Oak Ridge Today

Gov. Lee lifts nursing home restrictions, extends state of emergency

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Bill Lee

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee on Friday said he has extended a limited state of emergency through April 28 and lifted state visitation restrictions on nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

The governor said he signed executive orders 77, 78, and 79.

“Our state’s COVID-19 numbers continue to improve thanks to efficient vaccine distribution and efforts to protect our most vulnerable citizens,” Lee said in a press release. “I have authorized continuation of a limited state of emergency through April 28 in order to keep critical healthcare deregulation in place and ensure continued federal funding compliance, and to lift state visitation restrictions on nursing home and long-term care facilities. To be very clear, my orders do not include any restriction on business. We will continue to focus on delivering vaccines to every corner of the state, ensuring kids get back in the classroom and building on our strong economic recovery.”

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REAC/TS receives U.S. Secretary of Energy’s Achievement Award

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OAK RIDGE, Tenn.— Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS) team members, who provided consultation during a breached radioactive source event at the University of Washington’s Harborview Research and Training Facility in 2019, received the U.S. Secretary of Energy’s Achievement Award for their contribution.

As a member of the Seattle Response and Recovery and Cs-137 Joint Investigation Teams, REAC/TS members were recognized for their part in the “successful emergency response, recovery, stabilization, and investigation of the breached radioactive source event at the University of Washington’s Harborview Research and Training Facility. The Response and Recovery Team’s focused and tireless efforts in responding to a radiological emergency at the facility and removing the breached radioactive source led the way for facility remediation efforts and minimized any harm or negative impacts to the public,” according to the award materials.

“The extensive investigative work performed by the Cs-137 Joint Investigation Team identified the underlying cause of the event and will help prevent recurrence of similar events in the future as well as improve the efficiency and effectiveness of future radiological event responses,” the award materials included.

The DOE Secretary’s Honor Awards states that it formally recognizes the outstanding achievements of individuals and teams who have gone above and beyond in fulfilling the DOE’s mission and serving the nation.

For more details, visit https://www.energy.gov/articles/department-energy-announces-secretary-s-honor-award-recipients

About REAC/TS
REAC/TS is an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education facility managed by ORAU for the U.S. Department of Energy with the mission to strengthen the medical response to radiological and nuclear incidents. REAC/TS provides 24/7 medical support and deployment to provide emergency medical consultation for incidents involving radioactive materials and ionizing radiation worldwide. REAC/TS also conducts ongoing research into the biological effects of radiation and provides continuing medical education for healthcare providers, other professionals and students. For more information, visit https://orise.orau.gov/reacts/

About ORISE
The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education is a U.S. Department of Energy asset that is dedicated to enabling critical scientific, research, and health initiatives of the department and its laboratory system by providing world-class expertise in STEM workforce development, scientific and technical reviews, and the evaluation of radiation exposure and environmental contamination. ORISE is managed by ORAU, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and federal contractor, for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit https://energy.gov/science
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Visit our website: https://orise.orau.gov

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Bienvenue named first executive director of Oak Ridge Institute

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Joan Bienvenue

Joan Bienvenue has been selected as the first executive director of the Oak Ridge Institute at the University of Tennessee.

“The institute was established last year to align the expertise and infrastructure of Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the university in support of world-leading research and talent development,” UT said in an announcement to students, faculty, and staff on Tuesday.

As director, Bienvenue will also serve as a vice provost. She will begin her new position on March 8.

She will develop a strategy for establishing new interdisciplinary graduate research in emerging fields, build programs using UT and ORNL’s capabilities, and lead recruitment of faculty, staff, and students, the announcement said.

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ORISE report shows overall number of nuclear engineering degrees increases to highest level since 2016

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Part of the ORAU campus in central Oak Ridge is pictured above on May 29, 2017. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The number of nuclear engineering degrees awarded in 2019 were at the highest level since 2016, driven primarily by a significant increase in the number of master’s degrees awarded, a press release said.

In addition, the number of doctorate degrees awarded in 2019 were the second highest level recorded since 1966.

This is according to a study conducted by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education that surveyed 34 U.S. universities with nuclear engineering programs. The report, “Nuclear Engineering Enrollments and Degrees Survey, 2019 Data,” included degrees granted between September 1, 2018, and August 31, 2019, and enrollments for fall 2019.

The number of bachelor’s degrees remained about the same, while the number of master’s degrees increased after a two-year slump, the press release said.

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First Presbyterian offers free meal, groceries on Feb. 11

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First Presbyterian Church will provide a free meal and bag of groceries to food-insecure guests who drive by the church between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 11, a press release said.

