Oak Ridge Today

LeMond Composites strikes agreement to accelerate commercialization of low-cost carbon fiber

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Greg LeMond, three-time Tour de France champion, celebrated the announcement of LeMond Composites, a new company he co-founded, during a ceremony on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 12, 2016, at Heritage Center in west Oak Ridge. The company is expected to make composite bicycles and carbon fiber, and invest $125 million and create 242 new jobs. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

LeMond Composites of Oak Ridge has entered into a global, exclusive 20-year licensing agreement with Deakin University in Australia to commercialize their patent pending manufacturing process to increase production of high performance, low-cost carbon fiber, a press release said.

The licensed process will enable LeMond Composites to commercialize carbon fiber production faster than anyone else currently in the marketplace, the press release said.

“This means LeMond will deliver more of its low-cost carbon fiber faster to industries that benefit from using lighter, stronger materials, like those addressing global energy and transportation challenges,” the press release said.

“Deakin University’s process oxidizes carbon fiber faster, with lower capital and energy costs and greater output of carbon fiber over a shorter period,” said Nicolas Wegener, chief operating officer of LeMond, who negotiated the $44 million dollar deal. “The process requires 75 percent less energy and also reduces the amount of process equipment by 75 percent. These factors make the production of low-cost carbon fiber scalable at a velocity that can keep up with the market demand.” [Read more…]

Roane State paramedic alumni earn honors

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Anderson County EMS Director Nathan Sweet, right, presents Lt. Steve Seals, a graduate of Roane State's paramedic program, with an award naming him the EMS's "Officer of the Year." Sweet is also a Roane State paramedic program graduate. (Photo by Roane State)

Anderson County EMS Director Nathan Sweet, right, presents Lt. Steve Seals, a graduate of Roane State’s paramedic program, with an award naming him the EMS’s “Officer of the Year.” Sweet is also a Roane State paramedic program graduate. (Photo by Roane State)

 

Graduates of Roane State Community College’s paramedic program continue to distinguish themselves in their professions by earning honors bestowed by peers and supervisors, a press release said.

Two 2005 graduates of the paramedic program were recognized by Anderson County EMS during National EMS Week, held in late May each year.

Lieutenant Steve Seals was named “Officer of the Year,” while Millie Huddleston was recognized as “Paramedic of the Year.”

Co-workers and supervisors nominated them for the recognitions. In those nominations, Seals was described as exemplifying “our core values, including integrity first, service before self, as well as excellence in all we do,” the press release said. [Read more…]

PetSmart has grand opening, ribbon-cutting on Saturday

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The new PetSmart store at Main Street Oak Ridge is scheduled to open Monday, July 10, 2017, with a grand opening scheduled for Saturday, July 15. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The new PetSmart store at Main Street Oak Ridge opened Monday, July 10, 2017, and it has a grand opening on Saturday, July 15. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The new PetSmart store in Oak Ridge will have a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, July 15.

The new store is located at 203 Main Street, in the new Main Street Oak Ridge.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony is at 8:45 a.m. Saturday. Pets are allowed.

The Oak Ridge store location will feature PetSmart’s new Pinnacle Pet Nutrition section, an expanded collection of pet food products featuring high-protein, natural, grain-free, minimally processed, and raw pet food, a press release said.

“This food type is the fastest growing in the overall pet food category and includes brands such as Only Natural Pet, a natural pet brand featuring holistic, paleo-inspired natural foods and wholesome high-protein recipes that are dehydrated, freeze-dried, and air-dried,” the release said. “PetSmart is the exclusive national retailer for Only Natural Pet.” [Read more…]

Shelton will seek re-election as Anderson County register of deeds

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Tim Shelton (Submitted photo)

Tim Shelton (Submitted photo)

 

Tim Shelton announced this week that he will seek re-election to the Office of Register of Deeds in Anderson County in 2018.

Shelton has worked in the Anderson County Register of Deeds office since 1992, and he has served as Anderson County Register of Deeds since 2002, a press release said.

Shelton is a graduate of Leadership Anderson County and the University of Tennessee Local Government Leadership Program. Shelton also serves on the Board of Directors for the County Officials Association of Tennessee, representing more than 500 county officials across the state. Shelton was also selected by his fellow county officials across Tennessee to serve on the County Officials’ Legislative Committee.

Shelton also serves locally on the Anderson County Records Commission, the Anderson County Human Resources Advisory Committee, and the Anderson County Ethics Committee. He was recently elected to serve as chairman of the newly formed Anderson County IT Committee. [Read more…]

ORAU’s Eric Abelquist named new president of national Health Physics Society

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Eric Abelquist

Eric Abelquist

 

The Health Physics Society named ORAU Executive Vice President and Chief Research Officer Eric Abelquist its new president at its 62nd annual meeting in Raleigh this week.

