Oak Ridge Today

Today: Roane County Recovery Court team will discuss work at Lunch with League

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Roane-County-Drug-Court-Team

Roane County Recovery Court for drug-related offenders has now been in operation for six weeks. The drug court team, led by General Sessions Court Judge Dennis Humphrey, will discuss their work with the court in the second part of a two-part program at Lunch with the League at noon Tuesday, March 15.

The first part of the program was presented on March 1. The Tuesday meeting starts at 12 p.m. March 15 in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Humphrey will be accompanied by District Attorney General Russell Johnson, Public Defender Kim Nelson, community relations for the district attorney Charlene Hipsher, Probation/Corrections Officer Chanel Finnell, Recovery Court Coordinator Ashley Freeberg, WestCare treatment staff Janeece Foust, and law enforcement liaison Lieutenant Rick Baker.

Lunch with the League is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Fox News editor to be keynote speaker at Oak Ridge Chamber luncheon

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Chris Stirewalt

Chris Stirewalt

Chris Stirewalt, digital politics editor for the Fox News Channel, will be the keynote speaker for the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Program of Work Kickoff luncheon at noon on Monday, March 21. The luncheon will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton at 201 South Illinois Avenue.

At the luncheon, the Chamber’s 2016 Program of Work will be introduced. The Chamber’s Eugene L. Joyce Lifetime Achievement Award and the Kerry Trammell Volunteer of the Year award will be presented as part of the program.

Stirewalt has worked in the FNC’s Washington Bureau since 2010. He helps coordinate political coverage across the network, a press release said. His daily newsletter, “Fox News First,” has nearly 300,000 subscribers. [Read more…]

CapitalMark Bank now Pinnacle Financial

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CapitalMark Bank and Trust changed its name and identity to Pinnacle Financial Partners on Monday, March 14, 2016, in a sign unveiling event at its Oak Ridge office in Jackson Square. (Submitted photo)

 

CapitalMark Bank and Trust changed its name and identity to Pinnacle Financial Partners on Monday in a sign unveiling event at its Oak Ridge office in Jackson Square.

CapitalMark was merged with Pinnacle on July 31, 2015, giving the firm a presence in three additional East Tennessee counties. CapitalMark had continued to operate under its brand until the systems and operations of the companies were totally integrated with Pinnacle.

Clients from both firms will enjoy more benefits as a result of the integration, including the convenience of accessing 43 offices in Tennessee’s four urban markets—Nashville, Knoxville, Memphis, and Chattanooga, a press release said.

For the past month, Pinnacle has communicated extensively with clients to explain the changes they will see in procedures, materials, and the website, www.pnfp.com, the release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge woman charged with murder in death of infant daughter in Knoxville

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Heather-Renee-Keylon

Heather Renee Keylon

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

A woman listed as an Oak Ridge resident was arrested Saturday on murder and child abuse charges for the death of her three-month-old daughter due to a drug overdose in Knoxville in April 2015, authorities said.

Heather Renee Keylon, 31, of 134 Waddell Circle in Oak Ridge, is facing charges of felony murder, aggravated child abuse, and aggravated child neglect, the Knoxville Police Department said. She was arrested Saturday and taken to the Knox County jail, where her bond has been set at $1 million.

Police responded to an unresponsive infant call at 3534 Old Valley View Drive, Apartment Number 12, in north Knoxville at about 12:39 p.m. April 21, 2015.

Keylon told police that her infant daughter, Skylar Brewer, had stopped breathing, the KPD said. The child had gone to sleep on the sofa, Keylon said, but she realized a short time later that Skylar wasn’t breathing and she called 911, authorities said. [Read more…]

Support ADFAC through ‘Dine and Donate’ on Monday

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Gondolier and Hoskins, both in Clinton, are two of March’s Dine and Donate restaurants. (Submitted photo)

 

On Monday, March 14, six local restaurants will donate a generous portion of their sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC.

Restaurants participating on Monday, March 14, are:

  • Gondolier in Clinton
  • Hoskins in Clinton
  • Mediterranean Delight in Oak Ridge
  • Outback Steakhouse in Oak Ridge
  • Razzleberry’s in Oak Ridge
  • Papa Murphy’s in Oak Ridge

[Read more…]

Man injured, facing charges after pursuit ends with crash into power pole

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Truck-Crash-Oliver-Springs-March-13-2016

A 32-year-old man was injured and is facing a half-dozen charges after he allegedly went off State Route 62 in a pickup truck while fleeing from Morgan County officials early Sunday, struck a utility pole and broke it in half, and then traveled down an embankment and rolled over in a ditch, authorities said. (Photo by Tom Scott)

 

Note: This story was updated at 8:50 p.m.

OLIVER SPRINGS—A 32-year-old man was injured and is facing a half-dozen charges after he allegedly went off State Route 62 in a pickup truck while fleeing from Morgan County officials early Sunday, struck a utility pole and broke it in half, and then traveled down an embankment, where the vehicle he was driving rolled over onto its top in a ditch, authorities said.

Travis Lyles, 32, of Oliver Springs, was driving east on SR 62 in a 2004 Ford F-250 when his pickup truck went off the westbound side of the road at about 12:35 a.m. Sunday, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said. The crash occurred while Lyles was evading arrest and being pursued by the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, which was trying to stop him for speeding and swerving on the roadway, the THP said.

The crash occurred in the Morgan County portion of Oliver Springs on Winter Gap Road near Lookout Avenue. [Read more…]

Riverdale dominates, Lady Wildcats finish as runner-up in state championship

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Oak Ridge sophomore Jaymi Golden (32) drives against Riverdale junior Anastasia Hayes (3) during a 68-36 loss in the Class AAA girls championship game in Murfreesboro on Saturday, March 12, 2016. (Photo by Paul Ward)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 4:10 p.m. March 13.

