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Children’s Museum names new executive director

Posted at 12:27 pm January 2, 2016
By Kay Brookshire 1 Comment

Childrens-Museum-Oak-Ridge-Beth-Shea-December-2015-Gala

Beth Shea is pictured above at a Children’s Museum gala in December 2015. (Submitted photo)

 

Beth Shea, who has worked with the Illinois State Museum for almost 21 years, will become the new director of the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge on Monday, January 4. She was formerly the education director with the Illinois State Museum in Springfield, supervising the museum’s educational programs, visitor services, and volunteer program.

Shea brings an expertise in creating and implementing museum school and public education programs. She helped create the play-themed children’s area in the lower level of the museum, and has worked on many projects as a member of the museum’s exhibition team. She brings experience in grant writing and in building partnerships with community groups to the Children’s Museum. She has also worked as an education associate at the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News.

“The search committee and the museum board found that her experience as a museum professional and her ability to relate to people made her the best choice as new director,” said Tom Beehan, Children’s Museum board president. The search committee conducted a national search during a three-month period to hire the new director, Beehan said, and received applications from a number of good candidates. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Nonprofits, Top Stories Tagged With: Beth Shea, children's museum, Children's Museum of Oak Ridge, Illinois State Museum, Mary Ann Damos, Oak Ridge, Tom Beehan, Virginia Living Museum, Visitor Studies Association

Roane Commission to appoint General Sessions judge on Monday

Posted at 11:52 am January 2, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Jeffery-Wicks

Jeffery H. Wicks

The Roane County Commission will appoint a new General Sessions Court judge during a special session on Monday.

The new judge will serve until the next general election in August and fill a vacancy created when Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam appointed General Sessions Court Judge Jeffery H. Wicks as Criminal Court judge for the Ninth Judicial District. Wicks is replacing former Criminal Court Judge E. Eugene Eblen, who retired December 31.

The Ninth Judicial District serves Loudon, Meigs, Morgan, and Roane counties. Eblen had been Criminal Court judge since 1978. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Election, Front Page News, Government, Roane County, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Circuit and Criminal Court, Bill Haslam, E. Eugene Eblen, General Sessions Court, Jeffery H. Wicks, Ninth Judicial District, Roane County, Roane County Commission, Roane County Courthouse

Wildcats finish fifth in Arby’s Classic with win over Taylor County, Ky.

Posted at 3:04 pm January 1, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

This photo is property of Allen Greene. Unauthorized use of this photo is not permitted without consent.

Oak Ridge senior point guard Geevantay Gee (12) dribbles during a 91-73 win over Taylor County for fifth place in the 2015 Arby’s Classic in Bristol on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015. (Photo by Allen Greene/TriCitiesSports.com)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats finished fifth in the 2015 Arby’s Classic basketball tournament with a 91-73 win over Taylor County, Kentucky, in Bristol on Thursday.

The Wildcats had been bumped into a consolation bracket in this year’s tournament after they lost to David Crockett of Jonesborough, 87-85, in a double-overtime second-round game on Tuesday. They advanced to the fifth-place game with a 56-54 win on Wednesday over North Mecklenburg of North Carolina, the 2014 Arby’s Classic champion.

Oak Ridge junior Anthony Gibson led the Wildcats (17-1, 5-0 District 3-AAA) with 22 points on Thursday and 100 percent shooting from the free throw line. Junior Tee Higgins added 20 points, and he pulled down eight rebounds and had five assists and two steals. He also got the crowd on its feet with two dunks in the second half.