Abelquist has been president-elect for the past year, and he has visited HPS chapters across the country as part of the transition to become president, getting to know members and soliciting feedback in order to better understand issues that need to be addressed, a press release said.

According to its website, HPS is a professional organization whose mission is excellence in the science and practice of radiation safety. HPS activities include encouraging research in radiation science, developing standards, and disseminating radiation safety information. HPS members are involved in understanding, evaluating, and controlling the potential risks from radiation relative to the benefits, the press release said.

When asked what he plans to accomplish as the new HPS president, Abelquist said: “Thanks to the leadership of the current administration, HPS has made outstanding progress on the new HPS strategic plan. The broad strategic areas I’ll focus on during my tenure include membership value proposition, implementation of proposed governance changes, and helping our academic programs secure more funding for health physics research.” [Read more…]

Oak Ridge group sends delegation to Germany to address U.S. nuclear deployment

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Ralph Hutchison

Ralph Hutchison

Members of the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance will join peace activists from around the world in Büchel, Germany, from July 12-18 in protests at the Büchel Air Base to call for the withdrawal of the 20 U.S. B61 nuclear bombs that are currently deployed there, a press release said.

University of Tennessee student Carmella Cole, an OREPA Board member, and Ralph Hutchison, OREPA coordinator, will join nuclear abolition advocates from the Netherlands, France, Germany, and Belgium for a week of actions culminating in an international day of action on Sunday, July 16, the press release said.

“We have been invited to participate in this gathering because of the role the Y-12 Nuclear Weapons Complex (the Y-12 National Security Complex) plays in the refurbishment of U.S. nuclear weapons,” Hutchison said in the press release. “Y-12 is currently making plans for the ‘life extension upgrade’ of the B61-Modification 12. The upgrade will result in a new, more threatening nuclear bomb, which will then be deployed in Büchel over the objections of the German Bundestag, which has voted, overwhelmingly, across all parties, for the removal of NATO nuclear weapons from German soil.” [Read more…]

Broadband working group meets this evening

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Anderson County Property Assessor Johnny Alley, left; County Mayor Terry Frank, center; and Deputy Property Assessor Billy Brown look at some of the areas in the Andersonville area lacking broadband service. (Submitted photo)

Anderson County Property Assessor Johnny Alley, left; County Mayor Terry Frank, center; and Deputy Property Assessor Billy Brown look at some of the areas in the Andersonville area lacking broadband service. (Submitted photo)

 

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank is asking for interested Anderson County citizens to form a working group in advance of upcoming broadband opportunities made possible by newly passed legislation in Tennessee, a press release said.

Those who are interested can meet on Tuesday, July 11, at 6 p.m.in the conference room at the Anderson County Health Department, 710 North Main Street in Clinton.

Governor Bill Haslam and the Tennessee State Legislature passed the Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act that provides $45 million over three years in grants and tax credits for service providers to assist in making broadband available to unserved homes and businesses, in addition to allowing nonprofit electric cooperatives to provide retail broadband service, the press release said.

Guidance has not yet been released on the grant application process, but in the press release, Frank said she hopes a working group assembled prior to the release of grant guidance could help Anderson County be ready and prepared once grants are released. Frank also hopes the working group will serve as a forum for new ideas regarding connectivity in areas of the county where access is already available. [Read more…]

Free suicide prevention training at Grace Lutheran on Saturday

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Danielle Roach

Danielle Roach

 

The Grace Lutheran Church of Oak Ridge’s Mental Health Ministry will host a free community program on suicide prevention training on Saturday, July 15, at 10:30 a.m. in the church’s fellowship hall. Childcare will be provided.

Community health practitioner Danielle Roach, through association with the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN), will be the instructor, a press release said. Roach has worked at a community mental health center for the past 16 years. In addition to suicide prevention training, she as taught verbal and physical de-escalation techniques, CPR, and newborn care Safety/CPR classes for the last 12 years at a local hospital.

According to the TSPN website, this training, known as QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer), is a program designed to teach lay people and professionals alike how to prevent suicide.

Grace Lutheran Church is located at 131 West Gettysburg Avenue in Oak Ridge. For more information about the program or the Mental Health Ministry, contact the church office at (865) 483-3787.

Dr. Crane to discuss Lewy body dementia at Courtyards Senior Living on July 18

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Dr. Monica Crane

Dr. Monica Crane

 

Dr. Monica Crane, a fellowship-trained geriatric medicine physician with special expertise in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, will discuss “Lewy Body Dementia” at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 18, at The Courtyards Senior Living at 801 East Inskip Drive in Knoxville.

