Archives for September 2012

Frank hires Oak Ridger reporter for county post

Posted at 7:17 pm September 13, 2012
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

New Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank has named newspaper reporter Leean Tupper as her administrative assistant, a press release said.

An Anderson County native, Tupper has worked as staff reporter and lifestyles editor at The Oak Ridger since November 2004. She previously worked for more than five years at the Courier News in Clinton. Between the two jobs, she has covered Anderson County government and local schools for 13 years, the press release said.

“I am so excited to add Leean to the operations of the mayor’s office,” Frank said. “In addition to being a wonderfully kind and professional woman, Leean brings to county government a great understanding of the history of Anderson County from her years as a reporter.”

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Y-12 security breach ‘obvious dereliction of duty’

Posted at 6:14 pm September 13, 2012
By John Huotari 3 Comments

Lawmakers criticized federal officials and contractors during congressional hearings this week on the July 28 security breach at the Y-12 National Security Complex, demanding to know who had been fired and who had been responsible for repairing critical cameras that didn’t work.

“This level of intrusion into the perimeter of a highly secure nuclear weapons facility is unprecedented—and it is completely unacceptable,” said Mike Turner, an Ohio Republican who chairs the U.S. House Strategic Forces Subcommittee. “It is outrageous to think that the greatest threat to the American public from weapons of mass destruction may be the incompetence of Department of Energy security.”

Legislators took aim at federal officials and the “mind-boggling incompetence” of contractors. They wanted to know how an 82-year-old nun was able to reach the “Fort Knox” of uranium, a building inside a high-security area at Y-12 surrounded by fences and protected by alarms and cameras—and where deadly force is authorized.

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Tommie Turpin Ferguson

Posted at 11:02 am September 13, 2012
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Tommie Turpin Ferguson, age 80, of Knoxville, passed away Monday, Sept. 10.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gene Ferguson; by an infant son; and by an infant granddaughter.

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Second House panel questions federal officials on Y-12 security breach

Posted at 10:19 am September 13, 2012
By John Huotari 2 Comments

The U.S. House of Representatives has a second hearing this afternoon on this summer’s security breach at the Y-12 National Security Complex.

Today’s 2 p.m. hearing is before the House Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, and it can be watched live online.

Today’s hearing follows one yesterday by the House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. During that hearing, House members called the July 28 security breach at Y-12 “appalling” and an “all-out failure,” and they asked who had been fired and who was responsible for various problems—such as security cameras that didn’t work.

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Alley wants to increase property assessor work week, build website

Posted at 12:42 am September 13, 2012
By John Huotari 5 Comments

Johnny Alley

New Anderson County Property Assessor Johnny Alley said he wants to increase the number of hours his employees work each week, cross-train employees, and build a website that could help answer public questions.

A Republican, Alley has been a real estate agent for more than eight years and an Anderson County commissioner for about 2.5 years. He defeated Democrat Rick Marlowe in the Aug. 2 county election.

He took office Sept. 1.

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ORNL’s newly licensed neutron detector will advance research

Posted at 12:23 am September 13, 2012
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A neutron detector developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory could be used by an Indiana-based company for research in a variety of scientific fields, helping, for example, in the development of new drugs.

The neutron detector, the Neutron-Sensitive Anger Camera, has been licensed by PartTec Ltd. of Indiana, an ORNL press release said.

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ADFAC celebrates 25th anniversary on Oct. 8

Posted at 11:58 pm September 12, 2012
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Aid To Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC, is planning an Oct. 8 celebration of its 25th anniversary.

The celebration is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. as part of the nonprofit organization’s annual meeting at the First Presbyterian Church on Lafayette Drive. Details and reservations are located at http://www.adfac.org/25thcelebration.html.

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Youth Board calls for ‘cash mobs,’ tennis day, shoe drive, dodgeball

Posted at 11:48 pm September 12, 2012
By John Huotari 1 Comment

Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board

The Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board has set its annual goals, calling for the creation of “cash mobs” to encourage teens to shop at local stores, a tennis play day, a shoe drive, disc golf event, and dodgeball tournament.

The YAB also voted to continue some of its most popular events, including Graduation Celebration, freshman-sophomore dance, summer jobs and career fair, Battle of the Teen Bands, and Breakfast with Santa.

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‘Scam artist’ poses as Claxton firefighter, asks for money

Posted at 11:32 pm September 12, 2012
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Someone posing as a member of the Claxton Volunteer Fire Department has attempted to fraudulently obtain money from two different homeowners in Claxton, Anderson County Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said Wednesday.

“The scam artist apparently went door-to-door on Old Edgemoor Road soliciting money from residents, telling them if they do not pay the fire department will not respond if there is a fire,” Lucas said.

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B&W Y-12 says it has made compelling case to keep contract

Posted at 4:44 pm September 12, 2012
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Chuck Spencer

Six weeks after an unprecedented security breach, B&W Y-12 said in a press release Wednesday that is has demonstrated a compelling case to federal officials to let it keep managing and operating the Y-12 National Security Complex.

“The July 28 event brought to light gaps in our maintenance and security operations, and we are using it as a catalyst for a comprehensive and objective examination of all our operations,” said B&W Y-12 President and General Manager Chuck Spencer.

During the July 28 security breach, three unarmed anti-nuclear weapons activists allegedly sneaked into Y-12, evaded guards, cut fences, penetrated a high-security area, and spray-painted slogans and splashed human blood on the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility, where bomb-grade uranium is stored.

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Frances Lively Lane

Posted at 2:03 pm September 12, 2012
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Frances Lively Lane

Frances Lively Lane, age 95, a resident of Oliver Springs, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, Sept. 8, at her home.

Mrs. Lane was born March 4, 1917, in the Frost Bottom Community of Anderson County. She continued living in Frost Bottom until her move to Roane County in 1948.

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Jimmie C. ‘Jim’ Putman

Posted at 1:53 pm September 12, 2012
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Jimmie C. “Jim” Putnam

Jimmie C. “Jim” Putman, age 76, a resident of Oliver Springs, entered into eternal rest on Friday, Sept. 7.

Mr. Putman was born on June 11, 1936, in San Angelo, Texas. Later in life, he moved to Houston, where he lived for 40 years. He then moved to Oliver Springs in 2005.

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