Oak Ridge Today

Update: Community rallies behind kids, drops off replacement toys; thieves still on loose

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Information from WYSH Radio

As WYSH Radio first reported on Friday, a real-life Grinch struck in Anderson County on Thursday. But thanks to the generosity of the community, this holiday tale had a happy ending.

The co-founder of Toys for Rocky Top, Tennessee Kids—Joe Paris—and his brother were going home after an event on Thursday, where volunteers had wrapped hundreds of toys to be distributed to children in need during their annual Christmas party set for this past Saturday night.

The men had loaded up their respective trucks with the Christmas gifts and were on their way home when Paris’s brother’s truck—which had a bad alternator to begin with—broke down by the side of Briceville Highway. The men decided to lock the truck and come back for it the next day, leaving about 150 gifts in the back of the truck, along with a photo backdrop loaned to them by a Clinton photography studio and a new alternator the men had purchased earlier in the day to replace the one in the green Ford Ranger that ultimately broke down. [Read more…]

Christmas gifts meant to help children stolen from disabled vehicle

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Information from WYSH Radio

A real-life Grinch struck in Anderson County on Thursday.

Organizers of Saturday’s Rocky Top Christmas Party were driving near the intersection of Highway 116 and Andy’s Ridge Road in Briceville on Thursday evening after a wrapping party, where volunteers had wrapped presents for children in need in the northern part of Anderson County, when their green Ford Ranger’s alternator went out and they stopped by the side of the road.

The occupants of the vehicle locked the truck and went to call for help.

But while they were away from the vehicle, someone smashed in the windows and ransacked it. [Read more…]

Photos: Breakfast Rotary Christmas Angels at Linda Brown Realty

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Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Christmas Angels at Linda Brown Realty

Members of the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club’s Christmas Angels and friends and family met at Linda Brown Realty on Saturday to load vans and SUVs with Christmas gifts for families in need. (Photos by D. Ray Smith)

 

Members of the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club’s Christmas Angels and friends and family met at Linda Brown Realty on Saturday morning to load vans and SUVs with Christmas gifts for families in need.

“Thanks to all who participated and thanks especially to Linda Brown and Nancy Donsbach for organizing the effort,” photographer D. Ray Smith said. “Linda has graciously made her office into ‘Christmas Angel Central’ again as she has for the past several years. I well remember when my grandkids were young and they came with me to distribute gifts to three families. My grandsons still recall that experience with fondness at each Christmas gathering of the Smith family!”

Here are are four more photos by Smith: [Read more…]