Oak Ridge Today

Oliver Springs High School rebranding as STEAM academy

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Kaylen Benbenek at Oliver Springs High School (Photo courtesy Oliver Springs High School)

Kaylen Benbenek at Oliver Springs High School (Photo courtesy Oliver Springs High School)

 

Efforts are under way to rebrand Oliver Springs High School as Oliver Springs STEAM Academy, the Oliver Springs Alumni Education Foundation announced Tuesday.

STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) has become increasingly popular as an educational approach in school systems across the nation, a press release said.

“Using these subjects as an access point allows students to view real-world problems in a more critical yet broader scope,” the press release said.

“Oliver Springs High School has been ahead of the curve in state academics quite often,” said Oliver Springs High School Principal Justin Nivens. “We had the first robotics team in Tennessee and won a national championship in 2001. Innovation has been a common thread in an Oliver Springs High School education, and we’re just taking it to the next level.” [Read more…]

Manhattan Project Park program: Hike with a ranger on Saturday

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Submitted photo

Submitted photo

 

Join park rangers for a hike along the Cedar Hill Greenway in Oak Ridge on Saturday, October 13.

The hike will begin at Cedar Hill Park, former location of Cedar Hill Elementary School at 10 a.m. Saturday. Along the hike, rangers will discuss the early school system of Oak Ridge, early shopping centers, and housing in the Clinton Engineer Works, a press release said. This 2.5-mile hike is considered moderately difficult, and some parts of the trail can wash out after a strong storm. Visitors are encouraged to wear appropriate footwear, insect repellent, and sunscreen, and bring drinking water.

Oak Ridge is part of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. Besides Oak Ridge, the park includes Hanford, Washington, and Los Alamos, New Mexico. The three sites and others were involved in the Manhattan Project, a top-secret federal program to build the world’s first atomic weapons during World War II. [Read more…]

New conductor starts Community Band/Wind Ensemble season with Sunday concert

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Shaun Salem

Shaun Salem

 

New conductor Shaun Salem will begin the Oak Ridge Community Band/Wind Ensemble’s 2018-2019 subscription season with the Fall Concert on Sunday.

The concert is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, October 14, at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center.

“The Community Band/Wind Ensemble is extending an invitation to Oak Ridgers and area residents to attend the October 14 performance and give a resounding welcome to Shaun Salem as he ushers in the ‘Prelude to a New Era’ season with indoor concerts from October through April,” a press release said. [Read more…]

Forum for Oak Ridge City Council, Board of Education candidates is Tuesday

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The League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge will sponsor a candidate forum on Tuesday, October 16, at 7 p.m. in the Oak Ridge High School Amphitheater. Candidates running for Oak Ridge City Council and Oak Ridge Board of Education have been invited to participate, a press release said.

The five candidates for a four-year term on City Council are Kelly Callison, R.G. “Rick” Chinn Jr., Warren Gooch, Ellen D. Smith, and Timothy L. Stallings. Four council members will be elected. Derrick M. Hammond is the only candidate running to fill the unexpired two-year term left by Council member Hans Vogel when he resigned earlier this year.

The three candidates for a four-year term on the Oak Ridge Board of Education are Laura McLean, Benjamin J. Stephens, and Erin S. Webb. Three board members will be elected. [Read more…]

Cybersecurity expert to lecture at Roane State in Oak Ridge on Oct. 19

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Adam Keown, cybersecurity expert for the Tennessee Valley Authority, will speak on Friday, October 19, at 10 a.m. at Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge.

Keown’s talk, “Enterprise Cybersecurity: Organization, Job Roles, and Information Security,” will be held in Room 104 of the Goff building. Anyone is welcome to attend, a press release said.

Keown has been a program manager in the TVA Cybersecurity Risk Management team since 2016. In his role, he is responsible for understanding cybersecurity risk at TVA and communicating risk issues to leadership and TVA business units, the press release said. [Read more…]

Food First: Walk of Abundance at four local churches

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Submitted photo

Submitted photo

 

Come join four local churches in creating a Walk of Abundance. As abundant lives are built on generosity, First Baptist, First Christian, First Presbyterian, and First United Methodist churches will be collecting canned food goods between now and October 21 to stock local food pantries, a press release said.

“You can help by taking your donation to any one of these four churches,” the press release said.

