Oak Ridge Today

ORHS student wins National Merit Scholarship

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Oak Ridge High School student Lara S. Blokland has won a National Merit Scholarship. The scholarship winners were announced this week by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Blokland is one of two area students to win a National Merit Battelle Scholarship. The other is Nalin H. Varma of Farragut High School.

Blokland’s probable career field is physics, a press release said, and Varma could study chemical engineering.

This week’s announcement was the first announcement of National Merit Scholars in 2017 by National Merit Scholarship Corporation, or NMSC. NMSC will name recipients of National Merit $2,500 Scholarships on May 10 and winners of college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards on June 7 and July 17. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Junior Police Academy is in June

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Oak Ridge Police Department Badge

The sixth annual Oak Ridge Junior Police Academy will be held this summer from June 11 through June 29. The Junior Police Academy will be using an age-appropriate format this year, which will allow three separate sessions.

Sessions will be based on the grade that is obtained for the 2017 through 2018 school year, a press release said.

  • 7th grade through graduating seniors: This session will be a Junior Police Forensic Academy, an intensive week of forensic training in crime scene investigation, and the science involved. It is targeted toward those who may be interested in a career in forensic science. The training environment will be classroom and lab setting.
  • 8th grade through graduating seniors: This session will target students who may be interested in a law enforcement career. Training will focus on basic policing and law enforcement techniques.
  • 5th grade through 7th grade: This session will be a junior police camp with a police theme and will focus on group activities and team building exercises.

Are you right for the Junior Police Academy? Answer these questions: Have you thought about what you are going to do after school? Have you ever wondered exactly what a police officer does? Are you interested in a career in law or paralegal? Would you be interested in learning more about law enforcement? If you answer yes to any of these questions, then you are a great candidate for the Oak Ridge Junior Police Academy. [Read more…]

Chief Jailer Avery Johnson named Jail Administrator of the Year

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Anderson County Chief Jailer Avery Johnson, second from right, is pictured above with Sheriff Paul White, right; Chief Deputy Mark Lucas, second from left; and Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally. (Submitted photo)

Anderson County Chief Jailer Avery Johnson, second from right, is pictured above with Sheriff Paul White, right; Chief Deputy Mark Lucas, second from left; and Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally. (Submitted photo)

 

Anderson County Chief Jailer Avery Johnson was recently presented the Jail Administrator of the Year award by the Tennessee Corrections Institute, or TCI.

The Tennessee Corrections Institute is the state agency that regulates local jails and workhouses. The award was presented at the annual TCI Jail Issues Conference in Franklin, Tennessee.

Also attending the award ceremony were Anderson County Sheriff Paul White, Chief Deputy Mark Lucas, Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, and Johnson’s wife Diane with other family members.

The Jail Administrator of the Year award is awarded to a worthy candidate who must be a full-time jail administrator responsible for operations within a local correctional facility, a press release said. The nominee must have demonstrated a high level of professionalism and dedication in the area of corrections within the agency and community. They must have initiated or promoted programs enhancing the operations of a correctional facility within the State of Tennessee. They must also have contributed toward the overall mission of TCI in working to develop a professional corrections environment for today and tomorrow.

Chief Jailer Avery Johnson began his career with the Anderson County Sheriff Department in February 1981. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge will host NCAA Women’s Rowing Championships in 2020

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SIRA-Regatta-April-17-2016-6

The Oak Ridge rowing course is pictured above during the 2016 SIRA Championship Regatta in Oak Ridge on Sunday, April 17, 2016. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The 2020 NCAA Women’s Rowing Championships will be in Oak Ridge.

The selection was announced by the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) on Tuesday, April 18. The NCAA said it has selected more than 600 host sites for preliminary rounds and finals of predetermined championships in Divisions I, II, and III to be held from 2017-18 through 2021-22. The selections for Division I are posted online at the NCAA website.

The hosts for the 2020 NCAA Women’s Rowing Championships at the Oak Ridge rowing course are the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge Rowing Association.

The championships will be in Indianapolis in 2019 and in Sarasota, Florida, in 2021 and 2022.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

United Way has its annual meeting at New Hope Center on Thursday

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United Way of Anderson County

United Way of Anderson County has its annual meeting on Thursday morning at the New Hope Center at Y-12 National Security Complex on Scarboro Road.

The 2017 Annual Meeting starts at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, April 18. More than 100 community members, leaders, and volunteers are expected to attend. There will be a waffle and coffee bar, among other breakfast items, a press release said.

