Oak Ridge Today

Outdoor pool operating on holiday schedule on July 4

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Oak Ridge Outdoor Swimming Pool

Hundreds of swimmers enjoy the Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool on Providence Road on Memorial Day 2012. (File photo)

The Oak Ridge Municipal Swimming Pool will operate on its holiday schedule on Friday, July 4. The outdoor pool will open at 10 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.

The day is Fun Day at the pool as the lifeguards will conduct different activities starting at 2 p.m. for patrons to participate in fun events, balloon toss, intertube relays, etc.

Admission is $2 for children ages 3 to 12 and people 65 and older, $3 for ages 13-17, and $3.75 for adults. Children under 12 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult during public hours at the outdoor pool.

The city’s indoor pool and Oak Ridge Civic Center will be closed on July 4.

Please visit the website at www.orrecparks.org for information on all of the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department programs.

Anderson County Sheriff to target drunk drivers on July 4 holiday

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Drive Sober

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department will be out in full force, cracking down on drunk driving on July 4 and, aggressively targeting those who put lives in danger, a press release said.

“The Fourth of July is a favorite holiday for many Americans,” the release said. “Families and friends gather to celebrate our country with food, parades, parties, and fireworks. For many people, the celebration includes alcohol, but the holiday quickly goes from festive to fatal when people choose to drive after drinking.”

Anderson County Sheriff Paul White said the department wants to make the roads safer on the holiday. [Read more…]

Guest column: Memorial Day thoughts

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John Ragan

John Ragan

The Memorial Day holiday approaches this year as it has every year since the end of the Civil War. In our media, the tourist industry eagerly touts it as the “unofficial beginning of summer.”

Indeed, Tennessee’s weather usually makes the long-planned family picnics and outings to resorts balmy, if not hot. Warm weather makes a great reason to visit the lake, take in a ball game, or some other favorite relaxation. Alternatively, it is good excuse to invite family and friends over for backyard barbecue parties or some other festivity.

This spot on the calendar is also convenient to celebrate high school or college graduations. Perhaps, some of us use the holiday as an extra day in vacation plans. All of this has become a happy part of the American culture.

Generally, on Memorial Day, Americans delight in the cultural blessings of “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” Unfortunately, in our zeal to enjoy the day, too many of us easily forget the meaning behind the name of the holiday. It has not always been so. [Read more…]

Treat yourself to an early holiday meal with ADFAC’s ‘Dine and Donate’

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With the hustle and bustle of holidays all around, ADFAC says it’s a great time to treat yourself and your loved ones to a special meal.

With their monthly “Dine and Donate” event, there is a way to do that and support the less fortunate in our community.

This month’s event is Monday, and five local restaurants are participating. They have agreed to donate a portion of their sales to support ADFAC (Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties).

The participating restaurants are: [Read more…]

Faith column: Shouldn’t we be doing something?

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It’s the holidays—a time of year when churches are often on the move and active in a community. Anytime a church is in motion and doing something in the community, that action reveals something of the character and nature of the church and her mission. But what if a church decides to lay low? What if little to no movement is taking place at all? Is this a “bad” thing for a church? Shouldn’t we all be doing something???

We live in a culture defined by motion and noise. The bigger the motion and the louder the noise, the more people stop to take notice—just check out your favorite Black Friday YouTube video for examples of motion and noise over the holiday. We’re all human and sometimes we can start chasing noise for all the wrong reasons. That’s why I believe it’s critical for churches to first ask if the lack of motion is really such a bad thing.

What does it say about a church that decides to loaf over the holiday? The word “loaf” has received a bad rap in our society. A loafer is seen as a lazy person in a culture that is obsessed with work and productivity. If the loafer isn’t doing anything to contribute to his or her own financial well-being, then the assumption is that something must be wrong with them (which may or may not be true). As working and being a productive member of society, you could make an argument that maybe Jesus’ was a loafer. Yikes! [Read more…]

Youth Board buys Christmas gifts through Mission of Hope

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Youth Advisory Board and Mission of Hope

Pictured above from left to right are Abby Douglas, Lara de Almedia, Ellie Brown, Wes Robinson, Koren Foglesanger, Jared Galloway, Candace Pang, Shichen Zhang, Ricky Goyette, Peter Magill, Laura Skipper, Shelby Chambers, Curtis Rookard, Lauren Collier, Megan Peters, Caroline Bradshaw, Lewis Wang, Ashley Riedy, Shane Harris, and Esten Dunn. (Submitted photo)

The Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board members recently agreed to spend time and money Christmas shopping at Kmart for area children through Mission of Hope.

The board raises funds at events throughout the year to make this possible and spent $1,639.78 on gifts, a press release said.

The YAB would like to encourage other student groups and families to consider holiday projects that help those in need, while also reminding everyone to shop in Oak Ridge this holiday season, the press release said.

For more information about the Youth Advisory Board, visit www.orrecparks.com or contact Matt Reedy at (865) 425-3442.

Guest column: Thanksgiving for the ‘First Freedom’

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John Ragan

John Ragan

The search for religious freedom on American shores began nearly four centuries ago. In 1620, Pilgrims arrived in America seeking to escape religious persecution in England.

The following year, this group celebrated the very first Thanksgiving of English-speaking people on our shores. After a hard winter and loss of a number of settlers, but a bountiful harvest, the Pilgrims held a three-day feast with their indigenous neighbors as guests. Thus began a national tradition.

Our grand, national custom of acknowledging religious freedom and abundance through a national day of gratitude to the Divine Author of Liberty remains enduringly impressive. However, for some, remembering the purpose of that celebration may be a bit more difficult. [Read more…]

With holiday approaching, Anderson DA reminds residents not to drink and drive

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Dave Clark

Dave Clark

The Labor Day holiday is this weekend, and Anderson County District Attorney General Dave Clark is reminding people to not drive under the influence.

Citing statistics that indicate that nearly one out of every three traffic deaths in America occur in impaired-driving crashes, Clark in a press release said all of the county’s municipal police departments and Anderson County Sheriff’s Office are taking part in a high-visibility enforcement campaign aimed at reducing impaired driving fatalities and serious injury crashes. If you are driving under the influence, the minimum penalty in Tennessee includes 48 hours behind bars, a one-year suspension of your driver’s license and a $350 fine—plus the other severe financial consequences such as rising insurance rates, attorney fees and court costs, lost time at work, as well as potential job loss and the personal and professional embarrassment, Clark said. [Read more…]

Guest column: Independence Day traffic safety

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The Fourth of July may be America’s iconic holiday, but all too often the revelry ends in tragedy on the highways due to drunk driving. The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department urges everyone to celebrate this Independence Day with a pledge to keep our community “independent” from drunk driving.

“The Fourth may be one of the nation’s most popular holidays, but, unfortunately, it’s also one of the most dangerous in terms of alcohol-related fatalities,” Sheriff Paul White said. “Too many people think they can get behind the wheel because they’ve only had a few drinks and just have a ‘buzz’ on. The truth is you don’t have to be ‘falling down drunk’ to be a menace to yourself and everyone around you on the highways. Remember: ‘Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.'” [Read more…]

Guest column: Protecting your pets during the July 4 holiday

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Here are four simple tips on how to keep pets safe during the July 4 holiday, plus a few bonus tips on how to find a lost pet:

  1. Keep dogs and cats inside: Keep your pet indoors at all times during holiday celebrations. Try to walk your dogs before the firework festivities begin or when they end.
  2. Make them feel safe: Comfort your pets with petting, hugging, talking to them in a soothing voice, providing a treat, and staying nearby if possible. Make sure they can access their crate or “safe place.” [Read more…]