Oak Ridge Today

Second House panel questions federal officials on Y-12 security breach

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The U.S. House of Representatives has a second hearing this afternoon on this summer’s security breach at the Y-12 National Security Complex.

Today’s 2 p.m. hearing is before the House Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, and it can be watched live online.

Today’s hearing follows one yesterday by the House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. During that hearing, House members called the July 28 security breach at Y-12 “appalling” and an “all-out failure,” and they asked who had been fired and who was responsible for various problems—such as security cameras that didn’t work.

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Alley wants to increase property assessor work week, build website

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Johnny Alley

Johnny Alley

New Anderson County Property Assessor Johnny Alley said he wants to increase the number of hours his employees work each week, cross-train employees, and build a website that could help answer public questions.

A Republican, Alley has been a real estate agent for more than eight years and an Anderson County commissioner for about 2.5 years. He defeated Democrat Rick Marlowe in the Aug. 2 county election.

He took office Sept. 1.

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ORNL’s newly licensed neutron detector will advance research

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A neutron detector developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory could be used by an Indiana-based company for research in a variety of scientific fields, helping, for example, in the development of new drugs.

The neutron detector, the Neutron-Sensitive Anger Camera, has been licensed by PartTec Ltd. of Indiana, an ORNL press release said.

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ADFAC celebrates 25th anniversary on Oct. 8

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Aid To Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC, is planning an Oct. 8 celebration of its 25th anniversary.

The celebration is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. as part of the nonprofit organization’s annual meeting at the First Presbyterian Church on Lafayette Drive. Details and reservations are located at http://www.adfac.org/25thcelebration.html.

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Youth Board calls for ‘cash mobs,’ tennis day, shoe drive, dodgeball

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Youth Advisory Board

Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board

The Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board has set its annual goals, calling for the creation of “cash mobs” to encourage teens to shop at local stores, a tennis play day, a shoe drive, disc golf event, and dodgeball tournament.

The YAB also voted to continue some of its most popular events, including Graduation Celebration, freshman-sophomore dance, summer jobs and career fair, Battle of the Teen Bands, and Breakfast with Santa.

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‘Scam artist’ poses as Claxton firefighter, asks for money

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Someone posing as a member of the Claxton Volunteer Fire Department has attempted to fraudulently obtain money from two different homeowners in Claxton, Anderson County Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said Wednesday.

“The scam artist apparently went door-to-door on Old Edgemoor Road soliciting money from residents, telling them if they do not pay the fire department will not respond if there is a fire,” Lucas said.

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B&W Y-12 says it has made compelling case to keep contract

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Chuck Spencer

Chuck Spencer

Six weeks after an unprecedented security breach, B&W Y-12 said in a press release Wednesday that is has demonstrated a compelling case to federal officials to let it keep managing and operating the Y-12 National Security Complex.

“The July 28 event brought to light gaps in our maintenance and security operations, and we are using it as a catalyst for a comprehensive and objective examination of all our operations,” said B&W Y-12 President and General Manager Chuck Spencer.

During the July 28 security breach, three unarmed anti-nuclear weapons activists allegedly sneaked into Y-12, evaded guards, cut fences, penetrated a high-security area, and spray-painted slogans and splashed human blood on the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility, where bomb-grade uranium is stored.

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U.S. House subcommittee grills federal officials on Y-12 security breach

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Transform Now Plowshares

During a Wednesday hearing, a House subcommittee questioned federal officials about a July 28 intrusion into a high-security area at the Y-12 National Security Complex by the three anti-nuclear weapons activists pictured above. From left to right, the three are Michael R. Walli, Megan Rice, and Greg Boertje-Obed. (Submitted photo)

Members of a U.S. House subcommittee grilled federal officials during a Wednesday morning hearing on the July 28 security breach at the Y-12 National Security Complex, calling it “appalling” and an “all-out failure,” and asking who had been fired and who was responsible for various problems—such as security cameras that didn’t work.

Some of the harshest criticism came from U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, a Republican who represents the 7th District in middle and west Tennessee.

She cited a Washington Post report published online on Tuesday that said government investigators had warned of lax security at the site in classified reports nearly two years ago. Among the issues identified then were security cameras that didn’t operate, sloppy equipment maintenance, and poorly trained guards, the Post reported.

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Oliver Springs woman injured in rollover accident on Illinois Avenue

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North Illinois Avenue Rollover Accident

An Oliver Springs woman was ejected from her car during a single-vehicle accident on North Illinois Avenue on Monday morning. (Photo by Tom Scott)

An Oliver Springs woman was ejected from her car in a single-vehicle rollover accident on North Illinois Avenue on Monday morning, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said.

Samantha Henry, 31, was flown by a Lifestar helicopter to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville after the 10:05 a.m. accident, said THP Sgt. William Bruce.

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Oak Ridge celebrates 70th birthday on Sept. 19

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Oak Ridge will celebrate its 70th birthday on Sept. 19 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.”

A press release said 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.

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Y-12 security breach subject of congressional hearing

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Note: This story was updated to add a link for watching the hearing live.

The July 28 security breach at the Y-12 National Security Complex is expected to be one of the topics discussed during a Wednesday morning hearing in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Witnesses scheduled to testify during the hearing of the U.S. House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee include Department of Energy Deputy Secretary Daniel B. Poneman and DOE Inspector General Gregory H. Friedman.

Poneman will be accompanied by Thomas P. D’Agostino, National Nuclear Security Administration administrator, and Glenn S. Podonsky, DOE’s chief health, safety, and security officer.

A webcast could be available on this page: http://energycommerce.house.gov/studio/webcasts. The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee should be Webcast A.

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Judge releases third Y-12 protester

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Greg Boertje-Obed

Greg Boertje-Obed

A federal judge has released the third protester arrested at the Y-12 National Security Complex after an unprecedented July 28 security breach, a court representative said Tuesday.

Greg Boertje-Obed will return to Duluth, Minn., and he must follow conditions that are similar to those imposed on the two other anti-nuclear weapons activists released Aug. 3, said a representative of the U.S. District Court in Knoxville.

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