Oak Ridge Today

Harlem Ambassadors Basketball Show will benefit Habitat for Humanity

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Jennifer Walker, left, branch manager of TNBank on South Illinois Avenue, hands Charlotte Bowers, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County, a sponsorship check. (Submitted photo)

 

Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County is hosting the Harlem Ambassadors Basketball Show on Thursday, March 24, at Oak Ridge High School. This show is not only entertaining, organizers said, it also brings an important message to kids: “Stay off drugs, stay in school, don’t be a bully!”

The show starts at 6 p.m. March 24 at Wildcat Arena.

“Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County is so very appreciative of the businesses that are sponsoring this event,” a press release said. They include Life Safety Inspections, ORAU, MS Technology, Thrivent Financial, SL Industries, ORNL Federal Credit Union, A-Plus Concrete, Techmer PM, TNBank, Orthopaedic Surgeons of Oak Ridge, Tracy Larabee CPA, BWSC, Stoller, LEIDOS, Krogers, and J&M’s Butcher Shop.

“A special thank you to Hampton Inn and Shailesh Patel for housing the Ambassadors!” the press release said. Many individuals have also sponsored tickets so that student-athletes in Anderson County can come to the game for free. [Read more…]

Photo: Vendors at Oak Ridge Farmers Market

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There were four vendors at the Oak Ridge Farmers Market at Jackson Square on January 30 and three on February 27. (Photo by Ray Evans)

 

The Oak Ridge Farmers Market officially opens in April, but a few vendors have already been at the market and set up on Saturday mornings.

There were four vendors at the Farmers Market on Saturday, January 30, and three on Saturday, February 27, said Ray Evans, Oak Ridge retail consultant.

Last year, the Farmers Market opened for its 39th season in mid-April. During the season, it’s generally open from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays and from 3 to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. The Wednesday markets started in May last year. [Read more…]

Clearance sale on clothing, toys, household items at former YWCA on Saturday

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There will be a clearance sale on clothing, toys, and household items at the former YWCA building on Oak Ridge Turnpike on Saturday.

The sale started Friday, March 4, and continues from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, March 5.

The former YWCA building is located at 1660 Oak Ridge Turnpike. [Read more…]

City will clean sewer lines near restaurants this month, could cause traffic delays

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The Oak Ridge Public Works Department will clean sewer lines near restaurants during the next two weeks, and the work could cause traffic delays because roads and intersections could be temporarily closed, officials said.

The work is scheduled during the weeks of March 7 and March 14.

“Please use extreme caution and allow extra time when driving in areas where city workers are present,” a press release said. [Read more…]

Oliver Springs accepting applications for mayor

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Oliver Springs City Building

The Oliver Springs City Building is pictured above. (Photo by City of Oliver Springs)

 

Information from WYSH Radio

The Oliver Springs Board of Aldermen—the Town Council—met Thursday night for the first time since Mayor Jerry Vann surprised everyone by announcing his resignation.

Vice Mayor Omer Cox is serving as mayor on an interim basis, and it is not clear yet if he wants to have the “interim” tag removed and be considered as Vann’s successor until the next election.

The Board took no action on the matter on Thursday night, instead deciding to have interested applicants submit their resumes to City Manager Becky Campbell by the end of the business day on Monday, March 14. That will give the Aldermen a chance to review the candidates before their next meeting on Thursday, March 17, when a decision could be made. [Read more…]

Runaway juvenile located

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Briana-Phillips

Briana Hailey Lynn Phillips

The runaway juvenile who had last been seen on Tuesday has been located, authorities said Friday.

Briana Hailey Lynn Phillips, 15, was located by investigators with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department and detectives from the Clinton Police Department, authorities said.

“Thanks to everyone for their help,” said Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Workshop on lawn, garden tool maintenance is Saturday

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A workshop on lawn and garden tool maintenance is being offered at the University of Tennessee Arboretum Auditorium in Oak Ridge on Saturday.

The workshop is sponsored by UT Arboretum Society and Downtown Hardware of Oak Ridge. It’s scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

Roger Clary of Downtown Hardware and the store’s Husqvarna representative, David Waugh, are working with the UT Arboretum Society to put on the workshop, organizers said.