The Wildcats had three other players in double digits: senior forward Javien Johnson with 17 points (seven rebounds, one assist); junior guard E.J. Bush with 13 (six rebounds, two blocks, one assist); and junior guard Tajion Jones with 12 (six rebounds, four assists, one block, and one steal). [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Aaron Green, Anthony Gibson, Arby's Classic, Bristol Herald Courier, Cardinals, Christian Academy of Knoxville, David Crockett, David Sloan, E.J. Bush, Father Henry Carr Catholic, Geevantay Gee, Javien Johnson, Karns, North Mecklenburg, Oak Ridge Wildcats, Quentin Goodin, St. James School, Tajion Jones, Taylor County, Tee Higgins, Tift County, Wayne High School

Lady Wildcats finish as runner-up in Lenoir City Christmas Tournament

Posted at 9:55 am January 1, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Lady-Wildcats-Lenoir-City-Christmas-Tournament-Runner-Up-Dec-30-2015

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats finished as runner-up in the 2015 Lenoir City Christmas Tournament, losing 51-40 to Upperman on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Lady Wildcats finished as runner-up in the 2015 Lenoir City Christmas Tournament, losing to Upperman 51-40 in the championship game on Wednesday.

It’s the first trophy or plaque her players have received, first-year coach Paige Green said.

“That in itself says something,” Green said. “It’s not what we wanted. But it’s progress.”

The Lady Wildcats Oak Ridge (11-3, 5-0 District 3-AAA) can play at a championship level, but they didn’t do it on Wednesday, she said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Slider, Sports, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Abby Greenwood, Akira Levy, Brooke Farris, Courtney Ellison, Desiree Bates, Gracie Maynord, Jada Guinn, Jaymi Golden, Lady Wildcats, Lenoir City Christmas Tournament, Mykia Dowdell, Paige Green, Upperman

Planning Commission to consider re-subdivision for Main Street Oak Ridge on Jan. 7

Posted at 3:02 pm December 30, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Main-Street-Oak-Ridge-Sign-Dec-21-2015

Workers from Masstar Signs of Greenville, S.C., install a new shopping center pylon sign at South Illinois Avenue and East Tulsa Road that announces Main Street Oak Ridge, the planned $80 million redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall. Pictured above on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015, is Will Biggs of Masstar Signs. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A re-subdivision for Main Street Oak Ridge, the $80 million project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall, will be considered on Thursday, January 7.

Ray Evans, retail consultant for the City of Oak Ridge, has previously said that a subdivision plat has to be approved by the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission before RealtyLink, the new developer, can close on the 58-acre site in the center of Oak Ridge.

The re-subdivision will be considered by the Planning Commission in a special-called meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, January 7, in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Training Room. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Front Page News, Government, Meetings and Events, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Main Street—Oak Ridge, Masstar Signs, Oak Ridge Mall, Oak Ridge Municipal Building, Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission, Ray Evans, re-subdivision, Realty Link, subdivision plat, Will Biggs

New contractor operating Transuranic Waste Processing Center

Posted at 1:36 pm December 30, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Transuranic Waste Processing Center

The Transuranic Waste Processing Center in west Oak Ridge, south of Bethel Valley Road on Highway 95, is pictured above. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy/Oak Ridge Office)

 

Information from Oak Ridge Today and the January 2016 issue of “Advocate,” a publication of the Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory Board

North Wind Solutions took over the operation of the Transuranic Waste Processing Center in west Oak Ridge in December. The Idaho-based company was awarded the $123 million contract to operate the facility in June.

North Wind replaces Wastren Advantage Inc., which had operated the center since 2010. The Transuranic Waste Processing Center, or TRU Waste Processing Center, is off State Route 95 in southwest Oak Ridge, south of Bethel Valley Road and west of Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

North Wind will continue to process and store transuranic waste at the site until the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, or WIPP, reopens in New Mexico. WIPP is the only facility in the U.S. that permanently disposes of transuranic waste, or TRU waste. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge Office, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: DOE, legacy transuranic waste, North Wind Solutions, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory Board, ORNL, transuranic waste, Transuranic Waste Processing Center, TRU waste, TRU Waste Processing Center, U.S. Department of Energy, Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, Wastren Advantage Inc., WIPP

Wildcats lose to Pioneers in double-overtime game that features 30 three-pointers

Posted at 9:13 pm December 29, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

This photo is property of Allen Greene. Unauthorized use of this photo is not permitted without consent.

