Oak Ridge Today

Updated: McNally to seek Senate speakership

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Randy McNally

Randy McNally

Note: This story was updated at 9:30 a.m. March 25.

Tennessee Senator Randy McNally, an Oak Ridge Republican, will seek to become the next speaker of the Senate.

If elected, McNally would replace Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey, a Blountville Republican who recently announced he is not seeking re-election.

McNally, a longtime legislator, is chair of the Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee.

“I want to thank Ron Ramsey for his tremendous leadership over these last 10 years,” McNally said in a Thursday press release. “If elected speaker, I will continue to support an independent state Senate, and I will remain committed to keeping taxes low, while maintaining the financial integrity of our state that benefits all Tennesseans.”

In the press release, McNally said he plans to spend his summer and fall working with Ramsey to help Tennessee Republicans maintain and grow their strong majority in the state Senate. [Read more…]

Today: Harlem Ambassadors for Habitat, former NASA chief astronomer, Smith on Three Bend

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A reminder—There are three events happening this evening: the Harlem Ambassadors Basketball Show in a benefit for Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County, a former chief astronomer at NASA who is referred to as the “mother of the Hubble Telescope” discussing the evolution of the universe from the Big Bang to black holes, and local historian and writer Ray Smith discussing the Three Bend Scenic and Wildlife Management Refuge Area of the Oak Ridge Reservation.

The Harlem Ambassadors Basketball Show starts at 6 p.m. today (Thursday, March 24) at Wildcat Arena at Oak Ridge High School. This show is not only entertaining, organizers said, it also brings an important message to kids: “Stay off drugs, stay in school, don’t be a bully!”

Individuals have sponsored tickets so that student-athletes in Anderson County can come to the game for free.

The “opposing” team, the Habi-bats, is made up of local coaches and other local basketball standouts.

“We hope to fill the arena and sell lots of hotdogs, all in an effort to raise money to build and repair homes in Anderson County,” a press release said. [Read more…]

Roane State lectures to address differences between Islam, Islamic State (ISIS)

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Rihab Sawah

Rihab Sawah

Scholar Rihab Sawah from St. Louis Community College will discuss differences between Islam and the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, on Thursday, March 31, at Roane State Community College’s Roane and Oak Ridge campuses.

The Roane County lecture will be held at 11:30 a.m. in room 101 in the O’Brien Humanities Building on the main campus in Harriman, 276 Patton Lane. The Oak Ridge lecture will be held at 3 p.m. in the City Room at the Oak Ridge campus, 701 Briarcliff Ave.

The lectures, presented by Roane State’s International Education Department and the Oak Ridge Institute for Continued Learning, or ORICL, are free and open to the public.

The presentations will define Islam and the Islamic State and will contrast 12 main points that highlight the diverging point of view of ISIS in relation to Islam. Sawah will also present the historical roots of a movement such as ISIS and explain why the movement misuses Islamic ideology and how it serves ISIS leaders’ aim to establish their influence in the region. [Read more…]

Clinton men win TN Team Trail Fishing Tournament

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BJ-Henderson-Billy-Joe-Henderson-Winner-March-19-2016

First prize in the TN Team Trail Fishing Tournament at Anderson County Park on Saturday, March 19, 2016, was won by B.J. Henderson and Billy Joe Henderson from Clinton, with a total of 22.14 pounds. (Submitted photo)

 

Submitted

The TN Team Trail Fishing Tournament was a huge success with 176 boats and 348 anglers participating in the event on Saturday, March 19, at Anderson County Park on Norris Lake. Participants came from West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, and throughout East and Middle Tennessee.

First prize was won by B.J. Henderson and Billy Joe Henderson from Clinton, with a total of 22.14 pounds. Second place was Jordan Lane and Roger King with 19.72 pounds. Third place was Wayne Moyher and Casey Baker with 19.65 pounds.

The Largemouth Lunker was caught by Rick Disney and Mike Miller with a weight of 7.35 pounds.

A total of 486 bass were caught and released at a total weight of 1,342 pounds. Total cash payout for the tournament was $39,350. [Read more…]

Anderson County secures Tennessee College of Applied Technology facility

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Information from WYSH Radio

The Anderson County Commission learned Monday night that the county has been chosen by the state to be the next home of a Tennessee College of Applied Technology—or TCAT. TCATs are training facilities aimed at improving the skill levels of members of Tennessee’s workforce and are seen by potential industries as great training grounds for potential employees.

Anderson County Economic Development Association President Tim Thompson told commissioners Monday that his organization and the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce have been working hard on securing the facility for more than a year and that the county had beaten out Blount County.

Thompson credited the owners of the former Hensley’s IGA grocery store in Andersonville and SL Tennessee in the I-75 Industrial park for their roles in making the TCAT a reality. The Hensley owners have agreed to donate the vacant 20,000-square foot store to the state to renovate and use as a temporary training facility for a period of about two years. The temporary facility will be needed while the state builds the new College of Applied Technology on a seven-acre parcel of land donated for the project by SL Tennessee. [Read more…]

Crowe appointed mayor of Oliver Springs

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Information from WYSH Radio

Meeting in their regular session on Thursday, the Oliver Springs Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted 4-2 to appoint Cecil Crowe as the interim mayor, succeeding Jerry Vann, who abruptly resigned the post last month due to health issues.

