Oak Ridge Today

Bacterial research at ORNL could aid biofuel production

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Bacteria

Researchers at the BioEnergy Science Center analyze bacteria that could aid in the production of next-generation biofuels. (Photo submitted by ORNL)

Submitted by ORNL

The identification of key proteins in a group of heat-loving bacteria by researchers at the Department of Energy’s BioEnergy Science Center could help light a fire under next-generation biofuel production.

Scientists have long been on the hunt for cost-effective ways to break down complex plant material such as switchgrass in order to access sugars that are fermented to make biofuels. Conventional processes involve the addition of commercially produced enzymes to break down the cellulose.

[Read more…]

UCOR donates $250,000 to UT engineering fellowship

Posted at
By 1 Comment

UCOR at University of Tennessee

From left to right are UCOR’s Bob Smith, Leo Sain, Cathy Hickey, Veronica O’Hearn, and Ken Rueter with University of Tennessee assistant professor Jason Hayward in Hayward’s lab. (Photo submitted by UT)

UCOR, a federal cleanup contractor in Oak Ridge, is donating $250,000 to set up an engineering faculty fellowship at the University of Tennessee.

The first award recipient is Jason Hayward, an assistant professor in UT’s Department of Nuclear Engineering, a university press release said.

Leo Sain, UCOR’s president and project manager, announced the fellowship on Friday, June 29, at the East Tennessee Economic Council meeting in Oak Ridge.

[Read more…]

Clinton grad dies in firefighting airplane crash

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A North Carolina man who graduated from Clinton High School in 1987 died Sunday in an airplane crash in South Dakota.

Lt. Col. Paul Mikeal of Mooresville, N.C., was killed while fighting massive wildfires when an Air National Guard C-130 crashed in the mountains of South Dakota, WYSH Radio in Clinton reported.

[Read more…]

Historical Oak Ridge photos posted on Atlantic website

Posted at
By 2 Comments

A photo gallery posted on The Atlantic magazine website is generating interest in historical Oak Ridge photos.

The pictures, most of them by photographer Ed Westcott, capture life in Oak Ridge and its federal plants between 1942 and 1966.

[Read more…]

Oak Ridge city manager asks for tuition reimbursement

Posted at
By 17 Comments

Mark Watson

Mark Watson

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson has asked the city to reimburse him for tuition and textbooks as he pursues a doctorate at the University of Tennessee.

In exchange, Watson would have to earn at least a “B” average and continue working for the city for three years after he finishes his classwork. If he leaves before then, he would have to repay the city.

Watson is studying political science, with a concentration in public administration.

[Read more…]

Science.gov makes second Top Ten list

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A mobile application for a science website developed by a federal office in Oak Ridge has been named one of the ten best federal apps by Government Computer News.

The Science.gov Mobile application was also recently named to InformationWeek’s Ten Handy Mobile Apps From Uncle Sam.

The application was developed by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information.

[Read more…]

Rep. Ragan changes campaign website after Hackworth questions legality

Posted at
By 8 Comments

John Ragan

John Ragan

Tennessee Rep. John Ragan has removed his official office phone number and state e-mail address from his campaign website after his opponent, Jim Hackworth, said that including the information violated state law.

On Monday, Hackworth, a former state representative trying to take back his old House seat in November, said Ragan’s website violated state ethics and finance laws because it directs voters to contact Ragan at his official office phone number and state e-mail address.

[Read more…]

Harold Wayne Jernigan

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Harold Jernigan

Harold Jernigan

Harold Wayne Jernigan, of Oak Ridge, passed away quietly on Saturday, June 30, at Briarcliff Health Care Center, surrounded by family members.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Helen Chastain Jernigan; by daughter Mary Wool (Dennis), of Williamsburg, Va.; Hal Jernigan (Pamela) of Oak Ridge; stepsons John Fairstein (Ardyce), of Hardin Valley, and Joel Fairstein, of Knoxville; sister Charlotte Keathley (Joe) of Oak Ridge; granddaughters Angi Gillen (Greg) of Frederick, Md., and Kate Jernigan, of Oak Ridge; grandson Joshua Wool, of New York City; and by seven nieces and nephews.

[Read more…]

Former Council member, Commissioner Harold Jernigan dies at 84

Posted at
By 6 Comments

Harold Jernigan

Harold Jernigan

Former Oak Ridge City Council member and Anderson County Commissioner Harold Jernigan died Saturday. He was 84.

Jernigan was elected to City Council in 1968, serving for 20 years, including a term as vice mayor. He was elected to the Anderson County Commission in 1998 and served two four-year terms.

“Harold brought a wealth of experience to County Commission and fought hard for he the things he believed in,” Interim Anderson County Mayor Myron Iwanski said. “He was a true public servant.”

[Read more…]

Anderson County officials to discuss jail expansion bids

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

An Anderson County planning committee will meet next week to discuss the six bids received on a $10 million jail expansion project, according to WYSH Radio in Clinton.

Bids opened in June ranged from $9.66 million to $10.4 million, WYSH said. The companies that submitted bids included Rouse Construction, Messer Construction, Merit General Contractors, Denark Construction, Bell and Associates, and Johnson and Galyon Construction.

[Read more…]

Democrats, Republicans joust over jobs

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

There are fewer people working in Anderson County than at the beginning of the year, and Rep. John Ragan isn’t doing enough to create and keep jobs in Tennessee, a state Democratic Party official said.

“While jobs are leaving Anderson County, Mr. Ragan continues to put on a show for voters because he has nothing to show for his time in office,” Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester said in a blog post last week. “These are the consequences of partisan politics–a legislature that is focused on protecting schoolyard bullies instead of putting Tennesseans back to work.”

But in an e-mailed response, Ragan said the state’s unemployment rate is moving in the right direction, and the Tennessee General Assembly has passed critical pro-job legislation during the past two years.

“We have lowered taxes for all Tennesseans, cut needless business regulations, fought to end frivolous lawsuits, and passed landmark education reform,” said Ragan, an Oak Ridge Republican.

[Read more…]

Moseley, Gooch duel over partisan politics

Posted at
By 5 Comments

Warren Gooch

Warren Gooch

Alex Moseley, chairman of the Anderson County Republican Party, suggests the Democratic candidate for county mayor is a liberal politician.

But the candidate, Warren Gooch, says Moseley is trying to confuse voters.

[Read more…]