Oak Ridge Today

Climate scientist, evangelical Christian to give talk in Oak Ridge on Tuesday, May 16

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Katharine Hayhoe (Photo credit: Mark Umstot Photography)

Katharine Hayhoe (Photo credit: Mark Umstot Photography)

 

Katharine Hayhoe, a nationally-recognized climate scientist and evangelical Christian, will give a talk in Oak Ridge on Tuesday, May 16, a press release said.

The free talk is hosted by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge and the Climate Change Science Institute at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Seats are limited.

Hayhoe’s presentation is titled “Climate for Change.” It’s scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 16, at the Pollard Technology Conference Center at 210 Badger Avenue in Oak Ridge.

Hayhoe is both a distinguished climate scientist and an evangelical Christian, the press release said. An atmospheric scientist, her research focuses on developing and applying high-resolution climate projections to understand what climate change means for society.

Hayhoe has been named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people and one of Foreign Policy’s 100 leading global thinkers, and she was recently named one of Fortune’s world’s greatest leaders, the press release said. She is a professor in the Department of Political Science and Director of the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University. [Read more…]

Baseball: Wildcats play Halls again in district tournament at Karns

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Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today

Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today

 

KARNS—Oak Ridge stayed alive in the District 3-AAA baseball tournament with a 7-5 win over Clinton at Karns on Monday, and the Wildcats advanced to play Halls in a losers bracket today (Tuesday, May 9).

It’s the second time in three days that Oak Ridge will play Halls. The Wildcats lost to the Red Devils 8-0 in a first-round game on Sunday.

Halls (17-12) was bumped into the losers bracket of the double-elimination tournament with a 2-1 loss to Karns on Monday.

Today’s game starts at 5:30 p.m. on Coach Dwight Smith Field at Karns High School. The season is over for the loser. The winner advances to play Karns (25-8) at 8 p.m. today.

The Monday night game between Oak Ridge and Clinton was scoreless until the third inning, when the Wildcats opened up a 5-0 lead.

Two innings later, the Dragons responded with five runs of their own, tying the game at 5-5 in the top of the fifth inning. [Read more…]

Tennis: Four Wildcats to compete in district tournament finals today

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Pictured above from left are Jimin Lee, Archer Marlow, and Andrew and Ethan Brady. (Photo courtesy ORHS Tennis)

Pictured above from left are Jimin Lee, Archer Marlow, and Andrew and Ethan Brady. (Photo courtesy ORHS Tennis)

Four Oak Ridge Wildcats will compete in the finals of the district tennis tournament starting at 4 p.m. in Knoxville today (Tuesday, May 9).

The finals are at Tyson Park in Knoxville, near the University of Tennessee campus and the intersection of Cumberland Avenue and Alcoa Highway.

The semifinals were Monday. Pictured in the photo at left with scores from Monday’s matches are, from left to right, Jimin Lee 6-4, 7-6(5) verus Kaleigh Basilio (Halls); Archer Marlow 7-5, 6-2 versus Harrison Campbell (Halls); and Andrew and Ethan Brady 6-1, 7-6(4) versus Hollingsworth/Plyler (Halls).

More information will be added as it becomes available.

City Blueprint: Discussion continues at Woodland Open House on Monday, May 15

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Woodland Open House Flyer May 15 2017

The Oak Ridge Community Development Department is continuing the Oak Ridge City Blueprint effort with a discussion focused on the Woodland neighborhood. An open house will be held between 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Monday, May 15, at Woodland Elementary School to gather additional community feedback, a press release said.

Families living in the area are encouraged to attend and provide their ideas and suggestions for how the neighborhood can be made even better. Those attending can come and go anytime during the open house to share their thoughts with City staff.

The blueprint is being coordinated by the Community Development Department, with input from the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission, as well as other boards, commissions, and City leaders, the press release said. Once finished, the blueprint will be a guiding document that provides direction for future growth, development, and decision-making. [Read more…]

Janelle Arthur is the special guest at CASA Barbeque & Bluegrass Bash on Saturday

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Janelle Arthur

Janelle Arthur

 

The Barbeque and Bluegrass Bash by CASA of the Tennessee Heartland on Saturday will include a barbecue buffet and live music by the Mt. Le Conte Jug Band, along with special guest Janelle Arthur. There will also be a silent auction along with a live auction with Bear Stephenson, a press release said.

Tickets are $65 each, or $520 for an eight-person table.

The Barbeque and Bluegrass Bash is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at Elizabeth Claire’s at 364 Market Street in Clinton.

You can see the CASA events here. You can see the event page on Facebook here.

Arthur is from Oliver Springs. She began singing in the heart of the Smoky Mountains at eight years old, when she landed the role as a young Dolly Parton in a production at Dollywood, the press release said. She performed thousands of shows in the Smoky Mountains area before moving to Nashville in 2010, where she soon began her “American Idol” journey. After three years of persistence, Arthur made it all the way to the Top 5, the release said. [Read more…]

Three Rotary clubs to present Flatwater Festival on Friday, June 2

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Flatwater Festival logo (Created by Jim Dodson)

Flatwater Festival logo (Created by Jim Dodson)

 

Bands, beer, boats, and bounce houses. A cornhole tournament. Wine, water, and soda pop.

Teams that build, decorate, and paddle boats while you watch and listen to live music. Barbeque, hamburgers, hot dogs, and ice cream.

Does that sound like a party? It’s the inaugural Flatwater Festival fundraiser on Friday, June 2.

The Flatwater Festival, a fundraiser for community projects supported by the three Rotary clubs of Oak Ridge, will be held from 5 to 11 p.m., Friday, June 2, on the peninsula of Melton Lake Park. Admission to the festival is free, and $5 per person will be charged for unlimited time at the bounce house and obstacle course.