The public is invited to attend the free talk in the Hearthside Chat speaker series at The Courtyards Senior Living, which operates assisted living and dedicated memory care facilities in Oak Ridge, Knoxville, and Johnson City, a press release said. To reserve a seat for the July 18 program, send an e-mail to Jody Daugherty at jody@courtyardseniorliving.com or call (865) 357-1660.

Crane, medical director for The Courtyards, will continue to present informative talks on aging at The Courtyards on a regular basis, the press release said. She is also the founder and medical director of Genesis Neuroscience Clinic, at 1400 Dowell Springs Boulevard in Knoxville. The clinic provides comprehensive evaluation, treatment, and clinical trial opportunities for those with cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative dementias. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Schools registration starts today

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All students new to Oak Ridge Schools need to register at their respective schools sometime between Monday, July 10, through Wednesday, July 19, a press release said. Registration hours on those days are from 9 a.m. to noon. Parents who pre-registered kindergartners in May also need to complete the registration process on those dates, the press release said.

Registration for new students in grades 9-12 will be made by appointment only, the press release said. For more information regarding high school registration, contact the registrar at (865) 425-9524.

Information necessary for new student registration includes the following: [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Schools first in state to earn AdvancED STEM certification for all elementary, middle schools

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Students at Jefferson Middle School collaboratively plan problem-based learning (PBL). (Submitted photo)

Students at Jefferson Middle School collaboratively plan problem-based learning (PBL). (Submitted photo)

 

Oak Ridge Schools is the first district in the state to earn AdvancED STEM certification for all of its elementary and middle schools, a press release said.

AdvancED uses a research-based framework and criteria for the awareness, continuous improvement, and assessment of the quality, rigor, and substance of STEM educational programs, the press release said. STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

In the spring of 2016, three Oak Ridge elementary schools earned AdvancED STEM certification: Glenwood, Linden, and Woodland. These schools were the first in the district to demonstrate the capacity to prepare students for STEM fields of study and work, the press release said.

In the spring of 2017, three more schools in Oak Ridge received this distinction: Willow Brook Elementary, Jefferson Middle, and Robertsville Middle.

“Our district is the first in the state to certify every elementary and middle school in the district,” the press release said. “We are committed to preparing our learners for the careers of tomorrow by perpetuating their enthusiasm for STEM disciplines today. Our focus on STEM demonstrates our continued commitment to ensure every Oak Ridge student is prepared for college, career, and life success.” [Read more…]

Free Medical Clinic’s FMC Bash: Auctions, dinner, dance contest on Aug. 12

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Some of the dancers who will compete at the FMC Bash on Aug. 12, 2017, are, from left in front, Brianna Sprunger, Heidi O'Steen and Cande Seay; from left in the middle row, Laura Lynn Riden and Leslie England; and from left in back, David Vudragovich, Bruce England, and Hans Vogel. (Submitted photo)

Some of the dancers who will compete at the FMC Bash on Aug. 12, 2017, are, from left in front, Brianna Sprunger, Heidi O’Steen and Cande Seay; from left in the middle row, Laura Lynn Riden and Leslie England; and from left in back, David Vudragovich, Bruce England, and Hans Vogel. (Submitted photo)

 

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The best party in town, many attendees have said! A lively dance contest, delicious dinner, drinks, and delightful auction items. A Hawaiian sunset theme. Dance music by popular disc jockey Dave King. Casual attire.

Elaine Graham, the entertaining emcee and auctioneer and 2016 dance contest winner, will run the show, the annual “fun” fundraiser for the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge. FMCOR volunteers and staff will present the FMC Bash on Saturday, August 12, from 5 to 10 p.m. in the Parish Life Center of St. Mary’s Church, 327 Vermont Avenue, according to an FMCOR press release.

The dance contestants include Leslie and Bruce England of Jada Blade, Hans Vogel, Cande Seay, Laura Lynn Riden, Ruby Miller, Heidi Osteen, David Vudragovich, Briana Sprunger, Samantha and Matt Berven. You can “vote” now and that evening on the amazing and amusing Oak Ridge dancers as they compete in the celebrity dance contest.

The live auction, to be officiated by “Bear” Stephenson, will include big items such as a week’s stay in Maui, Hawaii, in a two-bedroom, two-bath condo that sleeps six and sits on the beach; an incredible Indian experience for eight at the home of Ginny and Sam Basseen that features an authentic Indian dinner, traditional Indian dancers, and more; a week’s stay in a two-bedroom, two-bath condo that sleeps eight and is in Crescent Beach, Florida, near historic St. Augustine; a dinner in the garden for 30 that offers wine, food and fun, and an evening of Hawaiian hospitality with dinner for 20. [Read more…]