Oak Ridge junior Tee Higgins (5) scored 25 points for the Wildcats in a double-overtime 87-85 quarterfinal loss to David Crockett in the 2015 Arby’s Classic basketball tournament in Bristol on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015. (Photo by Allen Greene / TriCitiesSports.com)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11:40 a.m. Dec. 30.

The Oak Ridge Wildcats lost their first basketball game of the season in a thrilling quarterfinal game that went into double overtime in the Arby’s Classic tournament in Bristol on Tuesday. It featured a combined 30 successful three-point shots. The final score was 87-85 in favor of the David Crockett Pioneers.

Oak Ridge junior Tajion Jones had a game-high 28 points and was credited with seven three-pointers, while junior Tee Higgins had 25 points and hit six three-pointers. Jones hit four of his seven three-point shots in the first quarter. The 6-foot-4 guard also finished with seven rebounds and one assist, and the 6-foot-5 Higgins had five rebounds and two steals.

It was a personal best for Jones, both in terms of total points scored and made three-pointers.

The Wildcats (15-1, 5-0 District 3-AAA) had 14 three-point shots total, while David Crockett (12-2, 2-0 District 1-AAA) had 16. That tied the single-game record of 16 set by Memphis White Station in 2003. The 15-0 start for Oak Ridge was the best in school history.

Oak Ridge and David Crockett, two top Class AAA teams that received a standing ovation at halftime after a flurry of three-pointers, made 21 three-point shots in the first half alone and shot an incredible 68 percent from beyond the arc (21 of 31). In comparison, the two teams shot 60 percent or less from two-point range in the first half. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Slider, Sports, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Aaron Green, Arby's Classic, David Crockett Pioneers, Geevantay Gee, Javien Johnson, John Good, North Mecklenburg, Oak Ridge Wildcats, Patrick Good, Peyton Ford, Tajion Jones, Tee Higgins, Tift County

DOE launches K-25 Virtual Museum, helps preserve history of Manhattan Project site

Posted at 8:46 pm December 29, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Making-History-K-25-Timeline

Photo from K-25 Virtual Museum/U.S. Department of Energy

 

Information from the January 2016 issue of “Advocate,” a publication of the Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory Board

A new virtual museum helps preserve the history of the former K-25 site, which was built in west Oak Ridge to enrich uranium for atomic bombs during World War II and once had the world’s largest building under one roof.

The K-25 Virtual Museum was launched in November by the U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) as part of a memorandum of agreement for the interpretation of the historic site now known as East Tennessee Technology Park, or ETTP.

The debut of the online museum coincided with the November 10 signing of an agreement between the Department of Energy and the Department of Interior establishing the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. The Manhattan Project was a top-secret federal effort to build the world’s first atomic weapons during World War II.

The K-25 Virtual Museum can be viewed at http://www.k-25virtualmuseum.org/.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: East Tennessee Technology Park, ETTP, Front Page News, Oak Ridge Office, Slider, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: atomic bombs, atomic weapons, Department of Interior, East Tennessee Technology Park, ETTP, Happy Valley, K-25, K-25 site, K-25 virtual museum, Manhattan Project, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, Sue Cange, U.S. Department of Energy, virtual museum, World War II

Four Oak Ridge students competing in Bijou Awards in January

Posted at 5:40 pm December 29, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Jacob Moreno

Jacob Moreno

Four Oak Ridge students will compete in the Bijou Awards in January.

The Fourth Annual Bijou Awards will showcase the talent of high school students in and around Knoxville. The 2016 Bijou Awards Gala is on January 16 at the Bijou Theatre in downtown Knoxville.

Oak Ridge High School seniors Treston Henderson and Jacob Moreno will both compete in the male singing category.

