Oak Ridge Today

Winter Farmers Market opens for second season Saturday, bringing local foods indoors

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With greenhouses and hoop houses, local farmers are able to grow everything from kale to red, ripe tomatoes all winter long, and they will be for sale at the Winter Farmers Market in Oak Ridge, starting Dec. 2, 2017. (Photo courtesy Grow Oak Ridge LLC)

With greenhouses and hoop houses, local farmers are able to grow everything from kale to red, ripe tomatoes all winter long, and they will be for sale at the Winter Farmers Market in Oak Ridge, starting Dec. 2, 2017. (Photo courtesy Grow Oak Ridge LLC)

 

The Winter Farmers Market by Grow Oak Ridge LLC opens for its second season on Saturday, offering fresh, locally grown farm products indoors all winter to Oak Ridge. The market will open Saturday, December 2. It will be open the following Saturdays through February, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the gym at St. Mary’s School, which is at 323 Vermont Avenue in Oak Ridge. It is closed December 23 and December 30.

“You’ll see an even bigger selection of selection of locally grown produce this year, including red, ripe tomatoes,” said Rebecca Williams, market director. “Our growers are really stretching the season with their greenhouses and hoop houses. We have tremendous variety at the Winter Farmers Market this season.

“Plus, we’re really excited to be able to offer the regional ‘Fresh Savings Program’ this year,” Williams said. The program doubles a shopper’s SNAP (food stamp) benefits, up to $20 for fruits and vegetables.

On opening day, customers can enter a free drawing for 20 Market Dollars. The drawing is at noon, and you can also enter at www.GrowOakRidge.org. [Read more…]

Enjoy Mozart’s ‘Don Giovanni’ in concert on Saturday

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Cast for Don Giovanni Concert—Top row from left to right: Tyler Padgett, Paul Bryson, Ryan Colbert, and Joshua Allen; Bottom row from left to right: April Hill, Harrison Cooke, Marya Barry, and Marcelo Urias (conductor). (Submitted photo)

Cast for Don Giovanni Concert—Top row from left to right: Tyler Padgett, Paul Bryson, Ryan Colbert, and Joshua Allen; Bottom row from left to right: April Hill, Harrison Cooke, Marya Barry, and Marcelo Urias (conductor). (Submitted photo)

 

On Saturday, the Oak Ridge Philharmonia will join with local operatic singers to present a free concert, consisting of the entire score from Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” opera.

“This is an excellent opportunity to enjoy all the music from this famous opera, without scheduling a trip to the Metropolitan Opera in New York City,” a press release said.

The featured singers, under the direction of Ryan Colbert, are Tyler Padgett (Don Giovanni), Paul Bryson (Leporello), Ryan Colbert (Donna Anna), Joshua Allen (Don Ottavio), April Hill (Donna Elvira), Harrison Cooke (Commendatore/Masetto), and Marya Barry (Zerlina). The orchestra and singers will be conducted by Marcelo Urias.

In the late 1700s, there was high demand in Prague for comic operas dealing with philanderers, such as the fictional Don Juan, a Spanish legend.  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) seized upon that opportunity, and joined forces with librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte (1749-1838) to compose “Don Giovanni,” which premiered in Prague in 1787, the press release said. The plot is loosely based upon the Don Juan tale. [Read more…]

First United Methodist Church mission team kicked off Christmas Tree sale on Friday, Nov. 24

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Submitted photo

Submitted photo

 

The First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge mission team kicked off its Christmas Tree sale on Friday, November 24.

For almost 60 years, First Church and other local Methodist churches have sold Christmas trees to benefit local, regional, and international missions, a press release said.

“This year is no different, with sales going to benefit mission work in Puerto Rico and Honduras, recovery efforts in Florida and Texas, and disaster relief kit distribution centers in Louisiana,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Youth Advisory Board drops off donated toys at Holiday Bureau

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The Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board, which has purchased new items at a local retailer with funds raised at board events, made a special delivery at the Holiday Bureau of Anderson County on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017, dropping off an estimated $1,200 worth of toys just in time for Christmas. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board, which has purchased new items at a local retailer with funds raised at board events, made a special delivery at the Holiday Bureau of Anderson County on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017, dropping off an estimated $1,200 worth of toys just in time for Christmas. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

On Wednesday, the City of Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board made a special delivery at the Holiday Bureau of Anderson County, dropping off an estimated $1,200 worth of toys just in time for Christmas.

