Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridger wins Paul Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award

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On Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016, Jack Bailey of Oak Ridge and Demeco Ryans of Bessemer, Ala., received the University of Alabama’s Paul W. Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award during halftime of the Crimson Tide’s first home game against Western Kentucky. (Submitted photo)

 

On Saturday, September 10, Jack Bailey of Oak Ridge and Demeco Ryans of Bessemer, Alabama, received the University of Alabama’s Paul W. Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award during halftime of the Crimson Tide’s first home game against Western Kentucky.

The award, presented by the University of Alabama National Alumni Association, was bestowed on the two men at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

Bailey, past district governor of Rotary District 6780 (which has 3,200 Rotarians in 65 clubs in East Tennessee) and a graduate of Oak Ridge High School, is the first male track and field athlete to receive the award in its 29-year history.

Ryans played football for the Crimson Tide from 2002 to 2005 and in the NFL for 10 years.

The award honors them for “their exceptional accomplishments regarding character, contributions to society, professional achievements, and service to their fellowman.” Past recipients include Bart Starr, Ozzie Newsome, Lee Roy Jordan, Bill Battle, Mal Moore, Joe Namath, and Sylvester Croom Jr. [Read more…]

Park Service, DOE seek comment on foundation document for new Manhattan Project park

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Manhattan Project National Historical Park Opens Nov. 12, 2015

The iconic “War Ends” photo is recreated in part on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015, with a “Park Opens” photo that celebrates the new Manhattan Project National Historical Park, which includes Oak Ridge. (U.S. Department of Energy photo by Lynn Freeny)

 

The National Park Service and U.S. Department of Energy are asking the public to review and comment on a draft foundation document for the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. The park includes Oak Ridge, and it was established in November 2015.

The foundation document is designed to affirm the park’s core mission and significance, its key resources and values, and the interpretive themes that tell its stories, a press release said.

Formally established last November at DOE locations in three states, the park marks the history of the mid-20th Century people, science, and events that led to creation of the atomic bomb in the top-secret effort known as the Manhattan Project.

Foundation documents are guidance tools individualized for each of the National Park Service’s 413 units to direct basic park planning and management, the press release said. [Read more…]

ORNL United Way campaign tops $900,000, an increase from 2015

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Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s United Way campaign’s $900,000 “big check” with, from left, Ann Weaver, whose Facilities Management Division was the top special fundraiser; 2016 chair Sharon Kohler; co-chair Ken Tobin; Facilities and Operations Director Jimmy Stone, directorate challenge winner for large directorates; and David Keim, representing the Office of the Laboratory Director, the challenge winner for smaller directorates. (ORNL photo by Genevieve Martin)

 

The 2016 United Way campaign at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory raised $900,000—an increase of $30,000 over the 2015 campaign.

“This is a fantastic and generous offer of support from our employees, management, volunteers, and everyone who has been associated in one way or another with this year’s United Way effort,” said campaign chair Sharon Kohler.

The $900,000 total included a corporate contribution from UT-Battelle. Kohler credited the lab’s Leadership Givers, who contribute a certain percentage of their salary per pay period, for providing 65 percent of the total designated by staff through payroll deduction. There were 22 new Leadership Givers joining this year. [Read more…]

Mavericks uncork big plays, notch 8th straight Crosstown Showdown victory

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Information from WYSH Radio

Anderson County 71, Clinton 43: Stanton Martin completed 20 of 24 passes Friday night for 420 yards and seven touchdowns, while also adding 56 yards and a touchdown on the ground as the Mavericks capitalized on defensive breakdowns for several big plays on their way to an eighth straight win in the Crosstown Showdown with Clinton. The Mavericks have now won in 17 of the last 18 games.

Three different Maverick receivers caught two touchdowns each: Caleb Bethel (nine catches for 157 yards), Thyshaud Thrasher (five catches for 98 yards), and Michael Carroll, two catches for 99 yards. Everette Dews caught the seventh scoring strike.

Mason Phillips also had a strong offensive game for Anderson County as he tallied 125 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The Mavericks racked up 604 yards of total offense. [Read more…]

CHS football: Kerr under fire; Parrott responds

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Information from WYSH Radio

After a disappointing start to the 2016 season, some fans of Clinton High School football have seemingly run out of patience. Anderson County Director of Schools Tim Parrott sent a letter Friday afternoon to local media outlets, county commissioners, school board members, administrators at Clinton High, and some parents urging people to stop spreading what he called “untruths” about Clinton football coach Josh Kerr.

Parrott said in the letter that he has met with parents of one football player and three community members that he said had concerns about the Dragon football program and Kerr. Parrott said he has met with Kerr supporters as well. In the letter, Parrott writes, “I have listened to their comments, been present at football practice and games over the past six years, and I have never witnessed Coach Kerr belittling players, being unsafe, or not playing to win.”

