Oak Ridge Today

Photos: Butch Jones, Zach Azzanni watch basketball at Wildcat Arena

Posted at
By 10 Comments

Joe-Gaddis-Zach-Azzanni-Holly-Ric-Cross-Jan-29-2016

Oak Ridge Wildcats Football Coach Joe Gaddis, left, sits with Zach Azzanni, University of Tennessee Volunteers wide receivers coach, during an Oak Ridge-Gibbs basketball game at Wildcat Arena on Friday, Jan. 29, 2016. Basketball player Tee Higgins, a 6-foot-5 junior and wide receiver, has committed to play football at UT. Also pictured in front above are Holly Cross and Ric Cross. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

University of Tennessee Volunteers football coach Butch Jones was at the Friday night Oak Ridge-Gibbs basketball game. So was UT wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni.

Oak Ridge junior Tee Higgins, who plays basketball and football, has committed to play football for the UT Volunteers. Although the two football coaches couldn’t say why they were at Wildcat Arena, the Friday night game gave them an opportunity to see Higgins play.

Here are pictures by John Huotari of Oak Ridge Today. [Read more…]

Wildcats sweep Gibbs, but Butch Jones steals the show

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Butch-Jones-Wildcat-Arena-Jan-29-2016

University of Tennessee Coach Butch Jones, left, watches the Oak Ridge Wildcats play basketball at home on Friday, Jan. 29, 2015. Tee Higgins, a junior guard, has committed to play football at UT. Higgins is a wide receiver. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:25 a.m.

The Oak Ridge Wildcats swept Gibbs at home on Friday, but University of Tennessee football coach Butch Jones stole the show.

Although they couldn’t discuss why they were there, Jones and Zach Azzanni, UT wide receivers coach, were at Wildcat Arena on Friday to watch 6-foot-5 junior Tee Higgins. Besides playing basketball well, Higgins is also a wide receiver, defensive back, and kick returner who has committed to play football for the UT Volunteers. He was named Tennessee Titans Mr. Football in November, recognized as Back of the Year in Class 5A.

Jones and Azzanni also attended a Wildcats football game in the fall, when Oak Ridge beat Lenoir City 55-15 on September 18.

When Jones arrived at the basketball game on Friday, the excited student section—many of them dressed in Volunteer orange—began singing “It’s great to be a Tennessee Vol, I said, it’s great to be a Tennessee Vol!” [Read more…]

Second suspect in bank extortion, carjacking plots also pleads not guilty

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Michael Benanti

Michael Benanti

KNOXVILLE—A second suspect has also pleaded not guilty to three alleged bank extortion and carjacking plots that involved bank employees and their family members, including at Y-12 Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge.

One of the suspects, Brian Witham, pleaded not guilty during an arraignment in U.S. District Court in Knoxville on Tuesday.

The second suspect, Michael Benanti, pleaded not guilty during a Friday afternoon arraignment.

Each man is facing a minimum mandatory sentence of 142 years in prison, if they are convicted on all 15 federal charges that they face. The charges include bank extortion, attempted bank extortion, carjacking, and brandishing a firearm while committing a crime. [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats: Great first half, Hembry ‘stepped up huge’ in second

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Lady-Wildcats-Hembry-Powell-Jan-28-2016

Oak Ridge Coach Paige Green said sophomore Jasmine Hembry (42), with back to camera, “stepped up huge” for the Lady Wildcats in the second half of a 63-42 win over Powell at Wildcat Arena on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Lady Wildcats had a great first half, on both offense and defense, and sophomore Jasmine Hembry “stepped up huge” for Oak Ridge in the second half, Coach Paige Green said after a Thursday night 63-42 win over Powell.

“Offensively, we were strong,” Green said. “We took it to the defense.”

After a Tuesday night game against Anderson County, Green had said she wants her team to take shots or take the ball to the basket, even if players have their shots blocked or pick up an offensive charge.

“We’ve got to have the scoring mentality,” Green said then.

On Thursday, the Lady Wildcats (18-3, 12-0 District 3-AAA) appeared to respond. They led 36-17 at halftime, and they made 10 of 11 free throws in the first half. [Read more…]

Wildcats open large lead in third quarter of 85-51 win over Powell

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Wildcats-Jones-Powell-Jan-28-2016

Junior guard Tajion Jones (3) led Oak Ridge with a game-high 22 points in an 85-51 win over Powell at Wildcat Arena on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 3 p.m.

The first half was competitive. The second half wasn’t.

Oak Ridge led Powell by only seven points, 40-33, at halftime at Wildcat Arena on Thursday.

But Oak Ridge (24-2, 12-0 District 3-AAA) quickly opened up a large lead early in the third quarter. Junior guard Tajion Jones knocked down three consecutive three-point shots in the first 90 seconds of the third quarter. Then, about a minute later, he scored a field goal to widen the Oak Ridge lead to 52-33. That was 11 points for Jones in the first 2.5 minutes of the second half.

The Wildcats, undefeated in the district, ended up outscoring the Panthers 28-6 in the third quarter. Powell (13-8, 7-5) never recovered. [Read more…]

In last two games, Wildcats held opposing teams under 25 percent from field

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Wildcats-Gee-Anderson-County-Jan-26-2016

Oak Ridge senior point guard Geevantay Gee (12) scored 12 points for the Wildcats during a 79-31 win over Anderson County at home on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

In their last two games, the Oak Ridge Wildcats have held opposing teams to less than 25 percent shooting from field goal range, Coach Aaron Green said after a 79-31 win over Anderson County on Tuesday.

If a team can hold an opponent to 35 to 38 percent shooting or less, it is defending well, Green said.

