Alexander: Time for ‘Oak Ridge Corridor’
U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander says naming the highway from Knoxville airport to Oak Ridge the “Oak Ridge Corridor” would give the area “a signature like Research Triangle in North Carolina or Silicon Valley in California.”
“I can think of no better calling card for a job recruiter than to be able to go anywhere in the world and say, ‘I’m from the Oak Ridge Corridor,'” Alexander said in a news release.
“In Anderson, Roane and Knox counties more than 40,000 people have graduate or professional degrees. We are in the middle of one of our country’s most formidable concentrations of brainpower.”
He cited initiatives such as the Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, which is giving U.S. manufacturers easy access to the extensive expertise and capabilities of ORNL; the $6.5 billion Uranium Processing Facility now being built; the ongoing cleanup of Cold War sites at Oak Ridge, which he said supports 1,700 jobs and will result in salable commercial sites, and ORNL’s world-famous supercomputing facilities.
“Now that the mystery of how to turn brainpower in the Oak Ridge-Knoxville area into jobs for East Tennessee is showing so much promise of being solved, it is time to give that promise a signature name that will let the world know exactly where to put those jobs. That name is ‘The Oak Ridge Corridor,'” Alexander said.
Cook to speak to women’s club
Chattanooga Homeless Program coordinator Heather Cook will speak Tuesday to the Greater Chattanooga Democratic Women’s Club. The meeting is at 6 p.m. at the IBEW Local 175, 3922 Volunteer Drive. Light refreshments will be served.
For more information, email Vice President-Programs Brenda Nunn at nunnbre@aol.com.
Public asked for input on records fees
The state’s Office of Open Records Counsel is asking for public input on state legislative proposals to charge fees for inspecting public records. Such inspections now are free.
Information and an opinion survey are at www.comptroller.tn.gov/openrecords/index.asp.
The public is invited to send written comments to comments.open.records@cot.tn.gov, and to attend one of three scheduled public meetings.
* Sept. 15, 4-6 p.m. at 12 Oaks Executive Park, 5401 Kingston Pike, Building 2, Suite 350, Knoxville
* Sept. 16, 10 a.m.- noon at James K. Polk State Office Building, 505 Deaderick St., Nashville
* Sept. 17, 3-5 p.m., Lowell Thomas State Office Building, 225 Martin Luther King Drive, Jackson.
FILE – In a Friday, Aug. 28, 2015 file photo, Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, addresses the summer meeting of the Democratic National Committee, in Minneapolis. Sanders says international rivals would be mistaken to assume he wouldn’t use military force if that’s what circumstances required. He says the United States should have the strongest military in the world. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File) Bernie Birthday Bash set for downtown
Members of the group “Chattanooga Area for Bernie Sanders” will hold a Bernie Birthday Bash on Tuesday.
The group will meet at Miller Plaza at 5:15 p.m. and walk to Renaissance Park holding signs and wearing T-shirts (bought or created) supporting Sanders. Those who can’t make the walk should come to Renaissance Park at 6:30 p.m.
A donation of $8 is requested to be given via his website for his birthday: berniesanders.com. For more information, contact Chris Besh at cab299@catt.com or 423-260.-488.
Facebook Event Link: www.facebook.com/events/114862775532885/
Steelman to speak at training event
Hamilton County Elections Administrator Elections Kerry Steelman will speak Thursday at the Hamilton County Democratic Party’s campaign training seminar.
The event is set for 6 p.m. at IBEW Local 175, 3922 Volunteer Drive. Steelman will provide an update on the Hamilton County Election Commission’s upcoming new website and changes in the selection of poll officers.
Afterwards, volunteers will receive training on specific steps to increase involvement and turnout in neighborhoods and communities through the get out the vote program. A light meal will be provided.
Reserve a spot at 423-313-7347 or hcdp.tn@gmail.com. Or contact Chairman Terry Lee at tleedemocrat@gmail.com.
Haslam to attend McCormick fundraiser
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam will attend a fundraiser for House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick’s reelection campaign Oct. 1 at the Chattanooga Zoo.
McCormick is a Chattanooga Republican.
Donations are $100 per couple for attendees, $500 per couple for co-hosts and $1,000 per couple for hosts.
For more information, contact Reid Witcher at 615-564-2642 or Reid@RachelBarrettCo.com.