Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge deer hunt canceled due to government shutdown

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Information from WYSH Radio

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has announced that the deer hunt at the Oak Ridge Wildlife Management Area scheduled for Oct. 19-20 was canceled as a result of the federal government shutdown.

Earlier this week, U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Operations began what they call “an orderly shutdown in support of obtaining a safe and secure status.” TWRA said 1,125 hunters had been selected via a lottery system for the hunt. Any fees they paid to participate are non-refundable.

There are two more deer hunts scheduled in November and December, but no decision has been made about them yet. Hunters may contact the Oak Ridge WMA check station on Saturday, Oct. 12, at (865) 576-2380 from 7 a.m. EST until noon. For any additional questions concerning the cancellation, contact the TWRA Region III Office at (931) 484-9571. TWRA will announce how the priority point totals will be handled as soon as a decision has been made.

Three boaters injured in two-boat collision on Norris Lake

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ANDERSONVILLE—A two-boat collision on Norris Lake near Anderson County Park sent three occupants to the hospital early last night.

The accident occurred on Friday night around 9:21 p.m. when a runabout boat and a bass boat collided nearly head-on, according to Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Sgt. Roy Smith. Two of the bass boat’s occupants were ejected, and all three passengers were transported to the University of Tennessee Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. The two occupants of the runabout were uninjured. [Read more…]

In cities surrounded by good bear habitat, wildlife officials generally let bears keep moving

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Black Bear at Grill

A black bear investigates a backyard grill in north Oak Ridge in May 2012. To encourage bears to move on, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency recommends trying to eliminate outdoor food sources such as dog and cat food, bird seed, and grease traps. (Photo by George Ostrouchov)

Oak Ridge and Knoxville are surrounded by very good bear habitats—including the largest black bear preserve in the world—and it’s not unusual to see up to a half-dozen bears come through the Oak Ridge area each year and at least that many in the Knoxville area, Tennessee wildlife officials said this week.

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Sgt. Roy Smith of Morristown said the bear seen in Oak Ridge on Monday was not the first in the area this summer, and there have also been a few in Anderson County.

“It’s not an isolated incident,” Smith said. “We have bears moving through Oak Ridge from time to time.” [Read more…]

State investigates late-night boat collision on Norris Lake

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A late night two-boat collision on Norris Lake resulted in one injury and one arrest, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said in a Sunday evening press release.

Union County Wildlife Officer Rick Roberts reported that on Saturday around midnight between Waterside Marina and Point 19, a runabout style boat carrying five passengers struck a pontoon boat carrying six passengers from behind. The collision sent two occupants of the runabout, who were not wearing life jackets, into the water. A nearby boat rescued the two ejected passengers.

A female passenger onboard the pontoon boat sustained minor head injuries and was transported to Tennova-North Knoxville Medical Center, the TWRA said. [Read more…]

Drug awareness at Oak Ridge pool today

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The Oak Ridge Chapter of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks will be hosting “Drug Awareness Day” at the Oak Ridge Municipal Pool this Saturday, June 8. This event is a partnership with Anderson County Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention, Roane County Anti-Drug Coalition, the City of Oak Ridge Parks and Recreation Department, and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

Drug awareness demonstrations will be held from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. inside the pool area. A few of the planned activities include the TWRA jet ski simulator and fatal vision goggle demonstrations. “Elroy the Elk” the national mascot for the Elks Drug Awareness Program will be in attendance to remind kids that hugs are better than drugs. Hundreds of prizes will be given away to those participating in a drug awareness activity. Some of the prizes include T-shirts, coloring books, Frisbees, and free passes to the pool that can be used anytime during the summer. [Read more…]

Controlled burns on Oak Ridge Reservation start Friday

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The U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office is initiating a series of controlled burns of grassland areas on the Oak Ridge Reservation for prescribed burning at the East Tennessee Technology Park and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory during March and April.

On March 15, weather permitting, controlled burns are taking place:

[Read more…]

First Oak Ridge nature walk Saturday

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The Oak Ridge Environmental Research Park’s first spring nature walk of 2013 will focus on studies of the American woodcock and winter astronomy on Saturday, Feb. 23.

The walk from 5:30-9 p.m. will include opportunities to view demonstrations of the American woodcock’s elaborate flight displays. Also, a trained falconer from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will have two different hawks on hand for participants to learn about.

[Read more…]

Oak Ridge deer hunt canceled

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A deer hunt in Oak Ridge has been canceled as a result of the fallout from the July 28 security breach at the Y-12 National Security Complex, according to WYSH Radio in Clinton.

On Thursday, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said it was informed by the U.S. Department of Energy that the hunt scheduled for Oct. 20 and 21 on the Oak Ridge Wildlife Management Area was canceled while security on the Oak Ridge Reservation is reviewed, WYSH said.

TWRA said it will notify the affected hunters by mail and that it will refund any fees that have already been paid for the hunt. Similar Oak Ridge hunts set for November and December remain scheduled, WYSH said.

[Read more…]

TWRA investigating joyride, crash on Norris Lake

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State authorities are investigating a midnight joyride by two Stardust Marina employees who wrecked a tenant’s personal watercraft on Norris Lake this past weekend, according to WYSH Radio in Clinton.

The workers allegedly took a watercraft belonging to one of the marina’s tenants and crashed it into a floating sign anchored along the marina harbor’s “no wake” line, WYSH reported.

[Read more…]

Black bears at grill in north Oak Ridge, trapped at ORNL

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Black Bear at Grill

A black bear climbs onto a backyard grill in north Oak Ridge on Tuesday after looking into a living room window. (Photo by George Ostrouchov)

Residents continued to report that a bear or bears was in the Secret City this week, and one was trapped at Oak Ridge National Laboratory early Friday morning.

George Ostrouchov took pictures of a black bear in his back yard on Orchard Circle at about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

“The bear first looked into our living room, putting its paws on the window,” Ostrouchov said in an e-mail. “Then he (we assume it was a young male) proceeded to check out our grill. The grill happened to be still on to clean itself after grilling.”

[Read more…]

Mother bear and cub last seen west of Y-12

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After almost two days of bear sightings in Oak Ridge, Y-12 National Security Complex workers reported Wednesday night that a mother black bear and cub were last seen before 7 p.m. on the west end of Bear Creek Road.

Earlier in the day, an employee reported that a bear was spotted on the north side of Y-12.

[Read more…]

Black bear passes through Oak Ridge

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Black Bear in Oak Ridge

A young black bear, about 15 months old and 150 pounds, gets ready to jump a fence in a yard on North Purdue Avenue.

A young black bear zigzagged through Oak Ridge Tuesday, hopping fences, crossing busy streets, and avoiding dogs and curious humans as it headed south.

Late Tuesday evening, officers from the Oak Ridge Police Department and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency tried to herd the elusive bear away from homes in the Woodland neighborhood, possibly south toward Melton Hill Lake and Y-12 National Security Complex.

[Read more…]