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Oak Ridge celebrating 65th anniversary of school desegregation

Posted at 4:36 pm September 5, 2020
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Four of the “Oak Ridge 85” students at a recent music event. From left to right are Larry Gipson (Oak Ridge 85), Eric Dozier (musician), Deloise Mitchell (Oak Ridge 85), Emma McCaskill (Oak Ridge 85), and Mary Guinn (Oak Ridge 85). (Photo by Barbara McCord)

Oak Ridge is celebrating the 65th anniversary of its school desegregation this weekend.

“Sixty-five years ago this September, 85 brave and dedicated young African American students entered all-white classrooms in the Oak Ridge High School and the Robertsville Junior High School in Oak Ridge, Tennessee in a historic school system desegregation,” organizers said in a press release.

It wasn’t the first public school desegregation in the nation, but organizers said it was the first public school desegregation in the Southeast.

“As such, it challenged the racist and sometimes dangerous Jim Crow culture,” the press release said. “This desegregation stands as an important milestone in American civil rights history.”

The anniversary events are being held with the Oak Ridge school system. Public participation in some events had to be scaled back because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Courts, Education, Federal, Front Page News, Government, History, History, K-12, Slider, United States Tagged With: desegregation, Emma McCaskill, Harold Middlebrook, Larry Gipson, Margret Strickland Guinn, Martin McBride, Mary Ellen Mahone Bohanon, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge 85, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge Schools, public school desegregation, Robertsville Junior High School, Rose Weaver, school desegregation

NNSA grants 45-day discussion for Pine Ridge logging, Y-12 power lines

Posted at 5:12 pm December 18, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Dale Christenson, Uranium Processing Facility federal project director, standing at right, talks to Oak Ridge City Council during a non-voting work session in the Jefferson Middle School Library on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. In the background are city staff members and members of the public. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Dale Christenson, Uranium Processing Facility federal project director, standing at right, talks to Oak Ridge City Council during a non-voting work session in the Jefferson Middle School Library on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. In the background are city staff members and members of the public. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The National Nuclear Security Administration has granted a 45-day discussion period for a project to build a new electrical substation at the Y-12 National Security Complex that could include logging work on top of Pine Ridge.

Oak Ridge officials had requested a 30-day delay of the logging work. City officials have raised concerns about that part of the project because they said they didn’t know about it until a week or two before logging operations were scheduled to start, there has been no public input, and cutting down trees and replacing them with transmission towers on top of the ridge would affect the view in that part of the city, including from two residential neighborhoods, Scarboro and Groves Park Commons. Pine Ridge is between Y-12 and the center of the city.

Oak Ridge officials have also said they don’t know what other options were considered, besides installing the high-voltage power lines on top of Pine Ridge.

The 161-kilovolt power lines will provide electricity to a new electrical substation that will service all of Y-12, but it is being built as a subproject of the Uranium Processing Facility. It would be near UPF on the west side of Y-12. UPF is the largest federal construction project in Tennessee since World War II, and it is expected to be completed by 2025 at a cost of no more than $6.5 billion.

Oak Ridge officials have emphasized that they support the project, but they don’t think the city has been treated as an equal partner on the electrical substation and power line portion of the project.

In a press release Tuesday, the City of Oak Ridge said the electrical substation project would involve clear-cutting 2.1 miles of mature trees along the top of Pine Ridge. The NNSA has delayed that project for 45 days, although some logging activity will still occur during that time. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, National Nuclear Security Administration, Slider, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: 161-kilovolt power lines, Chuck Hope, City of Oak Ridge, Dale Christenson, electrical substation, Ellen Smith, Groves Park Commons, Hans Vogel, high-voltage power lines, Jack Suggs, Jim Dodson, Kelly Callison, Ken Krushenski, logging, Mark Watson, Martin McBride, National Environmental Policy Act, National Nuclear Security Administration, NEPA, NNSA, Oak Ridge City Council, Pine Ridge, Rick Chinn, Scarboro, Tennessee Valley Authority, Tom Row, transmission lines, transmission towers, TVA, UPF, UPF Project Office, uranium processing facility, Warren Gooch, Y-12 electrical substation, Y-12 National Security Complex

Two international events proposed for 75th anniversary of DOE, Oak Ridge

Posted at 12:16 pm March 20, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

ORHPA Logo

The Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association has proposed that the U.S. Department of Energy and the City of Oak Ridge host two international events during their 75th anniversary.

The events are: (a) an exhibit on the international scientific progress made during the seven decades since World War II and (b) a remembrance of the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, with special invitations going to representatives of the 25 countries that suffered the highest casualties during the war, a press release said.

Both the U.S. Department of Energy nuclear complex and the City of Oak Ridge were born in the turbulent year following the Pearl Harbor attack (1942) as part of President Roosevelt’s massive—and super-secret—effort to build the first atomic bomb, the press release said.

