• About
    • About Us
    • What We Cover
  • Advertise
    • Advertise
    • Our Advertisers
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Send News

Oak Ridge Today

  • Home
  • Sign in
  • News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Police and Fire
    • U.S. Department of Energy
    • Weather
  • Sports
    • High School
    • Middle School
    • Recreation
    • Rowing
    • Youth
  • Entertainment
    • Arts
    • Dancing
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Premium Content
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds

Protesters want life, liberty, justice

Posted at 2:00 pm June 14, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Civil rights leader Reverend Harold Middlebrook tells Black Lives Matter protesters in Clinton on Thursday, June 11, 2020, that the movement will require more than a march. (Photo by John Huotari/oak Ridge Today)

CLINTON—Civil rights pioneer Anna Theresser Caswell asked people to not hate.

Civil rights leader Reverend Harold Middlebrook told local Black Lives Matters protesters that the movement will require more than a march.

Caswell and Middlebrook were two of about a dozen speakers at a Black Lives Matter march and protest that started at the Clinton football field and ended at Clinton Middle School on Thursday. Several hundred people attended.

Clinton Middle School is where the high school used to be. It was desegregated more than 60 years ago. It’s reported to have been the first high school in the South to desegregate under the U.S. Supreme Court decision Brown vs. Board of Education in 1954.

Caswell, 77, was one of the 12 Black teenagers who walked down from Green McAdoo School on Foley Hill and desegregated the old Clinton High School, which had been all-white, on August 27, 1956.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Community, Front Page News, Government, Police and Fire, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Anna Theresser Caswell, Black Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter protest, Brown vs. Board of Education, civil rights, Cleo Ellis, Clinton 12, Clinton High School, Derek Chauvin, desegregation, Emmett Till, Gary Atwater, George Floyd, Green McAdoo School, Harold Middlebrook, James Cain, Ku Klux Klan, Lincoln Barton, Minnie Ann Dickie Jones, Robert Willis, Trevor King, William Caldwell Jr.

Funeral is Saturday for Williams, who fought to integrate CHS in 1956

Posted at 8:27 am March 21, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Alfred Williams

Alfred Williams

 

Alfred Williams, one of the Clinton 12 students who fought for the integration of Clinton High School in 1956, died Thursday, March 14. He was 83. His funeral is Saturday.

“On behalf of the Green McAdoo Cultural Organization, the City of Clinton, and the State of Tennessee, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr. Alfred Williams,” Green McAdoo Cultural Organization said in a statement. “Alfred passed away at The Waters Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility on March 14, 2019, surrounded by family. He was one of the Clinton 12 students that fought for the integration of Clinton High School in 1956, blazing a trail for all black students to achieve equal education under the law. He went on to work in the city school system and became one of the friendly faces of Clinton Elementary School and the ‘candy man’ until his retirement. He will be missed by family, friends, and all those blessed to know him.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, History, Obituaries, Top Stories Tagged With: Alfred Williams, Clinton 12, Clinton High School, desegregation, equal education, Green McAdoo Cultural Organization, integration

SR 116 closed after landslide in north Anderson County

Posted at 12:51 pm February 7, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

State Route 116 is closed Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, in north Anderson County between Indian Fork Lane and Bunch Cemetery due to a slide after heavy rains on Wednesday, Feb. 6. (Photo courtesy Tennessee Department of Transportation)

A section of State Route 116 is closed Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, in north Anderson County due to a landslide after heavy rains on Wednesday, Feb. 6. (Photo courtesy Tennessee Department of Transportation)

 

Note: This story was updated at 12 p.m. Feb. 8.

A section of State Route 116 was closed Thursday morning in north Anderson County after a landslide following heavy rains on Wednesday, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation. The hillside alongside and beneath the road gave way, and part of the road collapsed.

TDOT spokesperson Mark Nagi said there is no timeline for how long the road might be closed, but it will be a long-term closure.

On Friday, WYSH Radio in Clinton reported that one lane of the road was open. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Government, Slider, State, Weather, Weather Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Schools, Bunch Cemetery, Clinton High School, heavy rain, Indian Fork Lane, landslide, Mark Nagi, SR 116, State Route 116, TDOT, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Tim Parrott

New sports complex opens at Clinton High School

Posted at 11:43 pm March 11, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Photo courtesy Johanna Whitley/Anderson County Schools

Photo courtesy Johanna Whitley/Anderson County Schools

 

Clinton High School officially opened its new sports complex on March 1.

