Oak Ridge Today

‘Fore’ the Girls!: Girls Inc. Golf Classic on May 30

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Girls Inc. Golf Tournament

Girls Inc. of Oak Ridge is hosting its 17th Annual Golf Classic on Friday, May 30, at the Oak Ridge Country Club.

The Golf Classic this year will feature a Hole-In-One Car Prize sponsored by Sexton Automotive, first- and second-place team prizes, division prizes, prizes for closest to the pin, longest drive, and a putting contest, a press release said.

“Our fun day on the course will include refreshments and snacks as well as a fabulous dinner from the Oak Ridge Country Club,” the release said.

This year, the funds received from the Golf Classic sponsors and team fees will all support the new Girls Inc. Golf Program, the release said. Girls Inc. will be starting their first-ever golf season for girls ages 5-15 years old who are interested in building skills, learning to play, and increasing their interest in golf. [Read more…]

Former Lady Dragon hired to lead CHS hoops program

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Information from WYSH Radio

Clinton High School has a new girls’ basketball coach. Athletic Director Dan Jenkins said former Lady Dragon standout Alicia Phillips has been hired to succeed Tonya Lively-Snyder, who stepped down after 15 years on the bench last month.

During her illustrious high school career, Phillips (then Brown) set several school records. After graduating from Clinton, she received a scholarship to play softball for the University of Tennessee and played two seasons there, including an appearance in the Women’s College World Series.

She later transferred to Maryville College, where she continued her softball career and got back on the court for the Lady Scot basketball team. [Read more…]

Conference USA Rowing Championships in Oak Ridge on Saturday

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Tennessee Rowing

Image courtesy Tennessee Volunteers Athletics

 

The 2014 Conference USA Rowing Championships are in Oak Ridge on Saturday. The regatta is at Melton Lake Park and the Oak Ridge Marina.

The University of Tennessee will be competing against Alabama, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Old Dominion, Sacramento State, San Diego State, Texas, Tulsa, and West Virginia for the 2014 C-USA Title. The championship begins at 9:00 a.m.

For a schedule of events this Saturday, visit http://www.conferenceusa.com/championships/w-rowing-championship-14.html.

The regatta is hosted by the Oak Ridge Rowing Association.

Photos: Wildcats spring drills end with South Doyle scrimmage today

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Defensive Linemen

Oak Ridge Wildcats Coach Phil Thompson works with the defensive linemen and defensive ends on the tackling sled. (Photos by Tim Waddell)

 

The 2014 Oak Ridge Wildcat football team will conclude their spring drills with a scrimmage against the South Doyle Cherokees. The scrimmage will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 14 (today), at South Doyle.

The rain date for the scrimmage will be 7 p.m. Friday, May 16. South Doyle will charge $3 per person admittance to the scrimmage. [Read more…]

TSSAA penalizes Clinton, Knox Central soccer teams after brawl

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Information from WYSH Radio

The TSSAA has penalized Clinton and Knox Central high schools for a fight that occurred late in the Bobcats’ 4-2 win Monday night in the District 3-AAA soccer tournament.

The fight broke out with about five minutes to play, apparently after some jawing back and forth between players. Central suffered the most immediate penalty, forfeiting the rest of its season, including Thursday night’s scheduled semifinal game at Gibbs. [Read more…]

New rowing coach resigns

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Marc DeRose

Marc DeRose

The head coach hired in August has resigned from the Oak Ridge Rowing Association.

Coach Marc DeRose, who was also rowing director, has concluded that this was “not the right fit for me and my family,” a Friday afternoon press release said.

The release said a team of veteran ORRA leaders has moved into new roles within the organization. The new team management approach started after the resignation of DeRose, who replaced longtime head coach Allen Eubanks late last summer.

“We wish Marc and his family all the luck in the world,” ORRA President Terry Holley said. “We’re fortunate to have so many outstanding individuals ready to step in and make sure we don’t skip a beat. We may be nearing the end of the season, but we have no doubt we will finish strong.”

In the meantime, the work is being divided into four distinct areas, each with a key person in charge, the release said, “someone everyone involved with ORRA knows and respects. The four areas and those in charge are: [Read more…]

Ninja 5K Race to support Wounded Warriors, Graduation Celebration

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Ninja 5K Race Logo

Registration is now open for the inaugural Ninja 5K race coming to Oak Ridge on June 28. Organizers said the race was created to raise funds for our local Graduation Celebration event, while also supporting the Wounded Warriors Project.

