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Oak Ridge Chamber launches membership campaign

Posted at 11:35 am September 16, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Keys Fillauer

Keys Fillauer

Under the leadership of two long-time community leaders, Keys Fillauer and Darrel Kohlhorst, the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce kicked off a new member recruitment campaign on Thursday, September 10. The campaign is focused on identifying new members to bring into the Chamber between now and October 15, a press release said.

“Nearly 100 committed volunteers are working to grow the Oak Ridge Chamber’s collective influence and financial resources,” said Melinda Hillman, vice president of Roane State Community College’s Oak Ridge Campus and chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors. “That represents almost a quarter of the Chamber’s current membership working to expand their organization. Personally, I am appreciative and excited that so many are involved in this effort.”

There are five captains serving as coaches and cheerleaders for the campaign. The five captains are:

  • Rhoni Badsen of Girls Inc.;
  • Bruce Borchers of Oak Ridge Schools;
  • Katy Brown of Comcast Spotlight;
  • Jim Normand of Joyce, Meredith, Flitcroft, and Normand; and
  • Steve Whitson of H-S Whitson Construction.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, Oak Ridge Tagged With: Bruce Borchers, Darrel Kohlhorst, Jim Normand, Katy Brown, Keys Fillauer, Melinda Hillman, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, recruitment campaign, Rhoni Badsen, Steve Whitson

ORHS Homecoming pep rally is Thursday

Posted at 11:25 am September 16, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

ORHS Homecoming Pep Rally

The Oak Ridge High School Homecoming pep rally is on Thursday evening at ORHS.

The pep rally starts at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, September 17, on the front steps of Oak Ridge High School. The 2015 Homecoming Court will be introduced.

It’s a community event, and it will feature a senior Wildcat football player dance, ORHS cheerleaders, and Dance Cats.

There will also be prize drawings.

The Homecoming football game is at Blankenship Field at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The Wildcats will play Lenoir City.

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, High School, K-12, Meetings and Events, Sports Tagged With: Dance Cats, football, homecoming, Oak Ridge High School, ORHS, ORHS cheerleaders, pep rally

WYSH: Roane Commission passes tax increase

Posted at 11:46 am September 15, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Roane County Courthouse

The Roane County Courthouse in Kingston is pictured above. (File photo)

 

Information from WYSH Radio

The Roane County Commission approved a property tax rate increase at its meeting Monday night by a vote of 8-6.

Property taxes will go up by about 30 cents per $100 of assessed value. The increase was needed to support the fiscal budget.

Commissioners approved the county’s budget back in July. Twenty-two cents of the tax increase will go toward the county schools. County Executive Ron Woody said commission members knew the schools needed the money.

Approval of the property tax comes after months of waiting for the state to finish its assessments after the state comptroller’s office took over for the Roane County Assessor’s Office.

BBB-TV owner Ron Berry was elected commission chairman on Monday, and Harriman’s Randy Ellis was elected to his fifth term as vice chairman.

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Roane County Tagged With: property tax rate, property tax rate increase, property taxes, Randy Ellis, Roane County Assessor's Office, Roane County Commission, Ron Berry, Ron Woody, tax increase

Crosland Southeast ‘disappointed,’ invested more than $1 million in mall redevelopment

Posted at 9:12 am September 15, 2015
By John Huotari 11 Comments

Tim Sittema

Tim Sittema

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—The North Carolina firm that has been replaced as master developer at Main Street Oak Ridge, the project to redevelop the former mall, said it has invested more than $1 million in the project and is “sorely disappointed” that it won’t be able to finish it.

Crosland Southeast, of Charlotte, North Carolina, said it has been engaged in more than “two years of tireless work,” and the project was in its final stages.

“This was one of the most difficult turnaround developments that we have encountered or seen, and we are sorely disappointed that we will not have the opportunity to finish what we started,” said Tim Sittema, managing partner of Crosland Southeast. “We had just negotiated the last piece of an incredibly complicated project with numerous moving parts, and had invested well over a million dollars into making this project a success. The situation is complicated. Nevertheless, we hope for the best outcome for the community of Oak Ridge. We have very much enjoyed working with city staff and community leaders.”

Oak Ridge City Center LLC, the current owners of the property, announced Monday that RealtyLink, a South Carolina real estate development firm, will replace Crosland Southeast as the master developer of the 60-acre Main Street Oak Ridge project. RealtyLink is based in Greenville, South Carolina. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Crosland Southeast, Main Street—Oak Ridge, mall redevelopment, Neil Wilson, Oak Ridge City Center LLC, Oak Ridge Mall, RealtyLink, Steve Arnsdorff, Tim Sittema

Photos: Oak Ridge and Anderson County, first shutout for Wildcats

Posted at 1:56 am September 15, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Wildcats Caleb Jackson and Mavericks Sept. 14, 2015

Oak Ridge junior Caleb Jackson (25) makes a tackle in a 41-0 win at Anderson County on Friday, Sept. 11, and Monday, Sept. 14, 2015. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats had their first shutout of the football season, rolling over Anderson County 41-0 in a game that resumed Monday after being suspended because of lightning on Friday.

