Oak Ridge Today

Photos: Secret City Wildbots at FIRST Robotics Palmetto Regional

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Secret City Wildbots Team 4265 pit crew makes adjustments between qualification rounds at the First Robotics Palmetto Regional in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Friday, March 3, 2017. (Photo by Angi Agle)

The Secret City Wildbots Team 4265 pit crew makes adjustments between qualification rounds at the FIRST Robotics Palmetto Regional in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Friday, March 3, 2017. (Photo by Angi Agle)

 

The Secret City Wildbots, an Oak Ridge team, is competing at the FIRST Robotics Palmetto Regional in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, this week.

There were practice matches on Thursday, and qualification rounds on Friday and Saturday. Elimination rounds are scheduled for Saturday afternoon. The three-day competition is from March 2-4.

Here are photos from the Palmetto Regional by Angi Agle. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Egg Hunt is April 8; volunteers needed

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A previous Oak Ridge Egg Hunt is pictured above. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

A previous Oak Ridge Egg Hunt is pictured above. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will host the 2017 Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 8, at 11 a.m. Hundreds of children are expected to participate in this annual spring event, a press release said. More than 15,000 candy and prize-filled eggs will be hidden in Alvin K. Bissell Park with a first-place, second-place, and third-place prize egg in each age group.

This event will be held rain or shine, so participants should dress for the weather, the press release said. If severe weather prevents hiding the eggs outdoors, they will be given away in the Oak Ridge Civic Center gymnasium, and a drawing will be held for the prizes. [Read more…]

Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge offers Spring Break activities

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Children get creative with crayons at a Children’s Museum camp. (Submitted photo)

Children get creative with crayons at a Children’s Museum camp. (Submitted photo)

 

Gardening, art, astronomy, and messy science experiments will be among Spring Break activities offered for children in first through fifth grades at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge from March 13-17.

The museum will offer morning activities from 9 a.m.-noon and afternoon sessions from 1-4 p.m. There will be a full day St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Friday, March 17, featuring an Irish lunch, “wearing o’ the green,” Highland games, and crafts, a press release said. Children may register for individual sessions, a day, all mornings, all afternoons, or the entire week.

The museum will also host “Wonderful Wednesday” programs from 11 a.m.-noon March 15 and 22. Kids love rocks, and on March 15, they can learn about rocks in our backyards. The East Tennessee Geological Society will have rocks, minerals, and fossils to explore. [Read more…]

Rummage sale at ORUUC on Friday, Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church will have its popular semi-annual rummage sale on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. ORUUC is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The proceeds that are raised will help to support various community outreach ministries of the church, a press release said.

Items that will be available will include low-priced kitchenware, small appliances, furniture, linens, home décor clothing, shoes and accessories for the family, books, tools, jewelry, DVDs, exercise equipment, computers, and other electronic devices, the press release said. Prices are doubled on Friday evening for the Preview Sale, which offers best selections at still-a-bargain prices, the press release said. [Read more…]

After Senate confirms Perry as energy secretary, Alexander invites him to Oak Ridge

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Lamar Alexander

Lamar Alexander

The United States Senate has confirmed former Texas Governor Rick Perry to serve as U.S. energy secretary, and Senator Lamar Alexander, a Tennessee Republican, has invited him to Oak Ridge.

The Thursday afternoon vote to confirm Perry was 62 to 37. Alexander was one of the 62 senators voting to confirm Perry. So was Senator Bob Corker, also a Tennessee Republican.

“I’ve known Rick Perry for a long time and am pleased the Senate has voted to confirm him as energy secretary,” Alexander said in a statement. “He appreciates the role the Department of Energy plays in the management and modernization of our nuclear weapons—an important part of the work done at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge. He also understands that national laboratories like the Oak Ridge National Laboratory are essential to maintaining our country’s brainpower advantage. I have invited him to come to Tennessee early this year to see firsthand the important work done in Oak Ridge.” [Read more…]

Marlow Volunteer Fire Department has chili supper, auction fundraiser on March 11

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Marlow Volunteer Fire Department will have a Community All-You-Can-Eat Chili Supper and Auction at Grand Oaks Elementary School on Saturday, March 11. Chili, hot dogs, and drinks with all the trimmings will be served starting at 6 p.m.

Bear Stephenson will oversee the 7 p.m. auction of homemade desserts provided by Marlow volunteers, along with gift cards and items donated by local businesses.

