Oak Ridge Today

Lady Wildcats score more than 100 for first time since 2003

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

oak-ridge-guinn-pass-karns-basketball-jan-3-2017

Oak Ridge was led by sophomore Jada Guinn (24) with 30 points, the most for one of the Lady Wildcats since 2014, in a 104-19 win over Karns at Wildcat Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats scored more than 100 points for the first time since 2003 in a 104-19 win over Karns at home on Tuesday.

The girls were led by sophomore Jada Guinn with a game-high 30 points, the most for a Lady Wildcat since Mykia Dowdell, who is now a junior, scored 32 against Central in 2014, according to broadcaster David Clary.

It’s the 11th time the Lady Wildcats (14-2, 6-0 District 3-AAA) have scored more than 100, Clary said. The last time was in 2003 against Alcoa.

Coaches said the 30 points for Guinn, including 17 in the first quarter alone, was likely a personal best. [Read more…]

With transfer agreement signed, plans call for developing AMSE site, relocating museum, demolishing building

Posted at
By 5 Comments

american-museum-of-science-and-energy-front-3-jan-2-2017-web

The American Museum of Science and Energy is pictured above on South Tulane Avenue in Oak Ridge on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 3.

With a property transfer agreement signed, new businesses could be built on the 17 acres that now house the American Museum of Science and Energy, the museum will be relocated, and the AMSE building could be demolished, officials and a business executive said Friday.

The changes are allowed under an agreement approved by federal officials, unanimously approved by the Oak Ridge City Council in December, and signed by U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch in a Friday morning ceremony at Oak Ridge Associated Universities.

The U.S. Department of Energy said the transfer of the museum property, owned by the federal government, will allow the City of Oak Ridge to “explore future innovative development and economic stimulus opportunities.”

“From the Manhattan Project of World War II to the cutting-edge materials research of today, Oak Ridge has long played a vital role in American science and security,” Moniz said. “This agreement will ensure that Oak Ridge’s history is preserved and shared while providing the city a new opportunity to create jobs and strengthen the local economy.”

When the transfer is completed, DOE public outreach and education missions that are now conducted at AMSE and focused on Oak Ridge history, science, and national security will continue in renovated space in a two-story building that once housed a Sears store next to JCPenney at the former Oak Ridge Mall. The former mall is being redeveloped as Main Street Oak Ridge.

DOE said the AMSE property transfer will save more than $2 million in deferred maintenance costs at the museum and greatly reduce operating expenses. [Read more…]

Basketball photos: Oak Ridge beats Science Hill 64-56

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

oak-ridge-science-hill-basketball-young-dec-27-2016-agp_6842

Oak Ridge senior Tyshawn Young (4) led the Wildcats with a game-high 29 points during a 64-56 win over Science Hill in the first round of the Arby’s Classic in Bristol on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016. (Photo by Allen Greene/TriCitiesSports.com)

 

BRISTOL—Oak Ridge senior Tyshawn Young scored a game-high 29 points and senior Anthony Gibson added 17 as the Wildcats beat Science Hill in the first round of the Arby’s Classic in Bristol on Tuesday. Here are pictures from the game by Allen Greene of TriCitiesSports.com.

It was the second time Oak Ridge defeated the Hilltoppers this month. They also won 82-72 in the Champion Chevrolet Shootout at Science Hill in Johnson City on December 17.

The Wildcats will play again in the Arby’s Classic at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, when they take on Trinity of Louisville, Kentucky, in a winners bracket game in the basketball tournament. [Read more…]

Young, Gibson lead Wildcats with Bush, Higgins out

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

oak-ridge-science-hill-basketball-young-3-dec-27-2016-agp_7083

Oak Ridge senior Tyshawn Young (4) led the Wildcats with a game-high 29 points during a 64-56 win over Science Hill in the first round of the Arby’s Classic in Bristol on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016. (Photo by Allen Greene/TriCitiesSports.com)

 

BRISTOL—Oak Ridge senior Tyshawn Young scored a game-high 29 points and senior Anthony Gibson added 17 as the Wildcats beat Science Hill in the first round of the Arby’s Classic in Bristol on Tuesday.

