Oak Ridge Today

Man allegedly threatens officers with shovel

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

William Arley Rauhuff

William Arley Rauhuff

An Oak Ridge man was charged with aggravated assault after he allegedly threatened officers with a shovel on Friday, August 18.

William A. Rauhuff, 62, has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault and one count of resisting arrest.

Police had responded to a report of a possible suicide attempt on Marion Road at about 5:17 p.m. August 18, according to affidavits filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge.

Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Sherrill Selby was the first to arrive. Speaking through the front door of the home, Rauhuff told Selby that he was going to take her gun from her and shoot her, the affidavits said. [Read more…]

Anderson County EMS sending ambulance, two employees to help with Hurricane Irma

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Anderson County EMS Paramedic Michael Rhinehart, left, and AEMT Justin Harmon left on Friday morning, Sept. 8, 2017, to help respond to Hurricane Irma in Florida. (Photo courtesy Nathan Sweet/Anderson County EMS)

Anderson County EMS Paramedic Michael Rhinehart, left, and AEMT Justin Harmon departed on Friday morning, Sept. 8, 2017, to help respond to Hurricane Irma in Florida. (Photo courtesy Nathan Sweet/Anderson County EMS)

 

An emergency medical services region in East Tennessee that includes Anderson County is sending a strike force of five ambulances and one command vehicle to Florida to help respond to Hurricane Irma.

The ambulances, crews, and command vehicle are from a 16-county region known as Region 2 in Tennessee, said Nathan Sweet, director of Anderson County EMS.

Anderson County EMS is sending one ambulance and two employees. The two employees are Paramedic Michael Rhinehart and AEMT Justin Harmon. (An AEMT is an advanced emergency medical technician.)

Rhinehart and Harmon left at 8:45 a.m. Friday, and they headed to Lenoir City to meet up with the strike force. From there, they are going to Chattanooga to meet up with a strike force from Region 1. It’s not clear yet where they will be deployed. [Read more…]

ORNL helps emergency responders with hurricanes Harvey, Irma

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The map above is part of the LandScan system that has been used by Oak Ridge National Laboratory to help readiness, response, and recovery crews during Hurricane Harvey, which hit most heavily in Texas. This map shows population counts in the Houston area, with red areas having the highest counts and yellow areas lower counts and gray areas none. The map has a flooding overlay, where red is more flooding and green is less. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The map above is part of the LandScan USA system that has been used by Oak Ridge National Laboratory to help readiness, response, and recovery crews during Hurricane Harvey, which hit Texas on Friday, Aug. 25, 2017. This map shows population counts in the Houston area, with red areas having the highest counts and yellow areas lower counts and gray areas none. The map has a flooding overlay, where red shows more flooding and green shows less. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Data collection systems at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are being used to help emergency responders and recovery crews with two deadly hurricanes, Harvey and Irma.

The data collection systems are LandScan USA and EAGLE-I. Information from the systems is being used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Department of Homeland Security, among other agencies. The two systems give information on electric customer outages and population counts, and they are being used in daily briefings, according to ORNL staff members.

The first system, LandScan USA, shows population counts with a resolution of about 90 meters. The system can show color-coded maps with population counts ranging for high to low, and it includes daytime and nighttime populations.

Flood maps can be overlaid on the population count maps to help determine the best places for rescuers to respond, said Amy Rose, ORNL team lead in Population Distribution and Dynamics. Rose displayed that map and overlay during an interview in the EVEREST visualization laboratory at ORNL on Tuesday.

Houston, which experienced heavy flooding, didn’t evacuate before Hurricane Harvey, a category 4 storm that came ashore just northeast of Corpus Christi, Texas, on Friday night, August 25. [Read more…]

Support local, independent media. Subscribe to Oak Ridge Today.

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

If you appreciate our reporting, please consider becoming a voluntary subscriber to Oak Ridge Today.

You don’t have to subscribe to read our stories, but your contribution will help us cover local news for you. We are a local independently owned small business. We could use your help.

We currently offer three subscription levels: $5, $10, or $25 per month. We accept payments through PayPal. You can also send check payments to our P.O. box. Please visit our subscription page for information on these options. [Read more…]

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department warns of scam

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department is warning residents of a new scam where someone is misrepresenting themselves as an Anderson County Sheriff’s deputy. Calls have been made from “Deputy James Marshall” from telephone number (865) 909-7996, and this person is asking that prepaid cards be obtained to pay for fines or take care of arrest warrants, a press release said.

“Please be aware law enforcement agencies, court clerk’s offices, or other government organizations do not make calls such as this and ask for debit or prepaid card numbers,” Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said in the press release.

If Anderson County residents receive such calls, they should notify the Sheriff’s Department at (865) 457-2414 or their local police department.

Updated: Runaway juvenile located

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Kendrick Cranmore

Kendrick Cranmore

This story was updated at 7 p.m.

A juvenile reported as a runaway on Wednesday has been located, authorities said.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department said Kendrick Cranmore has been located and returned to his mother.

“Our thanks to the Loudon Police Department for their assistance,” the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department said Wednesday evening.

A white 2004 Toyota Tacoma pickup that was taken from his mother’s home had been located early Wednesday morning in Monroe County on Orr Road near the Loudon County line, and Cranmore was believed to be in the area of Anderson, Loudon, or Monroe County, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department said earlier Wednesday.