2016 Campaign Co-Chairs Carroll Welch and Bear Stephenson will welcome the crowd, and they will talk about the successes of the past year, the press release said. [Read more…]

Soccer: Wildcats play AC, Clinton, Gibbs possibly for last time—at least as district rivals

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Christian Avila (14) of Oak Ridge breaks away from a Gibbs defender during a 5-0 win for the Wildcats at the Oak Ridge Soccer Complex on Tuesday, April 4, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Christian Avila (14) of Oak Ridge breaks away from a Gibbs defender during a 5-0 win for the Wildcats at the Oak Ridge Soccer Complex on Tuesday, April 4, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats boys’ soccer team has played the Anderson County Mavericks, Clinton Dragons, and Gibbs Eagles for what could be the last time—at least as district rivals during the regular season.

It is possible, though, that the teams could meet as non-district foes in regular season games, such as in regular-season soccer tournaments.

The Anderson County, Clinton, Gibbs, and Central boys’ soccer teams will be in the smaller Class AA classification for the 2017-2021 seasons.

Teams that will still be in District 3 (Region 2) in Class AAA are Oak Ridge and Campbell County, Halls, Karns, and Powell.

The Wildcats beat Anderson County 7-3 on Tuesday, March 28. They defeated Clinton 5-0 on Friday, March 31. [Read more…]

Soccer photos: Oak Ridge-Gibbs

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Masa Kato (5) of Oak Ridge and Curtis Russell (8) of Gibbs battle for the soccer ball during a 5-0 win for the Wildcats at the Oak Ridge Soccer Complex on Tuesday, April 4, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Masa Kato (5) of Oak Ridge and Curtis Russell (8) of Gibbs battle for the soccer ball during a 5-0 win for the Wildcats at the Oak Ridge Soccer Complex on Tuesday, April 4, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

In what could be their final meeting, the Oak Ridge boys’ soccer team beat Gibbs 5-0 in a district game on Tuesday, April 4. Here are photos by John Huotari. [Read more…]

Child reported missing Monday evening was located Monday night

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The 12-year-old boy reported missing from Georgia Avenue on Monday evening was located Monday night, authorities said.

The boy was reported missing sometime around 7 p.m., according to Nixle alerts sent out by the City of Oak Ridge.

On Tuesday morning, the city said the boy was located shortly after 10 p.m. Monday and reunited with his parents. [Read more…]

Baseball: Wildcats win 3 of last 5 district games, play Clinton Monday

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Oak Ridge junior catcher Jacob Ownby (44) is pictured above during a 6-4 loss to Powell at Bobby Hopkins Field on Friday, March 31, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge junior catcher Jacob Ownby (44) is pictured above during a 6-4 loss to Powell at Bobby Hopkins Park on Friday, March 31, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats have won three of their last five district baseball games. They have three more district games this week, including one at home today (Monday, April 17) against Clinton and then another at Clinton on Tuesday.

The Wildcats (9-10, 3-4 District 3-AAA) will then travel to Halls on Thursday.

Today’s varsity game against Clinton (10-15, 1-6) is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. at Bobby Hopkins Park. The junior varsity game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

Here are summaries of recent district games: [Read more…]

Baseball photos: Oak Ridge-Powell

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Oak Ridge junior Ian Campbell (24) pitches to Powell during a 6-4 loss to the Panthers at Bobby Hopkins Field on Friday, March 31, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge junior Ian Campbell (24) pitches to Powell during a 6-4 loss to the Panthers at Bobby Hopkins Park on Friday, March 31, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats lost to Powell 6-4 at the end of March. Here are photos from the game by John Huotari. [Read more…]

Baseball photos: Oak Ridge-Campbell County

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Oak Ridge senior Brice Mlekodaj (6) is pictured above at bat during a 9-4 win over Campbell County at Bobby Hopkins Field on Tuesday, April 4, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge senior Brice Mlekodaj (6) is pictured above at bat during a 6-3 win over Campbell County at Bobby Hopkins Park on Tuesday, April 4, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats beat Campbell County 6-3 and 9-4 in two games at home this month. Here are photos from the first game by John Huotari. [Read more…]

No one injured in Easter dinner fire

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No one was injured when a smoker cooking a pork butt for Easter dinner started a fire on a back porch and at the rear of a home on East Wolf Valley Road on Sunday evening, authorities said.

The fire was reported sometime around 5 p.m. Sunday at 914 East Wolf Valley Road in Heiskell, according to an Anderson County Sheriff’s Department incident report.

A resident was cooking the pork butt for Easter dinner, the report said. A family member heard the fire alarm go off, and flames were visible from the back porch area of the home. The back porch and rear of the home were both found to be on fire, Deputy Christopher E. Paul said in the report.

The smoker is suspected as the cause, Paul said.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

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