Oak Ridge Today

Read the Preschool Planning Committee report here

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Elm Grove Park Oct. 21, 2015

Elm Grove Park in east Oak Ridge has been proposed as a site for a new preschool, and it’s considered the best potential location. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:40 p.m.

A new preschool for Oak Ridge Schools could cost $7.5 million, and Elm Grove Park in east Oak Ridge is among the sites where the new 20-classroom facility could be built, a planning committee said in a report released this month.

The report is now available online. You can read a copy of it here by clicking under the link at the end of this section: VII.D. Preschool Building Committee Recommendation.

The Oak Ridge Board of Education is scheduled to consider the Preschool Building Committee recommendation during at meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, November 2, in the School Administration Building at 304 New York Avenue. You can see the agenda here.

A new preschool has been on the city’s wish list for years. The Joint City/Schools Preschool Planning Committee said the existing building on New York Avenue needs significant repairs, and renovations could cost about $7.5 million, or about as much as it would cost to construct a new facility. [Read more…]

City provides info on Oak Ridge street resurfacing

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The Oak Ridge Public Works Department expected to start resurfacing city streets as listed below on Tuesday, October 27. The city recommends that motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists use extra care and caution when traveling on the following streets:

Street Name From Street/Business To Street/Business
Access Road 1 Karen’s Jewelers Rocky Top
Access Road 3 Krystal Taco Bell
Bear Creek Road, West 1510 Bear Creek Road Hwy 58 Ramp
Division Road, East Oak Ridge Turnpike 270 South
Vanderbilt Drive, East Villanova Road Illinois Avenue, S.
Vanderbilt Drive, West Oak Ridge Turnpike Virginia Road
Vanderbilt Drive, West 1 Villanova Road Virginia Road
Elmhurst Drive Briarcliff Avenue Eastridge Drive
East Drive 4 Audubon Road Athens Road
East Drive 3 Alger Road Audubon Road
Alger Road 2 Amherst Lane East Drive

[Read more…]

Reminder: EmiSunshine show is Friday at Grove Theater, benefits United Way

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Emi Sunshine at Grove Theater

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On Friday, October 30, the historic Grove Theater in Oak Ridge will return to its roots, hosting a benefit concert headlined by 10-year-old EmiSunshine, the newest talent to take the country music world by storm. Knoxville band Handsome and the Humbles will open the concert, proceeds of which will benefit United Way of Anderson County.

EmiSunshine was born in Madisonville, Tennessee, and grew up listening to Tom Petty and June Carter Cash, sounds which have influenced her current style. From the official EmiSunshine website: “Whether she’s performing on the ‘Today’ show or the Grand Ole Opry or taking the stage at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium, she is fearless, confident, and firm in her musical direction. As she says, she sings ‘old-time music,’ but it’s her own unique blend of roots music that is equal parts Americana, bluegrass, gospel, and country, with a little bit of blues thrown in for good measure.”

Since a video of her singing on a street went viral, EmiSunshine has amassed an impressive fan base and has given repeat performances in some of the top cities and venues in East Tennessee. However, her motivation remains simple. “I love how I get to sing to people and make them happy,” she says. “I’m really blessed that I get to do this. It makes me feel amazing, like I’m touching somebody’s life.” [Read more…]

Hayes, a former RMS principal, City Council member, dies at 76

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Tom Hayes Gym Dedication

On Thursday, January 16, 2014, Robertsville Middle School recognized former Principal Thomas W. Hayes, third from left, by naming the school gymnasium in his honor. (Photo by Oak Ridge Schools)

 

Tom Hayes, a former middle school principal and city council member in Oak Ridge, died peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, according to his obituary. He was 76.

Hayes, who lived in Oak Ridge, was a former principal at Robertsville Middle School and a former member of the Oak Ridge City Council.

A native of Parsons, Tennessee, Thomas Warren Hayes was born November 2, 1938, and he graduated from Riverside High School. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in social studies and a master’s degree in education supervision from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. [Read more…]

Knoxville man dies after pickup crash on Bethel Valley Road

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Bethel Valley Road Crash Chevy Oct. 27, 2015

Victor Gujmuit, 25, of Knoxville, was driving westbound in this green Chevy S10 pickup truck on Bethel Valley Road on Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 27, 2015, when he lost control and collided with an eastbound Ford Ranger pickup. He was treated at the scene and taken to UT Medical Center, where he later died. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 3 p.m. Oct. 29.

A Knoxville man died after he was ejected from his pickup truck in a multi-vehicle crash on Bethel Valley Road on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

The Oak Ridge Police Department has identified the driver as Victor Gujmuit, 25, of Knoxville.

The ORPD said Gujmuit was driving west on Bethel Valley Road in a 1997 Chevrolet S10 pickup when he lost control and entered the inside eastbound lane of the four-lane roadway. His truck collided with a 1996 Ford Ranger pickup driven by Kurt Marcotte, 52, of Knoxville. Gujmuit was ejected onto the roadway in the outside eastbound lane and hit by a 2003 Dodge pickup truck driven by Raymond Lenoir, 57, of Powell, authorities said.

