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ORFD responds to possible lightning strike call

Posted at 1:30 pm June 11, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

During a severe thunderstorm on Monday evening, the Oak Ridge Fire Department responded to a call of a woman who had possibly been struck by lightning.

The woman reported she was standing by a window at a Vanderbilt Drive home at about 7:19 p.m. Monday when she saw a bright flash of light and then had a funny feeling in her chest, ORFD Chief Darryl Kerley said Tuesday. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Emergency Medical Service, lightning, lightning strike, Methodist Medical Center, Oak Ridge Fire Department, ORFD, Vanderbilt Drive

Y-12 security update outlines improvements since July 28 intrusion

Posted at 12:50 pm June 11, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Y-12 Security Repairs Chart

Since three protesters broke in last summer, security cameras and sensors have been repaired and replaced. There are more security patrols at the Y-12 National Security Complex and more staff in the Central Alarm Station. And officials and workers are trying to reduce the false and nuisance alarm rate.

Those are among the improvements highlighted in a Y-12 security update published in May. It said Y-12 quickly began making changes after the July 28 security breach, when three anti-nuclear weapons activists broke into the plant before dawn, cut through three fences in the high-security Protected Area, and splashed human blood, spray-painted slogans, and hammered on the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility, where most of the nation’s bomb-grade uranium is stored.

“Y-12 has carefully examined the circumstances that led to the event, developed actions to fix the problems that were discovered, and is applying the lessons learned to our security posture and operations,” the security update said. “These actions included adding key leadership personnel, restoring to service critical security elements, and refining alarm system components to enhance reliability.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex, Y-12 Security Breach Tagged With: anti-nuclear weapons activists, B&W Y-12, boundary fence, Central Alarm Station, critical security elements, CSE, false alarm, Force-on-Force, guards, HEUMF, intrusion, nuisance alarm, patrols, Perimeter Intrusion Detection and Assessment System, PIDAS, protective force, protesters, Rod Johnson, security breach, security cameras, sensors, WEPAR, West End Protected Area Reduction, WSI Oak Ridge, Y-12 National Security Complex, Y-12 security update

Three officers, one supervisor suspended after unbadged driver enters Y-12

Posted at 2:02 pm June 10, 2013
By John Huotari 10 Comments

Security Officers at Y-12 East Gate

Security police officers stand guard during an August 2012 peace protest at the main entrance to the Y-12 National Security Complex at Bear Creek and Scarboro roads.

Four guards have been suspended at the Y-12 National Security Complex after a woman who did not have permission to be at the nuclear weapons plant drove through the main entrance on Thursday morning and was stopped a short time later, a federal spokesman said Monday.

The woman, who said she was looking for a new, low-cost apartment complex, followed morning commuters through the east gate at Bear Creek and Scarboro roads and drove unhindered through the plant before she was stopped by security officers at the west gate, according to an Oak Ridge Police Department report. Brenda L. Haptonstall, 62, told ORPD Officer Roy J. Heinz that she thought there must have been a crash at Y-12 because there were “nice officers waving her through with illuminated flashlight cones,” the report said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Bear Creek Road, Brenda L. Haptonstall, gate procedures, National Nuclear Security Administration, National Nuclear Security Administration Production Office, NNSA, Oak Ridge Police Department, Roy Heinz, Scarboro Road, security police officer, SPO, Steven Wyatt, Y-12 National Security Complex

Youth National Championships move west next year, Oak Ridge Rowing bidding on other regattas

Posted at 1:01 pm June 10, 2013
By John Huotari 1 Comment

USRowing Youth National Championships Finals

One hundred and eight rowers competed for national titles in 18 events during finals on Sunday, the last day of the three-day USRowing Youth National Championships in Oak Ridge.

After three years in Oak Ridge, the annual USRowing Youth National Championships will move west next year to Lake Natoma in Sacramento, Calif.

It’s the first time the championships have been scheduled to be held on the West Coast, officials said. Before coming to Oak Ridge, the races had been held in Cincinnati each year since 1994.

Although it won’t host the Youth National Championships again next year, the Oak Ridge Rowing Association is bidding to host one of two USRowing events next summer, either the Club Nationals in July or Masters National in August, head coach Allen Eubanks said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: High School, Middle School, Top Stories Tagged With: Allen Eubanks, Lake Natoma, Melton hill lake, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Rowing Association, ORRA, regatta, Sacramento, Secret City Head Race, USRowing, USRowing Youth National Championships

USRowing Youth National Championships end this afternoon

Posted at 11:32 am June 9, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

USRowing Youth National Championships

More than 1,500 athletes have competed this weekend in the USRowing Youth National Championships on Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge. The championship finals in 18 featured events end this afternoon.

More than 1,500 athletes have competed this weekend in the USRowing Youth National Championships on Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge. The championship finals in 18 featured events end this afternoon, and 108 athletes are seeking national titles today.

The championships feature some 369 crews from 153 clubs in 30 states competing in back-to-back races. [Read more…]

Filed Under: High School, Middle School, Top Stories Tagged With: Allen Eubanks, Melton hill lake, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Rowing Association, races, regatta, rowing, USRowing, USRowing Youth National Championships

UT Medical Center can’t comment on condition of child hit by car in Oak Ridge

Posted at 1:46 pm June 8, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The University of Tennessee Medical Center could not provide information on the condition of an eight-year-old boy hit by a car on Wednesday afternoon in Oak Ridge—or even confirm whether the child was at the hospital.