The YAB, made up of 16 Oak Ridge High School students, purchased new items at a local retailer with funds raised at other board events, a press release said. Items purchased include toys for all ages, as well as bicycles, clothing, and sports equipment. The items will soon be distributed to low-income families in Oak Ridge and Anderson County for the holidays, the press release said.

“This generation of young people want to make a real difference in the world and I’m proud to be able to work with them,” YAB City Staff Liaison Matt Reedy said. “YAB members voted unanimously to give back to kids who are less fortunate. Most of the money supporting this project was raised by students at the Children’s Halloween Party, a city event at which they also volunteer.”

After delivering and helping sort through the donated items at the Holiday Bureau’s warehouse on Emory Valley Road, the students took a tour of the facility to learn more about the nonprofit’s mission and other ways they can help. [Read more…]

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ORHS automotive students have 1st place, 2nd place finishes in Top Wrench Competition

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Static Engine Team: Jack Borchers, Brian Dittner, Matthew Thompson, Matthew Powers, and Brooke Bigi (Photo by Oak Ridge Schools)

Static Engine Team: Jack Borchers, Brian Dittner, Matthew Thompson, Matthew Powers, and Brooke Bigi (Submitted photo)

 

On Friday, October 27, the Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair classes from Oak Ridge High School competed for the second time in the Top Wrench competition at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base. The students had their first experience in this competition in April 2017.

Now in its 27th year, Top Wrench Competition hosts 17 area schools, including more than 600 instructors, students, and other attendees.

Oak Ridge students entered the following competitive events: Static Engine Challenge, Pit Crew Challenge, and Computer Control Car Challenge. ORHS teams placed as follows:

  • First place in the Static Engine Challenge with a time of two minutes,
  • Second place in the Computer Control Car Challenge with a time of one minute and thirty seconds, and
  • Fourteenth place in the Pit Crew Challenge with a time of thirty-two and forty-five one hundredths seconds.

Besting 17 schools to take first place in the Static Engine Challenge (repairing an ailing 427 Chevrolet engine to running status), the team completed the task in two minutes even. (The next closest time was 2:45.) [Read more…]

Graves Gap fire burned more than 300 acres

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The mountaintop fire at Graves Gap along Highway 116 in north Anderson County burned more than 300 acres this week, a state official said Thursday afternoon, Nov. 30, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The mountaintop fire at Graves Gap along Highway 116 in north Anderson County burned more than 300 acres this week, a state official said Thursday afternoon, Nov. 30, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

GRAVES GAP—The mountaintop fire at Graves Gap in north Anderson County burned more than 300 acres this week, a state official said Thursday afternoon.

The fire off New River Highway (Highway 116) burned about 377 acres, said Nathan Waters, assistant district forester in the Tennessee Division of Forestry Administration’s East Tennessee District.

It was officially called the Switchback Fire. Graves Gap is near the top of a mountain reached by a series of switchbacks on New River Highway. It is between Frost Bottom Road and Briceville Highway, which connect Oliver Springs and Briceville, and New River and Rosedale.

The cause of the Graves Gap fire is under investigation, Waters said. He wasn’t aware of any structures that were endangered, although there are homes and churches near the mountaintop. [Read more…]

One injured in rollover crash on Georgia Avenue

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One person was injured in a single-vehicle rollover crash on Georgia Avenue late Thursday afternoon, Nov. 30, 2017, authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

One person was injured in a single-vehicle rollover crash on Georgia Avenue late Thursday afternoon, Nov. 30, 2017, authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

One person was injured in a rollover crash on Georgia Avenue late Thursday afternoon, authorities said.

The single-vehicle crash was reported at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday in a curve on Georgia Avenue just up the hill from Big Ed’s Pizza. The red Isuzu Rodeo sport utility vehicle was upside down, resting on its roof in the middle of the road.

