Oak Ridge Today

CNS announces org chart, senior leaders for Y-12, Pantex

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Y-12 National Security Complex Aerial View

The Y-12 National Security Complex is pictured above.

The new federal contractor at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge and Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, has started announcing members of its senior leadership team.

Jim Haynes, chief executive officer for Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, announced the leaders in a message posted on the company’s transition website on Saturday.

The executives are:

  • Jim Allen—chief operating officer
  • Darrell Graddy—senior vice president for mission support
  • Ken Freeman—senior vice president for safeguards, security, and emergency services
  • Rick Glass—senior vice president for mission assurance

“We will roll out our senior leadership team in phases, and over the next few weeks we will help you get to know the CNS leadership team through a series of articles, employee information meetings in Amarillo and Oak Ridge, and other opportunities for face-to-face interaction,” Haynes said. [Read more…]

Dragon Boat racers prepare for inaugural festival in May

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Penny Behling Emerald Youth Dragon Boat Racing

Penny Behling teaches youth and mentors of Emerald Youth’s Just Lead program the fundamentals of dragon boat racing on Monday at Melton Lake Park. (Photos by Sara Wise)

On Monday, Dynamic Dragon Boats came to Oak Ridge to prepare locals for the city’s Inaugural Dragon Boat Race scheduled for May 31.

Monday’s event served as a beginner’s guide to the city’s first event, but also hosted young adults in Emerald Youth Foundation’s JustLead group.

Penny Behling and her husband, Chris, own the Dragon Boat company, a Knoxville firm that participates in dragon boat events around the country. The pair said the sport is really gaining interest in the Knoxville area, with inaugural events in Oak Ridge and Blount County scheduled this spring and summer, as well as Knoxville’s Dragon Boat race June 21.

Dragon boats are long canoe-like boats adorned with the faces of Chinese dragons. They hold teams of 20 with participants arranged by size.

Behling said dragon boat festivals are gaining steam in the area simply because dragon boating is easy to do. This year, she has five scheduled events in Tennessee, and more nationwide.

“It’s very popular,” she said. “People realize they can do it and that it doesn’t take a super fit human being. This is something anybody can do.” [Read more…]

Spotlight: Neighborhood Watch cleanup in Highland View

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Highland View Neighborhood Watch Cleanup

From left to right are Sharon Crane, Oak Ridge Community Resource Officer Brandan Sharp, Theresa Scott, Kenny Crane, and Neighborhood Watch Program President Brad Stephenson. (Submitted photos)

Submitted

Despite heavy rain Saturday, about 21 volunteers turned out to clean up trash in Highland View.

Here are two pictures provided by resident Theresa Scott, pictured at center in the photo at left.

Scott said Pizza Inn provided several pizzas for the volunteers, who also included Pat Imperato, Jerry Creasey, Whitey Hitchcock, Kay Williamson, and Mare Martell. [Read more…]

TVA builds pedestrian bridge over embayment at Kingston ash spill site

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KINGSTON—The Tennessee Valley Authority will be building a pedestrian bridge over the East Embayment as part of TVA’s commitment to restore the Swan Pond area near the Kingston Fossil Plant to as good as or better than it was before the 2008 ash spill, a press release said.

For the safety of the public and work crews, access to the East Embayment by boat will be temporarily closed beginning today (Monday), the release said. Signs will be posted on the shoreline and buoys will be installed across the embayment to restrict boating access.

Bank fishing still will be available on the East Embayment and can be reached by walking trails at Lakeshore Park. The main river channel on the Emory River also will remain open. [Read more…]

Juvenile Court judge candidate Bannach has Thursday reception

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Victoria "Vickie" Bannach

Victoria “Vickie” Bannach

Victoria “Vickie” Bannach, a Republican candidate for Anderson County Juvenile Court judge, will have a Thursday reception at Faith Lutheran Church in Oak Ridge.

Bannach is a candidate in the May 6 Republican primary in Anderson County.

The Thursday reception will allow citizens to “meet the candidate and discuss important issues and concerns that are occurring with our children and families within the community,” a press release said. It is scheduled from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday. [Read more…]

B&W restructures government ops; former Y-12 manager the COO of one group

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Chuck Spencer

Chuck Spencer

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—The Babcock and Wilcox Co. has announced a restructuring of its government operations.

Effective immediately, the Babcock and Wilcox Nuclear Operations Group Inc., or NOG, its subsidiary operations at Nuclear Fuel Services, and the Babcock and Wilcox Technical Services Group Inc., or TSG, will operate under a single leader, naming Peyton S. “Sandy” Baker as president and chief operating officer, a press release said.

Charles G. “Chuck” Spencer, the former president and general manager of the Y-12 National Security Complex, will serve as chief operating officer of TSG, leading the business’ day-to-day operations, a press release said.