It was the second time Oak Ridge defeated the Hilltoppers this month. They also won 82-72 in the Champion Chevrolet Shootout at Science Hill in Johnson City on December 17.

In the earlier game, the undefeated Wildcats (12-0, 5-0 District 3-AAA) played without standout senior Tee Higgins because his right shoulder was inflamed.

On Tuesday, they again played without Higgins. He is in Orlando for the Under Armour All-America Football Game on New Year’s Day. But they also played without another top senior, E.J. Bush, who injured his knee during the earlier Science Hill game and will not play in the Arby’s Classic basketball tournament this week.

Without those two in the lineup, other players are expected to step up, including some sophomore bench players. Sophomore Herbert Booker started for Bush Tuesday. [Read more…]

Higgins picked for Under Armour All-America Football Game on Jan. 1

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak-Ridge-Higgins-Clinton-Aug-18-2016-Web

Oak Ridge senior wide receiver Tee Higgins has been selected by ESPN Recruiting to participate in the Under Armour All-America Football Game in Orlando on New Year’s Day, January 1. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN at 1 p.m. Sunday. Higgins is pictured above after a 56-21 rout of Clinton on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Oak Ridge senior wide receiver Tee Higgins has been selected by ESPN Recruiting to participate in the Under Armour All-America Football Game in Orlando on New Year’s Day, January 1. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN at 1 p.m. Sunday.

The roster includes more than 90 of the nation’s best senior high school football players. Besides Higgins, area football players also picked to participate are wide receiver Amari Rodgers of Catholic and punter Joe Doyle of Farragut.

Higgins and Rodgers have both committed to Clemson. [Read more…]

Area hoops squads to stay on court after Christmas

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

With the pre-Christmas tournaments wrapped up, attention will turn for some area teams to post-Christmas basketball tournaments next week.

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats will take part in the Andrew Johnson Bank Classic in Greeneville next week, starting play against Jefferson County on Wednesday.

The Wildcat boys will participate in the Arby’s Classic at Tennessee High in Bristol and will open up Tuesday against Science Hill, a team Oak Ridge beat 82-72 last weekend in Johnson City. [Read more…]

Secret City Pocket Guide unveiled in anticipation of the 75th anniversary of Oak Ridge, DOE

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

pocket-guide-cover-400x728-b

The Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association has unveiled a new guide to the historic sites of the “Secret City” of Oak Ridge. The Manhattan Project, Secret City Pocket Guide was prepared by the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association in cooperation with the National Park Service and the Oak Ridge Schools.

The 44-page guide measures only 4 inches by 7 inches in size, so it easily fits in your pocket, a press release said. It tells the story of the Manhattan Project’s first major nuclear site, Oak Ridge—created less than a year after the Pearl Harbor attack. The guide is priced at $5.

The new guide is packed with historic photos, an introduction to the new national historical park, a driving map of Oak Ridge’s heritage sites, and fascinating factoids on the people who built one of the most amazing technical achievements in history, the press release said.

The guide’s author, Martin McBride, is a member of the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association Board and a retired nuclear safety division director from the U.S. Department of Energy. [Read more…]

Wildcats hold off late rally by Science Hill to leave with 10-point win

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

oak-ridge-tajion-jones-science-hill-dec-17-2016

Oak Ridge senior Tajion Jones (3) had a game-high 20 points during an 82-72 win over Science Hill in the Champion Chevrolet Shootout at Science Hill High School in Johnson City on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016. (Photo by Robert Kell)

 

JOHNSON CITY—Oak Ridge held off a late rally by Science Hill on Saturday to leave Johnson City with their second win in two days.

