Oak Ridge Today

Blount County man dies in single-vehicle crash in Oak Ridge

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A Blount County man died Thursday night in a single-vehicle crash in Oak Ridge.

William F. Alldis, 34, of Louisville, Tennessee, was pronounced dead at the crash site, the City of Oak Ridge said in a news release.

Oak Ridge Police Department officers responded to the 200-block area of Lafayette Drive after a call about an erratic driver at 8:51 p.m., and a crash was reported minutes later at 8:53 p.m., the release said.

When they arrived at 8:55 p.m., officers began life-saving measures until they were relieved by Oak Ridge Fire Department firefighters and Anderson County Emergency Medical Services medics. However, these life-saving measures were not successful, the release said.

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Speakers to Discuss National Labor Relations Board at Democratic Women’s Club Meeting

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Guest speakers Derek Guy and James Taylor will discuss the National Labor Relations Board and its impact on organized labor and management at the Monday, July 29, meeting of the Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club.

The meeting, from 5:30-7 p.m., will be at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 270 hall, 138 N. Lincoln Circle, Oak Ridge.

The NLRB is an independent federal agency that protects workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively. The board also acts to prevent and remedy unfair labor practices committed by private sector employers and unions, as well as conducts secret-ballot elections regarding union representation. The speakers will discuss how the climate at the NLRB has changed under the new chairperson appointed during the Biden administration, Lauren McFerran.

Guy is a Union Organizer for IBEW Local 270 who is familiar with local labor unions and knows first-hand the pivotal role unions play in today’s labor environment. He recently participated in a labor delegation meeting with President Biden in Washington, D.C. He and his wife Regina, also a member of IBEW Local 270, have three children and are active volunteers in the Oak Ridge community.

Taylor, a partner in the Atlanta law firm Martenson-Hasbrook & Simon, LLP, has a practice focused on affirmative action compliance and regulatory issues, with experience related to federal contractors across the U.S. and with state and municipal affirmative action cases. He has extensive knowledge on regulatory practices of the NLRB and will share insights on the federal agency.

The meeting will begin with a potluck dinner featuring salads and desserts. For more information, email the Democratic Women’s Club at
[email protected].
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County wants to improve access to government services

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Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank is asking residents for help improving physical and electronic access to county government facilities and services.

A kickoff meeting for the “Access Anderson County Initiative” is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Thursday, August 1, in Room 118A of the Anderson County Courthouse at 100 North Main Street in Clinton.

“Clear and effective government signage, as well as website navigation, can help county government facilities and departments communicate effectively with citizens, as well as improve safety,” a press release said. “It can also help provide citizens with the information they need to access government and resources.”

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Oak Ridge Philharmonia presents two free concerts in August

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The Oak Ridge Philharmonia will present two free POPS concerts in August in Oak Ridge and Knoxville.

“We hope you can join us for a generous portion of very enjoyable and inspiring music,” a press release said.

Musical performances will include:

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Learn about Oak Ridge history during World War II

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Photo courtesy Manhattan Project National Historical Park

You can learn more about the history of Oak Ridge during World War II during a free national park walk through Jackson Square on Thursday, July 18.

The walk is offered by the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, which includes Oak Ridge.

The program is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. July 18, at the fountain in the main parking lot in Jackson Square.

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Candidate forums this week

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There are two forums this week in Oak Ridge featuring candidates in the Tennessee primary election and Anderson County and Roane County general elections in August.

The forums have been organized by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, and the public is invited.

Early voting begins in both counties on Friday, July 12.

The Anderson County forum is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 9. It will take place at the Oak Ridge Campus of Roane State Community College in Room 107 in the Goff Building.

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Manhattan Project Park: Walk through Wheat

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Photo courtesy National Park Service

You can walk through Wheat with a National Park Service ranger on Saturday, July 13, and learn more about the history of this community before the Manhattan Project.

Wheat was in an area that is now west Oak Ridge, and it was one of the communities displaced by the Manhattan Project, a top-secret federal program to build the world’s first atomic bombs during World War II.

The free July 13 walk is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

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Crews preparing for first demolition of uranium enrichment building at Y-12

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A U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management crew member works to install one of three bridges to support the relocation of utilities away from the Alpha-2 facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex. Each bridge weighs over 2,000 pounds. (Photo courtesy DOE OREM)

From U.S. Department of Energy “EM Update” email newsletter

U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management crews at Oak Ridge are moving closer toward completing the first-ever demolition of a former uranium enrichment facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex as crews reroute utilities around the structure.

