Organizers announced Tuesday that the North Boundary Trail hike that had been scheduled for Saturday, March 14, has been postponed.
“Unfortunately, the weather is not going to cooperate,” a statement from the City of Oak Ridge said. “We will reschedule this event at a later date.”
The six-mile hike has been organized by Oak Ridge municipal and school committees: the City of Oak Ridge Wellness Committee and Oak Ridge Coordinated School Health.
Note: This story was updated at 10:20 a.m. March 10.
The Oak Ridge City Council has postponed a vote on a contract to install a stoplight at the Oak Ridge Turnpike in front of Oak Ridge High School. The light could eliminate the need for a crossing guard.
City officials had said the light could be installed by August 2015, but the postponement of the contract vote to the April meeting will likely delay the completion date, possibly until after school starts later this year.
The installation could cost roughly $177,000. It would be paid for using unspent money from the Special Programs Fund, the fund set up for traffic, pedestrian, and bicycle safety projects using money from the traffic cameras that were removed last year. [Read more…]
Sophomores release balloons as other football players watch during a community candlelight vigil at Oak Ridge High School on Sunday for student-athlete Joey Kocak, who died at home on Wednesday. (Photo by Julio Culiat)
Note: This story was updated at 4:32 p.m.
The Oak Ridge community honored sophomore James Joseph “Joey” Kocak during a candlelight vigil at Oak Ridge High School on Sunday.
Friends and coaches shared their memories of Kocak, who had played on the football and basketball teams this year, during the candlelight vigil at Ben Martin Track at ORHS.
They encouraged the large crowd that attended to preserve their precious memories of Kocak, a 16-year-old sophomore who passed away at his home on Wednesday, March 4.
“I really hope that this isn’t the last time we’ll honor him,” said Mollie Turner.
Friends and coaches recalled Kocak’s memorable smirk, his playful moments, and his high-pitched singing on the back of the bus, belting out tunes like “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” [Read more…]
The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday, Feb. 9, agreed to a third-party review of turnover and morale in the Oak Ridge Police Department but rejected requests for two other probes. On Monday, March 9, the Council will consider a proposal from the Municipal Technical Advisory Service to conduct the review, which will also include administrative policies. (File photo)
Note: This story was updated at 1:10 p.m.
The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday night will consider a proposal to use the Municipal Technical Advisory Service to review turnover, morale, and administrative policies in the Oak Ridge Police Department.
The Council will also consider a contract to install a stoplight on Oak Ridge Turnpike in front of the Oak Ridge High School.
Also on tonight’s agenda is a resolution to appoint members of a joint city-school committee that will study options for repairing, replacing, or moving the Oak Ridge Preschool.
And Council members will consider a zoning ordinance amendment that could help the Main Street Oak Ridge project, which will redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall. [Read more…]
James Joseph “Joey” Kocak
There will be a community candlelight vigil for student-athlete Joey Kocak (#79) at 7 p.m. today (Sunday, March 8) at Ben Martin Track at Oak Ridge High School.
Kocak was 16 and a sophomore at ORHS. He died at home on March 4.
Kocak was the youngest of four children, and he was also a musician and loved the outdoors, his family said in his obituary. Kocak had been on both the football and basketball teams this year.
The Kocak family will be receiving friends on Monday, March 9, at St. Mary’s Church from 5-7:30 p.m., followed by the memorial service. A reception will be held at St. Mary’s gym, immediately following the services.
Oak Ridge Wildcat Football is asking the community to attend the candlelight vigil on Sunday evening. The vigil is hosted by the Oak Ridge Wildcat Football staff and boosters.
An Oak Ridge High School student passed away at home on Wednesday, March 4, and counselors will be available at the school on Thursday (as long as weather permits) and on Friday, officials said in a Thursday morning release.
