Oak Ridge Today

Candidate Forum: Local candidates running for Tennessee House, Senate

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The League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge will sponsor a candidate forum on Thursday, October 25, at 7 p.m. in the Oak Ridge High School Amphitheater. This forum will feature candidates running in the Tennessee state general election for Tennessee Senate District 5 and Tennessee House Districts 32 and 33, and information on the Roane County wheel tax referendum, a press release said. Patrick Bryan, former League co-president, will moderate.

The two candidates for the Tennessee Senate District 5—which includes Anderson, Loudon, and part of Knox counties—are Randy McNally, the Republican incumbent, and Stuart Starr, his Democratic challenger. The two candidates for the Tennessee House District 32, which includes parts of Roane and Loudon counties, are Kent Calfee, the Republican incumbent, and Mary Ellen Blencoe, his Democratic challenger. The two candidates for Tennessee House District 33, which covers most of Anderson County, are John D. Ragan, the Republican incumbent, and Richard Dawson, his Democratic challenger. [Read more…]

Opinion: Advocates looking more carefully at those who want to enter U.S.

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John Ragan

John Ragan

Yet another mass shooting is in the news. The latest one occurred in San Bernardino, California: 14 innocent people were slaughtered, 21 injured. The perpetrators were a married couple, one an American of Pakistani descent, the other a Pakistani-born resident of the United States. Both, apparently, had pledged allegiance to ISIL or ISIS.

President Obama has declared their terrible actions an act of terrorism; there is no question about it! The question remaining is: What will we, as a nation, do to fight the terrorism that has infiltrated and continues to infiltrate our homeland?

The perpetrators of the San Bernardino killings shared, along with the merciless executioners in the Paris massacre, the perverse “mission” pursued by ISIL, al Qaeda, and other terrorist organizations motivated by radical Islamic ideologies. So did the Chattanooga shooter and the Memphian murderer at a Little Rock military recruiting center. So did the bombers at the Boston Marathon and dozens of other sites, including the jet hijackers who murdered 3,000 Americans and injured thousands more at the World Trade Center in 2001. [Read more…]

Guest column: Christmas Spirit

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John Ragan

John Ragan

On Christmas Day a century ago, at several locations along the Western Front of the World War I conflict, soldiers from both sides of the Great War emerged from trenches to meet in peace and camaraderie in no-man’s-land: the war-torn spaces between the opposing trenches. In the days leading up to Christmas, troops on both sides had sometimes joined in singing Christmas carols, the melodies rising to mix in the frigid air over the battlefield.

When Christmas Day dawned, instead of exchanging artillery barrages and bayonet charges, they traded handshakes, gifts, and holiday wishes. One location even enjoyed a friendly game of soccer.

Briefly, on a European battlefield where death and bitterness had reigned supreme, there was peace on earth and good will toward men. Though it was for only a day—a Christmas Day—hatred gave way to recognition of humanity’s brotherhood. [Read more…]

School board candidates field questions on technology, tax increases

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Oak Ridge Board of Education Forum

A. Paige Marshall, left, one of eight candidates for the Oak Ridge School Board, answers a question during the League of Women Voters’ Candidate Forum Wednesday night. To her right are candidates Mike Mahathy, Andrew Howe, Jean Hiser, and incumbent Bob Eby, with WUOT radio host Matt Shafer Powell, who posed the questions. (Photo by Rebecca D. Williams)

 

Fielding public school questions about technology, tax increases, and the teaching of science versus religion, eight candidates for the Oak Ridge School Board tried to distinguish themselves from one another Wednesday night at the League of Women Voters’ Candidate Forum held at the Oak Ridge High School Amphitheater, to a crowd of about 150.

Board candidates offered largely similar answers, with the greatest difference of opinion posed by Aaron Wells. He spoke against school tax increases and one-to-one technology in schools.

“The biggest impact on me growing up was when my teachers gave me one-to-one education,” Wells said. “How many hours a day are kids staring at a screen? It’s too many. We need to do more with less, because money’s tight. We’ve got to get back to the basics.”

Also participating in the forum were two candidates who are opposing incumbent Chuck Fleischmann, a Republican, for the District 3 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Mary M. Headrick, a Democrat, and Cassandra J. Mitchell, an Independent, answered questions. Fleischmann was not present.

Also, Tennessee House Representative for District 32, Kent Calfee, the Republican incumbent, and Joe Kneiser, his Democratic opponent, fielded questions about four referendum questions on the ballot Nov. 4.

Three seats on the five-member Oak Ridge Board of Education are open. Bob Eby is the only incumbent running for re-election. Other candidates include Jean Hiser, Andrew Howe, Mike Mahathy, A. Paige Marshall, Laura McLean, Laurie Paine, and Wells. [Read more…]

Guest column: Christmas transformations

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Well before English author Charles Dickens first published “A Christmas Carol” in 1843, the season had been filled with stories of transformation. But Dickens’ story of Christmas redemption surpassed all its predecessors, becoming an instant classic. Ebeneezer Scrooge’s change of heart is one of the most famous in all English literature.

Theodor Geisel (“Dr. Seuss”) penned his own instant classic of this kind: “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” In this 1957 children’s book, written in characteristic Dr. Seuss poetic form, The Grinch—a bitter, grouchy creature—is bent on forcing his perspective on the Whos of Whoville. He steals their presents, food, and trimmings, feeling sure this will destroy their annoying Christmas spirit. But as Christmas morning dawns and the Whos sing, hug, join hands, and celebrate as usual, the Grinch has a change of heart! It “grows three sizes,” he becomes 12 times stronger—and he comes sledding down his mountain to return everything to the Whos and join their celebration.

Ever wonder if pre-transformational Mr. Scrooges exist today? Are there modern, unrepentant Grinches who want to steal the joy of Christmas? [Read more…]

Guest column: White crosses, Normandy, and honoring veterans

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John Ragan

John Ragan

A few years ago, I traveled to France visiting the American Cemetery in Normandy on a guided tour. Our French guide was an expert on what we were seeing. A native to the region, she was steeped by her family lore in eyewitness accounts to the events of more than a half a century earlier.

That family background had spurred her to become a tour guide just before the 50th anniversary of D-Day. Her excellent knowledge of English and history convinced her employer, despite her youth, to assign her escort duties for American veterans visiting on that momentous occasion.

She spoke in a tone of reverence about the “older gentlemen” she had taken from place to place. Movingly, she recounted how they pointed here or there and commented how different something appeared compared to when they had seen it as young men. [Read more…]

Candidate forum for Tennessee, U.S. House on Thursday

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Eight state and federal legislative candidates have been invited to take part in a Thursday evening forum at Oak Ridge High School.

The candidates could include the three running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Tennessee’s 3rd District: Republican Chuck Fleischmann, who is the incumbent; Democrat Mary M. Headrick, a physician; and Independent Matthew Deniston, a U.S. Army veteran. The district includes Oak Ridge.

They could also include the two candidates for Tennessee House of Representatives in the 33rd District: Republican John D. Ragan, the incumbent, and Democrat Jim Hackworth, who is trying to take back his old seat. The district includes much of Anderson County.

Also invited are candidates for the Tennessee House of Representatives in the 32rd District: Republican Kent Calfee, a former Roane County commissioner; Democrat Jack W. McNew; and Independent Allen R. Cole. The district includes Roane County and part of Loudon County.

[Read more…]