Oak Ridge Today

Tennessee Valley Corridor returns to Huntsville for 2017 Summit

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Tennessee Valley Corridor Logo

The Tennessee Valley Corridor, or TVC, will return to Huntsville, Alabama, to hold its yearly science and technology Summit from May 31 to June 1. The Summit, themed “Huntsville and the TVC: Smart. Innovative. Collaborative,” will be held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, or USSRC, and will be hosted by Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and USSRC Chief Executive Officer Deborah Barnhart.

“The Tennessee Valley Corridor is home to some of the smartest minds on the planet and this annual summit draws the best and the brightest,” Mayor Battle said. “We look forward to an exciting and engaging exchange of ideas and opportunities.”

The Summit will convene more than 300 government, business, academic, and community leaders from the five-state region, which includes the 10 congressional districts in East and Middle Tennessee, North Alabama, Western North Carolina, Southwest Virginia, and Eastern Kentucky.

The Summit will focus on Huntsville’s and NASA’s role in the region, the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit throughout the TVC, and the federal missions in the region. Registration for the Summit is now available at TennValleyCorridor.org. [Read more…]

Roane State music students attend Country Radio Seminar in Nashville

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These five Roane State music students attended the Country Radio Seminar held in downtown Nashville last month. In front, from left: Bryce Laughlin, Raegan Kennedy and Elana Douglas. Behind them: Olivia Parker, left, and Cassi Maggard. Also attending was Roane State Humanities Dean Myra Peavyhouse. (Photo courtesy Roane State)

These five Roane State music students attended the Country Radio Seminar held in downtown Nashville last month. In front, from left: Bryce Laughlin, Raegan Kennedy, and Elana Douglas. Behind them: Olivia Parker, left, and Cassi Maggard. Also attending was Roane State Humanities Dean Myra Peavyhouse. (Photo courtesy Roane State)

 

For the fourth consecutive year, Roane State was the only two-year educational institution in Tennessee whose students were invited to participate as volunteers at the Country Radio Seminar in downtown Nashville.

The three-day event brings together some of the leading notables in country music, a press release said. It’s an annual convention designed to educate and promote the exchange of ideas and business practices in the country music industry. There were more than 2,500 attendees last year.

The seminar’s agenda included performances, presentations, informative panels, and educational opportunities.

Attending were Roane State music students Elana Douglas, Bryce Laughlin, Cassi Maggard, Raegan Kennedy, and Olivia Parker. Myra Peavyhouse, Roane State’s Dean of Humanities, also attended. [Read more…]

Roane State paramedic alumnus honored

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Rick Valentine, left, a 1990 graduate of Roane State's Paramedic Program and now director of the Sevier County Ambulance Service, along with Greg Miller, right, chief of the Gatlinburg Fire Department, were recently awarded the Tennessee Ambulance Service Association's President's Award. In middle is TASA President Andrew Reed. (Photo courtesy Roane State)

Rick Valentine, left, a 1990 graduate of Roane State’s Paramedic Program and now director of the Sevier County Ambulance Service, along with Greg Miller, right, chief of the Gatlinburg Fire Department, were recently awarded the Tennessee Ambulance Service Association’s President’s Award. In middle is TASA President Andrew Reed. (Photo courtesy Roane State)

 

Rick Valentine, a 1990 graduate of Roane State Community College’s Paramedic Program, has been awarded the Tennessee Ambulance Service Association’s President’s Award for Leadership.

After serving as deputy director of the Sevier County Ambulance Service for many years, Valentine was named the service director last year.

