Jan. 18, 2024 - Feb. 14, 2024
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Farmhouse Community Center – gone too far to stop? Oak Ridge council members discussed halting the renovation and expansion of the historic Redmon house due to rising costs, but decided to move forward with the creation of a public meeting space by CHRIS BURRITT OAK RIDGE – Oak Ridge Town Council decided at their meeting on Thursday, Jan. 4, to proceed with the renovation and expansion of the historic Redmon house after discussing the possibility of halting the project due to rising costs. “I believe we’ve gone to the point where it makes sense to finish it,” said Mayor Jim Kinneman, who sided with council members Ann Schneider and Jim Harton in voting to move forward with the project.
It is prudent to continue with the project. I believe we’ve gone far enough that to stop the project and go back or attempt to go back would be not a very good use of the money.’’ Oak Ridge Mayor Jim Kinneman
An opponent of the project, Mayor Pro Tem Mike Stone estimated that upgrading the vacant 1,100-squarefoot farmhouse at the entrance to Town Park to a 1,500-square-foot building for
use as a community center will eventually cost $750,000, exceeding current projections of about $620,000. State and federal grants totaling $380,000
IN THIS ISSUE
Reopening of Wilson’s Grocery stirs memories.............................. 16 Still tossing dough after 30 years...... 18 ORTC Jan. 4 meeting highlights........21 S’dale TC Jan. 11 meeting highlights..26 Community Calendar....................... 30 NWO Kids’ Korner................................ 32 Youth Link............................................. 33 Go “Into the Woods” with NW Little Theatre performers..... 36 Crime/Incident Report....................... 38 Grins and Gripes................................. 40 Classifieds............................................ 44 Index of advertisers............................ 47
News in brief........................................... 2 Council considers alternatives to municipal water system plan..... 3 Your Questions....................................... 4 NWO On The Go.................................... 6 Welcome to our new advertiser......... 7 SFTC Jan. 9 meeting highlights........... 8 NWO Business and Real Estate......... 12 Business rezoning sought for Strader Road project.................. 13
Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO
Bar Construction recently removed a 1970s’ addition to the circa 1930s Redmon house at the corner of Linville Road and Lisa Drive and covered the exterior wall until a new kitchen and bathroom are added. The work is part of the expansion and renovation of the house in preparation for its conversion to the Farmhouse ...continued on p. 42 Community Center, which will be offered as public meeting space.
Summerfield council pulls back U.S. 220 welcome sign It’s the latest project stalled or abandoned by the Town Council in recent years, costing nearly $434,000 in tax dollars by CHRIS BURRITT SUMMERFIELD – In its first meeting of the year, Summerfield Town Council showed it can reverse course on big projects
just as well as previous councils. During its Jan. 9 meeting, the council voted 4-1 to reject the design of the “Welcome to
...continued on p. 29