Oak Ridge Today

Lake City’s name change to Rocky Top challenged in federal court

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Lake City Council Approves Rocky Top Name Change

The Lake City Council votes 4-0 in November to change the town’s name to Rocky Top, and Rep. John Ragan said he has draft legislation to approve the name change to introduce in the state legislature.

Note: This story was last updated at 6 p.m.

The Gatlinburg publisher of “Rocky Top”—a bluegrass tune, state song, and unofficial anthem for the University of Tennessee—filed a federal lawsuit on Monday that seeks to prevent Lake City from changing its name to Rocky Top as part of a plan to turn the former coal mining town into a tourist destination.

The publisher, House of Bryant Publications LLC of Gatlinburg, also owns many Rocky Top trademarks, and it believes that the proposed name change for Lake City “is an attempt to unfairly exploit the fame and goodwill of House of Bryant’s intellectual property,” according to a press release from Waddey Patterson, an intellectual property law firm based in Nashville.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Knoxville on Monday. The defendants are Lake City, Rocky Top Tennessee Marketing and Manufacturing Co., Anderson County Commissioner Tim Isbel, Franklin resident Brad Coriell, Lake City businessman Mark Smith, Lake City Vice Mayor Michael Lovely, and Knoxville resident Carl “Buddy” Warren. [Read more…]

CPD investigates report of stun gun at school

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Information from WYSH Radio

On Monday, the Clinton Police Department investigated a report that a 12-year-old boy was bringing a stun gun to class at Clinton Elementary School.

No stun gun was found, but the student reportedly admitted that he had brought it to class in the past. That student was suspended, and his parents told police they plan to get rid of the stun gun.

The investigation turned up no evidence the device had been used at school, but officers did speak with another student who told them that the stun gun had been used on him at his request because he wanted to see what it felt like.

Pro2Serve appoints new chief financial officer

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Mark Haub

Mark Haub

Professional Project Services Inc., also known as Pro2Serve, has appointed Mark A. Haub as the company’s new chief financial officer, or CFO.

Haub replaces Paul Martin, Pro2Serve’s CFO and treasurer since February 1999. Martin retired this month.

Haub is a certified public accountant who earned his master’s of business administration in marketing, management, and strategy, and finance from the Kellogg School of Management and his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Illinois State University.

He has more than 23 years of experience as a senior financial executive working in higher education, manufacturing, distribution, and retail in domestic and international markets, a press release said. Haub has negotiated terms to secure a multimillion dollar equity capital infusion to fund corporate growth initiatives, led the substantial improvement of product and services bids through implementing market-driven bid processes, played key roles in the development and execution of strategic business plans that substantially improved cash flow and new product gross margins, and provided financial and operational leadership in an entrepreneurial venture resulting in substantial revenue growth, the release said. [Read more…]

ORHS Band Concert at Grove Theater Tuesday night

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Oak Ridge High School Band All-East 2014

The Oak Ridge High School Band will play in a rescheduled concert at 7 p.m. today (Tuesday) at the Historic Grove Theater.

The band includes 29 students who earned chairs through auditions to participate in the annual ETSBOA All East Clinic.

“We had the second largest number of band students from any school to participate in the event and had players on flute, B-flat and bass clarinet, bassoon, alto and baritone sax, trumpet, horn, trombone, baritone, tuba, and percussion,” a press release said. “Directors Spence Milligan and Mike Spirko would like to invite you to come enjoy the combined talents of these students and the entire ORHS Band.”

Season ticket holders should note that the date and venue for this concert was rescheduled from February due to weather; bring your tickets! [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Reservation’s emergency sectors to change

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TEMA realigns boundaries to improve response

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency will issue revised emergency sectors for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Reservation on Wednesday. These sectors, labeled A-Y, determine which areas should take action if an event occurs at one of DOE’s sites locally. The new sector boundaries have improved correlation with roads, waterways, and recognizable landmarks.

“Knowing their emergency sectors will help residents better understand what to do when directed to take action by state or local emergency officials. Instructions pertaining to their safety will be issued by sector,” said Jim Bassham, TEMA director. “Periodic updates to emergency plans, like these changes, are part of TEMA’s normal review process.”

DOE and TEMA have been partners in a public information campaign aimed at the more than 50,000 people that live or work within a five-mile radius of Oak Ridge’s three main sites: the Y-12 National Security Complex, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and East Tennessee Technology Park. An updated version of a joint publication, “What to do if an emergency occurs on the Oak Ridge Reservation,” will be available on March 12. The booklet will be on DOE’s website for area residents to read and reference at http://science.energy.gov/isc/emergency-information/. [Read more…]

UT, ORNL part of breakthrough that reduces LED sizes

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2-D LED Light Image

This graphical representation shows the layers of the 2-D LED and how it emits light. (Image courtesy University of Washington)

SEATTLE—University of Washington scientists have built the thinnest-known LED that can be used as a source of light energy in electronics, thanks in part to a breakthrough by researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

The LED is based off of two-dimensional, flexible semiconductors, making it possible to stack or use in much smaller and more diverse applications than current technology allows.

“We are able to make the thinnest-possible LEDs, only three atoms thick yet mechanically strong,” said Xiaodong Xu, a UW assistant professor in materials science and engineering and in physics. “Such thin and foldable LEDs are critical for future portable and integrated electronic devices.”

Most consumer electronics use three-dimensional LEDs, but they are up to 20 times thicker than the LEDs being developed. [Read more…]

Alexander Inn removed from endangered places list

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Alexander Inn Groundbreaking

Local, state, and federal officials join volunteers and nonprofit and business executives for a groundbreaking ceremony at the historic Alexander Inn in November.

