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Oak Ridge girls’ team runs best race of year, but finishes fourth in region; Schwartz going to state

Posted at 2:57 pm October 29, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

class-aaa-girls-cross-country-meet-region-2-schwartz-wall-oct-27-2016-web

Genevieve Schwartz of Oak Ridge, right, finished 10th in the Region 2-AAA girls’ cross country race at Victor Ashe Park in Knoxville on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. Behind Schwartz is Jenna Wall of Hardin Valley Academy, who finished eighth. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

KNOXVILLE—The Oak Ridge girls’ cross country team ran its best race of the year but finished fourth in the region on Thursday, just missing the cutoff to advance to the state meet next Saturday.

Only the top three teams in the Region 2-AAA meet at Victor Ashe Park in Knoxville on Thursday advanced to the state meet in Nashville next Saturday.

However, Oak Ridge junior Genevieve Schwartz finished 10th in the 5,000-meter, or 5k, race. Anyone who finishes in the top 10 and is not on a qualifying team advances to state.

The top three girls’ teams in the Region 2 meet were West, Farragut, and Hardin Valley. West, a Knoxville school, had the top two runners, Lindsey Stallworth and Madeline Shook.

Anderson County and Hardin Valley each had two runners in the top 10, and like Oak Ridge, Farragut had one.

It will be the first trip to state for Schwartz, who finished with a time of 20:36.90. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Sports Tagged With: Abbey Greenhalgh, Allen Etheridge, Anderson County, Anna Delahunt, Eden Gee, Elisabeth Bernard, Elizabeth Babb, Ellie Bachmann, Farragut, Genevieve Schwartz, Halls, Hardin Valley Academy, Jenna Wall, Jessie Strader, Lindsey Stallworth, Maddie Zawisza, Maddy Moody, Madeline Shook, Madison Grimm, Maggie Atchley, Maryville, Mollie Longmire, Mollie Smith, Rachel Jordan, Region 2-AAA, Region 2-AAA girls cross country meet, Region 2-AAA meet, Robyn Wood, Rylee Jorgensen, Victor Ashe Park, West

Oak Ridge boys, Etheridge are Region 2 champs, headed to state cross country meet

Posted at 2:16 pm October 29, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

oak-ridge-jake-etheridge-finish-boys-cross-country-region-2-meet-oct-27-2016-web

Oak Ridge senior Jake Etheridge finished first in the boys’ race in the Region 2-AAA cross country meet at Victor Ashe Park in Knoxville on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

KNOXVILLE—Oak Ridge senior Jake Etheridge and the boys’ cross country team finished first in the Region 2-AAA meet in Knoxville on Thursday, and they will race in the state meet next Saturday.

It’s the third regional championship in a row for the boys’ team. It’s the second year in a row for Oak Ridge to have the top male racer. Gashaw Duhamel, who ran for Oak Ridge as a senior last year, was the top runner last year.

The boys’ cross country team finished as state runner-up in 2015. Brentwood, a Nashville area school, was state champion with two of the three top runners (one a sophomore and one a junior), and that team is considered a favorite again this year. Other top teams this year include Daniel Boone of upper East Tennessee, which has been a strong team, and Wilson Central of Nashville.

Etheridge led the entire 5,000-meter, or 5k, run during the Region 2-AAA meet at Victor Ashe Park in Knoxville on Thursday.

“I got out hard, and I kept going,” said Etheridge, who finished with a time of 16:27.87. That was about 13 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher, Seth Bowden of Maryville High School. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Cross Country, Front Page News, High School, Slider, Sports, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Aiden Oakley, Allen Etheridge, boys cross country, Brennan Humphreys, Brentwood, Campbell County, Christian Borden, cross country, Daeton Byars, Dalton Morgan, Daniel Boone, Farragut, Gashaw Duhamel, Gavin Cooper, Gavin Jones, Genevieve Schwartz, Hardin Valley, Jake Etheridge, Jose Villegas, Kenton Bachmann, Maryville, Nathan McFall, Nathaniel Blalock, Oak Ridge, Percy Warner Park Steeplechase Course, Region 2 meet, Region 2-AAA, Region 2-AAA meet, regional championship, Reid Dukes, Seth Bowden, Tanner Witsell, Taylor Drake, Victor Ashe Park, Will Jeter, Wilson Central

Football photos: Oak Ridge shuts out Campbell County to win region championship

Posted at 9:10 am October 29, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

oak-ridge-campbell-county-football-qb-oct-27-2016-web

Oak Ridge Coach Joe Gaddis was pleased with the performance of the Wildcats’ defense, which is shown here trying to stop Cougars quarterback Zach Rutherford (12) during a 28-0 region championship win at Campbell County on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

JACKSBORO—The Oak Ridge Wildcats shut out Campbell County 28-0 on Thursday to win the Region 3-5A championship, making them a top seed going into the playoffs and giving them home-field advantage in at least the first two rounds, assuming they get a win in round one.

