Oak Ridge Today

Alternatives to Incarceration director to speak at Lunch with the League on Tuesday

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The director of Alternatives to Incarceration in Anderson County will discuss the program—which is designed to save taxpayers money by reducing jail overcrowding while helping inmates—during a Tuesday afternoon lunch, a press release said.

The director is Mary Ann Young. She is the featured speaker at Lunch with the League at noon Tuesday, March 7, in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church. The church is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

The press release said Alternatives to Incarceration provides a variety of work, vocational training, and counseling services.

The public is invited to the Tuesday lunch meeting. [Read more…]

Short section of Highway 62 closed north of Oliver Springs

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A short section of Highway 62, also known as Knoxville Highway, is closed north of Oliver Springs, authorities said Wednesday afternoon.

Both lanes are closed for about one-quarter mile between Big Mountain Road and Lookout Avenue, the Oliver Springs Police Department said.

The road was closed at about 2 p.m., and it could be closed a few more hours, the Oliver Springs Police Department said at 4 p.m. Wednesday. [Read more…]

Little Ponderosa Zoo floods; damage unknown, but animals safe, dry

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The Little Ponderosa Zoo in Clinton has flooded. The damage is unknown, but the animals are safe and dry, the zoo said Wednesday afternoon, March 1, 2017. (Photo by Little Ponderosa Zoo)

The Little Ponderosa Zoo in Clinton has flooded. The damage is unknown, but the animals are safe and dry, the zoo said Wednesday afternoon, March 1, 2017. (Photo by Little Ponderosa Zoo)

 

The Little Ponderosa Zoo in Clinton has flooded. The damage is unknown, but the animals are safe and dry, the zoo said Wednesday afternoon.

“We have been hit with a lot of water today,” The Little Ponderosa Zoo said. “We have been able to keep our animals dry, but the damage to our bridges and buildings like our concession stand is for now unknown. We will know more once the water has receded.”

See The Little Ponderosa Zoo page on Facebook for more information. See a video posted on the zoo’s Facebook page below. [Read more…]

City workers respond to fallen trees, downed power lines

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Oak Ridge crews work to clear downed tree and power lines on Westover Drive on Wednesday, March 1, 2017. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

Oak Ridge crews work to clear downed trees and power lines on Westover Drive on Wednesday, March 1, 2017. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

Oak Ridge crews worked to clear downed tree and power lines on Wednesday. There were reports of trees and power lines down in parts of Anderson County, including Oak Ridge, as severe thunderstorms moved through the area.

There were no reports of damaged homes in Oak Ridge due to the storms.

Here are a few photos courtesy of the City of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Multiple weather advisories in effect this afternoon

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The threat of severe weather is still in place for today. Be prepared! Make sure you have a way to get weather information and keep up to date on the latest forecast. (Image by National Weather Service in Morristown)

The threat of severe weather is still in place for today. Be prepared! Make sure you have a way to get weather information and keep up to date on the latest forecast. (Image by National Weather Service in Morristown)

 

There are several weather advisories in effect for Oak Ridge this afternoon (Wednesday, March 1).

The severe thunderstorm warning is in effect until 2:15 p.m.

There is a flood advisory in effect until 4:15 p.m., and a flash flood warning until 4:30 p.m.

A wind advisory remains in effect until midnight. [Read more…]

WYSH: Crash on I-75 injures four

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Information from WYSH Radio

Four people were transported to area hospitals following a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 75 South near the Anderson/Campbell County line on Monday night.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol said the crash involving a pickup and a car occurred at around 9 p.m. Monday. Two men and a five-year-old girl were in the Chevy pickup, while a female was the lone occupant of the Hyundai. The two men were flown by Lifestar to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville for treatment of their injuries, while the five-year-old was taken by ambulance after she managed to escape serious injury. The driver of the car was taken by ambulance to LaFollette Medical Center.

The names and conditions of those involved have not been released. [Read more…]

Warrants: Police find drug paraphernalia, suspected meth in Vermont Ave search

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Joel Donovan Packard

Joel Donovan Packard

Police found suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia during a search of a home on Vermont Avenue early Friday morning, authorities said.

Two people were arrested on drug charges after the search, and two were arrested on outstanding warrants.

Warrants filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Clinton said a search of the home at 306 Vermont Avenue found suspected methamphetamine, a blister pack containing four suspected pseudoephedrines, three suspected clonazepam, a snort straw, spoons with residue, black digital scales with residue, pipes, clear plastic baggies with residue, and an unknown white residue.

The two people arrested on drug violations, Joel Donovan Packard, 23, and Tiffany Lea Packard, 42, live at the Vermont Avenue home. Both remained jailed in the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton on Tuesday afternoon.

Both Packards have been charged with manufacturing, delivering, or selling Schedule II drugs; manufacturing, delivering, or selling Schedule IV drugs; maintaining a dwelling for manufacturing, selling, or delivering narcotics; and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The search was conducted at about 6:45 a.m. Friday, February 24, by the Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force in Anderson County and the Oak Ridge Police Department.

Authorities have previously said that two other people, Jackson McGhee, 41, and James Brown, 27, were arrested after the Friday morning search on outstanding warrants in a related case. [Read more…]

ORHS Masquers performs ‘The Wizard of Oz’ this weekend

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Pictured above for the March 2017 performance of "The Wizard of Oz" by Oak Ridge High School Masquers are Lion: Tre Jackson; Scarecrow: Bronson Burdick, Dorothy: Lauren McCoig, and Tin Man: Dillon Nowhatchik. (Submitted photo)

Pictured above for the performances of “The Wizard of Oz” by Oak Ridge High School Masquers from March 3-5, 2017, are Lion: Tre Jackson; Scarecrow: Bronson Burdick; Dorothy: Lauren McCoig; and Tin Man: Dillon Nowhatchik. (Submitted photo)

 

Oak Ridge High School Masquers, the school’s drama program, will present “The Wizard of Oz,” the classic musical, for four performances in March.

