Oak Ridge Today

Roane State’s Ralph Monday to host poetry reading March 13, Oak Ridge campus

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Ralph Monday

Ralph Monday

 

Roane State Community College English Professor Ralph Monday, who has had hundreds of his poems published in more than 100 journals, will hold a poetry reading on March 13 on the college’s Oak Ridge campus at 701 Briarcliff Avenue.

The event will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13, in the City Room of the Coffey-McNally Building. The public is invited, a press release said.

Monday is originally from Clairfield, Tennessee, a small Appalachian town on the Kentucky border.

He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Tennessee, and obtained his doctorate from Northcentral University, the press release said.

Among his published works: a chapbook, “All American Girls and Other Poems,” was published in July 2014, and Aldrich Press published his book, “Empty Houses and American Renditions,” in May 2015. [Read more…]

Community Interfaith Harmony Month wraps up with two events this week

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Community Interfaith Harmony Month will be wrapping up with two special events this week, a press release said.

“Come lend your heart and hands and voice in celebration of the World Day of Prayer, Friday, March 1, 2019, at 7 p.m. in the Nave at St. Stephens Episcopal Church located at 212 North Tulane Avenue,” the press release said. “Church Women United will be hosting the worship service entitled ‘Come—Everything is Ready,’ written by women of Slovenia. It challenges all to widen their circles and invites all to follow prayer with action.”

Everyone is invited to the finale event to rejoice in celebrating community interfaith music and arts on March 5 beginning at 6 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike, the press release said. There will be poetry, music, and dancing performed by a diversity of community groups, followed by a fellowship reception. [Read more…]

ORHS Masquers present ‘Annie’ this weekend

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Oak Ridge High School Masquers, the school’s drama program, will present "Annie," the classic musical, for four performances in March 2019—March 1, March 2, and March 3—at the Oak Ridge Performing Arts Center at Oak Ridge High School. (Submitted photo)

Oak Ridge High School Masquers, the school’s drama program, will present “Annie,” the classic musical, for four performances in March 2019—March 1, March 2, and March 3—at the Oak Ridge Performing Arts Center at Oak Ridge High School. (Submitted photo)

 

Oak Ridge High School Masquers, the school’s drama program, will present “Annie,” the classic musical, for four performances this weekend.

Here are the scheduled performances at the Oak Ridge Performing Arts Center at Oak Ridge High School:

  • Friday, March 1, at 7 p.m.,
  • Saturday, March 2, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and
  • Sunday, March 3, at 2 p.m.

Advanced tickets are $8, and they are available at the ORHS office and The Ferrell Shop. At the door, tickets will be $9 for students and $10 for adults. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge police arrest five suspects in alleged counterfeit cash bust

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On Thursday, February 21, 2019, the Oak Ridge Police Department arrested five suspects following a fraudulent transaction with the use of counterfeit money, the City of Oak Ridge said Monday, Feb. 25, 2019. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge/ORPD)

On Thursday, February 21, 2019, the Oak Ridge Police Department arrested five suspects following a fraudulent transaction with the use of counterfeit money, the City of Oak Ridge said Monday, Feb. 25, 2019. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge/ORPD)

 

On Thursday, February 21, the Oak Ridge Police Department arrested five suspects following a fraudulent transaction with the use of counterfeit money, the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release.

Officers were notified by a local business that suspected counterfeit bills had been used to pay for items in the store, the press release said. An employee of the business was able to provide a description of the vehicle driven by the suspects. The vehicle was spotted just minutes later, still in the immediate area near South Tulane Avenue, and an Oak Ridge Police Department officer initiated a traffic stop, the release said.

The suspects were found to be in possession of counterfeit money in denominations of $100s and $50s, the press release said. All five suspects were arrested and taken to the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton. [Read more…]

UT students to host forum on intersection design for Pennsylvania at Tulane

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Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge

Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge

 

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department is teaming up with students from the University of Tennessee to explore alternative designs for the intersection at Pennsylvania and North Tulane avenues.

Some residents refer to the five-way intersection near Oak Ridge High School as “malfunction junction.”

The effort to explore alternative designs for the intersection is part of a senior project for the group of students from UT’s College of Civil and Environmental Engineering, a press release said. To help gather input from the community, the students will host an interactive open forum on Monday, March 4. The forum will be held in the Oak Ridge Public Library’s auditorium from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. [Read more…]

Gift of Life: Kidney transplants, donation to be discussed Monday

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Submitted photo

Submitted photo

 

“The Gift of Life” is the topic of the Monday, February 25, luncheon and general meeting of AAUW (American Association of University Women).

The meeting will start at 11:30 a.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church, Room 102, Activities Building.

Brent Hannah, director of of Cardiovascular and Transplant Services at the University of Tennessee, will give an overview of the transplant program begun at the University of Tennessee in 1985 by Dr. Mitch Goldman. More than 1,300 kidney transplants have been performed, a press release said. Donors for the transplants have been living donors, living related donors, directed non-related donors, and non-directed non-related living donors, as well as deceased donors, the release said.