The undefeated Wildcats (11-0, 5-0 District 3-AAA) beat Science Hill 82-72 in the Champion Chevrolet Shootout at Science Hill High School in Johnson City on Saturday.

That victory came one day after they beat Cleveland, which had also been undefeated, 76-56.

The Wildcats led the Hilltoppers 70-42 after three quarters on Saturday. [Read more…]

Dowdell again leads Lady Wildcats over Science Hill

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

oak-ridge-mykia-dowdell-science-hill-dec-17-2016

Oak Ridge junior Mykia Dowdell (34) had a game-high 14 points during a 57-36 win over Science Hill in the Champion Chevrolet Shootout at Science Hill High School in Johnson City on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016. (Photo by Robert Kell)

 

JOHNSON CITY—Oak Ridge junior Mykia Dowdell again led the Lady Wildcats to a win over Science Hill.

Last year, Dowdell scored 18 in the 49-32 Oak Ridge win over the Lady Hilltoppers at Wildcat Arena.

This year, she scored a game-high 14 points against Science Hill in the Champion Chevrolet Shootout at Science Hill High School in Johnson City on Saturday. This year, the Lady Wildcats (10-1, 5-0 District 3-AAA) won 57-36.

It was the Lady Wildcats’ second win of the Champion Chevrolet Shootout. They also beat Cleveland 69-35 on Friday. [Read more…]

In battle of two undefeated teams, Oak Ridge emerges with win

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

oak-ridge-ej-bush-levert-smith-cleveland-dec-16-2016

Oak Ridge senior E.J. Bush (2) led the Wildcats with 20 points during a 76-56 win over Cleveland in the Champion Chevrolet Shootout at Science Hill High School in Johnson City on Friday. Dec, 16, 2016. (Photo by Robert Kell)

 

JOHNSON CITY—Oak Ridge and Cleveland were both undefeated top-ranked teams before they played in Johnson City on Friday, and only the Wildcats remained undefeated afterward. Oak Ridge beat Cleveland 76-56 in the Champion Chevrolet Shootout at Science Hill High School in Johnson City.

The Wildcats are now 10-0 overall and 5-0 in District 3-AAA.

The Blue Raiders are now 11-1 overall and 4-0 in District 5-AAA.

Like the earlier girls’ game, the boys’ game was closer in the first half: 16-15 after the first quarter, and 32-30 at halftime. But Oak Ridge had a 20-6 run through most of the third quarter and an 8-0 run in the last part of the fourth quarter. [Read more…]

Gooch re-appointed mayor, Chinn replaces Smith as mayor pro tem

Posted at
By 1 Comment

Warren Gooch

Warren Gooch (File photo by Savanna Schubert)

 

Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch has been elected by City Council to a second two-year term as mayor, and City Council member Rick Chinn was appointed mayor pro tem, replacing Ellen Smith.

No other City Council member sought to be appointed mayor, and Gooch, who was first appointed after he was elected in 2014, was unanimously elected by the new City Council.

Smith and Chinn both sought to be appointed mayor pro tem. The mayor pro tem serves as mayor when the mayor is temporarily unavailable. [Read more…]

Tennessee Science on the Map: Fastest improving state on the Nation’s Report Card

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

By Cathy Ginel

Have you ever run on a treadmill until you are out of breath? Have you ever gotten to a comfortable point and then pushed that speed up just a little more to give yourself a better workout? Tennessee science teachers are on the treadmill, have pushed themselves, are seeing results, and are gearing themselves up for more.

The Nation’s Report Card was recently released showing that Tennessee students grew faster than the national average in science. Tennessee is now ranked the fastest improving in the nation in science and has moved into the top 25 states in science. Tennessee has eliminated the achievement gap between male and female students and has narrowed the achievement gap between white, Hispanic, and black students in science. This encouraging news provided us with needed results and evidence that education changes in Tennessee are having a positive outcome with our students. Teachers are seeing results of their additional work and are pushing for even higher scores in the future. [Read more…]