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Oak Ridge Schools could make up snow days on four Wednesdays

Posted at 1:13 pm March 3, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Schools Logo

Oak Ridge Schools could make up two snow days by having students attend school for a full day, rather than being dismissed early, on four Wednesdays in March and April, officials said. That plan hinges on state approval of a three-day waiver that Tennessee school systems can request because a state of emergency that was declared during the winter weather in the second half of February.

Tracey Beckendorf-Edou, superintendent of teaching and learning, said Oak Ridge Schools used eight snow days this year. She said that’s the most anyone can remember the school system using. Students didn’t go to school at all on those days.

Oak Ridge had three snow days built into its schedule. Without a waiver, that would leave five snow days that have to be made up. But if Oak Ridge receives a three-day waiver from the state, that would leave a two-day deficit. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Education, Front Page News, K-12, Slider, Top Stories, Weather Tagged With: Angi Agle, BOE, Bruce Borchers, emergency, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge Schools, preschool, snow days, Tennessee, Tracey Beckendorf-Edou, waiver, Willow Brook Elementary School, winter weather

Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament on April 24 to benefit Community Mediation

Posted at 12:33 pm March 3, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Community Mediation Services Banner

The 14th Annual Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament is scheduled for Friday, April 24, and it will benefit Community Mediation Services of Anderson Country.

The Golf Tournament will be held at the Oak Ridge Country Club Golf Course.

“The Oak Ridge Country Club provides a beautiful setting for golfers at this popular tournament,” a press release said.

The Tournament honors the community spirit and caring of “Big Ed” Neusel, founder of Big Ed’s Pizza, and David Neusel and their belief in giving to others while seeking recognition from no one, and it provides important support for Community Mediation Services’ work with youths and families, the release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Meetings and Events, Nonprofits, Recreation, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Big Ed Neusel, Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament, CMS, Community Mediation Services, David Neusel, golf tournament, mediation, Oak Ridge Country Club, school attendance, Teen/Parent Mediation, truancy, Victim Offender Reconciliation Program, VORP

Council to discuss ORPD review, DOE landfill, Preschool

Posted at 12:51 am March 3, 2015
By John Huotari 10 Comments

Oak Ridge City Council on Feb. 9, 2015

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday, Feb. 9, agreed to a third-party review of turnover, morale, and administrative policies in the Oak Ridge Police Department. (File photo)

 

The Oak Ridge City Council on Tuesday could discuss a review of the Oak Ridge Police Department, hear a briefing on a proposed U.S. Department of Energy landfill west of the Y-12 National Security Complex, and discuss a new joint city-school committee that could lay the groundwork for a new preschool by the 2016-2017 school year.

The City Council will meet in a non-voting work session at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Multipurpose Room at the Central Services Complex on Woodbury Lane. The work session has been rescheduled from last month because of weather. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, Government, K-12, Meetings and Events, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Central Services Complex, cleanup, landfill, Laura Ortiz Wilkerson, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Police Department, preschool, Scott Anderson, U.S. Department of Energy, UCOR, work session, Y-12 National Security Complex

Lady Bobcats advance to state tournament in 51-49 overtime win over Hampton

Posted at 12:05 am March 3, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oliver Springs Lady Bobcats Celebrate Sectional Win

The Oliver Springs Lady Bobcats celebrate a 51-49 overtime win over Hampton in a Class A sectional game in Oliver Springs on Monday. (Photo by Hannah Ellis/RoaneSports.com)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 1:40 p.m. March 3.

Oliver Springs beat Hampton 51-49 in overtime in a Class A sectional game on Monday, and the Lady Bobcats will play in a state quarterfinal game in Murfreesboro on Thursday.

Oliver Springs (28-6) will take on Decatur County Riverside (24-9) at 9:30 a.m. (10:30 a.m. Eastern time) Thursday, March 5, at the Murphy Center at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro.

Senior twins Emily (22 points) and Rachel Griffith (15) combined to score 37 points for the Lady Bobcats on Monday, including 13 in the fourth quarter and the only two Oliver Springs baskets in overtime. The game was tied at 47 at the end of the fourth quarter.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Meetings and Events, Slider, Sports, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Decatur County Riverside, Division I Class A girls' basketball, Hampton, Hannah Ellis, Lady Bobcats, Meigs County, Michelle Christopher, Middle Tennessee State University, Oliver Springs, Region 2-A, Region 2-A Championship, RoaneSports.com, state tournament

Blackmon, 3-pointers give Maryville a 60-56 edge over Wildcats in Region 2 final

Posted at 7:45 pm March 1, 2015
By John Huotari 4 Comments

Oak Ridge Wildcats Javien Johnson at Region 2 Championship 2015

Junior forward Javien Johnson (11) was the leading scorer for the Wildcats with 16 points. T.D. Blackmon of Maryville (33), who led all scorers with 23, is pictured at lower left. Senior post Bryce Miller (32), partially obscured at center, added 15 for the Rebels.

