Oak Ridge Today

Letter: Hope wants to be mayor, focus on schools, jobs, housing

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Chuck Hope

Chuck Hope

To my fellow City Council members,

I am asking you to consider me as a possible candidate for mayor, when we meet next Monday night. It would be a honor to become the next mayor of the City of Oak Ridge, I believe I have shown my ability to lead and find common ground on issues over the last three-plus years I have been on City Council.

Why do I want to be considered for mayor of our city? Oak Ridge is my home. I have grown up here, went through the school system here, started and maintained my business here, married my high school sweetheart, and raised my family all right here in Oak Ridge. I love my home town and care about what happens here. I care about my neighbors and the neighborhoods. I have watched multiple generations of families live their lives here, and look forward to seeing many more to come.

I want to see our city prosper and grow, and for us do that, we have to have good leadership from our civic leaders. As our civic leaders have done before us, I want to help our city continue to move forward. Over the last 55 years, our city has seen some remarkable things and has contributed many great things to the world. I want us to continue to build on these things and look forward to what we do next. [Read more…]

Chinese supercomputer stays No. 1, Titan at ORNL still No. 2

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Jeff Nichols and Titan at ORNL

Jeff Nichols, associate director for computing and computational sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, in front of Titan, which was the world’s top supercomputer in November 2012 but is now ranked No. 2. (Photo courtesy of ORNL)

 

For the fourth consecutive time, Tianhe-2, a supercomputer developed by China’s National University of Defense Technology, has retained its position as the world’s number one system. Meanwhile, Titan at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which was the top supercomputer in November 2012, remains number two.

Tianhe-2 is capable of performing at 33.86 petaflops, or 33.86 quadrillions of calculations per second, on a benchmark test known as Linpack.

The rankings are from the 44th edition of the twice-yearly TOP500 list of the world’s most powerful supercomputers, which was announced Monday in Mannheim, Germany; Berkeley, California; and Knoxville. Tianhe-2 has been in the top spot four consecutive times, and Titan has been number two each time. [Read more…]

ORAU wins $1.4 million contract from Florida Department of Health

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Oak Ridge Associated Universities Building MC-100

The Oak Ridge Associated Universities Building MC-100 is pictured above.

Oak Ridge Associated Universities recently won a three-year, $1.4 million contract from the Florida Department of Health to provide scientific peer review of grant applications submitted for biomedical research involving tobacco-related diseases and cancer.

Through this work, ORAU will assist the state’s Department of Health in funding Florida research organizations to address the health care problems of Floridians in the areas of tobacco-related cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and pulmonary disease using peer review as part of the grant selection process.

“ORAU taps experts from across the country including our network of more than 100 major research institutions to participate in peer and performance reviews,” said ORAU President and Chief Executive Officer Andy Page. “We utilize a proven process that provides independent reviews with the highest levels of integrity and efficiency, eliminating conflicts of interest. This provides Florida’s Department of Health with confidence in their funding decisions for this important research.”

For more information on working with ORAU, visit http://www.orau.org/working-with-orau/.

Oneida man gets three-month prison sentence for plot to extort B&W Y-12

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Y-12 Aerial Photo June 2012

The Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge is pictured above in June 2012. (Photo courtesy NNSA)

 

A 25-year-old Scott County man was sentenced to serve three months in prison on Monday after he pleaded guilty in July to charges that he tried to extort Babcock and Wilcox Y-12 LLC, the former managing and operating contractor at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge.

Adam Winters, 25, of Oneida received the sentence in U.S. District Court in Knoxville on Monday, U.S. Attorney William C. Killian said in a press release. After he is released from prison, Winters will be supervised for one year by U.S. Probation.

Killian said Winters, who had appeared on the television reality show “The Millionaire Matchmaker” in February, pleaded guilty in July to transmitting communications containing threats to injure the reputation of B&W Y-12 in interstate and foreign commerce, with intent to extort money and other things of value from the corporation. Winters admitted that he emailed Babcock and Wilcox and attempted to email the vice president of the United States regarding copies of slides that he possessed that contained information he believed would injure the reputation of Babcock and Wilcox. That May 8 email reportedly referred to slides of evidence from nuclear testing. [Read more…]

Archer named president of Tennessee County Trustee’s Association

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Rodney Archer

Rodney Archer

Anderson County Trustee Rodney Archer has been named president of the Tennessee County Trustee’s Association. Archer was voted into the office during an annual business meeting last week at the County Officials Conference in Chattanooga.

Archer has been Anderson County trustee since 2006, and he has been an active leader in the Trustee’s Association, a press release said. He previously served as the secretary of the statewide organization and was also recognized as Outstanding Trustee for the East Tennessee division in 2010.

The Association is not just a network; it is also an essential component of professional development for trustees across Tennessee, the press release said. [Read more…]

UT study: Percentage of uninsured in Tennessee at its lowest in a decade

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KNOXVILLE—The percentage of uninsured Tennesseans is at its lowest rate in a decade, according to a report released Monday by the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

The report shows that 7.2 percent of Tennessee’s 6.5 million residents are uninsured, a 25 percent decrease from last year. The report also shows that 2.4 percent of children in the state are without insurance, a 35 percent decrease from last year.

