Oak Ridge Today

Down payment assistance of $15,000 available for qualified home buyers in Clinton zip code

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This the map of targeted zip codes where $15,000 in down payment assistance is available to qualified home buyers. (Map by Tennessee Housing Development Agency)

This is the map of targeted zip codes where $15,000 in down payment assistance is available to qualified home buyers. (Map by Tennessee Housing Development Agency)

 

A program that kicked off in March offers $15,000 in down payment assistance to certain qualified home buyers in a Clinton area zip code and 54 other zip codes across Tennessee.

The down payment assistance is available through the Hardest Hit Fund Down Payment Assistance program, a federal program administered in the Volunteer State by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency, or THDA.

The help is available in Anderson County in the 37716 zip code. That zip code includes an area north and east of Oak Ridge, extending to Clinton and beyond along State Route 61 and north and south of the highway.

To qualify, home buyers must purchase an existing home in one of the 55 targeted zip codes. The purchase requires a THDA Great Choice Home Loan. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge wins two games in softball tournament at home

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Oak Ridge lost a high-scoring 17-15 district softball game to Clinton at home on Thursday, March 30, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge lost a high-scoring 17-15 district softball game to Clinton at home on Thursday, March 30, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats won two games in the Oak Ridge Invitational last week.

The girls’ softball team (5-8-1, 1-5 District 3-AAA) lost a district game to Clinton, 17-15, in the first game of the tournament on Thursday.

But the next day, on Friday, the girls beat Concord Christian 8-1 and Greenback 8-2.

Oak Ridge tied White County, a team from Sparta, 4-4 on Saturday.

The last three games were all non-district games.

The Lady Wildcats also won two of three games in a softball tournament in Oneida the weekend before the Oak Ridge Invitational. [Read more…]

County veterans invited to community breakfast on Saturday

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CLINTON—Military veterans from Anderson County are once again invited to come together this weekend for a community Veterans Breakfast, a press release said.

The breakfast, hosted by Anderson County citizens, is sponsored this month by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12051 of Oak Ridge. The breakfast will be held this Saturday, April 8, at the Clinton Community Center. “Chow line” opens at 8:30 a.m., and there will be a brief program at 9 a.m.

All of the Veterans Breakfasts recognize and honor local veterans and their families for their service to the United States, the press release said. [Read more…]

Roane State’s Anderson County Middle College students excited about graduation day

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Roane State Middle College students, from left, Miranda Vanover, Braelee Givens, and Emily Pooler will graduate from Roane State Community College before they graduate from high school. (Photo by Roane State)

Roane State Middle College students, from left, Miranda Vanover, Braelee Givens, and Emily Pooler will graduate from Roane State Community College before they graduate from high school. (Photo by Roane State)

 

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

A group of bright high achievers from Anderson County will be wearing commencement’s traditional caps and gowns twice this spring.

Members of the first graduating class of Middle College students from Anderson County will receive associate degrees from Roane State Community College on May 6.

Then, they’ll be graduating from their respective high schools later that month.

Middle College is a two-year Roane State program where area high school sophomores with qualifying grades and test scores are invited as juniors to attend college in the mornings and return to their high schools in the afternoon.

Middle College gives participants a huge leg up in terms of college credits, and they’ll start the rest of their collegiate careers with two years of higher education classes under their belts. [Read more…]

Soccer: Wildcats win second district game of season

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The Oak Ridge Wildcats traveled to Anderson County on Tuesday evening to play their second district match of the season and came away with a 7-3 victory over the Mavericks.

First half goals for the Wildcats came from juniors Casey Nigh and Carson McGhee as well as senior Austin Vinyard.

Seniors Matt Friedman and Matt Malagon, with one goal each, and Jonas Grayson, with two goals, finished the scoring in the second half for Oak Ridge.

The Wildcats travel to Clinton on Friday for a 6 p.m. kick off against the Dragons.

Tuesday scoring against Anderson County
[Read more…]

County taking steps to move General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge

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Anderson County officials are taking steps to move General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge from a privately owned building on Bus Terminal Road, pictured above, to a county-owned building on Emory Valley Road. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 12:50 p.m.

Anderson County officials are taking steps to move General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge from a privately owned building on Bus Terminal Road to a county-owned building on Emory Valley Road.

An 18-month lease on the current privately owned building, where the court has been since 2009, expires in June, officials said Wednesday.

Renovations are planned at the county-owned building on Emory Valley Road before the court moves there. Bid packages for the renovation work could go out to contractors this week, and the bid could be awarded in mid-April, said Anderson County Commissioner Phil Yager, one of two commissioners who represent District 8 in Oak Ridge.

The renovation work could take two to three months, Yager said. Michael Brady Inc., a Knoxville architectural firm helping Anderson County, has estimated the renovations could cost around $300,000. [Read more…]

5K Run, Walk on May 5 a fundraiser to help fight cancer

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The American Cancer Society has announced the first 5K Run and Walk at a Relay For Life event in Anderson County in May.