The church’s monthly Welcome Table community meal program plans to supply each guest with a hot meal consisting of taco soup, Fritos chips, fresh fruit, and brownies or cookies.

In addition, each family in a car will receive a grocery bag containing two cans of spaghetti sauce with meat, one package of spaghetti noodles, one container of Parmesan cheese, one can of fruit, one can of vegetables, crackers, peanut butter, and two cans of soup. [Read more…]

Williams is new director of Roane State’s Small Business Development Center

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Stephen Williams

By Bob Fowler Roane State staff writer

A local business consultant with vast experience has been named the director of Roane State’s Tennessee Small Business Development Center.

Stephen Williams, well known in the Oak Ridge and Roane State service area, begins his new duties on Monday, February 8, in his office at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce at 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

He replaces long-time director Jutta Bangs, who has taken another job.

“I’m really excited about being a part of Roane State and their efforts with workforce development,” Williams said. “I’ll be able to contribute what I’ve learned in more than 35 years in business and owning businesses.”

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Eric Rackard is new Oak Ridge fire marshal

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Eric Rackard

The City of Oak Ridge has named Eric Rackard as its new fire marshal.

Rackard, who has recently served as an Oak Ridge Fire Department battalion chief, takes on the new role following Travis Solomon’s promotion to fire chief last month. Rackard joined the department in November 2007, a press release said.

“I am honored by this promotion and greater opportunity to serve the citizens of Oak Ridge,” Rackard said in the press release.

In the role of battalion chief, Rackard managed daily operation requirements for the Fire Department’s A Shift, including staffing, overtime, training, and logistics. 

“I was also responsible for command and control on all major incidents on A Shift,” Rackard said. “I also lead a lot of trainings, including coordinating state commission training and serving as the hazardous materials team leader.”

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Volunteer to discuss working with immigrants at the border

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Rachel Bohstedt Estes

Rachel Bohstedt Estes will discuss her work with immigrants at the Texas-Mexico border as guest speaker at the Wednesday, February 10, meeting of Altrusa International of Oak Ridge, hosted by the International Relations Committee.

Her topic is “Learning and Listening at the Border.” The meeting will be virtual, hosted on Zoom, beginning at noon, a press release said.

Estes, director of outreach and missions at Canterbury United Methodist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, began volunteering at the border in the summer of 2018, when immigrant children were being separated from their families at the border.

“I began thinking of how we can be the best community for each other,” she said. Estes called a friend and said: “I think we need to go there and make sure they know people with love are around them. Even if we can’t extract them from the horror, we can be present.” [Read more…]

NNSA has virtual job fair, including for Y-12

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The sign at the main entrance to the Y-12 National Security Complex is pictured above on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration has a virtual job fair for its laboratories and production sites on Wednesday, January 27.

The NNSA said it wants to hire about 2,000 new employees in 2021.

The virtual job fair is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday. It will include hiring officials from NNSA and its national laboratories, plants, and sites, a press release said. Those include:

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AC Democratic Women to hear about income inequality Monday

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Millicent Taylor, an adjunct professor at Pellissippi State Community College, will discuss income inequality as the guest speaker at the Monday, January 25, meeting of the Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club.

Taylor’s topic will be “How Low Interest Rates During the Pandemic Have Worsened US Income Inequality.” The meeting will be hosted on Zoom at 7 p.m.

Taylor has served as an international economist for the Central Intelligence Agency. She received a bachelor of arts degree in economics at Vanderbilt University, and a master’s degree and PhD in economics at the University of Tennessee. [Read more…]

VITA Tax Center opens Feb. 9

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The Oak Ridge Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) is now in its fourth decade of helping community residents to complete and file tax returns.

The 2021 VITA Tax Center will open on Tuesday, February 9, and it is again located at the United Way of Anderson County at 728 Emory Valley Road. The Center will be open from Tuesday through Saturday. The new operating hours are from 1-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. There will be no evening hours.

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Roane State temporarily closes Coffey-McNally Building

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Roane-State-Coffey-McNally-Building
The Roane State Community College campus in Oak Ridge is pictured above. (Photo by Roane State)

Roane State Community College has temporarily closed the Coffey-McNally Building because of a recent increase in self-reported COVID-19 cases on the Oak Ridge Branch Campus.

The closure of the Coffey-McNally Building is a precautionary measure, Roane State said in a press release. The building closure took effect Wednesday evening.

The reported cases appear to be isolated, and all those affected are observing quarantine, Roane State said. The Coffey-McNally Building will be thoroughly cleaned before its planned reopening on Monday, January 25, the college said. The Goff Building will remain open.

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