Oak Ridge Today

Possible TVA sale a bad idea, president’s budget fails on entitlements, Republican lawmakers say

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U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander

Lamar Alexander

U.S. Senator Bob Corker

Bob Corker

Republican lawmakers from Tennessee were critical of the budget proposal released by President Barack Obama on Wednesday, saying it was overdue and failed to responsibly address unsustainable spending on entitlement programs.

In a statement, U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander said a proposal to consider selling the Tennessee Valley Authority could cost taxpayers money.

“This is one more bad idea in a budget full of bad ideas,” Alexander said. “There is today no federal taxpayer subsidy for TVA, period. There is by law no federal taxpayer liability for TVA debt. And after deducting its debt, selling TVA would probably cost taxpayers money.” [Read more…]

DOE Oak Ridge Office awards $14 million contract for roads, grounds, maintenance

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Larry Kelly

Larry Kelly

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office recently awarded a $14 million contract to Knoxville-based small business Environment, Safety, and Health Inc. for roads, grounds, and maintenance services on the DOE Oak Ridge Reservation.

“The Oak Ridge Reservation includes 105 miles of roads and thousands of acres of land that require upkeep, and maintaining their functionality is vitally important to our operations,” said DOE-ORO Manager Larry Kelly. “We require a responsive and professional organization to carry out this mission, and we have that with ES&H.”

ES&H Inc., the incumbent contractor since 2008, will continue to provide services in support of roads, grounds, and maintenance on the 33,500-acre Oak Ridge Reservation and will employ 18 people in support of the contract. [Read more…]

Alexander questions energy secretary nominee about Oak Ridge mercury cleanup

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U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander

Lamar Alexander

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander on Tuesday questioned energy secretary nominee Ernest Moniz on whether the cleanup of mercury contamination in Oak Ridge would be a priority under his leadership, a press release said.

“One of the biggest cleanup problems we have from the Cold War era is mercury contamination of waterways in Oak Ridge,” said Alexander, a Tennessee Republican.

The release said Alexander also asked Moniz to support a planned water treatment facility.

Alexander was referring to about 200,000 gallons of mercury that arrived at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge during the 1950s and 1960s, when the United States was developing nuclear weapons as a defense against the Soviet Union. Alexander said it will cost billions of dollars to clean it up. [Read more…]

Report: Homeowner shoots, hits tire; burglary suspects flee, found later

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Christopher Lynn Harness

Christopher Lynn Harness

Nicholas David Hedge

Nicholas David Hedge

After they allegedly drove toward him, a homeowner shot at a Ford Taurus carrying three burglary suspects leaving his Melton Hill Drive property Saturday, authorities said. He hit a tire.

But the trio was able to escape in the black car—at least temporarily, authorities said.

The three were arrested later after a search that included the Clinton Police Department, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, and a Knox County Sheriff’s Department helicopter, the CPD said in a news release posted on its website. [Read more…]

Council approves Protomet tax break, ends recycling rewards program

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A five-year, 100 percent tax break for parts manufacturer Protomet was approved in a 4-1 vote by the Oak Ridge City Council on Monday.

The tax break could be used to help Protomet more than double the size of its 15,000-square-foot plant in the Bethel Valley Industrial Park, consolidate operations with a Blount County facility, and add 20-30 workers.

Also Monday, the City Council agreed in a voice vote, with no objections, to end the RecycleBank Reward Program and determine later what to do with the savings of $0.84 per household per month. The savings are expected to add up to about $124,000 each year. [Read more…]

Anderson committee approves ‘In God We Trust’ over four entrances, rejects other phrases

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Information from WYSH Radio

The Anderson County Operations Committee on Monday finalized plans to place the words “In God We Trust” above all four doors of the County Courthouse in Clinton.

The motion approved Monday calls for the phrase to be emblazoned on plaques and posted above each of the four courthouse entrances. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge teen competes for Boys and Girls Club state honor

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Jazmyne Maddox

Jazmyne Maddox

Submitted

Jazmyne Maddox, a freshman at Oak Ridge High School, was named “Youth of the Year” for the Boys and Girls Club. The highest honor a member can receive, this title recognizes outstanding contributions to a member’s family, school, community, and Boys and Girls Club, as well as personal challenges and obstacles to overcome. She was selected to compete against other members for the Tennessee “Youth of the Year” title.

As the “Youth of the Year” for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Clinch Valley, Maddox is among hundreds of local youth across the country recognized by Boys and Girls Clubs of America for their sound character, leadership skills, and willingness to give back to the community. Jazmyne represented her club in Nashville in March. [Read more…]

Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament on April 26

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The 12th Annual Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament on Friday, April 26, continues a long tradition that combines a great day of golf with active commitment to youth and families. The Tournament supports Community Mediation Services’ work with youths and families and honors the legacy of “Big Ed” Neusel, founder of Big Ed’s Pizza, and his belief in giving to others while seeking recognition from no one.

The Oak Ridge Country Club provides a beautiful and challenging venue for the Big Ed’s Memorial Tournament. The early registration deadline is April 15 with late registration available. Registration forms are available by calling (865) 483-6888 or e-mailing info@cms-tn.org. [Read more…]

B&W Y-12 names Carl Strock as UPF project director

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Carl Strock

Carl Strock

Retired Lt. Gen Carl Strock has been named Uranium Processing Facility project director for B&W Y-12 at the Y-12 National Security Complex.

He reports to Jim Haynes, B&W Y-12 deputy general manager for projects.

Strock is Bechtel’s former manager of global construction. He joined Bechtel in 2007 after retiring as head of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after serving in the U.S. Army for more than 36 years. [Read more…]

ORNL’s awake imaging device moves diagnostics field forward

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A technology being developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory promises to provide clear images of the brains of children, the elderly, and people with Parkinson’s and other diseases without the use of uncomfortable or intrusive restraints.

Awake imaging provides motion compensation reconstruction, which removes blur caused by motion, allowing physicians to get a transparent picture of the functioning brain without anesthetics that can mask conditions and alter test results. The use of anesthetics, patient restraints, or both is not ideal because they can trigger brain activities that may alter the normal brain functions being studied. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge soldier killed in Afghanistan was a hero, died protecting others, mom says

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Christopher M. Ward Dignified Transfer

A U.S. Army carry team transfers the remains of Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Ward of Oak Ridge during a dignified transfer ceremony on Monday at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. (U.S. Air Force photo/Greg L. Davis)

Note: This story was last updated April 10.

A chaplain and another military representative knocked on her door at about 10:35 p.m. Saturday.

Joyce Ward of Oak Ridge knew why there were there.

She learned that her son, Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Ward, 24, had died in southern Afghanistan on Saturday morning helping a diplomat and two other soldiers deliver books to children in Zabul province when their vehicle was hit by an explosion.

“He is a hero,” Joyce Ward said. “He gave his life. He put himself in the line of fire to protect others.” [Read more…]

Titan repairs complete, ORNL preparing for second round of supercomputer testing

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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, the world’s fastest supercomputer. (Photos courtesy of ORNL)

Connectors in the Titan supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have been repaired, and workers are preparing the world’s fastest machine for a second round of acceptance testing, an official said Monday.

That testing could allow the $100 million machine to be put into full production mode by the end of this month or early May, said Jeff Nichols, ORNL associate lab director for computing and computational sciences.

Titan won’t be available to researchers for a short period while the lab re-runs acceptance tests. [Read more…]