The Anderson County Courthouse is closed Tuesday due to winter weather.
Anderson County was under a winter storm warning until Tuesday morning, with more snow expected Monday night, a press release said. With lows tonight expected to be 14 degrees Monday night, and a high on Tuesday expected at 25 degrees, “the snow and ice will create unsafe for conditions for citizens and county employees,” the press release said.
[Read more…]Oak Ridge Schools and Anderson County Health Department will have a vaccine clinic for students 12 and older in June.
The vaccine clinic will be in Wildcat Arena at Oak Ridge High School on June 4 and 25. It will feature the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, with the first shot on Friday, June 4, and the second on Friday, June 25. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the second dose.
The vaccine clinic will begin at 9 a.m. both days.
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On Thursday, June 18, a Roane State Community College student reported a positive COVID-19 test result to the college. The student has not shown any symptoms and is now quarantining at home, a press release said.
This is the first confirmed case of the virus on any of Roane State’s campuses, the press release said.
The positive case was found during a precautionary health screening required by a state licensing board and was conducted at a local health department, the press release said.
The student was reported to have been inside the Coffey-McNally Building of the Oak Ridge Branch Campus (ORBC) on Tuesday, June 16. Upon learning of the positive test result, the college began the process of closing the building and notifying each person who had been in direct contact with the student.
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There will be free drive-through COVID-19 testing in Oak Ridge on Sunday.
The testing is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 26, at the Oak Ridge campus of Roane State Community College. Participants can remain in their vehicles throughout the process.
The Anderson County Health Department and the Tennessee Department of Health are organizing the testing event, a press release said. Nurses and/or National Guard medics will collect nasal swabs from those who want to be tested. Test results may be available within 72 hours after the samples arrive at the lab, depending on lab volume.
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Note: This story was last updated at 2:55 p.m.
Drive-through testing for COVID-19 started Wednesday morning in Oak Ridge.
The free testing is being offered by the City of Oak Ridge and Kroger Health. It’s scheduled from Wednesday, April 15, to Friday, April 17, in the Oak Ridge High School parking lot near Oak Ridge Turnpike.
Before testing began Wednesday morning, about 200 appointments had been scheduled over a three-day period, the City of Oak Ridge said.
Up to 250 people can be tested at the drive-through station each day. You do not need to be an Oak Ridge citizen to get tested, the city said.
[Read more…]The Anderson County Health Department is offering COVID-19 assessments, Mayor Terry Frank said Wednesday.
People who think they may have COVID-19 symptoms can call the health department at (865) 425-8801 and receive a consultation and talk about possible testing options in the area.
“If you are ill and experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (fever and cough, shortness of breath, or breathing problems), it is recommended you call either your health care provider or the health department first so they can arrange for your arrival to minimize the risk of exposing others to an illness,” Frank said.
[Read more…]The first case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in Anderson County, according to the office of Mayor Terry Frank.
The Anderson County Health Department told Frank and Steve Payne, director of the Emergency Management Agency, about the first confirmed diagnosis.
According to the Health Department, the patient has self-isolated and the Health Department is currently engaged in education and tracing the person’s contacts. The Anderson County Health Department cannot release any further information about the patient, including a more precise location within Anderson County, a press release said.
[Read more…]The immediate risk of the coronavirus in the United States is believed to be low, but Oak Ridge Schools, Anderson County Schools, and the Anderson County Health Department are providing information to help respond to the emerging public health threat.
“Oak Ridge Schools is committed to keeping our students and staff safe and are currently working to determine the appropriate steps to address the potential coronavirus outbreak,” the school system said in a message sent to staff members on Friday afternoon. “We are communicating with the Anderson County Health Department to attain the latest information and recommendations from federal, state, and local authorities.”
Oak Ridge Schools said it will use that information to create a plan to keep students and staff safe.
“Staff, students, and parents will receive information regarding a coronavirus plan should the implementation of such action become necessary,” the message said.
