Oak Ridge Today

Roane State Shooting Sports Team athletes earn state honors

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Roane State Shooting Team

The Roane State Shooting Sports Team competed in June in the Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program Championships. From left are team member Andy Carey, Assistant Coach Kevin Hembree, team member Lauren Sanders, Assistant Coach James Wattenbarger, team member Nathan Hembree, Head Coach Kenny Carey, team member Nathan Wattenbarger, and team member Cody Chattin. (Photo by Roane State Community College)

 

Roane State Community College Shooting Sports Team athletes won top honors in the collegiate division at the Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program Championships in June in Nashville.

Lauren Sanders of Soddy Daisy won first place in sporting clays and second place in skeet. Andy Carey of Crossville won first place in sporting clays. Nathan Hembree of Crossville won second place in skeet and third place in trap.

Nate Wattenbarger of Crossville and Cody Chattin of Spring City also competed for Roane State.

Coaches Kevin Hembree, James Wattenbarger, and Kenny Carey said they were “very proud of the entire team for their efforts and excellent marksmanship.” [Read more…]

Pool’s final day of season Aug. 6, first-ever Puppy Pool Party on Aug. 7

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Oak Ridge Outdoor Swimming Pool July 2016

The Oak Ridge Outdoor Swimming Pool is pictured above in July 2016. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge Outdoor Swimming Pool will be closing soon for the season, but before it does, the pool will re-open for one final day this season and the city will host its first-ever Puppy Pool Party.

The outdoor pool will close Sunday, July 31, and be closed through the first week of August. The pool will re-open one last time for the season on Saturday, August 6, from 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

On Sunday, August 7, from 5-7 p.m., the outdoor pool will host its first Puppy Pool Party, a press release said. All dogs must be non-aggressive and kept on leashes. Pet owners must also have proof of current vaccinations. There is a fee of $3 per dog to participate, or each owner may bring a donation of canned or dry dog food to support the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter. [Read more…]

ORHS Boys Basketball Boosters have fundraising golf tournament Aug. 13

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The Oak Ridge High School Boys Basketball Boosters has a fundraising golf tournament on August 13.

The 19th annual golf tournament is a four-man scramble format that will be held at Centennial Golf Course in Oak Ridge. The tournament will begin at 8 a.m. August 13 with a shotgun start.

The tournament costs just $75 per person. Registration begins at 7 a.m. with breakfast and free range balls for participants. A Mulligan Package is also available for $25, which includes mulligans, a red tee, a door prize ticket, and a putting contest ticket, a press release said. [Read more…]

Donate $10, spray paint on part of old mall—money goes to Blankenship Field

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Main-Street-Oak-Ridge-Celebration-1

As part of the Main Street Oak Ridge groundbreaking on Wednesday, you will have a chance to spray paint on part of the old mall in exchange for a $10 donation, and the money raised will be used for the Blankenship Field Renovation Project.

It’s part of the Main Street Oak Ridge celebration at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 20. The City of Oak Ridge is helping to raise the money for Blankenship Field.

“The fundraising opportunity will be one of the last items in the program, after the groundbreaking and ceremonial demolition we have planned,” a city statement said. “Participants will be asked to donate $10 to the field renovation project. In return, they’ll get to spray paint a designated area on the outside of the old mall building. People can write whatever they’d like (as long as it’s tasteful), but we see this as a special opportunity for the community to bid the ‘mall’ farewell.” [Read more…]

Local AYSO region rebrands uniforms with classic Oak Ridge colors

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Oak Ridge AYSO Uniform Colors July 2016

The new Oak Ridge AYSO uniform in classic community colors. (Submitted photo)

By Gerry Palau

The kids playing AYSO soccer in Oak Ridge this fall will be sporting new uniforms—featuring the classic Oak Ridge color palette that includes maroon, silver, and white.

The local AYSO Region Board listened to feedback from parents and the community that the uniform style that’s been worn for years would benefit from an update. While considering options for a new uniform style, a factor that stood out as important was to have uniforms that create an AYSO identity that links to the Oak Ridge community. The new jerseys will echo the colors associated with high school sports in our community, and the new jersey style brings a fresh, modern design to our AYSO teams.

With the start of the new soccer season in September, local AYSO players will get to wear these new jerseys and new colors—both for their home games in Oak Ridge, as well as for the away matches that the older age groups play throughout East Tennessee. [Read more…]

State park naturalist to lead adventure at Fall Creek Falls State Park on Saturday

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Join Randy Hedgepath, the state naturalist for Tennessee State Parks, on July 23 for an adventure at Fall Creek Falls State Park. Participants will meet at the park Inn and carpool to the Piney Falls area.

“The plan is to hike out the Lower Cane Creek Loop Trail for about a half-mile and learn about the forest of this part of the Cumberland Plateau,” Hedgepath said. “Then, the real adventure begins.

