Oak Ridge Today

Letter: Suggests Oak Ridgers consider electing another woman, a Democrat, to Congress

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To the Editor:

During the years 1974-1994, a woman, who was a Democrat, represented Oak Ridge and the Tennessee Third Congressional District. Her name was Marilyn Lloyd.

She wrote several bills, including the Energy Research Development Administration Bill (1976 and 1977) and the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982. During her tenure, she was chair of the Subcommittee on Energy Research and Development and was on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. She was on the Public Works Committee and and the Armed Services Committee.

ORNL and associated contractors did well while she was in Congress.

I would like to suggest that Oak Ridgers who have not yet voted consider electing another woman, who is a Democrat: Melody Shekari, who has been endorsed by the Chattanooga Times-Free Press. [Read more…]

Letter: City may need to re-visit possible review board for law enforcement

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To the Editor:

It is well-known that systems are healthier and work better when there is the opportunity for feedback.

The Oak Ridge City Charter provides for a Personnel Advisory Board for both city employees and school employees.

Missing, however, is a board for the members of our Police Department. [Read more…]

Letter: Grateful for opportunity to vote for Headrick

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To the Editor:

I, for one, along with the tens of thousands of others who voted for Mary Headrick, am grateful to her for giving us the opportunity to vote for a realistic, compassionate, and results-oriented candidate.

The people who did not vote in the election at all, although they may not have thought about it that way, helped elect, and expressed approval, of a representative who was clearly against a living wage, women’s rights, affordable health care, and a merciful response to the crisis of young people fleeing to this country as well as those who found themselves in this country as young people brought by their parents, who have always lived as Americans and would like citizenship.

As a Democrat, I expect national Democrats will not be petty and vengeful because the other party won with the backing of huge interests which think paying workers well will hurt them, instead of bringing them more prosperity.

It is the nature of Democrats to want to see people’s lives improved even if they are not the majority, and they will continue to work toward this end.

Virginia M. Jones

Oak Ridge

Letter: Headrick has will to solve problems, is knowledgeable, energetic

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To the Editor:

Please vote for a candidate who is grounded in reality, not political dogma.

Please vote for Mary Headrick, the Third District candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a candidate who has the will to solve problems in a timely way and for whom ordinary people are real. She is knowledgeable, capable, and energetic, and will serve this District well.

Virginia M. Jones

Oak Ridge

Letter: Congressional debate, candidate answers available online

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To the Editor:

Oak Ridge voters in the Third Congressional District might like to know that they can view the Monday night, October 27, debate between Rep. Chuck Fleischmann and Dr. Mary Headrick at https://www.facebook.com/EastTennesseePBS.

Voters might also like to see answers from City Council and School Board candidates to questions asked of them by DFET (Democracy for East Tennessee) following the Candidates’ Reception sponsored by the group on October 9 in Oak Ridge at www.dfet.org.

DFET Executive Committee:

Tom Burns, Leslie Agron, Joan Cassens, Virginia Jones

Oak Ridge

Letter: Democrats represented Oak Ridge more years than Republicans

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To the Editor:

Although many in Oak Ridge assume that only a Republican can further the interests of Oak Ridge nationally, it is interesting to note that from the formative years of Oak Ridge until 1963, the Third Congressional District was represented by a Democrat.

From 1963-1975, District 3 had Republican representation.Then for the next 20 years, from 1975 until 1995, it was represented by a Democrat, who happened to be a woman.

All in all, Oak Ridge and District 3 has had Democratic representation for 44 years and Republican representation for a total of 23 years. We’ve had Democrats represent us for almost twice as long as we have had Republicans in Washington.

There is no reason to think that a Democrat cannot serve the Third District well.

Virginia M. Jones

Oak Ridge

UT Career Services leader to discuss ‘Negotiating for Women’ at AAUW meeting today

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Mary Mahoney, an assistant director for University of Tennessee Career Services, will discuss “Negotiating for Women” during an AAUW meeting at lunchtime today.

