Oak Ridge Today

Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge offers Spring Break camps

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Campers will make slime, paint rocks, and have leprechaun fun at the Children’s Museum Spring Break Camp in March 2018. (Submitted photo)

Campers will make slime, paint rocks, and have leprechaun fun at the Children’s Museum Spring Break Camp in March 2018. (Submitted photo)

 

Flower art, slime and chemistry, science and art, and St. Patrick’s Day activities will be among spring break camps offered for children in kindergarten through 5th grades at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge Monday through Friday, March 12-16.

The museum will offer morning camps from 9 a.m.-noon and afternoon sessions from 1-4 p.m. Children may register for individual sessions, a day, all mornings, all afternoons, or the entire week.

Meanwhile, the Children’s Museum will be open for visits Tuesday through Sunday during spring break. Children may imagine they are astronauts in the Mars Rocket Room, play in a farmer’s market in the Healthy Living exhibit, explore how children lived in historic Appalachia, wander through a rain forest, play in a tugboat in TVA Waterworks, and much more.

Here’s the schedule of activities for March 12-16: [Read more…]

Monday, March 12: Eat out for ADFAC!

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Pictured above is Cesar Ortiz, owner of Gallo Loco, who invites you to celebrate Dine & Donate by eating out on Monday, March 12, 2018. (Submitted photo)

Pictured above is Cesar Ortiz, owner of Gallo Loco, who invites you to celebrate Dine & Donate by eating out on Monday, March 12, 2018. (Submitted photo)

 

Did you know you can support a fantastic organization in our community just by eating? Does it sound too good to be true? The second Monday of each month marks the Dine and Donate promotion for Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC. Several area restaurants have pledged to donate a portion of their sales for the day to support ADFAC’s important programs to promote self-sustainability for families in our area, a press release said.

The featured restaurant for March is Gallo Loco Mexican restaurant at 80 East Tennessee Avenue in Oak Ridge. The press release said this cozy Mexican restaurant is regularly mentioned as a favorite by locals, and their friendly atmosphere can’t be beat! Stop by on Monday, March 12, and find out for yourself why this spot will become one of your favorites, too!

Other restaurants supporting ADFAC on Monday, and each month, are Burchfield’s, Dean’s, Hoskins, Mediterranean Delight, Outback Steakhouse, Razzleberry’s, Soup Kitchen, Subway locations in Clinton (both), west Oak Ridge (1968 Oak Ridge Turnpike), Oliver Springs, and Rocky Top. So many tasty opportunities to support a valued organization in our community! [Read more…]

ORHS students qualify for state competition for future business leaders

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Left to right: Rosemary Archer, business teacher; Blake Norris, Bailey Williams, Hannah Phillips, Ella Stewart, and Rachel McBryar.

Left to right: Rosemary Archer, business teacher; Blake Norris, Bailey Williams, Hannah Phillips, Ella Stewart, and Rachel McBryar. (Submitted photo)

 

On February 1, five members of the Oak Ridge High School Chapter of Future Business Leaders of America attended the Region 6 Conference at the Knoxville Expo Center.

The ORHS students received the following awards: [Read more…]

Today: Manhattan Project Park celebrates 75 years of Girl Scouts in Oak Ridge

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Camp Trefoil Girl Scouts on Steps (Submitted photo)

Camp Trefoil Girl Scouts on Steps (Submitted photo)

 

The Manhattan Project National Historical Park is partnering with the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge and the Girl Scouts of the USA to celebrate 75 years of Girl Scouts in Oak Ridge on Saturday, March 10.

Beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 10, individual Girl Scouts and/or troops are welcome to participate in hands-on activities at the Children’s Museum until 3:30 p.m. Admission to the Children’s Museum will be free to any Girl Scout in uniform and their immediate family. Girl Scouts of all levels are invited to participate and will have the opportunity to earn multiple patches, while supplies last, a press release said. Some of the activities include a Children’s Museum scavenger hunt, donating items to support the community, games, and a cupcake celebration.

