Oak Ridge Today

More information on local firefighters, law enforcement responding to Gatlinburg fires

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

clinton-fire-department-in-gatlinburg-2-nov-29-2016

The Clinton Fire Department is pictured above responding to the fires in Sevier County on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016. (Photo by Clinton Fire Department)

 

We have more information on local firefighters and law enforcement that have either responded to help fight the fires in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park—or remain in standby in case they are needed.

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas and other officials said Andersonville, Claxton, Clinton, Marlow, Oak Ridge, and Oliver Springs fire departments all sent resources to the fire.

Anderson County EMS sent its mass casualty response vehicle on Monday night, and they sent three ambulances Tuesday morning, Lucas said.

Lucas said he talked to Sevier County Sheriff Ron Seals on Monday night, and Anderson County deputies are on stand-by in case Sevier County needs additional law enforcement personnel. [Read more…]

Here are places you can drop off supplies to donate to firefighters

Posted at
By 2 Comments

great-smoky-mountains-national-park-firefighters-nov-29-2016

Firefighters are pictured above in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this week. (Photo by Great Smoky Mountains National Park)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 3:45 p.m.

There are a number of places you can drop off supplies to donate to the firefighters battling destructive blazes in the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Here are several, with two in Oak Ridge, one in Clinton, and one in Roane County: [Read more…]

Jefferson Middle earns $10,000 BlueCross Shape the State Grant

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

jefferson-middle-school-shape-the-state-grant-2016

Jefferson Middle School has been awarded a Shape the State grant from the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation to upgrade its physical education program. The grants are valued at $10,000 each. (Photo by Oak Ridge Schools)

 

Jefferson Middle School has been awarded a Shape the State grant from the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation to upgrade its physical education program.

The grants, valued at $10,000 each, provide the nationally acclaimed Sports Play and Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK) physical education curriculum, teacher training, and equipment for each recipient school. In addition, Jefferson received $1,000 to spend on PE, nutrition, and wellness efforts. Members of the Physical Education Department worked with Oak Ridge Schools Office of Coordinated School Health to write the grant.

“We are very thankful to BlueCross for this providing schools in Tennessee with this wonderful grant opportunity,” said JMS Physical Education teacher Katie Bolling. “Jefferson Middle School students will benefit from the wonderful SPARK equipment. We are excited to implement the curriculum into our physical education program.” [Read more…]

Willow Brook Elementary receives grant from author James Patterson, Scholastic Reading Club for school library

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Willow Brook Elementary

Willow Brook Elementary School is pictured above in May 2012. (File photo)

Willow Brook Elementary School has received a grant from bestselling author James Patterson to support its school library. In addition, Scholastic Reading Club will match each dollar of Patterson’s donation with “bonus points” that teachers can use to acquire books and other materials for their classrooms.

Willow Brook was selected from among thousands of applications for funding grants. To learn more, listen to Patterson’s exclusive interview about the critical need for school libraries on the “Scholastic Reads” podcast.

Patterson and Scholastic Reading Club announced in March that Patterson would donate $1.75 million to save school libraries nationwide in the second installment of his School Library Campaign. As part of an ongoing effort to keep books and reading a number one priority in the United States, selected school libraries will be receiving grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. Since the grant program’s launch in 2015, Patterson has donated $3.5 million to school libraries nationwide, with all funds are being personally donated by Patterson. [Read more…]

Senior Center Holiday Reception to be held at Oak Ridge Civic Center Gymnasium

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

senior-center-holiday-reception

The Senior Center Holiday Reception is pictured above in 2014. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge Senior Center is having a Holiday Reception for area senior citizens on Friday, December 9. This year, the party will be held in the Oak Ridge Civic Center’s gymnasium located at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

“Come join us between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. for a light lunch of sandwiches, chips, and cookies, as well as holiday music and fellowship,” a press release said. “The Senior Center guitar group will be playing live Christmas music. Bingo will be offered and door prizes given away. Goodie bags will also be given out while they last.” [Read more…]

Join in the fun at Jackson Square Holiday Market, Santa event

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

jackson-square-holiday-market-dec-3-2016

Submitted

Come and enjoy a diverse holiday experience at Jackson Square and explore unique gifts created by regional crafters and artisans, fun activities for kids, food, visits with Santa, and much more. It all takes place on Saturday, December 3, beginning with a Holiday Market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sponsored by the Jackson Square Association and United Way of Anderson County, the Holiday Market will fill Jackson Square with tables of handmade crafts, artisans’ wares, and vintage goodies to help one find those specials gifts for those on one’s holiday gift giving list. Several Jackson Square businesses will also be open to offer their unique items for sale.

Oak Ridge’s youth will be in action throughout the day, providing music by performing in various choral groups, the Oak Ridge High School Brass Quintet, and other music offerings. [Read more…]

Higgins named Mr. Football for second year in a row

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

tee-higgins-and-amari-rodgers-mr-football-awards-nissan-stadium-nov-28-2016

Oak Ridge High School senior Tee Higgins, right, was named Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Class 5A Back of the Year during a ceremony at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Monday, Nov. 28, 2016. Also pictured are Amari Rodgers of Catholic, center, Class 4A Back of the Year, and Cordarrian Richardson of Trezevant, Class 2A Back of the Year. (Photo by ORHS Principal Martin McDonald)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 5:05 p.m.

Tee Higgins, a senior at Oak Ridge High School, won a Tennessee Titans Mr. Football award for the second year in a row.

Higgins, a Clemson commitment, won the award on Monday at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. He’s the first Oak Ridge football player to win the award in back-to-back years.