In a Facebook post, Valentine said he was “surprised, honored, and humbled” to receive the award during the association’s annual conference in Gatlinburg in February. [Read more…]

ORAU welcomes four new directors to its board

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ORAU recently announced the election of four new members to its Board of Directors during the 72nd annual meeting of its Council of Sponsoring Institutions. The board provides policy and fiduciary oversight of ORAU operations for its membership. The following leaders are newly elected board members:

  • Barry Burks, Ph.D., North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
  • Patricia Dehmer, Ph.D., U.S. Department of Energy (retired)
  • Michele Masucci, Ph.D., Temple University
  • Debra Reinhart, Ph.D., University of Central Florida, Council vice chair

Three board members were re-elected. Taylor Eighmy, Ph.D., is vice chancellor for research and engagement at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Dennis J. Hejlik is a senior fellow at the National Defense University and is a lieutenant general, U.S. Marine Corps (retired). Jeffrey Smith is deputy director of operations at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

“These new directors and re-elected directors bring strong leadership and experience in diverse fields from economic development to strategic research to defense,” said ORAU President and Chief Executive Officer Andy Page. “Their insights and vast knowledge of government and business practices will serve as invaluable as we create new opportunities for ORAU.” [Read more…]

UT Arboretum Society has 50th annual Spring Plant Sale on April 8

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The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society’s 50th Annual Spring Plant Sale will gather the best of four local nurseries in one location. The public sale will be held on Saturday, April 8, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the UT Arboretum at 901 South Illinois Avenue (Highway 62) in Oak Ridge. The “Members Only” sale will be on Friday, April 7, from 5-7 p.m. (Submitted photo)

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society’s 50th Annual Spring Plant Sale will gather the best of four local nurseries in one location. The public sale will be held on Saturday, April 8, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the UT Arboretum at 901 South Illinois Avenue (Highway 62) in Oak Ridge. The “Members Only” sale will be on Friday, April 7, from 5-7 p.m. (Submitted photo)

 

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society’s 50th Annual Spring Plant Sale will gather the best of four local nurseries in one location.

The public sale will be held on Saturday, April 8, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the UT Arboretum at 901 South Illinois Avenue (Highway 62) in Oak Ridge.

The “Members Only” sale will be on Friday, April 7, from 5-7 p.m. Memberships may be purchased at that time for this “early bird” shopping opportunity. Checks and credit cards will be accepted. [Read more…]

Estate, celebrity jewelry featured at Karen’s Jewelers on Friday, Saturday

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This estate jewelry will be among pieces featured at the Karen’s Jewelers Estate Jewelry Show and Sale on Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1. (Submitted photo)

This estate jewelry will be among pieces featured at the Karen’s Jewelers Estate Jewelry Show and Sale on Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1. (Submitted photo)

 

Estate jewelry that once belonged to Joan Rivers, Ringo Starr, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elizabeth Taylor, and Greta Garbo, among many others, will be featured at an Estate Jewelry Show and Sale on Friday and Saturday at Karen’s Jewelers in Oak Ridge.

The Estate Jewelry Show and Sale will be held from 2-7:30 p.m. Friday, March 31, and from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. April 1. The show presents a $3 million collection of antique, vintage, and contemporary estate jewelry, a press release said. Rings, bracelets, earrings, brooches, pendants, and necklaces will be among hundreds of pieces on display, with prices starting at $500. A wide selection of colors of gems and karats of gold will be included.

Among the treasures will be jewelry that once belonged to the Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and his actress wife, Barbara Bach, who portrayed a Bond girl in the film “The Spy Who Loved Me,” the press release said. The jewelry was auctioned when the couple sold their home in England, with auction proceeds going to charity.

Also featured will be pieces of signed jewelry, vintage engagement rings, pearls, cameos, diamonds, gold, gems, platinum, and filigree designs gathered from estates around the world, according to Martha Hart of Karen’s Jewelers. [Read more…]

Assault, endangerment charges related to heroin overdose waived to grand jury

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Heather Marie Rau

Heather Marie Rau

Aggravated assault and reckless endangerment charges filed against an Oak Ridge woman after a heroin overdose in February were waived to the Anderson County Grand Jury on Tuesday.

Heather Marie Rau, 29, had a status hearing in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge on Tuesday afternoon.

She is accused of providing heroin to a man who ended up unconscious on a hallway floor in a home on West Outer Drive at about 3 p.m. February 16. Rau told Oak Ridge Police Department Detective John R. Criswell that she warned the man, Wesley “Bud” Arnold, not to “shoot it,” or inject the heroin, because she knew what she had given him could possibly kill him, according to arrest warrants filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge.

