Oak Ridge Today

Dowdell named MVP, leads girls in District 3 championship

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The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats won the District 3-AAA girls' basketball championship in 59-34 victory over Powell at Clinton High School on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats won the District 3-AAA girls’ basketball championship in a 59-34 victory over Powell at Clinton High School on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

CLINTON—Oak Ridge junior Mykia Dowdell was named most valuable player and the Lady Wildcats won their second straight District 3-AAA championship with a 59-34 victory over Powell at Clinton on Tuesday.

Oak Ridge (26-3) will play Bearden in a first-round Region 2-AAA tournament game at Wildcat Arena at 7 p.m. Friday. The Lady Bulldogs (24-3) lost to Hardin Valley 58-50 in a third-place District 4-AAA game at Hardin Valley Academy on Monday.

Dowdell led the Lady Wildcats with 21 points in the District 3 championship game against Powell on Tuesday, and she had at least six rebounds. She had eight points in the first quarter alone, and another six in the second.

While Dowdell was named MVP, three other Oak Ridge players were also named to the District 3-AAA All Tournament Team on Tuesday: senior Courtney Ellison, junior Jaymi Golden, and sophomore Jada Guinn. [Read more…]

Driskill named Roane State executive director for Oak Ridge campus, community relations

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Owen Driskill

Owen Driskill

 

Owen Driskill has been named Roane State Community College’s executive director for the Oak Ridge Campus and Community Relations.

Driskill joined Roane State’s staff in 2007 after a 10-year career in journalism as a reporter and editor. He served as Roane State’s news coordinator until 2011, when he became the college’s director of marketing and public relations.

Driskill serves on the boards of Explore Oak Ridge, First Steps Child Development Center in Oak Ridge, and the Oak Ridge Center for Leadership and Community Development. In addition, he is a member of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Advocacy Committee. He has been a volunteer mentor for tnAchieves, the nonprofit that coordinates mentors for Tennessee Promise students, since 2008. [Read more…]

UT, NOAA to collaborate on atmospheric sciences research

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Taylor Eighmy, UT vice chancellor for research and engagement, left, and Bruce Baker, director of NOAA’s Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Division, headquartered in Oak Ridge, right, sign a memorandum of agreement in Oak Ridge on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. (Photo courtesy University of Tennessee)

Taylor Eighmy, left, UT vice chancellor for research and engagement, and Bruce Baker, right, director of NOAA’s Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Division, which has headquarters in Oak Ridge, sign a memorandum of agreement in Oak Ridge on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. (Photo courtesy University of Tennessee)

 

The University of Tennessee in Knoxville has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Division, or ATDD, of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Air Resources Laboratory to advance collaborative research in atmospheric sciences. ATDD has headquarters in Oak Ridge.

The agreement was signed Wednesday, February 15, at ATDD headquarters in Oak Ridge, and it will help with joint efforts to advance understanding of air pollution, atmospheric transport processes, and weather on a regional and national level, a press release said. It also will create educational opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to collect scientific data, develop models and simulations, and transition research to applications and commercial use.

“The mission of the collaboration will be to train the next generation of scientists and engineers and provide the best available atmospheric data and scientific analysis to the global scientific community, to local and national decision makers, and to the general public,” said Bruce Baker, director of the ATDD. [Read more…]

Photos: Construction work on eighth rowing lane

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Rail work on the eighth rowing lane on the Oak Ridge rowing course is pictured above on Monday, Feb. 20, 2017. (Photo by Laurel Patrick/First Place Finish)

Rail work on the eighth lane of the Oak Ridge rowing course is pictured above on Monday, Feb. 20, 2017. (Photo by Laurel Patrick/First Place Finish)

 

Construction work continues on the eighth lane of the Oak Ridge rowing course.

Here are three recent photos by Laurel Patrick of First Place Finish, the contractor. The work includes a precast concrete block retaining wall and associated dredging and site work.

