Oak Ridge Today

TBI investigating man’s death

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The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating the death of a 39-year-old man during an interaction with Oak Ridge police officers in the Hendrix Creek subdivision on Sunday afternoon.

Oak Ridge Police Department officers had made contact with the man, Tyler Jones, after receiving a report of a suspicious person around Heritage Drive, the TBI said. He began showing signs of distress, and medical personnel were called.

“At some point during the encounter, after medical personnel arrived, Jones became unresponsive,” the TBI said. “Officers immediately rendered aid until paramedics arrived. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.”

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Luminarias to feature peace messages

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Photo credit: National Park Service/B. Burghart

Luminarias with peace messages will be lit this year to remember and acknowledge the atomic bombings of Japan in August 1945, the Manhattan Project National Historical Park said.

A luminaria is a lantern with a candle inside a small paper bag.

The peace messages will be written by the public before events in August, the Manhattan Project National Historical Park said.

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DOE bus tours restart in Oak Ridge

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U.S. Department of Energy public bus tours have resumed in Oak Ridge after a two-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo from DOE)

U.S. Department of Energy public bus tours have resumed in Oak Ridge after a two-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The tours began running again on July 11, and they are scheduled to continue through November.

“The program is a longtime staple in the community, helping educate residents and visitors about the site’s rich history and current missions,” DOE said in an EM Update newsletter published Tuesday. (EM stands for environmental management.)

The tour program started in 1996 and has attracted tens of thousands of visitors from all 50 states, DOE said.

The three-and-a-half-hour tours allow visitors to see all three DOE sites on the Oak Ridge Reservation, including Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Y-12 National Security Complex, and East Tennessee Technology Park.

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Repairs set for S. Illinois Ave. this week

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The City of Oak Ridge Public Works Department will be making asphalt repairs to South Illinois Avenue this week, weather permitting, a press release said.

The work will be in the northbound lanes across from Badger Avenue near Sonic and stopping at Oak Ridge Turnpike. Crews are set to begin at 8 a.m. and end at 3 p.m.

For more information, contact Oak Ridge Public Works Department at (865) 425-1875 or visit OakRidgeTN.gov.

‘Forever Plaid’ to open at Oak Ridge Playhouse

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‘Forever Plaid’ opens at the Oak Ridge Playhouse on Thursday, July 21, 2022. (Photo submitted by Oak Ridge Playhouse)

Submitted

“Forever Plaid” is scheduled for performances at the Oak Ridge Playhouse from July 21 to July 31.

Featuring vintage songs from the 1950s and 1960s, “Forever Plaid” is a timeless revue centered around the close-harmony guy group Forever Plaid. [Read more…]

Crews prepare former ORNL reactors for demolition

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An aerial view of the central campus area at Oak Ridge National Laboratory that the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management will be transforming in the months ahead. Demolition is scheduled to begin on Building 3010 (front right) this fall followed by Building 3005 (back right) later this year. Crews are also conducting cleanup projects in Building 3042 (left). (Photo courtesy U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management)

The U.S. Department of Energy and cleanup contractor UCOR are preparing to demolish research reactor facilities at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Crews are nearing the final stages of deactivation inside two former research reactor facilities: the Bulk Shielding Reactor, known as Building 3010, and the Low Intensity Test Reactor, known as Building 3005, according to a newsletter published by DOE’s Office of Environmental Management. They are also beginning efforts at the Oak Ridge Research Reactor, known as Building 3042.

The work is overseen by DOE’s Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, or OREM.

These structures are located in the heart of ORNL, and their demolition will eliminate risks, clear land for research missions, and enhance access to a component of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, the department said.

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Zacharia retiring as ORNL director

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Thomas Zacharia has served as laboratory director since July 2017. (Photo credit: Carlos Jones/Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy)

Thomas Zacharia plans to retire as director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory at the end of 2022 after 35 years at the nation’s largest science and energy laboratory, a press release said.

Zacharia has served as laboratory director since July 2017, overseeing the lab’s extensive $2.5 billion research portfolio and staff of nearly 6, the press release said.

“An incredible leader, extraordinary collaborator, and powerhouse innovator, Thomas is leaving a profound impact on ORNL and the world,” said Randy Boyd, University of Tennessee system president and chairman of the UT-Battelle board of governors. UT-Battelle operates ORNL for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

In his tenure as lab director, Zacharia spearheaded significant growth in ORNL’s staff and portfolio, established new research initiatives, and guided the lab through the COVID-19 pandemic, the press release said.