He praised the Oak Ridge defense and said the team’s practice habits have been good the past few weeks.

The Wildcats (23-2, 11-0 District 3-AAA) applied a lot of defensive pressure to the Mavericks in the first half, especially in the Anderson County end of the court. Green said Oak Ridge learned a lesson from the previous meeting between the two teams, which Oak Ridge won 78-44 on December 11. The Wildcats’ lead was much smaller in the first half of that game, Green said. [Read more…]

Lady Mavericks keep it close, but Oak Ridge girls prevail, play Powell tonight

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Lady-Wildcats-Caelyn-Thompson-Anderson-County-Jan-26-2016

Oak Ridge senior forward Caelyn Thompson (22) dribbles during a 48-40 win over Anderson County at Wildcat Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 2:15 p.m.

The Lady Mavericks kept it close, but the Lady Wildcats prevailed in a 48-40 win at home on Tuesday. Oak Ridge will play Powell tonight, also at home at Wildcat Arena.

Oak Ridge and Anderson County were tied 25-25 at halftime on Tuesday. The Lady Wildcats led 37-31 at the end of the third quarter, but the Lady Mavericks were able to narrow the lead to four points in the fourth quarter and keep it there for about a minute in the final 90 seconds.

The Lady Wildcats (17-3, 11-0 District 3-AAA) were able to widen the lead to eight points late in the game on four made free throws by sophomore post Mykia Dowdell and freshman point guard Jada Guinn in the last 34 seconds. Dowdell led Oak Ridge with 16 points during the game, and Guinn had 14.

The Lady Mavericks (8-15, 6-5) were led by freshman Brooklin McCoy, who scored a game-high 20 points. Senior Colebee Sumner added 12 for Anderson County. [Read more…]

CVMR, partner agree to concentrate ore in Guatemala, refine it in Oak Ridge

Posted at
By 11 Comments

Michael Hargett and Kamran Khoza of CVMR USA

CVMR President Michael Hargett, left, and Kamran Khozan, chairman and chief executive officer, joined local, state, and federal officials on Friday, March 13, 2015, to announce they’re moving company headquarters from Toronto to Oak Ridge, investing $313 million and adding 620 jobs. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11:37 a.m.

CVMR Corporation and Central America Nickel Incorporated have agreed to concentrate three million tons of ore per year in Guatemala and refine the concentrate in Oak Ridge. The refined products could be used in the aerospace and defense industries, and in the manufacturing of car parts, 3D printing and injection molds, and medical instruments and electronic parts.

“The joint venture expects to generate over $500 million a year (U.S. dollars) after commissioning and ramp up,” said Kamran M. Khozan, chairman and chief executive officer of CVMR Corporation.

The partnership was announced Thursday. See the press release here.

The announcement said CVMR and Central America Nickel, or CAN, will use CVMR’s proprietary chemical vapor metallurgy technology to concentrate the three million tons of ore per year in Guatemala and refine the concentrate in Oak Ridge, through CVMR and from CAN’s Santa Anita property in Guatemala. [Read more…]

Voter registration deadline is Monday for March 1 primary

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Tre Hargett

Tre Hargett

Tennessee residents who want to vote in the March 1 presidential preference primary, or “SEC Primary,” must register to vote by Monday, February 1.

This election cycle, the Volunteer State will join six other Southern states on March 1 to help decide who could be the next president of the United States.

“It’s important to ensure you are properly registered now so there won’t be any surprises during early voting or on Election Day,” Secretary of State Tre Hargett said in a press release.

Early voting begins Wednesday, February 10, and runs Mondays through Saturdays until Tuesday, February 23. Election Day is Tuesday, March 1. Note that some counties will be closed on Monday, February 15 for Presidents Day. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra has free family concert Sunday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra Family Concert

The Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra has a free family concert on Sunday, January 31.

The concert was rescheduled because of the weather last week. It starts at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center (the ORHS auditorium).

The ORHS Chamber Orchestra will also play, and children will have a chance to participate in the instrument “petting zoo.”

An event flyer said the concert, “The Thrill of the Orchestra” concert, will feature music from “Star Wars” and “Jurassic Park.” Cellist Jerry Zhou, winner of the 2015 Youth Aliyah Competition, will be a special guest. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Community Band has Showcase Concert on Sunday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Tanasi-2016

Pictured above are bassonist Ardyce Lee, clarinetist Dave Greenwood, horn player Bill Schwenterly, flutist RaNaye Dreier, and oboist Dana Fox. They are members of the Tanasi Winds Quintet and will perform in the Showcase Concert on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016. (Submitted by Oak Ridge Community Band/Wind Ensemble)

 

The Oak Ridge Community Band/Wind Ensemble has a Showcase Concert on Sunday afternoon, January 31.

It’s a good way to usher out a cold and dreary January, organizers said.

The concert starts at 3:30 p.m. Sunday and will be held in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church at 1101 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

“Band members look forward every year to the Showcase Concert because it gives them and area musicians the opportunity to perform in small ensembles showcasing their talents with an array of musical selections including classical, jazz, blues, swing, show tunes, and novelty pieces,” a press release said. [Read more…]

Reminder: Voting ends today for ASAP’s Anderson County Ally of the Year

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Reminder: Voting ends today for the Anderson County Ally of the Year. The contest is sponsored by Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County, or ASAP.

The 2016 candidates are Michael Foster, Becky Grubb, Kim Pouncey, Theresa Scott, and David Vudragovich.

You can donate in support of your candidate by voting at www.ASAPofAnderson.org or by calling (865) 457-3007.

Voting ends Thursday, January 28.

Copyright 2016 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.