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Scarboro-Oak Ridge 85 honored in events this week

Posted at 8:14 am September 3, 2021
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The 85 students who integrated Oak Ridge schools in 1955 are being honored in events this week.

The “Rooted in the Community” reunion events have been organized by the Scarboro Community Alumni Association. They are scheduled from Thursday, September 2, to Sunday, September 5.

“The event honors those Scarboro-Oak Ridge TN 85 students who integrated the schools as well as the Scarboro teachers,” said John Spratling in a recent interview. Spratling is the vice president of the organization and the Scarboro endowment fund established to honor the teachers and students by supporting enrichment programs such as ACT Prep Testing, leadership training, scholarships, and youth community service projects, a press release said.

“In 1955, 85 courageous young African American students from the Scarboro community were asked to be the first to enter all-white Robertsville junior and Oak Ridge High School in Oak Ridge, Tennessee,” the press release said. “The reunion honors those 85 students and the Scarboro School teachers that provided inspiration and tools to prepare them for this new journey.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Community, Front Page News, Slider Tagged With: Archie Lee, Clinton 12, John Spratling, Oak Ridge 85, Oak Ridge TN 85, Rose Weaver, Scarboro Community Alumni Association, Scarboro-Oak Ridge TN 85

Y-12 donates $8,500 for Scarboro graduates, honoring Oak Ridge 85

Posted at 6:37 pm June 14, 2021
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Dorothy Kirk Lewis and L.C. Gipson, members of the Oak Ridge 85, hold the check representing the $8,500 donation from Consolidated Nuclear Security given in their honor. (Photo courtesy CNS/Y-12)

At the conclusion of a school year during which Oak Ridge commemorated the 65th anniversary of the integration of Oak Ridge High School and Robertsville Junior High, the Scarboro Alumni Association received an $8,500 donation for their scholarship endowment.

Consolidated Nuclear Security, the managing and operating contractor of Y-12 National Security Complex made the donation at the Scarboro Community Center on May 26 in honor of the 85 Black students who integrated Oak Ridge schools in 1955, a press release said. The endowment provides scholarships to selected high school seniors who have an association with the Scarboro community and who choose to continue their education.

Little-known history

The Oak Ridge 85, as they are known, consisted of 85 students who integrated Robertsville Junior High and Oak Ridge High School on September 6, 1955. They were the first students to integrate a public school in the southeastern United States, the press release said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Education, Front Page News, History, K-12, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Bill Tindal, Bridget Slater, Consolidated Nuclear Security, Dorothy Kirk Lewis, Faythe Summers, integration, Jaylen Heyward, John Spratling, L.C. Gipson, Maya Lewis, Oak Ridge 85, Oak Ridge High School, Robertsville Junior High, Scarboro Alumni Association, scholarship, Y-12 National Security Complex

Football photos at Sevier County by Houchin, Simmons

Posted at 12:24 am October 2, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge senior Jordan Graham (8) runs during a 41-13 win at Sevier County on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. (Photo by Barry Houchin)

Oak Ridge senior Jordan Graham (8) runs the football during a 41-13 win at Sevier County on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. (Photo by Barry Houchin)

 

The Oak Ridge football team is 6-1 so far this season. Here are photos from the September 21 game at Sevier County, courtesy of Barry Houchin and Luther Simmons.

Oak Ridge is off this week. They play next at Clinton on Friday, October 12. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Barry Houchin, Cam Burden, Camden Mlekodaj, football, Herbert Booker, Jack Replogle, Jeremy Mitchell, John Spratling, Jordan Graham, Kai-Reese Pendergrass, Luther Simmons, Mitchell Gibbons, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Wild Band and Color Guard, Sevier County, Smoky Bears, Tre Jackson, Trey Rowe, Wildcats

Scarboro skeptical, wants more discussion, but Council picks park for preschool

Posted at 2:56 pm March 29, 2017
By John Huotari 6 Comments

About 100 people turned out for a community meeting on selecting Scarboro Park for the new Oak Ridge Preschool on Thursday, March 23, 2017. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

About 100 people turned out for a community meeting on selecting Scarboro Park for the new Oak Ridge Preschool on Thursday, March 23, 2017. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

Residents and former residents of the Scarboro neighborhood are divided over whether to build the Oak Ridge Preschool at Scarboro Park. While some support the project, others are skeptical of the city’s motives and have signed a petition opposing the site. One resident asked for more time for discussion, at least a few more meetings, during a special meeting on Monday.

But the City Council voted 5-1 to select Scarboro Park as the site for the new Oak Ridge Preschool. That vote had been postponed during a regular City Council meeting two weeks ago in order to allow city and school officials to meet with Scarboro residents this past Thursday.

Council members and other officials have portrayed the preschool project as an opportunity, a $10 million investment in the community. City officials have said the site is centrally located, the land is flat and city-owned, and its crime statistics are a bit better than those at the first preferred site, Elm Grove Park.

They have pointed out that Scarboro Park is only a half-mile from the nearest fire station, and most of the park—about 85 percent of it—would still be a park. They said the park is large enough that the 40,000-square-foot preschool could be expanded and could include 20 classrooms. The park could still include the recreational amenities—basketball courts, tennis courts, and a youth-size baseball field—although they might be moved within the park, officials said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, Government, Government, K-12, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Charlie Bell, Chuck Hope, Clara Chambles, Clarissa Davidson, Ellen Smith, Elm Grove Park, Hans Vogel, Jerri Mitchell, Jim Akagi, Jim Dodson, John Spratling, Kelly Callison, Keys Fillauer, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Preschool, preschool, Rick Chinn, Scarboro, Scarboro Community Center, Scarboro Park, Shawnee Lenoir, Sylvia Ruppert, Warren Gooch

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Classifieds

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...]

Public notice: Draft environmental assessment for Y-12 Development Organization at Horizon Center

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

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