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Sponsored: Award-winning Tennessee Medieval Faire celebrates 5th annual festival

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Photo courtesy Tennessee Medieval Faire

Discounted rooms at Baymont Inn and Suites for Faire fans

New online ticket sales and discounts available 

Earlier this year, the Tennessee Medieval Faire was awarded by 9 Lakes of East Tennessee and the Middle East Tennessee Tourism Council (covering 16 counties) an Excellence in Tourism Award as the “2018 Best Annual Festival.”

“We are very grateful for the recognition that we are adding value to our community,” said Barrie Paulson, vice president-manager and entertainment director.

Now celebrating its fifth year, the Tennessee Medieval Faire invites patrons to go back in time to the High Middle Ages (circa 1190s) and “Live the Age of Chivalry!” with Robin Hood. This outdoor interactive PG festival will spring to life on May 25 and run for three weekends, including Memorial Day.

The dates are May 25-27, June 1-2, and June 8-9. The hours are 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Easter Time.

[Read more…]

Roane State alumnus Jason Taylor named head women’s basketball coach

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Jason Taylor

Jason Taylor, the all-time winningest coach in Anderson University men’s basketball history and a Roane State Community College alumnus, has been named Roane State’s new head women’s basketball coach, a press release said.

“I am so grateful for this opportunity and feel very blessed to be back at Roane State,” Taylor said. “Roane State means a lot to me and the mentorship and friendship of Coach Randy Nesbit has been instrumental in my life.”

A Clarkrange native, Taylor played for Nesbit at Roane State from 1997-1999 before he transferred to NCAA Division I Jacksonville State University. He served as Roane State assistant coach from 2001-2003 and was an assistant at Anderson University in South Carolina from 2003-2006. [Read more…]

Sign up for Roane State’s boys basketball camp

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Randy Nesbit

Roane State Community College men’s basketball head coach Randy Nesbit will conduct his annual basketball camp at the Roane County campus gym in Harriman June 24-27 from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. each day.

It is open to players from age 8 to rising high school seniors, a press release said. Special emphasis will be placed on shooting mechanics, dribbling and passing skills, driving, and finishing footwork in a progressive fashion that will add new elements to an experienced high school player’s game, and set up learning pathways for very young players. [Read more…]

Learn about civil rights movement in lecture by Booker at Roane State

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Robert Booker

Robert J. Booker, local civil rights historian and Knoxville News Sentinel columnist, will present a talk titled “100 Years of the Civil Rights Movement” on Thursday, May 23, at 3 p.m. in the City Room at Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge.

A Knoxville native, Booker is a graduate of Knoxville College, where he initiated and led the Sit-in Movement to desegregate lunch counters and movie theaters in Knoxville, a press release said. He was the first African American representing Knox County to be elected to the state legislature, where he served three terms, the press release said. He was administrative assistant to the Knoxville mayor for seven years and was executive director of the Beck Cultural Exchange Center for 17 years. He has also held positions on the State Civil Service Commission and the Tennessee Committee on Humanities. [Read more…]

Try out for Roane State golf team June 3 at Oak Ridge Country Club

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Roane State Golf

Tryouts for the Roane State Community College golf team will be held Monday, June 3, at Oak Ridge Country Club, Coach Chris Griffin said.

After a decades-long hiatus, Griffin in late 2017 took on the mission of resurrecting the squad, which recently wrapped up its inaugural season, a press release said.

Graduating high school seniors and Roane State students interested in trying out for the team should contact Griffin at [email protected] or (865) 898-0043.

“What an opportunity this is for area golfers to be able to compete on a collegiate level while obtaining a two-year degree tuition-free,” Griffin said in the press release. “My primary goal is to bring young men and women together to have fun and make life-long friendships.” [Read more…]

Democratic Women’s Club meets Monday at The Other One

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The Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club will host a social and brainstorming session at 6 p.m. Monday, May 20, at The Other One, a deli at 178 Randolph Road in Grove Center, Oak Ridge.

Those attending will be invited to gather in small groups to discuss issues that will be presented, as well as activities and the role of the Democratic Women’s Club as the country approaches the 2020 elections. The group will gather together after the small groups to develop plans based on the discussions.

