Oak Ridge Today

House majority supports Manhattan Project park, but two-thirds required

Posted at
By 3 Comments

Note: This story was updated at 9:10 p.m.

A majority of U.S. House members voted for a bill Thursday to set up a Manhattan Project National Historical Park that would include Oak Ridge, but the vote fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to pass the legislation under special rules.

The vote on the Manhattan Project National Historical Park Act was 237-180, about 50 votes short of a two-thirds supermajority, said Cindy Kelly, president of the nonprofit Atomic Heritage Foundation.

Though it didn’t pass Thursday in a maneuver that could have quickly sent the bill to the Senate, supporters said the bill has bipartisan support. They remained optimistic that it could still be approved soon.

“We’ve shown there is support for this park and will be working towards the goal of enacting this into law before the end of this year,” said U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings, a Washington Republican who has championed the legislation to recognize Manhattan Project sites in Oak Ridge, Los Alamos, N.M., and Hanford, Wash. The Manhattan Project was a top-secret federal program to build the world’s first atomic weapons during World War II.

[Read more…]

Forty-one workers laid off at ETTP, the former K-25 site

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Note: This story was updated at 8:04 p.m.

Forty-one employees have been laid off at the East Tennessee Technology Park, the former K-25 site, a spokesperson said Thursday.

Thirty-five employees worked on the K-25 Building demolition, and six worked on the K-27 project, said Wayne McKinney, spokesperson for UCOR, the U.S. Department of Energy’s cleanup contractor in Oak Ridge.

McKinney said the employees, who worked for subcontractors, were notified of the layoffs Thursday. He said it’s part of the normal ebb and flow of subcontracting.

[Read more…]

Nov. 6 election features city council, county commission, school board candidates

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Note: This story was updated at 4:06 p.m.

There are 17 candidates eligible for election to 10 city council seats in Oak Ridge, Norris, and Lake City in the Nov. 6 election.

There are also nine candidates in a special election for Anderson County Commission District 3. Commissioner Johnny Alley gave up that seat after he became Anderson County property assessor in the Aug. 2 election.

In addition, there are three candidates for Oak Ridge Board of Education and one candidate for Oak Ridge City Judge.

The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 8. Early voting starts Oct. 17 and runs through Nov. 1, Anderson County Election Commission Administrator Mark Stephens said Thursday.

[Read more…]

Finishing three-month term, Hope running for four years on Council

Posted at
By 2 Comments

Chuck Hope

Chuck Hope

Chuck Hope Jr. just won a three-month term on the Oak Ridge City Council, and now he’s running for a regular four-year term in the Nov. 6 election.

A longtime local businessman, Hope won the special three-month term in the Aug. 2 county election. He defeated Trina Baughn, who is also running in the November election.

It was the first run for a political office for both candidates.

[Read more…]

Oak Ridge Community Band begins next concert series on Oct. 14

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Community Band begins its next concert series on Sunday, Oct. 14, with a “Cane Mutiny” performance.

The concert starts at 3:30 p.m. at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center.

[Read more…]

UT’s Cronan to speak at Boys, Girls Club campaign kickoff

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Joan Cronan, former University of Tennessee women’s athletic director, will be the guest speaker at a “Great Futures Campaign Kick-Off” for the Boys & Girls Club of Oak Ridge next week.

The kickoff is at 7:30 a.m. Sept. 27 at the Boys & Girls Club at 102 South Jefferson Circle.

[Read more…]

Anderson County man shoots himself in face while cleaning rifle

Posted at
By 5 Comments

An Anderson County man told a sheriff’s deputy Monday that he accidentally shot himself in the face while cleaning a 7.62-millimeter rifle, WYSH Radio reported.

The parents of Wesley Woods called deputies to their home on McCulley Lane Monday night after hearing a gunshot and finding their 22-year-old son Wesley bleeding from his mouth and nose, the radio station said.

[Read more…]

Consortium led by Roane State receives $12.6 million federal grant

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A consortium led by Roane State Community College received a $12.6 million federal grant to offer more training for health care careers and help students finish their degrees, the U.S. Department of Labor announced Wednesday.

The announcement included $500 million in grants for community colleges and universities across the country. The Roane State consortium was one of 27 funded nationwide, Roane State President Gary Goff said in a press release.

[Read more…]

Cold War Patriots fair offers free health care screenings, information

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Nuclear workers and seniors will be offered free health care screenings, information, and entertainment during the fourth annual Cold War Patriots Resource Fair next week, a press release said.

The fair is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 27 in the New Hope Center at the Y-12 National Security Complex.

[Read more…]

Oak Ridge celebrates 70th birthday at Jackson Square this afternoon

Posted at
By 1 Comment

Oak Ridge will celebrate its 70th birthday today with historic displays and talks in Jackson Square, special games and activities, a preservation award, and a special free showing of “Fat Man and Little Boy.”

Gen. Leslie R. Groves selected the area that is now Oak Ridge—it was then 90 square miles of East Tennessee farmland—as the first site for Manhattan Project facilities on Sept. 19, 1942. The Manhattan Project was a top-secret federal program to build the world’s first atomic weapons during World War II.

The 70th birthday festivities kick off at 3 p.m. today in Jackson Square.

[Read more…]

ORNL roof, attic design proves efficient in summer, winter

Posted at
By 6 Comments

ORNL Roof System

A new roof system tested at Oak Ridge National Laboratory improves efficiency using controls such as a ventilation system that pulls air from the attic into an air space above the roof. (Photo courtesy of ORNL)

A new roof-and-attic system tested at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory keeps homes cool in summer and prevents heat loss in winter, a press release said.

Among the features designed to improve efficiency are a ventilation system that pulls air from the underbelly of the attic into air space above the roof, the release said.

“Heat that would have gone into the house is carried up and out,” says Bill Miller of ORNL’s Building Envelope Group. “And with a passive ventilation scheme, there are no moving parts, so it’s guaranteed to work.”

[Read more…]

Haslam announces more than $800,000 for Oliver Springs, Clinton

Posted at
By 1 Comment

Oliver Springs and Clinton have received more than $800,000 in grants for water system improvements and housing rehabilitation, Gov. Bill Haslam announced Tuesday.

Haslam also announced about $1 million total in Community Development Block Grants for sewer system improvements in Lenoir City and a water line extension in Cocke County.

Haslam also announced grants from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation for two local parks. One $100,000 grant will help Oliver Springs develop Carmichael Park and expand Arrowhead Park, and a second $22,000 grant will aid the continued development of Marlow Park in Anderson County, a press release said.

[Read more…]