Oak Ridge Today

Wireless electric charging: The future of plug-in electric vehicles is going cordless

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Researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory test a wireless charger on the fully-electric Toyota Scion iQ at a demonstration site. (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

 

By Nay Chehab

What if charging your plug-in electric vehicle was as easy as parking it? No need for cords or cards. Just as Wi-Fi has freed consumers of wires when accessing the Internet, wireless charging technology may soon be as widespread, thanks to research supported by the U.S. Department of Energy.

With support from the Vehicle Technologies Office, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Hyundai America Technical Center Inc. have been working since 2012 to demonstrate wireless charging on a variety of vehicles. ORNL is working with a mix of Toyota vehicles, including models of the all-electric RAV 4, plug-in hybrid electric Prius, and all-electric Scion iQ, while Hyundai America Technical Center Inc. is testing its technology on five all-electric Kia Souls.

The technology behind wireless charging creates a connection between a transmitting pad on the ground (such as in a garage) and a receiving pad integrated on the bottom of the vehicle. In the projects ORNL is leading, the transmitting pad is connected to a 240-volt outlet and generates a magnetic field of a certain frequency. When the coil in the receiving pad is tuned to oscillate at the same frequency, the magnetic field will generate a current in the receiving coil, charging the vehicle’s battery. [Read more…]

Updated: Truck driver flown to hospital after semi overturns on I-75 in Anderson County

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A FedEx truck overturned in the median of Interstate 75 in Anderson County early Thursday, and the driver, who was pinned and had to be extricated, had to be flown by medical helicopter to a hospital. (Photo by Terry Allen/Anderson County Rescue Squad)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 7 p.m.

An injured truck driver was flown by medical helicopter to a hospital after a semi overturned into the median of Interstate 75 in Anderson County early Thursday, authorities said.

The crash was reported at about 12:15 a.m. Thursday near mile marker 127. Authorities said the injured driver was trapped in the cab of the FedEx truck and had to be extricated. Rescuers were able to remove the driver in 16 minutes.

A University of Tennessee Lifestar medical helicopter flew to the crash site and landed on the interstate at about 12:55 a.m. to pick up the driver, Harrold E. Daniels Jr., 55, of Wilmore, Kentucky, authorities said. Daniels was flown to the UT Medical Center in Knoxville. [Read more…]

I-75 South to re-open tonight at rock slide in Campbell County, TDOT says

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A significant slope slide occurred near Mile Marker 142 on I-75 North in Campbell County on Friday, February 26, 2016. Currently, all lanes are closed in both the northbound and southbound directions. (Photo courtesy TDOT/Mark Nagi via Twitter)

 

Both lanes of southbound Interstate 75 will open tonight (Wednesday, March 9) at the rock slide site in Campbell County, a state official said.

The southbound lanes will open at about 9 p.m., said Mark Nagi, spokesperson for the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

I-75 North remains closed. One lane in that direction will open on or before March 24, Nagi said. [Read more…]

This weekend: University of Louisville hosts Cardinal Regatta in Oak Ridge

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Submitted

Whether you’re out for an early-morning walk or driving home from work along Melton Hill Lake, it is clear to see that rowing season has begun in Oak Ridge. Rowing teams from all over the northern United States and parts of Canada are beginning to arrive in Oak Ridge for spring training and racing.

This weekend, the University of Louisville will host its annual Cardinal Invitational Regatta. Twelve of the nation’s best NCAA Division I women’s rowing teams will compete on March 12-13 at the Oak Ridge Rowing Association on Melton Hill Lake.

The 2016 Cardinal Regatta will host the following rowing teams: [Read more…]

Sheriff’s Department, Clinton Police locate runaway juvenile

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Christina Nicole Day

Investigators from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, with help from the Clinton Police Department, have located a runaway juvenile, Christina Nicole Day.

“She was found safe and will be picked up by her family,” said Mark Lucas, chief deputy of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department. “Thanks to everyone for their help.”

The Sheriff’s Department had asked for help on Monday. Authorities said then that Day, 15, had last been seen at her home in the Frost Bottom community late Friday evening, March 4, and had not returned.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Copyright 2016 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Volunteers raising money for Howe H. Irwin Memorial Playground at Glenwood

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Glenwood Elementary School in Oak Ridge is pictured above.

Volunteers are raising money for the Howe H. Irwin Memorial Playground at Glenwood Elementary School in Oak Ridge, and they are asking for your help.

“A safe playground for all Glenwood Elementary students has been the primary focus of the Glenwood PTO’s Playground Committee, staff, and students for more than seven years,” a press release said. “Currently, the playground has a wooden fort structure that was installed approximately 25 years ago. At the time of installation, it was a wonderful fit for the playground. However, it has weathered significantly over the years, causing the wood to splinter and break, resulting in multiple safety concerns for the children.”

