Oak Ridge Today

NAACP, Oak Ridge, Schools have back-to-school fair

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There is a back-to-school fair this evening (Saturday, August 7). It will include a presentation about the new school block program and tutoring, information booths, a hot dog meal, and a free movie.

The back-to-school fair is hosted by the NAACP Oak Ridge/Anderson County, Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department, and Oak Ridge Schools. It is scheduled at 6 p.m. Saturday, August 7, at Scarboro Community Center Gymnasium at 148 Carver Avenue in Oak Ridge.

At the fair, you can learn about tools for Oak Ridge parents and students at school booths about the new school year block program, the tutoring that is available, and family resources.

[Read more…]

Ernestine Avery, one of 85 students to integrate Oak Ridge Schools, to speak this evening

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Ernestine Avery

A presentation in Oak Ridge this evening will feature Ernestine Avery, one of the 85 African American students who integrated Oak Ridge Schools in 1955, a press release said.

Avery was one of the 85 students who had attended Scarboro schools before integrating Oak Ridge Schools in 1955.

The presentation will begin on Zoom at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 27. This will be during the monthly general meeting of the Oak Ridge-Anderson County NAACP Branch, the press release said.

[Read more…]

Oak Ridge hosting NAACP state convention

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PASTOR DERRICK HAMMOND
Derrick Hammond

This week, Oak Ridge is hosting the NAACP Tennessee State Convention and Civil Rights Advocacy Conference.

It’s the 73rd annual NAACP Tennessee State Convention, and it starts today (Thursday, September 26) and continues through Saturday, September 28.

Thursday’s events will be held at Oak Valley Baptist Church in Oak Ridge. The events on Friday and Saturday will be at the DoubleTree Hotel in Oak Ridge.

The Anderson County/Oak Ridge NAACP Branch under the leadership of local president Dave Anderson is the sponsoring branch, a press release said.

The convention will feature a variety of events and workshops that will 1) encourage attendees to become civically engaged around religious affairs, and 2) assist in expunging the records of people wanting to return to the workforce, the press release said. Other actions include helping members become more effective in their work related to advocacy, human rights, and youth empowerment—all designed to equip people with the necessary knowledge to assist in making their voices and votes count, the press release said.

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Learn more about history of desegregation on Sept. 9

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Rose Weaver
Rose Weaver

You can learn more about the history of desegregation and profiles of those who have shaped the area during a September 9 meeting in Oak Ridge.

It’s a kick-off meeting for Women’s Interfaith Dialogue of Oak Ridge. It is scheduled to start with a brief meet-and-greet at 10:45 a.m. Monday, Saturday 9, at St. Stephens Episcopal Church at 212 North Tulane Avenue, and the program will start at 11 a.m.

Rose Weaver—an active member of the Oak Ridge community, a poet, and a historian—is currently working on researching the history of desegregation of the area and the people who have had the greatest impacts in shaping Oak Ridge, a press release said.

Weaver will also speak about the exciting NAACP Tennessee State Convention that is being hosted in Oak Ridge from Thursday, September 26, through Saturday, September 28, the press release said.

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Free expungement, driver’s license clinic on Saturday

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The Anderson County Bar Association and NAACP are hosting a free Expungement and Driver’s License Assistance Clinic in Clinton on Saturday.

An expungement is a court order removing an eligible criminal charge or conviction from a person’s record.

The expungement clinic is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, August 24, at the First Baptist Church at 225 North Main Street in Clinton.

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Despite censure, lawsuit, calls for resignation, Jones still running in May 1 primary

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The Anderson County Commission, which is pictured above on March 20, 2018, unanimously censured Anderson County Circuit Clerk William Jones on Feb. 20, and asked him to resign after sexual harassment allegations were reported. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Anderson County Commission, which is pictured above on March 20, 2018, unanimously censured Anderson County Circuit Court Clerk William Jones on Feb. 20, and asked him to resign after sexual harassment allegations were reported. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 10:40 a.m.

CLINTON—He’s been accused of inappropriate behavior that includes unwelcome sexual advances, unwanted touching, and lewd and vulgar text messages. He’s been unanimously censured and asked to resign by the Anderson County Commission. He’s been sued in federal court. And some residents have joined commissioners in asking him to resign, or at least not seek re-election.

Despite those pleas, though, Anderson County Circuit Court Clerk William Jones, who has denied many allegations and called others false, is seeking re-election in the Anderson County Republican Party primary election on Tuesday, May 1. Jones has filed counterclaims in federal court and filed a defamation lawsuit in state court.

Some of the sexual harassment allegations appear to have been forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other agencies, including the Tennessee Attorney General, Tennessee Department of Labor, and Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts, according to records released by Anderson County. It’s not clear which outside agencies, if any, might be investigating the complaints, or whether the local district attorney general might be investigating.

