” said Aaron Wells, president of the Oak Ridge Unit board of directors. Along with the music, the event will feature a live auction emceed by Bear Stephenson, silent auction, dinner, and several other fun activities, which will help to bring the Roaring Twenties theme into full effect.

This is the Boys and Girls Club’s largest fundraising event and provides a wonderful opportunity for community leaders to come out and show their support while enjoying an evening of upscale fun and dancing. Auction items will include a John Daly autographed golf bag, a trip to Keeneland for the races, and several other unique items. All proceeds from this event will go directly to the Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Meet primary candidates at Anderson County Republican meeting tonight

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The Anderson County Republican Party will meet at 6:30 p.m. today (Tuesday), and those who attend will have a chance to meet the party’s primary candidates.

The meeting is at the Staybridge Suites at 420 S. Illinois Ave in Oak Ridge. The Staybridge Suites are located behind Outback Steakhouse, near the Kroger store.

“It should be an informative meeting,” said Aaron Wells, chairman of the Anderson County Republican Party. “It’s an opportunity to meet the candidates who are running in this year’s Republican primary, as well as talk about the important issues affecting Anderson County.” [Read more…]

Ribbon cutting, reception at Boys and Girls Club on Wednesday

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Boys and Girls Club Gym

The renovated gym at the Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

Submitted

The Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge has seen some major changes during the last few months. From the recent efforts to reinvigorate the football and cheerleading program to adding a dance classes to the after-school program, big things have been happening for the kids involved.

Effective Nov. 1, the umbrella corporation Boys and Girls Clubs of the Clinch Valley, which oversees operations at the Oak Ridge unit and the brand new Roane County Unit located at Harriman Middle School, hired Dean Deatherage as CPO of the organization. Deatherage is a native of Knoxville, and his mother Carolyn Montgomery is a former assistant principal of Jefferson Middle School. He has been involved in the Boys and Girls Club movement for more than 10 years, most recently serving as executive director for the Loudon County Club. [Read more…]

Anderson County Republican Party has open house Tuesday

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The Anderson County Republican Party will have a community open house between 6 and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Midtown Community Center in Oak Ridge.

“This is an opportunity to learn about the Republican Party and meet local office holders and candidates, who will be there to share ideas and gain input for the upcoming elections,” a press release said.

The Midtown Community Center is located at 102 Robertsville Road, at the intersection with Oak Ridge Turnpike. Refreshments will be served. [Read more…]

Price Florist gets another 30 days for sale, repair, or demolition

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Price Florist

A city board has declared Price Florist on Oak Ridge Turnpike a nuisance and unfit for human occupation and use, and members have given the property owner another 30 days to develop a repair plan, get a demolition permit, or reach an agreement to sell it.

The owner of the Price Florist property on Oak Ridge Turnpike has already been given two 30-day extensions to make repairs, demolish the building, or sell it.

On Thursday, the Oak Ridge Board of Building and Housing Code Appeals gave property owner Patricia Warren of Crossville one last extension.

“There’s no more 30 days,” board member Joe Lee said. “We’ve burned them up.” [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Boys Club alumni have kickoff party Friday

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The Oak Ridge Boys Club Alumni Association has their annual membership drive and kickoff party at Lincoln’s Sports Grille at 7 p.m. Friday.

The alumni have been an essential part of helping the local Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge during the last four decades, with recent efforts including the purchase of a 15-passenger van for transporting children to the club from school, a press release said.

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Boys Club Alumni have first annual Christmas party Saturday

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The Boys Club Alumni Association will host its first annual Christmas party on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge.

Alumni members will help with the annual Christmas tree sales on the baseball field in front of the building, a press release said.

“We will be selling barbecue and trees this year in an effort to help raise money for the club,” Boys Club Alumni President Aaron Wells said.

[Read more…]