“The complex was a dream of so many in the community,” Anderson County Schools said on its website. “ACS would like to thank everyone who had a part in making this dream a reality.

“A special thanks goes to Mr. Joe Hollingsworth…his dedication to our community will be a gift to the students and families of Clinton for generations to come. Thank you, Mr. Hollingsworth.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, High School, K-12, Sports Tagged With: Anderson County Schools, Clinton High School, Joe Hollingsworth, sports complex

Clinton High School student charged after threatening notes

Posted at 10:56 pm March 5, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Anderson County Sheriff's Department Badge

A Clinton High School student is in custody after an investigation into threatening notes found in a classroom on Monday afternoon, authorities said.

An investigation by school resource officers and investigators with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department and Clinton High School officials led to the identification of the 15-year-old female student responsible for leaving the notes, which made false threats of a school shooting, according to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department.

Charges will be filed in Anderson County Juvenile Court for felony false reports and disorderly conduct, according to the information, provided by Chief Deputy Mark Lucas. The girl is currently being held in the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center in Knoxville pending a detention hearing. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Education, Front Page News, K-12, Police and Fire Tagged With: Anderson County Juvenile Court, Anderson County Schools, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Clinton High School, disorderly conduct, felony false reports, Mark Lucas, Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center, threatening notes, threats

Two more students charged after threats, including shooting-related threat

Posted at 6:25 pm February 23, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge High School Trash Can Fire

Oak Ridge High School

 

Two more Oak Ridge students have been charged after police investigated threats, including a shooting-related threat, at Oak Ridge High School and Robertsville Middle School on Friday.

In the threat reported at Oak Ridge High School, a 15-year-old male student allegedly made verbal threats to another student, saying that if he was going to “shoot up the school,” he “would shoot her first,” the Oak Ridge Police Department said.

The threat was reported just before 3 p.m. Friday. The boy was removed from class and taken to the principal’s office, along with the alleged victim and a witness, the ORPD said.

“After conducting interviews and further investigation, officers learned the suspect allegedly made verbal threats to another student, stating that if he was going to ‘shoot up the school,’ he ‘would shoot her first,'” the ORPD said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12, Oak Ridge, Police, Police and Fire, Slider Tagged With: Anderson County Juvenile Court, Anderson County Schools, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, assault, City of Oak Ridge, Clinton High School, District Attorney's Office, harassment, James Akagi, Mark Lucas, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Schools, ORPD, Robertsville Middle School, safety, shooting-related threat, threat, Tim Parrott

Clinton High School student charged with threats

Posted at 4:56 pm February 22, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A Clinton High School student is in custody after an investigation of a social media threat, authorities said.

The 15-year-old female student sent messages to a male student on a social media site that ultimately led to threats, according to Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy.

The threat was investigated by Anderson County school officials and school resource officers and detectives from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, Lucas said.

The female student was identified and arrested this morning, Lucas said. She is currently being held in juvenile detention pending a hearing. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Education, Front Page News, K-12, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Schools, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Clinton High School, Mark Lucas, social media threats, threat, Tim Parrott

WYSH: Green McAdoo soon to be part of state museum system

Posted at 11:55 am November 3, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Green-McAdoo-Cultural-Center

Information from WYSH Radio

The Clinton City Council on Monday unanimously approved a resolution to transfer the Green McAdoo Cultural Center and Museum to the Tennessee State Museum, a move officials said will ensure that the facility remains open to tell the story of the first black students to attend a previously all-white, Southern, public high school in 1956.

The state budget passed earlier this year included $100,000 to be used exclusively for maintenance and operational expenses at the museum, located on School Street. The museum opened in 2006, on the 50th anniversary of the day in 1956 when 12 black students walked from the former Green McAdoo School down the hill to Clinton High School and into history. Green McAdoo was, at the time, the school for black students in Clinton. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Clinton, Community, Front Page News, Government, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Clinton City Council, Clinton High School, Green McAdoo Cultural Center and Museum, Green McAdoo Cultural Organization, Green McAdoo School, Tennessee State Museum

ORAU awards $36,000 in education grants to local teachers

Posted at 6:24 pm September 12, 2017
By Amanda Freuler Leave a Comment

Teachers representing 14 schools in Anderson County received STEM teaching tools, new technology, and grant funds worth $36,000 on Sept. 11 at the 2017 ORAU Education Grants Award Ceremony & Reception in Pollard Technology Conference Center. (Submitted photo)

Teachers representing 14 schools in Anderson County received STEM teaching tools, new technology, and grant funds worth $36,000 on Sept. 11 at the 2017 ORAU Education Grants Award Ceremony & Reception in Pollard Technology Conference Center. (Submitted photo)

 

ORAU awarded 38 teachers from 14 East Tennessee schools more than $36,000 on Monday at the 16th annual ORAU Education Grants ceremony.

