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Sheriff’s Department warns of text message scam

Posted at 7:31 pm September 19, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 1 Comment

scam-alert

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department warned on Monday that cell phone users across the area are receiving text messages claiming to be alerts from Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union.

“These messages are not from the credit union, and the credit union says they will not contact consumers in this manner and ask for personal information,” the Sheriff’s Department said.

If you have called the number in the message and given them any information, you are urged to call the credit union at (800) 554-8969 to close your debit card and order a new one.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Sheriff's Department, scam, text message scam, text messages

Kmart store closing in December

Posted at 7:07 pm September 19, 2016
By John Huotari 2 Comments

big-kmart-oak-ridge-sept-16-2016-web

The Kmart store on South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge will close in mid-December. The store is pictured above on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Kmart store in Oak Ridge will close in mid-December, the company said Monday.

“We have been strategically and aggressively evaluating our store space and productivity, and have accelerated the closing of unprofitable stores as previously announced,” the company said in a statement. “We can confirm that we are making the difficult but necessary decision to close the Kmart store at 370 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.”

The store will remain open to customers until the mid-December closing and start a liquidation sale on September 22.

“We often hear from our members who are disappointed when we close a store, but our Shop Your Way membership platform, websites, and mobile apps allow us to maintain these valued relationships long after a store closes its doors,” Kmart said in the statement. “As a result, we hope to retain a portion of the sales previously associated with this store by maintaining our relationships with the members who shopped this location.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Slider Tagged With: closing, Kmart, Kmart store, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Parker Hardy

Suicide prevention is topic of September’s Health Night on the Town

Posted at 1:49 pm September 19, 2016
By Crystal Jordan Leave a Comment

John Kupfner

John Kupfner

Renu Bhateja

Renu Bhateja

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and in support of this important initiative, Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge is bringing together medical professionals from Peninsula, a division of Parkwest Medical Center, and Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services for a special Health Night on the Town presentation. The program will take place Tuesday, September 27, at 7 p.m. in the Ridge Conference Room at Methodist Medical Center, 990 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Join Methodist as John Kupfner, MD, board-certified psychiatrist on staff at Peninsula Behavioral Health, and Renu Bhateja, MD, psychiatrist at Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services, discuss suicide prevention, warning signs to look for in loved ones, and how to receive help.

Kupfner has been fellowship trained in child and adolescent psychiatry, a press release said. He received his medical degree from the University of Buffalo in Buffalo, New York, and he completed fellowship training at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. Kupfner currently serves as the department chair of Peninsula, medical director for Peninsula Outpatient Clinics, and works as a staff psychiatrist specializing in the treatment of children and adolescents. He also serves as an attending psychiatrist at Peninsula Hospital. Kupfner is the current chair of the Physician Wellness Committee at Parkwest Medical Center. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Health Tagged With: Health Night on the Town, John Kupfner, Methodist Medical Center, Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, Parkwest Medical Center, Peninsula, Renu Bhateja, Ridge Conference Room, Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services, Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

City Council, DOE manager to discuss relations, hiring, housing; water rates also on agenda

Posted at 1:30 pm September 19, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Kenneth R. Tarcza

Kenneth R. Tarcza (Photo courtesy DOE Oak Ridge Office)

 

Some members of the Oak Ridge City Council and some residents have had a few concerns related to the U.S. Department of Energy and its contractors, including whether the DOE sites are doing enough to encourage new employees to live in Oak Ridge and whether DOE is paying enough on its payments in lieu of taxes to the City of Oak Ridge.

A more recent concern is whether DOE is paying enough for water supplied by the city to Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 National Security Complex, which are both federal sites.

On Tuesday, the Oak Ridge City Council could discuss these issues as it meets in a non-voting work session with Kenneth R. Tarcza, manager of DOE’s Oak Ridge Operations. The work session, which is open to the public, starts at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Central Services Complex on Woodbury Lane (behind the Kmart shopping center).

Among the DOE-related items on the agenda are a discussion and review of city-DOE relations, local hiring for DOE projects, housing, and “other related issues.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Office, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Central Services Complex, Chris Mitchell, Chuck Hope, City of Oak Ridge, DOE, East Tennessee Technology Park, Janice McGinnis, Kenneth R. Tarcza, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Office, Oak Ridge Operations, ORNL, payments in lieu of taxes, retail rate, sewer rates, U.S. Department of Energy, water and sewer rates, water consumption, water rate, work session, Y-12, Y-12 National Security Complex

Photos: ORHS WildBand, color guard perform in Lenoir City

Posted at 11:42 am September 19, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

oak-ridge-wildcats-band-at-lenoir-city-football-sept-16-2016-16-web

The Oak Ridge High School WildBand performs during halftime of the Oak Ridge-Lenoir City football game in Lenoir City on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge High School WildBand and color guard performed at halftime of the Oak Ridge-Lenoir City football game on Friday. Here are pictures by John Huotari of Oak Ridge Today. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Entertainment, Front Page News, High School, Music, Sports Tagged With: Color Guard, Oak Ridge High School Wildband, Oak Ridge-Lenoir City football game, ORHS, ORHS WildBand, Wildband

Anderson County Commission meets Monday (today)

Posted at 11:41 am September 19, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

The Anderson County Commission will meet Monday, September 19, at 6:30 p.m. in Room 312 of the Courthouse in Clinton.