Here are photos from the game by John Huotari of Oak Ridge Today. [Read more…]

Filed Under: High School, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Adarius Cox, Caleb Jackson, Caleb Martin, Campbell County, Chase Kimbro, Cougars, Joe Gaddis, Johnny Stewart, Jordan Smith, Ka'Yon Waters, Kyndall Clark, Logan Phillips, Max Farris, Oak Ridge, Tee Higgins, Tre Jackson, Wildcats, Zach Rutherford

Cross country photos: Oak Ridge girls finish fourth in Region 2-AAA meet

Posted at 11:09 pm October 28, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

class-aaa-girls-cross-country-region-2-meet-wall-schwartz-longmire-oct-27-2016-web

Genevieve Schwartz of Oak Ridge, at right in the group of three above, finished 10th in the Region 2-AAA girls’ cross country race at Victor Ashe Park in Knoxville on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. At center is Mollie Longmire of Anderson County, who finished seventh, and at left is Jenna Wall of Hardin Valley Academy, who finished eighth. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

KNOXVILLE—The Oak Ridge Wildcats girls’ cross country team finished fourth in the Region 2-AAA meet at Victor Ashe Park in Knoxville on Thursday.

The top three teams in the regional meet advance to the state cross county meet in Nashville on Saturday, November 5. Since Oak Ridge finished fourth, it does not advance.

But Genevieve Schwartz of Oak Ridge finished in the top 10, so she will compete in the state meet next week.

Here are photos from the Thursday meet by John Huotari of Oak Ridge Today. (See a story on the race here.) [Read more…]

Filed Under: High School, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Abbey Greenhalgh, Allen Etheridge, Anderson County, Anna Delahunt, Ed Wright, Ellie Bachmann, Farragut, Genevieve Schwartz, Hardin Valley Academy, Jenna Wall, Jessie Strader, Lindsey Stallworth, Maddie Zawisza, Maddy Moody, Madelin Ebbert, Madeline Shook, Madison Grimm, Maggie Atchley, Mollie Longmire, Mollie Smith, Oak Ridge, Region 2-AAA girls cross country, Robyn Wood, Tom Sauer, Victor Ashe Park, West

Cross country photos: Oak Ridge boys win Region 2-AAA championship

Posted at 10:24 pm October 28, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

oak-ridge-jake-etheridge-finish-boys-cross-country-region-2-meet-oct-27-2016-web

Oak Ridge senior Jake Etheridge finished first in the boys’ race in the Region 2-AAA cross country meet at Victor Ashe Park in Knoxville on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

KNOXVILLE—The Oak Ridge Wildcats boys’ cross country team finished first in the Region 2-AAA meet at Victor Ashe Park in Knoxville on Thursday. It was the third year in a row that the boys have won the regional championship.

The boys will race in the state cross country meet in Nashville on Saturday, November 5.

Oak Ridge senior Jake Etheridge finished first in the regional meet on Thursday. Sophomore Dalton Morgan was fourth. Daeton Byars was eighth, Reid Dukes was 10th, Will Jeter was 15th, Christian Borden was 21st, and Jose Villegas was 29th.

Here are photos from the Thursday meet by John Huotari of Oak Ridge Today.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Slider, Sports, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Bearden, Brennan Humphreys, Christian Borden, Daeton Byars, Dalton Morgan, Farragut, Hardin Valley Academy, Jake Etheridge, Jose Villegas, Kenton Bachmann, Nathan McFall, Nathaniel Blalock, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge boys cross country team, Region 2-AAA cross country meet, Reid Dukes, Seth Bowden, Victor Ashe Park, Will Jeter

Survey: Do you support or oppose term limits, a smaller county commission, electing law director?

Posted at 10:05 pm October 28, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Note: This story was updated at 3:55 p.m.

