Oak Ridge Today

Memory Magic scrapbook event in Oak Ridge in September

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A previous Memory Magic scrapbook event at the Oak Ridge Civic Center. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

A previous Memory Magic scrapbook event at the Oak Ridge Civic Center. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department is sponsoring the 12th Annual Memory Magic scrapbook event at the Oak Ridge Civic Center on Friday, September 22, and Saturday, September 23.

The event will include vendors and a large crop area, but there is limited seating, a press release said. Online registration is under way and will continue through Wednesday, September 20. Walk-in registration is also available during business hours at the Civic Center front desk.

The crop area will open at 8 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. each day. Participants will receive a crop space, an event tote, light snacks during the evening hours, and tickets for prize drawings, the press release said. The cost to crop is $30 for one day or $50 for both days. [Read more…]

ORNL: High-resolution modeling assesses impact of cities on river ecosystems

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A new study from Oak Ridge National Laboratory shows the far-reaching impacts of U.S. cities’ energy consumption on regional ecosystems. Urban areas cover only about 5 percent of the Southeast’s landscape, but cities’ water and energy infrastructures often extend well beyond urban areas as power plants (represented as black dots) are distributed throughout the entire region. (Credit: Ryan McManamay/Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy)

A new study from Oak Ridge National Laboratory shows the far-reaching impacts of U.S. cities’ energy consumption on regional ecosystems. Urban areas cover only about 5 percent of the Southeast’s landscape, but cities’ water and energy infrastructures often extend well beyond urban areas as power plants (represented as black dots) are distributed throughout the entire region. (Credit: Ryan McManamay/Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy)

 

New mapping methods developed by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory can help urban planners minimize the environmental impacts of cities’ water and energy demands on surrounding stream ecologies, a press release said.

In an analysis published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, an ORNL-led team used high-resolution geospatial modeling to quantify the effects of land, energy, and water infrastructures on the nation’s rivers and streams.

Using streamflow data from the U.S. Geological Survey, the researchers mapped changes to natural hydrology to assess how infrastructure development and competition over water resources affects the environment at a national scale. Their data-driven approach sheds light on the extent to which water resources and aquatic species are affected by urban infrastructures and could help cities curb their burden on regional ecosystems, the press release said.

The results indicate that urban land transformation and electricity production together affect 7 percent of U.S. streams, which influence habitats for more than 60 percent of all North American freshwater fish, mussel, and crayfish species, the release said. [Read more…]

Carjacking, attempted robbery, assault charges sent to grand jury

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Sheila K Jones

Sheila K. Jones

 

Attempted robbery, carjacking, and aggravated assault charges against an Oliver Springs woman were sent to a grand jury for its consideration after a preliminary hearing in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge on Tuesday.

Charges against Sheila K. Jones, 43, of Henley Circle, also include evading arrest, reckless endangerment, reckless driving, and driving on a revoked license.

Jones had allegedly been a passenger in a vehicle in May when she allegedly climbed on top of the driver, Deborah G. Russell of Oliver Springs, who had said she was going home. Jones allegedly pressed Russell’s right leg down to the gas pedal and grabbed the steering wheel to prevent Russell from turning near the intersection of Tulsa Road and South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge, according to affidavits filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court on May 11.

“The victim (Russell) indicated that the defendant (Jones) started saying things such as ‘I’ll beat your ass’ and ‘I’ll blow your brains out,” the affidavits said. “After the defendant put the vehicle in park, the victim released her seatbelt, and the defendant opened and shoved the victim out of the driver’s door. The victim was still ‘hung’ in the seatbelt, until it finally came off, and the defendant shouted, ‘You made me do this!'”

At that point, Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Cory Strange saw the vehicle—an older model gold vehicle that had been stopped next to an apparent pedestrian—spin its rear tires and make a hasty illegal U-turn in the middle of ORAU Way, according to the affidavits. [Read more…]

Next City Blueprint meeting is Thursday

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Emory Valley_Briarcliff and Lakeview Poster

Note: This story was updated at 11:30 a.m.