MURFREESBORO—Riverdale dominated, and Oak Ridge finished as state runner-up in the Class AAA girls basketball championship in Murfreesboro on Saturday.

The Lady Warriors (32-4) led from start to finish in their 68-36 win. They’ve now won five state titles since 2007, with the last one in 2013.

The Lady Wildcats (30-5) have won three state championships, with the last one in 1997.

The Oak Ridge and Riverdale teams both featured young players this year, and both were led Saturday by first-year coaches. Players from both teams said no one expected them to end up in the final Class AAA game of the 2016 BlueCross Basketball Championships. The two teams have already set their sights on next season.

Riverdale was led Saturday by junior Anastasia Hayes, a Miss Basketball finalist, with a game-high 27 points, three rebounds, and four steals. Sophomore Alexis Whittington scored 14, pulled down five rebounds, and had five assists. Her twin sister Amanda Whittington had six rebounds, four assists, and two steals. [Read more…]

Council to consider applying for state grant for synthetic turf at Blankenship

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Wildcats Tee Higgins Catch against Campbell County Oct. 30, 2015

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday will consider applying for a state grant worth up to $500,000 to install synthetic turf at Blankenship Field. Pictured above, Oak Ridge junior wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) hauls in a catch near the left sideline during a 45-6 win over Campbell County on Blankenship Field on Friday, Oct. 30, 2015. (File photo by Julio Culiat)

 

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday will consider applying for a state grant worth up to $500,000 to install synthetic turf at Blankenship Field. It’s the first phase of a multi-million-dollar proposal to renovate Blankenship Field and Jack Armstrong Stadium.

The application that City Council will consider is a Local Parks and Recreation Fund grant from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. The grant requires a 50 percent match, which would be provided by the nonprofit Blankenship Field Revitalization Foundation. The requested grant funding could range between $250,000 and $500,000.

The Local Parks and Recreation Fund, or LPRF, grant provides state funding for parks and recreation development and capital projects, said Jon Hetrick, Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks director. It requires the facility to be maintained as a public recreational facility and open to the public. Grant reports must be filed with the state every five years to document ongoing use as a public recreational facility. [Read more…]

Healthcare employers invited to participate in Roane State job fair

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Goff Health Sciences and Technology Building

Roane State Community College is having a job fair from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 30, in the Goff Health Sciences and Technology Building at the Oak Ridge campus at 701 Briarcliff Avenue. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Employers are invited to participate in a March 30 job fair at Roane State Community College for students who are pursuing careers in health care and plan to graduate this year.

The fair is planned for Wednesday, March 30, from 12:30-3:30 p.m. at Roane State’s Oak Ridge campus, which is at 701 Briarcliff Avenue. Setup begins at 11 a.m. in the Goff Health Sciences and Technology Building.

Employers are asked to register by March 18. There is no registration fee. To register, visit www.roanestate.edu/jobfair. [Read more…]

Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament on April 29 helps Community Mediation Services

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Oak Ridge Country Club Golf Course

You can start your golf tournament season in April and help a nonprofit organization that helps young people and families. The 15th Annual Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament on Friday, April 29, will benefit Community Mediation Services of Anderson Country.

The golf tournament will be held at the Oak Ridge Country Club. The ORCC Golf Course provides a “beautiful and challenging setting for golfers as well as allowing participants a great way to give back to the community through Community Mediation Services’ work with youths and families,” a press release said.

The tournament is a two-session, scramble format with two flights: 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. A new Chevrolet, provided by Sexton Automotive Group, will be the grand prize for the hole-in-one, the press release said. Complimentary continental breakfasts, beverage carts, and a smoked barbecue lunch, as well as prize contests for golfers, will be available. Free shirts for all golfers are included.

The early registration deadline is Friday, April 22. You can register early for $100 per player and $400 per team, and for $125 per player and $500 per team after April 22 or at the door. [Read more…]

ORAU receives $1.4 billion DOE contract to manage ORISE

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Oak Ridge Associated Universities Building MC-100

The Oak Ridge Associated Universities Building MC-100 is pictured above.

 

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science has awarded a $1.4 billion contract to Oak Ridge Associated Universities to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education.

The initial contract term will be through September 30, 2020. The department recognizes superior performance through phased extensions beyond the initial term of the contract for up to a total of five more years, if the contractor meets performance criteria developed by DOE, a press release said.

ORISE supports DOE’s mission to advance scientific and technical workforce development and education and research programs by creating opportunities for collaboration through partnerships with DOE facilities, other federal agencies, the academic community, and industry, the press release said. Specifically, ORISE’s objectives are: [Read more…]

City board recommends senior center at Civic Center; will ask for $50K for conceptual studies

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Oak-Ridge-Civic-Center-March-7-2016

A city board has recommended that the Oak Ridge Senior Center be located at the Civic Center on Oak Ridge Turnpike, and the board will ask the City Council to consider $50,000 for conceptual studies, possibly in April. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

An Oak Ridge board has recommended that the city’s senior center be located at the Civic Center and Alvin K. Bissell Park, and the board will ask the City Council, possibly in April, to consider $50,000 for conceptual studies.

The Oak Ridge Senior Center is currently located in a county-owned building on Emory Valley Road. It’s been there since 1999.

Some senior center users have been advocating for a new home for years, arguing that they didn’t voluntarily leave the former Wildcat Den (the Midtown Community Center) and that their current home has a number of deficiencies. But despite those efforts, the senior center remains on Emory Valley Road.

The current effort to find a new home has been under way since last year and picked up in January, said Linda McGhee, senior programs recreation manager in the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department. [Read more…]