Oak Ridge Today

ORNL wins four federal lab awards for tech transfer

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Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Open Port Sampling Interfaces for Mass Spectrometry, invented by Gary Van Berkel (left) and Vilmos Kertesz, features simplicity and elegance. (Photo by ORNL)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Open Port Sampling Interfaces for Mass Spectrometry, invented by Gary Van Berkel (left) and Vilmos Kertesz, features simplicity and elegance. (Photo by ORNL)

 

Four technologies developed at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have earned Federal Laboratory Consortium awards for excellence in technology transfer, a press release said.

The FLC is a network of more than 300 federal laboratories, facilities, and research centers dedicated to promoting and strengthening the commercialization of federal laboratory-developed technologies and expertise, the press release said.

The honors place ORNL in elite company, according to Donna Bialozor, FLC Awards committee chair, who wrote: “This year, your laboratory is one of a select number of recipients, an indication that your nominations were truly of the highest caliber.”

Mike Paulus, ORNL’s director of technology transfer, noted that it is especially significant that ORNL won four of the 19 FLC awards for excellence in technology transfer.

“With these latest awards, ORNL has now won 55 since 1986, reaffirming the importance and relevance of our research and development,” Paulus said.

ORNL earned recognition for the following technologies: [Read more…]

Y-12 wins state award with energy-saving projects

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Y-12 National Security Complex has taken advantage of the energy-saving funding opportunities provided by Energy Savings Performance Contracts and has implemented diverse energy improvement projects, such as new high-efficiency cooling towers for the chiller plant. (Photo courtesy Y-12)

Y-12 National Security Complex has taken advantage of the energy-saving funding opportunities provided by Energy Savings Performance Contracts and has implemented diverse energy improvement projects, such as new high-efficiency cooling towers for the chiller plant. (Photo courtesy Y-12)

 

The Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently recognized the Y-12 National Security Complex with one of its Environment and Energy Awards. The site won the Comprehensive Energy Excellence Award for taking advantage of the opportunities provided by Energy Savings Performance Contracts and implementing diverse energy improvement projects.

“It is an honor to represent Y‑12 and receive awards on behalf of the employees who work to make the recognition possible,” said Y-12’s Environmental Compliance Manager Stacey Loveless. “We are happy to share with others the green news we have at Y‑12.”

Y-12 has invested in three ESPC projects, including a steam decentralization project that removed some 21 buildings from the plant’s steam distribution system and eliminated more than 3,000 feet of leaking lines. The lines were replaced with natural gas lines. This project is estimated to save almost 1.8 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, some 170,000 MBtu of natural gas, 36 million gallons of water, and more than $800,000 annually. (MBtu equals 1,000 British thermal units; one Btu is the heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.) [Read more…]

‘Atomic Integration,’ photo exhibit on African-American life during Manhattan Project, opens Feb. 23

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African American Post Office 1940s (Photo courtesy National Park Service)

African American Post Office 1940s (Photo courtesy National Park Service)

 

In honor of Black History Month, the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce will host “Atomic Integration,” a photography exhibition focusing on African-American life during the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, a press release said. The month-long exhibit will open on Thursday, February 23, with a reception starting at 4:30 p.m.

The photo exhibit is sponsored by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, and Explore Oak Ridge.

The images displayed in the photo exhibit illustrate the experiences and contributions of African-Americans during the Manhattan Project period during the 1940s in Oak Ridge, the press release said. [Read more…]

Bill Bass of UT’s ‘Body Farm’ to give Feb. 21 lecture at Pellissippi State

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Bill Bass

Bill Bass

Bill Bass, a forensic anthropologist who founded the University of Tennessee Anthropological Research Facility, more popularly known as “The Body Farm,” will give a lecture at Pellissippi State Community College in Hardin Valley on February 21.

His program is titled “Forensic Law Enforcement Field Operations.” It is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, February 21, in the Goins Auditorium in the Goins Building at Pellissippi State Community College. His talk will address research and field work throughout his career and more recently at the UT Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center, a press release said.

Bass is best known for his research on human osteology and human decomposition. He has assisted federal, local, and non-U.S. authorities in the identification of human remains, the press release said. He is the author of numerous best-selling books and will have some books for sale, which he will sign. [Read more…]

Oliver Springs receives sewer grant, loan

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Information from WYSH Radio

Oliver Springs got a big assist last week on several, much-needed sewer system repairs in the form of a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant of $2.99 million and loan of $4.47 million.

The money will help the town to meet the system requirements of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and operate its water and sewer systems properly.

The new money will go toward improvements in the sewer system.

A press release from Rural Development said the corrections will improve the water quality of Poplar Creek and eliminate the numerous overflows that occur in the drainage area of the creek when heavy rainfall takes place. [Read more…]

Borchers wins Anderson County Ally of the Year Award

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DrB2Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention, or ASAP, of Anderson County hosted a contest for selecting an “Ally of the Year.” Candidates for the award were nominated by community members for their passion for creating a healthy and productive Anderson County. They are united by one goal: to use their leadership, influence, and communication skills to raise funds to help prevent and reduce substance abuse in Anderson County. Each dollar raised by the candidates counted as one vote.

