Oak Ridge Today

Schools: Counselors available at ORHS on Thursday, Friday after student’s death

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

An Oak Ridge High School student passed away at home on Wednesday, March 4, and counselors will be available at the school on Thursday (as long as weather permits) and on Friday, officials said in a Thursday morning release.

“It is a sad day for Oak Ridge High School and the entire Oak Ridge community,” the Oak Ridge Schools’ release said. “The thoughts and prayers of the Oak Ridge High School and Oak Ridge Schools’ staff go out to the family. Please join us in keeping the family, friends, and the entire Oak Ridge High School family in your thoughts and prayers during this most difficult time.”

The counselors will be available at Oak Ridge High School to help students, parents, and friends deal with their thoughts and feelings associated with this loss, the release said.

Carport fire destroys three cars, involves 50 gallons of gas

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Hampshire Circle Fire

It took firefighters about 40 minutes to control a carport fire that destroyed three cars and involved about 50 gallons of gasoline on Hampshire Circle early Thursday morning.

The Oak Ridge Fire Department responded to the fire at 2:44 a.m. Thursday.

“First arriving units reported three cars underneath a carport with heavy fire involvement,” a press release said. “Firefighters worked quickly to attempt to extinguish the fire but were faced with the challenge of approximately 50 gallons of gasoline being involved in the fire via the fuel tanks of the cars.” [Read more…]

Oliver Springs, other state tournament games postponed

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Murfreesboro Snow Ice on March 5, 2015

Ice covered about two inches of snow in Murfreesboro on Thursday morning, and the Oliver Springs Lady Bobcats state quarterfinal game has been postponed to Friday morning. (Photo courtesy RoaneSports.com)

 

The Oliver Springs Lady Bobcats had been scheduled to play in a state quarterfinal game in Mufreesboro this morning (Thursday morning), but that game has been postponed to Friday morning.

All other TSSAA state basketball tournament games scheduled for today have also been postponed due to extremely hazardous road conditions. The Thursday schedule will resume at 11 a.m. Central time Friday (12 p.m. Eastern) in order to allow extra time for road conditions to improve in the morning.

Friday’s scheduled semifinal games will be played on Saturday beginning at 1:30 p.m. Central due to the Middle Tennessee State University’s women’s basketball game that is scheduled at 10 a.m. Saturday’s scheduled championship games will be played on Sunday. [Read more…]

Closings: Oak Ridge, Roane Schools; some city, county, state offices

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Schools and Roane County Schools are both closed today. So are Anderson County government offices, and the Oak Ridge Public Library and Senior Center. All other municipal offices will operate on a regular schedule.

Anderson County courts are also canceled, and daytime classes at Roane State Community College campuses, including in Oak Ridge, have been canceled. A decision on nighttime classes (those that begin after 4:30 p.m.) will be made later.

State offices are also closed because of the current weather situation in West and Middle Tennessee and forecasted winter weather moving east. [Read more…]

Grammy-winning guitarist plays with Oak Ridge Symphony on Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Jason Vieaux

Jason Vieaux

Grammy-winning guitar virtuoso Jason Vieaux will play in Oak Ridge on Saturday.

He will play Antonio Vivaldi’s “Guitar Concerto in D major,” Malcolm Arnold’s “Serenade for Guitar and Strings,” and the “Allegro Maestoso” from Mauro Giuliani’s “Concerto in A,” a press release said.

Vieaux will perform with the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra at the First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge. The concert is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7.

The concert, conducted by Music Director Dan Allcott, will also feature J.S. Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto No. 1” and Frederick Delius’ “Air and Dance.” [Read more…]

Boys, Girls Club of Oak Ridge has James Bond 007 fundraiser

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge Gala 2015

 

The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Clinch Valley, Oak Ridge Unit, will have its annual gala on Saturday, March 7.

This year’s event will be held at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Guests can expect an evening of simple glamour while enjoying dinner, drinks, dancing, and live and silent auctions. Some items to be auctioned this year include an autographed Ted Williams photo “Opening Day 1947 at Fenway Park,” a luxury trip to Keeneland, a year’s membership to the Oak Ridge Country Club, a one-night accommodation at Buckhorn Inn in Gatlinburg, pottery from local artisans, and wine baskets.

The event is chaired by Unit Board President Aaron Wells and Corporate Board Member Ann Likens. [Read more…]

Forecast: Rain changing to sleet, snow; AC, Clinton schools closed

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Winter Weather Forecast March 4, 2015

Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

 

Rain could change to a wintry mix of freezing rain and sleet and then possibly snow as the temperature drops overnight and Thursday morning, forecasters said.

Anderson County Schools and Clinton City Schools will be closed Thursday, March 5.