Among the items on the agenda will be the election of a chair, vice chair, and parliamentarian.

Commissioners could head into executive session during the meeting as Anderson County Law Director Jay Yeager’s report to the Commission indicated that a settlement offer has been made in the wrongful termination lawsuit filed by former Public Works Department employee Lisa Crumpley, who sued the county alleging that she had been fired in retaliation for cooperating with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation on an investigation into her former boss David Crowley. Crowley was indicted last October on charges of illegally inspecting buildings without the proper certification, and he fired Crumpley the day the indictment was unsealed. He was ultimately acquitted in the spring by a jury. No details of that potential settlement have been made public, but it will require Commission approval. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Government Tagged With: ACTV, Anderson County Animal Control Facility, Anderson County Commission, ATV riders, David Crowley, Edgemoor Road, Jay Yeager, Lisa Crumpley, Operations Committee, owner-surrendered animals, Public Works Department, TDOT, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Department of Transportation, WYSH Radio

Football: Cougars blank Dragons 35-0, improve to 5-0

Posted at 11:40 am September 19, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio/Oak Ridge Today

Campbell County improved to a school-record 5-0 and 2-0 in Region 3-5A as they pulled away after halftime at home against Clinton on Friday. The Cougars won 35-0.

Zach Rutherford threw for 278 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Logan Phillips that covered 56 and 58 yards, respectively. Patrick Strunk provided the balance for the Cougar offensive attack as he ran for 147 yards and two touchdowns.

Clinton (1-4, 1-2) was held to eight first downs and was outgained 450-183. Ahmaad “Ro” Hardin led Clinton with 90 rushing yards, and J’Quan Thomas provided the Dragons’ lone defensive highlight with an interception.

Campbell County led 14-0 at halftime but scored 21 points in the third quarter to put the game out of reach and start the clock running continuously. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Sports Tagged With: Ahmaad “Ro” Hardin, Anderson County, Caleb Martin, Campbell County, Chris Powell, Clinton, Cougars, Dragons, J'Quan Thomas, Logan Phillips, Mavericks, Oak Ridge, Patrick Strunk, Stanton Martin, Union County, WYSH Radio, Zach Rutherford

ADFAC receives Tennessee Housing Development Agency grant

Posted at 11:03 am September 19, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 2 Comments

ralph-m-perrey-and-annie-cachiero-at-adfac-ribbon-cutting-sept-15-2016

THDA Executive Director Ralph M. Perrey and ADFAC Executive Director Annie Cachiero cut the ribbon on a rehabilitated home on Wainwright Road in Oak Ridge on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016. (Photo courtesy THDA/Wes Bunch)

 

State officials and local leaders joined Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties in Oak Ridge on Thursday afternoon to help cut the ribbon on a newly renovated home located in the city’s Highland View neighborhood.

The formerly blighted and vacant home was rehabilitated with the help of a $67,410 Housing Trust Fund grant the Tennessee Housing Development Agency awarded ADFAC in 2015. ADFAC obtained the property on Wainwright Road through a donation.

THDA Executive Director Ralph Perrey told those attending the ribbon cutting that it was important for the state to recognize innovative work being done to improve access to affordable housing.

“This project is exactly the kind of work that our Housing Trust Fund grant program was created to assist,” Perrey said. “We are glad to work with partners like ADFAC who continue to have a positive impact on the communities they serve.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Government, Nonprofits, State, Top Stories Tagged With: ADFAC, affordable homes, Affordable Housing Program, Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, Cindy Ross, grant, Highland View, Housing Trust Fund, HTF grant, Ralph Perrey, Tennessee Housing Development Agency, THDA, Wes Bunch

Not sure what the Charter Commission is? Hear from candidates on Tuesday

Posted at 10:19 am September 19, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce has a forum for candidates for the Anderson County Charter Commission on Tuesday morning.

It’s the first candidate forum for the November 8 election.

The Charter Commission candidate forum will start at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 20, in the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Joyce Conference Room. It’s free and open to the public.

There are 20 candidates for eight seats on the new Charter Commission. The Tuesday morning forum at the Oak Ridge Chamber will feature candidates from the county’s District 6, District 7, and District 8, which all include parts of Oak Ridge.

