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Oak Ridge one of 12 school districts to receive grants for summer reading programs

Posted at 7:25 pm May 16, 2016
By Holly Cross Leave a Comment

On Friday, May 13, Education Commissioner Candice McQueen announced the recipients of the 2016 Read to be Ready Summer Grant.

Earlier this year, in conjunction with the launch of the statewide Read to be Ready Campaign, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation gave a $1 million gift to the department to award for summer reading programs during the next three years. This spring, the department received more than 200 proposals and has selected 12 summer programs from across the state to receive funding, a press release said.

“With less than half of the state’s third-graders currently reading on grade level, we must approach reading in new and innovative ways,” McQueen said in the press release. “Read to be Ready summer grants will support individual communities as they tailor their approach to reading to meet the needs of the families they serve.”

Read to be Ready is a coordinated approach to move third-grade reading proficiency in Tennessee to 75 percent by 2025. The campaign seeks to raise awareness about the importance of reading, unite efforts to address the reading gap, highlight best practices, and build partnerships. Read to be Ready summer grants are designed to support students even after the last day of school, the press release said.

The awarded program recipients’ region, district, and director of the program are below: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12, Top Stories Tagged With: Amelia Bell, Candice McQueen, Dollar General Literacy Foundation, Gwen Harrell, Read to be Ready, Read to be Ready Campaign, Read to Be Ready Summer Grant, reading proficiency, summer reading

Five arrested after drug investigation in Anderson County

Posted at 6:50 pm May 16, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Michael Antonio Johnson

Michael Antonio Johnson

Note: This story was updated at 10:32 p.m.

Five people were arrested Friday, May 13, after a search warrant was served at an Old Dutch Valley Road home, authorities said. Anderson County Sheriff’s Department investigators and agents with the Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force were assisted by the Sheriff’s Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Unit and Special Weapons and Tactics Team in serving the search warrant, which was obtained after an investigation into illegal drug and other criminal activity at the home, a press release said.

The two residents of the home, Michael Antonio Johnson, 44, and Lucy Jane Lowe, 35, were arrested for several felony and misdemeanor drug, weapons, and conspiracy offenses, the press release said.

Two others, Branden Charles Dye, 23, of Clinton, and Roxanne Nicole Luckey, of Briceville, were arrested for misdemeanor drug charges, authorities said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Unit, Anderson County, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Branden Charles Dye, drug investigation, John Edward Pratt, Lucy Jane Lowe, Michael Antonio Johnson, Old Dutch Valley Road, Roxanne Nicole Luckey, Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force, Special Operations Unit, Special Weapons and Tactics Team

Oak Ridge qualifies for state tournament in seven track, field events

Posted at 10:49 am May 16, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

This photo is property of Allen Greene. Unauthorized use of this photo is not permitted without consent.

Oak Ridge freshman Kate Hausladen qualified for this month’s state track and field tournament by finishing first in the girls 300-meter hurdles and third in the 100-meter hurdles in the Section I Championship at Science Hill High School on Saturday, May 14, 2016. (Photo by Allen Greene Photography)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:30 p.m.

Eleven Oak Ridge athletes have qualified for this month’s state tournament in seven track and field events. Three athletes—freshman Kate Hausladen, sophomore Jose Villegas, and senior Tyler Boullie—will each compete in two events.

Hausladen finished first in the girls 300-meter hurdles at Science Hill High School on Saturday with a time of 47.47. She was third in the 100-meter hurdles at 16.86.

Boullie was second in the boys 800-meter run at 1:56.04. He was also on the boys 4×800-meter relay team that finished third at 8:05.88. The other members of that relay team are Villegas, senior Thomas Colburn, junior Jacob Etheridge, and alternate Reid Dukes, a junior.

Besides qualifying as a member of the relay team, Villegas also qualified for state by finishing fourth in the boys 3,200-meter run with a time of 9:57.14.

To qualify for state, an athlete or team must finish in the top four in an event. Saturday’s qualifying meet was the Section I Championship at Science Hill in upper East Tennessee.

