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Twenty-nine qualify to run for 16 seats on Anderson County Commission

Posted at 1:38 pm April 7, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Twenty-nine candidates have qualified to run for 16 seats on the Anderson County Commission in the county general election in August.

There are also three people running for the Tennessee House of Representatives in District 33, a new appointed Oak Ridge school board member running in a special election in August, and a Democratic challenger to Tennessee Senator Randy McNally, an Oak Ridge resident who is also lieutenant governor.

The deadline to qualify to run in the August 2 election, which will also feature contested elections for Anderson County sheriff and trustee, was noon Thursday.

Anderson County has eight County Commission districts, and there are two commissioners per district. The offices are non-partisan, meaning that, unlike some other county offices, they are not part of the Democratic and Republican primary elections on May 1. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2018 Election, Anderson County, Education, Front Page News, Government, K-12, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Commission, Anderson County Sheriff, Anthony Allen, Avery Johnson, Ben Stephens, Bob Eby, Bob Smallridge, Cassandra Mitchell, Catherine Denenberg, Chris Silver, Chuck Fritts, county general election, David Queener, Democratic primary, Dennis Powers, Denny Phillips, Denver Waddell, Ebony Capshaw, Felicia Foust, Floyd Grisham, Jeff Cole, Jeff Maxwell, Jerry Creasey, Jerry White, Jimmy Bouchard, John Meyer, John Ragan, Joshua Anderson, Leesa Arowood, Lewis Ridenour, Mark "Hollywood" Whaley, Mark Alderson, Mark Lucas, Michael Foster, Nathaniel Varner, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Phil Warfield, Phil Yager, primary elections, Randy McNally, Regina Copeland, Republican primary, Rex Lynch, Richard Dawson, Rick Meredith, Robert Jameson, Robert McKamey, Russell Barker, Scott Burton, Scott Gillenwaters, Shain Vowell, Steve Emert, Steve Mead, Tabitha Harmon, Tennessee House of Representatives, Tennessee House of Representatives District 33, Tennessee Senate District 5, Terry Frank, Theresa Scott, Tim Isbel, Tim Risden, Tim Shelton, Tracy Wandell, William Jones

ORHS Youth Ambassadors travel to Capitol for substance abuse prevention day

Posted at 3:34 am March 10, 2017
By Holly Cross Leave a Comment

ASAP-on-the-HILL-2-1

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…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, Government, Health, K-12, State Tagged With: Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention, Anderson County, Anderson County Health Department, Anderson County High School, ASAP, ASAP Youth Ambassadors, Day on the Hill, Dennis Powers, Donovan Harrington, Jenifer Laurendine, John Ragan, marijuana, Mary Tuskan, Oak Ridge Schools, opioid abuse, Prevention Alliance of Tennessee, Randy McNally, Stacey Pratt, substance abuse, tobacco-free parks, youth ambassadors

TN College of Applied Technology gets $5.7 million grant for Anderson County facility

Posted at 6:40 pm November 17, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

tennessee-college-of-applied-technology-knoxville

The Tennessee College of Applied Technology Knoxville will receive a $5.7 million Drive to 55 Capacity Fund Grant to be used for a training facility in Anderson County, state officials said Thursday.

The grant was announced by Tennessee Senator Randy McNally, an Oak Ridge Republican; Representative John Ragan, an Oak Ridge Republican; and Representative Dennis Powers, a Jacksboro Republican after they were notified by Governor Bill Haslam and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, or THEC.

“It is critical that we prepare our students with the skills they need for 21st century jobs,” said McNally, who as Finance Committee Chairman has supported the Drive to 55 Capacity grants. “This grant not only aids us in that effort, but also helps us bring new jobs to Tennessee as businesses are looking for a skilled workforce. I am very pleased that these funds will be coming to Anderson County.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: College, Education, Front Page News, Government, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, Bill Haslam, Dennis Powers, Department of Economic and Community Development, Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Drive to 55 Capacity Fund Grant, John Ragan, Randy McNally, Tennessee Board of Regents, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Tennessee Higher Education Commission, THEC, training facility, University of Tennessee

Roane State to host special Welcome Back events for students

Posted at 12:13 am August 21, 2016
By Owen Driskill Leave a Comment

Roane State Community College Greets Students

Roane State Community College President Chris Whaley greets students in the library on the main campus in Harriman. (Photo by Roane State)

 

Roane State Community College will offer a “sunny” welcome to both new and returning students with special celebrations to kick off the start of fall classes.