There are seven candidates for those three seats: [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Election, Anderson County, Front Page News, Government, Government, Slider Tagged With: Anderson County Charter Commission, Anderson County Election Commission, Bob Smallridge, candidate forum, David G. Stanley, Hugh B. Ward Jr., Kathleen D. Moore, Marjorie Mott Lloyd, Mark Stephens, November 8 election, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Oak Ridge City Council, state representative, Steve Mead, term limits, Theresa Scott

Cross country: Oak Ridge boys finish second, Etheridge third

Posted at 7:40 pm September 18, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Jake Etheridge State Cross Country Nov. 7, 2015

Oak Ridge senior Jake Etheridge, left, who is shown above running in the state Class AAA cross country meet in Nashville on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015, finished third in the Cherokee Classic in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 8:15 p.m.

The Oak Ridge boys cross country team finished second in a meet in Knoxville on Saturday, and senior Jake Etheridge finished third.

The Oak Ridge girls finished 10th.

The boys, competing against 35 other teams, were running shorthanded because Daeton Byars, the team’s number three, didn’t run, and Jose Villegas ran it as a workout rather than as a race, Oak Ridge Coach Allen Etheridge said.

“He’s just getting his legs back under him,” Etheridge said of Villegas.

Finishing in first place at the Cherokee Classic in Knoxville was Daniel Boone High School with 61 points. Oak Ridge was second with 83 points.

Behind them were Maryville (128 points), Knoxville Catholic (146), and Farragut (160). [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Sports Tagged With: Abbey Greenhalgh, Allen Etheridge, Ben Varghese, boys cross country, Carter Coughlin, Chance Bowman, Cherokee Classic, Christian Academy of Knoxville, Christian Borden, cross country, Daeton Byars, Dalton Morgan, Daniel Boone High School, Dobyns-Bennett High School, Farragut, Genevieve Schwartz, Georde Goodwyn, girls Class A-AA cross country meet, Jake Etheridge, Jake Renfree, Jose Villegas, Knoxville Catholic, Maryville, Morristown West, Niki Narayani, Oak Ridge, Rebecca Story, Reid Dukes, Robyn Wood, Sasha Neglia, Seth Bowden, Shila Kapaya, state Class A-AA track and field championships, state Class AAA boys cross country meet, Taylor Cosey, Webb School of Knoxville, West, Will Jeter, Zac Branham

Football photos, videos: Oak Ridge vs. Lenoir City

Posted at 6:20 pm September 18, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

oak-ridge-lenoir-city-football-johnny-stewart-handoff-sept-16-2016-web

Oak Ridge junior quarterback Johnny Stewart (2) hands off the football during a 45-8 win at Lenoir City on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016. Stewart threw for 201 yards and three touchdowns, and he had 12 completions on 20 attempts (60 percent). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

LENOIR CITY—The Oak Ridge Wildcats beat the Lenoir City Panthers 45-8 in Lenoir City on Friday. Here are photos and videos from the game. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Sports Tagged With: Adarius Cox, Caleb Jackson, Caleb Martin, Chase Kimbro, Jack Borchers, Jacob Gross, Jaret Miner, Jeremy Mitchell, Johnny Stewart, Ka'Yon Waters, Lenoir City, Lenoir City Panthers, Martin McDonald, Myles Hebrard, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Wildcats, Ramar Hawkins, Tee Higgins, Tre Jackson, Tyler Dutton

Caleb Jackson scores twice, recovers two turnovers in Wildcats’ win at Lenoir City

Posted at 5:39 pm September 18, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

oak-ridge-lenoir-city-football-caleb-jackson-run-2-sept-16-2016-web

Oak Ridge senior Caleb Jackson (25) scored two touchdowns for the Wildcats on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, and he recovered two Lenoir City turnovers during a 45-8 win over the Panthers in Lenoir City. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

LENOIR CITY—Oak Ridge senior Caleb Jackson scored two touchdowns for the Wildcats on Friday, and he recovered two Lenoir City turnovers during a 45-8 win over the Panthers.

Senior wide receiver Tee Higgins, a Clemson commitment, added three touchdowns for Oak Ridge.

The Wildcats scored on their first four drives, once after intercepting Lenoir City sophomore quarterback Gabe Williams.

Halfway through the regular season, Oak Ridge is undefeated at 5-0 overall and 3-0 in Region 3-5A.

Lenoir City fell to 1-4 and 0-2 with the loss at home on Cecil Thomas Field.

Oak Ridge plays Sevier County (1-4, 1-1 Region 1-5A) at home on Blankenship Field at 7:30 p.m. September 23. It’s Homecoming Night. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Slider, Sports, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Adarius Cox, Adarius Simpson, Anderson County, Blankenship Field, Brantley Stockett, Caelan Thompson, Caleb Jackson, Carson McGhee, Chase Kimbro, Gabe Williams, Jacob Gross, Jaret Miner, Joe Gaddis, Johnny Stewart, Jordan Graham, Kyndall Clark, Landon Miller, Lenoir City, Oak Ridge, Panthers, Region 3-5A, Sevier County, Tee Higgins, Wildcats, Wilson Hammer

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