Oak Ridge Today

Roane State experience helped musician Devan Jones find his path

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Devan Jones (Submitted photo)

Devan Jones (Submitted photo)

 

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

Ask Roane State alumnus Devan Jones about working full-time in the music business, and he’ll pull no punches. “It’s a hustle and hard work 24/7,” he says. “It’s a tough business.”

“Sometimes it feels like it’s moving in slow motion, but things are getting better all the time,” says Jones, who credits educators in Roane State’s music department for helping inspire his career.

Jones grew up in Kingston, attended Roane State and the University of Tennessee, and performed at several Knoxville venues. He now lives in Austin, Texas, where he says there are “many different opportunities to play music that inspires me.”

While in Knoxville, he put together a band, “Devan Jones and the Uptown Stomp.” That moniker reflects his love of blues, as well as jazz and swing music of the 1940s and 50s. [Read more…]

Camera Club of Oak Ridge has photo exhibit from Oct. 30-Nov. 9

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First place in Scenic by Mike Boyd in the Camera Club of Oak Ridge Photographic Salon. (Submitted photo)

First place in Scenic by Mike Boyd in the Camera Club of Oak Ridge Photographic Salon. (Submitted photo)

 

The Camera Club of Oak Ridge will have its 69th Annual Photographic Salon on display at the New Hope Center at the Y-12 National Security Complex from October 30 to November 9.

The exhibition contains photographs in nine categories from wildlife and landscapes to abstracts and creative development, a press release said.

The New Hope Center is located at 602 Scarboro Road in Oak Ridge. The Salon will be on display there during regular business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. [Read more…]

Dodson receives service, achievement award from Tennessee Arts Academy

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Jim Dodson, a 31-year art teacher at Jefferson Middle School, received a service and achievement award, the TAA Outstanding Service and Achievement award, from the Tennessee Arts Academy this summer. (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Schools)

Jim Dodson, a 31-year art teacher at Jefferson Middle School, received a service and achievement award, the TAA Outstanding Service and Achievement award, from the Tennessee Arts Academy in the summer of 2017. (Submitted photo)

 

Jim Dodson, a 31-year art teacher at Jefferson Middle School, received a service and achievement award from the Tennessee Arts Academy this summer.

Dodson received the TAA Outstanding Service and Achievement award. He was presented the award for his service and achievement during his seven-year tenure as the Tennessee Arts Academy visual art director, a press release said. In this role, he initiated several new programs and exhibits to the Academy. He started the “Best of the Best” Student Art Show that brought together the 30 winners in each of the 10 art categories from the three statewide student shows held earlier in the year. He also added a statewide-juried show for art teachers to display their own creations. The title of the show is “Connections” because Dodson wanted to highlight the relationship between teacher creativity and student creativity, the press release said. Artists from both shows receive recognition at the annual opening reception held during the TAA each year. [Read more…]

Wendel Werner ‘Concert of Peace’ at 6 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian

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Wendel Werner

Wendel Werner

Local pianist and composer Wendel Werner and friends will present a “concert of peace” on Sunday, October 15, at 6 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in the wake of the racially charged violence August 12 in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The free concert will feature local singers and instrumentalists who will perform songs having themes of hope, inclusivity, and love, a press release said.

The release said the following words of Leonard Bernstein, famous American composer and conductor, continue to inspire musicians to offer gifts of melody, rhythm, and harmony to their communities: [Read more…]

‘Jeopardy!’ run ends for Oak Ridge woman

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Scarlett Sims, right, of Oak Ridge is pictured above with Alex Trebek, host of the television quiz show "Jeopardy!" (Photo courtesy Jeopardy Productions Inc.)

Scarlett Sims, right, of Oak Ridge is pictured above with Alex Trebek, host of the television quiz show “Jeopardy!” (Photo courtesy Jeopardy Productions Inc.)

 

The “Jeopardy!” run of Scarlett Sims of Oak Ridge ended on Friday.

Sims, a stay-at-home mom, ended the 12-game winning streak of New York City bartender Austin Rogers on Thursday, when she won $33,000, according to WBIR-TV of Knoxville, which broadcasts the show.

She missed the Final Jeopardy question Friday, ending the second night with $400, WBIR reported. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge mom emerges as new champion on ‘Jeopardy!’

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Scarlett Sims, right, of Oak Ridge is pictured above with Alex Trebek, host of the television quiz show "Jeopardy!" (Photo courtesy Jeopardy Productions Inc.)

Scarlett Sims, right, of Oak Ridge is pictured above with Alex Trebek, host of the television quiz show “Jeopardy!” (Photo courtesy Jeopardy Productions Inc.)

 

Scarlett Sims, a stay-at-home mom from Oak Ridge, emerged as the new champion on “Jeopardy!” on Thursday, a press release said.

The 12-game winning streak of New York City bartender Austin Rogers came to an end during that episode of the television quiz show. Rogers’ run netted him $411,000 in prize money and attracted legions of fans who made the quirky contestant a viral sensation, the press release said.

Rogers finished his run in fifth place on the all-time regular-season (non-tournament) winnings list, the press release said. He will return for the “Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions,” airing November 6-17.

