Oak Ridge Today

TBI not investigating Akagi, POST ends its inquiry, DAs say no violation

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James T. Akagi

James T. Akagi

Note: This story was last updated at 8:53 a.m. July 2.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is not investigating, two district attorneys said there was no violation, and the state agency that certifies police officers has completed its activities, officials said Wednesday.

That would appear to end the inquiry of Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi by the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, or POST. In April, POST asked three authorities, including one federal official and two state officials, whether Akagi had violated state and federal laws by possessing a firearm after being issued an ex parte order of protection during divorce proceedings in Blount County three years ago.

The response from all three officials has been “no,” according to letters sent to POST.

Oak Ridge Today reported on the response from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, as reported by Akagi’s attorney Tasha Blakney, on Tuesday. The two state officials—Dave Clark, district attorney general in the Seventh Judicial District in Clinton, and Mike Flynn, district attorney general in the Fifth Judicial District in Maryville—sent their response to POST on Wednesday.

“The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and our offices have concluded that based on what you submitted, there never has been an order of protection issued against Chief Akagi and thus no violation of an order of protection could have occurred,” Clark and Flynn said in a letter to Ray Farris, assistant director of the POST Commission. “Any criminal investigation in this case is closed.” [Read more…]

Site plan submitted for Main Street Oak Ridge

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Main Street Oak Ridge James Downs

James Downs, Crosland Southeast partner, gave an update on the Main Street Oak Ridge project, the redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall, during a March work session. (File photo)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 9 a.m. July 2.

A site plan was submitted on Monday for Main Street Oak Ridge, an official said. Main Street Oak Ridge is the eagerly anticipated $80 million project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall.

The site plan is under review by the Oak Ridge city staff and could be discussed during an Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission work session on July 9 and during a regular meeting on July 16.

A site plan is an engineered construction drawing that includes the layout of buildings and parking, utility plans, traffic and pedestrian circulation, and stormwater management, said Kathryn Baldwin, Oak Ridge Community Development director. There would still be building plans for the construction of each building at the 60-acre site. [Read more…]

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DOE names IIa as woman-owned small business of year

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Bonnie C. Carroll, IIa founder and CEO, center, receives the DOE Woman-owned Small Business Award for Fiscal Year 2014 from John Hale III, director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization for DOE. (Photo courtesy IIa)

Bonnie C. Carroll, IIa founder and CEO, center, receives the DOE Woman-owned Small Business Award for Fiscal Year 2014 from John Hale III, director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization for DOE. (Photo courtesy IIa)

 

The U.S. Department of Energy has named Information International Associates, or IIa, its Woman-owned Small Business for Fiscal Year 2014.

Bonnie C. Carroll, IIa founder and chief executive officer, accepted the award at the 14th Annual DOE Small Business Forum and Expo in Phoenix, Arizona, on June 17, 2015, from John Hale III, director of the DOE Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization.

Each year, DOE recognizes the exceptional performance of a woman-owned small business directly contributing to the accomplishments of core DOE mission objectives and requirements, a press release said. In presenting the award, Hale cited IIa’s innovation and technical solutions, which exceeded contract requirements in responding to cyber security concerns, as well as its exceptional customer service and efficiency, the release said.

DOE, the largest civilian contracting agency within the federal government, awarded a total of $6.6 billion in contracts in FY 2014 to prime and subcontracts. [Read more…]

Attorney: Police chief did not violate federal law by carrying firearm

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James T. Akagi

James T. Akagi

Note: This story was last updated at 10:05 p.m.

Answer pending on question of state law; POST has no current investigation

Federal officials have concluded that Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi did not violate federal law while carrying a firearm during divorce proceedings several years ago, the chief’s attorney said in a letter received by state officials this month.

In April, the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, or POST, asked state and federal authorities to investigate whether Akagi violated state and federal laws by possessing a firearm after being issued an ex parte order of protection during divorce proceedings in Blount County three years ago.

Tasha C. Blakney, Akagi’s attorney, summarized a conversation with Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Cook about the inquiry in a June 12 letter that was copied to Ray Farris, assistant director of POST. On Monday, Oak Ridge Today requested an update from POST, which certifies law enforcement officers in Tennessee, and received a copy of the letter.

[Read more…]

Police search for suspects after robbery at check cashing store on Friday

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ORPD Matthew Johnston, Brandan Sharp, and Ray Steakley at Manhattan Apartments

Oak Ridge Police Department officers set up a perimeter around one building at Manhattan Apartments on North Purdue Avenue after a robbery was reported at the nearby Check Into Cash on South Illinois Avenue on Friday afternoon. Pictured above from left are Matthew Johnston, Brandan Sharp, and Ray Steakley.

 

The Oak Ridge Police Department is searching for two suspects in an armed robbery at a check cashing store that led officers to set up a temporary perimeter at a nearby apartment complex on Friday.