Once it is built, the new playground will be named The Howe H. Irwin Memorial Playground in honor of a beloved former principal of Glenwood Elementary School, the press release said. [Read more…]

Good, Day, three-pointers deny Wildcats fourth consecutive trip to state

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Oak Ridge senior point guard Geevantay Gee (12), playing in his last game at Wildcat Arena, goes for a layup during a 73-70 overtime loss to David Crockett in a Class AAA sectional on Monday, March 7, 2016. Gee is guarded here by Pioneer Patrick Good (12), who had a game-high 29 points, including six three-pointers. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 8:15 a.m.

David Crockett denied Oak Ridge a fourth consecutive trip to the state basketball tournament on Monday with 11 three-point shots, including a winning three-pointer by senior Patrick Good with 3.5 seconds left in overtime, and the 17 second-half points of senior Dustin Day.

It was the second time the two teams have met this year. Both games went into overtime and were decided on less than three points, and David Crockett won both. The first game was during the regular season, when the two teams combined to make 30 three-point shots, and the second was during a Class AAA sectional at Wildcat Arena on Monday. Good scored the winning baskets in both games.

After their 73-70 overtime win in the sectional game on Monday, the Pioneers (30-5) advance to the state tournament for the first time in the 44-year history of the program.

“They don’t get much tougher than that,” Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said after the three-point overtime loss.
[Read more…]

Lady Wildcats to play Dyer County in state basketball tournament Wednesday

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The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats and cheerleaders celebrate a 39-32 sectional win over Dobyns-Bennett at Wildcat Arena on Saturday, March 5, 2016. The win sends the Lady Wildcats to the state tournament for the first time since 2010. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats will play Dyer County in the quarterfinals of the state girls basketball tournament on Wednesday.

The 2016 BlueCross Basketball Championship is scheduled on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday for the Division I Class AAA girls teams. It’s at the Murphy Center at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro.

The game between Oak Ridge and Dyer County on Wednesday is the first Class AAA quarterfinal game of the day. It starts at 10 a.m. Central time.

Oak Ridge, the number one seed in District 3, has a 27-4 record. The Lady Wildcats beat Dobyns-Bennett, the number one seed in District 1, 39-32 in a Class AAA sectional game on Saturday to advance to the state tournament for the first time since 2010. [Read more…]

ACSD asks for help finding runaway juvenile

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Christina Nicole Day

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a runway juvenile.

Christina Nicole Day, 15, ran away from her home in the Frost Bottom community late Friday evening, March 4, and has not returned, authorities said.

Here is a description of Christina Nicole Day: [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats going to state behind Guinn’s 14 second-half points

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The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats and cheerleaders celebrate a 39-32 sectional win over Dobyns-Bennett at Wildcat Arena on Saturday, March 5, 2016. The win sends the Lady Wildcats to the state tournament for the first time since 2010. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 10:47 p.m.

Oak Ridge freshman Jada Guinn scored 14 second-half points to help hold off a Dobyns-Bennett rally in a close Class AAA sectional game on Saturday, and the 39-32 victory sends the Lady Wildcats to the state basketball tournament for the first time since 2010.

Guinn had a big turnaround from the first half to the second. She hit her first shot, a layup, but then missed her next six shots in the first and second quarter. But she knocked down six shots in the second half, along with two free throws, for a game-high 18 points.

Guinn scored 10 in the fourth quarter, after the Lady Indians had rallied to take a one-point lead at the end of the third quarter and then widened it to 30-27 with 5:40 left in the fourth. [Read more…]

Clary: Miraculous journey of Lady Wildcats continues Saturday

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David Clary

By David Clary

Saturday night, the miraculous journey of the Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats continues with a one-game opportunity to join a historic group of great girls basketball teams who have worn the Cardinal and Gray.

For 30 years, the Lady Wildcats dominated East Tennessee basketball and were a major state force as well, making 21 state tournament appearances and playing in nine state championship games along the way. Oak Ridge played a national schedule, being invited to the most elite women’s tournaments in America. They finished several seasons ranked in the USA Today’s Top 25 poll and earned a number two preseason ranking, garnishing them an invitation to Florida to take on the number one-ranked team in that same poll. Twice during this time they tasted victory over a number one nationally ranked team and once a defending national champion. But since 2010, things had changed.

Since their last substate win and state appearance, the Lady Wildcats have fallen on hard times, for them anyway. Anything less than at least a sectional for such a storied program like Oak Ridge meant an unsuccessful season. [Read more…]

Oliver Springs accepting applications for mayor

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Oliver Springs City Building

The Oliver Springs City Building is pictured above. (Photo by City of Oliver Springs)

 

Information from WYSH Radio

The Oliver Springs Board of Aldermen—the Town Council—met Thursday night for the first time since Mayor Jerry Vann surprised everyone by announcing his resignation.

Vice Mayor Omer Cox is serving as mayor on an interim basis, and it is not clear yet if he wants to have the “interim” tag removed and be considered as Vann’s successor until the next election.

The Board took no action on the matter on Thursday night, instead deciding to have interested applicants submit their resumes to City Manager Becky Campbell by the end of the business day on Monday, March 14. That will give the Aldermen a chance to review the candidates before their next meeting on Thursday, March 17, when a decision could be made. [Read more…]