Oak Ridge Today

CWU presentation to focus on domestic violence

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Church Women United will meet Friday, February 2, at United Way of Anderson County, located at 728 Emory Valley Road in Oak Ridge. The meeting will initiate the 2018 Blankets+ Campaign to collect bedding and support for those who have lost their homes locally and worldwide, a press release said.

In addition, Rachel Thompson, domestic violence victim advocate for Knox and Anderson counties, will be the guest speaker in a public program, the press release said. Thompson is a culturally specific domestic violence advocate for the African American community. She will talk about domestic violence, how it impacts victims in the African American community, and resources offered through the YWCA for victims of domestic violence, the press release said. [Read more…]

Claxton firefighters receive pet rescue equipment

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Claxton resident Leo York, right, presents Claxton Volunteer Fire Department Chief Dusty Sharpe with a pet rescue kit used to treat small animals and house pets suffering from smoke inhalation and other medical emergencies. (Submitted photo)

Claxton resident Leo York, right, presents Claxton Volunteer Fire Department Chief Dusty Sharpe with a pet rescue kit used to treat small animals and house pets suffering from smoke inhalation and other medical emergencies. (Submitted photo)

 

Claxton firefighters are better equipped to handle emergencies involving house pets thanks to a donation from a local resident and pet owner.

Leo York donated the pet non-rebreather oxygen masks to the Claxton Volunteer Fire Department after viewing a video of firefighters in Bakersfield, California, reviving a small dog suffering from smoke inhalation, a press release said.

“While it is understood that human life will always be the most pressing priority, having the tools to aid our fur friends will make our fire station even better equipped to serve the community” said York, who donated the rescue kit, which contains masks for both small and large pets. [Read more…]

Centennial Golf Course names new general manager

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Mike Callender (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

Mike Callender (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The City of Oak Ridge has completed its management transition at Centennial Golf Course and has announced the new general manager: Mike Callender.

Callender has 18 years of experience in the golf industry, a City of Oak Ridge press release said. He is a certified Class A PGA Professional with 10 years as a head professional and is certified in golf operations, the release said.

“I am very excited to make Centennial Golf Course the place to go in East Tennessee, not just for golf, but also for business meetings, casual outings, and eventually dining,” Callender said.

“Our goal is to establish Centennial as one of the premier public golf courses in the region, and the addition of Mike Callender to the team as general manager will help us get there,” Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said. “With his leadership and the ongoing reinvestment by the city, we are now poised to provide a quality experience for all golfers in the greater Knoxville region.” [Read more…]

Regular operations resumed at Manhattan Project Park when shutdown ended

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National Park Service employees are pictured above at the American Museum of Science and Energy. (Submitted photo)

 

The three-day federal government shutdown ended Monday, and staff at the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, which includes Oak Ridge, resumed regular operations, officials said.

Congress passed a short-term spending bill on Monday that will fund the government through February 8, and President Donald Trump signed it Monday night.

On Tuesday, the National Park Service said employees of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park are “happy to be back at work, serving the American people and welcoming visitors to their national parks.”

The Park Service said it appreciated the support of local partners who “stepped up to offer support and continue to serve our visitors over the last few days,” and the NPS thanked the following partners: [Read more…]

Breakfast with Legislators on Monday

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League Women Voters Oak Ridge Logo

The Oak Ridge League of Women Voters will have this year’s first Breakfast with the Legislators on Monday, January 29. The meeting will be held from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. in the Social Room of the Oak Ridge Civic Center, which is at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike. A free continental breakfast will be served.

Tennessee senators Randy McNally and Ken Yager and representatives John Ragan and Kent Calfee have been invited to speak about the legislative outlook for this session of the Tennessee General Assembly and respond to questions and hear opinions from the audience, a press release said. The public is invited to attend.

“The popular community event offers firsthand information on upcoming legislation and House and Senate committee activities, while prompting dialogue among legislators and citizens, and providing a great networking opportunity for members of the community,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Demolition starts at Applewood Apartments

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Demolition work by Brady Excavating and Demolition of Crab Orchard, Tenn., was under way on Thursday afternoon, Jan. 25, 2018, at an Applewood Apartments building on Hunter Circle in the Highland View neighborhood in Oak Ridge. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Demolition work by Brady Excavating and Demolition of Crab Orchard, Tenn., was under way on Thursday afternoon, Jan. 25, 2018, at an Applewood Apartments building on Hunter Circle in the Highland View neighborhood in Oak Ridge. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 9:30 a.m.

After years of court cases and codes enforcement battles, demolition work has started at the Applewood Apartments in Oak Ridge.

Demolition work started Tuesday at the 13-building apartment complex on Hillside Road and Hunter Circle in the Highland View neighborhood, just north of Oak Ridge Turnpike in central Oak Ridge. Two of the buildings had been knocked down as of Thursday afternoon.

Brady Excavating and Demolition of Crab Orchard, Tennessee, plans to demolish two buildings per week, weather permitting. It could take 2.5 months or so to complete the job. The demolition company is working for First Place Finish of Oak Ridge.

Asbestos abatement work started earlier this month at the vacant buildings. [Read more…]

Owner/director of Pierce Physical Therapy giving talks to seniors; first talk today on winter exercise

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Ray Pierce, owner and director of Pierce Physical Therapy, in conjunction with the Oak Ridge Senior Center, will be giving informative talks for seniors throughout the year of 2018. A talk will be given every third Thursday of the month.

