Oak Ridge Today

State encourages shopping at local stores, restaurants on Small Business Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

NASHVILLE—While the day after Thanksgiving may be the unofficial kick-off to the holiday shopping season, Small Business Saturday is gaining popularity and momentum in Tennessee and around the United States.

Small Business Saturday began in 2010 as an American Express initiative, and it has grown into a movement that millions of individuals, businesses, and communities have embraced nationwide—and continue to support each and every day. On Saturday, Nov. 30, hundreds of Tennessee businesses will open their doors as customers are encouraged to “Shop Small.” [Read more…]

ORNL’s Keller, Babu, Hazen elected AAAS fellows

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

ORNL Martin Keller, Sudarsanam Suresh Babu, and Terry Clyde Hazen

Martin Keller, associate director for energy and environmental sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and UT-ORNL Governor’s Chairs Suresh Babu and Terry Hazen have been elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. (Photos courtesy ORNL)

The associate laboratory director for Energy and Environmental Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and two University of Tennessee-ORNL Governor’s Chair researchers are among the newly elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

EES Associate Laboratory Director Martin Keller and Governor’s Chairs Sudarsanam Suresh Babu and Terry Clyde Hazen will receive the highest honor bestowed by members of the AAAS on their peers. AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science.

Keller came to ORNL in 2006 from Diversa Corporation, where he held a series of research management positions. He was cited by his AAAS peers for “distinguished contributions to bioenergy science, and for dynamic and inspiring leadership of innovative partnerships to advance the development and deployment of clean energy technologies.” [Read more…]

TVA retiring eight coal units at three plants

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Colbert Fossil Plant

The Tennessee Valley Authority is retiring all five coal units at the Colbert Fossil Plant on the Pickwick Reservoir on the Tennessee River in Alabama. (Photo courtesy TVA)

The Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors recently approved a plan that will retire eight coal units at three plants with more than 3,000 megawatts of combined generating capacity.

The retirements affect all five coal units at the Colbert Fossil Plant in Tuscumbia, Ala.; one of two operating coal units at Widows Creek Fossil Plant in Stevenson, Ala., and two of three coal units at the Paradise Fossil Plant near Central City, Ky. Paradise Unit 3, one of TVA’s largest coal units, will continue to operate.

A number of these units were already idled or scheduled for idling and/or retirement based on an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency, TVA said in a press release. [Read more…]

President Obama announces more DOE nominations, including science director

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON, D.C.— President Barack Obama recently announced plans to nominate two people to top U.S. Department of Energy posts, including a director of the Office of Science.

The Office of Science is responsible for 10 of the 17 DOE labs, including Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Obama nominated Marc Kastner to serve as director of the Office of Science and Franklin Orr to serve as DOE under secretary for science and energy.

“I am confident that these outstanding individuals will greatly serve the American people in their new roles, and I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come,” Obama said in a press release.

Here is more information about the two candidates: [Read more…]

NNSA removes high-activity radioactive materials from Boston

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Nuclear Security Administration recently successfully recovered a disused, high-activity cesium-137 source from Massachusetts General Hospital in downtown Boston and transported it for permanent disposition. Formerly used as a research irradiator for medical studies, the device contained cesium-137, which could be used in a dirty bomb. The removal was part of NNSA’s global campaign to prevent terrorists from acquiring nuclear and radiological material.

“This operation is a key part of the NNSA’s broad strategy to strengthen both U.S. and global security by keeping dangerous nuclear and radiological material safe and secure,” said NNSA Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Anne Harrington. “Today’s announcement is a good example of how NNSA utilizes its unique expertise and assets at the national laboratories to partner with local communities and other agencies to make our cities and those around the world safer and more secure.” [Read more…]

Free community meal, cold weather clothing at UU church on Friday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A free community meal and cold weather clothing will be available at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church on Friday.

Black bean chili, sandwiches, and pastries are on the menu, a press release said. Dine-in or take-out will be available from 5 to 6 p.m. Everyone is invited.

It’s the monthly Stone Soup Ministry meal, which is held the last Friday of every month at the same time in the Social Hall of the Church. The Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church is at 1500 Oak Ridge Turnpike. [Read more…]

TVA tax equivalent payments total $547 million in 2013

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Submitted

KNOXVILLE—The Tennessee Valley Authority provided $547 million in tax equivalent payments in fiscal year 2013 to states and local governments where it sells electricity or has power properties.

TVA pays tax equivalent payments annually in the eight states where it sells electricity or owns generating plants, transmission lines, substations and other assets, and directly to 146 local governments where TVA owns power facilities. [Read more…]

Blasting continues at Kroger Marketplace site on Monday

Posted at
By 5 Comments

Kroger Marketplace Site Plan

Kroger Marketplace Site Plan

Blasting at the Kroger Marketplace construction site is scheduled to continue at 2 p.m. Monday.

Police officers will stop traffic on Illinois Avenue and Oak Ridge Turnpike for the duration of the blast, which will be about three to five minutes, a press release said.

During the blasting, Illinois Avenue traffic will be blocked from Robertsville Road to Oak Ridge Turnpike, and Oak Ridge Turnpike traffic will be blocked from the Illinois-Turnpike intersection east to Robertsville Road. [Read more…]

Africa education, leadership initiative to be focus of human rights celebration

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Anita Henderlight with Sudanese Students

Anita Henderlight meets with students at the secondary school established through Africa ELI in South Sudan. (Submitted photos)

Anita Henderlight, executive director of Africa Education and Leadership Initiative, will be the guest speaker at a Human Rights Celebration organized by Church Women United on Friday, Dec. 6, at Spurgeon Chapel in Oak Ridge. The theme of the celebration is “Breaking Down the Doors of Injustice.”

Founded in 2006, Africa ELI works in the world’s newest country of South Sudan to bridge gender gaps in secondary education by improving access to school for girls and refugees of war. Henderlight travels extensively to mobilize investors and collaborates with Africa ELI personnel, partner agencies, government leaders, and South Sudan’s young adults to help them implement skill-building programs and develop sustainable solutions to meet their educational and occupational needs, a press release said.

Spurgeon Chapel is located on the corner of South Benedict and Houston Avenue in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Youth Board has free Turkey Bowl Disc Golf on Sunday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board will host Turkey Bowl Disc Golf on Sunday.

It starts at 2 p.m. Sunday at Groves Park Disc Golf Course on Tuskegee Drive. That’s the former South Hills Golf Course site.

The event is part of Oak Ridge’s Playful City USA initiative. Participants of all ages are welcome to try this sport, which is growing in popularity, a press release said. Free “Turkey Bowl” logo discs will be provided to participants while supplies last. [Read more…]

Ruby Tuesday restructuring to eliminate 50 positions

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

Ruby Tuesday announced Wednesday that it will eliminate 50 positions at its restaurant support center in Maryville.

The company, which has a restaurant in Oak Ridge, said the job cuts are in response to a cost review program on the heels of millions of dollars in reported losses during the past couple of years. The move is expected to save the company about $6 million a year beginning in 2015. [Read more…]

WYSH: Man charged after meth lab sets apartment on fire

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

A Kingston man was arrested early Tuesday morning after his meth lab caught his bedroom apartment on fire.

Roane County deputies arrested Justin Michael Owens, 23, on five counts of reckless endangerment and one count each of manufacturing meth, tampering with evidence, and vandalism following the incident, which occurred at Smith Apartments on Kingston Highway.

According to the Sheriff’s Department incident report, the fire started when there was a “catastrophic failure” of one of the containers involved in the meth-making process. [Read more…]