Among milestones during Zacharia’s tenure as director, the press release said, the laboratory has:

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Investigation under way in West Outer Drive house fire

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Three people are safe after a house fire on West Outer Drive on Friday morning, July 15, 2022. (Photo from City of Oak Ridge)

Three people are safe after a house fire on West Outer Drive on Friday morning.

Fire crews arrived on scene of the home, located at 687 West Outer Drive, within three minutes of the call, a press release said. They arrived at 10:06 a.m. to find the home on fire with heavy smoke coming from the roof.

One man suffered injuries that weren’t life-threatening after escaping through a window, the press release said. He was treated on scene and did not need to be taken to the hospital.

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Oak Ridge has July 4 concert, fireworks

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The annual July 4 concert and fireworks show is in Oak Ridge this evening.

The Independence Day fireworks display will be held in Alvin K. Bissell Park on Monday, July 4, and it is scheduled to begin at dark, around 9:45 p.m. In order to set up for the event, the walking trails in Bissell Park will be closed beginning at 8:30 a.m. the morning of the event, a press release said.

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

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Rocky Top woman pleads guilty to murder, sentenced to life

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Christy Viola Comer, left, who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in Anderson County Criminal Court in Clinton on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, listens to testimony during a preliminary hearing in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Clinton on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019. At right is defense attorney Leslie Hunt. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

An Anderson County woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to first-degree murder and aggravated robbery in the death of J.C. Copeland, an 83-year-old Rocky Top man, and she was sentenced to life in prison plus an extra 20 years.

Christy Viola Comer, 41, entered the guilty plea in Anderson County Criminal Court in Clinton on Tuesday afternoon.

Christy Viola Comer, left, who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in Anderson County Criminal Court in Clinton on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, listens to testimony during a preliminary hearing in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Clinton on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019. At right is defense attorney Leslie Hunt. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

An Anderson County woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to first-degree murder and aggravated robbery in the death of J.C. Copeland, an 83-year-old Rocky Top man, and she was sentenced to life in prison plus an extra 20 years.

Christy Viola Comer, 41, entered the guilty plea in Anderson County Criminal Court in Clinton on Tuesday afternoon.

Comer had planned to rob Copeland, who was described as a “sweet old man,” because “it would be easy,” according to testimony during a preliminary hearing in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Clinton in January 2019.

Comer traded some of the property stolen from Copeland’s home, a digital video disc player, for a $10 bag of methamphetamine, according to court testimony by Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Agent John Hannon.

Copeland’s body was found partially wrapped in a pink blanket underneath a porch at a mobile home on Jacksboro Avenue in Rocky Top on August 31, 2018, Hannon said. Copeland is believed to have been strangled until he died, according to court records. There was white rope around his neck and other parts of his body, including his wrists and ankles, Hannon testified during the preliminary hearing.

“In the overnight hours of August 30, 2018, Christy Comer made the decision to rob him (Copeland) to get money for methamphetamine,” Seventh Judicial District Attorney General Dave Clark said in a press release Tuesday.

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REAC/TS welcomes new team members: John Crapo, Josh Hayes and David Quillen

