Oak Ridge Today

Music Arts has student recital

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Music Arts Recital

Pictured at a recent Music Arts recital are, front row, from left to right, Melody Guo, Torie Scott, Eli Ferguson, Atticus Harris, Catherine Albert, and Sam Neary; and second row, instructor Jodi Harbin, D.J. Roberts, instructor Lois White, Joseph LaFreniere, Kelsey LaFreniere, instructor Andy Bryenton, Bonnie Moon, and Melody Simmons. (Submitted photo)

Music Arts students recently played cello, piccolo, flute, and piano during a recital at West Village Christian Church on Robertsville Road.

“The performances went off without a hitch on Sunday afternoon, with applause filling the room as each of the students and instructors finished their performances,” a press release said. “This was something that we put on as a showcase of the many talents that abound here at Music Arts and was the first of 2013.”

Students that took part in the Feb. 24 recital were Sam Neary, Catherine Albert, Melody Guo, Eli Ferguson, Atticus Harris, D.J. Roberts, Joseph LaFreniere, Kelsey LaFreniere, Bonnie Moon, and Melody Simmons. [Read more…]

Robertsville Middle School technology team finishes in top three in nine state events

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Robertsville Middle School at TSA Competition

Robertsville Middle School at 35th Tennessee TSA State Conference (Submitted photo)

The Technology Student Association at Robertsville Middle School competed in a recent state conference in Chattanooga and finished in the Top 3 in nine events.

Twenty-seven students from the TSA chapter at RMS competed in 22 different group and individual events at the 35th Tennessee TSA State Conference, which included 649 middle and high school competitors from 61 Tennessee schools.

Listed below are the students who placed in the Top 3 in the state in their events: [Read more…]

AAUW features Tennessee women of courage

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Tennessee Women of Courage

For its Women’s History Display at the Library this year, the American Association of University Women, or AAUW, has chosen to feature a forthcoming book,’’Tennessee Women of Vision and Courage,” which has been put together by the Tennessee Women Project.

The directors of the Tennessee Women Project, Ruth Johnson Smiley and Charlotte Crawford, will address the AAUW at its March 25 meeting at 11:30 a.m. in the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church Social Hall.

In previous years, “Women Leaders in World Government’’ have been featured, as well as ‘’Outstanding Women in East Tennessee,’’ in the organization’s Women’s History Month displays at the Library.

AMSE announces bridge building contest winners

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Bearden Bridge Building High Point Trophy

Bearden High School in Knoxville receives the High Point Trophy at a recent bridge building contest at the American Museum of Science and Energy. Pictured above, from left, are Bearden High School student Hayes Griffin, physics teacher William Schult, and students Jack Li, J.J. Shankles, David Maulick and Bryan Fitzsimmons. (Submitted photos)

The American Museum of Science and Energy has announced the winners in the East Tennessee Model Bridge Building Contest earlier this month.

The contest was held March 9 at AMSE. Students entered 113 model bridges, and 74 of those qualified to be tested, an AMSE press release said. The entries came from students at Oak Ridge High School, Bearden High School, Brentwood High School, Blackman High School in Murfreesboro, Christ’s Legacy Academy, and two homeschool students. [Read more…]

Janelle Arthur still on ‘American Idol’

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Information from WYSH Radio

Oliver Springs native Janelle Arthur has made it to the final eight contestants on “American Idol.”

Arthur, who sang the Beatles’ “I Will” on Wednesday night, survived another round of viewer voting and will be back on the show next week.

A video of her performance on the popular television show is available on Hulu.

Clinton Fire Department receives $389,000 grant

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Information from WYSH Radio

Clinton officials announced Friday morning that the Clinton Fire Department has received a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response—or SAFER—grant that will pay the salaries and benefits for four more firefighters for the next two years.

The city was notified Friday by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security that the grant award totals $388,944. City leaders thanked the area’s congressional delegation for their assistance in obtaining the funding. There is no local match for the grant.

