Oak Ridge Today

Africa education, leadership initiative to be focus of human rights celebration

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Anita Henderlight with Sudanese Students

Anita Henderlight meets with students at the secondary school established through Africa ELI in South Sudan. (Submitted photos)

Anita Henderlight, executive director of Africa Education and Leadership Initiative, will be the guest speaker at a Human Rights Celebration organized by Church Women United on Friday, Dec. 6, at Spurgeon Chapel in Oak Ridge. The theme of the celebration is “Breaking Down the Doors of Injustice.”

Founded in 2006, Africa ELI works in the world’s newest country of South Sudan to bridge gender gaps in secondary education by improving access to school for girls and refugees of war. Henderlight travels extensively to mobilize investors and collaborates with Africa ELI personnel, partner agencies, government leaders, and South Sudan’s young adults to help them implement skill-building programs and develop sustainable solutions to meet their educational and occupational needs, a press release said.

Spurgeon Chapel is located on the corner of South Benedict and Houston Avenue in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Youth Board has free Turkey Bowl Disc Golf on Sunday

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The Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board will host Turkey Bowl Disc Golf on Sunday.

It starts at 2 p.m. Sunday at Groves Park Disc Golf Course on Tuskegee Drive. That’s the former South Hills Golf Course site.

The event is part of Oak Ridge’s Playful City USA initiative. Participants of all ages are welcome to try this sport, which is growing in popularity, a press release said. Free “Turkey Bowl” logo discs will be provided to participants while supplies last. [Read more…]

Lake City Christmas Parade is Dec. 6, procedures outlined

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The Lake City Christmas parade will be Friday, Dec. 6, and the theme is “A Christmas to Remember.”

The parade will start at 7 p.m., and registration will be from 5 to 6:45 p.m.

Please be aware that everyone participating in the parade must register, sign a release, and receive a number regardless if you want to be judged or not. If you do not register and receive a number, you will be asked to leave the parade line. [Read more…]

AC Deeds Register Shelton elected president of state organization

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Tim Shelton

Anderson County Register of Deeds Tim Shelton has been elected president of the County Officials Association of Tennessee. (Submitted photo)

Anderson County Register of Deeds Tim Shelton has been elected president of the County Officials Association of Tennessee, or COAT.

Shelton, a lifelong resident of Anderson County, was elected at the organization’s 45th annual conference recently held in Murfreesboro, a press release said.

COAT is a statewide association comprised of all of the county registers of deeds, trustees, county clerks, and state court clerks. The organization was founded in 1968.

Shelton plans to seek re-election in 2014, the press release said. [Read more…]

Clinton honors female athletes, names them Christmas parade grand marshals

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Erin Champion

Erin Champion

Erin Champion and Vickie Franse selected as grand marshals for Clinton Christmas parade

Two outstanding young female athletes from Clinton will serve as grand marshals of the Clinton Christmas Parade this year, Mayor Scott Burton announced this week.

The grand marshals will be Erin Champion and Vickie Franse. The Christmas parade is Dec. 7, and the entry registration deadline is Dec. 4.

Erin Champion won the 2011 AAA State Pole Vault Championship with a height of 11’6,” a press release said. Earlier in the 2011 season, she set a Tennessee record with a height of 12’1.5” at the Metro 8 Meet. [Read more…]

Ruby Tuesday restructuring to eliminate 50 positions

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Information from WYSH Radio

Ruby Tuesday announced Wednesday that it will eliminate 50 positions at its restaurant support center in Maryville.

The company, which has a restaurant in Oak Ridge, said the job cuts are in response to a cost review program on the heels of millions of dollars in reported losses during the past couple of years. The move is expected to save the company about $6 million a year beginning in 2015. [Read more…]

Supreme Court says Anderson County jail not responsible for inmate attack

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The Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled that Anderson County is not liable for damages beyond medical costs after an inmate sustained injuries from an attack by cellmates.

Kenneth E. King, a Claxton resident, had spent the night in the Anderson County Detention Facility after being arrested on Oct. 27, 2009, for driving on a suspended license—a charge that ultimately was in error, according to the opinion and a press release posted on the state courts website Thursday. His release was ordered at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 28, but it took more than three hours for the pretrial release officer to process the paperwork.