Oak Ridge Schools Superintendent Bruce Borchers was the top fundraiser, bringing in more than $1,850. Oliver Springs Police Chief Kenny Morgan was the first runner-up, raising more than $1,200. Anderson County School Superintendent Tim Parrott was the second runner-up, adding $1,100. [Read more…]

UT Arboretum Society presents Father-Daughter Hike on Feb. 18

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The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society will present a Father-Daughter Hike at the UT Arboretum in Oak Ridge on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (Photo courtesy UT Arboretum Society)

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society will present a Father-Daughter Hike at the UT Arboretum in Oak Ridge on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (Photo courtesy UT Arboretum Society)

 

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society will offer a Father-Daughter Hike at the UT Arboretum in Oak Ridge on Saturday, February 18. It’s the eighth year of the popular program, a press release said.

It’s a fun, short trail hike of about one to 1.5 hours, the press release said.

“This is a great winter occasion to spend some quality time outdoors with your daughter or dad,” the press release said.

The hike will be led by Jeff Holt, a local forester. [Read more…]

‘Music of the British Isles’ concert on Sunday, Feb. 12, at ORHS

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Dianne Farris

Dianne Farris

 

The Oak Ridge Wind Ensemble/Community Band will feature music of England, Ireland, and Scotland in a “Music of the British Isles” concert next week.

The concert is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, February 12, at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center, which is at 1450 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

It’s part of the Wind Ensemble/Community Band’s “Exploring Our Roots” series for the 2016-2017 season. [Read more…]

CONTACT Care Line volunteer wins national award

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Doris Jolley

Doris Jolley

 

A longtime volunteer for the CONTACT Care Line, an East Tennessee crisis intervention resource, was recently honored with a national award for outstanding contributions, a press release said.

Doris Jolley, a CONTACT volunteer for more than 43 years, was awarded the Spirit of Contact Award given by the National Association of Crisis Center Directors and Contact USA following their annual meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, last fall. The award is the highest given by the organization and recognizes Jolley’s supreme commitment to serving community members in crisis, the press release said.

Having completed the newly implemented CONTACT training course, Jolley was accredited to take calls on the brand new Oak Ridge Contact Helpline in October 1973. Since then, her service to the organization has continued without interruptions, the press release said. Over the years, Jolley has served the organization in a variety of roles: crisis line volunteer, scheduler of volunteers, mentor to new volunteer recruits, as well as executive director for 16 years. Since 2009 alone, Jolley has logged more than 4,000 hours of service. [Read more…]

ORHS Orchestra has 17 students in All-East Tennessee Orchestra Clinic

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Oak Ridge High School Orchestra Feb 4 2017 600x422

Oak Ridge High School Orchestra students pictured from left above are Jade Dush, Hannah Constance, Lindsey Young, Olivia Mahathy, Mandy Pitz, Jamimie Clark, Meghan Campbell, HyeJi Bang, Aaron Beavin, Logan Roeling, Alek Wereszczak, Noah Constance, Kenny Moon, Eagle Yuan, Jared Anderson, Michael Ma, and Jay Casey. (Photo courtesy Doug Phillips)

 

Oak Ridge High School Orchestra placed 17 students in the All-East TN Orchestra Clinic. The clinic was held in Gatlinburg this weekend. The students are pictured above. They are: [Read more…]

New Anderson County dispatchers graduate from training

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Anderson County’s newest dispatchers graduated from the Communications Deputy Training Academy on Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. (Photo by Anderson County Sheriff's Department)

Anderson County’s newest dispatchers graduated from the Communications Deputy Training Academy on Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. (Photo by Anderson County Sheriff’s Department)

 

Anderson County’s newest dispatchers graduated from the Communications Deputy Training Academy on Friday, January 27.

The new communications deputies are Tiffany Haines, Amy Purkey, and Brittany Streetman. They have spent the last 10 weeks in an intensive training program to prepare them to answer the call for help from citizens, dispatch the appropriate emergency responders, and render life saving medical care until those resources arrive, a press release said.

The training program included basic public safety telecommunicator training, CPR and emergency medical dispatcher training, specialized courses in criminal law, incident command (NIMS), best practices response for missing and exploited children, area familiarization including ride-a-longs with EMS (emergency medical services) and law enforcement personnel, and many other topics, the press release said. [Read more…]

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department asks for help finding runaway juvenile

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Brandan Justin Holeton

Brandan Justin Holeton

 

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a runway juvenile.

Brandan Justin Holeton, 14, ran away from his home in the Powell community on Tuesday evening, January 31, and he has not returned, the Sheriff’s Department said Friday.

Brandan Justin Holeton is described as: [Read more…]