Oak Ridge Today

Council to hear updates on animal shelter, railway museum

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The Oak Ridge City Council will hear updates tonight on the animal shelter, where two of three employees recently resigned, and the proposed Southern Appalachia Railway Museum, which has been in danger of losing a $480,000 state grant.

Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi is scheduled to give an overview of the animal shelter during a City Council work session at 7 p.m. today at the Central Services Complex on Woodbury Lane. This morning, Akagi said the city has hired two new animal control officers.

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson and City Attorney Ken Krushenski are scheduled to give the updates on the railway museum.

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Voices of the Manhattan Project website launched Friday

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The Atomic Heritage Foundation and the Los Alamos Historical Society launched a new website Friday titled “Voices of the Manhattan Project.”

“This is the first step in creating a national repository or directory for oral history collections of Manhattan Project veterans and their families,” the Atomic Heritage Foundation said. “With the Congress considering legislation to establish a Manhattan Project National Historical Park, this website, with its first-hand accounts of this top-secret project, will be an important resource for scholars, students and members of the public.”

Oak Ridge played a key role in the Manhattan Project, a top-secret program to build the world’s first nuclear weapons during World War II, and the website includes interviews with several people who worked in Oak Ridge during the war.

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Oak Ridge Fireballs win dodgeball tournament

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Dodgeball Champs

Dodgeball tournament champions Oak Ridge Fireballs are pictured above, from back, Molly Landmesser, Ryan Pointer, Coach Lisa Summers, Mihir Mehta, Juan Fernandez, and from front left, David Laubach, Catherine King, Monil Mehta, and Andreas Sauter. Not pictured are Daniel Colburn and Drew Stokes. (Submitted photo)

The Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board hosted a Youth Dodgeball Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 10. After three rounds of pool play, the Oak Ridge Fireballs faced off against Evan’s Shadow in the championship match, with the Fireballs winning 3-1.

It’s one of several events the Youth Advisory Board has scheduled this year. The board is co-hosting a Breakfast with Santa at Grove Theater on Dec. 1, and reservations are now available.

For more information about future dodgeball events, stop by the Oak Ridge Civic Center or call (865) 425-3450. You can also visit the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department website at www.orrecparks.org.

Christina Lynn (Christy) Foy

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Christina Lynn (Christy) Foy

Christina Lynn (Christy) Foy

Christina Lynn (Christy) Foy, age 38, of Knoxville, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 11.

Christy was very active with small businesses in the U.S. Department of Energy community. She believed in charity work and pet adoption. She was a volunteer for Cornerstone of Recovery and AGAPE.

Christy was the loving wife of Mike, and the proud mother of John Ross and Olivia Foy. Christy is also survived by her mother, Lynn; brothers, Michael and Dustin; and several other family members in Alabama.

A celebration of life was held at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, in the Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel with Rev. Harry Chronis officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Small Breed Rescue of East Tennessee, SBRET, P.O.Box, 4661, Oak Ridge, TN 37831.

Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel, 11915 Kingston Pike, served the Foy family.

New outdoor classrooms at Dutch Valley and Fairview elementary schools

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Construction has been completed on outdoor classrooms at Dutch Valley and Fairview elementary schools in Anderson County, and students, officials, and volunteers will celebrate with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday.

The classrooms were built with a $20,000 grant awarded to Keep Anderson County Beautiful in the spring of 2012. The grant was from Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation.

The new outdoor classrooms each include an 18-foot by 36-foot concrete pad with a covered pavilion and picnic tables that allow students to see and study nature in all seasons and different weather, a press release said.

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Grants program for school classroom projects discussed Tuesday

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A board member of a local nonprofit organization that helps schools will give a Tuesday presentation on a program that uses grants to fund classroom projects in Oak Ridge.

The presentation by Cathy Toth of the Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation starts at noon Tuesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church.

“We are well aware of the ORPSEF efforts in the renovation of Oak Ridge High School,” Toth said in a press release. “Most of us are not aware that ORPSEF has quietly been making a difference with a grants program that has funded dozens of classroom projects in every school in Oak Ridge. The grants provide resources beyond what can be provided by tax dollars to help make the critical difference between adequate and outstanding academic experiences and performance.”

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Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 1, reservations available

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The 13th Annual Breakfast with Santa will be at the Grove Theater on Dec. 1.

The breakfast starts at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 11 a.m. It’s hosted by the Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board and Grove Theater.

Organizers suggest a $5 donation per participants from ages 3 and up, payable at the door. The activities include a breakfast buffet, Christmas crafts, holiday movies in the theater, and photos with Santa.

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David M. Currier

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David M. Currier

David M. Currier

Oliver Springs coach David M. Currier, age 65, a resident of Harriman, went home to be with his Lord, on Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Park West Medical Center in Knoxville.

Mr. Currier was born on May 18, 1947, in Harriman. He was a lifelong resident of this area.

He was a devout Christian and a faithful member of the Childs Memorial Baptist Church in Harriman. He taught the Young Adult Sunday School Class.

David was preceded in death by a stepson, Garey Edward Lowe.

Coach Currier began his career as a teacher at the Prevocational School in Harriman before joining the staff at Oliver Springs High School in 1980. Coach Currier loved children, and he was employed at the Oliver Springs High as a teacher, football, baseball and basketball coach, and he drove a school bus. He was inducted into the Oliver Springs High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

He is survived by his wife, Rhonda Currier of Harriman; by parents, Fate Junior and Louise Currier of Harriman; by a son, David Michael Currier of Oliver Springs; by a daughter, Michelle Teague of Harriman; by a step-daughter, Jennifer Best and husband Shane of Harriman; by grandchildren, Maddisen Currier, David Michael Currier Jr., Benjamin Currier and Hunter Teague, Garrett Andrews, Elliott Best, Isaac Best, and Hanna, Gabriel, Israel and Seth Lowe; and by his mother-in-law, Reva Johnson.

