Oak Ridge Today

Democratic women host discussion on climate change on Monday

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Ellen Smith

Ellen Smith

Climate change will be the focus of a panel discussion presented by the Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club at 6 p.m. Monday, October 26. The discussion will be at the Clinton Community Center, which is at 101 South Hicks Street in Clinton. Panel members will be Ellen Faby, Jo Ann Garrett, Jan Newsome, and Ellen Smith.

Mary Headrick, a retired physician who was a Democratic candidate for the Third Congressional District, will facilitate the discussion, which will focus on protecting the environment and the effects of climate change on health.  A question-and-answer session will follow presentations by the panelists.

Those attending are invited to bring a pot luck item to share. Beverages will be provided. [Read more…]

Hardin, former foster youth, to speak at CASA Lunch and Learn

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Genesis Hardin

Genesis Hardin

CASA of the Tennessee Heartland will host a free Lunch and Learn titled “Step Up. Speak Up.” featuring former foster youth Genesis Hardin.

The event will be held at the Clinton Community Center on October 23 from 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. It is sponsored by Secret City BBQ and Pies, Shop Rite Foods, and Fox and Farley Attorneys at Law.

Hardin, the keynote speaker, spent 13 years in foster care before aging out without a permanent home, a press release said. She is now a student in the University of Tennessee College of Social Work, and she has made it her mission to advocate for children and youth in the local foster care system.

The press release said Hardin has a passion for duly-enrolled youth (youth in foster care with delinquent charges) and believes that all children deserve a voice. [Read more…]

McNally, Powers, Ragan have community conversation in Clinton tonight

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John Ragan

John Ragan

Tennessee Senator Randy McNally and representatives Dennis Powers and John Ragan will have a community conversation in Clinton tonight.

The event starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, August 27 at the Clinton Community Center, 101 Hicks Avenue.

Frank to host two information sessions to discuss county budget

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Terry Frank and Connie Aytes

Mayor Terry Frank and Connie Aytes, deputy budget director, review Anderson County financial documents. (Submitted photo)

 

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank will host two special budget discussions to give the public a chance to hear and see a financial snapshot of Anderson County’s health, and to provide the public an opportunity to ask questions, a press release said.

Both an evening and a day meeting are scheduled. The evening meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 16, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Club Room at the Oak Ridge Civic Center. The day meeting is scheduled for Friday, July 17, from 12-1 p.m. at the Clinton Community Center. The public is invited to attend. [Read more…]

Student loan debt challenges, solutions to be discussed Monday

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Student loan debt challenges and solutions will be discussed during a Monday evening meeting of the Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club.

The featured speaker will be Beth Hickman, who is on the Tennessee Democratic Party Executive Committee and a former field representative for Congressman Lincoln Davis.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. Monday, April 27, in the Clinton Community Center Club Room at 101 South Hicks Street in Clinton. There will be free pizza and soft drinks.

“Student loan debt is a huge challenge for students and the economy,” organizers said. “Student loan debt is at a record high of $1.1 trillion,” according to the New York Times, organizers said.

They said student loans are now the second-largest source of consumer debt in the country, surpassed only by home mortgages, and an average undergraduate borrower leaves college $30,000 in debt.

Democrats to discuss early years of Planned Parenthood in Monday meeting

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A former president of the first Planned Parenthood in the Southeast will discuss the organization during a Monday evening meeting of Democrats.

Elizabeth Peelle helped organize and then served as president and volunteer executive director from 1969 to 1970 for Planned Parenthood of the Southern Mountains, the first Planned Parenthood in the Southeast, serving health care needs of women in Anderson County and surrounding Appalachian counties, a press release said. She drafted the first proposal for outside funding that led to a professional staff for the agency.

Peelle then organized Tennesseans for Choice in 1989 because Planned Parenthood could not lobby for the pro-choice view, and she served as its president for the first eight years, the press release said. [Read more…]

Early voting begins Wednesday, October 15

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Vote Logo

Information from WYSH Radio

Early voting for the November 4 general election in Anderson County begins Wednesday, October 15, and runs through Thursday, October 30.

