Oak Ridge Today

ORHS Masquers present ‘The Sound of Music’ this weekend

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge will come alive with “The Sound of Music,” which will be presented at the Performing Arts Center at Oak Ridge High School this weekend, starting this evening.

The Masquers, Oak Ridge High School’s drama club, will perform the musical, which is based on the story of the von Trapp family, who fled Austria to escape the Nazi regime in 1939. The Masquers promise to offer the audience a fresh look at the beloved story, which was first made famous by the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical and world famous by the 1965 film adaptation, a press release said.

[Read more…]

Professor to give keynote address at Oak Ridge BIG Scholarship Luncheon

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Cheryl "Shelly" T. George

Cheryl “Shelly” T. George

In celebration of Black History Month, the Oak Ridge Chapter of Blacks in Government is sponsoring the Annual BIG Scholarship Luncheon on Thursday, a press release said.

It’s scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

The keynote speaker will be professor and author Cheryl “Shelly” T. George. She will discuss the 2013 Black History Month theme “Honoring Freedom: 150 Years after the Emancipation Proclamation and 50 Years after the March on Washington.”

[Read more…]

Rummage sale at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church this weekend

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church has a rummage sale Friday and Saturday.

It will include easy-to-browse tables of items set up in the Social Hall and classrooms, yard and garden items displayed on the patio, and live and silent auctions and the Step Above Boutique, a press release said.

[Read more…]

Atomic Rowing offers free rowing lessons this weekend

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Atomic Rowing

Atomic Rowing (Submitted photo)

The Atomic Rowing team is looking for East Tennessee student athletes (13-18) interested in trying the sport of rowing.

The team will hold two free youth learn-to-row lessons, followed by a no obligation eight-day trial period, for all prospective spring walk-ons. It is recommended that athletes interested in making the crew attend the lessons, but it is not required.

During tryout periods, prospective rowers will be taught equipment handling, basics of rowing technique, and safety. Students will be evaluated on overall athletic potential, character, team-first attitude, and ability to be coached.

[Read more…]

Tennessee Fire Marshal’s Office urges safety in manufactured homes

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

NASHVILLE—The Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office is urging residents of manufactured homes—also known as mobile homes or trailers—to practice fire safety.

More than 250,000 of these homes exist in Tennessee.

“Fires move more quickly in smaller spaces, leaving occupants with less time to escape. This is why it is crucial to have working smoke alarms installed in all homes,” State Fire Marshal and Commerce and Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak said. “Develop and practice a home fire escape with your loved ones so that everyone knows what to do when the alarm sounds.”

[Read more…]

IHOP benefit for Children’s Hospital on Tuesday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Get a free short stack of delicious IHOP pancakes on Tuesday, Feb. 5, from 7 a.m. until 10p.m. and benefit Children’s Hospital.

In return for the free pancakes, guests will be asked to consider leaving a donation for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. All donations made at area IHOP restaurants will stay in your community, benefiting East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.

[Read more…]

Alexander, Corker vote against bill to increase debt limit

Posted at
By 2 Comments

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander

Lamar Alexander

U.S. Senator Bob Corker

Bob Corker

U.S. senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, both Tennessee Republicans, on Thursday voted against H.R. 325, the House-passed debt limit bill, and urged Congress to focus on reforming Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, a press release said.

“I voted against this bill because it raises the debt ceiling without taking steps to reduce the debt,” Alexander said. “Sen. Corker and I have introduced legislation that would reduce entitlement spending by nearly $1 trillion in exchange for the president’s expected request to increase the debt ceiling.”

[Read more…]

Court records: Husband admits strangling pregnant wife

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A Briceville man who claimed to be experiencing withdrawal symptoms admitted strangling his pregnant wife during an argument on Tennessee Hollow Lane on Wednesday, allegedly making her unable to breathe at times and causing her to almost black out, authorities said.

The argument allegedly started at about 9:45 a.m. Wednesday when the woman “called in to work,” according to an affidavit filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court.

[Read more…]

Women’s Interfaith Dialogue discusses discriminatory and prejudicial thinking Monday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Women’s Interfaith Dialogue of Oak Ridge will discuss “Discriminatory and Prejudicial Thinking” during a Monday meeting at Grace Covenant Church.

The presenter will be Michele DeRieux. DeRieux has almost 15 years as a certified trainer for the National Coalition Building Institute, an international organization for mediating conflict and celebrating diversity, a press release said.

[Read more…]

Four arrested after Saturday robbery, home invasion in Anderson County

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Note: This story was last updated at 8:12 p.m.

Four people have been arrested after two separate robberies in Anderson County on Saturday, one at knifepoint at a store on Lake City Highway and the other at a home on Sulphur Springs Road, authorities said.

The first robbery occurred at about 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Town Talk Market on Lake City Highway, Anderson County Sheriff Paul White said in a Monday afternoon news release. The suspect allegedly threatened to cut the clerk’s throat, the sheriff said. The clerk said he gave the suspect money from the cash register, and the suspect left the store, an Anderson County Sheriff’s Department incident report said.

The suspect was reportedly accompanied by another man and woman, and witnesses described their older model black Chevrolet sports utility vehicle to deputies. The description was broadcast to all area law enforcement agencies. Investigators also determined the identity of the robbery suspect and broadcast that information as well, White said.

[Read more…]