Tickets are $5 for adults. Children age five and under eat free. [Read more…]

Repairs made to Andersonville road that had washed out

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Byrams Fork Road was closed in Anderson County on Thursday, March 2, 2017, about three-quarters of a mile from Hickory Valley Road due to a washout. The road had collapsed at a culvert, and the Anderson County Highway Department was making repairs. (Photo by Anderson County Sheriff's Department)

Byrams Fork Road was closed in Anderson County on Thursday, March 2, 2017, about three-quarters of a mile from Hickory Valley Road due to a washout. The road had collapsed at a culvert, and the Anderson County Highway Department was making repairs. (Photo by Anderson County Sheriff’s Department)

 

Note: This story was updated at 5:10 p.m.

Repairs have been made to a road in Andersonville that had been temporarily closed Thursday due to a washout, authorities said.

Byrams Fork Road has re-opened near Hickory Valley Road, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said late Thursday afternoon. The road had been closed about three quarters of a mile from Hickory Valley Road. It had collapsed at a culvert.

The Anderson County Highway Department made repairs.

Byrams Fork Road is south of, and runs parallel to, State Route 61 in Andersonville.

Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit Community Mediation Services

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament on Friday, April 28, 2017, will benefit Community Mediation Services of Anderson Country, providing participants a great way to give back to the youth and families in the community while having a great day of golf. (Photo via Community Mediation Services)

The Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament on Friday, April 28, 2017, will benefit Community Mediation Services of Anderson Country, providing participants a great way to give back to the youth and families in the community while having a great day of golf. (Photo via Community Mediation Services)

 

The Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament on April 28 will benefit Community Mediation Services of Anderson Country, providing participants a great way to give back to the youth and families in the community while having a great day of golf, a press release said.

It’s the 16th Annual Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament. It will be on Friday, April 28, at the Oak Ridge Country Club.

“Oak Ridge Country Club provides a beautiful and challenging setting for all golfers,” the press release said.

The Tournament is a two-session, scramble format with two flights: 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Golfers will get a complimentary breakfast, beverage carts, and a smoked barbecue lunch. Prize contests for participants in each flight will be awarded and a Hole-in-One Grand Prize will be available. Free Big Ed’s shirts and golf towels for all golfers are included. A Silent Auction will be held in conjunction with the Tournament. Auction items will be available for viewing online at www.peacefulresolution.org.

The registration deadline is Monday, April 24 ($125/player; $500/team). [Read more…]

Legal Aid Society receives grant for foreclosure prevention, community redevelopment

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, which is Tennessee’s largest nonprofit law firm and has an office in Oak Ridge, has received a two-year grant from the Tennessee Bar Foundation to increase foreclosure prevention and community redevelopment legal assistance.

The Tennessee Bar Foundation, the administrator of funds generated through Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts, or IOLTA, in Tennessee, received part of a nationwide donation to IOLTA programs from Bank of America, as part of a settlement of claims with the Justice Department arising from the home mortgage crisis. They have awarded Legal Aid Society $259,640 to give legal assistance to low-income people and seniors in their Gallatin, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Oak Ridge, and Tullahoma offices, a press release said. [Read more…]

Anderson County storm damage report

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

There were reports of trees down, along with a few power lines, from the storms and heavy rain on Wednesday, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said.

Several roads were impassable for a while due to high water, but on most, the water had receded as of Wednesday evening, Lucas said. Some roads could still have debris, he said Wednesday.

“There was one tree that fell on a mobile home, but no major damage and no injuries have been reported,” Lucas said.

The Little Ponderosa Zoo had severe flooding, but much of the water there had receded and all the animals are safe. [Read more…]

Brownworth Manor re-opened as The Kincaid House

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

The house once named Brownworth Manor in Clinton has reopened its doors as The Kincaid House, according to Anderson County tourism officials.

The Kincaid House, as it was originally named, was built by the Carl Kincaid family in the 1930s. Kincaid was owner of Magnet Mills.

The Dutch Colonial style home originally contained 20 acres with a public garden. The Kincaids were collectors of boxwoods and irises, some of which are still on the property. The home features more than 4,000 square feet with a huge patio, stone walkways around the grounds, and a stone gazebo with “card room” upstairs. The stone used on the walls, walkways, and gazebo were originally from Norris Dam during its construction. The home now sits on 4.2 acres with a large section of the property wooded for privacy.

For more information, you can visit the Kincaid House page on Facebook.

Clinton teachers, principal of the year honored

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

Clinton City Schools Director Kelly Johnson recognized the school system’s teachers of the year and principal of the year during the Clinton City Council meeting on Monday night.

Leslie Goins of North Clinton Elementary School, Abbey Kidwell of South Clinton Elementary School, and Kimberly O’Dell of Clinton Elementary School were voted teachers of the year from their respective schools by their peers.

Leighann Bonesteel, principal of South Clinton Elementary, earned principal of the year honors.

A banquet will be held on April 11 at First Baptist Church in Clinton to recognize these individuals as well as the educators of the year from the Anderson County school system.