And Kenneth R. Camplin has been named vice president and chief business development officer for B&W’s government operations. Camplin and Spencer will both report to Baker, the release said. [Read more…]

Teen confesses to starting Linden car fire, police say

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Linden Elementary School Car Fire

An Oak Ridge teenager has confessed to starting a car fire at Linden Elementary School on March 8, and police are investigating other fires near the school that could be linked to the vehicle arson, authorities said Monday. (Photos by Tom Scott)

Note: This story was updated at 7:35 p.m.

An Oak Ridge teenager has confessed to starting a car fire at Linden Elementary School on March 8, and police are investigating other fires near the school that could be linked to the vehicle arson, authorities said Monday.

Jovon Brooks, 18, was identified through a combination of video surveillance tapes from Linden, independent information that the suspect could be an Oak Ridge High School student, and the work of Oak Ridge Police Department school resource officers and the Criminal Investigations Division, a press release said.

ORPD school resource officers reviewed video surveillance tapes from Linden Elementary School, and they showed a young man walking toward the car with a brick in his hand, the press release said.

“The Criminal Investigations Division then developed independent information the suspect was possibly an Oak Ridge High School student, which allowed school resource officers to positively identify the suspect as Jovon Brooks, 18 years of age,” the release said. “(He) resides in the neighborhood surrounding Linden school. Detectives interviewed Mr. Brooks, who confessed to starting the fire.”

[Read more…]

Nuclear arms consortium that includes ORNL receives $25 million grant from NNSA

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Oak Ridge National Laboratory Sign

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Sign

WASHINGTON, D.C.—A research and development consortium led by the University of Michigan has received a $25 million grant for nuclear arms control verification technologies, including nuclear safeguards effectiveness.

The consortium includes Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The grant was announced on Monday by the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development. The consortium will receive $5 million per year for five years, a press release said. The award is in response to a funding opportunity announcement issued in May 2013.

“Nuclear arms control verification technologies provide tools to support and improve the ability of the U.S. government to monitor compliance with nuclear arms control commitments and treaty obligations,” the press release said. “Nuclear safeguards support the International Atomic Energy Agency’s mission to monitor the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and the commitments of signatory countries to refrain from developing new nuclear weapons. Other work under the consortium will include efforts in geophysical modeling for the detection of underground nuclear detonations to support test monitoring.” [Read more…]

Anderson County Republicans also have April 8 candidate forum

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The Anderson County Republican Party will have an April 8 forum for GOP candidates running for county offices in the May 6 primary election.

The forum starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, at the Midtown Community Center in Oak Ridge. It’s expected to last about two hours, a press release said.

“This year’s election is especially important for Anderson County’s future,” said Aaron Wells, chairman of the Anderson County Republican Party. “A forum will provide an excellent opportunity to showcase our great candidates and the Republican vision for the county. We invite folks to join us for what should be an interesting and informative evening. ”

The Republican Party forum is scheduled at the same time and the same night as a candidate forum organized by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge. The League forum is for both Democratic and Republican candidates in the May 6 primary elections. It’s not clear yet if either event might be rescheduled to allow Republican candidates to attend both. [Read more…]

Household trash pickup starts Monday

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The citywide household trash pickup program starts Monday, March 31. Household rubbish, old appliances, and minor remodeling materials will be picked up. Compressors must be removed from refrigerators and air conditioners.

City collection efforts will follow the accompanying schedule as closely as possible, a press release said. The proposed schedule is a general guide and can vary considerably from the actual schedule due to weather conditions and/or the amount of participation by residents.

The city asked residents to follow a few guidelines: [Read more…]

UT Singers perform in last concert of season in Oak Ridge on Sunday

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UT Singers

UT Singers, the University of Tennessee’s jazz choir

The UT Singers, the University of Tennessee’s jazz choir, will present their last concert of the season at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church.

The choir is directed by Wendel Werner, and the concert starts at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 6. The community is invited, and there is no cost to attend, a press release said.

ORUUC is located at 1500 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Habitat for Humanity volunteers install three roofs in March

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Habitat Volunteers on Lake City Roof

Student volunteers for Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County help install a roof in Lake City. (Submitted photos)

Two families and the Holiday Bureau have new roofs this month, thanks to volunteers from two different colleges and local men that routinely volunteer for Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County, a press release said.

The first week of March, a group of students from the Milwaukee School of Engineering came to Oak Ridge as part of Habitat for Humanity’s Collegiate Challenge program. The students were housed at First Baptist Church of Oak Ridge. First Baptist shared their facilities for four weeks in a row with four different groups.

The Holiday Bureau has a bicycle storage shed, measuring 16 feet x 78 feet, that had a very old and leaky roof. Now, the shed has a new roof, and it only took the students four days, the press release said. Tim Marcum, HFHAC’s chief operating officer, coordinated this project in an effort to help another nonprofit. [Read more…]