“We will not cross the suspension bridge, but go down under and explore the streambed down to the top of the falls. The forest along the stream is very different from the plateau top. There will be lots of chances to cool off in the stream, lots of scenic bluffs, and a dramatic view into the gorge. The return trip will backtrack to the bridge and out to the vehicles.” [Read more…]

TWRA: Take a lesson from the kids, wear your life jacket

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From left to right above are Sasa the dog, Trina Ward, 5-month-old Aiden Ward, Tom Werkema with 2-year-old Makaylyn Ward, 5-month-old Collin Ward, and Jake Ward. (Photo courtesy TWRA)

From left to right above are Sasa the dog, Trina Ward, 5-month-old Aiden Ward, Tom Werkema with 2-year-old Makaylyn Ward, 5-month-old Collin Ward, and Jake Ward. (Photo courtesy TWRA)

 

By Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

The biggest boating weekend of the year is among us, and officers from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency are already busy investigating too many serious injury and fatal boating accidents.

At least eight of the fatal accidents that have occurred on Tennessee waters resulted in drownings and in most cases, if not all, a properly worn personal flotation device would have saved lives. Let’s take a lesson from the kids and see why, thankfully, we don’t lose many of them to drowning while boating.

The answer is simple: In Tennessee and in most other states, children ages 12 and under are required by law to wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket while on the open deck of a recreational boat except while anchored, moored, or aground. [Read more…]

Photos: Tennessee Paracycling Open in Oak Ridge, II

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Tennessee Paracycling Open June 26 2016

The Tennessee Paracycling Open was in Oak Ridge on June 25 and June 26, 2016. It was a three-race event for disabled cyclists. This year’s registration list included many national champions and U.S. National Team members, who used the event to prepare for the July 2 Rio Paralympic Trials. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

The Tennessee Paracycling Open held in Oak Ridge this weekend was a three-race event for disabled cyclists. Here are more photos by Julio Culiat.

It was Saturday, June 25, and Sunday, June 26, and there was a learn-to-race class on June 24 for new riders.

This year’s registration list included many national champions and U.S. National Team members, who used the event to prepare for the July 2 Rio Paralympic Trials, a press release said.

The athletes, many of whom were disabled veterans, competed in several classes, on handcycles (for those with amputations or paralysis), tandem bicycles (with visually impaired stokers on the back, and sighted pilots on the front, and both powering the bike), and upright bicycles, for those with amputations of one or more limbs, neurological deficits, or other disabilities. [Read more…]

Photos: Tennessee Paracycling Open in Oak Ridge, I

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Tennessee Paracycling Open June 26 2016

The Tennessee Paracycling Open was in Oak Ridge on June 25 and June 26, 2016. It was a three-race event for disabled cyclists. This year’s registration list included many national champions and U.S. National Team members, who used the event to prepare for the July 2 Rio Paralympic Trials. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

The Tennessee Paracycling Open held in Oak Ridge this weekend was a three-race event for disabled cyclists. Here are photos by Julio Culiat.

It was Saturday, June 25, and Sunday, June 26, and there was a learn-to-race class on June 24 for new riders.

This year’s registration list included many national champions and U.S. National Team members, who used the event to prepare for the July 2 Rio Paralympic Trials, a press release said.

The athletes, many of whom were disabled veterans, competed in several classes, on handcycles (for those with amputations or paralysis), tandem bicycles (with visually impaired stokers on the back, and sighted pilots on the front, and both powering the bike), and upright bicycles, for those with amputations of one or more limbs, neurological deficits, or other disabilities. [Read more…]

Save the Date: UT Arboretum Society Butterfly Festival is July 30

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The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society will present a Butterfly Festival on Saturday, July 30, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the UT Arboretum Auditorium and surrounding grounds in Oak Ridge.

It is co-sponsored by the UT Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center. The gate will be open at 8:30 a.m. Coffee and donuts will be sold from 9 to 10.

The UT Arboretum is at 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

The event, designed for children and adults of all ages, will take place rain or shine, a press release said. [Read more…]

Officials to celebrate legislation allowing ATVs on Highway 25W in Rocky Top

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City of Rocky Top Seal

Officials in Rocky Top and Anderson County will have a ribbon-cutting on Friday, July 1, to celebrate recent legislation that allows all-terrain vehicles to ride on Highway 25W starting this summer.

The celebration will include officials from the City of Rocky Top, Rocky Top Chamber of Commerce, and Anderson County Tourism Council. The ribbon-cutting is scheduled at 10 a.m. Friday, July 1, at the “Welcome to Rocky Top City” sign located between the southbound exit ramp of Exit 129 off of Interstate 75 and the Colonial Road in front of KFC and Cracker Barrel.

The Tennessee General Assembly passed legislation to amend current law that would allow for all-terrain vehicles, or ATVs, to ride on Highway 25W in Rocky Top from the intersection of Colonial Lane to the intersection at Jacksboro Avenue beginning July 1, a press release said.

“Current legislation allows for ATVs to be operated on State Route 116 from Beech Grove to Highway 25,” said Mike Lovely, Rocky Top mayor. “This amendment extends the riding area and allows riders from Windrock Park to access the commerce area of Rocky Top.” [Read more…]

Str8 Up SxS Series is Saturday at Windrock Park

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STR8 UP SXS SERIES

The Str8 Up SxS Series is Saturday at Windrock Park north of Oliver Springs.

“The Str8 Up SxS Series will be tackling the crazy hills at the SuperATV Summernationals, the third stop in the series,” an event announcement said. “This adrenaline-pumping event will have you asking yourself, ‘What are these guys thinking?’”

Registration for the event is full, so there is a full house of 60 participants ready to race in the Unlimited and Production classes, along with 21 participants in the Bounty Series. [Read more…]