Door prizes will be given away along with store coupons. The UT Arboretum Society will accept donations for its program.

“Last year’s workshop was a great success!” organizers said.

Copyright 2016 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Uppuluri receives Foreign Minister’s Award from Japanese consul-general

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Japan Consulate-General Masami Kinefuchi, left, presents Shigeko Uppuluri of Oak Ridge with the Foreign Minister’s Commendation Award in a ceremony at ORAU on Wednesday, March 2, 2016. (Photo by D. Ray Smith)

 

An Oak Ridge resident who has advocated for a “sister city” relationship between Oak Ridge and Naka, Japan, and proposed the International Friendship Bell in Oak Ridge received a Foreign Minister’s Commendation Award from the consul-general of Japan on Wednesday.

The award was presented to Shigeko Uppuluri by Masami Kinefuchi, consul-general of Japan, during a ceremony at Pollard Technology Conference Center of Oak Ridge Associated Universities on Wednesday. It recognized Uppuluri’s contributions to the friendship and understanding between Oak Ridge and Japan.

Uppuluri is the first Oak Ridge resident to receive the award.

The consul-general honored Uppuluri for her dedication to the creation and maintenance of the sister city relationship between Oak Ridge and Naka, Japan, a press release said. She has advocated for and participated in exchanges between the two cities, contributing to the goodwill and understanding between Japan and Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Children’s Museum hosts exhibit of Historic Norris Dam photos

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The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge will host the opening of an exhibition by Harvey Towns commemorating the 80th anniversary of the completion of Norris Dam. The opening reception will be from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, March 6, at the Children’s Museum, which is at 461 West Outer Drive. Refreshments will be provided.

On March 4, 1936, the outlet conduit gates in Norris Dam were closed and the storage of water in the reservoir began. This exhibit displays rare and historic photographs of construction leading up to that event. Norris Dam, hydroelectric facility, was the first dam built by the Tennessee Valley Authority.

In March 2015, a cache of original panorama photographs taken by contract photographer Rell Clements to document construction of the dam was discovered at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge by Exhibit Director Margaret Allard. Because of the age and fragile condition of the photographs, an effort to digitize and reproduce modern copies was begun. [Read more…]

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department asks for help locating runaway juvenile

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Briana-Phillips

Briana Hailey Lynn Phillips

 

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department is asking for help finding a runaway juvenile, Briana Hailey Lynn Phillips, 15. Phillips was last seen on Tuesday, March 1, and she has not returned home, authorities said.

Here is a description of Briana Hailey Lynn Phillips:

  • White female
  • Age: 15
  • Height and weight: 5’5″, 126 pounds
  • Blond hair
  • Blue eyes
  • Navel piercing with silver clear crystal gem

[Read more…]

Coal Creek Miners Museum has grand opening on March 11

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The Coal Creek Miners Museum in Rocky Top will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting on March 11.

The museum tells the story of the miners that lived, worked, and died in Coal Creek, Fraterville, and Briceville, and it also tells about the historically significant events that changed the mining industry, a press release said.

The grand opening is scheduled from 2-5 p.m. March 11 at the new museum, which is at 201 South Main Street in Rocky Top (formerly known as Lake City). The ribbon-cutting with the Rocky Top Chamber of Commerce is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

Here is more information from a press release:

The story starts in the late 1800s when the “free” miners fought against the convict lease system, a struggle that ultimately ended the system in the southern states. [Read more…]

TDOT photos, videos of rock slide on I-75 in Campbell County

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A significant slope slide occurred near Mile Marker 142 on I-75 North in Campbell County on Friday, February 26, 2016. Currently, all lanes are closed in both the northbound and southbound directions. (Photo courtesy TDOT/Mark Nagi via Twitter)

 

A significant slope slide occurred near Mile Marker 142 on I-75 North in Campbell County on Friday, February 26.

Currently, all lanes are closed in both the northbound and southbound directions between the Caryville and Jellico exits.

The video below is from the Tennessee Department of Transportation from Monday, February 29. It shows just how much debris has made its way onto the road. Rocks continue to drop all the way to the median, and some ended up on the southbound lanes as well, according to TDOT.

[Read more…]