Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge Cedar Barren work day on Saturday

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Oak Ridge Cedar Barren

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There will be a work session to remove exotic invasive plants and learn about cedar barren ecology at a small unique area in the heart of Oak Ridge. The Oak Ridge Cedar Barren, a state natural area, will be the focus of the event on Saturday, March 1. The public is invited to attend.

Located next to Jefferson Middle School in Oak Ridge, this rare barren was spared from development in 1988 through efforts spearheaded by Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning, sponsor of this event, and was subsequently registered as a Tennessee Natural Area. Maintenance of the barren is a joint project of TCWP, the City of Oak Ridge, and the Tennessee Division of Natural Areas. [Read more…]

Judge Murch will seek re-election

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Ron Murch

Ron Murch

Judge Ron Murch has announced he is running for re-election as General Sessions Court judge for Division II, a press release said. Murch has served in the office since 1993.

After graduating from the University Of Tennessee School Of Law in 1976, he was in the private practice of law and was an attorney with the City of Oak Ridge for 17 years until becoming a judge, the release said.

Murch has been a member of the Tennessee General Sessions Judges Conference and has served on the conference’s Education Committee since going on the bench. That committee is responsible for setting the continuing education agenda for all general sessions court judges during their annual conferences. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge: Water meter risers, lids disappearing

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The City of Oak Ridge has received numerous reports of cast iron water meter box risers and lids disappearing from various properties throughout the city. These lids and risers are city- owned property. Without these items in place, water meters could freeze and leave customers without water; therefore, creating an issue for city crews to repair. It also creates a safety hazard for pedestrians with the possibility of stepping in the exposed meter box and being injured. They are very costly to replace, a press release said.

The Oak Ridge municipal staff is asking area residents and the general public for their assistance, the press release said. No one should be removing these lids except city crews and they will be in an easily identifiable by their City of Oak Ridge vehicle. If you see any unusual activity on city streets or around buildings including anyone removing lids or metal covers from city-owned property, call the Oak Ridge Police Department immediately at (865) 425-4399.

Questions or comments can be directed to the Oak Ridge Public Works Department at (865) 425- 1875.

DOE, UCOR demolish last piece of K-25, once the world’s largest building

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K-25 Building Demolition Final

The last section of the former K-25 Building in west Oak Ridge was demolished on Thursday.

It was once the world’s largest building under one roof, built by the U.S. government in less than two years as part of a top-secret race to build the world’s first atomic bombs during World War II.

Officials say it also helped win the Cold War.

But five years after demolition started, the K-25 Building is gone. Officials, workers, and invited guests watched the last section of the giant building crash to the ground on Thursday.

The mile-long, U-shaped K-25 Building enriched uranium through a process called gaseous diffusion. It was the largest facility in the U.S. Department of Energy complex. Debris shipments are expected to be completed in the spring of 2014.

The $1.1 billion project is under budget and ahead of schedule. [Read more…]

Some road, lane closures during Secret City Half Marathon Nov. 30-Dec. 1

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Secret City Half Marathon Course Map

The course map for the Secret City Half Marathon is pictured above.

Some traffic lanes and roads will be closed, and several main roads and intersections will be affected by the Secret City Half Marathon road races next weekend, Nov. 30-Dec. 1, officials said Thursday.

About 800 runners are expected to race on the streets and greenways of Oak Ridge during these family-friendly athletic events, the City of Oak Ridge and Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau said in a press release Thursday.

“Motorists should be aware of runners and walkers in the race areas and try to avoid these roads and find alternate routes if possible,” the release said.

The first-ever Secret City 5k and 10k races will be held Saturday, Nov. 30, at 7:30 a.m. The Oak Ridge Police Department will shut down portions of the race course during the affected time periods. Both races start and finish on Badger Avenue near Oak Ridge Associated Universities and continue along the following route through central Oak Ridge: [Read more…]

ORPD taking applications for Citizens Police Academy

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The Oak Ridge Police Department is now taking applications for the Citizens Police Academy, which will begin on Jan. 23 and run through March 27, 2014.

The Citizens Police Academy allows citizens to gain knowledge of how the Oak Ridge Police Department is organized and learn more about its functions, as well as improve understanding of the challenges in serving and protecting the community, a press release said. It requires a 10-week commitment from the participants and will be held one night a week, on Thursdays beginning at 6 p.m. and ending at 9 p.m. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge accepting race applications for 2014

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The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department is now accepting race applications for 2014. Organizations that wish to host 5Ks, triathlons, marathons, walks, or fun runs next year are strongly encouraged to contact the department to inquire about available dates and courses.