The Oak Ridge Community Development Department is continuing the Oak Ridge City Blueprint effort with a discussion focused on the Emory Valley, Briarcliff, and Lakeview residential neighborhoods. An open house will be held between 5:30 and 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 24, at Jefferson Middle School.

Families living in these subareas are encouraged to attend and provide ideas and suggestions for possible neighborhood improvements, a press release said.

“Please note that no formal presentation is planned for this event,” the press release said. “Those attending can come and go anytime during the open house to meet, ask questions, and share thoughts with city staff and board representatives.”

What: Oak Ridge City Blueprint Open House—Emory Valley, Briarcliff, and Lakeview neighborhoods [Read more…]

Arts & Antiques in Jackson Square on Saturday features cars, chalk art, movie, book exchange

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Arts in the Square Summer 2017 500x773

Arts and Antiques in Jackson Square on Saturday will feature vintage and antique cars, chalk art and crafts, arts and antiques, food and the Oak Ridge Farmers Market, storytellers and authors, and a book exchange and the movie “The Pagemaster.”

There are two separate rounds of activities. Both will be in Jackson Square in central Oak Ridge.

The first round of activities, Arts and Antiques in the Square, is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. It will feature the Fast ‘N Classy Car Club, which is bringing vintage, antique, and new cars that are “fast and classy.”

Also as part of the activities, Jackson Square merchants have partnered with the Oak Ridge Rotary Club to promote the upcoming Street Chalk Festival. Sponsors and artists can come and register for that festival in advance on Saturday, said Linda Johnston, owner of Through the Looking Glass in Jackson Square. Artists will be doing chalk art in the square on Saturday, Johnston said.

Arts and Antiques will also include arts and crafts vendors, the Oak Ridge Farmers Market in the parking lot on the north side of Broadway Avenue, the Jackson Square shops, and food, including funnel cake, Johnston said. [Read more…]

Football photos: Oak Ridge-Hardin Valley

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Hardin Valley defenders tackle Oak Ridge senior running back Adarius Simpson (24) during a 21-20 win for the Wildcats on Blankenship Field on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Hardin Valley defenders tackle Oak Ridge senior running back Adarius Simpson (24) during a 21-20 win for the Wildcats on Blankenship Field on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats won a close one-point game against Hardin Valley Academy on Friday night when the Hawks missed an extra point with 21.5 seconds left in the season opener. Here are photos from the 21-20 win by John Huotari. [Read more…]

Football: Wildcats win when Hardin Valley misses extra point in final minute

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Oak Ridge quarterback Johnny Stewart (2) runs against Hardin Valley during a 21-20 win on Blankenship Field on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge quarterback Johnny Stewart (2) runs against Hardin Valley during a 21-20 win on Blankenship Field on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats won a close one-point game against Hardin Valley Academy on Friday night when the Hawks missed an extra point with 21.5 seconds left in the season opener.

The Hawks scored in the final minute after Oak Ridge junior linebacker Jeremy Mitchell dropped a Hardin Valley player in the backfield, and the football came loose. There was a scramble for the ball near the goal line, and it squirted into the end zone, where Hardin Valley recovered it for a touchdown. The Hawks then trailed by just one point, 21-20.

They had a chance to tie the game at 21 with an extra point, and they had a chance to take the lead with a two-point conversion.

A few extra point attempts by Hardin Valley were waived off due to penalties, including one on a try that was no good and bounced down to Blankenship Field off the crossbar on an Oak Ridge offsides.

The final attempt went wide left, and Oak Ridge kept its 21-20 lead with 21.5 seconds remaining.

Hardin Valley, a Class 6A team, used an onsides kick to try for one final score in the final seconds of the non-region game. But Oak Ridge, a Class 5A team, recovered and only had to take a knee to run out the clock. [Read more…]

Girls soccer: Oak Ridge shuts out Halls in first home game

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Oak Ridge senior Zoe Van Hook (17) is pictured above during a 8-0 win over Halls at home on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge senior Zoe Van Hook (17) is pictured above during an 8-0 win over Halls at home on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge girls soccer team shut out Halls 8-0 during the first home game of the regular season on Thursday.

