Oak Ridge Today

Johnson scores 25 as Wildcats advance to district championship Tuesday against Karns

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Oak Ridge senior forward Javien Johnson (11) scored a game-high 25 points during a 72-46 win over Powell in a District 3-AAA semifinal at Anderson County High School on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 7:45 p.m.

CLINTON—Oak Ridge senior forward Javien Johnson scored a game-high 25 points in a 72-46 district tournament semifinal win over Powell on Saturday. The Wildcats advance to play Karns in the District 3-AAA championship on Tuesday.

The Wildcats (30-2) held the Panthers to six points in the first quarter and three points in the third on Saturday. But they allowed 21 points in the second.

“We quit guarding them in the second,” Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said.

But the Wildcats responded well in the second half and played better defense, Green said.

The District 3-AAA semifinal at Anderson County High School on Saturday was the third meeting this year between Oak Ridge and Powell (20-10). The Wildcats have won all three games. [Read more…]

Updated: Lady Wildcats, Campbell Co. to play for District 3-AAA championship Tuesday

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Sophomore post Mykia Dowdell (34) led the Lady Wildcats with a game-high 16 points in a 54-28 win over Anderson County in a District 3-AAA semifinal on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016. Dowdell is guarded here by Anderson County freshman Brooklin McCoy (34). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11:30 a.m.

CLINTON—Oak Ridge and Campbell County will play for the District 3-AAA girls basketball championship on Tuesday.

Campbell County beat Powell 47-42 to advance to the championship in a semifinal game at Anderson County High School on Saturday, and Oak Ridge defeated Anderson County 54-28 in the other semifinal.

Oak Ridge, which was led by sophomore post Mykia Dowdell with 16 points on Saturday, won both matches with the Lady Cougars this year.

Tuesday’s final starts at 6 p.m. at Anderson County High School. [Read more…]

Tonight: Oak Ridge String Quartet plays chamber music concert

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Oak Ridge String Quartet (Submitted photo)

 

The Oak Ridge String Quartet will play in a chamber music concert on Saturday evening, February 20.

The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Pollard Auditorium.

“This highly accomplished group of professional musicians and members of the Knoxville and Oak Ridge Symphony will play music by Schubert, Mendelssohn, and Grieg,” organizers said. “Come and enjoy some absolutely gorgeous music and help support classical music in Oak Ridge.”

For more information, check the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association website.

ORPD welcomes new police officers, celebrates deputy chief promotion

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Officials and officers celebrated the promotion of Charles Robin Smith, second from left, to deputy chief during a promotions and swearing-in ceremony in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building on Friday, Feb. 19, 2016. Also pictured are, at left, Captain Michael Uher, retired TVA Commander Charles Smith (the deputy chief’s father), second from right, and Oak Ridge Police Chief James Akagi. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

New Oak Ridge Police Department officers were sworn in at the Oak Ridge Municipal Building on Friday, and the department celebrated the promotion of Charles Robin Smith to deputy chief.

Smith has served with the Oak Ridge Police Department since 2012.

Before he joined the ORPD, he served for 17 years with the Tennessee Valley Authority Police. He served the last 14 of those as commander of police operations.

Smith began his law enforcement career with the Sevierville Police Department, where he worked 15 years.

Smith is a 1982 graduate of the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy and a 1990 graduate of the FBI National Academy. He has a bachelor’s degree in applied organizational management from Tusculum College and master’s in business administration from Bethel University.

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New Oak Ridge Police Department officers were sworn in at the Oak Ridge Municipal Building on Friday, Feb. 19, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Here is information on the new officers sworn into service, provided by the Oak Ridge Police Department: [Read more…]

Karns makes 14 three-point shots in win over Clinton, advances to play Central

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Karns sophomore K.J. Hawkins (3) scored a game-high 21 points during a 70-58 win over Clinton in a District 3-AAA tournament game on Friday, Feb. 19, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:25 a.m.

CLINTON—Karns made 14 three-point shots and sophomore K.J. Hawkins scored 21 points in a 70-58 win over Clinton in the District 3-AAA tournament on Friday. Hawkins made five of the three-pointers for the Beavers.

Karns (19-6) hit eight three-point shots in the first half alone, compared to two for Clinton. The Beavers added six more in the second half.

Karns moves on to play Central (20-9) in a District 3-AAA semifinal game at Anderson County High School at 6 p.m. Saturday. The Beavers also secured a spot in the Region 2 tournament with their win over Clinton on Friday.

Besides Hawkins, Karns had three other players in double digits. Senior Devin Harper and Cartez Campbell both scored 14, and junior guard Taylor Everett added 11. [Read more…]

Home improvements begin soon under TVA Extreme Energy Makeover

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Gary M. Gilmartin

Gary M. Gilmartin

Oak Ridge officials could start accepting applications at the end of this month for a program that will modify homes with high electrical consumption, with a goal of saving energy.

The modifications are possible under a $2.9 million grant from the Tennessee Valley Authority Extreme Energy Makeover Program. There is no local match required. TVA announced the grant award in September 2015.

