Oak Ridge Today

Kentucky duo arrested after alleged burglary, homeowner confrontation, police chase

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Timothy Shane Petrey

Timothy Shane Petrey

Elizabeth Jane North

Elizabeth Jane North

A Kentucky man and woman were arrested after an alleged confrontation with a homeowner during a burglary on Andersonville Highway on Saturday morning and a short police chase, authorities said.

The alleged burglary at the Andersonville Highway home was discovered by the owner and a friend at about 11:30 a.m. Saturday, according to a press release from Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas.

“The homeowner confronted the male suspect as he was exiting her home after the female suspect, who was sitting in a truck in the driveway, sounded the horn and yelled to the male,” Lucas said. “The male suspect and the homeowner struggled over some items that were being taken, and then he and the female suspect fled in the truck.” [Read more…]

Council to consider tax incentives for Protomet, ending recycling rewards

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In a cost-cutting move, the Oak Ridge City Council tonight will consider ending the rewards part of the city’s recycling program.

Ending those rewards, which can be redeemed for discounts at local businesses, could save about $124,000, city officials said.

Also tonight, the City Council will consider approving a five-year, 100 percent tax break for Protomet. The incentive could help the parts manufacturer more than double the size of its plant on Larson Drive in the Bethel Valley Industrial Park and add 20-30 workers. [Read more…]

Planned for years, new railroad museum will not be built at Heritage Center

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Southern Appalachia Railway Museum Building

A plan for the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum that had been proposed at Heritage Center, the former K-25 site. (Submitted image)

Note: This story was updated at 10:13 a.m.

A railroad museum that has been planned for years at Heritage Center, the former K-25 site, will not be built due to budget constraints, officials said Monday.

The lowest qualified bid for the 3,315-square-foot facility came in at nearly $1 million, or about 26 percent more than expected, a press release said.

The Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee’s Heritage Center LLC and the Southern Appalachian Railway Museum determined this week that the cost was too high, the press release said. [Read more…]

Fire destroys mobile home in Marlow

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Marlow Mobile Home Fire

An unoccupied mobile home was destroyed, but no one was injured in a fire early Sunday morning on Cumberland View Road in Marlow. (Photos by Tom Scott)

An unoccupied mobile home was destroyed, but no one was injured in a fire early Sunday morning on Cumberland View Road in Marlow, authorities said.

The fire was reported at about 2:45 a.m. near Laurel Road, which is east of Oak Ridge and north of Highway 61.

The home was destroyed, said Stephanie Fox, Marlow Volunteer Fire Department assistant chief. [Read more…]

Trespassing at Y-12 costs U.S. government thousands of dollars, NNSA says

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There is a greater threat of trespassing at the Y-12 National Security Complex, the National Nuclear Security Administration said last week when it announced plans for a new fence that would block a traditional protest area at the plant’s main entrance.

And the costs of responding to those threats are increasing, the NNSA said.

“Responding to these illegal acts of trespassing has cost the U.S. government thousands of dollars of additional expenses above and beyond what we have to spend to protect the plant during major protests,” the NNSA said in a statement released by spokesman Steven Wyatt on Saturday. “The security-related costs required to respond to protests is very large, but we cannot discuss our specific costs.” [Read more…]

B&W Y-12 ‘pleased’ with union contract extension

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B&W Y-12 released a short statement Saturday saying it was pleased with the contract extension approved by hourly union workers at the Y-12 National Security Complex on Friday.

The 14-month contract extension includes a 2.5 percent wage increase, and it was ratified by members of the Atomic Trades and Labor Council during voting at a union hall on Friday afternoon and evening. The ATLC represents 14 international unions.

“We look forward to continuing our productive relationship ensuring the missions of the National Nuclear Security Administration at Y-12,” B&W Y-12 said in the statement. [Read more…]

Father allegedly hits daughter while helping her with homework

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An Oak Ridge man allegedly lost his temper while helping his young daughter with her homework on Wednesday and hit her with his fist and a belt, authorities said.

