Oak Ridge Today

NABF World Series baseball tournament starts in Oak Ridge

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NABF World Series Oak Ridge

Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch, center, throws out the opening pitch at the NABF World Series baseball tournament in Oak Ridge on Thursday, July 16, 2015. (Photo by Greta Ownby)

 

Note: This story was updated at 1:19 a.m. July 17.

The NABF World Series baseball tournament started in Oak Ridge on Thursday. Oak Ridge is one of the communities in the area hosting games between teams from the United States and Canada.

Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch tossed the first pitch to open the series in Oak Ridge.

The Oak Ridge baseball fields are being used from Thursday, July 16, through Sunday, July 19, for the NABF World Series baseball games. Knoxville is also hosting games.

The Oak Ridge High School Summer Team plays in Oak Ridge at 12:30 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday. [Read more…]

Moody’s upgrades Anderson County’s rating, removes ‘negative outlook’

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Terry Frank

Terry Frank

CLINTON—Moody’s Investors Service announced from New York that they have affirmed the Aa2 General Obligation, or GO, rating of Anderson County and have upgraded Anderson County’s rating by removing the “negative outlook,” officials said.

During bond issuance for rural elementary and rural high school bonds, as well as tax anticipation notes, Moody’s assigned Anderson County an Aa2 “negative outlook” rating in the 2010/2011 budget year, a press release said.

Highlights from Moody’s rating report of July 9, 2015, noted that the company lifted the negative outlook and that “improved financial performance” led to “reserve and liquidity growth,” the release said. [Read more…]

Synchronous fireflies found in Oak Ridge Wildlife Management Area

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Synchronous Fireflies

In the foreground: Predatory Photuris sp. which is recognizable by the red on the pronotum (head shield), larger size, and stripes on the wings. The firefly in the background is the Photuris frontalis (a.k.a. snappy sync). (Photo by TWRA)

 

By Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

Paul Shaw, a TWRA fisheries creel agent, has taken an interest in fireflies this summer, which has led to an amazing discovery.

Intrigued by the synchronous fireflies at Elkmont in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and learning that Lynn Faust, the premiere synchronous firefly researcher in the GSMNP had them on her property near his own, Shaw set out on a mission to find other populations in east Tennessee.

His initial search in early June produced a healthy but isolated population on his densely forested property, which lies about a mile north of the Oak Ridge Wildlife Management Area.

During the next few weeks, Shaw—along with ORWMA Manager Jim Evans, former TWRA employee Wade Gefellars, and several others—formed a group called the “Firefly Team” that began visiting sites around ORWMA with hopes of discovering other synchronous fireflies. Their research areas consisted of about 30 sites, which were not arbitrary, random locations but were carefully calculated by biological factors similar to those at Elkmont. [Read more…]

Clinton fire truck damaged by manhole cover

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Clinton Fire Department Patch

Information from WYSH Radio

Tuesday’s strong thunderstorms caused only a few problems inside Clinton, the biggest of which was a water main break that contributed to damaging a city fire truck.

Because of the water main break, likely caused in part by the runoff from Tuesday’s heavy rainfall, a manhole cover came up under the railroad trestle on Main Street and ruptured the fuel tank of a Clinton Fire Department truck on its way to a call.

The truck was able to make it back to the downtown fire hall, and it was towed from there for repairs. No injuries were reported on the truck.

Clinton Utilities Board responded to the water main break, and the utility’s insurance is expected to pay for the damage to the fire truck.

The only other damage inside the city was a downed tree on North Main Street that crews had cleared before 5 a.m. Several trees were reported down in the county, but they were also cleared overnight.

Norris Bulletin provides detour ideas over I-75

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Information from WYSH Radio

With traffic over Interstate 75 on Highway 61 down to one lane in either direction for bridge repair work, drivers can expect delays now through October 31, but our friends at the Norris Bulletin have a couple of alternate routes you may want to consider.

In the Wednesday edition, the Bulletin said westbound drivers can get to the other side of the interstate pretty quickly by taking the back route via Alley Road off the Norris Freeway and then following Hillvale Road all the way to back to Highway 61, adjacent to Harrison’s, Waffle House, and WalMart. The Bulletin said that detour will work for westbound traffic trying to get to I-75 South or to Clinton, but eastbound traffic probably will not get much benefit from that route due to expected backups.

For eastbound drivers, the Bulletin suggested turning left onto Miller Road just before Ray Varner Ford and following that route until reaching Hillvale, where you would then turn left, and proceed to Alley Road back into Norris.

Another option, especially for those living in Andersonville or south on Norris Freeway is to take Mountain Road east across the interstate. To reach Mountain Road from Clinton, take Sinking Springs Road (you can either turn right after crossing the Clinch River Bridge just past the soccer fields and Hammer’s, or continue on to Bland Road) until reaching Irwin Mill Road. Turn right there and proceed to Mountain Road. Turning left on either Bethel Road, Cross Pike, or Norris Freeway will return you to Highway 61.

Velo Classic on July 25, 26 to feature bike races, Wellness Fest, Kids Bike Rodeo

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Oak Ridge Criterium

A picture from a previous Criterium race in Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

 

A bicycle racing event in Oak Ridge on July 25 and 26 will feature three types of races, a Family Wellness Festival, and a Kids Bike Rodeo.

It’s the URS-CH2M Oak Ridge LLC (UCOR) Oak Ridge Velo Classic.