The Ninja 5K is a 3.1-mile race and walk that is planned for the Horizon Center in west Oak Ridge. The race course is very flat and accessible for all ages and abilities, a press release said. The race will be timed, but both runners and walkers are encouraged to participate.

“Martial arts groups will be on hand doing demonstrations, and everyone is encouraged to dress up ninja-style for the event,” a release stated. “Events like this one are sweeping the country because people are looking for something fun to do as a family. We hope to see the whole family dressed out in martial arts uniforms, or as Ninja Turtles, Karate Kid, Kung Fu Panda, etc.” [Read more…]

Oak Ridge building bathrooms, changing rooms at Melton Lake Park

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Oak Ridge Marina Bathrooms

Workers build a block wall, patch and texture the ceiling, and hang drywall for new bathrooms and changing rooms in part of the former New China Palace restaurant at Melton Lake Park.

One section of a former Chinese restaurant at Melton Lake Park has already been converted into a rental shop for kayaks and bikes.

Now, another part of the city-owned building at the Oak Ridge Marina is being converted into public restrooms and changing rooms for big events. The bathrooms, which will be open to the public, could open next month.

It’s one of the steps in implementing a waterfront development plan approved by Oak Ridge City Council in December 2009. That plan included such features as a new picnic pavilion, walking trails, new playground, permanent restrooms, enhanced lighting and landscaping, outdoor casual dining, and recreational equipment rental.

The bathrooms will include multiple stalls, and the city will open the changing rooms for large events, such as regattas (rowing races). That will double the restroom capacities, said Pat Fallon, operations and maintenance manager for the Oak Ridge Public Works Department. [Read more…]

Adventures Outdoors rents kayaks, bikes at Oak Ridge Marina

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Kayaks under Melton Lake Drive

Above, kayaks from Adventures Outdoors are taken through a tunnel under Melton Lake Drive. (Photos courtesy Karen Lloyd)

Adventures Outdoors is open again, renting kayaks, bicycles, and stand up paddle boards at the Oak Ridge Marina.

The company has a new, larger, remodeled home inside part of the former New China Palace restaurant on the waterfront and a new five-year lease with the city, said Karen Lloyd, Adventures Outdoors owner.

Adventures Outdoors has 20 kayaks, including boats for one and two people, a new kayak launching dock, and five-person pedal boats. The rentals includes bikes for adults and children, as well as Trikkes, which are three-wheeled “carving vehicles.”

Lloyd said Adventures Outdoors opened for the season on April 1 and will remain open through Oct. 31. [Read more…]

Photos: SIRA Regatta at Oak Ridge Marina

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sira-regatta-8

The 2014 Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship Regatta was at the Oak Ridge Marina on Friday and Saturday. Here are photos from the regatta on Saturday.

It was the 46th annual SIRA regatta. Results from the Friday and Saturday races are available on the SIRA website.

A video of Friday’s races are available on the USRowing YouTube channel here, and Saturday’s races are available here. [Read more…]

Kerry Trammell Memorial 5k Run/Walk at Oak Ridge Marina on May 4

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Kerry Trammell Memorial 5K Logo

The Kerry Trammell Memorial 5k Run and Walk will start at 8 a.m. May 4 at the Oak Ridge Marina.

Proceeds of this year’s race will go toward the purchase and installation of emergency mile markers on the Melton Lake Greenway. The mile markers will be placed every .10 miles and coordinated with 911, and Trammell’s name will be placed on each.

The course starts on the Oak Ridge Marina peninsula and runs on Melton Lake Drive and along the water on the Melton Lake Greenway. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge’s Rotary clubs to host dragon boat races May 31

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Penny Behling Dragon Boat Steerer

The three Rotary clubs of Oak Ridge are combining forces to launch the inaugural Oak Ridge Dragon Boat Festival, to be held Saturday, May 31, at the Oak Ridge Marina and Pavilion in Melton Lake Park.

“The purpose of the festival is to provide a venue for dragon boat races, offer food and musical entertainment and raise funds for nonprofit service organizations in the community,” said Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson, president of the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge.

The boat-racing event will celebrate Oak Ridge’s waterfront and signature rowing venue. The other two clubs are the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary and Oak Ridge Sunset Rotary clubs.

A dragon boat is a long, low boat adorned with a snarling dragonhead at the boat’s front end, as in the Chinese tradition. Dragon boat races have become popular events in many U.S. cities, ranging in size from Philadelphia to Knoxville.

This all-day Dragon Boat Festival race will be an entertaining competition among teams of 20 persons each—18 paddlers, a caller, and a steerer. The teams will come from community employers and organizations, some of which are signing up to become corporate sponsors of the event. [Read more…]