Gujmuit and Marcotte were treated at the scene and taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, where Gujmuit later died, the ORPD said. Police have not determined the cause of his death. [Read more…]

Updated: Andersonville man arrested in Nashville on murder charge

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Caleb Cannon Arrest Nashville Oct. 28, 2015

Caleb Cannon of Andersonville was arrested Wednesday morning by the Nashville Police Department’s Homicide-Cold Case Unit for the 2014 murder of Nichole Burgess, authorities said. (Photo by Nashville Police Department)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 8:30 p.m.

An Andersonville man was arrested in Nashville on Wednesday morning in connection with the May 2014 murder of a Hermitage woman, authorities said.

Caleb J. Cannon, 34, was arrested by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department on a first-degree murder indictment in the case of Nichole “Nikki” Burgess, a Nashville area resident, the department announced on Twitter. Cannon’s bond has been set at $750,000.

He was arrested by Homicide-Cold Case Unit at Juvenile Court, where he was to have attended a hearing. In a press release later Wednesday, the MNPD said detectives made the arrest after more than one year of investigation.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department had assisted the Metro Police in their investigation.

Here is more information from the MNPD: [Read more…]

School Board retreat time changes

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The time of the Oak Ridge Board of Education retreat on Friday, October 30, has been changed to 7:30-9:30 a.m. in the School Administration Building conference room.

See earlier story on the retreat here.

Haunted Harvest Hike on Saturday is canceled

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The Haunted Harvest Hike that had been scheduled for Saturday has been canceled.

The hike had been moved to the Oak Ridge Marina because of a deer hunt at Haw Ridge that does not allow foot traffic, but the 2015 Kids Count 5k!, a competitive road race to benefit the Child Advocacy Center of Anderson County, is also on Saturday at the Oak Ridge Marina.

Organizers were concerned that the two events could cause confusion and limit parking, so they canceled the Haunted Harvest Hike. They plan to schedule an event as soon as possible.

“Thank you for your interest,” a notice said.

Soccer: Hardin Valley, regional champ, plays defending state champion Thursday

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Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today

Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today

 

Note: This story was updated at 2:03 p.m.

HARDIN VALLEY—Hardin Valley will play defending state champion Clarksville on Thursday in the quarterfinal round of the state soccer championship in Murfreesboro.

Update: The soccer tournament had originally been scheduled to start on Wednesday, but the start has been delayed by one day after heavy rain “for the safety of the athletes and the preservation of the fields for further use during the tournament,” officials said Wednesday.

It’s the second consecutive trip to the Class AAA state tournament for the Lady Hawks (16-3-2). Last year, they lost to Ravenwood 4-1 in the first round.

Hardin Valley, the Region 2 champion, beat Tennessee High of Kingsport 2-0 in a sectional game on Saturday to advance to the state tournament. Tennessee was the Region 1 runner-up.

Scoring for Hardin Valley after a scoreless first half on Saturday were Macey Lindsey on a crossing pass from Jaclyn Denton and Gwen Breslin on a pass from Reagan Ely. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Land Bank hosting neighborhood strategy work session

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Partnership Strategy Agenda Flyer Nov. 6, 2015

The Oak Ridge Land Bank Corporation is hosting a strategy work session November 6 to focus on partnerships and “collaborative efforts to improve and promote our Oak Ridge neighborhoods,” a press release said. The work session is from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday, November 6, at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce.

Agenda items include demonstrated successes, a small group exercise, and a group discussion.

For reservations, contact Alicia Bailey at the City of Oak Ridge at (865) 425-3531 or by email at abailey@oakridgetn.gov by Wednesday, November 4.

ORHS Masquers presents ‘Harvey,’ a Pulitzer Prize-winning play, in November

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ORHS Masquers "Harvey"

Oak Ridge High School Masquers, the school’s drama program, will present Mary Chase’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Harvey” in three performances in November. (Photo courtesy ORHS Masquers)

 

Oak Ridge High School Masquers, the school’s drama program, will present Mary Chase’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Harvey” in three performances in November.

“Harvey” is the story of Elwood P. Dowd and his invisible, six-foot-tall rabbit named Harvey. When Elwood’s sister Veta tries to have him committed to the local mental hospital, the doctors commit Veta instead and mad-capped hilarity ensues. Come “see” the best dressed rabbit in town and a fantastic cast of student actors, a press release said.

The Masquers performances will be at the Oak Ridge Performing Arts Center (ORPAC) on:

  • Thursday, November 12, at 7 p.m.;
  • Saturday, November 14, at 7 p.m.; and
  • Sunday, November 15, at 2 p.m.

[Read more…]

Elks has Indoor Trick-or-Treat on Saturday

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Halloween Pumpkins

The Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, Oak Ridge Lodge #1684, located at 684 Emory Valley Road, will be hosting an Indoor Trick-or-Treat on Saturday, October 31, from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

The Oak Ridge Elks Lodge #1684 is hosting this event in order to provide children of all ages with a safe, supervised, fun place to show off their costumes and receive candy on Halloween night, a press release said. Free hot chocolate and bottled water will also be given to everyone in attendance.

Don’t forget to bring a camera and have your picture taken with “Elroy” the Elk, the release said.