Other area players that won Mr. Football awards in Division I were Josh Silvey of Greenback (Class 1A Lineman), Tykee Kellogg of Alcoa (Class 3A Back), Cade Mays of Catholic (Class 4A Lineman), and Amari Rodgers of Catholic (Class 4A Back).

The Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Awards were presented to the top 16 backs and linemen in eight classifications of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association, or TSSAA, on Monday, November 28, at Nissan Stadium. The top kicker in the state, regardless of classification, was also recognized with a Mr. Football Award. [Read more…]

As drought continues, Weather Service forecasting rain, some heavy

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

rainfall-forecast-nov-28-2016-large

A series of low pressure systems will produce periods of rain, some occassionally heavy, from Monday through Wednesday. Totals exceeding three inches are possible near Chattanooga and Knoxville, while the Bristol/Tri-Cities area could see up to two inches of rain. (Image by National Weather Service in Morristown)

 

After months without a heavy rain, the National Weather Service in Morristown is forecasting that a series of low pressure systems will produce periods of rain, some occassionally heavy, from Monday through Wednesday.

“Totals exceeding three inches are possible near Chattanooga and Knoxville, while the Bristol/Tri-Cities area could see up to two inches of rain,” the National Weather Service said.

The last rainfall of more than one inch in the Knoxville area was July 5, or more than four months ago, according to the Weather Service. [Read more…]

Petros fire updates: Few embers, smoke on Friday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

jason-oshell-crew-at-mountain-fire-morgan-county-1-nov-2016

Jason O’Shell, right, leads a crew on a mountaintop in Morgan County, near Petros, on Friday, Nov. 25, 2016. (Photo by Tennessee Department of Agriculture)

 

PETROS—A few embers and smoke remained on a mountaintop just north of Oliver Springs in Morgan County on Friday as a Tennessee Division of Forestry crew headed out for another fire reported in nearby Roane County, state officials said.

The firefighters, led by crew boss Jason O’Shell, worked the day building fire lines and backfiring to keep the Morgan County fire from spreading in an area frequented by four-wheelers, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture said. The crew was helped by a federal fire crew from western states.

Crews have been battling two blazes this week north of Oliver Springs, near Petros. The two fires have been about 12-16 miles northwest of Oak Ridge.

One fire, the Bald Knob Road fire, has been roughly east and northeast of Petros near the Anderson County-Morgan County line, in mountains east of Highway 62 and south of Highway 116. Crews first responded to that fire on Sunday. Since then, it has grown to 1,173 acres. It’s an arson, and it’s 100 percent contained, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Division of Forestry said Friday afternoon. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge school board to consider opposing use of public funds for private schools

Posted at
By 1 Comment

The Oak Ridge school board on Monday will consider opposing the use of public funds for private schools.

A resolution to be considered by the Oak Ridge Board of Education “strongly opposes” taking funds from public education in any community in the state without agreement from a local school board, without a legal guarantee that the schools receiving the funds will comply with the same curriculum and testing standards required of public schools, and until the state’s Basic Education Program, or BEP, is fully funded by the Tennessee General Assembly.

The resolution says the Tennessee General Assembly, the state’s legislature, will consider legislation in 2017 that would use public funds to pay tuition costs for students to attend private, religious, and non-religious schools.

The General Assembly and Tennessee State Board of Education have adopted high standards for student and teacher performance in public schools, but private schools are not held to the same accountability standards as public schools with regard to academic performance or student access, the resolution says. [Read more…]

New parking lot paved, new sign up at Belk as work proceeds quickly at Main Street

Posted at
By 5 Comments

belk-entrance-nov-22-2016-web

Work continued on the new Belk entrance and parking lot on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016. The goal has been to complete that portion of the work at Main Street Oak Ridge, the 58-acre project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall, by Thanksgiving. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The new sign is up and the new parking lot paved at Belk as work proceeds quickly at Main Street Oak Ridge, the 58-acre project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall.

With the exception of Belk and JCPenney, the mall has been demolished, and there has significant progress on the sites where new stores will be built.

First, on Saturday, concrete stands in the parking lot in front of Belk were almost finished, and some lighting poles and fixtures were installed, said Ray Evans, retail consultant for the City of Oak Ridge. The goal has been to finish the new Belk entrance and its new parking lot by Thanksgiving.

Second, there was work on piping for interior utilities where Electronic Express and PetSmart will be located between JCPenney and Walmart on South Rutgers Avenue.

Third, the pad had been completed and a stone base put down where Dick’s Sporting Goods and T.J. Maxx will be built between Walmart and the U.S. Post Office on South Tulane Avenue, in the area of the former Sears department store. [Read more…]

Supercomputers: China still has top two, ORNL’s Titan remains No. 3

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Titan Supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory

The Titan supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory was once ranked as the world’s most powerful supercomputer, but it was ranked number three in November 2016 in the semiannual TOP500 List. (Photo courtesy of ORNL)

 

China still has the two fastest supercomputers in the world, and Titan at Oak Ridge National Laboratory remains number three.

The semi-annual TOP500 List of the world’s top supercomputers was released last Monday, November 14, at a conference in Salt Lake City.

Titan, a Cray XK7 system installed at ORNL, a U.S. Department of Energy laboratory, has achieved 17.59 petaflops, or quadrillions of calculations per second.

The most powerful supercomputer, a relatively new Chinese supercomputer named Sunway TaihuLight, is capable of 93 petaflops. It is built entirely using processors designed and made in China. In June, it displaced Tianhe-2, an Intel-based Chinese supercomputer that had claimed the number one spot on the six previous TOP500 lists.

Tianhe-2, the number two system, achieved a speed of 33.86 petaflops, or more than 33,000 trillion calculations per second, in a test known as the LINPACK benchmark. That ranking program uses a series of linear equations to test computer systems around the world. [Read more…]