Updated: X-energy, Centrus Energy to develop fuel for advanced nuclear reactors

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Larry Cutlip, left, Centrus Energy vice president of field operations, and Pete Pappano, X Energy vice president of fuel production, announce a collaboration on fuel for advanced nuclear reactors at the Nuclear Suppliers Workshop at Pollard Technology Conference Center on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Larry Cutlip, left, Centrus Energy vice president of field operations, and Pete Pappano, X Energy vice president of fuel production, announce a collaboration on fuel for advanced nuclear reactors at the Nuclear Suppliers Workshop at Pollard Technology Conference Center on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

This story was last updated at 5:30 a.m. Sept. 7.

Two companies that have operations or employees in Oak Ridge are exploring a collaboration for the possible production of fuel for advanced nuclear reactors.

The two companies, X Energy LLC and Centrus Energy Corporation, announced Wednesday that they have signed a memorandum of understanding for the potential collaboration.

They are expected to put together a business plan for the fuel fabrication business. It’s not clear how long that might take, said Jeremy Derryberry, Centrus Energy senior communications manager.

But the companies are working toward the development of a fuel fabrication facility that could possibly be in Oak Ridge, where Centrus, formerly known as USEC, has had operations for about 15 years.

“We really think that Oak Ridge can be a nexus for the advanced reactor industry in the U.S. going forward,” Derryberry said in a telephone interview Wednesday.
[Read more…]

Community meeting on Thursday to discuss park amenities & preschool budget, costs

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The April 2017 meeting on the new Oak Ridge Preschool is pictured above at the Scarboro Community Center. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The April 2017 meeting on the new Oak Ridge Preschool is pictured above at the Scarboro Community Center. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The fifth and final public forum-style meeting on the new Oak Ridge Preschool will be at the Scarboro Community Center on Thursday. The meeting will focus on the recreational amenities in Scarboro Park as well as the current budget and estimated costs for the project, a press release said.

The meeting, which will be hosted by city leaders, is scheduled from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, September 7. It’s part of the “ongoing dialogue with the community regarding the new Oak Ridge Preschool,” the press release said.

Four previous meetings have been held this year at Scarboro Community Center to discuss plans for the facility. Those meetings were on March 23, April 20, May 25, and July 11. Those in attendance have been able to see preliminary concepts, ask questions, and provide input on decisions, the press release said.

After the July meeting, when conceptual designs were affirmed by the community, architects began work on construction drawings, the press release said. [Read more…]

Woman escapes, pets evacuated after lightning strikes home, sparking fire

Posted at
By 2 Comments

A woman escaped and pets were evacuated after lightning struck a home on Albion Road in east Oak Ridge on Tuesday morning, Sept. 5, 2017, likely destroying the residence, authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A woman escaped and pets were evacuated after lightning struck a home on Albion Road in east Oak Ridge on Tuesday morning, Sept. 5, 2017, likely destroying the residence, authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A woman escaped and pets were evacuated after lightning struck a home in east Oak Ridge on Tuesday morning, sparking a fire and likely destroying the residence, authorities said.

The lightning strike was reported at 105 Albion Road at 9:39 a.m. Tuesday. The home is just north of Emory Valley Road and just west of Melton Lake Drive.

The lighting strike occurred roughly in the center of the home, and it started an attic fire that spread across the house.

The female resident was watching television and she felt it, said Gary Williamson, Oak Ridge Fire Department engineer and investigator. She got out of her chair to investigate and saw smoke coming out of outlets and vents. The woman, who was reported to be okay, went to a neighbor’s house.

Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley arrived quickly and reported that the fire was already through the roof, Williamson said. [Read more…]

Employers, students invited to Roane State’s Sept. 27 internship fair at Oak Ridge campus

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

There are plenty of internships available each year for Roane State Community College students, with pay ranging from minimum wage to up to $18 an hour.

Many of these opportunities go unfilled, often because students are unaware of them, said Kim Harris, the college’s workforce training and placement director.

With that in mind, the college’s placement office is hosting its first Internship Opportunities Fair from 10 a.m. until noon on Wednesday, September 27, in the Coffey/McNally Building on the Oak Ridge Campus at 701 Briarcliff Avenue.

“This effort hopes to connect our students with area employers who have internship opportunities available throughout the year,” Harris said. [Read more…]

Boys & Girls Clubs has fundraising Reverse Raffle on Oct. 7

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Clinch Valley will hold its annual Reverse Raffle on Saturday, October 7, at 6:30 p.m. This year’s event will again be hosted and catered by the Oak Ridge Country Club, a press release said.

The Oak Ridge Country Club’s renovations to their pool and outdoor bar have created a great space for entertainment, the press release said.

“By having the event a little later this year, we hope to take advantage of the outdoor spaces, cooler weather, and phenomenal fall views,” said Boys & Girls Club Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Pettyjohn.

This year’s jackpot is again $10,000, the press release said. [Read more…]

Learn how to be a medical advocate on Friday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Submitted

The public is invited to a program, “The Importance of Taking Charge: How to Be a Medical Advocate for Yourself and Others,” at noon on Friday, September 8, at Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge.

Gay Marie Logsdon will speak from experience related to medical care within her family during the past 30-plus years, including dealing with major insurance agencies and receiving extended care after a head-on car wreck in October 2016.

A meet-and-greet session will be held at 11:30 a.m. before the presentation, in Room F-110 of the main (Coffey-McNally) building. The program is sponsored by Church Women United. All are welcome!

For more information, call (865) 483-7940.

This press release was submitted by Gay Marie Logsdon.