The Lady Wildcats led 5-0 at halftime and scored three more goals in the second half.

Sophomore Maddie Peters, credited with five shots, scored first for Oak Ridge about eight minutes into the game. She fired a shot from the right side of the goal box, and it bounced in off the left upright.

About 13 minutes later, senior Zoe Van Hook passed the soccer ball across the field from right to left and freshman Katelyn Mattus kicked it into the left side of the net.

A minute later, Oak Ridge scored again when sophomore Katie O’Brien lofted a shot that bounced in off the hands of Halls goalkeeper Madison Wright. [Read more…]

DA: Man accused of shooting into Throttle Down convicted of reckless endangerment

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Gordon Scott Katz

Gordon Scott Katz

 

An Oak Ridge man who had been accused of shooting into the former Throttle Down Tavern while the business was occupied in July 2015 was convicted of reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon after a jury trial in Anderson County Criminal Court in Clinton on Thursday, authorities said.

A jury of 12 Anderson County residents found Gordon Scott Katz, 45, guilty after the one-day trial on Thursday and about 45 minutes of deliberation, Seventh Judicial District Attorney General Dave Clark said in a press release on Friday.

Katz is scheduled to be sentenced October 9 by Anderson County Criminal Court Judge Don Elledge, Clark said.

Witnesses testified that Katz and a companion had been asked to leave the Throttle Down Tavern on Warehouse Road on July 26, 2015, before Katz was accused of firing shots into it, Clark said. [Read more…]

Reminder: Puppy Pool Party is today

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A dog enjoys the Puppy Pool Party at the Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool on Providence Road in 2016. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

A dog enjoys the Puppy Pool Party at the Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool on Providence Road in 2016. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

 

Reminder: The Second Annual Puppy Pool Party is today at the Oak Ridge Outdoor Municipal Swimming Pool on Providence Road today (Saturday, August 19).

The Puppy Pool Party is hosted by the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department. It’s scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. today.

The last day for public swimming was yesterday (Friday, August 18).

“This is the second year for the puppy pool party, an event which marks the end of the summer swimming season at the outdoor pool,” a City of Oak Ridge press release said. “Owners may only wade in water up to knee deep and must clean up after their pet. Children are not allowed in the pool during the event.” [Read more…]

Rezoning request deferred for property in front of AMSE

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The 7.44-acre parcel outlined in red above could be rezoned and allow commercial development south of the American Museum of Science and Energy on South Tulane Avenue. (Image courtesy State of Tennessee)

The 7.44-acre parcel outlined in red above could be rezoned and allow commercial development south of the American Museum of Science and Energy on South Tulane Avenue. (Image courtesy State of Tennessee)

 

The consideration of the rezoning of property for commercial use in front of a museum in central Oak Ridge has been deferred, and the request is expected to be considered later, officials said Thursday.

The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission had been scheduled to consider the rezoning request during a meeting Thursday evening.

The rezoning could allow commercial development on the 7.44 acres that is now mostly a grass field south of the American Museum of Science and Energy, at the intersection of South Illinois and South Tulane avenues. The site could be used by retailers, restaurants, or groceries, or for office space or multi-family developments, according to a zoning change request filed by the owner. [Read more…]

Emergency sewer line repair work on Turnpike starts Monday

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The Oak Ridge Public Works Department will start emergency repair work on a sewer line that runs underneath Oak Ridge Turnpike on Monday.

Hurst Excavating LLC, a contractor for the City of Oak Ridge, will repair the sewer line at Robertsville Road and the northwest corner of Alvin K. Bissell Park. The work is expected to continue through Thursday, August 24.

“The Oak Ridge Turnpike will not be closed during the repairs,” a city press release said. “However, there may be work vehicles along the side of the roadway. Please use extreme care and caution and allow extra time when driving in this area.

Questions can be directed to the Oak Ridge Public Works information line at (865) 425-1875 or by email at PubWorksDis@OakRidgeTN.gov.