Three types of races that include 13 categories of competitors will be offered. The road races and time trials will be staged from the parking area of the East Tennessee Technology Park beginning at 9 a.m., Saturday, July 25, and the criterium races will be held at the Horizon Center beginning at 8:30 a.m., Sunday, July 26. This year’s criterium races—which are very much like “NASCAR on bikes”—have been designated the state championships by the Tennessee Bicycle Racing Association.

The race promoters expect almost 400 competitors for the two-day event. The Comfort Inn is the official race hotel and is offering special rates to out-of-town competitors. Early race packet pickup will be held at a reception on Friday evening, July 24, poolside at the Comfort Inn. [Read more…]

Free Medical Clinic fundraiser on Aug. 8 to feature rock band, dancers

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The Hit Men

The Hit Men, a rock and pop dance band, will perform at the FMC Bash on Aug. 8, a fundraiser for the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

 

Hit Men, a Knoxville rock and pop dance band, will provide music for dancing during the FMC Bash on Saturday, August 8. It’s the annual fundraiser for the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge.

The fundraiser will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. August 8 in the Parish Life Center of St. Mary’s Church at 327 Vermont Avenue. It will include a catered dinner, Celebrity Dance Contest, and live auction conducted by the entertaining Bear Stephenson.

Band members are Alan Keck, lead vocals and guitar; Bob Andres, vocals, lead guitar, and flute; Pat Andres, vocals and keyboard; Uwe Lueth, drums, and Mark Akers, bass. You can learn more about them by visiting their website.

Couples who have entered in the Celebrity Dance Contest are Sharon and Brian Annis, Naomi Asher and Jim Dodson, Tom Beehan and Kay Brookshire, David and Sandy Bradshaw, Gene Caldwell and Dottie Thompson, Keys Fillauer and Scott Hinton, Judy Gooch and Michael Shrader, Austin Keathley and a secret partner, and Nancy Stanley and Gary Riser. [Read more…]

Large tree falls on power line, causes outage for about 7,150

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A large tree fell on a power line in west Oak Ridge early Saturday morning, causing an outage that affected about 7,150 customers, officials said.

The tree fell on a subtransmission line that runs over the top of a ridge south of Oak Ridge Turnpike on the west side of town at about 12:15 a.m. Saturday, July 11.

The tree shorted out the feeds to two substations, which caused a power outage roughly from Tulane Avenue westward, the Oak ridge Electric Department said. [Read more…]

Norris Lake boating crash leaves operator in serious condition

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Norris Lake Boat Crash

TWRA Investigator Matt Majors stands at the engine’s lower unit, which was torn from the boat during an accident at Heatherly’s point on Norris Lake late Thursday night. The vessel traveled about 69 feet after striking the point. (Photo by TWRA)

 

LAFOLLETTE—A LaFollette boater remains in serious condition following a boating accident that happened on Norris Lake late Thursday night, authorities said.

Just before midnight, Jimmy Arnold, a 52-year-old white male from LaFollette, was operating an open bow 24-foot Chaparral boat on Norris Lake when the accident occurred just downstream of Shanghai Marina, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said.

According to witnesses on a nearby houseboat, Arnold, who was the vessel’s sole occupant, was headed to their location at Heatherly’s point when the vessel ran aground, sending it about 69 feet onto the point. Witnesses onboard the houseboat dialed 911. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge upgrades courtroom media equipment for City Council meetings

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Mark Watson

Mark Watson

With help from a contractor, the City of Oak Ridge has upgraded the media equipment in the Municipal Building Courtroom to provide a better viewing experience during televised City Council meetings.

The city contracted with M&M Productions USA of Oak Ridge in June to help with the broadcast upgrades, a press release said. Part of the upgrade included permanently mounting pan, tilt, and zoom (PTZ) high-definition, robotic cameras that would “provide for better viewing angles of City Council, city staff, and audience members during televised City Council meetings,” the release said.

This recent broadcasting upgrade further complements the audio and City Council voting equipment improvements that were completed in 2014 as a result of deteriorating equipment and Courtroom needs, the release said.

“The PTZ cameras provide for better area coverage and greater detail of City Council meetings,” Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said. “Additionally, there have been several broadcast efficiencies experienced with all of the media upgrades, not to mention that the upgraded equipment has added to the professional composition of the City Council meetings and the Courtroom.” [Read more…]

Clinton man dies in Saturday night crash

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Clinton Police Department Badge

Note: This story was updated at 11:51 a.m.

A Clinton man died in a single-vehicle crash on Clinch Avenue on Saturday night, authorities said.

Witnesses told police that Johnny Sparks, 66, was driving his pickup truck southbound on Clinch Avenue, near Lee Road, at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday when he swerved into the northbound lane, barely missing an oncoming vehicle.

An accident reconstruction team from the Clinton Police Department said the truck then ran into a concrete culvert, and Sparks was ejected from the truck.

There were no other passengers in Sparks’ vehicle, the CPD said. [Read more…]

Golden Dragon Acrobat Show to benefit ORHS Masquers

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Color Wheels

Color Wheels (Photo courtesy Masskus Productions)

 

The Golden Dragon Acrobats will perform on Saturday, July 25, in a show that will benefit the Oak Ridge High School Masquers, the school’s drama program. It’s the group’s first visit to East Tennessee in more than a decade.

“The Golden Dragons are recognized throughout the United States and abroad as the premiere Chinese acrobatic touring company of today,” a press release said.

It said the Golden Dragon Acrobats represent the very best of a time-honored circus tradition that began more than 25 centuries ago. The group has more than two dozen highly trained acrobats and technicians.

The family entertainment event starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 25, at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center. All seats are reserved. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under, and they are available through www.KnoxvilleTickets.com. [Read more…]