The construction of the eighth rowing lane is funded by a combination of state appropriations, City Capital Improvement funds, and a state tourism grant awarded to the Anderson County Tourism Council specifically for the eighth lane project. The Oak Ridge Rowing Association (ORRA), Explore Oak Ridge (the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau), and Visit Knoxville also contributed. [Read more…]

Photos: Panda Express, retail shops construction

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Construction work is pictured above on Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, in the area that will house a Panda Express restaurant and retail shops where Ruby Tuesday used to be on South Illinois Avenue. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Construction work is pictured above on Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, in the area that will house a Panda Express restaurant and retail shops where Ruby Tuesday used to be on South Illinois Avenue. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Construction work is under way in the small shopping center that will house a Panda Express restaurant and retail shops where Ruby Tuesday used to be on South Illinois Avenue.

Here are three photos of the work on Friday, February 10.

The former Ruby Tuesday restaurant was demolished in October.

A site plan for the Panda Express restaurant and retail development has been reviewed by the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission. [Read more…]

Photos: Main Street Oak Ridge construction

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Construction work continues for new stores at Main Street Oak Ridge, the redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall. This work on Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, is in the area that will house Dick's Sporting Goods and T.J. Maxx, roughly in the area of the former Sears department store. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Construction work continues for new stores at Main Street Oak Ridge, the redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall. This work on Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, is in the area that will house Dick’s Sporting Goods and T.J. Maxx, roughly in the area of the former Sears department store between Walmart and the U.S. Post Office. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Construction work continues for eight new stores at Main Street Oak Ridge, the redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall.

Here are photos from the 58-acre project on Friday, February 10.

With the exception of Belk and JCPenney, the former mall has been demolished, and there has been significant progress on the sites where the new stores are being built.

RealtyLink, the development company, has previously said the eight new stores at Main Street Oak Ridge could be ready by late spring or summer. [Read more…]

Bicyclist who died in SUV-bike crash on Sunday has been identified

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The bicyclist who died in the Sunday afternoon crash between a bicycle and a small sport utility vehicle has been identified as Verne Gilbert, 85, of Oak Ridge, authorities said.

The crash was reported at about 1:50 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike, or Highway 58, and Blair Road, or State Route 327, in west Oak Ridge. That’s just east of East Tennessee Technology Park, the former K-25 site.

Gilbert’s identity was not included in a City of Oak Ridge news release Sunday evening at the request of the family, a Monday afternoon press release said. [Read more…]

JMS robotics team to represent school, Tennessee at FIRST LEGO World Championships

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The Jefferson Middle School Master Builders finished a robot challenge game with a high score of 204 and won the first place overall Champion's Award in the FIRST Lego League East Tennessee State Championship at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017. The team received the Global Innovation Award. (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Schools)

The Jefferson Middle School Master Builders finished a robot challenge game with a high score of 204 and won the first place overall Champion’s Award in the FIRST Lego League East Tennessee State Championship at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017. The team received the Global Innovation Award. (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Schools)

 

Content written by team coaches—edited and submitted by Holly Cross

Three robotics teams from Jefferson Middle School competed in the FIRST Lego League East Tennessee State Championship at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville on February 11. One team will represent Jefferson Middle School and Tennessee at the FIRST LEGO World Championships in Houston in April.

To compete in the state championship, teams must first qualify at either the Knoxville, Nashville, Chattanooga, or Johnson City competitions. The Atomic Eagles, JMS Master Builders, and Radioactive Brix all qualified in Knoxville on December 3 at Hardin Valley Academy.

The Radioactive Brix (team # 3131) finished the robot challenge game with a high score of 90 and won second place in mechanical design. Members are: Johnny Clark, Grace Godfrey, Christopher Gorsuch, Ethan Holland, Colby Lawson, Josh Shubert, and Chrystalleni White. The team coach is Norma Franco. The team mentor is Justin Holland.