Here are pictures by Julio Culiat.

Wildcats Tee Higgins Mavericks Sept. 11, 2015

Oak Ridge junior receiver Tee Higgins (5) had two touchdowns against Anderson County in a game that started Friday, Sept. 11, 2015, but was suspended because of lightning, and then resumed Monday, Sept. 14, 2015. Higgins has seven touchdowns this season, leading all Wildcats. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Media, Photos, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Adarius Simpson, Anderson County, Caleb Jackson, Chase Kimbro, Darel Middleton, Davon Middleton, Gavin Warrington, Jamalcolm Henderson, Jordan Dunbar, Ka'Yon Waters, Kyndall Clark, Mavericks, Oak Ridge Wildcats, photos, T.J. Allison

Wildcats have first shutout, roll over Mavericks 41-0

Posted at 10:41 pm September 14, 2015
By John Huotari 1 Comment

Wildcats Tee Higgins Mavericks Sept. 11, 2015

Oak Ridge junior receiver Tee Higgins (5) had two touchdowns against Anderson County in a game that started Friday, Sept. 11, 2015, but was suspended because of lightning, and then resumed Monday, Sept. 14, 2015. Higgins has seven touchdowns this season, leading all Wildcats. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 3:45 p.m. Sept. 15.

The Oak Ridge Wildcats had their first shutout of the football season, rolling over Anderson County 41-0 in a game that resumed Monday after being suspended because of lightning on Friday.

For the third time this year, junior receiver Tee Higgins had two touchdown catches. He has a total of seven this year, leading all Wildcats.

Oak Ridge senior running back T.J. Allison, who hadn’t scored before Friday, had two touchdowns on Friday and Monday, including his first touchdown catch of the season.

Senior running back and safety Gavin Warrington also scored his first touchdown of 2015, and so did senior running back and defensive back Davon Middleton. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Slider, Sports, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, Davon Middleton, Gavin Warrington, homecoming, Joe Gaddis, Johnny Stewart, Jordan Dunbar, Lenoir City, Logan Fadnek, Mark Haste, Matt Fox, Mavericks, Oak Ridge Wildcats, shutout, T.J. Allison, Tee Higgins

AC chancellor intervenes in Andersonville Fire Dept. squabble

Posted at 5:06 pm September 14, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department

Information from WYSH Radio

Earlier this month, Anderson County Chancellor Nichole Cantrell made a ruling in the dispute between two factions of the Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department.

Earlier this year, then-AVFD Chief Del Kennedy suspended the Board of Directors over allegations that they were interfering in the day-to-day operations of the department.

Kennedy then appointed an interim board to oversee the department. That led to the department’s mail delivery service being interrupted and its bank accounts being frozen over questions about who was authorized to use it.

The chairman of the suspended board, David Farmer, asked the Chancery Court to step in. On September 4, Chancellor Cantrell ruled in favor of the suspended board following a hearing that morning. That meant that the board consisting of Farmer, Carl Poore, Robert Seiber, Benny Ridenour, Judy Lenz, Gina Ridenour, John Poore, and Rodney Williams was reinstated. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Andersonville, Front Page News, Government, Police and Fire, State Tagged With: Anderson County chancellor, Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department, AVFD, board of directors, David Farmer, Del Kennedy, Matt Burrell, N, Nichole Cantrell

Dragons routed at Rhea 62-10

Posted at 4:58 pm September 14, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

On Friday night, the Clinton Dragons ran into bad weather and a buzzsaw of a football team as the Rhea County Golden Eagles dismantled them 62-10.

Following an 89-minute lightning delay, the Dragons scored first on a 17-yard Deonta Duncan touchdown run and answered a quick Rhea County score with a Garrett Zody field goal that put them up 10-7 with 6:45 to play in the first quarter.

From there, however, it was all Rhea County as they scored 55 unanswered points on their way to a lopsided victory at home. The numbers tell the story as the Eagles outgained Clinton 502-174, ran for six touchdowns and threw for three more.

See a game summary and stats on the WYSH website.

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Sports Tagged With: Clinton Dragons, Deonta Duncan, football, Garrett Zody, Rhea County Golden Eagles

WYSH: Former UT linebacker killed in Sunday morning crash in Clinton

Posted at 4:51 pm September 14, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Clinton Police Department Badge

Information from WYSH Radio

A former University of Tennessee linebacker was killed in an early-morning, single-vehicle accident in front of Ray Varner Ford in Clinton on Sunday.

Clinton Police Department officers responded to a report of an accident shortly before 3 a.m. Sunday on North Charles Seivers Boulevard near Miller Road and upon their arrival, found a Chevy Tahoe on its roof with heavy damage.

