An image by Cope Architecture of Knoxville showing what the rebuilt Ben Martin Track will look like at Oak Ridge High School.
A $1.3 million project is under way to rebuild the Ben Martin Track at Oak Ridge High School by June. The asphalt base of the eight-lane track dates back to the 1950s, the rubber surface is washing away, and holes are visible in the disintegrating and patched lanes. The pole vault has been unusable since 2017, and track coaches and athletes from other schools have recently declined to compete in Oak Ridge because of the conditions.
That is expected to change with the new renovated facility, which could host large invitational, sectional, and college track meets. The renovation project will rebuild the asphalt base of the track, add a new rubberized surface, and replace underground utilities. All field events except pole vault will move to the infield. Shot put and discus rings will be on the north end of the football practice field, while long jump and triple jump will be along the straight section of track nearest the bleachers. The pole vault will remain on the south side of the track, but it will move to the west end near the field house.
"This is a first phase of what we hope to be a larger project long-term," Allen Thacker, Oak Ridge Schools supervisor of maintenance and operations, told the Oak Ridge Board of Education in October. "This is foundational."
The project has been talked about "behind the scenes" for a handful of years, and there has been intense planning for about two years, according to those involved.
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Filed Under: Education, Government, High School, K-12, Oak Ridge, Premium Content, Slider, Sports, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Allen Etheridge, Allen Thacker, Baseline Sports Construction, Ben Martin Track, Bruce Lay, Cope Architecture, Ed Wright, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge Schools, ORHS, Tom Sauer, track, track and field, track renovation
The pool at Norris Dam State Park is pictured above. (Submitted photo)
Tennessee State Parks announced in December that the swimming pool at Norris Dam State Park will not re-open as major maintenance upgrades are required and the use of the pool has declined.
The swimming pool was closed in 2020 and 2021 due to complications related to COVID-19.
"Reopening the pool is unfeasible due to aging facilities, declining visitation pre-COVID 19, and high expenses," a press release said.
The pool is 45 years old, and visitation was down 29 percent, the press release said.
Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Recreation, Sports, State Tagged With: Jim Bryson, Norris Dam, Norris Dam State Park, swimming pool, Tennessee State Parks
Chuck Hope
Oak Ridge City Council member Chuck Hope has been unanimously elected to the Energy Communities Alliance Executive Board of Directors. The Board met in conjunction with the National Cleanup Workshop held in December in Alexandria, Virginia.
The ECA is the only nonprofit, membership organization of local governments that host or are adjacent to U.S. Department of Energy sites, a press release said. The organization brings together local government officials to share information, establish policy positions, and promote community interests to address an increasingly complex set of environmental, regulatory, and economic development issues at DOE sites across the nation.
Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: board of directors, Chuck Hope, ECA, Energy Communities Alliance, Oak Ridge City Council, Ron Woody
Knoxville reporter to discuss redistricting
Jesse Mayshark (Submitted photo)
Knoxville reporter Jesse Fox Mayshark will discuss redistricting during a virtual meeting on Tuesday, January 18.
The talk, sponsored by League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, will be about redistricting transparency and engagement, a press release said. The community is invited to participate in the Lunch with the League talk, which is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. January 18.
"In an effort to keep everyone safe during this time of pandemic, the gathering will again be virtual," the press release said. "Those who desire to gain access to the meeting may do so by following the instructions provided at the close of this article."
Here is more information from the press release:
Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Government Tagged With: Jesse Fox Mayshark, League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, legislative districts, Lunch w, redistricting
Interested in city boards, commissions? Attend Jan. 19 session
Posted at 4:38 am January 11, 2022
Oak Ridge City Council will host a drop-in advisory board information session this month, and candidates interested in applying for a city board or commission are encouraged to attend.
The information session is scheduled between 5 and 7 p.m. on January 19 in the Social Room at the Oak Ridge Civic Center.
"The session is an opportunity for those who have applied or are interested in applying to meet with council members, introduce themselves, and ask any questions they have," a press release said. "Last year, there were 79 applicants for city boards and/or commissions, which is nearly 20 more than the previous year. We hope that offering more chances to get questions answered encourages even more residents to apply and be selected for advisory board service this year."
Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge Tagged With: advisory board, city board, information session, Oak Ridge City Council
Layton seeks fourth term as judge
Don A. Layton (Submitted photo)
Anderson County General Sessions Court Judge Don A. Layton will seek election to a fourth term this year.
Layton is the judge in General Sessions Court Division I in Clinton. He has presided over that court since 1998. General sessions judges serve eight-year terms.
"General Sessions Court Division I hears and processes more cases than any other court in Anderson County," a press release said. "The Court produces more revenue than any other court in Anderson County."
The press release said Layton is recognized throughout the state as a leader and innovator, and he has been chosen president of the 200-plus members of General Sessions Judges Conference. Layton is a frequent instructor and lecturer at state and educational conferences, the press release said.
Filed Under: 2022 Election, Anderson County, Anderson County, Courts, Front Page News, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, Don A. Layton, General Sessions Court, General Sessions Judge
DOE, state pave way to transfer 3,500 acres
Posted at 3:05 pm December 30, 2021
From left, TWRA Executive Director Bobby Wilson, Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management Acting Manager Laura Wilkerson, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory Site Office Manager Johnny Moore sign an agreement that lays the groundwork to transfer more than 3,500 acres of scenic East Tennessee land from the U.S. Department of Energy to the state of Tennessee. (Submitted photo)
More than 3,500 acres of federal land could be transferred to the state of Tennessee, including Clark Center Park and Black Oak Ridge Conservation Easement.