The AAUW Oak Ridge Branch meeting starts at 11:30 a.m. today in Room 102 of the Activities Building of First Presbyterian Church at Oak Ridge Turnpike and Lafayette Drive. 

The public is invited to attend a potluck luncheon at 11:30 a.m. and the meeting, which begins at noon, a press release said. The luncheon will feature main dish salads prepared by AAUW members. Drinks, bread, crackers, and desserts will be provided. There is no cost, but donations to AAUW are welcome. Reservations may be made by calling either Mary Uziel at (865) 483-1043 or Marge Congdon at (865) 438-3120.

Mahoney has more than 20 years’ experience working as the assistant director of recruiting at the University of Tennessee, the press release said. She has certifications in salary negotiations and career coaching.

Before the program begins, Mayme Crowell, outgoing Tennessee State President of AAUW, will recognize the Education Award winner selected by Roane State Community College and will introduce the Roane State students who are winners of AAUW Educational Scholarships for this year.

Crowell will also install the Oak Ridge Branch AAUW officers for next year, including Peggy Emmett as president; Fay Martin as vice president for membership; Virginia Jones, vice president for programs; and Mary Uziel, treasurer. [Read more…]

Letter: Residents urge legislators to raise minimum wage

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To the Editor:

Two bills in Congress to raise the minimum wage by about 95 cents per year for the next three years are HR1010 and S460. We, the undersigned, urge readers to contact their congressmen and senators to urge passage of these bills.

The minimum wage is now $7.25. If these bills pass, then over the next three years, the minimum wage would increase to $10.10.

Currently, if a worker is able to get 2,000 hours of work per year (in 50 40-hour weeks)—and unfortunately, not all can—he or she earns a yearly gross wage of $14,500, which is below the U.S. Department of Labor threshold of $1,245 per month ($14,940 annually) for receiving food stamps. If this worker’s wages increased by 95 cents an hour, he or she would earn $16,400 and thus would be raised above the poverty guideline. [Read more…]

Letter: Healthy Start to kick off fall campaign, seeks donations

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To the Editor:

After 15 years, with its continued mission of preventing child abuse and neglect in Anderson County, Healthy Start continues to support our families and is regarded as a model program. Healthy Start of Anderson County is funded solely through contributions from within Anderson County.

As part of its mission to prevent child abuse and neglect in Anderson County, Healthy Start seeks to support new parents toward a positive future, as well as enhancing their child’s development. Evidence shows that 98 percent of Healthy Start babies are at their age-appropriate developmental level, and 100 percent have well-baby checks and age appropriate immunizations.

Currently, however, the demand for Healthy Start services outpaces the ability to provide them because of funding limitations. [Read more…]

Letter: Open discussion of bullying is encouraging

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To the Editor:

I was fortunate enough to attend the Knoxville Police Department’s anti-bullying summit on July 30 at the Expo Center on Clinton Highway. The main message given at the summit was summarized really well by the headline in the Knoxville News Sentinel the next morning: “Expert: Confront, rehab bullies.”

Dr. Steve Edwards, a former teacher and school principal, talked about methods he developed in which he would get to know the bullies in a school and find out their interests and what they felt was wrong in their school experience. He would then engage them in some way in helping the school. He said also that bullies often have leadership qualities which need direction. [Read more…]

AAUW meeting features dance program, scholarship recipients, new officers

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AAUW Dance Program

An AAUW luncheon meeting today features a fun program, the introduction of college scholarship recipients, and the induction of new officers, a press release said.

AAUW member Peggy Emmett, who has won many regional and national dance competitions, and her dance partner Sam Gordon will give a program on dance, the release said. They will perform some of the routines that Emmett, with her interest in theater, has created, the release said.

Gordon owns Go Dance Studio on Shaeffer Road in Knoxville. [Read more…]