Oak Ridge Today

With Y-12 furloughs pending, union leader, activists to urge Congress to resolve fiscal disputes

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Y-12 National Security Complex Aerial View

Thousands of furloughs are expected at the Y-12 National Security Complex later this week, and on Tuesday, a union leader and political activists will urge Congress to reopen the federal government, pays the nation’s bills, and “get back to work.” An aerial view of Y-12 is pictured above. (Photo courtesy B&W Y-12)

Thousands of furloughs are expected at the Y-12 National Security Complex later this week, and on Tuesday, a union leader and political activists will urge Congress to reopen the federal government, pay the nation’s bills, and “get back to work,” a press release said.

Steve Jones, president of the Atomic Trades and Labor Council, will be the featured speaker at a 10:30 a.m. Tuesday press conference organized by Organizing for Action. The press conference is at the ATLC union hall at 109 Viking Road in Oak Ridge.

Y-12 started an “orderly shutdown” on Monday, Oct. 7, because Congress has not passed a budget in the fiscal year that started Oct. 1. The press release said Y-12 will go into a safe and secure shutdown mode on Thursday, and only essential personnel—about 900 people, with half of them being security forces—will remain. [Read more…]

Children’s Museum hosts chili cook-off

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ES&H at Children's Museum Chili Cook-off

Bill Garibay, president and chief executive officer of ES&H, joins staff members in preparing chili for the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge Chili Cook-off. With him, from left, are Erik Cueto, Bryan Byler, Dave O’Toole, Lynne Musick, and Jim Everett. (Submitted photo)

Chili teams are invited to cook a pot of their best chili, and the public is welcome to sample it, when the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge hosts its first annual Choo Choo Chili Cook-off on Sunday, Oct. 20.

As chili contestants vie for ribbons, the public may sample chili and enjoy hot dogs, cornbread and beverages that will be available during the cook-off, which will take place from 3-6 p.m. For children, pumpkin decorating and scarecrow activities will add to the fun afternoon. Admission for the cook-off and museum is $5.

Chili chefs may enter in one of five categories: vegetarian, meat, spicy, white and surprise ingredient. They will prepare chili off site and bring at least one gallon of chili in a crock pot for the event. Contestants must use non-processed ingredients, except for items such as tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, and Tabasco sauce. Contestants are asked to provide a team name and decorate a table. Fee for contestants is $25 per team. More than 20 teams are expected at the cook-off. [Read more…]

Anderson Operations Committee to discuss solutions to sheriff’s salary suit

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An Anderson County committee will discuss possible solutions to the ongoing legal dispute over Anderson County Sheriff’s Department salaries during a meeting this evening.

The dispute is between Anderson County Sheriff Paul White and County Mayor Terry Frank. Possible solutions will be discussed during an Anderson County Operations Committee meeting at 6 p.m. today (Monday) in Room 312 of the Courthouse.

Other agenda items include the election of a committee chair, consideration of a private act regarding the donation of real estate to nonprofit organizations, an update from Anderson County Law Director Jay Yeager on efforts to get the railroad-owned bridge on Johnson Gap Road re-opened, and the discussion of possible alternate sites for the Glen Alpine convenience center.

Man allegedly beaten, robbed in Anderson County

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Information from WYSH Radio

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department responded to a home on Webber Lane Saturday night after a man was allegedly assaulted and robbed.

Few details of the incident have been made available, but responding deputies said that when they arrived at around 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Tommy Lowe was being loaded in to an ambulance bound for the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville for treatment of a black eye and laceration to his head.

Deputies were told that Lowe had been assaulted and robbed of $50 in cash and a cell phone. The Criminal Investigations Division is following up.

Two buildings destroyed by fires in Briceville

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Information from WYSH Radio

Two buildings were destroyed by fires on Vowell Road in Briceville early Saturday morning. Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputies were called to the scene of the fire shortly after 12:30 a.m. Saturday, and when they arrived, they reported that a house later determined to be vacant and an outbuilding were fully engulfed by flames.

Crews from the Briceville and Medford Volunteer Fire Departments extinguished both blazes, but both structures were destroyed. The cause of the fires is unknown.

Norris Freeway outbuilding burns

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Information from WYSH Radio

A storage building on Norris Freeway went up in flames early Saturday morning. The fire in the 3000 block of Norris Freeway was extinguished by the Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department, but officials were not able to determine the cause of the fire.

The house that shared the property was vacant.

