Oak Ridge Today

Elks donate $1,500 to three local charities

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Pictured above are Gary Monday (Elks charity golf tournament committee member), Teresa Brittan (executive director for the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge), and Joe Wilkenson (Elks charity golf tournament committee member). (Submitted photo)

Pictured above are Gary Monday (Elks charity golf tournament committee member), Teresa Brittan (executive director for the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge), and Joe Wilkenson (Elks charity golf tournament committee member). (Submitted photos)

The Oak Ridge Chapter of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks has donated $1,500 to three local charities, a press release said.

On Thursday, Jan. 24, members of the Elks Lodge annual charity golf tournament committee met with the directors of the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge, and the Emory Valley Center, along with volunteer staff members at the Holiday Bureau, in order to present each of them with a $500 check, the release said.

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Organizational meeting on Feb. 21 for Oak Ridge summer softball

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The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will have an organizational meeting this month for teams interested in playing in the city-sponsored summer softball leagues.

The meeting will be held in the Oak Ridge Civic Center Club Room at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb 21.

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Roane State releases president’s list

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Several area students made the president’s list at Roane State Community College for the fall 2012 semester.

To be eligible, a student must attain a 4.0 grade point average while attempting 12 or more semester hours of college-level courses.

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No one injured, home destroyed in suspicious Sunday morning fire

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Hillside Road House Fire

No one was injured in a suspicious Sunday morning fire that destroyed a home on Hillside Road, authorities said. (Photos by Tom Scott)

No one was injured, but a home was destroyed in a suspicious Sunday morning fire on Hillside Road, Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley said.

“It’s under investigation, but it appears to be suspicious in nature,” Kerley said.

The renters at the home were moving to Knoxville, and most of their belongings had been removed, Kerley said. The home had no power or utilities, and no one was home at the time of the fire.

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Boys and Girls Club has Valentines Masquerade Gala tonight

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The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Clinch Valley (formerly Oak Ridge) will hold its Valentines Masquerade Gala tonight at the Rothchild Catering and Conference Center in Knoxville.

This is the largest fundraiser of the year for the club, said Donyell “D.J.” Jones, the club’s chief professional officer.

“The proceeds from this event allow us to continue all of our programs at the club with a larger amount earmarked for our after-school homework help, Teen Programs, and STEM education opportunities,” Jones said.

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Primetime networking event
 at Chamber of Commerce set for April 18

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Parker Hardy at Primetime

Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce President Parker Hardy cooks hot dogs at a Primetime business-to-business exposition in October 2011.

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce will have its spring Primetime networking event on April 18.

Held twice a year, Primetime is the Chamber’s top networking event of the year, a press release said. It allows Chamber members to meet and talk to each other and also allows members of the public to come by and see what area businesses have to offer.

This spring’s Primetime event is titled “Under the Big Top,” and it will have a circus theme, the press release said.

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Secret City Festival applications now available online

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World War II Re-enactment

The Secret City Festival in Oak Ridge includes one of the largest World War II re-enactments in the South.

Preparations for the 11th Annual Secret City Festival are under way, and applications are now available online.

Vendors and exhibitors can visit www.SecretCityFestival.com and download an application to become involved in this year’s event, which will take place June 21-22 at A.K. Bissell Park.

Applications are available for arts and crafts, exhibitors, and food vendors.

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Radio Systems Corp. donates $100,000 to help build Oak Ridge dog park

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Oak Ridge Dog Park Layout Draft

Oak Ridge Dog Park Layout Draft (Image submitted by city staff)

Radio Systems Corp. has agreed to give Oak Ridge $100,000 through Legacy Parks to help build a dog park, a Friday afternoon press release said.

“At Radio Systems, we are always looking for ways we can give back to our community,” said Randy Boyd, founder and chief executive officer of Radio Systems Corp., maker of the PetSafe Brand. “We’ve seen the incredibly positive impact dog parks have made on communities, and we are excited to continue this effort in East Tennessee. We know Oak Ridgers and their dogs will enjoy a PetSafe dog park.”

The press release said PetSafe will partner with Oak Ridge to build the dog park within Big Turtle Park on the west end of the city.

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Tennessee Fire Marshal’s Office urges safety in manufactured homes

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NASHVILLE—The Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office is urging residents of manufactured homes—also known as mobile homes or trailers—to practice fire safety.

More than 250,000 of these homes exist in Tennessee.

“Fires move more quickly in smaller spaces, leaving occupants with less time to escape. This is why it is crucial to have working smoke alarms installed in all homes,” State Fire Marshal and Commerce and Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak said. “Develop and practice a home fire escape with your loved ones so that everyone knows what to do when the alarm sounds.”

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Anderson County school security good, improving

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Information from WYSH Radio

During a joint workshop between the Anderson County Commission and the Anderson County School Board on Thursday, schools’ security director Joe Fogerty outlined security measures already in place across the system and discussed future plans for school security.

Fogerty told a large crowd in the Clinton Middle School auditorium that there are currently eight uniformed, armed school resource officers and a DARE officer patrolling the county’s two high schools, four middle schools and alternative school, and those officers are available to answer calls at the nearby elementary schools. Fogerty also said that there are currently 259 surveillance cameras in nine of the county schools and that similar cameras are being installed on school buses.

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TDOT employee resigns after crash, DUI arrest in Oak Ridge

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A Tennessee Department of Transportation employee who worked in Oak Ridge resigned Thursday after he was charged with driving under the influence following a police investigation of a crash at Oak Ridge Turnpike and Louisiana Avenue on Friday, Feb. 1, officials said.

Police said William Hays Halbert, 56, of Knoxville, had been driving a state-owned 2010 Ford F150 pickup truck, but he had slurred speech and bloodshot, watery eyes, according to an affidavit filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court. Halbert smelled like alcohol and appeared to be confused, and he had a hard time following directions, Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Garrett L. Robbins wrote in the affidavit.

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Clinch Valley Science Fair to be held at New Hope Center

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The Fourth Annual Clinch Valley Science Fair, organized by the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge Sunset and sponsored by B&W Y-12 and several other businesses, will be held at Y-12’s New Hope Center on Feb. 23 and 24.

Students in third, fourth, and fifth grades in public, private, and home schools in Oak Ridge, Anderson County, and Roane County may participate.

Cash prizes of $100, $75 and $50 will be awarded to the top three winners in each grade in each of three categories: life, earth and physical sciences. Teachers of winning students will receive School Box gift certificates in the same denominations.

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