 

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

Sophomore guard T.D. Blackmon hit three three-pointers in the first half and knocked down 10 of 11 free throws in the second to give Maryville a 60-56 edge over Oak Ridge in the Region 2-AAA Championship at Wildcat Arena on Sunday.

But the playoff run isn’t over for the Wildcats (28-3). As Region 2 Runner-Up, they’ll travel to Johnson City to play Science Hill, the Region 1 Champion, in a sectional game at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Blackmon led all scorers with 23 points in the regional final on Sunday.

“He got to the foul line. He got to the basket,” Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said. “We didn’t do a good job of guarding him.”

Oak Ridge Wildcats Geevantay Gee at Region 2 Championship 2015

Never afraid to drive to the rim through traffic, junior point guard Geevantay Gee (12) scored 15 points for the Oak Ridge Wildcats in the Region 2-AAA Championship against Maryville on Sunday. (Photo by Melissa Livesey)

 

The Rebels (25-6) hit seven three-pointers against the Wildcats on Sunday, including five in the first quarter alone. That gave them a 29-26 lead at halftime, with 18 of those points coming from three-point shots. [Read more…]

Filed Under: High School, Meetings and Events, Slider, Sports, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Aaron Green, basketball, Bryce Miller, Dobyns-Bennett, Geevantay Gee, Javien Johnson, Mark Eldridge, Maryville Rebels, Oak Ridge Wildcats, Region 2-AAA, Region 2-AAA championship, Science Hill, T.D. Blackmon, Tee Higgins

Steal helps save OT win for Wildcats, who play for Region 2 championship Sunday

Posted at 11:18 pm February 28, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Wildcats Student Section at Region 2-AAA Semifinal 2015

The Region 2-AAA semifinal basketball game between Oak Ridge and Heritage came down to the wire at home on Saturday. Above the Oak Ridge student section watches the match, which wasn’t decided until the final seconds. (Photo by Terri Blair)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:54 a.m. March 1.

A steal by senior Ted Mitchell late in the game helped save an overtime win for the Oak Ridge Wildcats in a regional tournament semifinal game against Heritage on Saturday.

The Wildcats (28-2) were also helped by a big basket by sophomore Tee Higgins late in overtime, when Oak Ridge was down by one. Higgins’ shot off the glass gave the Wildcats a one-point 44-43 lead with about 1:10 to play. A free throw by junior Geevantay Gee after Mitchell’s steal widened the margin to two.

Heritage (23-12) missed their final two back-to-back shots with about seven seconds left, and the final score at Wildcat Arena was 45-43.

Oak Ridge moves on to play Maryville (24-6) in the Region 2-AAA championship at home at 3:30 p.m. Sunday. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Aaron Green, Anthony Gibson, basketball, Bill Duncan, District 3, District 4, Dobyns-Bennett, Geevantay Gee, Heritage Mountaineers, Jake Long, Keenan Berger, Maryville, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Wildcats, Region 1, Region 2 semifinal, Region 2-AAA, Region 2-AAA championship, Region 2-AAA semifinals, Region 2-AAA tournament, Science Hill, Ted Mitchell, Tee Higgins, Wildcat Arena

Saturday at Oak Ridge: Wildcats play Heritage, Bearden takes on Maryville

Posted at 10:52 am February 28, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Region 2-AAA basketball tournament semifinals will be played in Oak Ridge this evening.

The Oak Ridge Wildcats will take on Heritage at 7:30 p.m. That game will be preceded by a match between Bearden and Maryville that starts at 6 p.m.

The games will be played at the Oak Ridge High School Wildcat Arena. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Meetings and Events, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Bearden, finals, heritage, Maryville, Oak Ridge High School Wildcat Arena, Oak Ridge Wildcats, ORHS, Region 2-AAA, Region 2-AAA tournament, regional championship, sectional, semifinals, state tournament

One airlifted to UT hospital after two-vehicle rollover crash

Posted at 12:21 am February 28, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Harriman Highway Jeep Rollover

The driver of a Jeep SUV that turned over was airlifted to a hospital in Knoxville after a two-vehicle crash on Harriman Highway west of Oliver Springs on Friday evening. (Photo by Tom Scott)

 

Note: This story was updated at 12:36 a.m. Feb. 28.

OLIVER SPRINGS—The driver of a Jeep SUV that turned over was airlifted to a hospital in Knoxville after a two-vehicle crash on Harriman Highway just west of Oliver Springs on Friday evening.

The crash between the Jeep and a Dodge Ram pickup occurred at about 6:30 p.m. Friday on Harriman Highway (Highway 61) near Scandlyn Hollow Road in Roane County.