Note: This story was updated at 3:37 p.m.

The Alexander Inn, a historic Oak Ridge hotel being converted into an assisted living center, has been removed from an annual list of endangered places in East Tennessee.

The East Tennessee Preservation Alliance announced its 2014 East Tennessee’s Endangered Heritage on Monday in Knoxville. The list includes endangered historic buildings and places in a 16-county region.

The Alexander Inn, also known as the Guest House, had previously been on the list, which includes Magnet Mills in Clinton.

“ETPA was excited to remove the Alexander Inn from the list this year as construction continues in earnest on the new Guest House Alexander Inn Assisted Living Facility,” a press release said. [Read more…]

Farley, candidate for Anderson chancellor, has reception, fundraiser on Thursday

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Michael Farley

Michael Farley

Michael Farley, a candidate for Anderson County chancellor, will have a reception and fundraiser from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 13, at the 205 Main Event venue at 205 S. Main St., across from Fox Chevrolet (the old Ray Viles Ford Building) in Clinton.

Drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be provided, and everyone is welcome to attend, a press release said. The event is free to all. [Read more…]

Animal Shelter closure extended as workers battle deadly canine virus

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Oak Ridge Animal Shelter

The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter on Belgrade Road is pictured above.

The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter will remain closed two more days as workers battle an outbreak of deadly canine distemper.

On Wednesday, the Oak Ridge Police Department announced that two cases of canine distemper had been confirmed by an Oak Ridge veterinarian’s office and said a dog adopted in January may have contracted the often-fatal virus—although it wasn’t clear when or where.

The shelter was temporarily closed this past Thursday, and it was expected to re-open on Tuesday. But on Monday, Oak Ridge Police Department Lt. Robin Smith said it will now re-open this coming Thursday, giving the shelter staff more time to clean and disinfect. He said the staff is taking precautions to make sure they have totally eradicated the disease.

Smith said 30 dogs at the shelter had to be euthanized because of the virus. The staff had to assume that all the dogs at the shelter had been exposed, Smith said. He said some shelter dogs that showed symptoms were tested, and some results came back positive. [Read more…]

USEC bankruptcy filing won’t affect daily operations in Oak Ridge, company says

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Centrifuge Machine Manufacturing

In Oak Ridge, USEC workers take part in centrifuge operations, testing, and manufacturing for the American Centrifuge Project. (Photos courtesy USEC)

The Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and financial restructuring plan that USEC Inc. announced last week will not affect daily operations in Oak Ridge or the American Centrifuge Project, a company spokesman said Monday.

The bankruptcy filing and financial plan are a restructuring of the balance sheet of the parent company, USEC Inc., spokesman Paul Jacobson said. He said the company is trying to strengthen its balance sheet and be a stronger sponsor of the American Centrifuge Project, a “next-generation” U.S. uranium enrichment technology. USEC Inc. is a global energy company that is a leading supplier of enriched uranium fuel for commercial nuclear power plants.

The company currently has 304 people working on the centrifuge program in Tennessee. In Oak Ridge, workers take part in centrifuge operations, testing, and manufacturing.

“This plan for restructuring our debt and equity will have no effect on our employees, who will continue to receive paychecks and benefits in the ordinary course,” Jacobson said. “As we have communicated to our employees previously, some employees will be impacted by several ongoing initiatives that are unrelated to the restructuring.” [Read more…]

Kiwanis Club meeting on Tuesday focuses on tetanus elimination project

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Joe Tolson with Eliminate MNT Banner

Joe Tolson with an “Eliminate MNT” banner from the Sweetwater, Tenn., Kiwanis Club at a Feb 15 Kiwanis meeting in Knoxville. (Submitted photo)

The Kiwanis Club of Oak Ridge will meet at the Golden Oak Grill Buffet on Tuesday, and the program will feature Joe Tolson, president of the Sweetwater Kiwanis Club. Tolson will talk about The Eliminate MNT Project, which is a Kiwanis International Partnership with UNICEF to prevent and eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus, or MNT, across the globe.

The Kiwanis project’s goal is to raise $110 million to help UNICEF eliminate MNT and to ensure mothers have access to a safe birthing environment or three doses of the tetanus vaccine. Additional information about The Eliminate Project can be seen at the Web page http://sites.kiwanis.org/Kiwanis/en/theELIMINATEproject/home.aspx. [Read more…]

School Board, City Council resolve high school debt dispute

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Oak Ridge City Council and Board of Education

A proposal to resolve a dispute over sales tax revenues and high school debt appeared to have majority support during a non-voting joint work session of Oak Ridge City Council and Board of Education on Friday.

Despite opposition from a few residents and municipal officials, the Oak Ridge City Council and Board of Education have resolved a dispute over Anderson County sales tax revenues and debt payments for the $66 million renovation of Oak Ridge High School.

The dispute, which started several years ago, centered on how to use the Oak Ridge school system’s portion of Anderson County sales tax revenues generated by a tax increase approved by county voters in a 2006 referendum. School officials had argued that they could keep their share of the revenues generated in the county outside of Oak Ridge, while city officials had said all the revenues, whether collected inside the city or outside of it, should be used for high school debt payments.

A resolution unanimously approved by the school board in February and the City Council in a 5-2 vote on Monday, March 3, allows the schools to keep its portion of the new Anderson County revenues collected outside the city. However, the resolution spells out how the money has to be spent: on technology enhancements, debt reduction, capital repairs and equipment, and grant matches and innovative educational projects. [Read more…]