The meeting is being held a week earlier than usual because of Memorial Day weekend. No reservations for the meeting are necessary. Those attending may order dinner from the menu. For more information, send an email to Ann Mostoller at [email protected] or call Mary Matheny at (865) 483-8937.

This press release was submitted by Kay Brookshire.

Oak Ridge city manager earns doctorate degree from UT

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Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson received his doctorate degree in philosophy from the University of Tennessee on Thursday, May 9, 2019. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson received his doctorate degree in philosophy from the University of Tennessee on Thursday, May 9. In March, Watson successfully defended his dissertation titled “City Managers, Mayors and Councilmembers: Local Stability in Tennessee.”

“It has always been a belief of mine for continuous learning, and being close to the University of Tennessee allowed me to fulfill the heights of my profession while learning new technical and research skills along the way,” Watson said in a press release on Monday. “I shall continue to use those skills in serving Oak Ridge in the years ahead. It has been quite a seven-year academic journey while working full time as a city manager.”

[Read more…]

TDEC announces $3.2 million drinking water loan for Oak Ridge

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Low-interest loan will go toward new water treatment plant 

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner David Salyers on Monday announced approximately $3.2 million in a low-interest loan for drinking water infrastructure improvements for the City of Oak Ridge.

“This loan will help Oak Ridge to meet one of the vital needs of its citizens,” Lee said in a press release. “I am pleased to support infrastructure upgrades that will help to provide safe and reliable drinking water for more Tennesseans.”

The City of Oak Ridge will receive a planning and design loan in the amount of $3,288,000 to develop plans and specifications for construction of a new 16-million-gallon-per-day water treatment plant, the press release said. The effort is funded from the State Revolving Fund Loan Program with a five-year repayment period and an interest rate of 1.08 percent.

[Read more…]

ACSO helps Florida agency with child sex abuse arrest

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David Cox

On April 4, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office arrested David Andrew Cox, 55, on a warrant from Gilchrist County, Florida, alleging Cox engaged in sexual activity with a child under the age of 12 by a family member or custodial authority. The bond on the arrest was $1 million with nationwide extradition.

In late November, detectives with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office were contacted by Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office about a possible child sex abuse act that occurred in their county, the ACSO said in a press release Thursday. The victim, a minor child, became pregnant after the alleged abuse. They advised that the alleged perpetrator, Cox, was living in the Oliver Springs community in Anderson County. The alleged act took place while Cox was visiting his family in Florida.

[Read more…]

Secret City Radio Show presents Robinella, Sarah Pirkle on Friday

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The Secret City Radio Show on Friday, May 10, 2019, will feature local singer/songwriter Robinella with special guests songwriter/fiddle player Sarah Pirkle and Giffin Vann. (Submitted photo)

The Secret City Radio Show on Friday will feature local singer/songwriter Robinella with special guests songwriter/fiddle player Sarah Pirkle and Giffin Vann.

The Secret City Radio Show will be broadcast live from the new American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge by East Tennessee’s WDVX 89.9 FM. The show is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Friday, May 10. You can also listen on 102.9 FM in Knoxville, at 93.9 FM in Seymour and Kodak, and online at WDVX.com.

Amber McBride of Oak Ridge National Laboratory will present some innovative bioscience technology that is preserving forests around the world, and UCOR will present the Clinch River Trail Alliance, a press release said.

[Read more…]

New principal named at Glenwood Elementary

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Ginny Rigell Boles

Ginny Rigell Boles has been named principal of Glenwood Elementary School in Oak Ridge.

The appointment was announced Monday by Oak Ridge Schools Superintendent Bruce Borchers.

Boles will become principal effective July 1. She will replace Pearl Goins, who recently retired, a press release said.

An interview committee comprised of Glenwood and central office staff selected Boles after applications were screened and some candidates were interviewed.

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Explore Oak Ridge plans citywide scavenger hunt on Saturday

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Explore Oak Ridge ​has planned a citywide scavenger hunt on Saturday, May 11.

The scavenger hunt is scheduled from 12-2 p.m. Saturday, a press release said.

“We encourage all to participate,” it said.

The scavenger hunt will take participants to eight different locations within Oak Ridge, with a prize at each site and an opportunity to win a grand prize valued at $500. All clues for the hunt will be issued via Instagram and Facebook, the press release said.

[Read more…]

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