Oak Ridge Today

Civic Center indoor pool re-opens after equipment repair

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Indoor pool at Civic Center

All programs are back on schedule after crews had to replace a piece of equipment that controls the temperature of the water in the Oak Ridge Civic Center’s indoor pool. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

 

All programs are back on schedule after crews had to replace a piece of equipment that controls the temperature of the water in the Oak Ridge Civic Center’s indoor pool.

The pool was forced to close on Wednesday, January 4, but it re-opened at noon on Saturday, January 14, once crews were able to make the needed repairs. The new pool heater is more energy-efficient than the previous model, a press release said. The water was back up to its normal temperature of 83 degrees shortly after re-opening.

Here’s a list of some of the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department programs currently under way at the indoor pool facility: [Read more…]

New dental practice opens in Oak Ridge

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Dentist Adam Wohl is pictured above in one of the rooms at Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry of Tennessee on East Division Road in central Oak Ridge on Friday, Oct. 28, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A new dental practice opened in Oak Ridge in the fall.

The dental practice is called Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry of Tennessee, and it’s in the Professional Village on East Division Road in central Oak Ridge. It’s owned by Dr. Adam Wohl, who graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and the UT Health Science Center College of Dentistry in Memphis in May.

Dentistry runs in the family. Wohl’s father, Barry Wohl, was a periodontist in Oak Ridge for a long time before retiring 20 years ago. He practiced next to Dr. G.R. Birdwell on Laboratory Road and built those buildings. Adam Wohl said his grandfather was a dentist in Connecticut, and a few cousins are also dentists.

Wohl, who is from West Knoxville, has ties to the area, and he said everyone was good to his father here. [Read more…]

Nine Lakes Wine Festival on Oak Ridge waterfront in May

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Nine Lakes Wine Festival Logo

The first waterfront Nine Lakes Wine Festival will be at Melton Lake Park in Oak Ridge in May.

This two-day festival will offer a Winemakers Dinner on May 19, and a Grand Tasting on Saturday, May 20. There are expected to be 100 Tennessee wines from 20 wineries, live music, and food. [Read more…]

Fatal crash: One adult released from hospital; police officers start memorial with stuffed animals

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Oak Ridge Police Department officers started a memorial with stuffed animals on Saturday morning for a three-year-old child killed in a fatal crash at Emory Valley Road and Lafayette Drive on Friday evening, Jan. 13, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

One adult passenger injured in a fatal two-vehicle crash in Oak Ridge on Friday has been released from the hospital, a city official said Saturday. And Oak Ridge Police Department officers started a memorial at the crash site, leaving stuffed animals there Saturday morning.

The fatal crash was reported at about 5:15 p.m. Friday at the intersection of Emory Valley Road and Lafayette Drive. Police said the crash killed one three-year-old child and injured another child, and it also injured four adults. The five people who were injured and the child who died were all taken by ambulance to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, a Level I trauma center. All six had been in the same vehicle, an older model dark-colored or black sport utility vehicle.

On Saturday, Sarah Self, spokesperson for the City of Oak Ridge, said one of the adult passengers was released from UT Medical Center.

The condition of the other injured patients (three adults and one child) was not available, Self said.

Five people in the second vehicle involved in the crash, a newer silver Volkswagen sedan, were not injured, Self said. There were four adults and one child in that car. [Read more…]

Child dies, five injured in crash

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A three-year-old died and five other people were taken to a trauma center in Knoxville after a two-vehicle crash in Oak Ridge at Emory Valley Road and Lafayette Drive on Friday evening, Jan. 13, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 1 p.m. Jan 16.

A three-year-old died and five other people were taken to a trauma center in Knoxville after a serious crash in Oak Ridge on Friday evening, authorities said.

The fatal two-vehicle crash involved 11 people. It was reported at about 5:15 p.m. Friday at Emory Valley Road and Lafayette Drive.

Those taken by ambulance to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, a Level 1 Trauma Center, were four adults and two children. One of those children is the three-year-old who died (the child was initially reported to be four). The four adults and two children were all in one vehicle, an older model dark-colored or black sport utility vehicle, or SUV.

Five people in a second vehicle—four adults and one child—were reported to not have injuries, according to the City of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Council to discuss new ‘city blueprint,’ golf course, building moves on Tuesday

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The Oak Ridge City Council is scheduled to discuss on Tuesday evening a new long-range development plan, or “city blueprint”; the city-owned Tennessee Centennial Golf Course; and moves of the administrative offices of the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department and the Oak Ridge Senior Center.

The Tuesday evening meeting is an Oak Ridge City Council work session. It starts at 6 p.m. Tuesday, January 17, in the Multipurpose Room at the Central Services Complex on Woodbury Lane. See the agenda here.

Learn more about a January 26 kickoff meeting for the city blueprint here. That’s a public meeting that starts at 4 p.m. at High Places Community Church in Grove Center. [Read more…]

Man surrenders after allegedly holding 9-year-old girl hostage

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New York Avenue Man Surrenders Jan 12 2017

A man surrendered to Oak Ridge police after allegedly holding a 9-year-old girl hostage on Norton Road for about 1.5 hours on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 10:15 p.m.

