Oak Ridge Today

Roane State volleyball wins conference title

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The 2021 Roane State Raiders volleyball team shortly after winning the program’s first-ever conference championship 3-2 over Walters State on Tuesday night, Oct. 19, 2021. (Photo submitted by Roane State)

It came down to the last game of the regular season for the Roane State Raiders volleyball team to become the 2021 Tennessee Community College Athletic Association regular season champion.

In only the program’s second season, the Raiders achieved the unexpected with a come-from-behind, five-set win over five-time defending champion Walters State (19-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-16, and 16-14), a press release said. By winning the regular season crown, the Raiders earned the top seed in the upcoming National Junior College Athletic Association Region VII tournament. It is scheduled for October 29 and 30 at Walters State Community in Morristown.

Led by freshman Mattie Arnett’s 32 kills on 61 attempts, Roane State came back from a 2-1 deficit in what was certainly the program’s most hard-fought and exciting match, the press release said.

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Roane State launches business ownership certificate

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There are always pitfalls and challenges when launching a new business, and Roane State has started a new program to help fledgling entrepreneurs succeed.

The Business Ownership Certificate is a two-semester program that focuses on the most common barriers to startup companies, said Roane State Community College Associate Professor Mike Farmer, the college’s business program director.

“Business owners need to both be experts in their field and be ready for the hidden challenges of ownership,” Farmer said. “They must handle finances, taxes, business regulations, employee management, human resources, and advertising.”

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RMS RamSat team to discuss cube satellite

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Robertsville Middle School students and mentors assembling the RamSat cube satellite. (Submitted photo)

ORION will welcome the Robertsville Middle School RamSat cube satellite team to a Zoom session on Wednesday evening, October 20.

The Robertsville Middle School CubeSat began its construction in the 2015-2016 school year after Robertsville became the first middle school selected by NASA’s Cube Sat Launch Initiative program. RamSat is a two-unit cube satellite, with dimensions of 20 centimeters by 10 centimeters by 10 centimeters. Its mission is to take pictures of the forests around Gatlinburg, which were destroyed by wildfire in 2016.

RamSat has an educational co-mission to develop a middle school STEM curriculum, a press release said. The mission has been designed and carried out by students, teachers, and mentors. The cube satellite has been dubbed RamSat for the school’s mascot.

The Wednesday Zoom session will start at 7 p.m. It is open to the public. [Read more…]

Missing Goats to perform at Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Event

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From left to right are Tom Beehan, Mary Tuskan, and Steve Reddick. (Submitted photo)

 

ADFAC will host “The Starry Night,” their ninth annual Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Event, in Oak Ridge on Saturday, October 23.

The fundraising event will honor this year’s award recipient, Jim Dodson, and feature music by local band The Missing Goats, a press release said.

“This self described ‘pub band’ features members Tom Beehan, Mary Tuskan, and Steve Reddick as well as guest player Gary Coleman with a repertoire including Irish, Scottish, bluegrass and Appalachian songs,” the press release said. “Band members have a love for Ireland so much so that they have travelled to Ireland for concerts (and a little travel fun along the way) and performed at many local St. Patrick’s Day activities.” [Read more…]

The SteelDrivers play in Oak Ridge

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ORNL Federal Credit Union Summers Sessions concerts are in Alvin K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge. (Photo courtesy ORNL Federal Credit Union)

Bluegrass group The SteelDrivers will perform at a free concert in Oak Ridge on Saturday.

It’s the last Summer Sessions concert of 2021, and the show is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Saturday, October 23, in the pavilion at Alvin K. Bissell Park.

The opening band will be Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper.

The concert series is sponsored by ORNL Federal Credit Union.

The SteelDrivers are based in Nashville and known for their dynamic songwriting and eclectic shows, a press release said. Current band members include Tammy Rogers on fiddle, Mike Fleming on bass, Kelvin Damrell on guitar and vocals, Brent Truitt on mandolin, and Richard Bailey on banjo.

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Secret City Head Race in Oak Ridge

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The Secret City Head Race is in Oak Ridge this weekend, and more than 1,100 athletes will compete in more than 500 boats.

The regatta is hosted by the Oak Ridge Rowing Association. Rowing races are scheduled Saturday and Sunday at the Oak Ridge Marina. There will be athletes from major programs such as the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, a press release said.

“Spectators and fans are once again welcome to flock to the greenway ranging from Calhoun’s to the Melton Lake Park as they watch male and female rowers compete in a variety of nail-biting events,” the press release said.