The robbery at Check Into Cash at 361 South Illinois Avenue was reported about 3:15 p.m. Friday.

“Several officers and detectives arrived on scene within minutes of being dispatched and immediately initiated a search for two suspects described as a black male and black female, who were armed with handguns and had reportedly fled the business on foot,” the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release.

“Officers canvassed the area and talked with an eyewitness who stated both suspects were last seen running between buildings at the Manhattan Apartment complex in the 200 block of North Purdue Avenue,” the release said. “A section of North Purdue Avenue was temporarily closed while police established containment around the three apartment buildings the suspects were believed to have fled. No suspects were located, and the investigation is still ongoing at this time.” [Read more…]

Convenience Center in Oak Ridge closed on Independence Day

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Waste Connections Inc. will close the Convenience Center located at 400 Warehouse Road on Saturday, July 4, in observation of the Fourth of July holiday. On Sunday, July 5, the Convenience Center will reopen on regular schedule from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

There will be no change to the regular residential weekly refuse and recycling pick-up schedule.

“Thank you for your cooperation with this schedule adjustment,” the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release.

Contact Waste Connections Inc. at (865) 482-3656 or visit www.wasteconnectionstn.com for more information.

Ribbon-cuttings: Curves, Minuteman Press

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Minuteman Press Ribbon-cutting with Oak Ridge Chamber

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting for Minuteman Press on Friday, June 26. Minuteman Press is located at 110 Bus Terminal Road. (Photo by Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce)

 

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce had ribbon-cutting ceremonies last week for Minuteman Press and Curves of Oak Ridge. The Anderson County Chamber of Commerce joined the celebration at Minuteman Press on Friday, June 26.

Minuteman Press is located at 110 Bus Terminal Road, where American Reprographics used to be. David Fleming is the franchise owner in Oak Ridge. For more information, visit www.minutemanpress.com. [Read more…]

Explore ORNL event postponed to Sept. 23-24

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Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Explore ORNL conference has been rescheduled until September 23-24 to coincide with a larger industrial outreach event at ORNL this fall. Explore ORNL was originally scheduled for July 14-15.

The September event will feature capabilities in building technologies, vehicle technologies, and advanced manufacturing, and will highlight new opportunities for small businesses to gain access to national laboratories, including ORNL.

Information about the September industry event will be released in the coming weeks.

Helium ‘balloons’ offer new path to control complex materials

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Helium Atoms into Crystalline Film

Inserting helium atoms (visualized as a red balloon) into a crystalline film (gold) allowed Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers to control the material’s elongation in a single direction. (Submitted image)

 

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a new method to manipulate a wide range of materials and their behavior using only a handful of helium ions.

The team’s technique, published in Physical Review Letters, advances the understanding and use of complex oxide materials that boast unusual properties such as superconductivity and colossal magnetoresistance but are notoriously difficult to control.

For the first time, ORNL researchers have discovered a simple way to control the elongation of a crystalline material along a single direction without changing the length along the other directions or damaging the crystalline structure. This is accomplished by adding a few helium ions into a complex oxide material and provides a never before possible level of control over magnetic and electronic properties.

“By putting a little helium into the material, we’re able to control strain along a single axis,” said ORNL’s Zac Ward, who led the team’s study. “This type of control wasn’t possible before, and it allows you to tune material properties with a finesse that we haven’t previously had access to.” [Read more…]

Oak Ridge recognized as 2015 Playful City USA community

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Oak Ridge Playful City

241 communities exhibiting playability to be recognized

Oak Ridge is being honored with a 2015 Playful City USA designation for the fourth time. In partnership with the Humana Foundation, KaBOOM! is honoring cities, towns, and counties across the country for making their communities more playable. Oak Ridge was selected again this year because of the commitment to excellence in all parks, greenways, and play-spaces, a press release said.

“Several years ago, we embarked on an effort to make our city have more fun,” Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said. “The structured activities have brought our community together and allowed new avenues of play to be by our children and our ‘adult children.'”

Neighborhood play spaces, city-wide play days, and fun special events are all ways in which these communities are appealing to residents, and attracting and retaining residents. [Read more…]

Community Band concert followed by fireworks on Saturday evening

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Oak Ridge Community Band

The Oak Ridge Community Band performs during the July 4, 2014, concert. (Photo by Larry Perry)

 

The Oak Ridge Community Band will play in a free concert before the fireworks show at A.K. Bissell Park on Saturday.

The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 4. Fireworks start at 10 p.m.

“Because the July 4 program traditionally attracts large crowds, come early and bring lawn chairs or blankets for good seating,” organizers said in a press release.

The concert is free, although donations are welcomed to offset band expenses. Refreshments will be available for sale. [Read more…]