Jefferson Middle School student technology team wins 10 awards

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Jefferson Middle School at State TSA Competition

Jefferson Middle School TSA members and faculty advisers Chris Jaeger and Bruce McMaster at TSA State Competition in Chattanooga. (Submitted photo)

The Technology Student Association at Jefferson Middle School received 10 awards in eight events during an annual competition earlier this month, a press release said.

The annual TSA State Competition was March 14-17 in Chattanooga. The JMS team did well in team and individual events, the press release said. The JMS awards included five first-place finishes, four second-place, and one third-place finish.

Members earning first place included: [Read more…]

Board reaffirms decision to declare four Applewood buildings ‘unfit’

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Applewood Apartments Board Hearing

Jim Odle of Odle and Young Architects in Knoxville shows a picture of a repair during a Thursday code enforcement hearing on four Applewood Apartments buildings. Also pictured at front center is Joe Levitt, owner of the apartment complex.

With no objections from members, a city board on Thursday reaffirmed a decision from more than two years ago to declare four Applewood Apartment buildings unfit for human occupation and use, and declare them nuisances.

Joe Lee, a member of the Oak Ridge Board of Building and Housing Code Appeals, said the board’s November 2010 decision on the four buildings on Hunter Circle has already been upheld by the Anderson County Chancery Court and the Tennessee Court of Appeals.

It wasn’t immediately clear what might happen next, including whether apartment owner Joe Levitt, a Knoxville attorney, might appeal the decision, and whether the city might issue an order to vacate the buildings. [Read more…]

Benjamin Park Birdwell

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Benjamin Park Birdwell

Benjamin Park Birdwell

Dr. Benjamin Park Birdwell, 33, died on Tuesday, March 19, from injuries resulting from a tragic automobile accident.

Ben was a clinical psychologist practicing in Cleveland, Tenn. Ben graduated from the Christian Academy of Knoxville and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee. He then attended Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., where he received master’s degrees in both psychology and theology. Upon receiving his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Fuller, he joined an established group practice in Cleveland. His counseling touched many lives.

Ben leaves his wife and the love of his life, Melissa McAmis Birdwell, and four beautiful children: Jack Austin, 15, Samuel Park, 12, Abigail Susannah, 8, and Sadie Caroline, 3, of Cleveland. [Read more…]

‘Breakfast with Legislators’ on Monday

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This month’s ”Breakfast with the Legislators” will be on Monday morning at the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

The hour-long breakfast starts at 7:30 a.m. in the Oak Ridge Civic Center Social Room. A free, light continental breakfast will be served. [Read more…]

Lois Elaine Kunselman

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Lois Elaine Kunselman

Lois Elaine Kunselman

Lois Elaine Kunselman, age 91, of Clinton, went home to her Lord on Sunday, March 17, 12 days after celebrating her 69th wedding anniversary with her loving husband, Maurice Kunselman, who was by her side until she peacefully crossed over.

Born Nov. 10, 1921, in Shreveport, La., Lois was salutatorian of her Wynne, AK, graduating class of 1939. After a fulfilling, ambitious period working as a telephone operator, Lois met and married Maurice in Memphis in 1944. Much later, in her 50s, Lois received a combined degree in English and religious studies from the University of Tennessee.

She is preceded in death by her parents Joe and Mabel Miller, a son Philip Maurice Kunselman, two brothers Rev. James Miller and Eugene Flickner, and a sister Josephine Kitterman. [Read more…]

Three men allegedly invade home; steal shotgun, watches

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Note: This story was updated at 4:13 p.m.

Three men pushed their way into the home of a 78-year-old man on Ulysses Lane on Wednesday night and allegedly stole a 12-gauge shotgun, a wallet, and three watches, authorities said.

The Oak Ridge Police Department said the home invasion happened at about 9:40 p.m. Wednesday. The victim answered a knock at the door, and three men wearing dark clothes, blue jeans, and masks allegedly pushed their way into the home, demanding jewelry, pills, and guns, according to a report by ORPD Officer Michael E. Swigert. [Read more…]