Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge Cedar Barren Cleanup near JMS is Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Larry at Oak Ridge Barrens Area

The annual spring exotic invasive plant removal at the Oak Ridge Barrens Natural Area will be Saturday, March 7.

Located next to Jefferson Middle School in Oak Ridge, this Barren is a joint project of the City of Oak Ridge, State Natural Areas Division, and Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning. One of only a few cedar barrens in East Tennessee, the area is subject to invasion by Chinese lespedeza, Japanese privet, autumn olive, mimosa, Nepal grass, multiflora rose, and woody plants that threaten the system’s prairie grasses. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge to celebrate Arbor Day Friday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Environmental Quality Advisory Board and the City of Oak Ridge are sponsoring the 30th Annual Arbor Day Observance at 10 a.m. Friday, March 6, at Woodland Elementary School.

This ceremony also marks the 27th year that the City of Oak Ridge has been recognized as a Tree City USA. It will also mark the first year that the city will receive the Tree Line USA designation.

Tree City USA, a National Arbor Day Foundation program, recognizes U.S. towns and cities that develop comprehensive urban forestry programs. Tree Line USA is also a National Arbor Day Foundation program that recognizes utility providers who adopt best practices in utility line arboriculture. At the ceremony, district foresters with the Department of Forestry will present the Tree City award and flag to city representative Mayor Warren Gooch and Steve Kenworthy, chairman of the Environmental Quality Advisory Board. [Read more…]

Church Women focus on services for aging residents

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Note: This event has been canceled.

Cherie Phillips of the Anderson County Office on Aging will be the guest speaker at the Friday, March 6, meeting of Church Women United at Oak Valley Baptist Church at 194 Hampton Road in Oak Ridge.

“Whether you have retired, are contemplating retirement, or have friends and family who are retired, come find out what advice and services are available to the aging in Anderson and Knox counties,” a press release said.

The meeting is open to the public. Fellowship begins at 11:30 a.m., followed by a short meeting at noon and the program thereafter. Drop in and stay however long you can. For more information, contact Gay Marie Logsdon at (865) 483-7940.

CWU is a national interdenominational movement that brings together women of diverse races, cultures, and traditions in closer Christian fellowship, prayer, advocacy, and action for peace with justice in the world.

Former DOE deputy secretary named Centrus president, CEO

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Daniel B. Poneman

Daniel B. Poneman

Daniel B. Poneman, former deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, has been picked to be president and chief executive officer of Centrus Energy Corporation.

Centrus was formerly known as USEC Incorporated, and it has operations in Oak Ridge.

The selection of Poneman by the Centrus Board of Directors was announced Thursday. Poneman will join Centrus immediately and become the chief executive later this month. He will also be a member of the board. [Read more…]

Schools: Counselors available at ORHS on Thursday, Friday after student’s death

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

An Oak Ridge High School student passed away at home on Wednesday, March 4, and counselors will be available at the school on Thursday (as long as weather permits) and on Friday, officials said in a Thursday morning release.

“It is a sad day for Oak Ridge High School and the entire Oak Ridge community,” the Oak Ridge Schools’ release said. “The thoughts and prayers of the Oak Ridge High School and Oak Ridge Schools’ staff go out to the family. Please join us in keeping the family, friends, and the entire Oak Ridge High School family in your thoughts and prayers during this most difficult time.”

The counselors will be available at Oak Ridge High School to help students, parents, and friends deal with their thoughts and feelings associated with this loss, the release said.

Carport fire destroys three cars, involves 50 gallons of gas

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Hampshire Circle Fire

It took firefighters about 40 minutes to control a carport fire that destroyed three cars and involved about 50 gallons of gasoline on Hampshire Circle early Thursday morning.

The Oak Ridge Fire Department responded to the fire at 2:44 a.m. Thursday.

“First arriving units reported three cars underneath a carport with heavy fire involvement,” a press release said. “Firefighters worked quickly to attempt to extinguish the fire but were faced with the challenge of approximately 50 gallons of gasoline being involved in the fire via the fuel tanks of the cars.” [Read more…]

Oliver Springs, other state tournament games postponed

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Murfreesboro Snow Ice on March 5, 2015

Ice covered about two inches of snow in Murfreesboro on Thursday morning, and the Oliver Springs Lady Bobcats state quarterfinal game has been postponed to Friday morning. (Photo courtesy RoaneSports.com)

 

The Oliver Springs Lady Bobcats had been scheduled to play in a state quarterfinal game in Mufreesboro this morning (Thursday morning), but that game has been postponed to Friday morning.

All other TSSAA state basketball tournament games scheduled for today have also been postponed due to extremely hazardous road conditions. The Thursday schedule will resume at 11 a.m. Central time Friday (12 p.m. Eastern) in order to allow extra time for road conditions to improve in the morning.

