Randy Hemann has accepted the position of Oak Ridge City Manager and is set to report on November 1.
Following an extensive search and interview process, Oak Ridge City Council selected Randall “Randy” Hemann to serve as Oak Ridge’s next City Manager at its August 18 Special Meeting. He was the top pick out of 64 candidates, 12 of which were presented to City Council for consideration.
“From the Manhattan Project to the Scarboro 85, Oak Ridge has a unique place in American history, and I am honored and humbled to be able to serve the citizens and institutions of Oak Ridge,” Hemann said.
Hemann has been serving as Town Manager of Mooresville, North Carolina, since September 2019. Prior to that, he served as Assistant City Manager for Community Services in High Point, North Carolina, where he helped construct a $36 million baseball stadium that spurred downtown growth.
“I look forward to working with staff and the development community to continue implementing Oak Ridge’s vision for a downtown area that becomes a central point for residents and visitors to gather, celebrate and enjoy,” Hemann said.
He was also City Manager in Oxford, North Carolina for two years following a 27-year career in the field of downtown development in Salisbury, Kinston, and Benson, North Carolina.
“We look forward to Mr. Hemann joining us in Oak Ridge with his model of servant leadership, his commitment to citizen involvement, and collaborative engagement with City employees,” Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch said.
Hemann is a native of Huntington, West Virginia. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at Marshall University and a Master of Public Administration from East Carolina University. He will move to Oak Ridge with his wife, Paula.
“Paula and I felt at home from the moment we arrived for the interview process, and we look forward to getting involved and serving,” he said.
Hemann assumes the position from Jack Suggs who has been serving as the Interim City Manager since Mark Watson retired in May. Watson served as Oak Ridge City Manager for 12 years.
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Construction of a new waterline for the Oak Ridge Water Treatment Plant will have a significant impact on traffic on Scarboro Road through the end of the year.
Below is the latest approximate timeline for the Scarboro Road traffic impacts, pending weather and unexpected circumstances:
- Scarboro Road will have one southbound lane closed (one southbound lane open) through October 16.
- Both southbound lanes of Scarboro Road will be closed south of Chesapeake Drive from October 16 through October 25.
- Both southbound lanes closed from the entrance to 701 Scarboro south to Bethel Valley from October 25 through the end of November 2023.
From late November to mid-January, work will continue up to and on Y-12 campus to the connection point at the existing water plant at the top of the hill inside Y-12.
“We’re working hard to minimize disruption during construction, but drivers who travel Scarboro Road should plan ahead for potential delays and detours during this time period,” Oak Ridge Public Works Director Patrick Berge said.
For the latest information about construction and road closures related to the new Water Treatment Plant, call the Public Works Department at (865) 425-1875.
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Oak Ridge Utility customers with a past-due balance will now see notices for nonpayment on their bills and will be subject to service disconnection.
The Utility Business Office (UBO) temporarily suspended disconnects in late March because the payment website was offline following the malware attack on the City’s network and limited forms of payment could be accepted.
Payments can be made online at https://payments.oakridgetn.gov, at the Utilities Business Office (UBO) located at 200 S. Tulane Avenue, in the overnight drop box in the UBO parking lot, or by mail at P.O. Box 1, Oak Ridge, TN 37831. To pay by phone, call (833) 268-4341.
If a customer needs assistance with payment, please contact the UBO at (865) 425-3400 to discuss options like a payment plan
Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) provides Oak Ridge residents assistance with utilities, rent, and housing. The ADFAC assistance application can be found at https://www.adfac.org/request-assistance. ADFAC can be reached at (865) 483-6028.
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The citywide household trash pickup program is now underway. Household rubbish, old appliances, and minor remodeling materials will be picked up. City collection efforts will follow the accompanying schedule as closely as possible.
Residents have always been very cooperative, and we ask for their continued cooperation this year by following a few guidelines:
- 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' high x 4' wide x 8' long, approximately 100 cubic feet maximum.
