Oak Ridge Today

Y-12 FCU recognizes employee for rescuing woman before car caught fire

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Dustin Brackins

Dustin Brackins

Y-12 Federal Credit Union employee Dustin Brackins was recognized as Employee of the Year at a dinner on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

Brackins was nominated in December 2013 for his selfless act of rescuing a woman trapped in her car, a press release said. Dustin was driving home with his family and noticed a car overturned on the roadside. He was able to help the woman to safety before her car caught fire.

“Dustin said he was thankful to be in the right place at the right time and expressed that anyone would have done the same thing,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Middle school students competing regionally for National Science Bowl finals

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Middle school students from Oak Ridge, Norris, and Oliver Springs are participating in an upcoming competition to determine what team will represent Tennessee in the middle school national finals of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science’s National Science Bowl.

The winner of the regional competition, scheduled for Feb. 1 at Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge, will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the Office of Science’s National Science Bowl in late April.

The winner of the national competition will win prizes for the team members and their schools.

Here are the teams that are competing: [Read more…]

Sewer rehab work continues this week

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More rehabilitation work of the city’s sewer collection pipes was scheduled to continue this week.

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.

Residents should already have received color-coded letters and door hangers (orange for Hurst Excavating and purple for Morgan Contracting) providing general information and each contractors’ contact information. [Read more…]

OSPD investigating possible animal cruelty

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Information from WYSH Radio

Oliver Springs police said they found two horses—one dead, the other alive but in poor condition—last week.

Few details have been released, but investigators said they are waiting on test results to see if any charges will be filed.

In the meantime, the owner has surrendered the surviving horse to Horse Haven of Tennessee.

UT research finds link between alcohol use, not pot, and domestic violence

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KNOXVILLE—Alcohol use is more likely than marijuana use to lead to violence between partners, according to studies done at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Research among college students found that men under the influence of alcohol are more likely to perpetrate physical, psychological, or sexual aggression against their partners than men under the influence of marijuana. Women, on the other hand, were more likely to be physically and psychologically aggressive under the influence of alcohol, but, unlike men, they were also more likely to be psychologically aggressive under the influence of marijuana.

The research has implications for domestic violence intervention and prevention programs. [Read more…]

Children’s Museum Hosts International Fest Feb. 15

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Childrens Museum International Festival

Dancers at the 2013 International Festival at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

Picti, a duo performing Celtic rock, will be featured performers at the International Festival on Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge. The duo will have the audience on their feet as they entertain with bagpipes, bouzouki, whistles and drums, drawing on tribal elements from Celtic traditions.

Festival goers will experience entertainment, crafts, and cuisines from cultures around the world at the family friendly event, with musical and dance entertainment on stage throughout the day. Participants will dine on international cuisine, children will make international crafts to take home, and all will visit booths displaying crafts and traditions from world cultures.

The International Festival will be from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Children’s Museum, 461 West Outer Dr., Oak Ridge. Food will be available from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Returning this year will be the Kids Fest from 8-10 a.m., featuring international crafts, tasting food from other cultures, and dancing. The Kids Fest is for children in second through seventh grades, the cost is $15 per person, and pre-registration is required. Accompanying adults are admitted with regular International Festival admission. [Read more…]

Missing woman found safe at relative’s home

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Jan Follansbee

Jan Follansbee

The Collierville woman who was reported missing after last being seen in Oak Ridge on Wednesday has been located, authorities said.

Jan Follansbee, 58, was found safe at a relative’s house on Sunday, Jan. 26, said Sgt. Detective Jason Smith of the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office.

Follansbee had been reported missing after leaving her mother’s home on Dasher Lane in Oak Ridge on Wednesday. She had left on an errand.

Follansbee lives in Collierville in Shelby County in west Tennessee, and she has two daughters who also live there. A sister in Knoxville had reported her missing.

Sheriff White seeks re-election

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Paul White

Paul White

Sheriff Paul White is seeking re-election as Anderson County sheriff. White was first elected in 2006 and re-elected in 2010.

White is a veteran law officer with 38 years of experience, a press release said. His first five years were with the Oliver Springs Police Department, where he served as a police officer and patrol sergeant. The remaining 33 years have been with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, where he advanced through the ranks from patrol deputy to commanding the Patrol Division and Court Services.

During his career, White had the opportunity to hold almost every position within the Sheriff’s Department and at one time was appointed “acting sheriff,” the release said.

“Having served under the last five administrations, Paul White had the unique opportunity to observe and utilize many ideas and practices as to how the Sheriff’s Department could best serve the needs of Anderson County,” the release said. [Read more…]

Spotlight: B&W Y-12 donates $2,500 to MMC Hospitality House

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B&W Y-12 Donates to MMC Hospitality House

B&W Y-12 Director of Public Affairs Bill Reis, right, hands a $2,500 donation to Mike Belbeck, Methodist Medical Center’s president and chief administrative officer. The funds will go toward MMC’s Hospitality Houses, which provide temporary lodging for patients and families who travel to Oak Ridge for extended medical treatment.

From Y-12 News Notes

Y-12 donates DVDs, teddy bears to Children’s Hospital

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B&W Y-12 Donate DVDs to East Tennessee Children's Hospital

AnnMarie Corbett, Lily Matthiessen, KelliAnn, Kevin, Emily and Victoria Corbett deliver DVDs to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. More than 350 DVDs were collected at Y-12 for patients at the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. (Photos courtesy B&W Y-12)

More than 350 DVDs and some 360 teddy bears were collected by Y-12 National Security Complex employees for patients at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in Knoxville.

The DVDs were collected as part of the “DVDs for Joy” campaign, which is the brainchild of KelliAnn Corbett, daughter of B&W Y-12’s Kevin Corbett. KelliAnn and her sisters collected DVDs at some Oak Ridge schools last year, and they invited “Y-12ers” to join them this year. Kathi Hofstad, ETCH coordinator for volunteer services and programs, said the DVDs gathered have helped create a mobile library where families can check out movies to entertain them during their stay at the hospital. [Read more…]

Y-12’s history captured in short film

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Y-12 National Security Complex Aerial View

The Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge is pictured above.

Submitted

To close out the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Y-12 National Security Complex, a short film capturing highlights of the site’s history is now available for viewing on the plant’s public website.

The 8:15 film covers the chronology of Y-12 from its beginnings during World War II as an integral part of the Manhattan Project to its current missions for the National Nuclear Security Administration.

“Y-12 has experienced a rich history since its birth in 1943,” said Y-12 Historian Ray Smith. “And while we have played a huge role in national security by helping the United States maintain a nuclear deterrent, Y-12 has contributed to several other areas, such as space exploration and nuclear nonproliferation. The expertise and capabilities at Y-12 have truly made it a national asset.”

Light snow in Oak Ridge on Saturday, slight chance of more through Monday

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Light Snowfall in Oak Ridge

Light snow fell in Oak Ridge on Saturday morning, and the forecast calls for a sight chance of snow through Monday.

A light snow fell in Oak Ridge on Saturday morning, and there is a 20-30 percent chance of more snow on Sunday night and Monday.

Temperatures near Oak Ridge will continue to be cold, with a forecast low of 5 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday night, 4 on Tuesday night, and 11 on Wednesday night, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

The Weather Service said a cold front will quickly move through the southern Appalachian region tonight, producing light snow over southwest Virginia and northeast Tennessee. Windy conditions are expected across the mountains through the early morning hours.