The findings are included in “The Impact of TennCare: A Survey of Recipients 2014,” prepared by UT’s Center for Business and Economic Research, or CBER. The report’s authors are Angela Thacker, CBER research associate, and LeAnn Luna, CBER associate professor.

The declines coincide with the establishment of the Health Insurance Marketplace, which was put into place in early 2014 through the Affordable Care Act. The act also has had an impact on the state’s Medicaid program, TennCare, which has experienced the third highest new enrollment in its 20-year history. [Read more…]

Chamber’s Christmas Parade to be held Saturday, December 13

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Santa in Oak Ridge Christmas Parade

Santa Claus and helpers ride on an Oak Ridge fire truck during the 2013 Christmas Parade. (Photo by D. Ray Smith)

 

The annual Christmas Parade organized by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce is scheduled for Saturday, December 13. This year’s theme is “Holiday Homecoming,” and it promises to provide spectators with plenty of music, lights, and beautiful floats, a press release said.

More than 80 businesses and community organizations have already registered their entries for the parade. Sponsors of this year’s parade are Mullins Wealth Management and The Cowperwood Company.

The parade will start at 6 p.m. December 13, and it will begin at Corporate Center, on the corner of Lafayette and Laboratory Road. From there, the parade will travel down Lafayette to the Oak Ridge Turnpike. It will continue west on the Turnpike to Oak Ridge High School. The judge’s stand will be located in front of the Chamber. [Read more…]

How the Cold War really ended: Interpreting the bonus at the gas pump today

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Robert G. Kennedy in Moscow

Robert G. Kennedy in Moscow (Submitted photo)

Robert G. Kennedy III, founder of Ultimax Group Inc. and co-founder of Tennessee Valley Interstellar Workshop, will be the guest speaker at Lunch with the League on Tuesday, November 18. The program will be held at noon Tuesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church’s new location at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Kennedy’s extensive experience in the areas of geoengineering, terraforming, and Soviet/Cold War/Star Wars history, as well as with green energy on local and international levels, will provide a unique perspective on current world events, a press release said. The Cold War did not end without a shot either due to Star Wars, or American martial virtue, or any of the other usual reasons proffered by pundits. By the mid-1980s, the Soviet Union was like a knight dying inside his suit of armor. The weapon that sent him quietly into the good night was oil. The interpretation that this weapon is being used again by a similar set of actors, with similar geopolitical intent, is consistent with observed events of the past 90 days, the release said.

Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, Lunch with the League is open to the public. There is no cost to attend and reservations are not needed. Box lunches will be available starting at 11:30 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis for $8, or you may bring your own. Coffee and tea are provided.

For more information, visit lwvoakridge.org.

Sewer rehab work continues week of Nov. 17

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More rehabilitation work of the city’s sewer collection pipes is scheduled to continue this week, starting Monday, November 17.

The work is being done by Hurst Excavating and Morgan Contracting under contract with the City of Oak Ridge. It includes rehabilitating sewer collection pipes within city easements in yards and in roadways, a press release said. [Read more…]

Yager Chili Supper, Silent Auction set for Nov. 21

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Ken Yager

Ken Yager

The 21st annual Chili Supper and Silent Auction sponsored by State Senator Ken Yager, a Harriman Republican, has been set for Friday, November 21, at Roane State Community College in Harriman. The fundraiser will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. EST, and proceeds from the silent auction will be donated to a local nonprofit organization, this year the Boys and Girls Club.

“The chili supper and silent auction is truly a community event and an opportunity to raise needed funds for a good cause,” Yager said in a press release. “No speeches and great chili make it a perfect event to see old friends and make new ones.”

One attraction is the use of local and state officials as “celebrity servers,” the press release said. This year, the celebrities include Majority Leader Mark Norris, senators Becky Duncan Massey and Mike Bell, and Department of Children’s Services Commissioner Jim Henry. Sheriff Jack Stockton and local mayors are expected to serve as well. [Read more…]

Short to speak at Democratic Women’s Club tonight; officers to be elected

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Brenda Freeman Short

Brenda Freeman Short

Brenda Freeman Short, East Tennessee vice president of the Tennessee Federation of Democratic Women, will be the guest speaker at the annual business meeting of the Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club. The club meets at 6 p.m. Monday, November 17, at the Oak Ridge Power Squadron at 343 Emory Valley Road in Oak Ridge.

The club will hold election of officers for 2015. A spaghetti dinner with a choice of meat or vegetarian sauce will be served, and the cost is $5 per person. For reservations, e-mail Ann Mostoller at [email protected] or call Mary Matheny at (865) 483-8937. [Read more…]

Driver escapes before train hits pickup on railroad tracks

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Pickup Truck and Train Crash on Dutch Valley Road

The driver escaped from this pickup truck before it was hit by a train on railroad tracks alongside Dutch Valley Road in Marlow on Sunday afternoon. (Photos by Tom Scott)

 

A driver was able to escape from a pickup truck before it was hit by a train on railroad tracks alongside Dutch Valley Road in Marlow on Sunday afternoon, a fire official said.

The Chevrolet S-10 pickup had apparently hit the ditch alongside Dutch Valley Road, went airborne, and landed on the tracks, where it was stuck, said Stephanie Fox, assistant chief for the Marlow Volunteer Fire Department.

It wasn’t immediately clear how much time elapsed before the truck was hit by the train near Smith Road. The crash was reported at about 2:50 p.m. Sunday. [Read more…]