- Please be advised that Chestnut Ridge Landfill will NOT accept any item that has or had Freon in it, such as air conditioners, freezers and refrigerators. Crews will NOT pick up hazardous items, paint, tires, concrete or piles of rubbish that are mixed with brush or leaves.
- All materials must be in place no later than 7 a.m. on the scheduled pickup day. Any materials put out after 7 a.m. may not be picked up.
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Full Schedule
Please note that the proposed schedule is a general guide and can vary considerably from the actual schedule due to weather conditions and/or the amount of participation by residents.
1st Week
Monday, Oct. 2: Tusculum Drive and side streets, Tempura Drive and side streets, Tiffin Drive and side streets, Tuskegee Drive extension, Scarboro Neighborhood
Tuesday, Oct. 3: Woodland Area, Hendrix Creek Subdivision
Wednesday, Oct. 4: Baypath Drive and side streets, Briarcliff Avenue and side streets, Elmhurst Drive and side streets, Stonebridge
Thursday, Oct. 5: Emory Valley Subdivision, Emory Heights Subdivision, Riverbend Subdivision
Friday, Oct. 6: Rivers Subdivision, Marywater Lane, Marywood Court, Rivers Run Subdivision, Park Meade Drive, Center Park Lane, Palisades Parkway, Harbour Cove Subdivision
2nd Week
Monday, Oct. 9: East Drive and all side streets including Reel Heights/Tanglewood Subdivision, Athens Road, Alger Road and side streets, Arkansas Avenue and side streets, Albany Road, Alhambra Road, Arcadia Lane and Place
Tuesday, Oct. 10: Outer Drive and side streets from Florida Avenue to California Avenue, Delaware Avenue and side streets, California Avenue and side streets
Wednesday, Oct. 11: Georgia Avenue and side streets, Florida Avenue and side streets, Outer Drive and side streets from Michigan Avenue to Florida Avenue, East Tennessee Avenue and side streets
Thursday, Oct. 12: West Tennessee Avenue, Michigan Avenue and side streets, Kentucky Avenue and side streets
Friday, Oct. 13: New York Avenue and side streets, Utah Avenue and side streets, Outer Drive from New York Avenue to Michigan Avenue, Orchard Lane and Circle, Orkney Road
3rd Week
Monday, Oct. 16: Pennsylvania Avenue and side streets, Vermont Avenue and side streets, N. Tulane Avenue, Outer Drive and side streets from Pennsylvania Avenue to New York Avenue
Tuesday, Oct. 17: West Outer Drive and side streets from Illinois Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue, Hillside Road and side streets from Highland Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue
Wednesday, Oct. 18: Robertsville Road from N. Illinois Avenue to Highland Avenue, Raleigh Road, Robin Lane, Ivanhoe Road and side streets, East side of N. Illinois Avenue and side streets, Hillside Road and side streets from Illinois Avenue to Highland Ave., Henley Road and Henley Place, Highland Avenue and side streets
Thursday, Oct. 19: West side of N. Illinois Avenue and side streets, Iroquois Avenue and side streets, Robertsville Road from Jefferson Avenue to N. Illinois Avenue, Valley Forge Drive
Friday, Oct. 20: Wiltshire Drive, Jefferson Circle, Latimer Road, Robertsville Road and side streets from Louisiana Avenue to Jefferson Avenue, Jefferson Avenue and side streets, Johnson Road and side streets, West Outer Drive and side streets from Louisiana Avenue to Illinois Avenue
4th Week
Monday, Oct. 23: Robertsville Road and side streets from Melbourne Road to Louisiana Avenue, Bradley Avenue, E. and W. Bryn Mawr Road, Bermuda Road and all side streets, Salem Road and side streets, Sheridan Circle and Place, N. and S. Seneca Road, Louisiana Avenue and side streets, Lawton Road, Lancaster Road, Lansing Road, LaSalle Road and side streets
Tuesday, Oct. 24: Montana Avenue and side streets, Monticello Road, Miramar Circle, Mohawk Road, Montclair Road and side streets, Windham Road and side streets, West Outer Drive and side streets from Montana Avenue up to, but not including Louisiana Avenue, Morningside Drive and side streets, Morgan Road, Mississippi Avenue