The first talk will be on Thursday, January 25, at 10:30 a.m. The title of the talk is “The Importance of Winter Exercise.”

For more information, please call the Oak Ridge Senior Center at (865) 425-3999.

Buddy Westcott’s Open Mic at the Grove on Thursday

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BuddyOpenMic

There is an open mic for musicians, singers, poets, and comedians at the Grove Theater in Oak Ridge on Thursday.

It’s called Buddy Westcott’s Open Mic at the Grove. All ages are welcome.

The open mic is in the small theater from 7-11 p.m. Thursday, January 25. Sign-ups will be at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $3, and it will be passed on to High Places Community Church, which owns the Grove Theater. The theater is in Grove Center.

There will be a three-song limit or 15 minutes for each group or solo or act, organizers said.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Juvenile facing felony weapons charges after recent explosions

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The Oak Ridge Police Department found a small crater that might have been caused by an explosion at Milt Dickens Park in east Oak Ridge late Monday afternoon, Jan. 15, 2018. The crater pictured here on Tuesday morning measured about 4.5 feet across and one foot deep, but the hole had been enlarged by officers taking dirt samples during the investigation. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Oak Ridge Police Department found a small crater that might have been caused by an explosion in mulch at a playground at Milt Dickens Park in east Oak Ridge late Monday afternoon, Jan. 15, 2018. The crater pictured here the next morning, Tuesday morning, measured about 4.5 feet across and one foot deep, but the hole had been enlarged by officers taking dirt samples during the investigation. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The juvenile arrested Tuesday in connection with recent explosions in Oak Ridge has been charged with two counts of possession or manufacture of prohibited weapons, a Class B felony, authorities said Wednesday.

The juvenile appeared in juvenile court for a detention hearing on Wednesday and was released, the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release.

“The investigation is continuing,” the city said. “No additional information will be released at this time.”

The student, an Oak Ridge High School student who has not been publicly identified because he is a juvenile, was arrested Tuesday after the Oak Ridge Police Department found evidence in a car that was connected to two recent explosions, one at Blankenship Field and the other at Milt Dickens Park, authorities said. [Read more…]

Warrants: Man charged with terrorism after threatening to blow up hospital, shoot everyone inside

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Agey Christopher Stamey

Agey Christopher Stamey

 

A Knoxville man who allegedly fought with officers and was carrying a box cutter and pole while acting erratically was charged with committing an act of terrorism after threatening to blow up Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge with dynamite and shoot everyone inside with a shotgun, court records said.

Agey C. Stamey II, 40, of Asheville Highway, was charged with the one count of commission of an act of terrorism and two counts of assault. He was arrested Friday, January 12, and remained jailed in the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton on Tuesday, with his bond set at $110,000.

Affidavits filed in Anderson County General Session Court in Oak Ridge said Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Tim Nguyen checked on the welfare of a white man wearing a brown jacket and red hat who was carrying a pole and acting erratically while walking on East Tennessee Avenue behind Methodist Medical Center on January 12. [Read more…]

ORPD arrests student after finding evidence related to two recent explosions

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An Oak Ridge High School student was arrested Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018, after police found evidence in a car that was connected to two recent explosions, one at Blankenship Field and the other at Milt Dickens Park, authorities said. The Oak Ridge Police Department was helped by the Knoxville Police Department Bomb Squad. (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Police Department/City of Oak Ridge)

An Oak Ridge High School student was arrested Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018, after police found evidence in a car that was connected to two recent explosions, one at Blankenship Field and the other at Milt Dickens Park, authorities said. The Oak Ridge Police Department was helped by the Knoxville Police Department Bomb Squad. (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Police Department/City of Oak Ridge)

 

An Oak Ridge High School student was arrested Tuesday after police found evidence in a car that was connected to two recent explosions, one at Blankenship Field and the other at Milt Dickens Park, authorities said.

The male student is a juvenile and is not being publicly identified.

Investigators with the Oak Ridge Police Department Juvenile Unit detained and questioned a male at Oak Ridge High School while working with Oak Ridge Schools on Tuesday morning, the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release. The boy was believed to have knowledge regarding both explosions.

“Further investigation led investigators to determine that potential evidence was still inside the student’s vehicle, which was parked in the front lot of the high school,” the ORPD said. “Investigators immediately identified the vehicle, established a safe perimeter, and requested assistance from the Knoxville Police Department’s Bomb Squad. At no time were any students, staff, or bystanders in danger. Bomb squad personnel were asked to assist out of an abundance of caution.” [Read more…]

Laurel Road fire: No injuries, home destroyed, cause under investigation

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A fire was reported at a house at the intersection of Hidden Valley Road and Laurel Road in Marlow late Friday afternoon, Jan. 19, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A fire was reported at a house at the intersection of Hidden Valley Road and Laurel Road in Marlow late Friday afternoon, Jan. 19, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

MARLOW—No one was injured in a fire that destroyed a house in Marlow on Friday afternoon, and the cause is under investigation, authorities said.

The fire was reported at about 4:15 p.m. Friday at the intersection of Hidden Valley Road and Laurel Road, north of state Route 61 between Oak Ridge and Clinton in Anderson County.

Two adults live in the house, but they were not at home at the time of the fire, said Stephanie Fox, chief of the Marlow Volunteer Fire Department.

All five of the county’s volunteer fire departments responded: Andersonville, Briceville, Claxton, Marlow, and Medford. Firefighters were there until about 9 p.m. Friday. [Read more…]