Local News

(Secretary of State press release) Early voting for the Tennessee State and Federal Primary and County General Election begins Friday, July 17, and runs Monday to Saturday until Saturday, August 1. Election Day is Thursday, August 6.“The safety of voters and poll officials are our top priority,” said Secretary of …

After initially “strongly recommending” masks, students and staff members will now be required to wear face coverings in Oak Ridge Schools when physical distancing is not possible, Superintendent Bruce Borchers said Thursday. A school re-opening plan published Monday said masks would be strongly recommended, but not required, when students can’t stay six feet …

The Campbell County school system unveiled its reopening plan on Thursday, and officials there say that students will return to class in the traditional fashion on August 5th. School officials say that this plan is subject to change, depending on the public health situation, and ask parents and students to …

(NASCAR.com report) Austin Cindric won a two-lap overtime duel at Kentucky Speedway racing door-to-door with his good friend and former teammate Chase Briscoe to earn his career-first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory on an oval track. Cindric, who led 41 laps on the night, ultimately finished .952-seconds ahead of rookie Riley …

(Rep. Ragan press release) State Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, today announced recipients of Tennessee Arts Commission grants for Anderson County. The awards include $32,400 to the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge; $27,290 to Oak Ridge Civic Music Association; $21,290 to the Oak Ridge Community Art Center; $28,100 to the …

(GSMNP press release) Great Smoky Mountains National Park maintenance crews will implement a temporary, single-lane closure along King Branch Road on Tuesday, July 14 from 7:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. to make pavement repairs. King Branch Road is located off the northbound Spur near Pigeon Forge, TN.  The road will remain open during the single-lane closure, …

The Oak Ridge Public Library will host a webinar on Digital Privacy and Security 101 as part of its pilot program for technology classes later this month. Join the library for the online event on Thursday, July 30, from 1 to 2 p.m. During the class, attendees will be taught …

(ORUBO press release) The City of Oak Ridge Utilities Business Office will transition to new software in July and the look of Oak Ridger’s utility bills will be changing. The new bill will have a new look so Oak Ridge Utility customers should keep an eye out for a bill …

(APGA press release) The American Public Gas Association (APGA) presented Powell Clinch Utility District (PCUD) with the prestigious APGA System Operational Achievement Recognition (SOAR) for excellence in operating its natural gas utility. Public natural gas systems are entrusted by their customers to deliver clean and affordable natural gas through a …

(Submitted) Adventure Anderson, the county’s Tourism Bureau, announced Wednesday that Norris Lake has been recognized by the readers and fans of Blue Ridge Country Magazine in their 2020 “Mountain Blue” Reader Poll, where they asked readers: “Where do you go to H2O?” Winners were published in the July/August “Blue Issue” where the focus is on the water-related …