Wednesday, Oct. 25: Newridge Road, Normandy Road, Newell Lane, Nebraska Avenue and side streets, Newhaven Road and side streets, Netherland Road and side streets, Newport Drive and side streets, New Bedford Lane, Nantucket Way, West Outer Drive and side streets from Nebraska Avenue up to, but not including Montana Avenue
Thursday, Oct. 26: Preserve at Clinch River, Country Club Estates, Oklahoma Avenue, Mason Lane, Westover Drive, Wildwood Drive, Gates Drive, Grandcove Lane, Golfcrest Lane, Greenwood Lane, Goldenview Lane, Forest Creek Estates
Friday, Oct. 27: Whippoorwill Drive and side streets, William Lane, Wildcat Lane, Winchester Circle, West Southwood Lane, East Southwood Lane, Sweetgum Lane, West Outer Drive and all side streets from the west end up to, but not including Nebraska Avenue, Jackson Crossing Subdivision
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The Fall leaf collection is scheduled to begin on November 20, 2023. The schedule is published on OakRidgeTN.gov now.
Bagged leaves/yard clippings will be picked up during the next collection. It should be noted that bagged yard waste will also be picked up with the regularly scheduled refuse collection throughout the year.
Residents can now sign up for pickup email reminders. The schedules and updates for household trash, leaf, and brush pickups will be emailed as crews may get ahead or behind schedule. To sign up, click here.
For more information, please contact Waste Connections of Tennessee at (865) 482-3656.
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Help Keep Oak Ridge Clean & Safe
► Improve neighborhoods
► Maintain property values
► Make it easy to get around
Inoperable or junk vehicles (includes expired tag) may not be kept in the yard, driveway, carport or street.
Contact Codes Enforcement staff at (865) 425-3532 or codes@oakridgetn.gov with questions, to report a violation in your neighborhood, or for guidance on where and how to legally park your vehicle.
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The Oak Ridge Public Works Department would like to remind residents and property owners that it is important to maintain trees and shrubs on their property that grow near roadways and sidewalks to prevent them from causing a hazard to pedestrians and motorists.
Growth creating a hazard can be a violation of City Code. Please contact the Oak Ridge Public Works Department at (865) 425-1875 or the Code Enforcement Division at (865) 425-3532 with any questions.
LEARN MORE AT:
OAKRIDGETN.GOV/TREE-TRIMMING-INFORMATION
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Oak Ridge Fire Captain Shay West has been named the 2023 Roane State Community College Paramedic Student of the Year.
West joins a select group of over 50 paramedics who’ve received the same award over the last 40 years. Members of his 15-person cohort nominated him for the award; he was honored during a luncheon at the end of July.
A Paramedic can perform skills like advanced cardiac life support, pediatric advanced life support and other advanced treatments. The paramedic curriculum at Roane State’s Knox County Center for Health Sciences arms the student with knowledge and skills of advanced emergency medical care and transportation for critical and noncritical patients. It is a technical certificate program that spans three semesters.
Paramedic Program Director David Blevins said the program partners with TEAMHealth to give the award each year and the firm also sponsors the luncheon for the paramedic graduates who have completed the year-long technical certificate program.
“Shay is exemplary in the classroom and has been leading from the front the entire time,” said Blevins. “He brought calm to the storm with his cohort; they receive a lot of information over the year to get to this elevated skill level.”
Captain West began his career with the Oak Ridge Fire Department (ORFD) as a Firefighter/Engineer in January 2014. He was promoted to Station 1 ‘B Shift’ Captain in March of 2021.
“To complete the Paramedic program, I held an academic schedule of lectures, labs, and external learning experiences like a clinical. We were in the classroom 16 hours per week for lecture and lab instruction and 8 hours per week for our external learning experience,” West said.