Forecasters said rain associated with a cold front will continue over the area through tonight. Arctic air will move in behind the front while the precipitation is ongoing, plunging surface temperatures to below freezing especially over the Cumberland Plateau and southwest Virginia overnight, the National Weather Service in Morristown said. [Read more…]

Wildcats advance to state tournament on late free throws by Higgins, block by Johnson

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Wildcats Javien Johnson Geevantay Gee and Science Hill

Juniors Javien Johnson (11) and Geevantay Gee (12) of the Oak Ridge Wildcats defend against the Science Hill Hilltoppers during a 55-53 win in a Class AAA sectional game in Johnson City on Tuesday. Johnson blocked a shot by Malik McGue, who scored five of his eight points in the fourth quarter of his final game for Science Hill, with 0.8 seconds to play to help win the game. (Photo courtesy Trey Williams/Johnson City Press)

 

JOHNSON CITY—The Oak Ridge Wildcats are heading back to the state tournament in Murfreesboro next week after their comeback 55-53 win against a hungry Science Hill group at Tuesday night’s Class AAA Sectional game. Two free throws by sophomore Tee Higgins with 5.1 seconds left and a defensive block by junior Javien Johnson with 0.8 seconds left helped the Wildcats pull away with the victory.

It seemed that Science Hill (23-15) couldn’t miss from the floor in the first half. The Hilltoppers hit six three-pointers in the first half—four in the first quarter alone. One of those four included a buzzer-beating three at the end of the first quarter. With the buzzer-beater, the Hilltoppers had a 16-12 lead on the Wildcats.

In the second quarter, Oak Ridge (29-3) fell behind quickly. At one point, the Wildcats were down 24-14. However, thanks to two three-pointers by sophomore DeAndre Gibson, the Wildcats were able to gather themselves and go on a 13-6 run to end the quarter. With one half in the books, Oak Ridge was trailing 30-27.

The second quarter was the only quarter of the game that didn’t have a tie or a lead change. Oak Ridge had three three-pointers in the first half, all of them courtesy of Gibson (2) and sophomore Tajion Jones (1).

The Hilltoppers battled back in the second half. After Oak Ridge jumped out to a 34-30 lead, the Hilltoppers rattled off seven straight points to take the 37-34 lead. Oak Ridge pulled within a point of taking the lead back, and Science Hill drained a three. There actually was a span of 30 seconds in the third that had four consecutive combined threes hit by both teams. However, the Wildcats scored late in the third to give themselves a 44-43 lead with one quarter left to decide who went to the state tournament and who stayed home. [Read more…]

City, schools offer North Boundary Trail hike on March 14

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

North Boundary Hike

Oak Ridge municipal and school committees will lead a six-mile hike on the North Boundary Trail on Saturday, March 14.

The hike, which could last about three hours, will leave the North Boundary “yellow gate” (just west of Wisconsin Avenue) at 9 a.m. and follow the Quarry trail, making a right onto Hunley, a right onto North Boundary, and down the Gallaher connector.

This hike is considered moderate in difficulty due to varied elevations and length. [Read more…]

Memphis school wins DOE Tennessee Science Bowl

Posted at
By 2 Comments

DOE Science Bowl Winners 2015

Tennessee Lausanne Collegiate School of Memphis first-place winners pictured above at the Blount County campus of Pellissippi State Community College are Prashanth Raj, Ted Letsou, Tony Chen, Raghav Ranga, and Rishab Jain, with their trophy. (DOE photo/Lynn Freeny)

 

Countless hours studying math and science has paid off for some exceptionally bright students from one college preparatory academy—the Lausanne Collegiate School of Memphis—who won the Tennessee Science Bowl this past weekend. Lausanne’s Team 1 competed against 53 other high school teams on February 27-28 to place first in the annual competition.

Lausanne edged out their competition by successfully answering a host of challenging questions in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, earth and space science, and energy.

Held at Pellissippi State Community College’s Blount County Campus, the Tennessee Science Bowl is the nation’s third-largest regional competition. The regional bowl prepares students to compete nationally with other exceptional students from schools across the country. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Schools could make up snow days on four Wednesdays

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Schools Logo

Oak Ridge Schools could make up two snow days by having students attend school for a full day, rather than being dismissed early, on four Wednesdays in March and April, officials said. That plan hinges on state approval of a three-day waiver that Tennessee school systems can request because a state of emergency that was declared during the winter weather in the second half of February.

Tracey Beckendorf-Edou, superintendent of teaching and learning, said Oak Ridge Schools used eight snow days this year. She said that’s the most anyone can remember the school system using. Students didn’t go to school at all on those days.

Oak Ridge had three snow days built into its schedule. Without a waiver, that would leave five snow days that have to be made up. But if Oak Ridge receives a three-day waiver from the state, that would leave a two-day deficit. [Read more…]

Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament on April 24 to benefit Community Mediation

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Community Mediation Services Banner

The 14th Annual Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament is scheduled for Friday, April 24, and it will benefit Community Mediation Services of Anderson Country.

The Golf Tournament will be held at the Oak Ridge Country Club Golf Course.

“The Oak Ridge Country Club provides a beautiful setting for golfers at this popular tournament,” a press release said.

The Tournament honors the community spirit and caring of “Big Ed” Neusel, founder of Big Ed’s Pizza, and David Neusel and their belief in giving to others while seeking recognition from no one, and it provides important support for Community Mediation Services’ work with youths and families, the release said. [Read more…]