“Including these two events in this year’s anniversary would showcase DOE’s important contributions to mankind and enhance international understanding and cooperation,” said Martin McBride, who heads the ORHPA committee on the proposal. “It would also honor all who fell during World War II.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Federal, Front Page News, Government, Nonprofits, Oak Ridge, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: 75th anniversary, American Museum of Science and Energy, atomic bomb, City of Oak Ridge, DOE, Hiroshima, Martin McBride, Nagasaki, Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association, ORHPA, ORHPA Anniversary Proposal Committee, Pearl Harbor Attack, President Roosevelt, U.S. Department of Energy, World War II

Secret City Pocket Guide unveiled in anticipation of the 75th anniversary of Oak Ridge, DOE

Posted at 3:13 am December 21, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

pocket-guide-cover-400x728-b

The Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association has unveiled a new guide to the historic sites of the “Secret City” of Oak Ridge. The Manhattan Project, Secret City Pocket Guide was prepared by the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association in cooperation with the National Park Service and the Oak Ridge Schools.

The 44-page guide measures only 4 inches by 7 inches in size, so it easily fits in your pocket, a press release said. It tells the story of the Manhattan Project’s first major nuclear site, Oak Ridge—created less than a year after the Pearl Harbor attack. The guide is priced at $5.

The new guide is packed with historic photos, an introduction to the new national historical park, a driving map of Oak Ridge’s heritage sites, and fascinating factoids on the people who built one of the most amazing technical achievements in history, the press release said.

The guide’s author, Martin McBride, is a member of the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association Board and a retired nuclear safety division director from the U.S. Department of Energy. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Federal, Front Page News, Government, Nonprofits, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Army Corps of Engineers, atomic bomb, DOE, Franklin Roosevelt, Leslie R. Groves, Manhattan Engineer District, Manhattan Project, Martin McBride, National Park Service, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association, Oak Ridge Schools, Pearl Harbor Attack, Secret City, Secret City Pocket Guide, U.S. Department of Energy, World War II

Letter: Stanley will give you a term-limit option to consider

Posted at 12:12 pm October 30, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Letters Leave a Comment

To the Editor:

The Anderson County Charter Commission needs thoughtful individuals who are willing to recognize the problems with our current system of county government. Dr. David Stanley will do that. He’s running for Charter Commission in District 7.

Dr. Stanley has served the community for many years. As a physician, he understands the importance of reaching the root cause of a problem—to best solve it.

The Department of Energy’s workforce heavily sells Knox County to new, incoming workers. Anderson County realtors find it almost impossible to even speak with these workers. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Letters, Opinion Tagged With: Anderson County Charter Commission, Anderson County Commission, David Stanley, District 7, Martin McBride, term limits, U.S. Department of Energy

9/11 photos: ORFD, ORHS dedicate new flagpole in memory of victims of terrorist attacks

Posted at 12:40 pm September 12, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

orfd-at-orhs-911-flagpole-sept-11-2016

We will always remember those who gave their lives to save others on September 11, 2001. (Photo and caption courtesy Martin McDonald at Oak Ridge High School memorial ceremony and flagpole dedication on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016)

 

The Oak Ridge Fire Department and the Oak Ridge High School 9/11 WTC Committee unveiled a new flagpole on Sunday and dedicated it in memory of the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Sunday was the 15th anniversary of the attacks, which killed 2,977 people in New York City; Washington, D.C.; and outside Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Here are photos by Oak Ridge High School Principal Martin McDonald, shared here with his permission. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Education, Front Page News, K-12, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Martin McBride, memorial ceremony, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge High School 9/11 WTC Committee, September 11 2001, terrorist attacks

Letter: Expansion of DOE waste storage highlights environmental justice problem

Posted at 10:25 pm June 20, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Letters 3 Comments

To the Editor:

For years, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 have steered their workers to live in surrounding counties. This has boosted those economies—while lowering our home values, financially burdening our schools, and limiting our retail growth.

Now, the U.S. Department of Energy wants to store more of its nuclear waste here.

In the last four years, our two counties (Anderson and Roane) lost 20 percent of their resident DOE workers, costing us an estimated $93 million in annual DOE payroll.

DOE’s economic favoritism is environmentally unfair and politically dumb. It works against the long-term interests of DOE’s important nuclear programs—which need a strong local political base of support to successfully operate. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Letters, Opinion Tagged With: DOE, DOE payroll, Martin McBride, nuclear programs, nuclear waste, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Reservation, ORNL, residency, U.S. Department of Energy, UPF, waste storage, Y-12

Letter: Wells would bring conservative values, ethics to school board

Posted at 1:19 pm September 25, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Letters Leave a Comment

To the Editor:

Aaron Wells is holding a fundraiser this Thursday night, September 25, between 6 and 8 p.m. at Razzleberry’s in Jackson Square. He is running for a non-partisan seat on the Oak Ridge Board of Education. Congressman Fleischmann and Lawrence Hahn will be attending the event, and Anne and I would love to see you there.

Aaron values the importance of inspiring, high quality teachers in education. He wants to help Oak Ridge schools maintain their superb reputation in the future, especially since his own child will be going through this school system. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Letters, Opinion Tagged With: Aaron Wells, Anne McBride, conservative, education, fundraiser, Martin McBride, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Razzleberry’s, teachers

Oak Ridge celebrates 200th anniversary of national anthem on Sunday

Posted at 2:07 pm September 10, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Star-Spangled Banner Day Oak Ridge

The City of Oak Ridge will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the national anthem on Sunday afternoon at the Oak Ridge Civic Center. (Submitted image)

Oak Ridge will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the national anthem on Sunday afternoon at the Oak Ridge Civic Center Amphitheater.

