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ORPD investigates after SUV reportedly crashes through two yards, hits tree on Wabash

Posted at 4:04 pm May 25, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Wabash-Lane-Crash-May-25-2016

The Oak Ridge Police Department was investigating a crash on Wabash Lane on Wednesday afternoon after a sport utility vehicle drove through bushes in one yard and knocked down a sidewalk railing before knocking down a fence and crashing into a tree in another. Pictured above is ORPD Detective John Criswell. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 9 p.m.

The Oak Ridge Police Department was investigating a crash on Wabash Lane on Wednesday afternoon after a sport utility vehicle reportedly drove through bushes in one yard and knocked down a sidewalk railing before crossing the street into anther yard, where it knocked down a fence and crashed into a tree.

The crash was reported at 2:38 p.m. Wednesday at 126 Wabash Lane.

Witnesses said the Ford Escape had come off Waddell Circle, a one-way street, crashed through bushes in the front yard of a house at the corner of Waddell Circle and Waddell Place, curved through the yard, where it knocked down a sidewalk railing, and then crossed Wabash Lane into the yard of the second home, where it reportedly knocked over part of a fence and a recycling bin and hit an air-conditioning unit, according to residents. The SUV hit a tree about 100 feet from the street in the back yard of that home, and it also appeared to have clipped the side of the two-story home. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Police and Fire, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: crash, Daniel Freytag, David Stephens, John Criswell, Oak Ridge Police Department, ORPD, Wabash Lane, Waddell Circle, Waddell Place

Oak Ridge school board passes budget on second, final reading

Posted at 11:18 am May 24, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Board of Education passed the budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1 on second and final reading on Monday.

The budget includes 3 percent salary increases and a request for an additional $538,048 from the city, a 3.6 percent increase in municipal funding.

The schools budget was approved unanimously in the first of two readings on Wednesday. It passed unanimously again on Monday. The school board made no significant changes to the budget proposed by the school system.

The budget will now be considered as part of the annual budget deliberations by the Oak Ridge City Council. The city typically provides a little less than 30 percent of the school system’s funding. The schools also receive state and federal funding. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12 Tagged With: budget, Hall Income Tax, Keys Fillauer, municipal funding, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge School Board, salary increases

Jefferson girls finish second in state in track, field

Posted at 11:23 pm May 23, 2016
By John Huotari 3 Comments

Jefferson Middle School 4x400 Relay Team State Runner-up 2016

The Jefferson Middle School girls’ track and field team finished as state runner-up in the first-ever state meet for Class A middle schools at Austin Peay University in Clarksville on Saturday, May 21, 2016. Members of the girls 4×400-meter relay team, which finished second at the state meet, are pictured above. From left to right they are Grace Wilson, Katie Swigert, Aaliyah Hall, and Khamari Mitchell. (Submitted photo via Barbara Gritzner)

 

The Jefferson Middle School girls track and field team finished as state runner-up in a first-ever state track and field meet for middle schools in Clarksville on Saturday. The girls team finished second in two events and third in another.

The Jefferson Middle School team of Katie Swigert, Aaliyah Hall, Grace Wilson, and Khamari Mitchell finished second in the 4×400-meter relay, Coach Bill Byas said. And Muskan Vohra finished second in the girls 800-meter run and third in the 1,600-meter run.

The girls team earned enough points to finish as state runner-up. The JMS boys team finished eighth.

It was the first state track and field meet for Class A and Class AA middle schools. It was held Saturday, May 21, at Austin Peay University in Clarksville.

“I expected a great outcome because they worked so hard all season long,” Byas said. “We’ve been going at it since February, and these kids have just consistently improved.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Middle School, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: 1600-meter run, 4x400-meter relay, 800-meter run, Aaliyah Hall, Austin Peay University, Bill Byas, Brian Wilson, Cade Young, Cadon McCullah, Carson Hope, DeMarcus Wright, Grace Wilson, Jefferson Middle School, Jessie Strader, JMS, Katie Swigert, Khamari Mitchell, Matthew Swigert, Minnwoo Kim, Misty Greenhalgh, Muskan Vohra, Rebecca Joyal, Rylie Dickens, state runner-up, state track and field meet, Steve Reddick, track and field, Vaughn Coleman

Oak Ridge man arrested, bond set at $100,000 in Knox trafficking case

Posted at 2:43 pm May 23, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Zubin Percy Parakh

Zubin Percy Parakh

Note: This story was updated at 5:03 p.m.

An Oak Ridge man was arrested and booked into Knox County jail on a trafficking charge on Saturday, one day after Tennessee and Knoxville officials announced that 32 men and women had been arrested in an operation to combat human trafficking.

Bond for Zubin Percy Parakh, 32, of Golfcrest Lane in Oak Ridge, has been set at $100,000 on the trafficking charge. A preliminary hearing has been set for May 31, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office website.

