Oak Ridge Today

School staff not allowed to carry guns

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Oak Ridge Schools will not allow teachers and other staff members to carry guns in buildings, Superintendent Bruce Borchers said Wednesday. Borchers made the announcement in a notice sent to school families.

His announcement came the day after the Tennessee House of Representatives passed legislation to allow some trained teachers and school staff to carry handguns. Republicans approved the bill in a 68-28 vote despite pleas from Democrats, students, and gun-reform advocates, The Tennessean reported.

“Yesterday, Tennessee lawmakers passed a bill that would allow teachers and other staff members to carry concealed handguns on school campuses should a school district decide to allow it,” Borchers said. “If Governor (Bill) Lee signs the legislation allowing concealed firearms in schools into law, Oak Ridge Schools will not allow teachers or school staff to carry firearms in our buildings. The safety of our students and staff is our top priority, and it is our core belief that our ongoing safety initiatives have a greater positive impact on our overall safety than arming staff would.”

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More than 40 teams at Dogwood Junior championship regatta

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The Dogwood Junior Championship Regatta is in Oak Ridge this weekend on Saturday, April 27, and Sunday, April 28. (File photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

More than 40 youth rowing teams from 20 different states are in Oak Ridge to compete in the Dogwood Junior Championship Regatta.

The regatta is Saturday, April 27, and Sunday, April 28. It’s hosted by the Oak Ridge Rowing Association.

“These young athletes, ages 14 to 19, represent some of the best programs in the nation,” a press release said. “They’ll travel from multiple regions—as far away as Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Virginia, and South Florida—to compete at one of America’s favorite rowing venues.”

ORRA’s Dogwood Junior Championship Regatta is the premier competitive opportunity for many teams, as they prepare for USRowing’s regional and national championships, the press release said. This year, the annual event features 1,100 athletes and more than 650 entries, from the single person scull to the coxed 8+. Racing began with time trials at 7:45 a.m. Saturday. Semi-finals are held on Saturday afternoon, and finals on Sunday over the 2000-meter course.

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Deputy city manager announced

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Tom Pessemier (Submitted photo)

Oak Ridge City Manager Randy Hemann has selected Tom Pessemier as his next deputy city manager.

Pessemier is scheduled to begin Monday, May 6.

He has 16 years of municipal government and finance experience, serving in various roles including city manager, assistant city manager, public works director, community development director, and city engineer, a press release said.

He most recently served three years as city manager and public works director in Independence, Oregon. Before that, he was assistant city manager of Sherwood, Oregon, for six years, the press release said.

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SIRA championship regatta this weekend

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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 annual championship regatta for the Southeastern Intercollegiate Rowing Association is in Oak Ridge on Saturday and Sunday.

SIRA has been racing on Melton Hill Lake in east Oak Ridge for more than 40 years. They have been a partner of the Oak Ridge Rowing Association longer than anyone, the ORRA said.

“The SIRA regatta marks the end of year regatta for some teams, a prep for Nationals for others, and a qualification for the IRA for some,” the ORRA said. “Expect great racing from the best Southeast intercollegiate teams and select others from around the U.S.”

Here are upcoming regattas, with a list shared by Explore Oak Ridge:

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Tornado watch through early Wednesday

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Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

A tornado watch is in effect in the area through early Wednesday, and strong to severe thunderstorms are possible, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

The NWS Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, said a severe weather outbreak is possible through Tuesday evening over the Ohio Valley, with the broader severe weather risk including parts of the Southeast.

“Strong and potentially long-track tornadoes are possible from Indiana and Ohio southward into the Mid South,” the Storm Prediction Center said. “A threat for strong tornadoes may focus this evening into tonight across parts of Alabama and Georgia.”

The region’s tornado watch is in effect until 2 a.m. Wednesday, and it includes Anderson, Campbell, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, Roane, Scott, and Union counties, among others. Oak Ridge is in Anderson and Roane counties.

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Turkey hunts in April to affect some greenways

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Turkey hunts in Oak Ridge in April will affect some greenways.

The spring turkey quota hunts in the Oak Ridge Wildlife Management Area are being held by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency with help from the U.S. Department of Energy, City of Oak Ridge, Tennessee Valley Authority, and University of Tennessee. Hunters must have the appropriate TWRA hunt license and a valid quota hunt permit issued by TWRA.

“Designated hunting areas are closed to the public during scouting and hunting periods,” a press release said.

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Library book sale Thursday-Saturday

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The Oak Ridge Public Library is pictured above on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Friends of the Library Book Sale is in the Oak Ridge Public Library Auditorium on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

The sale starts 5-7 p.m. Thursday for members only, with memberships available at the door.

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Registration open for city athletic leagues

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Team registration for the City of Oak Ridge Department of Recreation and Parks’ 2024 Spring Softball and Spring Outdoor 3×3 basketball season is now under way.

For softball, a Men’s League will be offered on Monday evenings with a possibility of Thursday makeup games. A recreational and a competitive coed league will be offered on Tuesday evenings with possibilities of Thursday make up games.

For basketball, an 18+ Open League will be offered on Wednesday evenings with a possibility of Thursday makeup games.

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Oak Ridge Philharmonia has free concert in March

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The Oak Ridge Philharmonia will have a free concert in March, performed on two separate dates in Oak Ridge and Knoxville.

“We hope you can join us for a generous portion of fun and very enjoyable music,” a press release said.

The concerts will include:

  • Muzio Clementi, “Symphony No. 4”
  • Claude Debussy, “Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun”
  • Heitor Villa-Lobos, “Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4”

Here is the concert schedule:

  • Sunday, March 10, at 4 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Oak Ridge, 1101 Oak Ridge Turnpike
  • Sunday, March 17, at 4 p.m. at Cokesbury United Methodist Church, 9919 Kingston Pike, Knoxville

“As always, the concert is provided with free admission, but we certainly appreciate donations that can be given at the concert or through our wonderful website,” the press release said. “We encourage you to visit our website and read about our orchestra: https://www.oakridgephilharmonia.org/.”

More information will be added as it becomes available.

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Man accused of crashing into Y-12 barrier, fleeing inside plant

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Jonpaul Payne

A 27-year-old Lenoir City man allegedly drove a car without permission, did not stop at a Y-12 National Security Complex entrance, struck a barrier, and fled on foot inside the nuclear weapons plant before being detained, court records said.

The incident was reported at about 5 a.m. Saturday. At that time, the Oak Ridge Police Department sent a text message that entrance to Y-12 was closed on Bear Creek Road in response to the incident.

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C&D Tire remains closed for now after fire

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C&D Tire in Oak Ridge remains closed until further notice, according to a sign posted on its door on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024. The popular tire store had a fire on Feb. 2, which remains under investigation. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A popular tire store in Oak Ridge remains closed after a fire this month.

A sign posted on C&D Tire on Sunday said the store will be closed until further notice.

In the meantime, the fire is under investigation, and there is yellow fire line tape strung across doors.

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C&D Tire fire under investigation

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A fire at C&D Tire in Oak Ridge on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, is under investigation. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The fire on Friday at C&D Tire is under investigation.

The Oak Ridge Fire Department arrived at the fire within two minutes after receiving the report of the fire, according to City of Oak Ridge spokesperson Lauren Gray.

The fire was reported at 6:27 p.m. Friday. It was under control in less than 10 minutes and extinguished in less than 15 minutes, Gray said.

On Sunday, the garage doors at the shop, a popular place to buy tires in Oak Ridge, were boarded up with yellow fire line tape strung across the doors.

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