Early voting hours Monday through Friday will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon at the Clinton Community Center, the Midtown Community Center in Oak Ridge, and at the North Anderson Government Office in the Anderson Crossing Shopping Center in the Norris/Andersonville area. [Read more…]

Venable brings humor to Aug. 25 meeting of Democratic Women’s Club

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Sam Venable

Sam Venable (Submitted photo)

Sam Venable, the Knoxville News Sentinel humor columnist, will bring his humor to the August 25 meeting of the Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club.

Venable’s presentation is titled “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up—Truisms From Real Life.”

The club will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, August 25, in the Clinton Community Center Great Room at 101 South Hicks Street in Clinton. Vernon’s Burnins will cater the event, serving the award-winning barbecue ribs dinner, at a cost of $18 per person. For reservations, e-mail Ann Mostoller at [email protected] or call Mary Matheny at (865) 483-8937 by August 22. [Read more…]

Early voting ends Saturday

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Time is running out to vote early in next Thursday’s countywide general election and state and federal primary elections. Early voting will continue today until 6 p.m. and will be open Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

Polling locations are at the Clinton Community Center, the Midtown Community Center in Oak Ridge, and the North Anderson Government Office in the Anderson Crossing Shopping Center.

On Thursday, 681 people voted, bringing the 12-day total to an impressive 7,140 early voters.

Election Day is Thursday, August 7, and polls across Anderson County will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. that day. For more information, call the Anderson County Election Commission at (865) 457-6238 or visit the website at www.acelect.com.

Local agencies prepare for Anderson County Emergency Preparedness Fair

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American Red Cross Logo

The Anderson County Emergency Preparedness Fair will be held Saturday, May 10, at the Clinton Community Center from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. This is an event for the entire family, and admission is free, a press release said.

Hosted by the City of Clinton, the Anderson County Emergency Preparedness Fair is presented by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, American Red Cross, The Clinton Baptist Association, and sponsored by Bechtel, ORAU, ORNL Federal Credit Union, and the Anderson County Mayor’s Office.  The objective is to bring together government and civic organizations, emergency management personnel, and volunteers to give families, businesses, and communities the opportunity to better prepare for all types of disasters and emergencies, the press release said. The fair will help attendees develop their family disaster plan, receive preparedness tips, and learn more about preparedness in the community. [Read more…]

Close to 800 vote early in Anderson County in first two days

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Anderson County Early Voting

As represented by three signs here, the Anderson County primary election includes three candidates for mayor, the incumbent, Terry Frank, left; her Republican opponent, Commissioner Zach Bates, right; and Democrat Jim Hackworth, center, a former state representative.

Early voting started Wednesday in Anderson County, and close to 800 residents cast ballots in the first two days, according to WYSH Radio in Clinton.

The early voting is for the May 6 Democratic and Republican primaries in Anderson County.

WYSH said 410 people voted Wednesday, and 378 voted Thursday. The two-day total was 788.

The Republican primary has been more popular, with 645 votes cast so far. That primary features four contested races: mayor, sheriff, chancellor, and juvenile court judge. About 82 percent of the ballots cast have been in the GOP primary.

There is only one contested race in the Democratic primary, and that’s for juvenile court judge. One hundred forty-three voters, or about 18 percent of them, cast ballots in the Democratic primary on Wednesday and Thursday, WYSH said. [Read more…]

Rep. Gloria Johnson to speak to Democratic Women’s Club Thursday

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Gloria Johnson

Gloria Johnson

Tennessee Rep. Gloria Johnson, a freshman legislator representing Knoxville House District 13, will report on the current legislative session in Nashville as guest speaker when the Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club meets at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20.

The meeting will be held in the Club Room of the Clinton Community Center, 101 S. Hicks Street. Cost of the dinner is $10 per person. For reservations, e-mail Ann Mostoller at [email protected] or call Mary Matheny at (865) 483-8937.

Johnson, who is seeking re-election this year, supports empowering communities to strengthen neighborhood public schools, preparing youth to win good-paying jobs, and expanding Medicaid so every Tennessean can see a doctor if they get sick, a press release said. [Read more…]