Crowe will serve as Oliver Springs mayor until the next municipal election. He beat out Vice Mayor Omer Cox—who had served as interim mayor upon Vann’s resignation—and Jason Stillner to succeed Vann.

In his pitch to Council members, Crowe said his priorities include working with the Board on a five-year strategic plan for the city, improving revenue streams, and beautifying Oliver Springs so that not only will be it more enticing to visitors but also so that the people who live and work there can take more pride in their community.

Crowe is retired and says that will allow him time to focus on his mayoral duties. Crowe is also a member of the Oliver Springs Historical Society.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Two men arrested on robbery charges; one also wanted for attempted murder, ORPD says

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Two men wanted on robbery charges were taken into custody by the Oak Ridge Police Department SWAT and Patrol at 442 East Tennessee Avenue on Sunday, March 20, 2016, without incident after a tip. (Photo by ORPD via Twitter)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 1:37 p.m.

Two men wanted on robbery charges were arrested after officers from the Oak Ridge Police Department entered a home on East Tennessee Avenue on Sunday evening, authorities said. One of the men was also wanted on charges that include attempted first-degree murder, statutory rape, and aggravated assault, the ORPD said.

The Oak Ridge Police Department said it learned at about 4 p.m. Sunday that brothers Joseph Garner Lee and Khristoff Deshawn Lee were at 442 East Tennessee Avenue.

Kristoff D Lee

Khristoff D. Lee

Khristoff Deshawn Lee, 22, had multiple warrants for his arrest for charges of assault, attempted murder (first-degree), statutory rape, aggravated assault, and robbery, and Joseph Garner Lee, 26, had a warrant for his arrest for a robbery charge, the ORPD said.

ORPD Special Projects Unit and Patrol Division personnel verified that Joseph Garner Lee was present at the home, a press release said.

“Due to the nature of the charges and previous contacts with both individuals, at approximately 7:30 p.m., ORPD tactical officers entered the residence and arrested both individuals without incident,” the press release said. [Read more…]

ORHS Orchestra shines in New York City

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The Oak Ridge High School Orchestra is pictured above at Ellis Island in New York City on March 14, 2016. (Photo by ORHS Orchestra via Twitter)

 

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Oak Ridge High School Orchestra is in the mist of a record-setting year. During the past month, 28 ORHS Orchestra students earned All-East Tennessee Orchestra honors, and 13 earned All-State Tennessee Orchestra recognition. Both of the previously mentioned accomplishments were the most of any orchestra program in East Tennessee.

Also, the orchestra performed in the East Tennessee Band and Orchestra Concert Festival this month and earned all superior ratings in every category and sub-category for all four judges at the event. This was the first time in ORHS Orchestra’s history to achieve this feat.

This past weekend, the orchestra traveled to Washington, D.C., and New York City to compete in a national orchestra competition with schools from Tennessee, Georgia, Missouri, California, Texas, and Arizona. ORHS Orchestra stole the show with 11 total awards including: [Read more…]

Photos: Rowers in Oak Ridge for spring training

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Several hundred rowers are in town for spring training from March 13-19, 2016, at the Oak Ridge Marina. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Several hundred rowers are in town for spring training at the Oak Ridge Marina. Here are pictures by Julio Culiat.

Marc DeRose, executive director of the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau, estimated there could be between 500 and 750 rowers in Oak Ridge for spring training.

The Oak Ridge Rowing Association lists 11 teams in town this week, from March 13-19.

They are: [Read more…]

Smith to discuss Three Bend Scenic and Wildlife Management Refuge Area at AFORR meeting

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Ray Smith

Ray Smith

Local historian and writer Ray Smith will discuss the Three Bend Scenic and Wildlife Management Refuge Area of the Oak Ridge Reservation during a meeting next week.

Smith will be the keynote speaker at the annual meeting of Advocates for the Oak Ridge Reservation, or AFORR, on Thursday, March 24.

There will also be a roundtable discussion about the cultural and historical values of the Solway, Freels, and Gallaher bends, a press release said.

The meeting, located in the City Room at the Roane State Community College campus in Oak Ridge, is free and open to the public. [Read more…]

Today: ‘Evening of Rhythm and Song’ at Oak Ridge UU Church

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The Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church will present an “Evening of Rhythm and Song” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 18.

“Percussion Ensemble Heritage O.P. and the First UU Nashville Choir, led by Rev. Jason Shelton, will join together to present an evening of music that will make your spirit sing and your body groove,” a press release said. “The concert will be held in the sanctuary, and will, by design, morph into a party in the Social Hall. You do not want to miss what promises to be a fantastic evening!”

ORUUC is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. Tickets are $15 in advance/$20 at the door, with a $3 discount for students and seniors. Advance tickets are available on line at oruuc.org/events. For more information, call the church office at (865) 483-6761.

Contract with Parrott, the next director of schools, approved by AC school board

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Tim Parrott

Tim Parrott

Information from WYSH Radio

Meeting briefly on Monday, the Anderson County Board of Education voted unanimously to approve a four-year contract with the next director of schools, Tim Parrott, who will take over for the retiring Larry Foster on July 1.

Parrott currently serves as the system’s deputy director of curriculum and instruction, and he will earn $134,000 a year plus a $750-a-month car allowance.

A committee made up of school board members Scott Gillenwaters and Dail Cantrell along with the schools’ finance director, Jim Woodward, conducted contract negotiations. [Read more…]