The Jeep’s driver was flown to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, said Tennessee Highway Patrol Lieutenant Lucious Howard. The driver was later identified, after his family had been notified, as Joshua Brown, 33, of Oliver Springs. His condition was unknown early Saturday morning. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Blair, Front Page News, Oliver Springs, Police and Fire, Roane County, Tennessee, Top Stories Tagged With: Blair Fire Department, Harriman Highway, Highway 61, Joshua Brown, Kevin Jones, Lifestar, Lucious Howard, Oliver Springs, Oliver Springs Fire Department, Roane County, Roane County Rescue Squad, Tennessee Highway Patrol, THP, Tom Scott, University of Tennessee Medical Center

Heitman wrote suicide note before death, report says

Posted at 2:50 pm February 27, 2015
By John Huotari 35 Comments

Alexander John Heitman

Alexander John Heitman

Note: This story was last updated at 2:08 a.m. Feb. 28.

The cause of his death has been questioned for months, but information released Friday said a former Oak Ridge Schools employee found dead in Cocke County in July 2011 wrote a suicide note the day before he died.

Alex Heitman, 29, was the supervisor of business and support services for Oak Ridge Schools. Cocke County authorities said he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head on July 25, 2011. The death was ruled a suicide.

But Heitman’s parents, Don and Annette Heitman, have been questioning since at least October 2013 whether their son’s death, which they call mysterious, was actually a suicide. They’ve been supported by a few residents and former residents and Oak Ridge City Council member Trina Baughn.

On Monday, a television station in Madison, Wisconsin, broadcast a story on Heitman’s death and his parent’s quest to find answers. In that story, Don Heitman said “we just don’t have the answers to prove that it was (suicide).” In that same story, Baughn said the information collected so far “points to something much bigger than a suicide.”

But Heitman’s widow, Kristie Heitman, told the TV station that she believes her late husband committed suicide, and she found what appears to be a suicide note on his computer after he died. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Cocke County, Education, Front Page News, K-12, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Alex Heitman, Alexander John Heitman, Anderson County District Attorney General, Annette Heitman, City of Oak Ridge, Cocke County, Cocke County Sheriff's Department, Dave Clark, Don Heitman, FBI, Jim Akagi, Kristie Heitman, Newport Plain Talk, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Schools, suicide, suicide note, Trina Baughn, What Happened to Alex Heitman

Friday closings, delays: Anderson, Clinton, Roane, Oak Ridge

Posted at 12:12 am February 27, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Anderson County Schools will be closed Friday, February 27, due to the weather. The Central Office will follow the inclement weather procedure, and principals are to report to their schools.

Oak Ridge Schools will be on a one-hour delay.

Roane County Schools are closed due to snow and hazardous conditions. “Please stay safe and warm,” a statement said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Schools, Clinton City Schools, closings, delay, hazardous counditions, Oak Ridge Schools, snow, weather, winter storm

Photos: Snow in Oak Ridge on Thursday

Posted at 2:50 pm February 26, 2015
By John Huotari 3 Comments

Snow on Robertsville Road on Feb. 26, 2015

Snow covers grassy areas alongside Robertsville Road in Oak Ridge on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

Children Sledding in Oak Ridge on Feb. 26, 2015

Children enjoy the snow by sledding on another snow day in Oak Ridge. (Photo by Amanda Page Underwood)

 

Note: These pictures were updated at 1:14 a.m. Feb. 27.

Several inches of snow fell across East Tennessee on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. It was the fifth winter storm in two weeks. Here are snow photos by Julio Culiat, Anna Freeman, Amanda Page Underwood, and Ashlan Yost.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Media, Photos, Photos, Slider, Top Stories, Weather Tagged With: Amanda Page Underwood, Anna Freeman, Ashlan Yost, East Tennessee, Julio Culiat, Oak Ridge, photos, snow

Weather: County Commission meeting, Habitat dedication canceled

Posted at 1:42 pm February 26, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Anderson County Commission meeting that had been rescheduled for tonight has been canceled due to the weather. It will not be rescheduled again, but will instead be combined with the regular meeting in March.

The Myrick Build Dedication that had been scheduled for Saturday has been postponed. Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County said the dedication has been postponed to March 28, with the same schedule of events.

Meanwhile, the City of Oak Ridge announced that Waste Connections will begin Wednesday’s routes today (Thursday, February 26) on main roads that are clear, and then go to secondary streets to pick up garbage and recyclables as the day progresses. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Community, Front Page News, Government, Meetings and Events, Nonprofits, Oak Ridge Tagged With: Anderson County Commission, City of Oak Ridge, garbage, Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County, Myrick Build Dedication, recyclables, Waste Connections

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Classifieds

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...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

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

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

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

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