Oak Ridge Today

Panel discussion to feature author, Y-12 Manhattan Project workers

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Denise Kiernan

Denise Kiernan

Best-selling author Denise Kiernan will host a panel discussion with women employed at Oak Ridge during the top-secret Manhattan Project of World War II.

The panel discussion will start at 6 p.m. Wednesday, September 23, at the American Museum of Science and Energy. Admission is free.

Kiernan is the award-winning author of “The Girls of Atomic City,” a New York Times best-seller that tells the story of the women who worked at Oak Ridge during the war years.

Some of these women, known as “Calutron Girls,” adjusted dials that controlled the workings of the 1,152 calutrons used to separate isotopes of U-235 from naturally occurring uranium, a press release said. The work fueled “Little Boy,” the first nuclear bomb used in warfare. [Read more…]

RealtyLink replaces Crosland Southeast as Main Street developer

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Oak Ridge Mall

The Oak Ridge City Center, which could be redeveloped as a multi-use town center known as Main Street, is pictured above. Also known as the former Oak Ridge Mall, the L-shaped building is at center. The white building at center left is Walmart, and it is not part of the proposed redevelopment. Neither is the white building at center top, the Tinseltown Theater. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 1:51 p.m.

RealtyLink, a South Carolina real estate development firm, will replace Crosland Southeast as the master developer of the 60-acre Main Street town center project in Oak Ridge, the property owners said Monday.

RealtyLink is based in Greenville, South Carolina.

“RealtyLink first showed interest in the project as early as 2012,” said Steve Arnsdorff, the chief manager for Oak Ridge City Center LLC, the current owners of the property. “We are delighted that they have had continuing interest and are now able to assume the position of the previous developer.”

RealtyLink currently has nearly two million square feet of space in various stages of development including The River Landing, a 16-acre retail project on Winfield Dunn Parkway in Sevierville. In addition to Greenville, South Carolina, RealtyLink has offices in Charleston, South Carolina; Birmingham, Alabama; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. [Read more…]

Weather: Oak Ridge-Anderson County football game canceled, rescheduled to Monday

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Joe Gaddis

Joe Gaddis, head coach of the Oak Ridge Wildcats football team

The Oak Ridge-Anderson County football game has been canceled tonight (Friday, September 11) due to weather and rescheduled for Monday, September 14. The rescheduled game will start at 7:30 p.m.

The Wildcats led 7-0 when the game was canceled with 1:28 left in the first quarter Friday.

There have been a few cancellations and other delays across East Tennessee due to weather. For example, the Kingston and Rockwood game kicked off a little before 9:30 p.m. Friday.

The Clinton and Rhea County game in Rhea County, set to resume at about 9:15 p.m., was under way again as of 9:40 p.m.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Oak Ridge-Anderson County, Clinton-Rhea County football games on weather delays

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Logo

The Friday night football games between Oak Ridge and Anderson County and Clinton and Rhea County are on weather delays.

The Clinton and Rhea County game could re-start in Rhea County at 9:15 p.m. Friday.

Meanwhile, a decision on the Oak Ridge and Anderson County game at Anderson County High School could be made at 9:15 p.m.

The games have to be delayed 30 minutes after lightning is spotted.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

ORNL to extend contract for uranium centrifuge work, but at reduced level; could require layoffs

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American Centrifuge Technology Manufacturing Center

The American Centrifuge Technology Manufacturing Center in south Oak Ridge is pictured above. (Photo courtesy USEC/Centrus Energy Corp.)

 

Oak Ridge National Laboratory intends to extend its contract with Centrus Energy Corporation for research on uranium enrichment centrifuges, but at a reduced level, with funding cut by about 60 percent, the company said Friday. Layoffs could be required, Centrus said in a press release.

The contract extension continues technology development activities at Oak Ridge facilities for advanced uranium enrichment centrifuges, but revenues won’t be used for operations in Piketon, Ohio, the press release said.

The new contract will cover a one-year period from October 1, 2015, to September 30, 2016, with the possibility for additional extensions, the release said.

It said the U.S. Department of Energy’s decision to provide reduced funding will support continued developments of the company’s American Centrifuge technology—which has long-term importance for national and energy security. [Read more…]

Powell sophomore scores three in 4-1 win over Oak Ridge

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Oak Ridge Alex Rouse and Powell Kaylin Shipley

Oak Ridge sophomore forward Alex Rouse (11) and Powell freshman defender Kaylin Shipley (3) battle for the ball in a 4-1 win for the Lady Panthers at Powell on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today) 

 

POWELL—Powell sophomore Raygan Scarbrough scored three goals, a hat trick, in a 4-1 win over Oak Ridge at Powell on Thursday.

The loss ended a 10-game winning streak for the Lady Wildcats, who are now 10-1 overall and 3-1 in District 3-Class AAA. It could have an impact on whether Oak Ridge gets home field advantage in the playoffs, Lady Wildcats Coach Jeff Trombly said.

It was also an important district victory for Powell (4-2-1, 2-0).

“It’s a huge win for us,” Powell Coach Mark Smith said. “It’s become a good rivalry between the two teams.”

He said Oak Ridge, Powell, and Karns have been the top three seeds in the district the past three years. [Read more…]

AMSE educators receive training at Space Camp

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Kris Light and Renee Kelley in Flight Suits

Kris Light, left, and Renee Kelley in flight suits. (Submitted photo)

 

Kris Light and Renee Kelley, outreach educators at the American Museum of Science and Energy, recently attended Space Camp at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, NASA’s official Visitor Information Center for Marshall Space Flight Center, in Huntsville, Alabama.