Girl Scouts who bring a new or gently used book to be donated for the local Free Little Libraries can earn a patch, while supplies last. Participants are also asked to bring items to make hygiene kits for the American Red Cross. These items include toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo, lotion, soap, washcloths, razors, and shaving cream. Girl Scouts can earn a limited edition Oak Ridge 75th Girl Scout patch by participating in the various events offered throughout the day. [Read more…]

City code could require animal shelters to protect against cold, dampness

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James T. Akagi

James T. Akagi

A change to the Oak Ridge city code that will be considered Monday would require doghouses and shelters for outdoor animals to provide insulation and protection against cold and dampness.

Current city code requires access to a barn, doghouse, or other shelter “sufficient to protect the animal from the elements.”

But new language could be added to that section: “Doghouses and similar shelters shall be made of durable materials with a solid, moisture-proof floor, and must contain clean bedding material consisting of hay, straw, cedar shavings, or the equivalent to provide insulation and protection against cold and dampness.”

There have been concerns raised by residents, especially during cold winter weather, about keeping outdoor animals or pets safe and protected from freezing and below-freezing temperatures. It wasn’t immediately clear Tuesday night if those concerns led to the proposed code change.

The amended city code would require the approval of the Oak Ridge City Council, which meets at 7 p.m. Monday, March 12, in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Courtroom. The change would be done through an ordinance, which requires City Council to approve it in two separate meetings, usually two monthly meetings. [Read more…]

Two charged in alleged robbery that started with car sale

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Michael Sharp

Michael Rodney Sharp

 

Two people have been charged in an alleged robbery that started with a car sale, court records said.

The robbery was reported to have occurred on Bolin Road on the west side of Rocky Top on Thursday, February 22.

The two people charged with aggravated robbery in the case are Michael Rodney Sharp, 50, and Stephanie Jean Hoskins, 29, who both live on Bolin Road, according to Anderson County jail records.

The victim reported going to Bolin Road to buy a car from Sharp, according to affidavits filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Clinton by Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Gregory Stanley.

While she was talking to Sharp, the victim said, Hoskins hit her in the back of the head with a stick, knocking her unconscious, according to the affidavits. The victim said she was unconscious for about five minutes. [Read more…]

Clinton teacher named to governor’s group on school safety

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Abbey Kidwell

Abbey Kidwell

Note: This story was updated at 9:15 a.m. March 6.

An elementary school teacher in Clinton has been named to a school safety group formed by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam.

Abbey Kidwell is a fourth-grade teacher at South Clinton Elementary School.

The working group was announced by Haslam on Monday. It includes leaders from the state government’s executive branch, Tennessee General Assembly, and those who work in safety, education, and mental health. The group will immediately begin reviewing school safety in Tennessee and provide recommendations to enhance the security of school children, a press release said.

“While all schools in Tennessee currently have safety plans in place, the Governor’s School Safety Working Group will convene this week to review the policies, procedures, and process of developing and implementing those plans, as well as other school safety measures, including communication and collaboration among law enforcement, educators, and mental health professionals,” the press release said.

“All children in Tennessee deserve to learn in a safe and secure environment and I am asking this working group to move quickly in making practical recommendations that we can implement in the coming weeks and months to help increase the safety of our children,” Haslam said. “The review will be wide ranging but include specific items, such as entry to and exit from schools, training and availability of school resource officers, and in-school mental health resources for students.”

Haslam expects to have the first recommendations from the working group before the end of the legislative session, the press release said. [Read more…]

Voters invited to meet candidates for county offices

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Democracy for East Tennessee April 5 2018 Meet Candidates Event

Oak Ridge voters are invited to a Meet the Candidates event on Thursday, April 5, at the Oak Ridge Civic Center, a press release said. The event is scheduled from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Social Room at the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

“Democracy for East Tennessee is sponsoring this event so residents of Anderson County can become better acquainted with the candidates for offices in the upcoming May 1 primary election,” a press release said.

Early voting begins April 11. The offices on the primary ballot are Circuit Court Clerk, County Clerk, County Mayor, Register of Deeds, Road Superintendent, Sheriff, and Trustee. [Read more…]

Learn issues, ask questions of public officials on Thursday

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Submitted image

Submitted image

 

An annual nonpartisan forum on Thursday will give you a chance to learn about issues and ask questions of local, state, and school officials.

The annual Pearls and Politics forum presents state legislators, local officials, and board of education members to the public, a press release said.