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OAK RIDGE, Tenn.— The Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS) in Oak Ridge, Tenn., welcomes three new team members: John Crapo, Josh Hayes and David Quillin. John Crapo joins the team as a part-time health physicist after retiring from the National Nuclear Security Administration, where he served as a program manager in the Office of Nuclear Incident Response. Prior to that, Crapo spent nine years with Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) working on its flagship contract, the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, serving as associate director for its national security programs. His experience also includes 26 years of active duty in the U.S. Navy, serving as a nuclear engineering technician and radiation specialist, retiring at the rank of lieutenant commander. Crapo earned his bachelor’s degree in radiological health physics at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell; his master’s degree in health physics at Georgetown University; and a master’s degree in environmental health from the School of Public Health, Harvard University. Crapo is certified in the Comprehensive Practice of Health Physics by the American Board of Health Physics, serves as the president of Clarksburg Community Assistance Network and is the executive administrator at Cedarbrook Community Church, Clarksburg, Md. Josh Hayes, Ph.D, joins the team as a health physicist. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a defense specialist and spent most of his enlistment stationed in Okinawa, Japan, where he was able to respond to the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011. That experience led Josh to pursue goals in studying radiological sciences. Hayes holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences, a master’s degree in health physics and a doctorate degree in radiological health from Colorado State University (CSU). While working at CSU, he had the opportunity to travel several times for extended stays to Fukushima, Japan, to work with wildlife biologists and veterinarians, studying the impacts the environmentally dispersed radiation from the Fukushima nuclear disaster was having on wildlife. Specifically, he studied the hematological system of wild boar and field mice, which lead him to ORAU in 2018 for a summer internship. Following completion of his doctorate degree in 2020, Hayes moved to Vienna, Austria, to work for the International Atomic Energy Agency as a radiobiologist and biodosimetrist. In his spare time, he enjoys running the trails at Frozen Head State Park. David Quillin comes to REAC/TS as a nurse. Most recently Quillin worked as an occupational health nurse at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Prior to that, he worked as a critical care nurse at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center while also working with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office as a reserve patrol officer. In addition to nursing, Quillin brings with him many years of law enforcement experience. He holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Kentucky. 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 Like us on Facebook: ORISE Facebook Follow us on Twitter: ORISE Twitter Connect with us on LinkedIn: ORISE LinkedIn Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oriseconnect/ ###

NASA Postdoctoral Program seeks early career and senior scientists for prestigious fellowships at its locations across the U.S.

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Oak Ridge, Tenn.— NASA invites both early-career and senior scientists to explore fellowship opportunities in its postdoctoral program and share in NASA’s mission to develop advancements in science, technology, aeronautics and space exploration. The deadline to apply for this cycle of fellowships is July 1, 2022. Learn more or apply for fellowships in the NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP). ORAU manages the NPP for NASA.

“The NPP includes diverse scientific and technological fellowships offered at NASA and one-of-a-kind educational experiences that prepare future leaders for NASA and the academic community,” said ORAU NPP Program Director J. Scott Miller, Ph.D. “ORAU supports NASA’s goal to build an inclusive, collaborative, open, and innovative work environment that enhances work-life balance and encourages career development for postdoctoral fellows.”

This program offers unique research opportunities to highly-talented U.S. and non-U.S. scientists to engage in ongoing NASA research projects with top scientists at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters or at a NASA-affiliated research institute. These one- to three-year fellowships are competitive and are designed to advance NASA’s missions in space science, earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems and astrobiology.

Deadlines and Eligibility
Annual NPP application deadlines are March 1, July 1, and Nov. 1. Scientists within five years of having received their degrees are eligible to apply as a postdoctoral fellow; scientists who have received their doctorates more than five years previously may apply as a senior fellow. After the first year as a postdoctoral fellow, scientists interested in management may apply to the postdoctoral management program at NASA Headquarters.

Benefits
Stipend rates for these NASA postdoctoral fellows currently start at $63,000 per year. Supplements are provided for higher cost-of-living areas and certain academic specialties. The stipend amount for a senior postdoctoral fellow is based on the location of the appointment, experience (number of years beyond the doctoral degree) and career achievement, including academic rank and professional title. Available benefits include health insurance supplements, professional development resources, a research allowance up to $10,000 per year and relocation reimbursement.

Learn More and Apply
Beginning with this current application cycle ending on July 1, NASA has re-opened eligibility to foreign nationals who are eligible for the Exchange Visitor J-1 visa status. See eligibility and requirements for more details.

Learn more about the NPP, including how to apply, eligibility and requirements, additional benefits and what to expect during the application process at https://npp.orau.org. For additional information, email npp@orau.org.

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 100 major Ph.D.-granting institutions, 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. Visit https://www.orau.org for more information.

According to NASA, it is America’s civil space program and the global leader in space exploration. The agency has a diverse workforce of just under 18,000 civil servants, and works with many more U.S. contractors, academia, and international and commercial partners to explore, discover, and expand knowledge for the benefit of humanity. With an annual budget of $23.2 billion in Fiscal Year 2021, which is less than 0.5% of the overall U.S. federal budget, NASA supports more than 312,000 jobs across the United States, generating more than $64.3 billion in total economic output (Fiscal Year 2019). Learn more at https://www.nasa.gov/about