The land could be transferred under an agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The two organizations signed an Agreement in Principle on Wednesday, December 15, that "lays the groundwork to transfer more than 3,500 acres of scenic East Tennessee land to the state," a press release said.
"Transferring this federally owned land will increase natural resource management and designate areas for greenspace and mixed-use recreational opportunities for the public," the press release said.
Filed Under: DOE, East Tennessee Technology Park, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, Premium Content, Slider, State, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Black Oak Ridge Conservation Easement, Bobby Wilson, Clark Center Park, DOE, DOE Office of Science, East Tennessee Technology Park, ETTP, federal land, Johnny Moore, Laura Wilkerson, Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, Randy McNally, state of Tennessee, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, TWRA, U.S. Department of Energy, UCOR
New license plate available in new year
Posted at 11:18 am December 30, 2021
During the last half of this year, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee unveiled the state's new standard license plate, a press release said. The design of the new license plate was chosen by Tennesseans through a statewide vote. Anderson County Clerk Jeff Cole is pictured above with the new plate. (Submitted photo)
During the last half of this year, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee unveiled the state's new standard license plate, a press release said. The design of the new license plate was chosen by Tennesseans through a statewide vote.
"In our 225th year of statehood, we invited Tennesseans to cast their vote and help select the state's next license plate," Lee said. "I'm proud to announce the winning design that will represent our unique grand divisions and take its place in Tennessee history."
More than 300,000 Tennessee residents cast a vote, with 42% voting for the winning design, the press release said.
Per the Tennessee statute, the license plate is redesigned every eight years if funds are approved in the General Assembly's annual budget. This statute requires that either "Tennessee," "Volunteer State," and "TNvacation.com" be displayed on the plate, along with the county name and the expiration decals. This statute also allows Tennesseans to choose "In God We Trust" as a plate option.
Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Government, State Tagged With: Anderson County Clerk, Bill Lee, Jeff Cole, license plate, Tennessee, Tennessee license plate
Reporter to discuss coal ash in Kingston, Anderson County
Jamie Satterfield
Investigative reporter Jamie Satterfield will discuss the impact of the coal ash spill in Kingston and the coal ash stored in Claxton during an online meeting in January.
The presentation by Satterfield, who worked for the Knoxville News Sentinel, will be hosted by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge. The Lunch with the League is scheduled from 12-1 p.m. Tuesday, January 4.
"In an effort to keep everyone safe during this time of pandemic, the gathering will again be virtual," a press release said. "Those who desire to gain access to the meeting may do so by following the instructions provided at the close of this article."
The press release said a retaining wall of a dyke at the Kingston coal plant failed on Monday, December 22, 2008. It became the largest coal ash spill in United States history.
Filed Under: Community, Environment, Government Tagged With: coal ash, Jamie Satterfield, Kingston coal plant, League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, Lunch with the League
First employee art contest raises $608 for Project Safe, ADFAC
Back row, left to right, are Brittany Burger, Oak Ridge Police Department (ORPD); Jim Sherrill, Utilities Business Office (UBO); Lt. Matthew Tedford, ORPD; and Andrew Lape, UBO. Middle row, left to right, are Rachelle Clowers, Jamie Fischer, DeDe Wolfe, and Amy Justice, all of UBO. Front row, left to right, are Marlene Bannon, UBO; Kirsten Aslinger, UBO; Annie Cacheiro, ADFAC; and Joey Smith, ADFAC. (Submitted photo)
The City of Oak Ridge had its first employee art contest benefitting Project Safe, a program administered by Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC), this fall, and the winners and donation totals are in, a press release said.
The theme for the inaugural art contest, which ran from October 4 through November 17, 2021, was "City of Oak Ridge Facilities, Services, or People."
Employees were invited to create artwork within this theme and then the work was placed on display for voting.
Employees could make $1 donations to Project Safe to cast a vote for their favorite pieces. Project Safe helps those in our community who need assistance with utility bills, the press release said.
Filed Under: Arts, Community, Entertainment, Front Page News, Government, Nonprofits, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: ADFAC, Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, art contest, City of Oak Ridge, employee art contest, Jack Suggs, Jim Dodson, Jim Sherrill, Joye Montgomery, Kayla DeMori, Oak Ridge Wellness Committee, Project Safe
City of Oak Ridge accepting nominations for poet laureate
The Oak Ridge Public Library is supporting an initiative to select and name a poet laureate for the City of Oak Ridge.
The Oak Ridge Poet Laureate Committee is seeking a poet of excellence, who has lived in Oak Ridge for at least one year and is inspired to represent the city and all it strives to be, a press release said.
"Anyone can nominate someone they believe is best fit for the role and self-nominations are accepted as long as they can continue to live in the city throughout the appointment," the press release said. "They must have significant publication history including books (excluding self-published and vanity presses), and in a variety of journals, and/or media. They must have received recognition in the field and have demonstrated literary excellence."
Filed Under: Entertainment, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories, Writing Tagged With: City of Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Poet Laureate Committee, Oak Ridge Public Library, Pat Hope, poet laureate