Under the program, officials will use energy retrofits to reduce electrical consumption by 25 percent and save a total of 1,000 megawatt hours per year for older homes. The energy retrofits will be offered to 229 qualified residents in Oak Ridge homes that are at least 20 years old.

The targeted implementation date is April 1. [Read more…]

Adams, a first-grade teacher at Linden, named Oak Ridge Schools teacher of the year

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Ginger Adams

Ginger Adams

Ginger Adams, a first-grade teacher at Linden Elementary School, has been named the 2016 Oak Ridge School District Teacher of the Year, officials said.

Oak Ridge Schools officials hope Adams will now be considered for East Tennessee Teacher of the Year. Her application will be sent to the East Tennessee Regional Office for their consideration for that award, a press release said.

Adams is one of eight teachers of the year selected from Oak Ridge eight schools: the Preschool, all four elementary schools, the two middle schools, and the high school. They are: [Read more…]

Hamilton’s basket in final seconds gives Powell a playoff win over AC

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Loler Simpson (14) of Anderson County drives against the Powell defense during a 46-45 win for the Panthers at Anderson County High School on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

CLINTON—Powell senior Conley Hamilton scored with less than six seconds remaining to give the Panthers a one-point win over Anderson County in a second-round elimination game of the District 3-AAA basketball tournament on Thursday.

The Panthers (20-9) erased a 10-point third-quarter deficit and battled back to take a two-point lead about halfway through the fourth quarter.

But Zach Green of Anderson County tied the game at 42 with 1:10 remaining, and he gave the Mavericks a one-point lead on a three-point shot with about 30 seconds left.

Hamilton responded by driving to the basket in the last 10 seconds and firing off a short shot that went in, giving Powell a 46-45 win. [Read more…]

McCoy scores 17 as Lady Mavs advance past Halls

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Klarissa Roberts (12) of Anderson County drives to the basket in a 38-24 win over Halls in the second round of the District 3-AAA tournament on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

CLINTON—Brooklin McCoy of Anderson County scored a game-high 17 points in a 38-24 win over Halls in the second round of the District 3-AAA basketball tournament on Thursday.

The game was tied at the end of the first quarter, but Anderson County (13-17) gained a 10-point lead in the second quarter on its way to the win. The Lady Mavericks led by as many as 17 points in the fourth quarter.

Anderson County will play Oak Ridge (22-4) in a semifinal game at Anderson County High School at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. [Read more…]

Clinton man has minor injuries after SUV rolls upside down into creek

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A crew from Clinton Highway Wrecker Service works to pull a Mercury Mountaineer out of a creek alongside Clinton Highway after a two-vehicle crash on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

CLAXTON—A Clinton man had minor injuries after his sport utility vehicle went down an embankment and rolled into a creek after a two-vehicle crash on Clinton Highway on Tuesday morning, authorities said.

The crash was reported at 8:09 a.m. Tuesday near the bridge over Bull Run Creek in Claxton.

Authorities said Jessica D. Parton, 28, of Powell, was driving east in a 2006 Dodge Ram pickup on Clinton Highway in the right lane when she hydroplaned and lost control while crossing the bridge. Parton began to spin out, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said in a preliminary report.

Donald H. Henderson, 69, of Clinton, was driving a 1997 Mercury Mountaineer behind Parton, and he tried to get into the left lane to avoid her, the THP said. [Read more…]

Robertsville Middle School girls win regular season, district championship

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The Robertsville Middle School girls basketball team won both the regular season and district tournament championship, and they are pictured above with the championship bracket. (Photo courtesy Edward Dunbar)

 

By Edward Dunbar

The Robertsville and Jefferson Middle School girls basketball teams just completed their seasons.

Robertsville won both the regular season and district tournament championship, with Jefferson placing second in the regular season and third in the district tournament. The teams split the regular season City Championship.

Keyanna Thompson and Khamari Mitchell-Stein were named to the All-District Tournament team for Jefferson, and Brianna Dunbar, Selena Pettus, Raja Eckeles, and Cre Thompson for Roberstville. Brianna Dunbar was named District Tournament Most Valuable Player.

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Keyanna Thompson and Khamari Mitchell-Stein were named to the All-District Tournament team for Jefferson Middle School, and Brianna Dunbar, Selena Pettus, Raja Eckeles, and Cre Thompson for Roberstville Middle School. Brianna Dunbar was named District Tournament Most Valuable Player. (Photo courtesy Edward Dunbar)

 

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Janelle Arthur to perform at Barbecue, Bluegrass Bash for CASA on Saturday

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American Idol finalist Janelle Arthur will perform at the Barbecue and Bluegrass Bash on Saturday, an annual fundraiser for CASA of the Tennessee Heartland.

Arthur, an Oliver Springs singer, was part of the first-ever all-female Top 5 on American Idol, a popular televised singing competition, in April 2013.

Besides Arthur, this year’s Barbecue and Bluegrass Bash will feature a silent auction, a live auction featuring Bear Stephenson, live bluegrass with the Ridge City Ramblers, and a delicious barbecue buffet, organizers said.

The CASA Barbecue and Bluegrass Bash raises money to help abused and neglected children in Anderson, Blount, and Scott counties. [Read more…]