Friday’s scheduled semifinal games will be played on Saturday beginning at 1:30 p.m. Central due to the Middle Tennessee State University’s women’s basketball game that is scheduled at 10 a.m. Saturday’s scheduled championship games will be played on Sunday. [Read more…]

Closings: Oak Ridge, Roane Schools; some city, county, state offices

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Schools and Roane County Schools are both closed today. So are Anderson County government offices, and the Oak Ridge Public Library and Senior Center. All other municipal offices will operate on a regular schedule.

Anderson County courts are also canceled, and daytime classes at Roane State Community College campuses, including in Oak Ridge, have been canceled. A decision on nighttime classes (those that begin after 4:30 p.m.) will be made later.

State offices are also closed because of the current weather situation in West and Middle Tennessee and forecasted winter weather moving east. [Read more…]

Grammy-winning guitarist plays with Oak Ridge Symphony on Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Jason Vieaux

Jason Vieaux

Grammy-winning guitar virtuoso Jason Vieaux will play in Oak Ridge on Saturday.

He will play Antonio Vivaldi’s “Guitar Concerto in D major,” Malcolm Arnold’s “Serenade for Guitar and Strings,” and the “Allegro Maestoso” from Mauro Giuliani’s “Concerto in A,” a press release said.

Vieaux will perform with the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra at the First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge. The concert is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7.

The concert, conducted by Music Director Dan Allcott, will also feature J.S. Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto No. 1” and Frederick Delius’ “Air and Dance.” [Read more…]

Boys, Girls Club of Oak Ridge has James Bond 007 fundraiser

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge Gala 2015

 

The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Clinch Valley, Oak Ridge Unit, will have its annual gala on Saturday, March 7.

This year’s event will be held at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Guests can expect an evening of simple glamour while enjoying dinner, drinks, dancing, and live and silent auctions. Some items to be auctioned this year include an autographed Ted Williams photo “Opening Day 1947 at Fenway Park,” a luxury trip to Keeneland, a year’s membership to the Oak Ridge Country Club, a one-night accommodation at Buckhorn Inn in Gatlinburg, pottery from local artisans, and wine baskets.

The event is chaired by Unit Board President Aaron Wells and Corporate Board Member Ann Likens. [Read more…]

Forecast: Rain changing to sleet, snow; AC, Clinton schools closed

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Winter Weather Forecast March 4, 2015

Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

 

Rain could change to a wintry mix of freezing rain and sleet and then possibly snow as the temperature drops overnight and Thursday morning, forecasters said.

Anderson County Schools and Clinton City Schools will be closed Thursday, March 5.

Forecasters said rain associated with a cold front will continue over the area through tonight. Arctic air will move in behind the front while the precipitation is ongoing, plunging surface temperatures to below freezing especially over the Cumberland Plateau and southwest Virginia overnight, the National Weather Service in Morristown said. [Read more…]

Wildcats advance to state tournament on late free throws by Higgins, block by Johnson

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Wildcats Javien Johnson Geevantay Gee and Science Hill

Juniors Javien Johnson (11) and Geevantay Gee (12) of the Oak Ridge Wildcats defend against the Science Hill Hilltoppers during a 55-53 win in a Class AAA sectional game in Johnson City on Tuesday. Johnson blocked a shot by Malik McGue, who scored five of his eight points in the fourth quarter of his final game for Science Hill, with 0.8 seconds to play to help win the game. (Photo courtesy Trey Williams/Johnson City Press)

 

JOHNSON CITY—The Oak Ridge Wildcats are heading back to the state tournament in Murfreesboro next week after their comeback 55-53 win against a hungry Science Hill group at Tuesday night’s Class AAA Sectional game. Two free throws by sophomore Tee Higgins with 5.1 seconds left and a defensive block by junior Javien Johnson with 0.8 seconds left helped the Wildcats pull away with the victory.

It seemed that Science Hill (23-15) couldn’t miss from the floor in the first half. The Hilltoppers hit six three-pointers in the first half—four in the first quarter alone. One of those four included a buzzer-beating three at the end of the first quarter. With the buzzer-beater, the Hilltoppers had a 16-12 lead on the Wildcats.

In the second quarter, Oak Ridge (29-3) fell behind quickly. At one point, the Wildcats were down 24-14. However, thanks to two three-pointers by sophomore DeAndre Gibson, the Wildcats were able to gather themselves and go on a 13-6 run to end the quarter. With one half in the books, Oak Ridge was trailing 30-27.

The second quarter was the only quarter of the game that didn’t have a tie or a lead change. Oak Ridge had three three-pointers in the first half, all of them courtesy of Gibson (2) and sophomore Tajion Jones (1).

The Hilltoppers battled back in the second half. After Oak Ridge jumped out to a 34-30 lead, the Hilltoppers rattled off seven straight points to take the 37-34 lead. Oak Ridge pulled within a point of taking the lead back, and Science Hill drained a three. There actually was a span of 30 seconds in the third that had four consecutive combined threes hit by both teams. However, the Wildcats scored late in the third to give themselves a 44-43 lead with one quarter left to decide who went to the state tournament and who stayed home. [Read more…]