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ADFAC Bill Wilcox Bow Tie will honor Dodson

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Left to right, past Bow Tie awardees announcing Jim Dodson as this year’s recipient: Ray Smith, Louise Mixon, Teresa Myrick, Jim Dodson, Cande Seay, Tom Row, Tom Beehan, and Bear Stephenson. Not pictured: Bill Capshaw. (Submitted photo)

 

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ADFAC will host “The Starry Night,” their ninth annual Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Event, on Saturday, October 23, at the Doubletree Hotel in Oak Ridge. This event celebrates an important volunteer in our community each year who exemplifies the values of the late Bill Wilcox. This year’s honoree is local educator and community volunteer Jim Dodson.

The cocktail-attire event will begin at 5 p.m. It will feature Elaine Graham as the emcee, and it will be a night of celebration while making every effort to host a safe and fun event to raise funds for ADFAC, a press release said.

“ADFAC and the Bow Tie Committee, chaired by Wendie Aurin, are excited about the fun opportunities this year’s event offers, including a special performance by The Missing Goats, self-described as a four-piece pub band, who entertain with Irish, Scottish, and Appalachian songs,” the press release said.

The program will also include stories shared by some of Dodson’s friends and family about his important contributions to the community and opportunities to learn more about ADFAC’s mission and work in the area, the press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Chamber names Life Safety Inspections small business of month

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Life Safety Inspections (LSI), located at 313 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Suite 107 A, is the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month for October 2021. The award is sponsored by Enrichment Federal Credit Union. (Submitted photo)

 

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Life Safety Inspections is the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month for October 2021. The award is sponsored by Enrichment Federal Credit Union.

Ask owner Chip Dooley what led him to start LSI and he’ll tell you it came to him in a dream. 13 years ago, he found himself unhappy in his job – he had even gone so far as to write a letter of resignation, but just wasn’t quite ready to submit it. He tucked it away under his desk calendar and went home. That night, he dreamed about fire extinguishers and exit signs. He began researching fire extinguisher companies in the area and could only find six. After working on a business plan, he decided the market could handle another one.

According to Chip, “The hardest thing was to bring it to my wife and say, ‘Hey! I’m quitting my job, and we’re gonna be broke.’ She didn’t bat an eye. She said, ‘That’s fine’ and I was just amazed. She’s been my champion and cheerleader ever since.” [Read more…]

ORHS teacher to discuss Harvard Case Method

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A social studies teacher at Oak Ridge High School will discuss the Harvard Law School case method and its teaching benefits during an online meeting at noon Tuesday, October 5.

Teacher Richard Alexander “Alex” Shaffer will be the speaker at the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge meeting. Shaffer has completed the training for and is teaching a course using the Harvard Case Method of teaching history, a press release said.

“The case method is proving to be effective in teaching high school students critical thinking skills, just what our future leaders will need,” the press release said.

The public is invited. The meeting is virtual in order to keep people safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. You don’t have to be a League member. For instruction on linking to the live presentation, contact lwvoakridge@gmail.com.

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Drive Electric Festival

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Celebrate National Drive Electric Week with free no-strings-attached test drives of electric vehicles and enjoy an EV show.

“Come have all your driving electric questions answered if you’re looking to get an EV,” a press release said. “If you already own an EV, please come join our EV show and help us get to our goal of 100 EVs and have the biggest event in Tennessee. Come experience the fun of driving electric!”

Expected owner vehicles include Chevrolet Bolts and Volts, Energica Motorcycle, Fisker Karma, Kia Niro, Nissan LEAF, Smart for Two, Tesla Models 3, Y, S, and X, Toyota Prius Prime, Volkswagen ID4, Zero motorcycle, and more. Harper Auto Square plans to bring a Porsche Taycan, a Volkswagen ID4, and an Audi eTron, the press release said. Reeder Chevrolet is planning to bring a Chevy Bolt. The Knoxville Tesla Service Center will bring their cars. Other local dealers will bring models available in the Knoxville area.

“Don’t miss the regional debut of two Arcimoto FUVs,” the press release said.

Food trucks will be on hand, and there will be outdoor games and giveaways.

Where: Pellissippi State Community College in Hardin Valley
When: Saturday, September 25 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

For more information, see the event page at https://driveelectricweek.org/event.php?eventid=2779.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

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Vaccine clinic

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Atomic Elks Lodge 1301 and Roberta Bohanon Temple 1381 are sponsoring a vaccine clinic in Scarboro on Saturday, September 25.

The clinic is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 262 Wilberforce Avenue in Oak Ridge. The vaccine is provided through a partnership with New Direction Healthcare Solutions Inc. and Winbigler Medical, an event flyer said.

Secret City Festival has free admission to concerts

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A previous Secret City Festival is pictured above. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The Secret City Festival will offer free admission to concerts this weekend after daytime activities were canceled because of the resurgence of COVID-19 cases.

The concerts are Jimmie Allen on Friday, September 24, and All-4-One on Saturday, September 25. Gates open at 6 p.m., and the concerts start at 7. The concerts are in Alvin K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge.

The concerts will be first-come, first-served. Capacity is limited to 50 percent, a press release said.

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