The run and walk will take place on Friday, May 5, at 8 p.m. at Melton Lake Park in Oak Ridge. People ages 12 and up are invited to participate by either walking or running to help raise money in the quest to “create a world with less cancer by helping people get well and stay well, by finding cures, and by fighting back against cancer,” a press release said.

To register for this event, go to the website runsignup.com. You may locate the event by typing in Anderson County Twilight, which will take you to the event page. Individuals may support one of the local teams participating in Relay For Life or may create a team of their own.

“This is a great way to honor or remember someone you love whose life has been touched by cancer,” the press release said. [Read more…]

ORHS Youth Ambassadors travel to Capitol for substance abuse prevention day

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Submitted photo

 

Eleven Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) Youth Ambassadors from Anderson County, Clinton, and Oak Ridge high schools traveled to the State Capitol to take part in Prevention Alliance of Tennessee’s Day on the Hill. On this day, coalitions from all across the state come together to advocate for substance abuse prevention in Tennessee. By joining forces with The Prevention Alliance of Tennessee (PAT), the ASAP Youth Ambassadors are able to further the mission to prevent and reduce substance abuse in Anderson County, a press release said.

During the visit, these students had the opportunity to have private meetings with Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, Representative John Ragan, and Representative Dennis Powers to educate them about the issues that are important to them. Currently, these issues include the desire to have tobacco-free parks in Anderson County, the risks involved with legalizing medical or other uses of marijuana, and support for opioid abuse reduction. [Read more…]

Task force to meet for first time to discuss feasibility of justice center

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The Facilities Consolidation Task Force, a group of Anderson County officials who will study the feasibility of a justice center, will meet for the first time on Thursday, March 23.

The meeting will begin at 4 p.m. March 23 in the Emergency Management Agency Headquarters at 111 South Charles G. Seivers Boulevard in Clinton.

Repairs made to Andersonville road that had washed out

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Byrams Fork Road was closed in Anderson County on Thursday, March 2, 2017, about three-quarters of a mile from Hickory Valley Road due to a washout. The road had collapsed at a culvert, and the Anderson County Highway Department was making repairs. (Photo by Anderson County Sheriff's Department)

Byrams Fork Road was closed in Anderson County on Thursday, March 2, 2017, about three-quarters of a mile from Hickory Valley Road due to a washout. The road had collapsed at a culvert, and the Anderson County Highway Department was making repairs. (Photo by Anderson County Sheriff’s Department)

 

Note: This story was updated at 5:10 p.m.

Repairs have been made to a road in Andersonville that had been temporarily closed Thursday due to a washout, authorities said.

Byrams Fork Road has re-opened near Hickory Valley Road, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said late Thursday afternoon. The road had been closed about three quarters of a mile from Hickory Valley Road. It had collapsed at a culvert.

The Anderson County Highway Department made repairs.

Byrams Fork Road is south of, and runs parallel to, State Route 61 in Andersonville.

Anderson County storm damage report

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There were reports of trees down, along with a few power lines, from the storms and heavy rain on Wednesday, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said.

Several roads were impassable for a while due to high water, but on most, the water had receded as of Wednesday evening, Lucas said. Some roads could still have debris, he said Wednesday.

“There was one tree that fell on a mobile home, but no major damage and no injuries have been reported,” Lucas said.

The Little Ponderosa Zoo had severe flooding, but much of the water there had receded and all the animals are safe. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge eliminates Bearden, despite second-half rally by Lady Bulldogs

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Oak Ridge juniors Jaymi Golden (32), left, and Desiree Bates (20), center, play defense against Bearden junior Trinity Lee (2), who led the Lady Bulldogs with 25 points, in a 62-56 loss to the Lady Wildcats in a Region 2-AAA quarterfinal game at Wildcat Arena on Friday, Feb. 24, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge juniors Jaymi Golden (32), left, and Desiree Bates (20), center, play defense against Bearden junior Trinity Lee (2), who led the Lady Bulldogs with 25 points in a 62-56 loss to the Lady Wildcats in a Region 2-AAA quarterfinal game at Wildcat Arena on Friday, Feb. 24, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats eliminated Bearden 62-56 in a Region 2-AAA quarterfinal game at home on Friday, despite a high-scoring second-half rally by the Lady Bulldogs.

After scoring only 15 points in the first half, the Bearden girls scored 41 in the second, narrowing an Oak Ridge lead of 24 points in the third quarter to three points late in the fourth.

“It was a fun ball game,” Oak Ridge Coach Paige Redman said. “They did not back down. They did not quit…They went on a great run. We managed to contain it.”

Bearden (24-4) struggled to make three-point shots in the first three quarters. They made only two, both by junior Trinity Lee. That changed in the fourth quarter, when Lee hit four. She led the Lady Bulldogs with 25 points and had 17 of Bearden’s 27 points in the final quarter. She had all six of Bearden’s three-point shots.

Oak Ridge (27-3) was led by sophomore guard Jada Guinn with 32 points, a game high and career high. Like Lee, Guinn also made six three-point shots. She knocked down four in the second quarter alone. [Read more…]