On October 21, using some of the collected cans, a labyrinth, similar to the one pictured above, will be built on the lawn of First United Methodist Church. As part of an outdoor worship celebration (which will include inflatables, human bubble balls, and a pumpkin-launching trebuchet), participants can both make a contribution to help local families in need as well as walk the can-lined labyrinth. A collection will also be taken for Second Harvest Food Banks, the press release said. [Read more…]

Halloween spectacular ‘Kindred Spirits’ is Oct. 27 at Roane State’s Roane County campus

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Pictured is a scene from the 2017 version of "Kindred Spirits," which drew crowds of about 350 to each of its two performances. This year’s “Kindred Spirits” production, with performances at 1 and 3 p.m., will be held on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, in the O’Brien Theatre on Roane State’s main campus in Harriman. (Photo by Roane State)

Pictured is a scene from the 2017 version of “Kindred Spirits,” which drew crowds of about 350 to each of its two performances. This year’s “Kindred Spirits” production, with performances at 1 and 3 p.m., will be held on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, in the O’Brien Theatre on Roane State’s main campus in Harriman. (Photo by Roane State)

 

By Bob Fowler
Roane State staff writer

It’s an extravaganza for the Halloween season that features a cast of 130 singers, dancers, musicians, and actors, and it’s growing in popularity.

It’s the annual “Kindred Spirits” production, with performances at 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 27, in the O’Brien Theatre on Roane State Community College’s main campus at 276 Patton Lane in Harriman. Admission is $5.

“It’s one of the highlights of our year,” said Professor Brenda Luggie, Roane State’s choral director. “The music students absolutely love it.”

The hour-long, family-friendly show features Roane State music students, actors from Midway High School’s Drama Club, and about 100 dancers of all ages from Arts in Motion, with studios in Rockwood and Kingston. [Read more…]

Public Works director to discuss water, wastewater systems on Tuesday

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Oak Ridge Public Works Director Shira McWaters will discuss the needs and costs of the city’s water and wastewater systems at Lunch with the League on Tuesday. McWaters will also discuss the status of upgrades to the systems, a press release said.

Lunch with the League is scheduled from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, October 16, in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, which is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

McWaters was in the private consulting field for more than 22 years before she accepted the position with the City of Oak Ridge, the press release said. She helped municipal clients in the areas of water, wastewater, and storm water. McWaters has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Worchester Polytechnic Institute and holds professional engineering licenses for the states of Tennessee, Massachusetts, and Arizona. [Read more…]

Today: ‘Basics of Ghost Hunting’ at Clinton Library

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Image courtesy Clinton Public Library

Image courtesy Clinton Public Library

 

There will be a presentation on the basics of ghost hunting at the Clinton Public Library this evening (Friday, October 12). It’s one of several events at the library this month that have also included or will include cooking, Harry Potter, and chess.

“Looking to find a ghostly spirit this Halloween?” a press release said. “Join us on Friday, October 12, from 5-6:45 p.m. for the ‘Basics of Ghost Hunting.’ The founders of the East Valley Paranormal Society will give a presentation on the basics of ghost hunting, evidence of the paranormal activity they have discovered, and conclude with a a question-and-answer session.”

The library had its first-ever Cookbook Club on Monday, October 8.

The next Fandom Friday at the library later this month will feature Harry Potter. [Read more…]

Library closures announced for rooftop HVAC work

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The Oak Ridge Public Library expects to be closed on five separate occasions between October 15 and November 23 to allow for planned work to the rooftop air conditioning and heating system as well as staff work days, a press release said.

“During this six-week time period, patrons should expect increased noise and a high level of construction activity in and around the library,” the press release said.

The planned library closure dates are as follows: [Read more…]

Rocky Top man charged with child abuse after infant found unresponsive

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Cameron Tommy Beard

Cameron Tommy Beard

 

A Rocky Top man has been charged with aggravated child abuse and child abuse after an infant who was reported to have a brain injury was found unresponsive on Old Lake City Highway in Anderson County in March, authorities said.

Cameron Tommy Beard, 19, was arrested by the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department after he was indicted by the Anderson County Grand Jury in Clinton, District Attorney General Dave Clark said in a press release Friday. The indictment of Beard charged him with aggravated child abuse and neglect of a child less than eight years old, and two counts of child abuse of a child less than eight, Clark said. [Read more…]

Today: Alpha House has Community Strong Day

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2018 CS flyer final 9-27-18

On Saturday, October 6, Alpha House will host its Second Annual Community Strong Day for the tri-county area of Anderson, Morgan, and Roane counties from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Alpha Bitz Thrift Shop in Oliver Springs.

Linette Brown, president of the Alpha House Board of Directors, explained: “Our faith-based ministry is focused on helping women in our communities who have experienced addiction, abuse, and incarceration. Through our thrift shops and generous donors, we have provided support and guidance to help women return to their families, reunite with their children, and become a stable part of the community. Hosting Community Strong is our ‘thank you’ to the community, donors, and volunteers.”

The Clinton shop at 1726 Oak Ridge Highway will be closed on October 6 to participate in the activities at the Oliver Springs shop. [Read more…]