The Atomic Eagles (team #336) finished the robot challenge game with a high score of 110 and won the third place overall Champions Award. Members are: Ben Dallas, Lindsey Fiscor, Bethany Marshall, Amelie Nagle, Levi Parish, Brian Qu, and Alex Shanafield. The team coaches are Janie Shanafield and David Hundermark. The team mentor is Harold Shanafield. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge High School team advances to National Science Bowl

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An Oak Ridge High School team won first place in the 2017 Tennessee Science Bowl. Pictured above from left to right with their trophy are, front row, Coach Sharon Thomas, Henry Shen, and Wilson Huang; and back row, Stephen Qu, Joe Andress, and Adi Sujithkumar. (Photo courtesy U.S. Department of Energy)

An Oak Ridge High School team won first place in the 2017 Tennessee Science Bowl. Pictured above from left to right with their trophy are, front row, Coach Sharon Thomas, Henry Shen, and Wilson Huang; and back row, Stephen Qu, Joe Andress, and Adi Sujithkumar. (Photo courtesy U.S. Department of Energy)

 

After months of dogged determination to expand their knowledge of math and science, hone their competition skills, and function as a seamless unit, 60 high school teams from across the state of Tennessee gathered this past weekend to challenge their knowledge in broad science disciplines including chemistry, biology, physics, and energy to compete in the U.S. Department of Energy annual Tennessee Science Bowl.

Although fiercely competitive, only one school emerged the winner. That was Oak Ridge High School, which placed first and received an all-expenses-paid trip to the DOE National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C. The National Science Bowl will be held April 27-May 1. The ORHS team also received a $1,000 cash prize and a first-place trophy.

The Tennessee Science Bowl is the nation’s third-largest regional competition. Held at Pellissippi State Community College’s Blount County Campus, the regional bowl prepares students to compete nationally with other exceptional students from schools across the country, a DOE press release said. [Read more…]

Julie Kinder-McMillan named Teacher of the Year in Oak Ridge

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Julie Kinder-McMillan

Julie Kinder-McMillan

 

Julie Kinder-McMillan of Robertsville Middle School has been named Teacher of the Year for Oak Ridge Schools.

Kinder-McMillan is the schools district’s nominee for state-level awards that the Tennessee Department of Education gives each year to outstanding educators to recognize their meritorious service and devotion to students.

“The department applauds teachers who care about children, who devote their professional lives to enriching the lives of Tennessee children, and who demonstrate exceptional gains in student achievement,” a press release said. “Each district in the state may submit one nominee for the state-level award.

Kinder-McMillan teaches eighth-grade reading/language arts as well as journalism and yearbook.

“One of her passions is to educate students about the Holocaust using the ‘Diary of Anne Frank’ as a learning platform, as Anne is close in age to her students,” the press release said. “It provides an entry point and puts a face on the nameless numbers of victims. Julie has participated in numerous trainings to enhance her teaching, and had the pleasure of bringing in Holocaust survivor, Mira Kimmelman, to meet her students.” [Read more…]

Bicyclist, 85, dies in fatal bike-SUV crash

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The Oak Ridge Police Department investigates a fatal crash between an SUV and a bicycle at Highway 58 and Blair Road on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 19, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Oak Ridge Police Department investigates a fatal crash between an SUV and a bicycle at Highway 58 and Blair Road on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 19, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

An 85-year-old Oak Ridge bicyclist died in the Sunday afternoon crash between a sport utility vehicle and a bike on Highway 58 in west Oak Ridge on Sunday afternoon, authorities said.

The crash was reported at about 1:50 p.m. Sunday at State Route 58 and State Route 327, also known as Blair Road, just east of the East Tennessee Technology Park (the former K-25 site).

The bicyclist, an 85-year-old man from Oak Ridge, died as a result of his injuries, the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release.

“At the request of the family, the name of the bicyclist is not being released at this time,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Bicyclist dies after SUV-bike crash

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The Oak Ridge Police Department investigates a fatal crash between an SUV and a bicycle at Highway 58 and Blair Road on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 19, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Oak Ridge Police Department investigates a fatal crash between an SUV and a bicycle at Highway 58 and Blair Road on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 19, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 5 p.m.

A bicyclist died after a crash between a sport utility vehicle and a bike on Oak Ridge Turnpike in west Oak Ridge on Sunday, authorities said.

The crash was reported at about 1:52 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 58 and Blair Road. The male bicyclist had been taken to Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge after the crash.

Highway 58 is temporarily closed at the intersection with Blair Road, and vehicles are being detoured as police investigate. [Read more…]