David Lemus Mandujano, 29, of Wadsworth Circle, has been charged with aggravated child abuse. He remained jailed in the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton on Sunday evening. [Read more…]

Moved to new spot, Y-12 protesters still demonstrate; three arrested

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OREPA Spring Demonstration at Y-12

Protesters say “no” to the proposed Uranium Processing Facility in a demonstration across from the Y-12 National Security Complex on Saturday.  The area traditionally used by the protesters has been blocked by a fence erected this week. Pictured above at left are Greg Boertje-Obed and Michael Walli, two of the anti-nuclear weapons activists who penetrated the high-security Protected Area at Y-12 on July 28.

Forced to move to a new spot, protesters said three people were arrested on Saturday during an annual spring demonstration opposing the proposed Uranium Processing Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex.

An area that has traditionally been used by the protesters near Y-12’s main entrance at Bear Creek and Scarboro roads was enclosed by a fence this week. So the protesters, who oppose Y-12’s nuclear weapons work, demonstrated across the street from the 811-acre plant.

Three of them were arrested during a mile-long march from the Oak Ridge Civic Center, where the demonstration started, and Y-12. They were Larry Coleman, 71, of Knoxville; Buddhist monk Gyoshu Utsumi, 60, of Newport; and Bill Ramsey, 65, of Asheville, N.C. All three were charged with impeding the flow of traffic, and they have been released from the Anderson County Detention Facility on $100-$200 bonds. [Read more…]

Y-12 union workers approve contract extension, 2.5 percent raise

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Y-12 Pipefitters and Electrical Workers at Union Contract Extension

Henry Campbell, left, of the Pipefitters Local 718, and Jim Cromwell and Tony Reach of the IBEW Local 760 at stations where they give out tickets to vote on Friday on a contract extension and wage increase for hourly union workers at the Y-12 National Security Complex.

Hourly union workers at the Y-12 National Security Complex have ratified a 14-month contract extension and 2.5 percent wage increase, an official said.

The extension goes into effect April 22 and lasts through June 20, 2014, said Steve Jones, president of the Atomic Trades and Labor Council, which represents 14 international unions.

The contract extension applies to roughly 1,100 union members at Y-12. It will not affect ATLC members at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. [Read more…]

Y-12 fence that blocks protest area to remain up for now; judge questions lawsuit jurisdiction

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Y-12 Fence on Scarboro Road

The temporary fence erected at the main entrance to the Y-12 National Security Complex encloses an area, pictured above, that has been used for protests and vigils for years. Despite a court challenge Friday, the fence will stay up for now.

KNOXVILLE—The temporary fence that blocks a traditional protest area at the Y-12 National Security Complex will stay up for now.

A group that has used the grass field and small parking lot for protests and vigils near the Y-12 entrance at Bear Creek and Scarboro roads had sought to have the fence removed before an annual spring demonstration on Saturday. Workers started erecting it on Monday.

But the arguments about the fence and its alleged violations of the protesters’ First Amendment rights took a surprise turn in U.S. District Court in Knoxville on Friday.

District Judge Curtis L. Collier quickly raised a question about whether the court has jurisdiction to address the complaint filed Wednesday by the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, its board members, and people affiliated with the nonprofit organization. [Read more…]

Government can close area previously used for Y-12 protests, U.S. attorneys say

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Y-12 Fence on Scarboro Road

U.S. attorneys argue that the federal government has the right to close a previously open public forum, including this area near the main entrance at the Y-12 National Security Complex that has been used for protests and vigils for years.

Note: This story was last updated at 9:23 a.m.

Protesters call it a violation of their First Amendment rights, but U.S. attorneys said a new fence at the Y-12 National Security Complex can remain in place because the federal government has the right to close a previously open public forum.

The new fence encloses a grass field and small parking lot near the main entrance to Y-12 at Bear Creek and Scarboro roads. It’s been used for protests, vigils, and gatherings for 25 years.

Workers started erecting a temporary version of the fence on Monday. Protesters have asked the U.S. District Court in Knoxville to order that it be removed before an annual spring demonstration on Saturday. [Read more…]

Anderson Democrats have party convention Saturday

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The Anderson County Democratic Party has its bi-annual party convention from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Midtown Community Center in Oak Ridge.

During the convention, officers will be elected. Nominations can be made from the floor. [Read more…]