Under the theme “My Future’s So Bright,” students will be invited to participate in a variety of activities during the college’s annual Welcome Back celebrations. An event will be held on Roane State’s Roane County campus on Monday, August 22, from 10 a.m-2 p.m. in the courtyard. A celebration on the Oak Ridge campus will be held on Tuesday, August 23, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the atrium.

Students will be invited to write down their visions of their futures on a special banner and take a “future selfie” dressed in graduation attire or other gear associated with their future careers. A limited number of sunglasses will also be given away to attendees.

“We are excited to welcome students back to campus,” Roane State President Chris Whaley said. “A lot of exciting initiatives are happening at Tennessee’s community colleges with Tennessee Promise for high school students and Tennessee Reconnect for adults. The future is bright for Roane State students, and we want to show them how much we appreciate them and are committed to their success.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: College, Education Tagged With: Chris Whaley, community colleges, Dennis Powers, John Ragan, Ken Yager, Kent Calfee, Randy McNally, Roane State, Roane State Community College, Tennessee Promise, Tennessee Reconnect, Welcome Back, Welcome Back celebration

Area lawmakers announce $72,190 in arts grants in Anderson County

Posted at 12:04 am June 15, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Tennessee lawmakers announced this month that six arts grants worth a total of $73,010 have been awarded to five organizations in Anderson County.

The grants from the Tennessee Arts Commission include two awards with a combined total of $18,600 for the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge in the categories of Arts Education-Community Learning and Partnership Support.

Other grants include $23,110 to the Oak Ridge Community Playhouse in the category of Partnership Support, $16,900 to the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association in the category of Partnership Support, $11,620 to the Oak Ridge Community Art Center in the category of Partnership Support, and $2,780 to the Tennessee Mountain Writers in the category of Art Project Support. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Arts, Community, Entertainment, Front Page News, Government, Music, Nonprofits, State, Theater, Writing Tagged With: Anderson County, Ann Pope, arts grants, Children's Museum of Oak Ridge, Dennis Powers, John Ragan, Ken Yager, Kent Calfee, National Endowment for the Arts, Oak Ridge Civic Music Association, Oak Ridge Community Art Center, Oak Ridge Community Playhouse, Randy McNally, Tennessee Arts Commission, Tennessee General Assembly, Tennessee Mountain Writers

McNally, Powers, Ragan have community conversation in Clinton tonight

Posted at 8:12 am August 27, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Meetings and Events, State Tagged With: Clinton Community Center, Dennis Powers, John Ragan, Randy McNally

Area lawmakers announce $72,190 in Anderson County arts grants

Posted at 11:59 am June 27, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Tennessee legislators announced Friday that seven arts grants worth $72,190 have been awarded to six organizations in Anderson County.

The recipients include the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Community Playhouse, Oak Ridge Civic Music Association, Oak Ridge Community Art Center, Tennessee Mountain Writers, and Appalachian Arts Craft Center.

The grants include two grants with a combined total of $20,800 for the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge in the categories of Arts Education-Community Learning and Partnership Support.

The other grants include: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Arts, Community, Entertainment, Front Page News, Government, Music, Nonprofits, State, Theater, Writing Tagged With: Anne Pope, Appalachian Arts Craft Center, arts grants, Children's Museum of Oak Ridge, Dennis Powers, grants, John Ragan, Ken Yager, Kent Calfee, National Endowment for the Arts, Oak Ridge Civic Music Association, Oak Ridge Community Art Center, Oak Ridge Community Playhouse, Randy McNally, specialty license plates, Tennessee Art Commission, Tennessee General Assembly, Tennessee Mountain Writers

Alexander, Fleischmann finish first in primaries

Posted at 1:58 pm August 8, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Lamar Alexander and Johnny Alley

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander, left, a Tennessee Republican, campaigns at Dean’s Restaurant and Bakery in Oak Ridge on Wednesday, one day before he beat Tea Party challenger Joe Carr, a state representative from Middle Tennessee, in the seven-candidate GOP primary. Alexander is pictured above with Anderson County Property Assessor Johnny Alley.