The arrests and citations on prostitution and human trafficking-related charges were made as part of Operation Someone Like Me last week in Knoxville.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said two of the men, including a children’s minister, Jason Kennedy, 46, of Knoxville, responded to ads for what they thought were girls under the age of 18. Kennedy was a children’s minister at Grace Baptist Church on Oak Ridge Highway in Karns, but he has since been fired. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Knox County, Knoxville, Police and Fire, Tennessee Tagged With: Class A felony, human trafficking, Jason Kennedy, Knox County Detention Facility, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Knoxville Police Department, Mark Gwyn, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, trafficking, WBIR, WVLT, Zubin Percy Parakh

State track meet: Boullie second fastest in 800-meter qualifying, boys 4×800 third fastest

Posted at 5:59 pm May 22, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

ORHS Sectionals TF-12 Boullie Relay May 14 2016 Etheridge

Oak Ridge senior Tyler Boullie had the second-fastest qualifying time in the boys 800-meter run in the Section I championship at Science Hill in Johnson City on Saturday, May 14, 2016, and Boullie is on the boys 4×800-meter relay team that had the third-fastest qualifying time for the state track and field meet in Murfreesboro this week. (Photo by Adrian Etheridge)

 

Oak Ridge senior Tyler Boullie had the second-fastest qualifying time for the boys 800-meter run in the state championship track and field meet in Murfreesboro this week. And he is also on the Wildcats’ boys 4×800-meter relay team that had the third-fastest qualifying time in Tennessee.

Boullie had a time of 1:56.04 in the 800-meter run at the Section I track and field finals at Science Hill High School in Johnson City on Saturday, May 14. Kenton Bachmann, a sophomore at Hardin Valley Academy, had the fastest time, but at 1:55.99, he finished only 0.05 seconds ahead of Boullie. Two other East Tennessee seniors, Bruce Boles of West and Josh Routh of Daniel Boone, rounded out the top four qualifying spots, or seeds, coming in third and fourth respectively in Division I Class AAA.

The Oak Ridge boys 4×800-meter relay team qualified with a time of 8:05.88. Two other East Tennessee high schools are the top two seeds: Science Hill with a time of 7:57.32 and Daniel Boone at 8:01.03. (Daniel Boone is in Gray, which is between Kingsport and Johnson City.)

The Oak Ridge boys 4×800-meter relay team finished third at the Section I championship at Science Hill on May 14, when the Wildcats qualified for state in seven events. Besides Boullie, the other 4×800 relay team members are sophomore Jose Villegas, senior Thomas Colburn, junior Jacob Etheridge, and alternate Reid Dukes, a junior. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Slider, Sports, Sports Tagged With: 4x100-meter relay, 4x800-meter relay, Adrian Etheridge, Brittany Bishop, Brittany Tolson, Bruce Boles, Caleb Downard, Derek Flatford, Destiny Carey, Hardin Valley Academy, Jacob Etheridge, Jae'shawn Maddox, Jordan Graham, Jordan Hardy, Jose Villegas, Josh Routh, Kate Hausladen, Kenton Bachmann, Oak Ridge, Reid Dukes, Section I Championship, Thomas Colburn, Tony Miller, track and field, Tyler Boullie

Soccer photos II: Oak Ridge-Bearden in Region 2-AAA championship

Posted at 2:51 pm May 21, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Wildcats-Clowers-Warmbrod-Bearden-Garcia-May-19-2016

Oak Ridge senior defender Blake Clowers (3) scored the one goal for the Wildcats during a 4-1 loss at Bearden in the Region 2-AAA championship on Thursday, May 19, 2016. Also pictured are Bearden senior Kelvin Garcia (10) and Oak Ridge senior Matt Warmbrod (5). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

KNOXVILLE—Oak Ridge finished as Region 2-AAA runner-up at Bearden on Thursday, and the Wildcats play Dobyns-Bennett in a sectional soccer game in Kingsport this afternoon (Saturday, May 21). Here are more photos from Thursday’s game.

The winner of today’s game will advance to the Class AAA state tournament in Murfreesboro next week.