The injuries to the driver were described as non-life threatening. The name and age of the driver and the cause of the crash were not immediately available. [Read more…]

Anderson County woman could face federal charges in alleged mail theft

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Tina May Carroll

Tina May Carroll

 

After mail thefts had been reported in the area, an Anderson County deputy found about 150 pieces of U.S. mail from more than 40 different addresses in a pickup that he searched on Beets Valley Road on Wednesday, an incident report said.

The 32-year-old woman who was arrested in the case could now face federal charges, according to the incident report, which was from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputy Adam Warren responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle, a red 1989 Chevrolet Silverado pickup partially parked in the road on Beets Valley Road, at about 8 a.m. Wednesday. Beets Valley Road is west of Lake City Highway (US 25W) between Clinton and Rocky Top (the former Lake City).

As he approached the truck, Warren said he noticed several pieces of mail in the grass close to the driver’s side door. He saw a female, later identified as Tina May Carroll, asleep behind the wheel of the truck with the keys in the ignition, according to the incident report. [Read more…]

Roane County Commission to discuss Oak Ridge Airport on Thursday, Dec. 7

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Image via Billy Stair presentation at Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority General Aviation Committee meeting on Wednesday, March 15, 2017.

Image via Billy Stair presentation at Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority General Aviation Committee meeting on Wednesday, March 15, 2017.

 

The Roane County Commission will discuss the Oak Ridge Airport, which would be built at Heritage Center, the former K-25 site, during a workshop next week.

The workshop is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, December 7, in the Qualls Commission Room at the Roane County Courthouse.

Oak Ridge Today reported in March that there are additional steps and approvals required, but if all goes well, construction on the airport could start in late 2018 or early 2019.

The airport could still cost an estimated $35 million to $40 million, officials said at the time. It would be funded with a mix of federal funding, state aeronautical commission funding, and local funding from the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority, or MKAA.

The MKAA General Aviation Committee approved an airport layout plan during a meeting at McGhee Tyson Airport in Alcoa in March. The plan was going to be sent to the Federal Aviation Administration for review and approval after that meeting. The airport layout plan is a detailed document that includes runway lengths, approaches, runway ramps, and taxiways. [Read more…]

Children’s Museum Gala will be a celestial celebration on Friday, Dec. 1

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Children's Museum of Oak Ridge Starry CMOR Night Dec 1 2017

Guests will experience a “Starry CMOR Night” at the 16th annual Gala benefitting the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge. The celestial celebration of children, the arts, and science will be from 6-10 p.m. Friday, December 1, at the Museum, which is at 461 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge.

The Gala evening will feature entertainment by local youth, fine dining, and auctions, a press release said. With science and the arts among the themes of exhibits and classes at the Children’s Museum, as well as the Gala theme, those attending are invited to dress as their favorite scientist or artist, or to come in semi-formal attire.

David Fields, director of the Tamke-Allan Observatory at Roane State Community College, will present a “Starry Nights” chat that evening, the press release said.

Entertainers will include the Oak Ridge High School String Quartet, the Oak Ridge Academy of Dance, and harpist Amy Carty. [Read more…]

AC’s Gillum is Region 2-4A Coach of the Year; Martin is Region MVP

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Anderson County Mavericks Coach Davey Gillum is pictured above with members of the football team in this Facebook profile photo.

Anderson County Mavericks Coach Davey Gillum is pictured above with members of the football team in this Facebook profile photo.

 

Information from WYSH Radio

Anderson County Mavericks Coach Davey Gillum was recognized as Coach of the Year in Region 2-4A, and junior quarterback Stanton Martin was named Most Valuable Player in the Region for 2017. The Offensive Assistant Coach of the Year was Anderson County Offensive Coordinator Sean Jesse.

The Kicker of the Year award in the 2017 All Region 2-4A Team went to Anderson County’s Clayton Utley, while Thomas Roberts and Trey Noe shared Offensive Lineman of the Year honors.

Making the All-Region First Team were linebacker Ryan Moog, running back and linebacker Mason Phillips, linebacker Marquise Gallaher, wide receiver and cornerback Dalton Wilson, wide receiver Michael Carroll, linebacker Andrew Hatmaker, safety Chris Powell, offensive lineman Anthony Barbera, offensive lineman Blake Chapman, and cornerback Austin Elliott. [Read more…]