Sarah Hepler, an eight-grader at Robertsville Middle School, and Marian Vacaliuc, a seventh-grader at Jefferson Middle School, will compete in the rising star category. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Entertainment, Front Page News, K-12, Music, Top Stories Tagged With: 2016 Bijou Awards Gala, Bijou Awards, Bijou Theatre, Fourth Annual Bijou Awards, Jacob Moreno, Jefferson Middle School, Oak Ridge High School, Robertsville Middle School, Sarah Hepler, Treston Henderson

With win over Sequoyah, Lady Wildcats advance to semifinals in Lenoir City Christmas Tournament

Posted at 4:31 pm December 29, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Lady-Wildcats-Dowdell-Sequoyah-Dec-28-2015

Oak Ridge sophomore post Mykia Dowdell (34) had 15 points for the Lady Wildcats during a first-round quarterfinal game in the Lenoir City Christmas Tournament on Monday, Dec. 28, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

LENOIR CITY—The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats advanced to a semifinal game in the Lenoir City Christmas Tournament with a 49-29 win over Sequoyah on Monday.

Sophomore Mykia Dowdell led Oak Ridge (10-2, 5-0 District 3-AAA) with 15 points. Senior Caelyn Thompson scored eight, and junior Courtney Ellison and freshman Jada Guinn each added six. Nine players scored for the Lady Wildcats, who got off to an 8-0 start in the first quarter and never trailed.

Madi Haymes scored 10 for Sequoyah, a 6-8 Class AA team from Madisonville, and Bailee Lane and Haley Isbell had six each.

Oak Ridge will play Lenoir City (7-6, 1-3 District 4-AAA) in a seminal game in Lenoir City at 6 p.m. Tuesday, December 29. The winner of that game will play the winner of the Upperman-Stone Memorial game in a championship game at 6 p.m. Wednesday, December 30. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Bailee Lane, Caelyn Thompson, Courtney Ellison, Haley Isbell, Jada Guinn, Lenoir City, Lenoir City Christmas Tournament, Madi Haymes, Mykia Dowdell, Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats, Powell, Sequoyah, Stone Memorial

Man charged with kidnapping, aggravated robbery after allegedly using gun to steal from ex-girlfriend

Posted at 12:49 pm December 29, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Dmantiz-Bowser

Dmantiz Bowser

An Oak Ridge man was charged with kidnapping and aggravated robbery after he allegedly held a gun to the back of his ex-girlfriend’s head before stealing her cell phones and $1,200 in cash, authorities said.

The robbery was reported at about 9:16 a.m. Friday, December 11, at a home on Northwestern Avenue.

The ex-girlfriend told Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Kevin Merritt that she awoke to a loud noise and found Dmantiz A. Bowser, 21, in the back bedroom. She asked him what he was doing, according to warrants filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court.

“She said the defendant then pulled a small black gun out of his front pocket, grabbed her by her right arm and twisted it behind her back,” the warrants said. “She said he then shoved her face down in the couch, putting his knee on her back, and putting the pistol to the back of her head. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: aggravated robbery, Anderson County Detention Facility, Anderson County General Sessions Court, Dmantiz Bowser, Kevin Merritt, kidnapping, Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Police Departmetn, ORPD

Man, 27, accused of attacking, robbing grandfather, 81

Posted at 12:25 pm December 29, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Trenton-Johnson

Trenton Johnson

The day after he was found unresponsive in a bathroom, with a syringe on the floor and suspected heroin in his jacket pocket, a 27-year-old Oak Ridge man allegedly attacked his 81-year-old grandfather, pushed him down, and stole his wallet, authorities said.

Trenton Johnson of Briarwood Drive was found on his back and unresponsive on a bathroom floor, lying between a toilet and bathtub, at the Briarwood Drive home on Saturday, December 19, Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Kevin M. Merritt said.

A syringe was on the floor next to Johnson, Merritt said. On the edge of the bathtub, there was a pack of cigarettes, lighter, and metal spoon, the officer said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Detention Facility, Christopher Wallace, heroin, Kevin Merritt, Oak Ridge Police Department, ORPD, robbery, Trenton Johnson

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