 

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander

Lamar Alexander

Ninth District judicial race close; Supreme Court justices retained

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander finished far ahead of a Tea Party challenger in the Republican primary on Thursday, and Representative Chuck Fleischmann narrowly beat Weston Wamp, the son of former Congressman Zach Wamp, in the second battle between the two men.

Alexander’s top opponent in the seven-candidate GOP primary was State Representative Joe Carr of Middle Tennessee. Alexander, who lost in his home district of Blount County, had 329,929 votes, compared to 269,883 for Carr, according to unofficial results posted by the Tennessee Secretary of State.

George Flinn, a Memphis radiologist and radio station owner, finished a distant third, with 34,568 votes.

Alexander, a former Tennessee governor and University of Tennessee president, will face Democrat Gordon Ball in the November 4 general election. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2014 Election, Federal, Federal, Government, Morgan County, Roane County, Slider, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Election Commission, Bill Haslam, Caitlin Nolan, Charles Brown, Chuck Fleischmann, Cornelia Clark, Democrat, Dennis Powers, District 36, Fifth District, Gary Wade, George Flinn, GOP primary, Gordon Ball, governor, House District 33, Jason Zachary, Jim Tracy, Joe Carr, John J. Duncan Jr., John Ragan, Lamar Alexander, Mary Headrick, Mike Pemberton, Ninth Judicial District, November 4 general election, Randy McNally, Representative, Republican, retention election, Scott DesJarlais, Scotty Mayfield, Sharon Lee, Supreme Court justices, Tea Party, Tennessee Secretary of State, Tennessee Senate, Terry Adams, Third District, Tom McFarland, U.S. senator, Virgil Kidwell, Weston Wamp, Zach Wamp

State lawmakers seek photos of fallen Vietnam-era soldiers

Posted at 11:08 am July 15, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Randy McNally

Randy McNally

From WYSH Radio

Three local state legislators are seeking photos of Vietnam War veterans from Anderson County who were killed in action in order to honor the fallen heroes at a new facility that complements the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.

The photos are being sought by Tennessee Senator Randy McNally and Representative John Ragan, both Oak Ridge Republicans, and Dennis Powers, a Jacksboro Republican. The photos will be part of a multimedia display at the new facility, which will be built between the existing Wall and the Lincoln Memorial. The effort is part of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, or VVMF.

Senator Mark Green, a Clarksville Republican who is heading up the effort statewide, enlisted the help of the local lawmakers in trying to locate missing photos of local veterans for the memorial. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Government, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, D.C., Dennis Powers, Education Center, John Ragan, killed in action, Lincoln Memorial, Mark Green, Randy McNally, soliders, Tennesseans, veterans, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, Vietnam War, VVMF, Washington

Tennessee Secretary of State presents archives grant to Anderson County historian

Posted at 7:55 pm April 28, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Anderson County Archives Grant

From left are Sen. Randy McNally, Rep. John Ragan, Rep. Dennis Powers, Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank, County Historian Mary Sue Harris, and Secretary of State Tre Hargett. (Photo courtesy of Anderson County government)

 

CLINTON—Anderson County government has received a $3,100 archives grant from the Tennessee State Library and Archives, and Secretary of State Tre Hargett last Tuesday personally presented the grant award to Mary Sue “Susie” Harris, Anderson County’s longtime archivist and historian.

State Sen. Randy McNally and State Rep. John Ragan, both Oak Ridge Republicans, and State Rep. Dennis Powers, a Jacksboro Republican who represents part of Anderson County, joined Hargett and Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank for the presentation.

A full-time historian and part-time sleuth, Harris has dedicated more than 50 years of service to Anderson County as a historian, archivist, author, and genealogist. She has helped thousands of citizens track the history of their ancestors—and even find long-lost relatives—in Anderson County and East Tennessee.