Warrants said the heroin had already killed one man and caused Rau to overdose. [Read more…]

Fireworks suspected, reward offered in wildfire in west Oak Ridge on Saturday

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The U.S. Department of Energy is offering a reward for a wildfire on federal property on Saturday afternoon, March 25, 2017, west of Wisconsin Avenue and south of Whippoorwill Drive. Fireworks are suspected as the cause. (Photo courtesy DOE/City of Oak Ridge)

The U.S. Department of Energy is offering a reward for a wildfire on federal property on Saturday afternoon, March 25, 2017, west of Wisconsin Avenue and south of Whippoorwill Drive. Fireworks are suspected as the cause. (Photo courtesy DOE/City of Oak Ridge)

 

The City of Oak Ridge is offering a $500 reward for information that helps resolve what happened in a wildfire on federal property in west Oak Ridge on Saturday afternoon, a press release said. Fireworks are suspected as the cause of the fire.

The brush fire was reported on U.S. Department of Energy land at about 12:27 p.m. Saturday, March 25, west of Wisconsin Avenue and south of Whippoorwill Drive. It was below, or to the south of, a water tower near Whippoorwill Drive. There are homes just to the north of the water tower, and there are homes east of Wisconsin Avenue.

When firefighters arrived Saturday afternoon, they could not locate a fire, but there was smoke in the area, DOE said in a press release Tuesday.

“While the engine was looking for the fire, a hiker came down the trail and reported the fire was located several hundred yards off the road in the woods,” the press release said. “Engine 1 crew began hiking toward the reported location and was able to find the fire. At that time, the fire was approximately five acres and growing.”

The Oak Ridge Fire Department immediately requested assistance from the Tennessee Division of Forestry to respond with bulldozers to cut fire lines around the fire. The battalion chief also requested representatives from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Division of Forestry, since the fire was burning on U.S. Department of Energy property. [Read more…]

Local students selected for master class with renowned violinist

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Top row from left above are Kate Hausladen, Michael Ma, and Rachel Barton Pine; and bottom row from left are Sidney Matlock and Hannah Shipstad. (Submitted photos)

Top row from left above are Kate Hausladen, Michael Ma, and Rachel Barton Pine; and bottom row from left are Sidney Matlock and Hannah Shipstad. (Submitted photos)

 

Four East Tennessee students have been selected to participate in a special master class with celebrated concert violinist Rachel Barton Pine on Friday.

The master class is from 3-5 p.m. Friday, March 31, at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center. It’s part of a series of concerts and outreach activities featuring Pine and presented by the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association.

Kate Hausladen is a 15-year-old sophomore at Oak Ridge High School. She began playing violin at the age of four, studying with Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra violist Susan Shor, and has been studying with Karen Kartal for the past six years. She has been a member of the Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestra Association since 2010, and she has played in the Youth Orchestra for the past two years. She has been chosen to play in the Youth Aliyah annual concert in Oak Ridge several times and was selected to the All East and All State orchestras in 2016.

Hausladen is also a competitive soccer player and was All State for the 300-meter hurdles in 2016.

She will perform “Rondo,” the last movement in “Symphonie Espagnole” by Edouard Lalo.

Michael Ma is a senior at Oak Ridge High School. [Read more…]

Secret City Wildbots Team 4265 from Oak Ridge is heading to world competition

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The Oak Ridge High School Robotics Team, the Secret City Wildbots Team 4265, competed at the FIRST Robotics Smoky Mountain Regional March 23-25 at the Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville. The Wildbots were named captain of a finalist team, and they won the Engineering Inspiration Award sponsored by NASA and an invitation to the National Championships in Houston, Texas, with the $5,000 entry fee being paid for by NASA. (Photo by Angi Agle)

The Oak Ridge High School Robotics Team, the Secret City Wildbots Team 4265, competed at the FIRST Robotics Smoky Mountain Regional March 23-25 at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville. The Wildbots were named captain of a finalist team, and they won the Engineering Inspiration Award sponsored by NASA and an invitation to the National Championships in Houston, Texas, with the $5,000 entry fee being paid for by NASA. (Photo by Angi Agle)

 

The Oak Ridge High School Robotics Team, the Secret City Wildbots Team 4265, competed at the FIRST Robotics Smoky Mountain Regional March 23-25 with 47 other teams at the Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville.