Also qualifying for state were: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Slider, Sports, Sports Tagged With: 100-meter hurdles, 2016 Spring Fling, 300-meter hurdles, 3200-meter run, 4x100-meter relay, 4x800-meter relay, Allen Etheridge, Caleb Downard, Derek Flatford, Jacob Etheridge, Jada Guinn, Jae'shawn Maddox, Jordan Graham, Kate Hausladen, Kayla Summers, long jump, Oak Ridge, Reid Dukes, Science Hill High School, Section I Championship, Thomas Colburn, Tony Miller, track and field, Tyler Boullie, Wildcats

Learn about secrecy, security, spies during Manhattan Project on Friday

Posted at 1:50 pm May 15, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Turnpike Checking station

The Turnpike Gatehouse on Oak Ridge Turnpike in west Oak Ridge is pictured above. (Submitted photo)

 

A program in west Oak Ridge on Friday, May 20, will give visitors some insight into what life was like in the city during the Manhattan Project with all the security, the need for secrecy, and the concern for spies, a press release said.

The program will be presented by the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. It starts at 3 p.m. May 20 at the Turnpike Gatehouse, which is located at 2900 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge.

Visitors that are taking the U.S. Department of Energy public tour are encouraged to attend the program after the tour, the press release said.

This program is free and open to the public. Parking is limited, so please try to carpool if possible. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Front Page News, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: American Museum of Science and Energy, Hanford, Los Alamos, Manhattan Project, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, National Park Service, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Turnpike, secrecy, security, spies, Turnpike Gatehouse, U.S. Department of Energy

Wanted by TBI, Rogersville fugitive captured in Hawkins County

Posted at 1:04 pm May 15, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Gary Simpson

Gary Simpson

A Rogersville man who was added to the TBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted list Thursday was captured later that afternoon in Hawkins County, authorities said.

Gary Simpson, 57, was wanted by the Rogersville Police Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for especially aggravated kidnapping.

On May 4, Simpson kidnapped 9-year-old Carlie Marie Trent from school, the TBI said. He had no custodial rights to Carlie.

Simpson was the suspect of the AMBER Alert issued this month for Carlie Trent. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Police and Fire, Tennessee Tagged With: Amber Alert, Carlie Marie Trent, Carlie Trent, especially aggravated kidnapping, Gary Simpson, Rogersville Police Department, TBI, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Top Ten Most Wanted

Jefferson Middle School wins one of twenty 2016 Shape the State grants

Posted at 12:49 pm May 15, 2016
By Holly Cross Leave a Comment

Jefferson Middle School

Jefferson Middle School

Jefferson Middle School is one of 20 recipients this year of a Shape the State grant that includes the highly touted SPARK curriculum and its accompanying equipment for physical education courses. The grant includes an additional $1,000 for desired improvements to the wellness/nutrition/PE program.

Jefferson Middle School PE teachers will receive curriculum training on-site on September 19 and 20.

Robertsville Middle School received a similar grant last year, so this year’s grant will ensure all Oak Ridge middle school PE teachers have had the opportunity for the training, a press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12, Top Stories Tagged With: grant, Jefferson Middle School, Oak Ridge, PE, physical education, Robertsville Middle School, Shape the State, SPARK!

Knoxville Opera’s Salesky brings program to Oak Ridge on Tuesday

Posted at 11:51 am May 15, 2016
By Cleva Marrow Leave a Comment

Brian Salesky

Brian Salesky

Maestro Brian Salesky, executive director and conductor of Knoxville Opera, will present a dynamic program illustrating the history of opera and musical theater at Lunch with the League on Tuesday, May 17. The program starts at noon Tuesday in the sanctuary of Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, which is located at 309 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Salesky will be joined by two opera singers in his exposition of Opera 101, soprano Sarah Fitch and baritone Kevin Doherty. Both have performed roles in Knoxville Opera’s productions at the Tennessee Theatre and are graduates of the University of Tennessee, a press release said.

Opera 101, which can be adapted for different age groups, is one of several in the Knoxville Opera Education Program. In information provided for the upcoming program, Salesky said Knoxville Opera annually presents 75-100 education events for the community, including the recent Rossini Festival, Knoxville Opera Goes to Church, African-American Voices Series, and in-school operas, reaching up to 100,000 people. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Entertainment, Front Page News, Meetings and Events, Music Tagged With: Brian Salesky, Cleva Marrow, Kevin Doherty, Knoxville Opera, League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, Lunch with the League, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, Opera 101, opera programs singers, Sarah Fitch, Tennessee Theatre, University of Tennessee

Running for Office Workshop on Thursday at Oak Ridge Chamber

Posted at 11:37 am May 15, 2016
By Kathy Gillenwaters Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce building is pictured above.

 

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce is offering a free workshop for anyone interested in running for local office on Thursday, May 19. The workshop is scheduled from 7-8:30 p.m. May 19 in the Joyce Conference Room at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce. It’s open to the public.