Willliam T. Jones

Willliam T. Jones

Commission censures Jones, asks him to resign

The accusations against Jones, who is seeking his second four-year term, were publicly disclosed during a review of a sexual harassment complaint at an Anderson County Commission meeting on February 20.

During that meeting, Kim Jeffers-Whitaker, Anderson County’s chief deputy director of human resources and risk management, said her department had received five reports of inappropriate workplace behavior by Jones.

“The five reports create a harassing pattern,” Jeffers-Whitaker said.

She said the reports are supported by two affidavits and four sworn statements that the county’s human resources department obtained from the victims, who include four past or present employees and one citizen.

According to Jeffers-Whitaker, the alleged instances of unprofessional conduct include: [Read more…]

Active in community organizations, former Council member seeks to serve again

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Anne Garcia Garland

Anne Garcia Garland

 

She was the first to pick up a petition and the first to qualify for the 2016 ballot, and now Anne Garcia Garland, a former Oak Ridge City Council member, has formally announced her desire to serve again, a press release said. She’s running for one of three seats on the seven-member Council in the November 8 election.

In the press release, Garcia Garland said she has no business or political agenda, only a continuing desire “to be responsive and accountable to the citizens and help this city thrive.”

She said her primary goals for the city are to:

  1. seek a clear return on investment in commercial and industrial development outlays,
  2. focus on what the community does exceedingly well in education and city management,
  3. develop an equitable relationship with U.S. Department of Energy headquarters, and
  4. publicize the extraordinary assets the city already enjoys to a much wider audience of prospective residents and visitors.

Garcia Garland said she works affably with corporate, government, and private organizations. She is active in the League of Women Voters, the American Association of University Women, United Church Chapel on the Hill, and the NAACP. Before retiring, she and her husband T.J. Garland established Noble Metals Inc., a small business that recycles metal scrap and continues to employ local workers. [Read more…]

NAACP meeting in Oliver Springs on Tuesday

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The next Oak Ridge/Anderson County NAACP meeting will be at the administration building in Oliver Springs at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 26.

“We encourage Oliver Springs residents to attend to share concerns and provide opportunities,” a press release said.

The agenda for the NAACP will remain the same for the next three month: Secretaries Report, Financial Report, Presidents report (feedback from the National Convention and July bi-monthly meeting), Civic Engagement/Political Action, Education Committee, Membership Committee, and timeline for October/November local election. [Read more…]

Anderson County Commission candidates at forum Thursday; Roane County forum on July 19

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Voter Registration Month

The League of Women of Voters of Oak Ridge will present two forums featuring candidates on the ballots in the August 4 elections in Anderson and Roane counties. The first forum, featuring candidates for Anderson County Commission, District 8, is tonight (Thursday, July 14).

Tonight’s forum will be held at the Oak Ridge campus of Roane State Community College in Room-111. It starts at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 14.

Three candidates are running to fill the unexpired term of Robin Biloski, who resigned from her District 8 in Oak Ridge in August 2015. The three candidates are Myra Mansfield, Angeleque McNutt, and Phil Yager. McNutt was appointed to the seat by Anderson County Commission in August, and that appointment was to last through the county’s general election this August.

District 8 includes the Emory Valley, Hendrix Creek, and Woodland voting precincts in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

NAACP meeting on Tuesday in Clinton

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The June meeting of the Oak Ridge/Anderson County NAACP will be on Tuesday in Clinton.

The meeting is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 28, at the Green McAdoo Gymnasium next to the Green McAdoo Cultural Center.

Agenda items will include rescheduling the bimonthly state NAACP Meeting in July, the procedure for the fall NAACP election, a Political Action Committee report and upcoming activities, update on Education Committee information with the Oak Ridge High School principal, and a focus on the local and national elections. The NAACP will be collaborating with the local League of Women Voters for a July candidate forum. [Read more…]

NAACP has forum on voting rights restoration on Thursday

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Tom Marshall

Tom Marshall

Have you been convicted of a crime and are now unable to vote, or having trouble getting a job?

On Thursday, the Oak Ridge/Anderson County chapter of the NAACP will present the first in a series of public forums designed to help you. The forum starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 25, at Spurgeon Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church at 100 South Benedict Avenue in Oak Ridge.

Tom Marshall, District 7 Public Defender, will provide information on how people having served their sentence can potentially get their voting right restored and their record expunged, a press release said. Additional agencies are providing information. [Read more…]

NAACP in Oak Ridge, Anderson County meets tonight

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The May meeting of the NAACP in Oak Ridge and Anderson County is at 6 p.m. today (Tuesday, May 26) at the Scarboro Community Center.

Organizers said past events and upcoming projects will be discussed.

“The political action committee has been working on developing a law enforcement summit and will provide an update,” a meeting notice said.