Oak-Ridge-Turner-Robinson-Clowers-Bearden-Elmore-May-19-2016

Bearden senior Jameson Elmore (21) goes for a shot during a 4-1 win over Oak Ridge at Bearden on Thursday, May 19, 2016. Also pictured from left are Oak Ridge senior goalkeeper Joel Turner, junior midfielder Brent Robinson (6), and senior defender Blake Clowers (3). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Oak-Ridge-Robinson-Header-Bearden-Alvarez-May-19-2016

Oak Ridge junior midfielder Brent Robinson (6), at right), heads the ball past Bearden senior Gabe Alvarez during a 4-1 loss for the Wildats at Bearden in the Region 2-AAA championship on Thursday, May 19, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/oak Ridge Today)

[Read more…]

Filed Under: High School, Media, Photos, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Austin Vinyard, Bearden, Blake Clowers, Brent Robinson, Casey Nigh, Class AAA state tournament, Dobyns-Bennett, Gabe Alvarez, Jameson Elmore, Joel Turner, Kelvin Garcia, Lewis Wang, Matt Warmbrod, Matthew Malagon, Michael Tarantino, Oak Ridge, Randall Bishop, Region 2-AAA, Region 2-AAA championship, Spencer Smiley

Soccer photos I: Oak Ridge-Bearden in Region 2-AAA championship

Posted at 2:19 pm May 21, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Bearden-Elmore-Oak-Ridge-Robinson-May-19-2016

Oak Ridge junior midfielder Brent Robinson (6) and Bearden senior Jameson Elmore (21), who had an assist on the Bulldogs’ first goal, go for a header during the Region 2-AAA championship game at Bearden on Thursday, May 19, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

KNOXVILLE—Oak Ridge finished as Region 2-AAA runner-up at Bearden on Thursday, and the Wildcats play Dobyns-Bennett in a sectional soccer game in Kingsport this afternoon (Saturday, May 21). Here are photos from Thursday’s game.

The winner of today’s game will advance to the Class AAA state tournament in Murfreesboro next week.

Bearden-Alvarez-Smiley-Oak-Ridge-Robinson-May-19-2016

Oak Ridge junior midfielder Brent Robinson (6) and Bearden senior Gabe Alvarez (33), who scored two goals, battle for the soccer ball during a 4-1 win for the Bulldogs at Bearden on Thursday, May 19, 2016. Behind Alvarez is Bearden senior Spencer Smiley (7), who also scored two goals. Oak Ridge senior Blake Clowers (3), right, had the one goal for Oak Ridge. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Oak-Ridge-Turner-Save-Bearden-Smiley-Shot-May-19-2016

Bearden kept Oak Ridge senior goalkeeper Joel Turner busy, peppering him with 31 shots, with 18 of those on goal during a 4-1 win for the Bulldogs in the Region 2-AAA championship at Bearden on Thursday afternoon, May 19, 2016. Turner makes the save here against Bearden senior Spencer Smiley, who scored two goals for the Bulldogs. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

[Read more…]

Filed Under: High School, Media, Photos, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Bearden, Blake Clowers, Brent Robinson, Bulldogs, Class AAA state tournament, Dobyns-Bennett, Gabe Alvarez, Jameson Elmore, Joel Turner, Jose Rodriguez, Kelvin Garcia, Lewis Wang, Matt Warmbrod, Matthew Malagon, Michael Tarantino, Noah Calhoun, Oak Ridge, Region 2-AAA, Region 2-AAA championship, soccer, Spencer Smiley, T.J. Seaman, Wildcats

Soccer: Wildcats finish as Region 2 runner-up, play Dobyns-Bennett this afternoon

Posted at 1:35 pm May 21, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak-Ridge-Robinson-Bearden-Alvarez-May-19-2016

Oak Ridge junior midfielder Brent Robinson (6) and Bearden senior Gabe Alvarez (33), who scored two goals, battle for the soccer ball during a 4-1 win for the Bulldogs at Bearden on Thursday, May 19, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

KNOXVILLE—Oak Ridge finished as Region 2-AAA runner-up at Bearden on Thursday, and the Wildcats play Dobyns-Bennett in a sectional soccer game in Kingsport this afternoon (Saturday, May 21). The winner of that game will advance to the Class AAA state tournament in Murfreesboro next week.

The Wildcats (14-8) lost to the Bulldogs 4-1 at Bearden on Thursday. Oak Ridge senior goalkeeper Joel Turner was busy the entire game, trying to keep a steady stream of Bearden shots out of the net. The Bulldogs finished with 31 shots, or about one shot every 2.5 minutes. Eighteen of those shots were on goal.

Bearden (19-3) scored in quick back-to-back goals less than three minutes apart late in the first half and about 30 seconds apart late in the second.

Oak Ridge scored its only goal with 1:14 remaining on a penalty kick by senior defender Blake Clowers.

Bearden seniors Spencer Smiley and Gabe Alvarez had two goals each for the Bulldogs. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Slider, Sports, Sports Tagged With: Bearden, Blake Clowers, Brent Robinson, Dobyns-Bennett, Gabe Alvarez, Jameson Elmore, Jeff Trombly, Joel Turner, Jose Rodriguez, Kelvin Garcia, Kingsport, Matt Warmbrod, Oak Ridge, Region 1-AAA, Region 2-AAA, Ryan Radcliffe, sectional, Sevier County, soccer, Spencer Smiley, Stefan Mortl, Wildcats, Will Lewis

Wildcats end spring practice with scrimmage at UT today

Posted at 12:47 pm May 20, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Joe Gaddis

Joe Gaddis, head coach of the Oak Ridge Wildcats football team

The Oak Ridge Wildcats football team ends spring practice with a scrimmage against Seymour at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville today (Friday, May 20).