Parrott said that all coaches are also teachers and operate on one-year contracts that are evaluated at the end of each school year. [Read more…]

Volleyball: Lady Wildcats finish undefeated in district

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The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats finished undefeated in the district at home against Central on Senior Night on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (Photo by Jennifer Galloway)

 

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats volleyball team finished undefeated in the district with a 3-0 win over Central on Senior Night at home on Thursday.

That win followed a 3-0 win over Clinton last Monday and 3-0 wins over Powell and Halls the previous week.

Oak Ridge (20-8, 8-0 District 3-AAA) has two games remaining in the regular season. The first is against Farragut at home on Tuesday, September 27. It’s the annual Dig Pink match meant to raise awareness of breast cancer, and it’s expected to be a good match. Junior varsity teams start at 5 p.m., and varsity matches begin at 6.

Farragut (19-3, 5-0 District 4-AAA) finished as state runner-up in Class AAA last year, losing 3-0 to Brentwood in the state championship game in Murfreesboro in October.

Here are final scores from the Oak Ridge-Central game on Thursday: [Read more…]

The Young and the Registered: LWVOR kicks off voter registration project for eligible youth

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One bright spot leading into the 2016 presidential race is that data shows that a record number of young people are paying attention, and they’re excited to vote this year. To celebrate “National Voter Registration Day” on September 27, the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge will focus on registering and educating young people about the importance of being a voter.

During their lunch periods eligible students at Oak Ridge, Clinton, and Anderson County High Schools can register to vote at tables set up by LWVOR volunteers that will be located in or near the cafeterias.

Students and the public are also invited to register to vote at the Oak Ridge campus of Roane State Community College between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on the first floor of the Goff building located next to the main building. [Read more…]

Higgins scores three TDs as Wildcats roll to 35 in first quarter against Smoky Bears

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Oak Ridge senior Tee Higgins (5) returned two punts for touchdowns and he also caught a touchdown pass during a 42-10 win over Sevier County on Blankenship Field on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

Senior Tee Higgins scored three touchdowns, including two on punt returns, as the Oak Ridge Wildcats jumped out to a quick 35-0 lead over Sevier County at home on Friday.

After five touchdowns in the first quarter, though, Oak Ridge only scored once more the rest of the game. Still, the scoring outburst in the first quarter was enough to give the Wildcats (6-0, 3-0 Region 3-5A) a 42-10 win.

Oak Ridge Coach Joe Gaddis said the Wildcats started well but didn’t play well in the last three quarters.

“We weren’t good after the first quarter,” Gaddis said. “We got sloppy. We got complacent.”

When you’re ahead of a team like that, Gaddis said, you’ve got to finish them. [Read more…]

Football photos II: Oak Ridge-Sevier County

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Oak Ridge senior wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) dives for a touchdown on a four-yard pass in the first quarter of a 42-10 win over Sevier County on Blankenship Field on Homecoming Night on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

Oak Ridge jumped to a quick 35-0 first-quarter lead over Sevier County on Friday, and the Wildcats finished with a 42-10 win on Homecoming Night. Here is the second set of photos by Luther Simmons. [Read more…]

Football photos: Oak Ridge-Sevier County

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Oak Ridge sophomore Jordan Graham (22) runs during a 42-10 win over Sevier County on Blankenship Field on Homecoming Night on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

Oak Ridge jumped to a quick 35-0 first-quarter lead over Sevier County on Friday, and the Wildcats finished with a 42-10 win on Homecoming Night. Here are photos by Luther Simmons. [Read more…]

Photos: 2016 Oak Ridge Sports Hall of Fame inductees

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Inductees of the Class of 2016 Oak Ridge Sports Hall of Fame are pictured above. From left to right they are Eric Menefee, Howie Moss, Phillip Boatner, and Don Stephens. (Photo by Mike Kelly)

 

Note: This story was updated at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 27.

The inductees of the Class of 2016 Oak Ridge Sports Hall of Fame were recognized at halftime Friday during the Oak Ridge-Sevier County football game.

They are pictured above in a photo by Mike Kelly, and they are Eric Menefee, Howie Moss, Phillip Boatner, and Don Stephens.

Here is more information about the athletes from Oak Ridge Sports Hall of Fame with photos by Luther Simmons: [Read more…]

Photo: ORHS 2016 Homecoming King, Queen

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Pictured above are Oak Ridge High School 2016 Homecoming King Tyshawn Young, right, and Queen Courtney Ellison. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

The Oak Ridge High School 2016 Homecoming King and Queen were announced at halftime of the Oak Ridge-Sevier County football game on Friday, which was Homecoming.

The 2016 Homecoming King is Tyshawn Young, and the Homecoming Queen is Courtney Ellison. Wildcats fans may recognize them as members of the boys and girls basketball teams.

The 2016 Homecoming Court is pictured below. [Read more…]