The performances are scheduled for Friday, March 3, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, March 4, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 5, at 2 p.m. All performances are in the Oak Ridge Performing Arts Center. Advanced tickets are $8 and are available at the ORHS office and The Ferrell Shop. At the door, tickets will be $10.

Under the direction of Dana Wham, who has directed, choreographed, or acted in numerous adult and children productions throughout the region, this year’s “The Wizard of Oz” continues the ORHS Masquers tradition of bringing excellent performances, impressive sets, amazing orchestration, and technical panache to the stage, a press release said. “The Wizard of Oz” combines an ambitious theatrical experience with the classic story for Frank L. Baum, the press release said. [Read more…]

School board picks Scarboro Park for new preschool

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The new preschool could be located at Elm Grove Park in east Oak Ridge or Scarboro Park in central Oak Ridge, pictured above on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017, and the city's school board expects to recommend one of the two sites on Monday, Feb. 27, a school official said Friday. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The new preschool should be built at Scarboro Park, the Oak Ridge Board of Education said in a unanimous vote on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The new preschool should be built at Scarboro Park, the Oak Ridge Board of Education said in a unanimous vote on Monday.

The site selection in a 5-0 voice vote came after about 15 minutes of discussion during a school board meeting on Monday.

The other option was Elm Grove Park. That park on East Tennessee Avenue in east Oak Ridge had been identified as the preferred site after a preschool report was published in October 2015.

With one exception, school board members said the two sites are relatively equal as measured by a number of factors outlined by BOE Vice Chair Bob Eby, including learning environment, building and transportation costs, safety and security, expandability and impact on parks, and community and City Council support. The one significant difference: There has been opposition to building the new preschool at Elm Grove Park, while the Scarboro community has welcomed the idea of building the new preschool at Scarboro Park.

“The difference is very stark,” Oak Ridge Board of Education member Angi Agle said. “The community support from Scarboro does make a huge difference.” [Read more…]

Photos: AJ Cucksey visits Oak Ridge

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AJ Cucksey is pictured above with the Oak Ridge Wildcats basketball team during a 68-38 win over West in a Region 2-AAA quarterfinal game at Wildcat Arena on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Wildcats Basketball)

AJ Cucksey is pictured above with the Oak Ridge Wildcats basketball team during a 68-38 win over West in a Region 2-AAA quarterfinal game at Wildcat Arena on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Wildcats Basketball)

 

AJ Cucksey, a six-year-old cancer survivor, met two of Oak Ridge’s best athletes—junior Destiny Kassner and senior Tee Higgins, both basketball players—during Region 2-AAA quarterfinal games at Wildcat Arena this past weekend.

AJ was at the Friday night game, when Destiny helped the Lady Wildcats beat Bearden in a regional tournament quarterfinal. He was back again on Saturday, when Tee helped the Wildcats in a win over West, also in a quarterfinal game.

Here are photos from AJ at the basketball games, and before. [Read more…]

Young cancer survivor meets with Destiny, gets a dunk from Tee

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AJ Cucksey, a six-year-old cancer survivor and kindergarten student at Farragut Primary, sits on the Oak Ridge Wildcats sideline next to senior Tee Higgins (5), who dunked for AJ during a 68-38 win over West during a Region 2-AAA quarterfinal game at Wildcats Arena on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017.

AJ Cucksey, a six-year-old cancer survivor and kindergarten student at Farragut Primary, sits on the Oak Ridge Wildcats bench next to senior Tee Higgins (5), who dunked for AJ during a 68-38 win over West during a Region 2-AAA quarterfinal game at Wildcat Arena on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017.

 

He’s already performed “Rocky Top” for Peyton Manning and become friends with Joshua Dobbs and his family.

Now six-year-old cancer survivor AJ Cucksey, who has seven inoperable brain tumors, has met two of Oak Ridge’s best athletes: junior Destiny Kassner and senior Tee Higgins, both basketball players.

AJ was at the Friday night game, when Destiny helped the Lady Wildcats beat Bearden in a regional tournament quarterfinal. He was back again on Saturday, when Tee helped the Wildcats in a win over West, also in a quarterfinal game.

AJ, a kindergarten student at Farragut Primary School in Farragut, met Destiny and Tee on Friday, and he sat on the bench next to Tee on Saturday. Tee, who spent time talking to AJ, dunked for him.

AJ, a football fan, was asked what he thought about meeting Tee, a top football recruit who has been named a Mr. Football finalist in Tennessee for the second year in a row.

“Cool,” AJ said. [Read more…]

New House Appropriations chair visits ORNL, Y-12

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The new chair of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee visited Oak Ridge on Thursday. U.S. Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen, a New Jersey Republican, toured Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 National Security Complex. The visit was hosted by U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, a Tennessee Republican. (Submitted photo)

The new chair of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee visited Oak Ridge on Thursday. U.S. Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen, a New Jersey Republican, toured Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 National Security Complex. The visit was hosted by U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, a Tennessee Republican. (Submitted photo)

 

The new chair of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee visited Oak Ridge on Thursday. During his visit, U.S. Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen, a New Jersey Republican, toured Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 National Security Complex.

The visit was hosted by Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, a Tennessee Republican whose district includes Oak Ridge.

The House Republican Conference approved Frelinghuysen as the new chair of the critical House Appropriations Committee, which funds the federal missions at Oak Ridge, late last year. Hal Rogers, a Kentucky Republican, was the former chair. [Read more…]