He is also survived by three brothers, Teddy Currier and wife Janice of Harriman, Vernon Currier and wife Gina of Rockwood, and Mark Currier and wife Kim of Harriman; and by several nieces, nephews, extended family members, and a host of special friends.

The family will receive friends Saturday, Nov. 17, between 4 and 8 p.m. at the Oliver Springs High School gymnasium. The funeral will follow at 8 p.m. in the gymnasium with Pastors Tommy Hensley and Wesley Duncan officiating.

Burial and graveside services will be held Sunday, Nov. 18, at 2 p.m. at the Petros Cemetery in Petros.

Sharp Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. An online guest book is available at www.sharpfh.com.

This weekend: arts and crafts, ballet, theater, half-marathon

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There is much to do in Oak Ridge this weekend, ranging from arts, crafts, and theater to ballet, disc golf, and a half marathon.

We’ve already posted stories about some of the events, including today’s cash mob and “The Wiz” at Oak Ridge Playhouse. We’ve also written about the Secret City Half Marathon and free Turkey Bowl Disc Golf on Sunday.

But we’ve also added several new events to our new events calendar. They include an arts and crafts fair at the Oak Ridge Civic Center, Girls Inc. Parade of Trees at Pollard Auditorium, Folk Art Nativities at Oak Ridge Art Center, and “The Nutcracker” ballet at Oak Ridge High School. Those are all happening today, although there is another performance of “The Nutcracker” tomorrow (Sunday).

Please check out our events calendar for more details on these and other events.

Destiny Brook Keathley

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Destiny Brook Keathley

Destiny Brook Keathley

Destiny Brook Keathley, age 11, of Crossville and formerly of Clinton, passed away late Wednesday, Nov. 14, at her home in Crossville.

Destiny was Papaw’s girl, and she was a member of Antioch Baptist Church in Clinton. She was a faithful child who thanked God for everything. She even thanked God for her cancer. She told Him in a prayer that she would take it and be happy if that is what He wanted for her, and she never complained.

Destiny was fascinated with law enforcement and CSI officers. She was even made an honorary CSI officer by the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department. Destiny attended Lake City Elementary School and the Boys and Girls Club of North Anderson County in Lake City, and North Cumberland Elementary School in Crossville. She recently attended Destiny’s Ball given to her by the teachers and principal of North Cumberland Elementary, her hair stylist, and the staff of her doctor’s office.

Destiny is survived by her mother and stepfather, Angel Bunch Bowman and Danny Ray Bowman of Crossville; father, James Keathley of Oliver Springs; brothers, Darren and Blake Keathley; grandparents, Deborah and Harold Bunch of Claxton, and Ray and Jan Bowman of Crossville; great-grandmother, Leora Bowman of Crossville; favorite aunt, Cathy Cole; cousins, Sarah and Taylor Sharp, and Maggie Bunch; uncles, David and Melissa Bunch of Powell, Johnny and Emily Bunch of Claxton, and Jeff and Mathie Bertels of Claxton; cousins, Ace and Katherine Bunch, Jace and Ava Bunch, Jake, Summer, Jordan, and Waylon Bunch, and Paul and Joseph Bertels; and special friends, Matthew Cunningham, Kari Abston, and Beth Farrow. She is also survived by many other relatives and friends.

Destiny’s family would like to thank everyone for their love and support. Special thanks to Antioch Baptist Church, North Cumberland Elementary School, Cumberland County Physician’s Group, and Vanderbilt’s Stallworth Rehabilitation and Hope Lodge.

Destiny’s family received her friends on Friday, Nov. 16, from 6-8 p.m. at Antioch Baptist Church in Clinton.

Her celebration of life will be Saturday, Nov. 17, at 1 p.m. also at Antioch Baptist Church with Rev. Marty Stooksbury officiating. Her interment will follow her service at Asbury Cemetery in Knoxville.

Dorothy Mae Soard

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Dorothy Mae Soard

Dorothy Mae Soard

Dorothy Mae Soard, age 88, of Oak Ridge, died Friday, Nov. 16, at NHC Health Care Center.

She was born Sept. 2, 1924, in Morristown, the daughter of Samuel B. and Bessie Anderson Soard.

Miss Soard retired from ORNL, where she was a lab technician. She was a charter member of First Baptist Church of Oak Ridge and active with WMU. She also enjoyed sports.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Frank Soard, and sister, Velma Johnson.

She is survived by sisters, Alma Jean Soard, Margaret (Willard) Carr, and Phyllis (Fred) Smith, and brother, Harold (Peggy) Soard, all of Oak Ridge, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, Nov. 17, from 5–7 p.m. at Weatherford Mortuary. The funeral will follow at 7 p.m. with Rev. Tim Bounds officiating.

A graveside service will be held on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Oak Ridge Memorial Park.

The family asks that any memorials be made to First Baptist Church of Oak Ridge, 1101 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN 37830.

An online guest book can be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com.

Second Clinton resident dies after Nov. 1 head-on collision

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A second Clinton resident has died after a Nov. 1 head-on collision involving three cars on Oliver Springs Highway, authorities said.

Pat Smith, 62, of Clinton, died Monday at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, according to the Tennessee Department of Safety.

Smith was a passenger in a Hyundai Elantra driven by Alberta Farrer of Clinton. Farrer, 56, died early Thursday, Nov. 8, at UT Medical Center, authorities said.

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