The popularity and frequency of races is increasing. For this reason, the City of Oak Ridge has developed guidelines to permit safe racing on the city’s streets and highways. [Read more…]

Guest column: Oak Ridge Schools explain funding issues, maintenance of effort test

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In the spirit of collaboration, the Oak Ridge Schools would like to share pertinent information in regard to the current maintenance of effort (MOE) issue that faces our community. Tennessee law requires that local governments fund local school systems by at least the same amount each year.

In August, Oak Ridge Schools were notified by the State Department of Education, Office of Local Finance, about the failure to pass the MOE test. Failure to correct this problem by Oct. 1 will result in a loss of Basic Education Program (BEP) funding at a rate of $1.87 million per month.

The only possible resolution to satisfy state law is an increase in local funding from the city general fund in the amount of $250,000. This budget amendment would need to be approved in two readings by City Council, and two readings by the Board of Education.

Numerous meetings have occurred between city and schools staff. In addition, the “high school debt/potential failure of MOE” item has been an ongoing discussion for the past two years. To date, no meetings have been scheduled by the City Council to make the necessary budget amendments. [Read more…]

Officials, volunteers celebrate new Cedar Barren kiosk near JMS

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Oak Ridge Cedar Barrens Celebration

Officials and volunteers celebrate a new kiosk with a ribbon-cutting at Oak Ridge Cedar Barrens near Jefferson Middle School on Aug. 17. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge Cedar Barren has a new kiosk, thanks to Thomas Crout and his Eagle Scout project. There was a ribbon cutting on Saturday, Aug. 17, followed by a brief interpretive tour and some cleanup work.

Located next to Jefferson Middle School in Oak Ridge, this barren is a joint project of the City of Oak Ridge, the State Natural Areas Division, and Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning. This area is one of just a few cedar barrens in East Tennessee.

Soulfinger plays free Secret City Sounds concert on Friday

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Soulfinger

Funk and soul band Soulfinger will play a free show at the Oak Ridge Civic Center Pavilion on Friday. (Submitted photo)

A band that plays funk, soul, and R&B will play a free concert at the Oak Ridge Civic Center Pavilion on Friday.

It’s part of the Secret City Sounds Summer Concert Series. Friday’s show starts at 7 p.m. at the pavilion at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

A press release said Soulfinger is “spearheading a neo-classic funk and soul movement” and “bringing the ‘original’ funk and soul sound and influence back to today’s live music scene.” [Read more…]

Soul Candy and The Traffic Jam play free concert on Friday

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Soul Candy and the Traffic Jam

Twelve-piece Knoxville band Soul Candy and the Traffic Jam plays a free concert Friday evening in Oak Ridge. (Photo by J.L. Kirk)

Secret City Sounds continues their Summer Concert Series with Soul Candy and The Traffic Jam on Friday, Aug. 9. This concert replaces Dishwater Blonde, who had to cancel do to unforeseen circumstances. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Civic Center Pavilion located at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

“What do you get when you mix one smokin’ hot horn section, a hard-drivin’ funky rhythm section, and three talented and energetic female singers with musical theater experience?” a press release said. “You get Knoxville’s own Soul Candy and The Traffic Jam!” [Read more…]

Guest column: Progress on the Manhattan Project National Historical Park Act

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K-25 Building Aerial View

Now mostly demolished, the former mile-long, U-shaped K-25 Building is pictured above. The site could be included in a Manhattan Project National Historical Park. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy)

There has been significant movement in both the House and Senate on the pending legislation to create a national historical park for the Manhattan Project at Oak Ridge as well as Los Alamos, N.M., and Hanford, Wash.

On June 14, the House of Representatives voted to include the Manhattan Project National Historical Park Act as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), H.R. 1960. A few hours later, the House passed the NDAA and, along with it, the Manhattan Project National Historical Park Act. The Manhattan Project Park Act, and the NDAA amendment, was sponsored by representatives Doc Hastings (R-WA), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), and Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN).

The same day, the Senate Committee on Armed Services completed its markup of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2014. Next, the full Senate must pass the bill. Once the Senate acts, a House-Senate conference committee will be appointed to reconcile differences between the two versions of the NDAA. [Read more…]