West is no stranger to the classroom. While with ORFD, he has completed more than a dozen training courses and certifications. In addition to his new paramedic certificate, he has his Center for Public Safety Excellence Fire Officer Designation, and has completed the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Fire Officer II & III, Fire Inspector I, Fire Instructor I, and Firefighter II courses. In 2019, he earned his Master’s Degree of Executive Fire Leadership and Disaster Preparedness.
“Shay is one of our most hardworking and dedicated members. He is very deserving of this award,” said Oak Ridge Fire Chief Travis Solomon. “He continues to keep everyone in our department trained and always learning something new.”
The ORFD currently has 18 paramedics with the department. Funding for this training is provided through the Cooperative Agreement that the City has with National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).
To learn more about Roane State’s EMT and paramedic programs, visit roanestate.edu/EMS. To learn more about the Oak Ridge Fire Department, visit oakridgetn.gov/oak-ridge-fire-department or call FD Headquarters at (865) 425-3520.
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Work has begun to eliminate the sweeping-right-turn lane on South Tulane Avenue that leads to South Illinois Avenue.
The turn lane is closed now so crews can construct a new turn lane from southbound South Tulane Avenue and remove the sweeping-right-turn lane. New sidewalks, handicap ramps, and a signal pole with mast arms will be installed. The construction of new lanes is anticipated to be completed by early December.
To turn right from southbound S. Tulane Avenue to northbound S. Illinois Avenue, drivers will need to proceed to the light and turn right at the traffic signal. Other lane closures along S. Tulane Avenue and S. Illinois Avenue will take place intermittently.
Signage is posted to direct drivers while the lane closure is in effect.
Please call the Public Works Department at (865) 425-1875 or visit oakridgetn.gov/public-works with questions.
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Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) contractors started resurfacing Oak Ridge Turnpike this week.
Crews are milling on the east end of Oak Ridge Turnpike and will travel west to complete the work over the next several weeks.
Work is expected to be primarily after business hours. Drivers should expect temporary, short-term lane closures; no full lane closures are planned.
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There is no collection on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. All services will be pushed back by one day following the holiday.
The Convenience Center is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. However, leaf pickup will still occur on New Year's Day.
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DID YOU KNOW? You can request to stop billing on your irrigation system for the winter months online.
IMPORTANT: Please be sure to include your service address and account number.
PLEASE NOTE: This will only stop billing on the irrigation system, it does not winterize the equipment.
To leave a request on contact us, you are not required to set up a user account. For questions or more information, you can contact
my friends at the Utility Business Office by phone at (865) 425-3400.
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Oak Ridge City Council has passed changes to Oak Ridge City Code to regulate food trucks and establish a permitting process.
The City has determined regulation of Food Trucks (mobile food units and mobile food vendors) is necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public, as well as to promote the public interest by regulating the areas and methods of operation.
To meet these ends, the City has determined all persons or entities that desire to vend from Food Trucks within the city limits must be issued a permit and must comply with all state and local business tax regulations.
Recent legislation will exempt anyone with a state-issued permit from having to obtain a local food truck permit. All others will be required to obtain the Oak Ridge food truck permit prior to operation.
As part of the permitting process, vendors will need to show compliance with health inspections and obtain a business license, as well as continue the current process of passing an inspection by the fire prevention office pursuant to the International Fire Code, 2018 edition, (IFC) which was adopted by the City through Ordinance No. 9-2019.
For all Food Trucks that are not under a valid state-issued mobile food unit permit, the Food Truck Operator must first obtain a Food Truck Permit from the City before operating within the city limits of Oak Ridge. The Food Truck Permit shall be prominently displayed at all times on the applicable Food Truck while the Food Truck is in operation for mobile vending.
A Food Truck Operator shall complete the application for a Food Truck Permit on a form provided by the City and shall pay a non-refundable application fee of $50.
The application will require, in part, that the Food Truck Operator obtain a business license in accordance with state and local requirements and pass a fire inspection.
