Oak Ridge Today

Organizers announce new date for Dragon Boat Festival in May

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Colorado Dragon Boat Race

The first team to pull out the flag at the end of a dragon boat race in Colorado wins the 150-meter competition. (Jeff Towery, provided by Colorado Dragon Boat Festival)

The three Rotary clubs of Oak Ridge, which are planning to launch the inaugural Oak Ridge Dragon Boat Festival this spring, have announced a change of date for the community fundraiser. The festival will be held Saturday, May 31, 2014, at the Oak Ridge Marina and Pavilion in Melton Lake Park.

In addition, the clubs have announced a new website for the Oak Ridge Dragon Boat Festival: http://oakridge.racedragonboats.com/.

“The purpose of the festival is to provide a venue for dragon boat races, offer food and musical entertainment, and raise funds for a special project and 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, launched by OARS in the Water, will celebrate Oak Ridge’s waterfront and signature rowing venue. OARS stands for the Oak Ridge Association of Rotarians. The other two clubs are the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary and Oak Ridge Sunset Rotary clubs. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge native serving overseas: Soldiers compete in soccer exhibition

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U.S. Army Spc. Devin Chae Soccer Goalie

U.S. Army Spc. Devin Chae, an Oak Ridge native, makes a save during an exhibition soccer match between Multinational Battle Group-East soldiers and the Kosovo Security Force at the Training and Doctrine compound in Ferizaj, Dec. 20. (Credit for all photos: U.S. Army photos by Sgt. Joshua Stoffregen, 4th Public Affairs Detachment)

Kosovo Force (KFOR)

By Sgt. Joshua Stoffregen

FERIZAJ, Kosovo—Soldiers from Multinational Battle Group-East participated in an exhibition soccer match against members from the Kosovo Security Forces in Ferizaj, Dec. 20.

“We just had a friendly soccer match with the KSF at the Training and Doctrine Compound,” said U.S. Army Capt. Robert Schaffling, a staff officer with MNBG-E and a native of Philadelphia. “It was a (sociable) game of soccer, us versus them.”

Schaffling said that it was a good way to collaborate with the KSF and have a little fun instead of working all the time. [Read more…]

ORHS boys’ soccer has pancake breakfast at Applebee’s on Saturday

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The Oak Ridge High School boys’ soccer team has a pancake breakfast at Applebee’s on Saturday morning.

The breakfast is from 8 to 10 a.m., and tickets are $5. For more information, Call Tracey Clowers, ORHS boys’ soccer booster secretary, at (865) 254-2602.

Applebee’s is at 1213 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Pictures: Secret City Half Marathon start, winners

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Race photographer Gabe Walker of Walker Athletic Photography provided the following photos from the Secret City Half Marathon on Sunday. You can order prints here.

Secret City Half Marathon Start

More than 500 runners start the Secret City Half Marathon on Briarcliff Avenue on Sunday. (Photos courtesy Gabe Walker of Walker Athletic Photography)

[Read more…]

Florida runner finishes first in Secret City Half Marathon

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Secret City Half Marathon Start

Five hundred thirty-six runners start in the Secret City Half Marathon on Briarcliff Avenue on Sunday morning.

A Florida man finished first in the Secret City Half Marathon on Sunday morning, crossing the finish line almost eight minutes ahead of the second-place runner.

Jason McLeod, 21, of Orlando, Fla., finished the 13.1-mile course in 1:11:53. It was his first half marathon.

McLeod has never competed in a full marathon either, but he did run cross country for four years at Bryan College in Dayton, Tenn.

Gina Rouse, 34, of Knoxville finished second with a time of 1:19:50. She was also the top female runner among the 536 athletes who started Sunday. She has competed in marathons, including the Nashville Marathon in 2006 and Atlanta Marathon in 2011. [Read more…]

ORHS basketball clinic for Boys, Girls Club league on Monday

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Coach Aaron Green and the Oak Ridge High School basketball staff are hosting a free basketball skills camp on Monday for the Boys and Girls Club league.

The clinic is for children from kindergarten to seventh grade, and it’s from 6-7 p.m. Monday at the Oak Ridge High School Wildcat Arena. There is a coaches’ question-and-answer session from 7 to 7:30 p.m.

Call (865) 482-4433 for more information, or visit the Boys and Girls Club on Facebook.

Secret City Half Marathon this weekend features 5k, 10k races; health, fitness expo

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Secret City Half Marathon Course Map

The Secret City Half Marathon course map is pictured above.

The Secret City Half Marathon this weekend will feature 5k and 10k races, and a new health and fitness expo.

The first-ever Secret City 5k and 10k races start at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

The inaugural Health and Fitness Expo is scheduled from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, also at the Oak Ridge Civic Center. The event will include booths and exhibits from fitness and health professionals around the region.

“The Secret City Half Marathon Health and Fitness Expo provides the perfect setting to promote Oak Ridge as a top-notch visitor destination,” said Katy Brown, executive director of the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Around 600 runners from around the Southeast have registered to participate in the Half Marathon, and we hope every one of them will check in at the Health and Fitness Expo.” [Read more…]

Gun season for deer opened Nov. 23, continues through Jan. 5

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The Tennessee gun season for deer opened Nov. 23 and continues through Jan. 5, state officials said.

It’s the third year there has been a continuous season. The continuous season replaced the previously two segmented hunting seasons that were in place prior to 2011, a Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency press release said.

The TWRA divides the state into three deer hunting units: A, B, and L. Hunters may harvest one antlered buck per day until the statewide bag limit of three is reached, including those deer harvested during archery and muzzleloader seasons, the press release said. An antlered buck is a buck with an antler at least three inches long. [Read more…]

West eliminates Anderson County 32-19 on big plays in quarterfinals

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Anderson County Mavericks and West Rebels

Mavericks quarterback Tyler Hicks, right, looks downfield for a receiver as linebacker Noah Hoxie of the West Rebels rushes in during a 32-19 quarterfinals loss for Anderson County on Friday night.

CLINTON—Big plays made the difference on Friday night as Knoxville West eliminated Anderson County 32-19 in a Class 5A quarterfinals game.

Both coaches gave credit to the Mavericks (11-2, 7-1 in District 3) for playing well on offense and defense, and Coach Davey Gillum said Anderson County won most of the plays.

“But when they won a play, it was a big one,” Gillum said of the Rebels.

The Mavericks’ Matt Fox, who sprained an ankle last week against Cherokee, was still hurt and not playing at normal speed, and he had trouble cutting, Gillum said. The star running back was held to 25 yards on 12 carries. [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…]

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…]

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…]