Oak Ridge Today

Crews clearing roads, repairing water line breaks

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Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge

Oak Ridge crews are working to clear roads and repair water line breaks.

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department worked through the night to clear main roads, according to the city government. Melton Lake Drive and South Illinois Avenue are back open.

The department will begin to plow side streets once main roads are good for driving, the city said.

“While every city street was brined or treated before the storm, it was no match for this amount of snow combined with continued low temperatures,” the city said.

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City manager’s ‘State of the City’ canceled due to weather

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Randy Hemann (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

Randy Hemann, the new Oak Ridge city manager, had been scheduled to deliver the annual “State of the City of Oak Ridge” to the League of Women Voters on Tuesday, but the presentation has been canceled due to the winter weather, which has included heavy snow, cold temperatures, and hazardous road conditions.

The League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge said it hopes Hemann can deliver the presentation another time, but a new date hasn’t been announced yet.

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Roads, schools, businesses closed after heavy snow

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A snowplow works around Methodist Medical Center on Oak Ridge Turnpike during heavy snow on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Roads, schools, and businesses closed as snow fell for hours in Oak Ridge. The snow began about 8:30 p.m. Sunday, and snow continued to fall at about 6 p.m. Monday.

Oak Ridge Today measured almost seven inches of snow at about 5 p.m. Monday. The National Weather Service in Morristown had forecast between four to six and six to eight inches of snow in the Oak Ridge and Clinton areas.

“Very cold air is moving in across the region with sub-freezing temperatures continuing through Thursday,” the National Weather Service said. “Temperatures Tuesday night will be around zero!”

Roads, even main streets like Oak Ridge Turnpike, had a thick layer of snow on them, with a wet, slippery surface underneath. Traffic was light when normally it would be heavy, and most drivers drove slowly and cautiously, with some turning on their hazard lights.

“With significant snow accumulations across much of the area and very cold temperatures, hazardous travel conditions may develop,” the NWS said. “Avoid travel, but if you must, use caution.”

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New Year’s Eve Countdown with food trucks, bands, ball drop

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A New Year’s Eve countdown in Oak Ridge will feature food trucks, bands, and a ball drop.

There will also be fireworks, and the event and parking will be free, according to Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge, which is presenting the countdown.

The event is scheduled from 9 p.m. Sunday, December 31, to 1 a.m. Monday, January 1, at Alvin K. Bissell Park. The park is located at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Musical performers will include Eli Fox Band and Alex and the Animals, according to an event flyer.

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Minor traffic delays possible due to Secret City Half Marathon, 5K

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Minor traffic delays are possible Saturday morning in Oak Ridge during the Secret City Half Marathon and 5K.

Race Director Hannah Fatheree expects nearly 1,000 runners and walkers on city streets and greenways during the family-friendly events.

“Motorists should also be aware of the early morning course preparations,” a press release said. “While the races start at 9 a.m., there will be volunteers setting out cones along the course as early as 6 a.m. The Oak Ridge Police Department will be out in force directing and stopping traffic where and when needed. While no roads will be shut down due to the race traffic, motorists should expect some minor delays due to runners crossing streets on Melton Lake Drive and Emory Valley Road. Motorists are asked to take it slow in these areas and be mindful of the race participants.”

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Burn ban in effect in Oak Ridge, restrictions in OS

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The City of Oak Ridge remains under a burn ban, and there are fire restrictions in Oliver Springs.

Oak Ridge Fire Chief Travis Solomon issued a burn ban on November 5.

“Due to the dry conditions in our region, no burn permits will be issued until further notice,” the City of Oak Ridge said. “Outdoor burning without a permit is banned by city ordinance.”

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School bus driver arrested following alleged assault on elementary student

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Matthew Bak

Note: This story was last updated at 9:30 p.m.

Oak Ridge police arrested a 73-year-old school bus driver Friday evening on an aggravated assault charge after he allegedly acted aggressively toward an elementary-aged student, the city said in a press release. Additional charges are pending, the press release said.

Matthew T. Bak of Oliver Springs was taken into custody Friday following an investigation into reports that he acted aggressively toward an elementary-aged student on the bus he was driving on Thursday evening, the City of Oak Ridge said in the press release. Bak’s actions caused all students on the bus to fear for their safety, the press release said.

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NPS: Read about Thanksgiving, Tennessee, Oak Ridge

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Here is information from the National Park Service about Thanksgiving in the United States, Tennessee, and Oak Ridge.

Oak Ridge is part of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, which commemorates the top-secret federal program to build the world’s first atomic bombs during the second world war. Besides Oak Ridge, the national park includes Hanford, Washington, and Los Alamos, New Mexico.

Manhattan-Project-National-Park-e_Newsletter-November-2023Download

Hike with ranger, learn about pre-war settlements

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Submitted photo

You can learn about settlements in the area before Oak Ridge was built during World War II during a hike with a national park ranger on Saturday, November 25.

The hike is organized by the National Park Service. Oak Ridge is part of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, which commemorates the top-secret federal program to build the world’s first atomic bombs during the second world war. Besides Oak Ridge, the national park includes Hanford, Washington, and Los Alamos, New Mexico.

The hike on the North Boundary Greenway is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, November 25, at the east quarry trail head.

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Secret City Improv Festival entertains this weekend

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Twenty-three professional comedy groups and three local high schools will perform at the Secret City Improv Festival in Oak Ridge this weekend.

The festival is scheduled Friday, October 6, and Saturday, October 7, at the Historic Grove Theater.

It’s the third year in a row that the festival has been in Oak Ridge.

The festival consists of eight unique performances featuring 23 professional improv comedy troupes, three local high schools, and workshops and masterclasses with experienced improvisers from across America, a press release said. The Secret City Improv Festival will feature comedy improv troupes from 15 cities representing 10 states this year.

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Household trash pickup under way

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Oak Ridge’s citywide household trash pickup program began Monday, October 2.

During the annual pickup, household garbage, old appliances, and minor remodeling materials will be picked up. City collection efforts will follow the accompanying schedule as closely as possible, a press release said.

“Residents have always been very cooperative, and we ask for their continued cooperation this year by following a few guidelines,” the press release said. “Residents should place all materials near, but not beyond, the curb. Keep materials off sidewalks and out of parking areas and gutters. Please bag as many items as possible to prevent items from being scattered in prohibited areas.

“There is a limit of one truckload of material per residence. A truckload is defined as one pickup truck or approximately 3 feet high by 4 feet wide by 8 feet long, approximately 100 cubic feet maximum.”

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ORPD investigating fatal crash on South Illinois

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The Oak Ridge Police Department is investigating a fatal crash on South Illinois Avenue that happened shortly before midnight Friday.

In a press release, the City of Oak Ridge said a vehicle traveling south on South Illinois at Scarboro Road left the road at about 11:22 p.m., hit two utility poles and a tree, and then rolled down an embankment south of the intersection.

The vehicle’s driver, Luis Enrique Gomez Trinidad, 36 of Clinton, died in the crash, the city said. No one else was in the vehicle.

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