A Food Truck Permit is valid only for the Food Truck inspected for the permit and is not transferable to any other Food Truck even if it is operated by the same Food Truck Operator.
Please contact the Oak Ridge Clerk's Office at (865) 425-3411 for collection of the application and fee.
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The City of Oak Ridge Stormwater Division and its Healthy Waters Program will host the 2023 Clean the Clinch event this month.
On Saturday, Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., volunteers are encouraged to come out to Melton Lake Drive at Edgemoor Road to “Clean the Clinch”.
“This area sees a lot of foot traffic, so our goal is to pick up the trash that has gathered in the water and along the banks,” Stormwater Technician Katie Eggleston said.
Volunteers will meet under the bridge at the intersection of Melton Lake Drive and Edgemoor Road in Oak Ridge on the day of the event.
Volunteers are needed to make this event possible. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own canoe or kayak if they have them. For volunteers that don’t have their own kayaks, help picking up and removing litter along the shoreline and land surrounding the lake will be needed.
There will be opportunities for everyone to be a part of this cleanup. Litter pickers, vests, and gloves will be provided.
If you are interested in volunteering, register at bit.ly/CleanTheClinch2023, by scanning the QR code below, or by email at healthywaters@oakridgetn.gov.
Questions can be submitted by email at healthywaters@oakridgetn.gov or by calling (865) 425-1890. To learn more about litter, recycling, and keeping our waterways clean, please visit stormwater.oakridgetn.gov.
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The City of Oak Ridge Disability Advisory Board, United Way of Anderson County and Periodic Tables held a unique event last weekend.
Access Oak Ridge: Creating Community For All Abilities was held on Saturday, October 7, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Civic Center and Senior Center – giving participants the opportunity to learn, engage in and enjoy activities to help build livable communities for all.
The event brought people from surrounding communities to learn and enjoy a day of activities, information, music, food, art, games, and prizes.
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The City Council of Oak Ridge, Tennessee is seeking applicants for the 2023 Charter Review Committee. City Council shall appoint a seven (7) member Charter Review Committee at its regular meeting on November 13, 2023, at 7 p.m. in the Municipal Building Courtroom.
Article III, Section 14 of the Charter of the City of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, provides that every eight (8) years beginning in July 2007 the City Council shall appoint a Charter Review Committee whose duty shall be to review the Charter to ensure consistency with state law. City Council shall consider the recommendations of the Committee and submit amendments that the Council deems appropriate to a referendum of the voters in accordance with the home rule provisions of the Tennessee Constitution. In order for any recommended amendments to be included on the November 5, 2024 ballot, the Committee is requested to submit its proposed amendments to City Council by May 24, 2024.
To apply to serve on the Charter Review Committee, click here.
To apply to serve on a City Board or Commission, click here.
To serve as a student representative on the Environmental Quality Advisory Board, apply here.
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The 8-week Citizen's Police Academy course where students learn the policies and procedures of the Oak Ridge Police Department and experience firsthand how the department operates wrapped up this week.
The Citizen’s Police Academy provides insight into law enforcement generally, and the Oak Ridge Police Department specifically, with the goal of creating and developing a growing nucleus of responsible, well-informed citizens who have the potential to influence public opinion concerning police practices and service delivery.
Students get to know their officers and understand the challenges the job brings, through classroom lectures, hands-on experience, and real-life scenarios and role play. Students also participate in a ride-along with officers during a patrol shift to observe how officers provide police services to the Oak Ridge community. They are exposed to the same training that all Oak Ridge Police Officers receive.
If you're interested in participating in future classes of the program, visit our website for more details,
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We had the absolute privilege of being a part of the “Hometown Heroes” week at Linden Elementary (Linden Elementary PTO). 🚓🚒🚑
We had ambulances, MRAPs and crimes, oh my!
The children participated in “touch-a-truck” where they got to experience what it’s like to be in the driver’s seat of our vehicles. Then, we had K9 Khaos show us his best moves before the kids helped us solve the crime of the century!
