Oak Ridge Today

Photos: Secret City Wildbots at FIRST Robotics Palmetto Regional

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The Secret City Wildbots Team 4265 pit crew makes adjustments between qualification rounds at the First Robotics Palmetto Regional in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Friday, March 3, 2017. (Photo by Angi Agle)

The Secret City Wildbots Team 4265 pit crew makes adjustments between qualification rounds at the FIRST Robotics Palmetto Regional in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Friday, March 3, 2017. (Photo by Angi Agle)

 

The Secret City Wildbots, an Oak Ridge team, is competing at the FIRST Robotics Palmetto Regional in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, this week.

There were practice matches on Thursday, and qualification rounds on Friday and Saturday. Elimination rounds are scheduled for Saturday afternoon. The three-day competition is from March 2-4.

Here are photos from the Palmetto Regional by Angi Agle. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Egg Hunt is April 8; volunteers needed

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A previous Oak Ridge Egg Hunt is pictured above. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

A previous Oak Ridge Egg Hunt is pictured above. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will host the 2017 Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 8, at 11 a.m. Hundreds of children are expected to participate in this annual spring event, a press release said. More than 15,000 candy and prize-filled eggs will be hidden in Alvin K. Bissell Park with a first-place, second-place, and third-place prize egg in each age group.

This event will be held rain or shine, so participants should dress for the weather, the press release said. If severe weather prevents hiding the eggs outdoors, they will be given away in the Oak Ridge Civic Center gymnasium, and a drawing will be held for the prizes. [Read more…]

Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge offers Spring Break activities

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Children get creative with crayons at a Children’s Museum camp. (Submitted photo)

Children get creative with crayons at a Children’s Museum camp. (Submitted photo)

 

Gardening, art, astronomy, and messy science experiments will be among Spring Break activities offered for children in first through fifth grades at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge from March 13-17.

The museum will offer morning activities from 9 a.m.-noon and afternoon sessions from 1-4 p.m. There will be a full day St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Friday, March 17, featuring an Irish lunch, “wearing o’ the green,” Highland games, and crafts, a press release said. Children may register for individual sessions, a day, all mornings, all afternoons, or the entire week.

The museum will also host “Wonderful Wednesday” programs from 11 a.m.-noon March 15 and 22. Kids love rocks, and on March 15, they can learn about rocks in our backyards. The East Tennessee Geological Society will have rocks, minerals, and fossils to explore. [Read more…]

Rummage sale at ORUUC on Friday, Saturday

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Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church will have its popular semi-annual rummage sale on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. ORUUC is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The proceeds that are raised will help to support various community outreach ministries of the church, a press release said.

Items that will be available will include low-priced kitchenware, small appliances, furniture, linens, home décor clothing, shoes and accessories for the family, books, tools, jewelry, DVDs, exercise equipment, computers, and other electronic devices, the press release said. Prices are doubled on Friday evening for the Preview Sale, which offers best selections at still-a-bargain prices, the press release said. [Read more…]

Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit Community Mediation Services

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The Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament on Friday, April 28, 2017, will benefit Community Mediation Services of Anderson Country, providing participants a great way to give back to the youth and families in the community while having a great day of golf. (Photo via Community Mediation Services)

The Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament on Friday, April 28, 2017, will benefit Community Mediation Services of Anderson Country, providing participants a great way to give back to the youth and families in the community while having a great day of golf. (Photo via Community Mediation Services)

 

The Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament on April 28 will benefit Community Mediation Services of Anderson Country, providing participants a great way to give back to the youth and families in the community while having a great day of golf, a press release said.

It’s the 16th Annual Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament. It will be on Friday, April 28, at the Oak Ridge Country Club.

“Oak Ridge Country Club provides a beautiful and challenging setting for all golfers,” the press release said.

The Tournament is a two-session, scramble format with two flights: 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Golfers will get a complimentary breakfast, beverage carts, and a smoked barbecue lunch. Prize contests for participants in each flight will be awarded and a Hole-in-One Grand Prize will be available. Free Big Ed’s shirts and golf towels for all golfers are included. A Silent Auction will be held in conjunction with the Tournament. Auction items will be available for viewing online at www.peacefulresolution.org.

The registration deadline is Monday, April 24 ($125/player; $500/team). [Read more…]

Legal Aid Society receives grant for foreclosure prevention, community redevelopment

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Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, which is Tennessee’s largest nonprofit law firm and has an office in Oak Ridge, has received a two-year grant from the Tennessee Bar Foundation to increase foreclosure prevention and community redevelopment legal assistance.