Educational materials and equipment purchased with the grant awards—such as iPads, computer software, robotics kits, and more—will help teachers continue to meet state-wide curriculum standards and enhance the learning experience of their students in STEM subjects, a press release said.

“ORAU is proud to support schools in Anderson County by helping local educators obtain the resources and tools required to engage students of all ages in STEM subjects while enriching their education,” ORAU President and Chief Executive Officer Andy Page said. “These educators never fail to demonstrate their dedication to student success.”

Since beginning the Education Grant program in 2002, ORAU has provided more than $487,000 to area schools to fund educational projects that complement its mission of enriching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs, the press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Anderson County Career and Technical Center, Anderson County High School, Andy Page, Claxton Elementary School, Clinton Elementary School, Clinton High School, Clinton Middle School, Dutch Valley Elementary School, education, Fairview Elementary School, Kelly Raye Williams, Lake City Elementary School, Lake City Middle School, Linden Elementary School, Norris Middle School, North Clinton Elementary School, ORAU, ORAU Education Grants, ORAU Education Grants ceremony, Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics, South Clinton Elementary School, STEM, STEM education

State budget includes $100,000 for Green McAdoo Cultural Center in Clinton

Posted at 10:49 am May 10, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Green-McAdoo-Cultural-Center

The recently passed Tennessee budget includes $100,000 for the maintenance, restoration, and operation of the Green McAdoo Cultural Center in Clinton, a press release said.

The funds were secured in the budget by Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally and Representative John Ragan, both Oak Ridge Republicans, the press release said.

The Green McAdoo Cultural Center commemorates the Clinton 12, the first black students to integrate a public high school in the South, the release said.

“The story of the Clinton 12 is a pivotal event in the history of our state and our region that must never be forgotten,” Ragan said in the press release. “The Green McAdoo Cultural Center serves an important function in our community to remind us of this important history. I am proud the state will play a part in furthering the important mission of the center.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Government, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Brown vs. Board of Education, Clinton 12, Clinton High School, desegregation, Green McAdoo Cultural Center, integrated public school, John Ragan, Randy McNally, state budget, Tennessee budget

Officials break ground on multi-sport facility at Clinton High

Posted at 7:40 pm March 13, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 1 Comment

Officials break ground Monday, March 13, 2017, on the $1.6 million multi-sport facility at Clinton High School. (Photo via WYSH Radio in Clinton, an Oak Ridge Today news partner)

Officials break ground Monday, March 13, 2017, on the $1.6 million multi-sport facility at Clinton High School. (Photo via WYSH Radio in Clinton, an Oak Ridge Today news partner)

 

Officials broke ground Monday on the $1.6 million multi-sport facility at Clinton High School.

WYSH Radio in Clinton has posted pictures from the ceremony, which you can see here.

Clinton Dragons Football has also posted pictures, as well as a video. You can see them here.

WYSH Radio, an Oak Ridge Today news partner, has previously reported that the multi-sport facility design calls for a complete replacement of the aging Field House with a two-story structure that has a weight training area and an artificial surface practice field that can be used by the football team, the band, cheerleaders, and the dance team. An additional open area will host the wrestling and volleyball teams. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, High School, K-12, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Clinton Dragons Football, Clinton High School, Hollingsworth Foundation, multi-sport facility, sports facility, WYSH Radio

Jones named MVP as Wildcats win fifth straight district championship

Posted at 2:18 am February 23, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Wildcats won their fifth straight District 3-AAA championship with an 86-58 victory over Powell at Clinton on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

The Oak Ridge Wildcats won their fifth straight District 3-AAA championship with an 86-58 victory over Powell at Clinton on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

CLINTON—Oak Ridge senior Tajion Jones was named most valuable player as the Wildcats won their fifth straight District 3-AAA championship with an 86-58 victory over Powell at Clinton on Tuesday.