After 10 qualification matches, they ranked third with a record of 7-2-1. As the third-seated alliance captain, they chose to ally with Category 5 Team 3489, from Charleston, South Carolina, and Sigmac@t Robotics Team 108, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Together, this three-team alliance moved through the eliminations, earning the top three total match scores for the entire competition. These scores were: 445, 450, 455. In the finals, they succumbed to the impressive defensive measures of the sixth-seated alliance comprised of Delphi E.L.I.T.E. Team 48 from Warren, Ohio; Flagship Team 3140 from Farragut High School; and Shark Attack Team 744 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

In addition to being named the captain of the finalist team, the Secret City Wildbots Team 4265 won the Engineering Inspiration Award sponsored by NASA and an invitation to the National Championships in Houston, Texas, with the $5,000 entry fee being paid for by NASA. This is the second time the team has won this prestigious award, a press release said. [Read more…]

St. Mary’s students compete in local science fair

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The St. Mary’s 2017 Middle School Science Fair was held on February 9, 2017. A total of 57 projects were entered for judging. The projects were divided into two categories, physical and biological sciences, and the judges awarded a first through fifth place in each category. (Submitted photo)

The St. Mary’s 2017 Middle School Science Fair was held on February 9, 2017. A total of 57 projects were entered for judging. The projects were divided into two categories, physical and biological sciences, and the judges awarded a first through fifth place in each category. (Submitted photo)

The St. Mary’s 2017 Middle School Science Fair was held on February 9, 2017. A total of 57 projects were entered for judging. The projects were divided into two categories, physical and biological sciences, and the judges awarded a first through fifth place in each category. (Submitted photo)

The St. Mary’s 2017 Middle School Science Fair was held on February 9, 2017. A total of 57 projects were entered for judging. The projects were divided into two categories, physical and biological sciences, and the judges awarded a first through fifth place in each category. (Submitted photo)


The St. Mary’s 2017 Middle School Science Fair was held on February 9.  A total of 57 projects were entered for judging. The projects were divided into two categories, physical and biological sciences, and the judges awarded a first through fifth place in each category. In addition, two honorable mentions were awarded in biological sciences and seven in physical sciences.

Physical Sciences Winners

[Read more…]

Weaver presents program on African-American involvement in Manhattan Project to Oak Ridge youth

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On February 22, in honor of Black History Month, Rose Weaver, in conjunction with Manhattan Project National Historical Park, presented an informative program on African-American involvement in the Manhattan Project and the creation of the “Secret City.” (Photo courtesy Manhattan Project National Historical Park)

On February 22, in honor of Black History Month, Rose Weaver, in conjunction with Manhattan Project National Historical Park, presented an informative program on African-American involvement in the Manhattan Project and the creation of the “Secret City.” (Photo courtesy Manhattan Project National Historical Park)

 

On February 22, in honor of Black History Month, Rose Weaver, in conjunction with Manhattan Project National Historical Park, presented an informative program on African-American involvement in the Manhattan Project and the creation of the “Secret City.”

Weaver is an active member of the Oak Ridge community and has a passion for preserving the history of the African-American presence since the city’s inception, a press release said. During the past 15 years, Weaver and her late brother, Terry Weaver, have been gathering oral histories and artifacts for a traveling exhibit to tell the stories of the rich history of Oak Ridge and to share with area youth.

She gave her program to a group of 20 young girls at Girls Inc. in Oak Ridge, the press release said. The girls are participating in a year-long educational program called Parks in Focus. The goal of the program is to educate the youths about the natural/cultural history of the area as well as basic photography skills. [Read more…]