Oak Ridge Today

Environmental impact of deregulation is topic at Democratic Women’s Club

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Axel Ringe

Axel Ringe

Axel Ringe, conservation chair for the Sierra Club’s Tennessee Chapter, will discuss “The Environmental Impacts of Government Deregulation” as guest speaker at the Monday, September 25, meeting of the Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club. The meeting will be at 6 p.m. at Swifty’s Atomic Grill, which is at 119 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

Ringe is a retired scientific analyst and program manager with the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information, or OSTI. A graduate of Cornell University, he has made a second career as a volunteer with the Sierra Club, a press release said. He has held numerous offices within the Tennessee Chapter and Harvey Broome Group since joining the club in 1996, and currently serves as conservation chair for both the state chapter and the local group. [Read more…]

Roane State students construct turtle habitat in Costa Rica

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Roane State costa_rica_class

As part of their study abroad service learning class, Roane State students constructed a turtle habitat for ASVO, a conservation organization in Costa Rica. (Photo by Roane State Community College)

 

Sixteen Roane State Community College students traveled to Costa Rica this summer to build a sea turtle nursery, give needed school supplies to elementary school children, help teach English to college students, and immerse themselves in a foreign culture.

The students were part of a Roane State study abroad service learning class. The class has been offered for the past eight years and gives students the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica and earn college credit in business or education.

Costa Rica is home to four species of sea turtles. Roane State students constructed a nursery that will protect turtle eggs from poachers, tourists, and other harmful elements. The eggs are monitored around the clock until they hatch. [Read more…]

Mountain land gift honors Myrick, a leader, volunteer, Nature Conservancy Board member

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

John R. Dickey Birch Branch Sanctuary in Shady Valley is pictured above. (Submitted photo)

John R. Dickey Birch Branch Sanctuary in Shady Valley is pictured above. (Submitted photo)

 

Eighty acres of beautiful mountain land in Johnson County have been added to a Nature Conservancy preserve in Shady Valley, thanks to the foresight and generosity of a local couple. Sadly, the May 20 land donation is not just a gift, but also a loving tribute to a departed spouse and friend of conservation.

Back in 2007, Teresa Myrick and her late husband Tim wanted to leave a legacy of protected mountain land for future generations. That’s why they donated a conservation easement to The Nature Conservancy, restricting development on a treasured tract of mountain land they bought for their retirement. The property is located adjacent to the Conservancy’s John R. Dickey Birch Branch Sanctuary in Shady Valley. Teresa and Tim, a former Oak Ridge National Laboratory engineer and community leader and volunteer, became solid supporters of The Nature Conservancy, and Tim went on to become a board member for the Tennessee Chapter of the Conservancy. The couple looked forward to spending many years together on the scenic property.

However, Tim passed away far too early, in December 2014, at age 60, of cancer. As Teresa thought about the future of their mountain land, she knew what Tim would have wanted. She realized he would want her to donate it outright to The Nature Conservancy to be protected and cared for. [Read more…]