Oak Ridge Today

Hospitals urge vaccinations as COVID hospitalizations, infections rise

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Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge is pictured above. (Submitted file photo)

Hospitals and health care networks in East Tennessee on Wednesday urged those who are eligible to get vaccinated as COVID-19 infections rise and hospitalizations reach and pass winter peak levels. They also encouraged people to wear face masks and maintain physical distances when possible.

“The past 18 months have been difficult for everyone in many ways, and the surge in COVID-19 infections over the past months has been exceptionally challenging,” the hospitals and health care networks said in a joint statement. “We have seen a sharp rise in delta variant-related infections, and community hospitalizations have exceeded the COVID-related census we witnessed in January 2021.”

The statement was from Blount Memorial Hospital, Covenant Health (which includes Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge), East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, Sweetwater Hospital Association, Tennova Healthcare, and University of Tennessee Medical Center.

The statement recognized that people are eager to move on from the coronavirus pandemic, and it said vaccinations will help.

[Read more…]

Battle of the Badges blood drive is Friday

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BATTLE OF THE BADGES MEDIC flyer

The Oak Ridge Police Department and Oak Ridge Fire Department will be competing on Friday as part of the Battle of the Badges MEDIC blood drive benefiting East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.

The blood drive is scheduled for Friday, March 22, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Civic Center, located at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Donations for Broc Selby, a Children’s Hospital patient and grandson of an ORPD officer, are still being accepted, a press release said. All other donations will directly benefit other children in medical need.

“Everyone is invited to support our local first responders in saving lives,” the press release said. All donors will receive a free T-shirt and restaurant coupon from MEDIC.

Questions about the blood drive can be directed to MEDIC Regional Blood Center at (865) 524-3074 or the Oak Ridge Police Department at (865) 425-3514.

Free child car seat checkpoints scheduled for Oct. 23-24

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There is a free child passenger seat checkpoint in Oak Ridge on Saturday, May 12, 2018. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

There is a free child passenger seat checkpoint in Oak Ridge on Tuesday, Oct. 23, and Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge Police Department and East Tennessee Children’s Hospital are teaming up to host child passenger seat checkpoints on Tuesday, October 23, and Wednesday, October 24. The events are free and open to the public.

The checkpoints will be held in the parking lot across the street from Oak Ridge Preschool, located at 304 New York Avenue. Parents and caregivers are invited to stop by anytime between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. either day with no need to pre-register, a press release said.

During the event, car seats will be checked for manufacturer recalls and examined for proper installation by certified technicians. Crews will also distribute educational materials about car seats. Attendees should follow the directional signage when arriving at the checkpoint, the press release said. [Read more…]

Free child car seat checkpoint scheduled for July 14

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There is a free child passenger seat checkpoint in Oak Ridge on Saturday, May 12, 2018. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

There is a free child passenger seat checkpoint in Oak Ridge on Saturday, July 14, 2018. (File photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Fire Department, and East Tennessee Children’s Hospital are hosting a child passenger seat checkpoint on Saturday, July 14. It’s free and open to the public.

The checkpoint will be held at Oak Ridge Fire Department Station #2, located at 609 Oak Ridge Turnpike (near Home Depot). Parents and caregivers are invited to stop by anytime between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. with no need to pre-register, a press release said.

During the event, child car seats will be checked for any manufacturer recalls and examined for proper installation by certified technicians, the press release said. Crews will also distribute educational materials about car seats. [Read more…]

Free child car seat checkpoint is Saturday

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There is a free child passenger seat checkpoint in Oak Ridge on Saturday, May 12, 2018. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

There is a free child passenger seat checkpoint in Oak Ridge on Saturday, May 12, 2018. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

There is a free child passenger seat checkpoint in Oak Ridge on Saturday.

The checkpoint will be held at Oak Ridge Fire Department Station Number 2, located at 609 Oak Ridge Turnpike, near Home Depot. Parents and caregivers are invited to stop by anytime between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. with no need to pre-register, a press release said.

The public checkpoint is hosted by the Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Fire Department, and East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. [Read more…]

Child passenger seat checkpoint scheduled for Saturday

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The Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Fire Department, and East Tennessee Children’s Hospital are hosting three more child passenger seat checkpoints this year. The next event is scheduled for Saturday, July 8.

These events are held for parents and caregivers to receive educational material about car seats, have their car seats checked for any manufacturer recalls, and have the seats examined for proper installation. The child passenger seat checkpoints are free and open to the public.

All events will be held at Oak Ridge Fire Station #2, 609 Oak Ridge Turnpike (near Home Depot), from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. The remaining dates are as follows: [Read more…]

New healthy living exhibit opens at Children’s Museum on Saturday

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Children will find plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables to encourage healthy eating and many suggestions for movement to keep them fit when the new Kids in Action! Healthy Living exhibit opens Saturday, April 22, 2017 at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

Children will find plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables to encourage healthy eating and many suggestions for movement to keep them fit when the new Kids in Action! Healthy Living exhibit opens Saturday, April 22, 2017 at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

 

Children will find plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables to encourage healthy eating and many suggestions for movement to keep them fit when a new exhibit opens Saturday at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge.

The Kids in Action! Healthy Living exhibit opens with a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 22, in the east wing of the Museum. The exhibit opening will feature special activities in the gym and drawings for door prizes throughout the day, with one week of summer camp as the grand door prize. The museum is open until 4 p.m. Saturday.