A portion of the proceeds from the festival will go to Emory Valley Center in memory of Dr. Gene Caldwell, a pediatrician, state lawmaker, EVC fundraiser, and Rotarian. The rest will support the diverse community service projects of the Rotary clubs. [Read more…]

Dine & Donate: Treat mom early on Monday, May 8

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Candey Seay Hoskins_small

Operating since 1930, Hoskins is an institution in downtown Clinton. The restaurant is well known for its 1940s-style soda fountain and daily lunch specials, and it is a great place to start your day with time-honored breakfast items. (Submitted photo)

 

On Monday, May 8, eleven local restaurants will donate a portion of their sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC).

Dine & Donate Mondays are always an easy way to treat loved ones to a special meal that also gives back to the community, a press release said.

“With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, Dine & Donate is a fantastic way to celebrate early with the mom(s) in your life!” the press release said.

Participating restaurants are: [Read more…]

Missing four-year-old boy found with family dog after four-hour search

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Note: This story was updated at 12:50 p.m. May 7.

A four-year-old boy reported missing with a family dog was found Friday afternoon after a four-hour search and help from a CodeRED alert, authorities said.

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to a report of a missing child at a home on Hinds Creek Road shortly before 11 a.m. Friday, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said.

“A four-year-old boy had wandered away from home apparently with the family dog,” Lucas said. “An intensive search began using Sheriff’s Department K-9 teams, including bloodhounds. A Blount County Sheriff’s K-9 bloodhound also responded to assist.”

Emergency personnel from the Andersonville Fire Department, Norris Fire Department, Claxton Fire Department, Clinton Fire Department, Clinton Police Department, Anderson County Rescue Squad, Anderson County Emergency Management, and Anderson County EMS came to the scene and helped with the search, both on foot and by using ATVs, Lucas said. [Read more…]

Ed Wright approved as new cross country coach at ORHS

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oak-ridge-cross-country-team-coaches-wright-etheridge-sauer-nov-5-2016-web

Ed Wright, left, who was an assistant coach, was approved on Wednesday, May 3, 2017, as the head cross country coach at Oak Ridge High School. The former coach, Allen Etheridge, pictured at center, resigned in January after 13 years as cross country coach. Also pictured above is assistant coach Tom Sauer after the Class AAA boys’ cross country meet at Percy Warner Park in Nashville on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Ed Wright, who has been an assistant coach, was approved as head cross country coach at Oak Ridge High School on Wednesday.

Wright will replace Allen Etheridge, who resigned as cross country coach in January after 13 years as head coach and six state titles. Etheridge was an assistant cross country coach for five years before he became head coach.

Etheridge is also an English teacher at Oak Ridge High School, and he’s been head track and field coach since April 2015. [Read more…]

Relay for Life moved to Midway Road on Friday

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Submitted photo

Submitted photo

 

Relay for Life has moved from Melton Lake Park to 97 Midway Road in Oak Ridge on Friday. It is scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 5.

The Twilight 5K run will still take place at 8 p.m. Friday at Melton Lake Park, rain or shine.

This is the first year that the former Oak Ridge and Clinton events have combined into one larger event, a press release said.

“The joint effort is sure to make the Relay For Life event bigger and better than ever with more activities to create a fun and festive atmosphere for families to enjoy,” the press release said. “The goal this year is to raise at least $72,000, which can only be reached if the community comes out to join the fun and to support this event.” [Read more…]

New sushi restaurant planned in Oak Ridge

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A sushi roll, the Special Roll, created by Ge "Jake" Moua. (Photo courtesy Tia Moua)

A sushi roll, the Special Roll, created by Ge “Jake” Moua. (Photo courtesy Tia Moua)

 

A new sushi restaurant is planned in Oak Ridge.

The new restaurant will be called I Heart Sushi. It will be owned and managed by Ge “Jake” Moua, who is from Oak Ridge and lives here.

It will be where China Wok used to be and next to the new Hobby Lobby store, which is in the former Kroger grocery store on South Illinois Avenue. The restaurant will be at 382 South Illinois Avenue.

The restaurant hopes to open as soon as possible, said Tia Moua, Jake’s wife. The restaurant is currently working on the inspections required by the City of Oak Ridge.

The sign to the building will be going up this week, Moua said Wednesday. There has been renovation work inside the former China Wok, and the opening and grand opening banners are ready. [Read more…]

A first in Anderson County: Oak Ridge home demolished as part of state blight elimination program

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The first home to be torn down in Anderson County as part of the state's HHF Blight Elimination Program was being demolished at 678 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The first home to be torn down in Anderson County as part of the state’s HHF Blight Elimination Program was being demolished at 678 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:30 p.m.

It’s being described as a first: An Oak Ridge home is being demolished Wednesday as part of a state blight elimination program. It’s the first home to be torn down in Anderson County as part of the state’s HHF Blight Elimination Program.

The property being demolished is at 678 West Outer Drive. It’s owned by the Oak Ridge Land Bank. The demolition, being done by First Place Finish, is estimated to cost close to $3,600, and it is expected to be completed today (Wednesday, May 3).

The work is being funded by the U.S. Treasury’s Hardest Hit Fund, or HHF. Tennessee’s HHF Blight Elimination Program is administered by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency, or THDA. Anderson County is one of six counties in the Volunteer State included in the program.

Under the Blight Elimination Program, qualified nonprofits and land banks can apply for loans of up to $25,000 to cover the cost of acquiring a blighted abandoned home, demolishing it, “greening” the property, and maintaining the vacant lot. The greened lot can then be transformed into new affordable housing or another use that is approved by THDA and is expected to stabilize and improve the neighborhood. [Read more…]