Alexander, Corker vote against 14-month debt limit increase

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U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander

Lamar Alexander

U.S. Senator Bob Corker

Bob Corker

Tennessee’s two U.S. senators both voted on Saturday against raising the nation’s debt limit for 14 months, and Congress remained at an impasse over reopening the government and preventing the nation’s first default on its debt.

“The bill we considered today would have raised the debt ceiling for more than a year without implementing the spending restraints Congress needs to force us to deal with our fiscal issues, so I couldn’t support it,” Sen. Bob Corker said in a statement Saturday. “I’m optimistic that bipartisan discussions in the Senate will eventually produce a solution that reopens the government and strengthens our country fiscally.”

“I voted against a 14-month increase of the debt limit that took no steps to reduce out-of-control mandatory spending,” Sen. Lamar Alexander said.

Alexander and Corker are both Tennessee Republicans. [Read more…]

Possible changes in Tennessee judicial selections to be discussed at Lunch with the League

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Judy Cornett

Judy Cornett

A University of Tennessee law professor will discuss potential changes to Tennessee’s judicial selection process during a Lunch with the League meeting on Tuesday.

Judy Cornett is a distinguished professor at the University of Tennessee College of Law, and her presentation starts at noon Tuesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 1500 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

In November 2014, Tennessee voters will vote on three proposed amendments to the Tennessee Constitution, a press release said. One proposed amendment would create a semi-federal system of selecting Tennessee’s appellate judges. This amendment would empower the governor to nominate a candidate, who would then be subject to confirmation by both houses of the Tennessee General Assembly. Cornett will discuss the history of the legislative battle over judicial selection and will analyze the proposed amendment, which has been touted as an alternative to popular election of appellate judges. [Read more…]

UT Arboretum Society has Owl Prowl on Oct. 26

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Owl Prowl

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society will have its annual Owl Prowl on Saturday, Oct. 26.

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society will have its annual Owl Prowl on Saturday, Oct. 26.

The Owl Prowl starts at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at the UT Arboretum at 901 S. Illinois Ave. (Highway 62) in Oak Ridge.

It will start at the Program Shelter with a program presented by the Clinch River Raptor Center, featuring owls found in East Tennessee. Kathy Strunk and Katie Cottrell will bring live birds for display and will give information about their natural history. [Read more…]

Site Specific Advisory Board elects new officers

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Dave Hemelright

Dave Hemelright

Bruce Hicks

Bruce Hicks

The Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory Board elected new officers during its September board meeting. The officers will serve in Fiscal Year 2014.

Dave Hemelright, Bruce Hicks, and Lisa Hagy will serve as chair, vice chair, and secretary respectively. The new officers presided over their first meeting Oct. 9 at the U.S. Department of Energy Information Center at 1 Science.gov Way in Oak Ridge.

Hemelright was the vice chair for FY 2013 and had been acting chair since his predecessor, David Martin, completed his term of service in July. He also served on the Finance and Process, Environmental Management, Public Outreach, and Stewardship committees. [Read more…]

Roane Alliance Education Matters! program takes home the ‘Gold’

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IEDC Award

Submitted

The Roane Alliance’s Education Matters! program has been selected as a Gold Award recipient by the International Economic Development Council, or IEDC, for excellence in economic development.

The award was presented at the 2013 IEDC Annual Conference in Philadelphia, Pa., on Tuesday. Receiving the award on behalf of The Alliance was Leslie Henderson, Alliance president and chief executive officer, and Allen Lutz, education and workforce development specialist at The Alliance.

Education Matters! received the award in the category of Partnerships with Educational Institutions in communities with a population between 25,000-200,000. According to the IEDC, their Excellence in Economic Development Awards recognize the world’s best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials, and the year’s most influential leaders. [Read more…]

Grace Lutheran has candle lighting service for those with mental health issues

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Grace Lutheran Church of Oak Ridge will host a candle lighting service in support of those challenged by mental illness, substance use disorders, and other brain disorders at 5 p.m. Sunday. Everyone is welcome, and a special invitation is extended to family members, members of all area churches, community organizations, and the healing professions from neighboring counties.

One in four adults experiences a mental health problem in any given year, and 50 percent will experience this problem at some time during their lives. One in five young people aged 13 to 18 also experience mental illness. These numbers continue to grow.

“The church is in a unique position to provide a community of support for those who are in pain,” Pastor Steve Damos said. “We can provide solace and faith, and be compassionate advocates for those seeking recovery and wholeness.” [Read more…]