Oak Ridge (26-2) will play West, which finished fourth in District 4-AAA, in a first-round Region 2-AAA game at Wildcat Arena at 7 p.m. Saturday. West (15-17) lost to Hardin Valley 64-58 in the third-place District 4 game on Tuesday.

The Wildcats, the top seed in the District 3-AAA basketball tournament, advanced to the district championship at Clinton High School on Tuesday by beating Clinton, which had been the number five seed, 111-77 in a semifinal game on Saturday.

Oak Ridge was led against Powell on Tuesday by senior Anthony Gibson. He scored a game-high 24 points, with 22 of those in the first half. Gibson knocked down three three-point shots.

Jones scored 21, with 12 of those on four three-point shots. Jones, a Mr. Basketball finalist in Class AAA, also had a baseline drive for a dunk. [Read more…]

Filed Under: High School, Sports Tagged With: Anthony Gibson, Bearden, Campbell County, Clinton High School, Daraon Jones, District 3-AAA, District 3-AAA All Tournament Team, District 3-AAA basketball tournament, District 3-AAA championship, District 4-AAA, Dragons, Hardin Valley, Isaiah Keeter, Jack Richards, Jacob Walden, K.J. Hawkins, Karns, Luther Simmons, Maryville, Matt Samples, Mr. Basketball, Oak Ridge Wildcats, Panthers, Powell, Region 2-AAA, Region 2-AAA tournament, S.J. Powers, Tajion Jones, Tee Higgins, Tyshawn Young, West, Wildcat Arena

Next Page »

Search Oak Ridge Today

Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

Recent Posts

  • Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival Announces 2025 Storytellers
  • Laser-Engraved Bricks Will Line Walkway of New Chamber Headquarters
  • Democratic Women’s Club to Discuss Climate Change, Energy and Policy
  • Estate Jewelry Show at Karen’s Jewelers Features Celebrity Jewelry
  • Keri Cagle named new ORAU senior vice president and ORISE director
  • ORAU Annual Giving Campaign exceeds $100,000 goal+ORAU Annual Giving Campaign exceeds $100,000 goal More than $1 million raised in past 10 years benefits United Way and Community Shares Oak Ridge, Tenn. —ORAU exceeded its goal of raising $100,000 in donations as part of its internal annual giving campaign that benefits the United Way and Community Shares nonprofit organizations. ORAU has raised more than $1 million over the past 10 years through this campaign. A total of $126,839 was pledged during the 2024 ORAU Annual Giving Campaign. Employees donate via payroll deduction and could earmark their donation for United Way, Community Shares or both. “ORAU has remained a strong pillar in the community for more than 75 years, and we encourage our employees to consider participating in our annual giving campaign each year to help our less fortunate neighbors in need,” said ORAU President and CEO Andy Page. “Each one of our employees has the power to positively impact the lives of those who need help in the communities where we do business across the country and demonstrate the ORAU way – taking care of each other.” ORAU, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, provides science, health and workforce solutions that address national priorities and serve the public interest. Through our specialized teams of experts and access to a consortium of more than 150 major Ph.D.-granting institutions, ORAU works with federal, state, local and commercial customers to provide innovative scientific and technical solutions and help advance their missions. ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org. Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org. Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakRidgeAssociatedUniversities Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/orau Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/orau ###
  • Children’s Museum Gala Celebrates the Rainforest
  • Jim Sears joins ORAU as senior vice president
  • Oak Ridge Housing Authority Receives Funding Assistance of up to $51.8 Million For Renovating Public Housing and Building New Workforce Housing
  • Two fires reported early Friday

Recent Comments

  • Raymond Mitchell on City manager’s ‘State of the City’ canceled due to weather
  • Raymond Mitchell on City manager’s ‘State of the City’ canceled due to weather
  • Mysti M Desilva on Crews clearing roads, repairing water line breaks
  • Mel Schuster on Crews clearing roads, repairing water line breaks
  • Cecil King on Crews clearing roads, repairing water line breaks
  • Rick Morrow on Roads, schools, businesses closed after heavy snow
  • Diana lively on Free community Thanksgiving Dinner on Nov. 25
  • Anne Garcia on School bus driver arrested following alleged assault on elementary student
  • Raymond Dickover on Blockhouse Valley Recycling Center now open 6 days per week
  • Mike Mahathy on School bus driver arrested following alleged assault on elementary student

Copyright © 2025 Oak Ridge Today