Among the issues in the campaign for Anderson County Charter Commission are whether term limits should be implemented for Anderson County commissioners and the Anderson County mayor, whether the County Commission should be reduced in size, and whether the law director should be elected.

We are curious what Oak Ridge Today readers think so we set up some poll questions to ask you. They are below.

Nothing can officially be proposed, debated, or recommended to voters in the November 2018 election until after the Charter Commission is elected this November 8.

There have been proposals this campaign season to enact a two-term limit for commissioners and the mayor and reduce the County Commission from its current 16 to a minimum of nine. There have been other proposals as well, including making the mayor’s position part-time, making the law director’s position part-time, and appointing a mayor rather than electing the mayor. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Election, Anderson County, Front Page News, Government Tagged With: 2016 election, Anderson County Charter Commission, county commission, county mayor, law director, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge City Council, staggered terms, term limits

Speed limit to be reduced, part of greenway closed as construction starts on eighth rowing lane

Posted at 6:49 pm October 26, 2016
By John Huotari 2 Comments

SIRA-Regatta-April-17-2016-6

Officials and referees used Oak Ridge Rowing Association boats to monitor the races on the seven-lane course at the 2016 SIRA Championship Regatta in Oak Ridge on Sunday, April 17, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The speed limit on a section of Melton Lake Drive will be temporarily reduced for at least three months starting Monday while the eighth rowing lane is built, and part of the Melton Lake Greenway will be closed as necessary, city officials said.

The speed limit will be reduced from 45 miles per hour to 25 mph along Melton Lake Drive between Amanda Drive and Palisades Parkway, a City of Oak Ridge press release said. The change will remain in place for a minimum of three months beginning Monday, October 31. Signs will be installed to warn drivers of the reduced speed limit.

The project will also require about 500 feet of greenway to be removed and replaced at the end of construction, the press release said. As a result, a section of Melton Lake Greenway between Amanda Drive and Palisades Parkway will be temporarily closed.

Due to site preparation work, the greenway will close Friday, October 28, but will reopen for the weekend. The closure will be put back in place for the duration of the project on Monday, October 31, the press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Rowing, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Amanda Drive, City of Oak Ridge, eighth rowing lane, Explore Oak Ridge, John Ragan, Melton Lake Drive, Melton Lake greenway, Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau, Oak Ridge Rowing Association, Oak Ridge rowing course, ORRA, Palisades Parkway, Randy McNally, rowing venue, Visit Knoxville

Term limits: Who could no longer serve if two-term limit was in place now?

Posted at 1:20 pm October 26, 2016
By John Huotari 3 Comments

Jerry Creasey

Jerry Creasey, an Anderson County commissioner from Oak Ridge, could no longer serve if a two-term limit were in place now. Now in his seventh term, Creasey is the longest-serving commissioner. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 6:15 p.m.

If the proposed two-term limit was in place now, Jerry Creasey, the longest-serving Anderson County commissioner, could no longer serve.

Neither could Mark Alderson, who is in his fifth term; Chuck Fritts or Jerry White (both are in their fourth terms); or Whitey Hitchcock, Robert McKamey, or Tracy Wandell (all three are in their third terms).

Creasey is in his seventh term, according to information from the Anderson County Election Commission.

It’s not clear if Myron Iwanski would be term-limited at this point. Iwanski is in his sixth term, but those terms were interrupted by his service as interim Anderson County mayor from January 2011 to August 2012—after former mayor Rex Lynch resigned and before current mayor Terry Frank was elected. Whether Iwanski would be term-limited would depend upon whether term limits, assuming a two-term limit was enacted, were consecutive or lifetime limits.

Assuming Iwanski was term-limited, though, that would mean that eight of the 16 commissioners, or half of them, would be past their second term and not able to serve if a two-term limit were in place.

No term limits are in place now, and they can’t officially be proposed, debated, or recommended to voters until after the eight-member Anderson County Charter Commission is elected November 8. Whether they are even considered is likely to depend upon which candidates are elected. The Charter Commission is not obligated to consider term limits, but it will have the authority to do so. (See a story on the Charter Commission process here.) [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Election, Anderson County, Front Page News, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Charter Commission, Anderson County Election Commission, Chuck Fritts, Floyd Grisham, Jerry Creasey, Jerry White, Jim Cooper, Mark Alderson, Myron Iwanski, Phil Yager, Philip Warfield, Rex Lynch, Rick Meredith, Robert McKamey, Shain Vowell, Steve Emert, Steve Mead, term limits, Terry Frank, Theresa Scott, Tracy Wandell, Whitey Hitchcock