The school system said it will communicate with students, staff, and parents about the importance of consistently practicing these recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
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More than 55 runners from Oak Ridge and Morgan, Roane, Anderson, and Knox counties competed in the Third Annual Oak Ridge Schools STOMP OUT Tobacco 5k on Saturday, May 20, 2017. (Submitted photo)
More than 55 runners from Oak Ridge and Morgan, Roane, Anderson, and Knox counties competed in the Third Annual Oak Ridge Schools STOMP OUT Tobacco 5k on Saturday, May 20. The focus of the event was to encourage physical activity throughout the community while raising awareness to the dangers of tobacco use, a press release said.
Jacob Price of Oak Ridge was the first place male overall winner with a time of 21:24.9. The female overall winner was Amanda Seal of Knoxville with a time of 25:09.9.
The 5k took place on the Grove Center Course that started at Randolph Road. ASAP of Anderson County and Premiere Martial Arts set up at the registration site to provide information regarding their agencies. Breakfast items and water were provided by Oak Ridge Schools Coordinated School Health partnership with Anderson County Health Department. Chick-Fil-A was also on site to provide fruit cups to the first 50 participants to cross the finish line. [Read more…]
Submitted photo
Eleven Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) Youth Ambassadors from Anderson County, Clinton, and Oak Ridge high schools traveled to the State Capitol to take part in Prevention Alliance of Tennessee’s Day on the Hill. On this day, coalitions from all across the state come together to advocate for substance abuse prevention in Tennessee. By joining forces with The Prevention Alliance of Tennessee (PAT), the ASAP Youth Ambassadors are able to further the mission to prevent and reduce substance abuse in Anderson County, a press release said.
During the visit, these students had the opportunity to have private meetings with Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, Representative John Ragan, and Representative Dennis Powers to educate them about the issues that are important to them. Currently, these issues include the desire to have tobacco-free parks in Anderson County, the risks involved with legalizing medical or other uses of marijuana, and support for opioid abuse reduction. [Read more…]
Community members gather to show their support for breastfeeding during the 2015 Baby’s Best Fest. This year’s event will take place on Aug. 4 at the A.K. Bissell Park playground. (Photo by MMC)
By Kelly Goodman/Covenant Health
Like ice cream and a summer day, some things are just made for each other. That’s how we feel about breastfeeding. Breast milk is made especially for babies, and the staff at Methodist Medical Center and the Family Birthing Center want to encourage all new mothers to consider breastfeeding for your baby’s best health and development.
To celebrate World Breastfeeding Month, Methodist Medical Center, the Anderson County Health Department, and La Leche League will host Baby’s Best Fest, a free event featuring a family ice cream social, children’s activities, community resources, and more. Baby’s Best Fest will take place Thursday, August 4, from 6-7 p.m. at the A.K. Bissell Park Playground, located at 1401 Oak Ridge Turnpike.
“Breastfeeding is about making it work for you and your baby for an extended time,†says Cher Stallings (RN, BSN, IBCLC, CCE), International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in the Family Birthing Center at Methodist Medical Center. “So many mothers start out breastfeeding, but as they return to work or get caught up in a busy home life, they may give up breastfeeding earlier than they would ideally like. For some women, it’s a lack of support from family. For others, it’s a lack of tools or knowledge.†[Read more…]
In front row, left to right, are Nina Vasquez, Kwan Davis, Brock Smith, and Tommy Meredith. In back, from left to right, are Patty Campbell, Anderson County Health Department nutritionist; Terry Frank, Anderson County mayor; Terry Peek, director of the Emory Valley Early Learning Center; and Jennifer Enderson, president of the Emory Valley Center. (Photo courtesy of Anderson County Health Department)
The Emory Valley Early Learning Center in Oak Ridge recently completed all requirements to be considered a “Gold Sneaker†facility by the State of Tennessee.
And on June 10, Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank and employees of the Anderson County Health Department presented Emory Valley Learning Center with its Gold Sneaker incentives. The Gold Sneaker Initiative designation, developed by the Tennessee Department of Health, is an enhanced certification for daycares in Tennessee and requires that these centers maintain rigorous standards of physical activity, nutrition, and a tobacco-free campus, a press release said.
“The team at Emory Valley Center was so proud of their recognition, as they should be,†Frank said in the press release. “A focus on health and wellness during the early years is assuredly an investment in a healthy adulthood. I congratulate their wonderful team’s hard work and commitment meeting the standards of the governor and the Department of Health.†[Read more…]