A man who had allegedly taken a nine-year-old girl hostage and was armed with a rifle when police responded to a family disturbance peacefully surrendered to Oak Ridge police officers after about 1.5 hours of negotiations on Thursday, authorities said.

The child was rescued, and the armed suspect was taken into custody, the Oak Ridge Police Department said.

No injuries were reported after the man, later identified as Robert Foreman, 36, of Oak Ridge, surrendered. Part of New York Avenue was closed Thursday evening as officers negotiated with Foreman and set up a perimeter.

Foreman’s relationship to the girl wasn’t immediately clear Thursday. His motive also wasn’t clear. [Read more…]

UT-Battelle fulfills $250,000 pledge to Emory Valley Center campaign

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Emory Valley Center and UT-Battelle Check Jan 2017

On hand for UT-Battelle’s check presentation at the new facility construction site are, from left to right, Shirley Raines, Emory Valley Center board vice president; Dottie Thompson and Gene Caldwell, EVC capital co-chairs; Jennifer Enderson, EVC president; ORNL’s Jeff Smith and Leigha Humphries; Tennessee senators Ken Yager and Randy McNally; and Janet Wood, EVC vice president of community engagement. (Photo courtesy ORNL)

 

UT-Battelle, the managing contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, made the final installment of a $250,000 pledge by presenting a $50,000 check in late December to the Emory Valley Center, a community facility that serves people with disabilities, a press release said.

UT-Battelle made the pledge in 2011 when the Emory Valley Center, which provides services and support for adults and children with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities, began a building program to replace its aging structure. The center’s new building is now under construction.

ORNL Deputy Director for Operations Jeff Smith and Community Relations Manager Leigha Humphries presented the check to Jennifer Enderson, the center’s president. [Read more…]

Updated: ORPD searching for missing boy

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Updated: The Oak Ridge Police Department is searching for a missing 12-year-old boy late Thursday afternoon.

The boy’s name is James Creel. He is described as white with short blonde hair and hazel eyes, and he is wearing a royal blue jacket, camouflage pants, and red and black shoes.

He was last seen near West Outer Drive at Windgate Place, the ORPD said in a text alert. [Read more…]

McNally, the new lieutenant governor, to discuss growing up in Oak Ridge, public service

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Randy McNally

Randy McNally (Submitted photo)

 

Tennessee Senator Randy McNally, an Oak Ridge Republican who is now lieutenant governor and speaker of the Senate, will discuss public service and growing up in Oak Ridge during a meeting this evening (Thursday, January 12).

McNally’s talk will be at a 7 p.m. meeting of the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association in the Midtown Community Center at 102 Robertsville Road.

McNally, a legislative leader for nearly 40 years, became lieutenant governor and speaker of the Senate on Tuesday on the first organizational day of the 110th General Assembly. He is only the second Republican Tennessee Senate Speaker in modern history and the first from Anderson County in nearly 150 years. [Read more…]

With win over Cougars, Lady Wildcats now the only undefeated team in district

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Oak Ridge junior Destiny Kassner (30), who scored 13 points, plays defense against Campbell County sophomore Lexy Richardson (24) during a 56-39 win for the Lady Wildcats in Jacksboro on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

JACKSBORO—The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats became the only undefeated team in District 3-AAA with a 56-39 win over Campbell County in Jacksboro on Tuesday.

Both basketball teams were undefeated before the game.

The Lady Cougars (13-5, 6-1 District 3-AAA) led or were tied with the Lady Wildcats for much of the first half, and Oak Ridge trailed 14-10 at the end of the first quarter.

But the Lady Wildcats (15-2, 7-0) led 24-21 at halftime and never trailed again. Oak Ridge outscored Campbell County 21-9 in the fourth quarter.

Oak Ridge Paige Green called it a huge win. Campbell County has shooters and players who can drive to the basket, and the team is well-coached, she said. [Read more…]

Warrant: Defendant in Hibachi Burger robbery used gun

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Dominique Leshawn Gordon

Dominique Leshawn Gordon

The defendant in the robbery of Hibachi Burger in Grove Center on Tuesday had a gun, and he showed it to several employees and customers, “placing them in fear of serious bodily injury,” according to court records.

Dominique Leshawn Gordon, 21, of Hamilton Circle, has been charged with aggravated robbery, according to an affidavit filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court. He remained jailed in the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton on Thursday morning.

The affidavit said Gordon allegedly entered Hibachi Burger at about 6:10 p.m. Tuesday, and he displayed a firearm.

“The defendant demanded money from the register while displaying the firearm to several employees and patrons, placing them in fear of serious bodily injury,” said the affidavit, filed by Oak Ridge Police Department Detective A. Marvell Moore. “After obtaining the money, the defendant fled on foot. The defendant was apprehended a short time later by patrol officers.” [Read more…]