Charter Commission candidates debate term limits, reducing County Commission, electing law director

Posted at 9:14 am October 25, 2016
By John Huotari 3 Comments

anderson-county-oak-ridge-charter-commission-candidates-collage

Seven candidates for Anderson County Charter Commission sparred over term limits, cutting the Anderson County Commission almost in half, and electing the law director during a public forum in Oak Ridge in October. The candidates, all from three Oak Ridge districts, are pictured above. They are, from top left, top row, Marjorie Mott Lloyd, Steve Mead, Kathy Moore, Theresa Scott, and from bottom left, bottom row, Bob Smallridge, David Stanley, and Hugh Ward. (Photos by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Candidates for Anderson County Charter Commission sparred over term limits, cutting the Anderson County Commission almost in half, and electing the law director during a public forum this month.

There was also a heated exchange over whether two candidates—both county commissioners, including one in her first term and another halfway through his second—are permanent officeholders.

The seven candidates are running for three seats on the eight-member Anderson County Charter Commission in the November 8 election.

The debate over term limits has focused on whether the limits are necessary, whether they would encourage more young people to run for office, and whether Anderson County voters already have the right to impose term limits through elections, among other arguments for and against.

As proposed during the campaign, there could be a two-term limit on county commissioners and the county mayor. However, nothing will be official until the Charter Commission is elected next month, and the Charter Commission is not obligated to consider the proposal. Whether the commission even considers term limits could depend upon which candidates are elected. Any changes proposed by the Charter Commission will be considered by voters in November 2018. If approved, they would go into effect in September 2019. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Election, 2016 Election, Anderson County, Front Page News, Government, Slider Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Charter Commission, Anderson County Commission, Bob Smallridge, Charter Commission, David Stanley, District 6, District 7, District 8, Hugh Ward, Jim Cooper, Kathy Moore, law director, League of Women Voters, Marjorie Mott Lloyd, Myron Iwanski, November 8 election, Oak Ridge, Steve Mead, term limits, Theresa Scott

Charter Commission a ‘big deal’ for Anderson County, attorney says

Posted at 2:03 pm October 24, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Joe Jarret

Joe Jarret (Submitted photo)

 

The Charter Commission being elected on November 8 is a “big deal” for Anderson County, an attorney said this month.

“If you live here, you’re going to be affected by it,” said Joe Jarret. He is an attorney who has served two different charter county governments as law director-chief legal counsel, a University of Tennessee lecturer, and former chief legal counsel to the Knox County Charter Review Commission.

Jarret said there are three types of county government in Tennessee: [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Election, Anderson County, Front Page News, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Charter Commission, Anderson County Commission, Charter Commission, Charter Form of Government, County Attorney, county commissioners, county government, Joe Jarret, law director, term limits

Hope responds to PAC endorsements

Posted at 9:44 am October 24, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Chuck Hope

Chuck Hope

Oak Ridge City Council member Chuck Hope, the one incumbent running for re-election in the November 8 election, has responded to the endorsements by the Progress PAC political action committee.

The Progress PAC endorsed Jim Dodson, Joe Lee, and Hans Vogel, who are all making their first runs for seats on the seven-member City Council. The endorsements were announced last week.

Hope was not endorsed. You can see his response here.

The PAC was established two years ago by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors, and it operates autonomously from the Chamber’s Board.

All six of the candidates endorsed by the Progress PAC two years ago were elected, although one candidate who wasn’t endorsed, Rick Chinn, was also elected. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Election, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Angi Agle, Anne Garcia Garland, Charlie Hensley, Chuck Hope, Hans Vogel, Jim Dodson, Joe Lee, Keys Fillauer, November 8 election, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Oak Ridge City Council, political action committee, Progress PAC, Rick Chinn, Stephen Whitson, Trina Baughn, Wende Doolittle

Wildcats football starts at 7 p.m. at Webb

Posted at 8:40 am October 21, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Wildcats football game at Webb starts at 7 p.m. today (Friday, October 21), rather than at the normal 7:30 p.m.

It’s a non-region game. The Webb Spartans are 6-1 overall and 3-0 in Division II, Class A, East and Middle Region.

The new start time was announced by Webb School of Knoxville earlier this week. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Campbell County, football, Oak Ridge Wildcats, Webb School of Knoxville, Webb Spartans

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