Workers are slated to begin demolition on the Alpha-2 building this fall. Initiating teardown of the facility is an EM priority for 2024.

The 325,000-square-foot Manhattan Project-era facility is one of nine uranium enrichment process buildings constructed at Y-12. Its removal by the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) and contractor UCOR will eliminate a high-risk excess contaminated facility, enable modernization, and clear land to support national security missions.

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Roane State celebrates construction milestone for new health science campus in west Knoxville 

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Roane State Community College and its nonprofit Foundation hosted a ceremony on July 2, 2024, commemorating a major milestone in the construction of the college’s new Knox Regional Health Science Education Center in West Knoxville, when construction crews hoisted and installed the final piece of steel for the facility’s frame. (Photo courtesy Roane State)

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Roane State Community College and its nonprofit Foundation hosted a ceremony on July 2, 2024, commemorating a major milestone in the construction of the college’s new Knox Regional Health Science Education Center in west Knoxville.

Construction crews hoisted and installed the final piece of steel for the facility’s frame as part of the event. Project supporters and members of the community were invited to watch the “topping off” ceremony. Many of those in attendance signed their names to the beam prior to it being lifted into place at the top of the structure.

“This moment is symbolic as we move ever closer to opening the doors of this new campus, a facility which will help the college fulfill its mission of strengthening lives through the power of higher education and building thriving communities,” said Scott Niermann, Roane State Foundation’s executive director.

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ORAU announces Jenni Hoff as new acting director for NIOSH project along with Chris Tornes as acting deputy director

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OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — Jenni Hoff, Ph.D., assumed the duties of acting project director for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) on the Energy Employee’s Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). Hoff replaced Kate Kimpan, who retired after 18 years as project director, effective June 8.

Since 2002, ORAU has served as the prime contractor to NIOSH on the EEOICPA. This Act, passed by the US Congress in 2000, created a compensation program based on radiation exposure dose reconstruction, for workers in the U.S. nuclear weapons complex who were diagnosed with cancer.
The ORAU Team (ORAU in tandem with their teaming partners MJW Technical Services and NV5/Dade Moeller) has spent the past 22 years working for NIOSH and their Division of Compensation Analysis and Support to process claims for ill workers and their survivors.

ORAU has named Hoff, currently deputy project director, as the acting project director.

“ORAU is excited for Jenni Hoff to take on this new position since she has been on the NIOSH project since May 2003 in various leadership roles with increasing responsibility, and she is incredibly knowledgeable about every aspect of the program,” said ORAU President and CEO Andy Page.

Hoff received her undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees in nuclear engineering from the University of Tennessee.

Taking over the vacated deputy director position in an acting capacity will be Chris Tornes, who brings more than 20 years of experience serving on the project. Tornes received his undergraduate degree in nuclear engineering and master’s degree in health physics from the University of Cincinnati.

ORAU provides innovative scientific and technical solutions to advance national priorities in science, education, security and health. Through specialized teams of experts, unique laboratory capabilities and access to a consortium of more than 150 colleges and universities, ORAU works with federal, state, local and commercial customers to advance national priorities and serve the public interest. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and federal contractor, ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education for the U.S. Department of Energy. Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org.

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Oak Ridge announces Independence Day concert, fireworks

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Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge

The City of Oak Ridge is sponsoring its annual fireworks show to celebrate Independence Day. The display will be held in Alvin K. Bissell Park on July 4, and it is scheduled to begin at dark, around 9:45 p.m.

The Oak Ridge Community Band will perform prior to the fireworks, a press release said. The concert is free, but donations are accepted by the band to help cover the cost of equipment and other expenses. The music is expected to begin at 7:30 p.m.

Anyone planning to attend is advised to bring a lawn chair or blanket for outdoor seating. A safety zone will be established by the Oak Ridge Fire Department, the press release said. Please sit only in the designated areas. The walking trail and most of A.K. Bissell Park will be closed for safety reasons during the fireworks show and set up.

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First Oak Ridge Outdoor Festival is Saturday

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The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department and Explore Oak Ridge are teaming up to host the first-ever Oak Ridge Outdoor Festival on Saturday.

The free event will be a day of fun activities at Oak Ridge parks, including disc golf, pickleball, kayaking, hiking, mountain biking and plein-air art, a press release said.

The festival is set for Saturday, June 22, from 9 a.m. to noon. There will be two sessions offered, so attendees could participate in two sessions. The first is from 9 to 10:15 a.m. and the second is from 10:45 a.m. to noon.

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