The workshop will be conducted by Bob Eby, who has successfully run four campaigns over four decades and currently serves on the Oak Ridge Board of Education. He will share advice that he has received from elected officials over the years as well as his own observations and experiences during the past 30 years. Eby will share his list of things you must do, the things to avoid, and things to consider in order to run a successful campaign. There will be an opportunity for participants to ask questions and discuss issues. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, Government, Meetings and Events, Oak Ridge Tagged With: Bob Eby, Greta Ownby, Kathy Gillenwaters, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, running for office, workshop

Learn about gravitational waves at ORION astronomy lecture

Posted at 11:30 am May 15, 2016
By Jennifer Hartwig Leave a Comment

Michael Guidry

Michael Guidry

Learn about gravitational waves during an ORION astronomy club meeting on Wednesday.

The meeting will feature Mike Guidry, professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Tennessee and an adjunct staff member with Oak Ridge National Laboratory Physics and Computer Science departments.

On September 14, 2015, the event detectors from the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory, or LIGO, facilities in Washington and Louisiana recorded data that was consistent with the merging of two black holes, a press release said. Together, the recorded data form the event known as GW150914. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Meetings and Events Tagged With: astronomy, black holes, gravitational waves, GW150914, Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory, LIGO, Michael Guidry, Mike Guidry, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORION astronomy club, physics, science, University of Tennessee

Oak Ridge High School has Honors Night for Class of 2016

Posted at 11:19 am May 15, 2016
By Holly Cross Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge High School

The main entrance at Oak Ridge High School is pictured above.

 

Oak Ridge High School will celebrate the accomplishments of this year’s graduating senior class on Monday, May 23. The celebration will start at 7 p.m. in the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center.

Those members of the senior class who have earned a “B” average and above through the end of their junior year will receive a cord and certificate to commemorate their outstanding achievement. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12, Meetings and Events Tagged With: National Honor Society, Oak Ridge High Schools, Performing Arts Center, senior class

Soccer photos: Oak Ridge and Halls

Posted at 12:28 pm May 14, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Wildcats-Belbeck-Halls-May-13-2016

Oak Ridge freshman John Belbeck (22) tries to evade Halls players during a 10-2 district championship win at home on Friday, May 13, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Oak Ridge won the District 3-AAA championship with a 10-2 victory over Halls at home on Friday. Here are photos from the game.

Wildcats-McGhee-Halls-May-13-2016

Oak Ridge sophomore forward Carson McGhee (15) dribbles the ball during a 10-2 district championship win over Halls at home on Friday, May 13, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Media, Photos, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Austin Vinyard, Blake Clowers, Brent Robinson, Carson McGhee, District 3-AAA, District 3-AAA championship, Halls, Joel Turner, John Belbeck, Lewis Wang, Masa Kato, Matthew Malagon, Oak Ridge, soccer, Stefan Mortl

Wildcats win district championship

Posted at 9:59 pm May 13, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Wildcats-Belbeck-Halls-May-13-2016

Oak Ridge freshman John Belbeck (22) tries to evade Halls players during a 10-2 district championship win at home on Friday, May 13, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 12:30 p.m. May 14.

Oak Ridge won the District 3-AAA championship with a 10-2 victory over Halls at home on Friday.

The Wildcats (13-7) advance to play the loser of Saturday’s District 4-AAA championship game between Bearden and Maryville. The District 4 runner-up will come to Oak Ridge to play in a Region 2-AAA semifinal game on Tuesday.

The Red Devils (10-7), the District 3 runner-up, advance to play the winner of the Bearden-Maryville District 4 championship game.

It was the second time Oak Ridge played Halls this year, and the win was more lopsided this time. The Wildcats, who finished the season undefeated in the district with a 7-0 record, won the first game against the Red Devils, a regular season game, 4-1 on April 7.

“I think we’re a different team now,” Oak Ridge Coach Jeff Trombly said.

Halls finished the regular season second in the district with a 6-2 record. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Slider, Sports, Sports Tagged With: Austin Vinyard, Austyn Lincoln, Bearden, Brent Robinson, Cam Coker, Carson McGhee, District 3-AAA, District 3-AAA championship, District 4-AAA, Halls, Jeff Trombly, Joel Turner, John Belbeck, Jose Rodriguez, Maryville, Masa Kato, Matthew Malagon, Nathan Kidder, Oak Ridge, Red Devils, Region 2 semifinal, Wildcats

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