The only person in the vehicle, 31-year-old Daniel Brooks of New Market, had to be extricated from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators determined that Brooks had been headed west on Seivers when his SUV left the side of the road and traveled some distance in a ditchline before striking a driveway culvert, which caused it to become airborne. The Tahoe landed on its front end and flipped several times before coming to rest on its roof. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Clinton, College, Front Page News, Police and Fire, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Clinton Police Department, crash, Daniel Brooks, linebacker, North Charles Seivers Boulevard, University of Tennessee, UT

RealtyLink replaces Crosland Southeast as Main Street developer

Posted at 11:33 am September 14, 2015
By John Huotari 10 Comments

Oak Ridge Mall

The Oak Ridge City Center, which could be redeveloped as a multi-use town center known as Main Street, is pictured above. Also known as the former Oak Ridge Mall, the L-shaped building is at center. The white building at center left is Walmart, and it is not part of the proposed redevelopment. Neither is the white building at center top, the Tinseltown Theater. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 1:51 p.m.

RealtyLink, a South Carolina real estate development firm, will replace Crosland Southeast as the master developer of the 60-acre Main Street town center project in Oak Ridge, the property owners said Monday.

RealtyLink is based in Greenville, South Carolina.

“RealtyLink first showed interest in the project as early as 2012,” said Steve Arnsdorff, the chief manager for Oak Ridge City Center LLC, the current owners of the property. “We are delighted that they have had continuing interest and are now able to assume the position of the previous developer.”

RealtyLink currently has nearly two million square feet of space in various stages of development including The River Landing, a 16-acre retail project on Winfield Dunn Parkway in Sevierville. In addition to Greenville, South Carolina, RealtyLink has offices in Charleston, South Carolina; Birmingham, Alabama; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Crosland Southeast, Main Street, Main Street—Oak Ridge, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge City Center, Oak Ridge Mall, Ray Evans, RealtyLink, Steve Arnsdorff, Warren Gooch

Council could consider changes to Secret City Festival tonight, including move to fall

Posted at 9:54 am September 14, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Secret City Festival World War II Re-enactment 2015

A Flak 88 firing during a Battle of Normandy re-enactment at the 2015 Secret City Festival in Oak Ridge. (Photo by Rob Welton)

 

The Oak Ridge City Council could consider changes to the Secret City Festival tonight, including an expansion and a possible move to the fall.

The annual festival could be expanded into a celebration that could start in October and run through Veterans Day (November 11), last at least a week, and include the Secret City Festival. The expanded festival—which now includes music, children’s activities, a World War II re-enactment, and vendors and exhibitors—could be called the Secret City Celebration.

The changes have been recommended by the Special Events Advisory Task Force, which was set up by City Council in February and chaired by Council member Trina Baughn. The task force was expected to meet for six months and then provide a report to Council.

“The idea is not to limit the celebration to a single event, but to incorporate other activities over an expanded period of time that allow for greater participation by both patrons and various organizations within the community,” Baughn said in an August 5 memo to City Council. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Arts, Community, Entertainment, Front Page News, Government, Meetings and Events, Music, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: D, Oak Ridge City Council, Secret City Celebration, Secret City Festival, Special Events Advisory Task Force, Trina Baughn, Veterans Day

Celebrate two years of ‘Dine and Donate’ by eating out on Monday

Posted at 12:33 am September 14, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Burchfield's and Ray and Fanny Smith

Burchfield’s, located inside the Oak Ridge DoubleTree, is a popular spot for locals like Ray and Fanny Smith. The restaurant is one of only a few Dine and Donate participants to offer breakfast, and there are extensive choices for lunch, dinner, and everything in between. Burchfield’s has been a proud culinary supporter of ADFAC for nine years, dating all the way back to ADFAC’s first Feed the Need event in 2007! (Submitted photo)

 

In the past 24 months, thousands of breakfasts, lunches and dinners have been enjoyed by members of our community—and all for a good cause. On the second Monday of each month, local citizens are encouraged to eat out at participating Dine and Donate restaurants. The restaurants, in turn, provide a portion of their sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC.

Monday, September 14, wraps up the second full year of Dine and Donate with the following participating restaurants:

  • Burchfield’s in Oak Ridge
  • Gallo Loco in Oak Ridge
  • Gondolier in Clinton
  • Hoskins in Clinton
  • Mediterranean Delight in Oak Ridge
  • Papa Murphy’s in Oak Ridge
  • Razzleberry’s in Oak Ridge
  • Salsarita’s in Oak Ridge

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Community, Front Page News, Meetings and Events, Nonprofits, Top Stories Tagged With: ADFAC, Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, Burchfield's, Cande Seay, Dine and Donate, DoubleTree, Fanny Smith, Gallo Loco, Gondolier, Hoskins, Mediterranean Delight, Papa Murphy's, Ray Smith, Razzleberry’s, Salsarita's

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