“It is a sad day for Oak Ridge High School and the entire Oak Ridge community,” the Oak Ridge Schools’ release said. “The thoughts and prayers of the Oak Ridge High School and Oak Ridge Schools’ staff go out to the family. Please join us in keeping the family, friends, and the entire Oak Ridge High School family in your thoughts and prayers during this most difficult time.”
The counselors will be available at Oak Ridge High School to help students, parents, and friends deal with their thoughts and feelings associated with this loss, the release said.
Oak Ridge Schools and Roane County Schools are both closed today. So are Anderson County government offices, and the Oak Ridge Public Library and Senior Center. All other municipal offices will operate on a regular schedule.
Anderson County courts are also canceled, and daytime classes at Roane State Community College campuses, including in Oak Ridge, have been canceled. A decision on nighttime classes (those that begin after 4:30 p.m.) will be made later.
State offices are also closed because of the current weather situation in West and Middle Tennessee and forecasted winter weather moving east. [Read more…]
Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown
Rain could change to a wintry mix of freezing rain and sleet and then possibly snow as the temperature drops overnight and Thursday morning, forecasters said.
Anderson County Schools and Clinton City Schools will be closed Thursday, March 5.
Forecasters said rain associated with a cold front will continue over the area through tonight. Arctic air will move in behind the front while the precipitation is ongoing, plunging surface temperatures to below freezing especially over the Cumberland Plateau and southwest Virginia overnight, the National Weather Service in Morristown said. [Read more…]
Oak Ridge municipal and school committees will lead a six-mile hike on the North Boundary Trail on Saturday, March 14.
The hike, which could last about three hours, will leave the North Boundary “yellow gate” (just west of Wisconsin Avenue) at 9 a.m. and follow the Quarry trail, making a right onto Hunley, a right onto North Boundary, and down the Gallaher connector.
This hike is considered moderate in difficulty due to varied elevations and length. [Read more…]
Tennessee Lausanne Collegiate School of Memphis first-place winners pictured above at the Blount County campus of Pellissippi State Community College are Prashanth Raj, Ted Letsou, Tony Chen, Raghav Ranga, and Rishab Jain, with their trophy. (DOE photo/Lynn Freeny)
Countless hours studying math and science has paid off for some exceptionally bright students from one college preparatory academy—the Lausanne Collegiate School of Memphis—who won the Tennessee Science Bowl this past weekend. Lausanne’s Team 1 competed against 53 other high school teams on February 27-28 to place first in the annual competition.
Lausanne edged out their competition by successfully answering a host of challenging questions in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, earth and space science, and energy.
Held at Pellissippi State Community College’s Blount County Campus, the Tennessee Science Bowl is the nation’s third-largest regional competition. The regional bowl prepares students to compete nationally with other exceptional students from schools across the country. [Read more…]
Oak Ridge Schools could make up two snow days by having students attend school for a full day, rather than being dismissed early, on four Wednesdays in March and April, officials said. That plan hinges on state approval of a three-day waiver that Tennessee school systems can request because a state of emergency that was declared during the winter weather in the second half of February.
Tracey Beckendorf-Edou, superintendent of teaching and learning, said Oak Ridge Schools used eight snow days this year. She said that’s the most anyone can remember the school system using. Students didn’t go to school at all on those days.
Oak Ridge had three snow days built into its schedule. Without a waiver, that would leave five snow days that have to be made up. But if Oak Ridge receives a three-day waiver from the state, that would leave a two-day deficit. [Read more…]
The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday, Feb. 9, agreed to a third-party review of turnover, morale, and administrative policies in the Oak Ridge Police Department. (File photo)
The Oak Ridge City Council on Tuesday could discuss a review of the Oak Ridge Police Department, hear a briefing on a proposed U.S. Department of Energy landfill west of the Y-12 National Security Complex, and discuss a new joint city-school committee that could lay the groundwork for a new preschool by the 2016-2017 school year.
The City Council will meet in a non-voting work session at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Multipurpose Room at the Central Services Complex on Woodbury Lane. The work session has been rescheduled from last month because of weather. [Read more…]