The educational program promotes science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM, while training students and adults with hands-on activities and missions based on teamwork, leadership, and decision-making. Space Camp uses astronaut training techniques to engage trainees in real-world applications of STEM subjects, a press release said.

Light and Kelley were part of the Space Academy for Educators Program, which is designed for teachers who want to advance education in the STEM fields. They experienced astronaut simulators and took a virtual tour into space to save the International Space Station. Trainees also followed lesson plans based on NASA content (which is correlated to the National Science Education Standards) and received content and knowledge to pass on to their students in the classroom. [Read more…]

Five years and $17 million later, city satisfies EPA Clean Water order

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Emory Valley Road Sewer System Holding Tanks

Workers assemble a sewer system holding tank near Emory Valley Road on Wednesday afternoon, April 1, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Five years and $17 million later, Oak Ridge has satisfied a federal administrative order that required the city to repair all sewer system overflows by the end of this month, officials announced Wednesday.

Mark Watson

Mark Watson

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said he has received a “closure letter” from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency stating the City’s Administrative Order pursuant to the Clean Water Act has been fulfilled, a press release said. The letter, signed by James Giattina, director the Water Protection Division at EPA’s regional office in Atlanta, states that the EPA Region 4 “has determined that the city has satisfied the requirements of the referenced order and hereby closes the order.”

In 2010, the EPA filed an administrative order against the city for excess “Inflow and Infiltration” affecting the wastewater collection lines within the city’s primary service areas. The EPA considered the reported system overflows and piped overflows to be a violation of the Clean Water Act, the press release said. The administrative order contained various program requirements to eliminate the overflows, ensure adequate capacity system wide, and to develop a formal management, operation, and maintenance program, or MOM.

“I am pleased to report that the challenge of the EPA administrative order charged against our city is over!” Watson said. “We have received written confirmation that we have done a substantial job in addressing the findings of the Environmental Protection Agency against Oak Ridge. The order is now closed and we can begin to maintain a consistent and ongoing maintenance effort of this important sewage infrastructure for the community.” [Read more…]

Football photos: Oak Ridge and Farragut

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Tee Higgins TD Catch and Farragut Admirals

Oak Ridge junior receiver Tee Higgins (5) hauls in his first touchdown catch, a 37-yard reception, at 6:47 in the first quarter at Farragut on Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Also pictured is Farragut defender Justin Kirkendall (3). (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats had their first loss of the football season on Friday, falling 31-14 to the Farragut Admirals.

See a story on the game here.

Here is one set of photos by Julio Culiat. See a second set of photos here.

Tanner Thomas Farragut Admirals and Oak Ridge Wildcats

Farragut senior running back Tanner Thomas (1) had 183 yards on 23 carries against the Oak Ridge Wildcats at Bill Clabo Field on Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

[Read more…]

Lady Wildcats beat Jefferson County at Science Hill, play Kentucky team today

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Logo

Oak Ridge beat Jefferson County 3-1 in the Science Hill Invitational on Friday night, and the Lady Wildcats soccer team will play George Rogers Clark High School of Winchester, Kentucky, at 2:15 p.m. today (Saturday, September 5).

Scoring for the Lady Wildcats on Friday were senior forward Macy Barclay, senior defender Katie Welsh, and freshman forward Valerie Carter, Oak Ridge Coach Jeff Trombly said.

The Lady Wildcats were up 2-0 at halftime, but Jefferson County scored about five minutes into the second half, making it a game, Trombly said.

“It was very, very competitive,” he said. [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats hold West scoreless in fifth shutout of season

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Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats Alex Rouse and West

Oak Ridge sophomore forward Alex Rouse (11) gets past West goalkeeper Morgan Jones (24) to score the fourth goal for the Lady Wildcats at home on Thursday. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:42 p.m.

The Lady Wildcats held West scoreless in a 5-0 shutout at home on Thursday. It was the fifth shutout of the soccer season for Oak Ridge.

With the outcome not in doubt, the game ended early, at about 11 minutes into the second half, because of lightning in the area. It’s officially a game at halftime.

Freshman forward Kate Hausladen scored two goals for the Lady Wildcats. Coach Jeff Trombly said Hausladen has now scored at least 11 goals this season.

Senior midfielder Alex Allen scored first for Oak Ridge on Thursday on a shot from the top of the penalty area to the left side of the net early in the game.

Sophomore forward Savannah McNair scored second off a header by senior forward Macy Barclay near the right side of the net. The score was 2-0 with 16:44 left in the first half. [Read more…]

Five Wildcats score goals in 7-1 win over Central

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Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats Zoe Van Hook and Central Bobcats

Oak Ridge sophomore Zoe Van Hook (17) just before scoring her second goal against Central in Knoxville on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015, giving the Wildcats a 7-1 lead with about 28:30 remaining in the game. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 2:10 p.m. Sept. 2.

KNOXVILLE—Five Lady Wildcats scored goals in a 7-1 win over Central in Knoxville on Tuesday.

Oak Ridge dominated with 28 shots on goal, compared to three for the Lady Bobcats, and the Lady Wildcats kept the ball in the Central end of the field most of the game.

Sophomore Zoe Van Hook and freshman Kate Hausladen scored two goals each, and seniors Alex Allen and Macy Barclay each scored one and so did sophomore Chloe Nussbaum.

Van Hook, a midfielder, scored first for the Lady Wildcats (5-0), but forward Emily Wise quickly answered for Central (2-7), making the score 1-1 early in the game. The one goal for the Lady Bobcats ended a four-game shutout streak for Oak Ridge. [Read more…]