The Tennessee Bar Foundation, the administrator of funds generated through Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts, or IOLTA, in Tennessee, received part of a nationwide donation to IOLTA programs from Bank of America, as part of a settlement of claims with the Justice Department arising from the home mortgage crisis. They have awarded Legal Aid Society $259,640 to give legal assistance to low-income people and seniors in their Gallatin, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Oak Ridge, and Tullahoma offices, a press release said. [Read more…]

Anderson County storm damage report

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There were reports of trees down, along with a few power lines, from the storms and heavy rain on Wednesday, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said.

Several roads were impassable for a while due to high water, but on most, the water had receded as of Wednesday evening, Lucas said. Some roads could still have debris, he said Wednesday.

“There was one tree that fell on a mobile home, but no major damage and no injuries have been reported,” Lucas said.

The Little Ponderosa Zoo had severe flooding, but much of the water there had receded and all the animals are safe. [Read more…]

Brownworth Manor re-opened as The Kincaid House

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Information from WYSH Radio

The house once named Brownworth Manor in Clinton has reopened its doors as The Kincaid House, according to Anderson County tourism officials.

The Kincaid House, as it was originally named, was built by the Carl Kincaid family in the 1930s. Kincaid was owner of Magnet Mills.

The Dutch Colonial style home originally contained 20 acres with a public garden. The Kincaids were collectors of boxwoods and irises, some of which are still on the property. The home features more than 4,000 square feet with a huge patio, stone walkways around the grounds, and a stone gazebo with “card room” upstairs. The stone used on the walls, walkways, and gazebo were originally from Norris Dam during its construction. The home now sits on 4.2 acres with a large section of the property wooded for privacy.

For more information, you can visit the Kincaid House page on Facebook.

Clinton teachers, principal of the year honored

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Information from WYSH Radio

Clinton City Schools Director Kelly Johnson recognized the school system’s teachers of the year and principal of the year during the Clinton City Council meeting on Monday night.

Leslie Goins of North Clinton Elementary School, Abbey Kidwell of South Clinton Elementary School, and Kimberly O’Dell of Clinton Elementary School were voted teachers of the year from their respective schools by their peers.

Leighann Bonesteel, principal of South Clinton Elementary, earned principal of the year honors.

A banquet will be held on April 11 at First Baptist Church in Clinton to recognize these individuals as well as the educators of the year from the Anderson County school system.

Here’s a recap of the season for the ORHS Swim Team

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The Oak Ridge High School Wildcat state team qualifiers and coaches David Vander Sluis, far left, and Alicia Williamson, back right. (Photo courtesy Erik Groscost)

Pictured above are the Oak Ridge High School Wildcat state team qualifiers and coaches David Vander Sluis, far left, and Alicia Williamson, back right. (Photo courtesy Erik Groscost)

 

By Erik Groscost

The Oak Ridge High School Wildcat Swim Team dual meet record for the 2016-2017 swim season was 4 wins, 0 losses. We were undefeated for the second year in a row! The wins were over Farragut, Berean Christian, Knoxville Catholic, and Clinton/Anderson County high schools.

Our meet against Maryville was canceled due to the heater breaking at the Oak Ridge Civic Center pool in late December. Three weeks of key training were disrupted for both year round and high school swimmers. We found ways around that nuisance and our swimmers still had very good championship meet performances.

Our two big end-of-season championship meets: [Read more…]

Alternatives to Incarceration director to speak at Lunch with the League on Tuesday

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The director of Alternatives to Incarceration in Anderson County will discuss the program—which is designed to save taxpayers money by reducing jail overcrowding while helping inmates—during a Tuesday afternoon lunch, a press release said.

The director is Mary Ann Young. She is the featured speaker at Lunch with the League at noon Tuesday, March 7, in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church. The church is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

The press release said Alternatives to Incarceration provides a variety of work, vocational training, and counseling services.

The public is invited to the Tuesday lunch meeting. [Read more…]

Little Ponderosa Zoo floods; damage unknown, but animals safe, dry

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The Little Ponderosa Zoo in Clinton has flooded. The damage is unknown, but the animals are safe and dry, the zoo said Wednesday afternoon, March 1, 2017. (Photo by Little Ponderosa Zoo)

The Little Ponderosa Zoo in Clinton has flooded. The damage is unknown, but the animals are safe and dry, the zoo said Wednesday afternoon, March 1, 2017. (Photo by Little Ponderosa Zoo)

 

The Little Ponderosa Zoo in Clinton has flooded. The damage is unknown, but the animals are safe and dry, the zoo said Wednesday afternoon.

“We have been hit with a lot of water today,” The Little Ponderosa Zoo said. “We have been able to keep our animals dry, but the damage to our bridges and buildings like our concession stand is for now unknown. We will know more once the water has receded.”

See The Little Ponderosa Zoo page on Facebook for more information. See a video posted on the zoo’s Facebook page below. [Read more…]