During that time, King was severely beaten, causing permanent injuries to his eye. King sued the county seeking monetary damages for the attack, stating that Anderson County was negligent in not releasing him in a timely manner and should have known that there was a danger of him being attacked. [Read more…]

Some road, lane closures during Secret City Half Marathon Nov. 30-Dec. 1

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Secret City Half Marathon Course Map

The course map for the Secret City Half Marathon is pictured above.

Some traffic lanes and roads will be closed, and several main roads and intersections will be affected by the Secret City Half Marathon road races next weekend, Nov. 30-Dec. 1, officials said Thursday.

About 800 runners are expected to race on the streets and greenways of Oak Ridge during these family-friendly athletic events, the City of Oak Ridge and Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau said in a press release Thursday.

“Motorists should be aware of runners and walkers in the race areas and try to avoid these roads and find alternate routes if possible,” the release said.

The first-ever Secret City 5k and 10k races will be held Saturday, Nov. 30, at 7:30 a.m. The Oak Ridge Police Department will shut down portions of the race course during the affected time periods. Both races start and finish on Badger Avenue near Oak Ridge Associated Universities and continue along the following route through central Oak Ridge: [Read more…]

WYSH: Man charged after meth lab sets apartment on fire

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Information from WYSH Radio

A Kingston man was arrested early Tuesday morning after his meth lab caught his bedroom apartment on fire.

Roane County deputies arrested Justin Michael Owens, 23, on five counts of reckless endangerment and one count each of manufacturing meth, tampering with evidence, and vandalism following the incident, which occurred at Smith Apartments on Kingston Highway.

According to the Sheriff’s Department incident report, the fire started when there was a “catastrophic failure” of one of the containers involved in the meth-making process. [Read more…]

Man facing charges in high-speed chase

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Information from WYSH Radio

A Powell man has been arrested on charges stemming from a high-speed nighttime pursuit that spanned two counties earlier this month.

Larry Eugene Ward Jr., 33, is facing a slew of charges including reckless endangerment, reckless driving, evading arrest, and a host of traffic violations. An Oliver Springs Police Department officer tried to pull Ward over at night on Nov. 2 for a routine violation, but Ward allegedly sped off in his Chevy Cruze, turned off the vehicle’s headlights, and proceeded to lead officers on a pursuit that reached speeds of more than 100 miles an hour, passing cars on double yellow lines, and taking hills in the wrong lane. [Read more…]

Globetrotter-style hoops on Saturday benefits foundation, Scarboro association

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A Saturday night of hoops—Globetrotter style—will benefit the Regina Kirk Foundation and the Scarboro Community Alumni Association.

The game pits The Harlem Legends against The Oak Ridge All-Stars. It starts at 5 p.m. Saturday at Oak Ridge High School.

“The Oak Ridge All-Stars will be comprised of city officials, educators, and former Wildcats who will agree to an evening of family fun in their challenge of the Harlem Legends in a friendly game of hoops—Globetrotter style,” a press release said.

The Harlem legends are a group of professional athletes, former players from the Harlem Globetrotters, NBA, NFL, past Olympians, and other professionals. Legends include Michael Douglas, Tyrone “Hollywood Brown,” Larry “Shorty” Coleman, Robert Wallace, Tree Gordon, Mike Glenn, Jimmy Bolden, Kevin Sowell, L.T. Trahan, and Regina Kirk. [Read more…]

CONTACT Care Line celebrates 40th anniversary Friday

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Deborah Patterson

Deborah Patterson

For 40 years, volunteers with CONTACT Care Line have provided a listening ear to East Tennesseans in crisis, and the Oak Ridge-based nonprofit is inviting the public to a Friday evening of bluegrass music to celebrate its milestone anniversary.

The public is also recognizing CONTACT, with both the city of Oak Ridge and Rep. John Ragan from Tennessee’s District 33 proclaiming November as “CONTACT Care Line Month,” a press release said.

“A lot has changed in 40 years,” said Deb Patterson, CONTACT’s executive director, “but six of our volunteers have been with us from Day One, and what hasn’t changed is that lonely people, people with mental illnesses, the elderly—all of us, really—need someone to talk to every once in a while. It’s going to be special to reach the 40-year milestone and to thank all our telephone workers.”

The 40th Ruby Anniversary Balloon Pop Concert featuring the Ridge City Ramblers will be held from 7-10 p.m. Friday at the Pollard Conference Center in Oak Ridge. The Ramblers will provide a fun mix of bluegrass and Americana music, and there’ll be a prize in every balloon, the press release said. [Read more…]