Mary Bell, a retired cardiac nurse, will talk about her “adventure” as a kidney donor. [Read more…]

Reminder: Breakfast with Legislators is Monday

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The Oak Ridge League of Women Voters will host “Breakfast with the Legislators” on Monday, February 25. The meeting will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. in the Social Room of the Oak Ridge Civic Center at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike. A free continental breakfast will be served, a press release said.

State senators Randy McNally and Ken Yager and representatives John Ragan and Kent Calfee have been invited to speak about the current session of the Tennessee General Assembly and respond to questions and hear opinions from the audience. The public is invited to attend, the press release said.

The popular community event offers firsthand information on upcoming legislation and House and Senate committee activities, while prompting dialogue among legislators and citizens, and providing a great networking opportunity for members of the community. [Read more…]

Boys basketball game rescheduled to Sunday

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The Oak Ridge Wildcats had been scheduled to play West in a Region 2-AAA quarterfinal game today (Saturday, February 23), but the game has been rescheduled to Sunday as heavy rain causes flooding and road closures across the area.

The elimination basketball game is now scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday at Wildcat Arena at Oak Ridge High School.

Water flowing across all lanes of Highway 95, which is closed

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The Oak Ridge Police Department said road closures due to flooding on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, include eastbound Highway 95 east of the Highway 95/58 split, pictured above; Gum Hollow Road; and Jefferson Avenue at Jefferson Circle and Royce Circle. (Photo courtesy ORPD)

The Oak Ridge Police Department said road closures due to flooding on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, include part of Highway 95, pictured above; Gum Hollow Road; and Jefferson Avenue at Jefferson Circle and Royce Circle. (Photo courtesy ORPD)

 

Water is flowing across all lanes of State Route 95 in west Oak Ridge, and the highway is closed, the Oak Ridge Police Department said Saturday afternoon.

ORPD Officer Trae Sweeten posted video of the flooding just west of Southwood Lane. Water is flowing across all lanes and into the nearby East Fork Poplar Creek, the ORPD said.

The ORPD said SR 95/58 is completely closed between Imperium Drive and Rarity Oaks Parkway.

“Conditions will worsen,” the ORPD said. “Please obey all road closures!”

[Read more…]

Oak Ridge police conduct water rescue

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The Oak Ridge Police Department had a water rescue at a partially submerged vehicle in west Oak Ridge on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said. (Photo courtesy ORFD)

The Oak Ridge Police Department had a water rescue at a partially submerged vehicle in west Oak Ridge on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said. (Photo courtesy ORFD)

 

The Oak Ridge Police Department had a water rescue at a partially submerged vehicle in west Oak Ridge on Saturday, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said.

The vehicle was on Oak Ridge Turnpike (Highway 95) in west Oak Ridge, one of several roads in the area that has had at least a portion of it closed.

“We are asking everyone to stay home and off the roads today while we respond to flooding in Oak Ridge,” the Fire Department said. [Read more…]

Updated: Rain causing widespread flooding, road closures

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The Oak Ridge Police Department said road closures due to flooding on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, include eastbound Highway 95 east of the Highway 95/58 split, pictured above; Gum Hollow Road; and Jefferson Avenue at Jefferson Circle and Royce Circle. (Photo courtesy ORPD)

The Oak Ridge Police Department said road closures due to flooding on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, include eastbound Highway 95 east of the Highway 95/58 split, pictured above; Gum Hollow Road; and Jefferson Avenue at Jefferson Circle and Royce Circle. (Photo courtesy ORPD)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 2:45 p.m.

Days of continuous, heavy rain are causing widespread flooding and road closures in the area, including in Oak Ridge.

Late Saturday morning, the Oak Ridge Police Department said road closures include Gum Hollow Road, eastbound Highway 95 east of the Highway 95/58 split, and Jefferson Avenue at Jefferson Circle and Royce Circle.

“There are a number of flooded roads in Oak Ridge right now,” the ORPD said. “Please avoid areas with standing water and obey any road or lane closures for your own safety.”

Saturday afternoon, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said the ORPD conducted a water rescue at a partially submerged vehicle on Oak Ridge Turnpike (Highway 95) in west Oak Ridge.

The Police Department cited the advice that law enforcement officers and weather forecasters often give during flooding conditions: “Turn around, don’t drown.” [Read more…]

Ulster Project to celebrate peace-building with Mardi Gras event Saturday

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Ulster's Mardi Gras Feb 23 2019

The Ulster Project has been operating in the Oak Ridge and Knoxville area for almost 33 years. You can help them celebrate 33 years of peace-building in Northern Ireland and the United States by joining them for their inaugural Ulster’s Mardi Gras, where they will celebrate the Gulf Coast tradition of Mardi Gras.

The event is scheduled from 6-10:30 p.m. Saturday, February 23, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

The featured band will be a local favorite, The Missing Goats. And they expect to have some zydeco dancing lessons.

The menu will include salad, seafood gumbo, Cajun roasted pork loin and chicken, red beans and rice, Cajun green beans, chicken and sausage jambalaya, king cake (prizes for the baby), and banana pudding. Beer and wine will be available for sale, and there will be a silent auction. [Read more…]