An Oak Ridge Police Department report said the boy was hit by a 1998 Toyota Camry in the parking lot of British Woods Apartments at about 4:35 p.m. Wednesday. The four-door sedan was driven by Zhenfeng Han, 33, who lives at the apartment complex on Briarcliff Avenue. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: boy, Briarcliff Avenue, British Woods Apartments, car, Christopher Luethge, crash, Jackson Webster, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, ORFD, ORPD, University of Tennessee Medical Center, Zhenfeng Han

Y-12 security failed to follow procedure, allowed driver to enter site, NNSA says

Posted at 5:50 pm June 7, 2013
By John Huotari 8 Comments

Security Officers at Y-12 East Gate

Security police officers stand guard during an August 2012 peace protest at the east gate and main entrance to the Y-12 National Security Complex at Bear Creek and Scarboro roads.

Police officers at the Y-12 National Security Complex failed to follow established procedures when they allowed an Oak Ridge woman who did not have permission to be at the nuclear weapons plant to drive through the main entrance at Scarboro Road on Thursday morning, federal officials said.

Brenda L. Haptonstall, 62, told Oak Ridge police she was looking for a new, low-cost apartment complex and followed morning commuters through the east gate at the Y-12 National Security Complex at about 6:10 a.m. Thursday.

An Oak Ridge Police Department report said Haptonstall drove unhindered through the plant before she was stopped by security officers at the west gate. Haptonstall told ORPD Officer Roy J. Heinz that she thought there must have been a crash at Y-12 because there were “nice officers waving her through with illuminated flashlight cones,” the report said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Brenda L. Haptonstall, fence, Grant Gouldie, Greg Boertje-Obed, Megan Rice, Michael Walli, National Nuclear Security Administration, NNSA, police officers, Roy J. Heinz, Scarboro Road, security breach, security measures, security personnel, Steven Wyatt, trespassing, Y-12 National Security Complex, Y-12 security

Anderson Chamber award winners announced

Posted at 5:21 pm June 7, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

The Anderson County Chamber of Commerce will pay tribute to local businesses at the “Dinner on the Lawn” event held at the majestic Brownworth Manor at 710 Eagle Bend Road in Clinton today.

The evening starts at 6:30 p.m. with a social hour on the patio, live music in the gazebo, and a fun silent auction. “Dinner on the Lawn” will be served at 7:30 p.m. followed by the Chamber’s “Tribute to Business” award ceremony. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Business, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Chamber of Commerce, award winners, Clinton Antique Mall, Clinton Utilities Board, Dinner on the Lawn, Eagle Bend Manufacturing, Joe Hollingsworth Jr., Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Tribute to Business, WYSH Radio

Some postal customers told to switch from house boxes to curbside mail

Posted at 5:15 pm June 7, 2013
By John Huotari 37 Comments

Information from WYSH Radio

Some postal customers in Oak Ridge have recently received letters from the U.S. Postal Service telling them that they need to install curbside mailboxes as part of the ongoing effort to help the federal agency stop hemorrhaging money.

The letters are being sent to postal customers who still use house boxes to receive their mail. The letter states that the request is being made because “letter carriers can service more mailboxes in their vehicles than they can by walking door-to-door.” The letter states that customers have 10 days from receiving it to switch to the curbside mailbox before “mail received at the box will be returned to sender” as if no mail receptacle existed. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: curbside mailboxes, house boxes, letter carriers, mail, mailboxes, money, Oak Ridge, postal customers, U.S. Postal Service

Follow-up: AC budget debate continues

Posted at 5:09 pm June 7, 2013
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Information from WYSH Radio

The Anderson County Commission will hold a special-called meeting on Monday, June 10, at 6 p.m. in Room 312 of the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton to continue their discussions of the budget for the upcoming fiscal year that begins on July 1.

The main hurdles to passing a budget so far have been finding funds for the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department to hire enough jailers to adequately staff the jail expansion scheduled for completion later this year and what to do with a program aimed at keeping the chronically overcrowded jail’s population down. The Sheriff’s Office has requested money to hire 34 jailers but so far funds for only 15 have been found. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: alternatives to incarceration, Anderson County Commission, Anderson County Courthouse, Anderson County mayor, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, budget, budget workshop, jail expansion, jailers, Terry Frank

Relay for Life moved indoors tonight, ends at midnight due to forecast

Posted at 1:10 pm June 7, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Relay for Life will be held indoors at the Oak Ridge High School tonight due to the risk of bad weather, the American Cancer Society said.

“We will be in the corridor and the B Gym,” representative Kayla Shelby said in a statement Thursday. She said participants should enter through the doors they would use to go to the arena, and the event will be modified, ending at midnight.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Health, Nonprofits, Top Stories Tagged With: American Cancer Society, Kayla Shelby, Oak Ridge High School, Relay For Life, weather

Boy hit by car at apartment complex, ORFD says

Posted at 11:44 pm June 6, 2013
By John Huotari 2 Comments

A 10-year-old boy was reportedly hit by a car and flipped onto the hood before falling onto the ground next to a tire at British Woods Apartments on Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.

The boy was lying face up in the apartment complex driveway when the Oak Ridge Fire Department arrived at about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, a report said. He had abrasions on his neck but no other obvious injuries.

The boy could not remember what happened, the ORFD report said. He was taken by ambulance to the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

Filed Under: Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: boy, British Woods Apartments, car, Oak Ridge Fire Department, ORFD, University of Tennessee Medical Center

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Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

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...]

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