The Oak Ridge Wildcats advanced to a Class 5A football semifinal game after a 31-28 quarterfinal win at West on Friday.
Here are photos by Barry Houchin, used with permission.
[Read more…]Football photos: Oak Ridge at West in quarterfinal win
Read more about the Roane County mask order
The executive order for face coverings that was issued by Roane County Executive Ron Woody on Monday could be in effect through December 29 unless Woody and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee extend the order.
Woody announced Monday morning that he was going to invoke the authority to mandate face masks in Roane County as authorized by Lee’s order in July.
The mask mandate does not apply to:
[Read more…]Wildcats advance to semifinals after win over West
The Oak Ridge Wildcats advanced to a Class 5A football semifinal game after a 31-28 quarterfinal win at West on Friday.
The semifinal game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, November 27, against South Doyle (10-3) on Blankenship Field in Oak Ridge.
Before Friday, the Wildcats (10-3) had lost to the Rebels 22-7 during the regular season in September. A year ago, their season ended at West (12-2) in a 34-14 second-round loss.
The Wildcats led early in the Friday night game, but West took the lead late in the second quarter and held it into the fourth quarter. Then, the two teams traded leads three times in the fourth quarter. Oak Ridge senior quarterback Mitchell Gibbons threw the winning touchdown to senior wide receiver Jonathan Stewart with 2:33 remaining in the game.
[Read more…]Monday, Tuesday are virtual learning days for K-12
This Monday and Tuesday (November 23 and 24) are virtual learning days for K-12 students in Oak Ridge Schools.
Teachers are providing instruction from their classrooms to students, who are learning remotely from home. Building principals were expected to share details with families.
In a letter to families, Oak Ridge Schools Superintendent Bruce Borchers said elementary school students now have electronic devices and can use this opportunity to participate in true virtual learning.
Preschool students are continuing with their current schedule this week and are meeting in person on Monday, November 23, and Tuesday, November 24.
[Read more…]Roane County requires masks
Face masks are now required in Roane County to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Roane County Executive Ron Woody announced the mask mandate on Monday morning. It is effective immediately.
“I hope this community will take this order without causing more divisions among our citizens,” Woody said. He hopes no law enforcement will be needed.
The west end of Oak Ridge is in Roane County, although most of the city’s residents live in Anderson County.
Roane County’s cases and deaths have risen during the past month, Woody said. Roane County has reported almost four times as many COVID-19 deaths so far this month, 15, than in the previous high month—four in September. The county has reported more new cases so far this month, 717, than in the previous high month—543 in October.
[Read more…]Schools ask people to wear masks, maintain distances
In a letter last week, Oak Ridge Schools officials asked people to wear masks, maintain physical distances from people who live outside their home, and wash their hands.
There has been a recent surge in COVID-19 cases among students and staff members in Oak Ridge Schools. The surge began after fall break, although it’s not clear if the two events are connected.
On Monday, the school system returned middle school students to alternating schedules as the number of students who have to be quarantined increases. High school students remain on the alternating schedules, and elementary and preschool students continue with classes five days per week.
In their letter, school officials said they were asking the community to do what the students and teachers are doing to stay healthy in order to maintain and increase educational and extracurricular activities.
“Wear your mask, social distance, wash your hands, and understand that activities you participate in outside of the school day can easily jeopardize our ability to continue in-person education,” the letter said.
[Read more…]City: Watson feeling better, reported mild COVID symptoms
Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson is feeling better, and his COVID-19 symptoms remained mild all week, a spokesperson said Friday.
Watson learned a week ago that he had tested positive for COVID-19.
The city manager worked remotely this past week, Oak Ridge spokesperson Lauren Gray said. He will continue to work from home at the beginning of next week and will be off for the Thanksgiving holiday at the end of the week.
The city has urged residents to use caution during the holiday season as the positivity rate remains high; wastewater testing shows the disease is present across the city; and new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths grow to record-setting levels in Anderson County, Tennessee, and the United States.
[Read more…]Roane reports seven COVID deaths in three days
Seven COVID-19 deaths were reported in three days in Roane County, according to state data.
The seven deaths were reported in data published by the Tennessee Department of Health on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Roane County has reported 11 deaths from COVID-19 this month. That’s more than half of the county’s 21 total deaths due to COVID-19.
Anderson County has reported seven of its 25 deaths due to COVID-19 this month.
[Read more…]Charts: COVID-19 cases, deaths, hospitalizations in Anderson, Knox, Roane
We have included some charts in this story about COVID-19 cases, deaths, and hospitalizations in Anderson, Knox, and Roane counties. Here are a few more charts that we didn’t include there, with data through Tuesday, November 17.
See our earlier story here for more information.
[Read more…]Secret City Half Marathon, 5K on Saturday
The Secret City Half Marathon and 5K is in Oak Ridge on Saturday, and there will be some lane closures on city streets.
Registrations for the 5K are full, and there are fewer than 30 registrations left for the in-person half marathon, a press release said.
There is no limit for registrations for the virtual race, the press release said.
It’s a rare in-person half marathon in 2020, the release said. On race day, a time trial-style start will help ensure social distancing among the runners, after a temperature check for participants, the press release said.
More than 750 runners and walkers are expected to race, and the lane closures on city streets are to accommodate the competitors.
[Read more…]Anderson, Roane report five more COVID deaths
Anderson and Roane counties reported five more deaths due to COVID-19 on Tuesday, and Knox County reported another nine deaths.
November is the deadliest month for COVID-19 in all three counties, and there are about two weeks remaining in the month. Nine deaths have been reported in both Anderson and Roane counties so far this month, and 30 deaths have been reported in Knox County.
Of the five deaths reported Tuesday, two were in Anderson County, and three were in Roane County.
The nine deaths in Roane County this month are more than the eight reported in all of the previous months.
[Read more…]Thirty-six COVID cases reported among students, school staff since Wednesday
Thirty-six cases of COVID-19 have been reported among students and staff members in Oak Ridge Schools since Wednesday.
It’s a drastic increase in the number of cases reported among students and staff and triple the previous weekly high of 12. The highest number of cases in one day, 11, was reported Friday.
Fourteen of the COVID-19 cases since Wednesday have been reported at Robertsville Middle School (13 students and one staff member). Nine cases have been reported at Oak Ridge High School (all students), and seven have been reported at Jefferson Middle School (also all students).
During a longer period, the past 12 days, 47 cases have been reported in Oak Ridge Schools. During that time period, the highest numbers of cases have been reported at the two middle schools: 16 at RMS and 12 at JMS. The third-highest number of cases, 11, was reported at ORHS.
The increase in cases among middle school students, in particular, occurred after they returned to class five days per week on Monday, November 2. The most significant surge also started after Halloween. But it’s not clear if the events are connected. Oak Ridge Schools Superintendent Bruce Borchers has said about 80 percent of confirmed COVID-19 cases have been exposed to the virus outside of school, according to information provided by parents.
[Read more…]