Oak Ridge will scrimmage against Seymour, Wildcats Coach Joe Gaddis said. The scrimmage is scheduled to start at 6 p.m., and it’s in the UT indoor practice facility.

That’s generally a closed facility, but since high schools are scrimmaging there family members and parents can attend, Gaddis said. A few fans might be able to as well, but they better get there early, and they need to bring chairs, Gaddis said.

“It’s not made for spectators,” he said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: football, Joe Gaddis, Oak Ridge Wildcats, scrimmage, Seymour, spring practice, University of Tennessee

School board approves budget that includes pay raises, seeks additional funding

Posted at 7:17 pm May 18, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Board of Education approved a budget on Wednesday that includes 3 percent salary increases and a request for an additional $538,048 from the city. That’s a 3.6 percent increase in city funding.

The budget was approved unanimously in the first of two readings this month. The second and final reading is at 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 23.

As approved in the first reading during a 15-minute meeting Wednesday, the budget includes the reduction of the full-time equivalent of four teachers and an increase in five technology positions. It includes experience-based pay increases known as step increases for staff. And it includes money to fund a 6.2 percent increase in health insurance rates and another 10 percent for dental insurance. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12, Meetings and Events, Top Stories Tagged With: budget, city funding, Fiscal Year 2017, fund balance, Oak Ridge Board of Education, pay increases, salary increases, teacher compensation

Photos by Greene: Oak Ridge at Section I track, field championship

Posted at 3:03 pm May 18, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

This photo is property of Allen Greene. Unauthorized use of this photo is not permitted without consent.

Oak Ridge senior Jordan Hardy qualified for state by finishing third in the boys long jump in a Section I meet at Science Hill on Saturday, May 14, 2016. (Photo by Allen Greene Photography)

 

Eleven Oak Ridge athletes qualified for this month’s state tournament in seven track and field events at the Section I Championship at Science Hill in Johnson City on Saturday. Here are pictures by Allen Greene Photography.

See the story on the championship meet and the results here.

This photo is property of Allen Greene. Unauthorized use of this photo is not permitted without consent.

Oak Ridge senior Caelyn Thompson is pictured above in the girls high jump at the Section I track and field championship at Science Hill High School in Johnson City on Saturday, May 14, 2016. (Photo by Allen Greene Photography)

 

This photo is property of Allen Greene. Unauthorized use of this photo is not permitted without consent.

Oak Ridge freshman Jada Guinn finished fifth in the girls high jump and just missed qualifying for state during the Section I track and field championship at Science Hill High School in Johnson City on Saturday, May 14, 2016. (Photo by Allen Greene Photography)

[Read more…]

Filed Under: High School, Media, Photos, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Allen Etheridge, Allen Greene, Breanne Young, Brigid Bishop, Caelyn Thompson, Jacob Etheridge, Jada Guinn, Jordan Hardy, Jose Villegas, Sam Hepler, Section I Championship, state tournament, track and field, Tyler Boullie

Soccer photos: Oak Ridge, Maryville in Region 2 semifinal

Posted at 11:55 pm May 17, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak-Ridge-Vinyard-Maryville-May-17-2016-1

Oak Ridge junior forward Austin Vinyard (9) had the corner kick that led to a Blake Clowers header for the game-winning goal during a 2-1 win over Maryville in a Region 2-AAA semifinal at home on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Oak Ridge eliminated Maryville 2-1 in a Region 2-AAA semifinal game at home on Tuesday. Here are photos by Julio Culiat.

Oak-Ridge-Rodriguez-2-Maryville-May-17-2016-1

Oak Ridge senior forward Jose Rodriguez (11) scored the first goal for the Wildcats during a 2-1 win over Maryville in a Region 2-AAA semifinal at home on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Oak-Ridge-Vinyard-Corner-Kick-Maryville-May-17-2016-1

Oak Ridge scored its winning goal off a header by senior defender Blake Clowers that followed a corner kick by junior forward Austin Vinyard (9) during a 2-1 Region 2-AAA semifinal victory over Maryville at home on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Media, Photos, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Austin Vinyard, Blake Clowers, Brent Robinson, Casey Nigh, Dean Stetzel, Jose Rodriguez, Julio Culiat, Luke Orren, Maryville, Matthew Malagon, Oak Ridge, Region 2-AAA, Region 2-AAA semifinal, Ricky Rodriguez, Wildcats

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Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

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AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

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Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

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