A members’ sneak preview of the new exhibit will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday at the museum, which is at 461 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge. Museum visitors may join that evening if they wish to participate in the sneak preview.

“The exhibit is an opportunity for kids to learn through play where their food comes from. We have a henhouse and a farmers’ market. Children and families can learn about making healthy food choices,” Beth Shea, the museum’s executive director, said of the “Healthy Eating” part of the exhibit.

The “Healthy Activity” section of the exhibit encourages kids and families to keep healthy and fit through exercise and movement. [Read more…]

Young cancer survivor meets with Destiny, gets a dunk from Tee

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AJ Cucksey, a six-year-old cancer survivor and kindergarten student at Farragut Primary, sits on the Oak Ridge Wildcats sideline next to senior Tee Higgins (5), who dunked for AJ during a 68-38 win over West during a Region 2-AAA quarterfinal game at Wildcats Arena on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017.

AJ Cucksey, a six-year-old cancer survivor and kindergarten student at Farragut Primary, sits on the Oak Ridge Wildcats bench next to senior Tee Higgins (5), who dunked for AJ during a 68-38 win over West during a Region 2-AAA quarterfinal game at Wildcat Arena on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017.

 

He’s already performed “Rocky Top” for Peyton Manning and become friends with Joshua Dobbs and his family.

Now six-year-old cancer survivor AJ Cucksey, who has seven inoperable brain tumors, has met two of Oak Ridge’s best athletes: junior Destiny Kassner and senior Tee Higgins, both basketball players.

AJ was at the Friday night game, when Destiny helped the Lady Wildcats beat Bearden in a regional tournament quarterfinal. He was back again on Saturday, when Tee helped the Wildcats in a win over West, also in a quarterfinal game.

AJ, a kindergarten student at Farragut Primary School in Farragut, met Destiny and Tee on Friday, and he sat on the bench next to Tee on Saturday. Tee, who spent time talking to AJ, dunked for him.

AJ, a football fan, was asked what he thought about meeting Tee, a top football recruit who has been named a Mr. Football finalist in Tennessee for the second year in a row.

“Cool,” AJ said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge preschool students are riding safely with new helmets

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Thanks to the work of Safe Kids, the Oak Ridge Police Department, and the Oak Ridge Fire Department, preschool students are now riding safely on the playground with new helmets.

Tribby Kelly, compliance monitor at Oak Ridge Preschool, said students ride tricycles and other wheeled toys at school, and they are now required to wear helmets while riding.

As students had helmet fittings, the officers were encouraging them to repeat the simple words, “Wear it!” [Read more…]

Child passenger seat checkpoint dates announced

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Child Passenger Seat Checks

The Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Fire Department, and East Tennessee Children’s Hospital Safe Kids program are hosting six child passenger seat checkpoints in 2017. The first was scheduled for Saturday, January 14.

These events are held for parents and caregivers to receive education material about car seats, have their car seats checked for any manufacturer recalls, and also have the seats examined for proper installation, a media advisory said. The child passenger seat checkpoint is open to the public, and it is free for participants to attend.

All events will be held at Oak Ridge Fire Station Number 2, 609 Oak Ridge Turnpike (near Home Depot), from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. The dates are as follows: [Read more…]

Dump truck driver cited for trailer brake, safety chain violations after crash with car

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Car-Trailer-Crash-Emory-Valley-Road-Sept-2-2016-6-web

Rescuers said it was a miracle that a woman survived when a trailer carrying a small skid steer loader crashed into her Toyota Camry on Emory Valley Road on Friday evening, Sept. 2, 2016. The black dump truck reported to be pulling the trailer before the crash is partially visible in the background behind the tow truck above. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A Knoxville man who was allegedly driving a dump truck pulling a trailer that came loose and struck a car head-on on Emory Valley Road in September, trapping and injuring a driver, has been cited for violations of state laws governing trailer brakes and adequate safety chains, according to court records.

Gerald D. Cureton, 71, had an initial appearance scheduled on Wednesday morning in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge. The court date was reset to November 9 to see if Cureton hires an attorney.

A violation of the brake requirement is a Class C misdemeanor, according to a copy of that section of state law, Tennessee Code Annotated 55-9-204, posted on LexisNexis.

A violation of the safety chain requirement is punishable by a fine of $50 on a first offense and a fine of between $50 and $500 on second and subsequent offenses, according to a copy of another section of state law, TCA 55-7-114, posted on LexisNexis. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge woman charged with murder in death of infant daughter in Knoxville

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Heather-Renee-Keylon

Heather Renee Keylon

Note: This story was last updated at 1 p.m.

A woman listed as an Oak Ridge resident was arrested Saturday on murder and child abuse charges for the death of her three-month-old daughter due to a drug overdose in Knoxville in April 2015, authorities said.

Heather Renee Keylon, 31, of 134 Waddell Circle in Oak Ridge, is facing charges of felony murder, aggravated child abuse, and aggravated child neglect, the Knoxville Police Department said. She was arrested Saturday and taken to the Knox County jail, where her bond has been set at $1 million.

Police responded to an unresponsive infant call at 3534 Old Valley View Drive, Apartment Number 12, in north Knoxville at about 12:39 p.m. April 21, 2015.

Keylon told police that her infant daughter, Skylar Brewer, had stopped breathing, the KPD said. The child had gone to sleep on the sofa, Keylon said, but she realized a short time later that Skylar wasn’t breathing and she called 911, authorities said. [Read more…]