The forum is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 8, at the Scarboro Community Center at 148 Carver Avenue in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Basketball: Lady Wildcats’ season ends at Daniel Boone

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In this photo from 2017, Oak Ridge's Desiree Bates (20), who is now a senior, plays defense against Daniel Boone's Macie Culbertson (4), who is also now a senior, during a 61-44 win for the Lady Wildcats in a Class AAA sectional at Wildcat Arena on Saturday, March 4. Culbertson led the Lady Trailblazers with a game-high 25 points during a 62-51 win over the Lady Wildcats in this year's Class AAA sectional, which was played at Daniel Boone on Saturday, March 8, 2018. (File photo by Luther Simmons)

In this photo from last year, Oak Ridge’s Desiree Bates (20), who is now a senior, plays defense against Daniel Boone’s Macie Culbertson (4), who is also now a senior, during a 61-44 win for the Lady Wildcats in a Class AAA sectional at Wildcat Arena on Saturday, March 4, 2017. In this year’s sectional, Culbertson led the Lady Trailblazers with a game-high 25 points during a 62-51 win over the Lady Wildcats at Daniel Boone on Saturday, March 8, 2018. (File photo by Luther Simmons)

 

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats’ basketball season ended Saturday with a 62-51 loss at Daniel Boone High School in a Class AAA sectional game. The eight sectional games across Tennessee determine which eight teams go to the state tournament in Murfreesboro this week.

It was the last high school game for five talented, experienced Oak Ridge seniors: Desiree Bates, Destiny Kassner, Jaymi Golden, Mykia Dowdell, and Terrika Dean. They are part of a team that finished as Class AAA state runner-up in 2016 and made it to a state quarterfinal last year.

“This will be the biggest hit that we’ve taken,” Paige Redman, who has coached the Oak Ridge girls for three seasons, told broadcaster David Clary at Prepradio.com. “This was the group that we started with.”

Oak Ridge (25-7) advanced to the 2017 state tournament last year by beating Daniel Boone 61-44 in a sectional game at Wildcat Arena—after trailing early and being tied 20-20 at halftime.

In this year’s rematch in Gray, which is in upper East Tennessee, the two teams traded leads six times, and they were tied three times.

The Lady Trailblazers took the lead for good, 51-49, on a three-point shot late in the fourth quarter. [Read more…]

Sixty players at Oak Ridge-Grace Christian tennis match

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Oak Ridge High School tennis team introductions (Photo submitted by David Bowman)

Oak Ridge High School tennis team introductions (Photo submitted by David Bowman)

 

There were 60 players and more than 30 parents at Oak Ridge’s home tennis match against Grace Christian Academy on Monday, February 26. That’s the largest number of people at the site for any match the Wildcats and Lady Wildcats tennis teams have had during the past three years.

The Oak Ridge tennis team has 13 Wildcats and 25 Lady Wildcats. Grace Christian also had a large contingent available to play during the scrimmage, 16 girls and six boys, Oak Ridge Coach David Bowman said.

“As a result during the four-hour event, a total of 39 singles and 15 doubles matches were played by both teams,” Bowman said. “It was a perfect storm of competition on the courts for the novice and beginner players. They gained valuable experience while learning tennis rules and etiquette.”

Highlighting the day for Oak Ridge were singles wins by starters Archer Marlow, Haley Smallwood, and Elizabeth Lowman, Bowman said. [Read more…]

Borchers to give update on school system & changes on Tuesday

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Oak-Ridge-Schools-Bruce-Borchers-March-28-2016

Bruce Borchers

 

Bruce Borchers, superintendent of Oak Ridge Schools, will discuss the state of the Oak Ridge school system during a lunchtime talk on Tuesday.

His presentation is expected to provide an update on the school system and changes that have been implemented since his last address to the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, a press release said.

The Lunch with the League meeting is scheduled from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 6, in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, which is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Borchers has served as Oak Ridge Schools superintendent since 2013, the press release said. He began his career as an elementary physical education teacher in Sioux City, Iowa. He later worked as an assistant principal and principal in Iowa City and Mankato, Minnesota, and as an associate superintendent of secondary schools for the Anoka-Hennepin, Minnesota, school district, the release said. Prior to coming to Oak Ridge, he was superintendent of the Rockwood (Missouri) School District. [Read more…]