“The importance of history can never be overstated—and Mrs. Harris is one of the best ambassadors we have for keeping the flames of the past alive,” Frank said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Government, State Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Courthouse, archives grant, archivist, Dennis Powers, historian, John Ragan, Mary Sue "Susie" Harris, Randy McNally, Records and Archives Vault, Secretary of State, Tennessee 200 Bicentennial History of Anderson County 1796-1996, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Terry Frank, Tre Hargett

Most Anderson commissioners seek re-election, six running in District 7 in OR

Posted at 12:47 pm April 4, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Anderson County Courthouse

The Anderson County Courthouse on Main Street in Clinton is pictured above.

There are six candidates running for Anderson County Commission in District 7 in Oak Ridge in August, and a Democrat has joined the race for Tennessee House of Representatives in the 33rd District.

Meanwhile, an Independent, Bradley S. Rickett, has joined the race for Anderson County mayor, competing against Democrat Jim Hackworth and the winner of the May 6 Republican primary, either the incumbent, Terry Frank, or her challenger, Commissioner Zach Bates.

Fourteen of the 16 Anderson County commissioners are seeking re-election to a four-year term. But Bates, from District 4 in the Lake City area, is not. And neither is Commissioner John Shuey. Shuey is one of two commissioners in District 7, which includes the Glenwood, Highland View, and Pine Valley precincts in Oak Ridge.

District 7 is the most competitive in terms of number of candidates. In addition to the incumbent, Jerry Creasey, other candidates include Jimmy Bouchard, Michael Marsh, Denny Phillips, Kevin Rice, and Theresa Scott.

District 3—which includes Andersonville, Fairview, Glen Alpine, and Norris—has five candidates, including the two incumbents, Steve Emert and Dusty Irwin. The other three candidates are Josh Anderson, David Farmer, and Philip Warfield. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2014 Election, Anderson County, Education, Government, Government, K-12, Slider, State, Top Stories Tagged With: 33rd District, 36th District, Allen C.H. Loope, Anderson County Commission, Anderson County mayor, Andersonville, Anthony Allen, Bradley S. Rickett, Briceville, Caitlin Nolan, Carl D. Beaty, Chris Phillips, Chuck Fritts, Claxton, Clinton, county general, David Farmer, Democrat, Dennis Powers, Denny Phillips, Don Bell, Dusty Irwin, election, Floyd E. Grisham, Greg Crawford, Harry "Whitey" Hitchcock, Herb “Herbie” Foust, James Virgil Kidwell, Jerry Creasey, Jerry White, Jim Hackworth, Jimmy Bouchard, Jo Williams, Joey Anderson, John Ragan, John Shuey, Joseph H. VanHook, Josh Anderson, Kevin Rice, Lake City, Landle “Lynn” Byrge, Mark Alderson, Marlow, Michael Marsh, Misty Neergaard, Myra Mansfield, Myron Iwanski, Norris, Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs, Philip Warfield, primary election, Ramona L. Walker, Republican, Rick Meredith, Robert McKamey, Robin Biloski, Rosedale, Scott Gillenwaters, Steve Emert, Steve Fritts, Steve Mead, Teresa Portwood, Terry Frank, Theresa Scott, Tim Isbel, Tracy L. Wandell, Walt Lounsbery, Zach Bates

Spotlight: Leadership Anderson County visits state government in Nashville

Posted at 7:59 pm April 2, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Leadership Anderson County Nashville Trip

The Leadership Anderson County Class of
2014 recently visited Nashville on a state government trip.
Rep. John Ragan, Sen. Randy McNally, and Rep. Dennis Powers are also in the photo with the class. (Submitted photo)

Leadership Anderson County Class of 2014, a program of the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce, and members of the Leadership Anderson County board of directors, visited Nashville for their state government trip in March.

The class, shown at left with Rep. John Ragan, Sen. Randy McNally, and Rep. Dennis Powers, participated in a mock session, visited the Tennessee Fusion Center, toured the Capitol and Supreme Court, and met with Comptroller Justin P. Wilson and Secretary of State Tre Hargett.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2015 class. For more information, contact the Chamber at (865) 457-2559 or visit www.andersoncountychamber.org.

Filed Under: Anderson County, Business, Government, Honors and Spotlight, State Tagged With: Anderson County Chamber of Commerce, Dennis Powers, John Ragan, Leadership Anderson County, Randy McNally

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Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

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