Business

Some businessmen might view an empty building next door as a deterrent.

Eddie Lee sees it as an opportunity to give Roane County diners something new and different.

“What have we got around here that’s like it?” he said about Pick Up Stix Habachi Express, the Japanese-style restaurant he’s preparing to open in the former Shack’s Restaurant on Rockwood’s North Gateway Avenue.

Cleanup is under way of the building that neighbors the flagship of Lee’s Big E’s convenience stores.

All of Tennessee’s 95 counties reported increases in their unemployment rates for January, according to statistics released late last month from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Roane County’s rate jumped to 8.5 percent, up 1 percent over the December number.

That means 25,720 of the county’s 28,110-strong labor force was employed during the month

Sandra Alexander of Kingston, a registered nurse in the surgery department at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, was named February’s MMCer of the Month.  

In her position, Alexander cares for surgery patients, organizes the surgery room and schedule, and provides assistance to her co-workers and surgeons.

Alexander has been with Methodist since 1991.

Alexander is described by Mickie White, nurse manager in the surgery department, as “a great employee!”  

Two finance officers from Roane County municipalities were among more than 90 to be awarded the Certified Municipal Finance Officers certificate recently in Nashville.
Kingston’s Carolyn Brewer and Harriman’s Charles Kerley were in the class that included 97 individuals representing 86 cities and one utility district.
They completed a two-year program that consisted of 11 courses and exams covering eight different topics.
Brewer and Kerley were awarded their CMFO certification by Justin P. Wilson, Comptroller of the Treasury.