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Patricia (Pat) Gengozian passed away on September 9, 2023. A Celebration of Life in Pat's honor brought hundreds of people together at the Oak Ridge Senior Center at 1405 Oak Ridge Turnpike on Sunday, October 8, 2023.
Pat served as Chairperson of the Senior Advisory Board since 2019 and was instrumental in establishing the new Oak Ridge Senior Center, which has seen an increase in users from 500 to approximately 2,500.
In addition to serving on the Senior Advisory Board, Pat was a frequent patron of the Senior Center to play bridge in the card room, and she was also a talented needle artist and seamstress who once assisted her mother in operating a knitting shop in Texas.
Pat found great joy in cooking and welcoming visitors to her home, and she also liked to travel, visiting forty-nine states, missing only Hawaii, and living in thirteen different states during her lifetime.
In addition to her devotion to her husband, David, Pat was a loving mother to her children and “bonus” children and a loving grandmother to eleven grandchildren whom she adored, and she will be missed by those who loved her and whose lives she touched with her servant heart and love of life.
Pat will be greatly missed at the City of Oak Ridge.
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On Thursday, August 24, the Oak Ridge Senior Center presented the final graduation concert for our first-ever Violin Discovery class.
The participants learned the basics of violin technique, music reading skills, and performed several pieces as well as demonstrating techniques and talking about the experience at the performance.
The second Violin Discovery session is underway now. The final performance takes place on November 9 at 3 p.m.
For information or specific questions about the class please contact Karine Stone, Music At Hillside at (585) 314.8716.
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Another successful Senior Day at the Outdoor Pool
The Annual Senior Day at the Outdoor Pool, held on August 2, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., was a great success.
More than 200 seniors came out to enjoy the Oak Ridge Outdoor pool and have it all to themselves to play games and have fun.
Patriot Homecare sponsored a free snow cone to help keep everyone cool. Woodmen Life Keith Kail Agency, and Daniel Forrester for Chancellor sponsored a light lunch as well, consisting of a hot dog, bottled water, chips, and cookies. Sponsors, including The Oak Ridge Senior Center, Matthew Tuck, General Session Judge, Gallo Loco Mexican Restaurant, Chick-fil-A, and many others donated door prizes to give away.
In total, $550 in door prizes were given out at the event. A big thanks to all the Recreation and Parks Department staff, volunteers, and sponsors who made the event possible!
If you missed the event this year, make sure to keep your eye out for next year’s party around the beginning of August. You can also give us a call at (865) 425-3999 or check out our webpage at OakRidgeSeniorCenter.com to get more information about other fun upcoming activities.
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Winter Basketball Officials Needed! 🏀
The City of Oak Ridge Department of Recreation & Parks Department is currently seeking basketball officials for its upcoming 2023/2024 basketball season.
TSSAA experience is preferred, but not required. As this is a contract position, all applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
For more information, interested candidates may contact Matt Reece at (865) 425-3440 or by e-mail at mreece@oakridgetn.gov.
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Join us in the Library Auditorium from October 12 through October 14 for Oak Ridge Public Library's Fall Friends of the Library Book Sale.
- Thursday from 5-7 p.m.: Members Only
(memberships available at the door)
- Friday from 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.: Open to the public
- Saturday from 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m.: Last day of sale
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Have you moved since you last voted? If you aren't sure whether you're registered to vote or if your information needs to be updated, you can check online and in the GoVoteTN App: https://sos.tn.gov/govotetn | | | |
Big news for Roane County! Malibu Boats is expanding its operations by establishing a second facility in Roane County.
It will house 770 new jobs and it represents a $75 million investment by the powerboat manufacturer.
“High-quality manufacturing jobs are the pathway to the middle class for many of our citizens. I am grateful to see Malibu Boats expand in our region and provide the kind of economic growth that can change lives in our state," Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) said.
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The Oak Ridge/Anderson Co NAACP will host an Opportunity Expo on October 19 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Green McAdoo Cultural Center at 101 School Street in Clinton.
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