The Star-Spangled Banner Day celebration starts at 4:30 p.m. Sunday. The Oak Ridge Civic Center complex is located at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

A short program honoring the national anthem will begin at 4:30 p.m., and the national anthem will be sung at 5:00 p.m., a press release said.

“We’d like to invite families across Tennessee to join America’s Secret City in honoring this important national anniversary,” said Jane Miller, Oak Ridge mayor pro tem. “This will be a wonderful event as we celebrate the birthday of our national anthem and pay honor to the great United States of America.”

The event is jointly sponsored by the City of Oak Ridge, Anderson County, Roane County, the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Knoxville/Oak Ridge Staybridge Suites Hotel, and the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association. Everyone is invited to this community event, the press release said. Families are welcome to bring their own chairs and blankets to sit on. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Community, Government, Oak Ridge, Roane County, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, Battle of Baltimore, Bill Haslam, British, City of Oak Ridge, Debi Boody, Fort McHenry, Francis Scott Key, Jane Miller, John Ragan, Ken Yager, Kent Calfee, Martin McBride, national anthem, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Civic Center, Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau, Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association, proclamation, Randy McNally, Roane County, Ron Woody, Secret City, Sing It America, Star-Spangled Banner, Star-Spangled Banner Day, Staybridge Suites Hotel, Terry Frank, United States of America, War of 1812

Guest column: Tax hike will hurt city’s ability to recruit DOE workers

Posted at 6:26 pm June 4, 2014
By Martin McBride 8 Comments

The Oak Ridge Schools are requesting a substantial property tax increase to fund items they see as essential to their future.

Yet an Oak Ridge tax hike will markedly reduce our city’s ability to recruit new U.S. Department of Energy workers. According to the latest DOE report, Anderson County is losing over $300,000 per week to Knox County in DOE payroll. That loss rate is increasing, and a tax hike would make this serious problem worse.

Unfortunately, our city has a DOE “isolation fence” around it. In most cases, new workers are sent by the DOE system directly to Knox County—mainly to Farragut. And as a result, their important housing decisions are made without talking to an Oak Ridge realtor. They never get an opportunity to find out how wonderful it is to live here.

The new Kroger store won’t affect this uneven playing field. A property tax hike (of any size) will simply make the problem worse—giving Farragut an even greater advantage over us. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Guest Columns, Opinion Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Commission, City Council, DOE, DOE workforce, Farragut, funding, housing, Knox County, Kroger, Martin McBride, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Schools, payroll, property tax increase, realtor, tak hike, tax rate, U.S. Department of Energy

Happy 71st birthday, Oak Ridge!

Posted at 12:28 am September 19, 2013
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Birthday Sign

A sign at the Midtown Community Center on Robertsville Road celebrates the 71st birthday of Oak Ridge on Thursday (Submitted photo)

By Martin and Anne McBride

On Sept. 19, 1942, only two days after being appointed the head of the Manhattan Project in September 1942, Gen. Leslie R. Groves selected Oak Ridge as the first major site of the Manhattan Project, a top-secret federal program to build the world’s first atomic bombs during World War II.

Ultimately, $1.1 billion was spent on the huge, first-of-a-kind Oak Ridge nuclear plants and the fledgling “Secret City” of Oak Ridge. This expenditure represented 72 percent of the money spent on the three principal Manhattan Project sites: Oak Ridge; Hanford, Wash.; and Los Alamos, N.M.

The Oak Ridge tract was approximately 17 miles long by an average of seven miles wide. The Corps of Engineers paid $2.6 million dollars for the land and initially named the site the “Kingston Demolition Range.” Local opposition to having a demolition range in the area caused the name to be changed to “Clinton Engineer Works.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Nonprofits, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Anne McBride, CapitalMark Bank and Trust, Clinton Engineer Works, Corps of Engineers, Hamilton National Bank, Hanford, happy birthday, Jackson Square, Kingston Demolition Range, Leslie Groves, Los Alamos, Manhattan Project, Martin McBride, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association, Oak Ridge School Administration Building, ORHPA, Pine Valley School, preservation awards, Secret City, World War II

Guest column: Do our competitors ‘hammer us’ on property tax rates?

Posted at 1:50 pm May 28, 2013
By Myron Iwanski 39 Comments

Myron Iwanski

Myron Iwanski

I agree with Martin McBride that Oak Ridge is a great place to live. However, I do not agree with his statement in recent columns that high property taxes are the reason Anderson County’s and Oak Ridge’s populations are not growing as fast as those in some area counties.

The following information from county and city audit reports and websites, the University of Tennessee County Technical Advisory Service, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website help make my point. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Guest Columns Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Commission, Consumer Price Index, CPI, full-service city, growth, homeowner, Martin McBride, Myron Iwanski, Oak Ridge, population growth, property tax rates, property taxes, services, tax rate increases, taxes, wheel taxes

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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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