“Jeopardy!” airs in Knoxville on WBIR-TV in Knoxville. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge woman to compete on ‘Jeopardy!’ on Thursday

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Scarlett Sims, right, of Oak Ridge is pictured above with Alex Trebek, host of the television quiz show "Jeopardy!" (Photo courtesy Jeopardy Productions Inc.)

Scarlett Sims, right, of Oak Ridge is pictured above with Alex Trebek, host of the television quiz show “Jeopardy!” (Photo courtesy Jeopardy Productions Inc.)

 

Scarlett Sims, an Oak Ridge woman, will compete on “Jeopardy!” on Thursday, a press release said. You can watch the quiz show on WBIR-TV in Knoxville at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

The press release describes Sims as a stay-at-home mom from Oak Ridge.

Sims graduated from Mariposa County High School in Mariposa, California, in 2004, and she graduated from Tulane University, where she studied the French language, in 2008, according to her Facebook page. Sims has also studied library science at the University of Alabama, her Facebook page said. [Read more…]

Street Painting Festival is Saturday at Roane State

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Photo courtesy Roane State Community College

Photo by Roane State Community College

 

The Street Painting Festival is Saturday at Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge.

Here is an event notice posted by Roane State.

Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge

When: [Read more…]

Country singer Lee Ann Womack to headline Tennessee Fall Homecoming this weekend

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Lee Ann Womack

Lee Ann Womack

 

Award-winning country music singer Lee Ann Womack will headline this weekend’s Tennessee Fall Homecoming festival at the Museum of Appalachia in Norris.

The Tennessee Fall Homecoming is one of the region’s largest and most authentic music and folk festivals. It will be held Friday, October 6, through Sunday, October 8, at the Museum of Appalachia.

For its 38th annual event, the Museum is featuring an all-new Family Day and an evening concert series with award-winning artists, a press release said.

Genre-bending ensemble The SteelDrivers will play the first evening show on Friday, October 6, the press release said. Womack will perform on the evening of Saturday, October 7, along with Jerry Douglas’s bluegrass supergroup, The Earls of Leicester, the release said.

Homecoming will continue to feature dozens of musicians performing during the daytime, including Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Steve Gulley & New Pinnacle, Chris Jones & the Night Drivers, Flashback, Terry Baucom’s Dukes of Drive, Leroy Troy, Jimbo Whaley & Greenbrier, Jeff Brown & Still Lonesome, and many more, the press release said. [Read more…]

Children’s Museum offers fall arts & clay classes for public, homeschoolers & Girl Scouts

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The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge is featuring clay and the arts in its 2017 fall classes for the general public, for homeschoolers, and for Girl Scouts. (Submitted photo)

The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge is featuring clay and the arts in its 2017 fall classes for the general public, for homeschoolers, and for Girl Scouts. (Submitted photo)

 

The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge is featuring clay and the arts in its fall classes for the general public, for homeschoolers, and for Girl Scouts.

A four-week Clay Sampler, for ages 7-11 and open to the public and homeschoolers, will offer hand-building and wheel work, surface and finishing techniques, then glazing as students prepare their pieces for the kiln, a press release said. The first session, with a Halloween theme, is from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Wednesdays on October 4, 18, and 25, and November 1. The second session, with a Holiday theme, will be on Wednesdays on November 8, 15, and 29, and December 6. Cost for the four-week class is $80 for members and $85 for non-members.

Clay Holiday Decorations will be a one-time class from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, November 18. Students will create a personalized holiday ornament and glaze it, to be picked up two weeks after the class. The class is open to all ages, and those under seven years old must have an adult present. Class fee is $15 for members and $20 for non-members.

Sign up for these classes at http://childrensmuseumofoakridge.org or by calling (865) 482-1074. [Read more…]

Free piano lesson interest meeting at Senior Center on Friday

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The Oak Ridge Senior Center is hosting a free interest meeting regarding piano lessons that will soon be offered to those age 50 and older.

The session is scheduled for Friday, October 6, at 2 p.m., and it will introduce the instructor, Chris LaLoggia, and his style of teaching, a press release said. Possible days and times for lessons will also be discussed at the meeting.

Anyone age 50 or older who is interested in learning how to play the piano is encouraged to attend the informational session. Please call the senior center at (865) 425-3999 in order to reserve a spot.

Photos: ORHS WildBand performs with UT Pride of Southland at Neyland

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The Oak Ridge High School Wildcat Marching Band performs with the Pride of the Southland Band on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, at the University of Tennessee and UMass football game. (Photo courtesy Ginger Meadows)

The Oak Ridge High School Wildcat Marching Band performs with the Pride of the Southland Band on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, at the University of Tennessee and UMass football game. (Photo courtesy Ginger Meadows)

 

Note: This story was updated at 10 a.m. Sept. 25.

Here are photos of the Oak Ridge High School Wildcat Marching Band performing with the Pride of the Southland Band on Saturday at Neyland Stadium before and during the University of Tennessee and UMass football game.

The WildBand participated in the march to the stadium and the patriotic themed halftime performance.

Here are pictures by ORHS Counseling, Teresa Ledden, Ginger Meadows, Jutta Bangs, and Danny L. Weeks, along with a video by Kristin Hensley. [Read more…]