Oak Ridge Today

No one injured, but home heavily damaged in Hickory Lane fire

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Hickory Lane House Fire

No one was injured, but an unoccupied home was heavily damaged in a Thursday morning fire on Hickory Lane, authorities said.

No one was injured, but an unoccupied home on Hickory Lane was heavily damaged in a fire early Thursday morning, authorities said.

Neighbors said they heard something and went outside and saw that the house at 109 Hickory Lane was on fire at about 3:15 a.m., Oak Ridge Fire Department Chief Darryl Kerley said.

He said the cause of the fire has not been determined, but it is under investigation. [Read more…]

Residents, pastors celebrate ‘In God We Trust’ signs on Anderson County Courthouse

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Bates Family of Lake City TN

The Bates family of Anderson County, including County Commissioner Zach Bates, left, and father and pastor Gil Bates, second from right, and mother Kelly Bates, right, sing “This Land is Your Land” and “God Bless America” during a Tuesday ceremony for new “In God We Trust” signs at the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton.

CLINTON—In a ceremony that featured pastors, prayers, and patriotic songs, a group of about 150 people watched Tuesday morning as the first of four signs emblazoned with the national motto “In God We Trust” was unveiled at the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton.

Supporters celebrated the installation of the seven-foot, 180-pound sign as a victory for the majority, a chance to honor the nation’s heritage.

“Whether you agree with this or disagree with this, the democratic process took place,” said Tom Byrge, director of missions for Clinton Baptist Association. “The majority of the U.S. citizens will continue to believe, and will not be ashamed to say, ‘In God We Trust.’” [Read more…]

Nuclear goes Hollywood: New film sheds light on old debate

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Pandora's Promise Panel Discussion

Jeff Binder, Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s associate lab director of nuclear science and engineering, answers an audience question during a panel discussion following a screening of “Pandora’s Promise” in Knoxville on Saturday. (Submitted photo)

By Scott Jones

About 300 people attended a showing of the new pro-nuclear film “Pandora’s Promise” and heard a panel discussion about nuclear energy on Saturday, including perspectives from Oak Ridge National Laboratory staff.

The lab worked with Regal Entertainment Group to bring the film to the Downtown West theater from July 19-25.

Few phrases carry the ideological weight of the words “nuclear power.” [Read more…]

UPF Project Office moves into former Answer Financial building

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UPF Project Office

Employees working on the multi-billion-dollar Uranium Processing Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex have consolidated in office space at 90 Union Valley Road across from Y-12, moving there from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Scientific and Technical Information and 1099 Commerce Park.

An office building once used by Answer Financial on Union Valley Road is now home to employees working on the multi-billion-dollar Uranium Processing Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex.

The UPF employees now located at 90 Union Valley Road, which is across Scarboro Road from Y-12, were previously split between offices at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Scientific and Technical Information and 1099 Commerce Park, said Bridget Correll Waller, Y-12 community and government relations manager. The new consolidated offices include space for UPF federal staff, project managers, and workers in procurement, security, quality assurance, project services and project controls, and Environment, Safety and Health, or ES&H. [Read more…]

Construction work starts on Aldi grocery

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Aldi Construction

Construction has started on an Aldi grocery store on South Illinois Avenue. Above, construction subcontractors from Bellamy Excavating of Knoxville install a storm sewer on the 1.4-acre site near the relocated, expanded Panera Bread and new Aubrey’s restaurant.

Construction work has started on an Aldi grocery store on South Illinois Avenue.

Under way for about a month, work on the 16,000-square-foot store on 1.4 acres could be finished in November, said Tony Stacy, job superintendent for the project’s general contractor, Creative Structures of Knoxville.

The project at the Woodland Town Center, where the new Aubrey’s and relocated Panera Bread opened in October, was announced in January. [Read more…]

Hoping to improve global security, UT launches Radiochemistry Center

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KNOXVILLE—Hypothetical scenario: A nuclear bomb is detonated in one of America’s most populated cities. Just as at a crime scene, the officials need to find the culprit.

Currently, the process of analyzing weapons debris to understand the performance or design of the device is painstakingly slow. But new research to be conducted at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville seeks to improve radiochemistry and nuclear forensics to enhance global security.

The new Radiochemistry Center of Excellence is being established through a $1.2 million grant from the National Nuclear Security Administration for the first year, with the potential for a total of $6 million for five years. The center will focus on research and education to advance UT and NNSA laboratories such as the nearby Y-12 National Security Complex, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The center will begin operating immediately. [Read more…]

Documentary film to feature ORHS band

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Keith McDaniel

Keith McDaniel

Submitted

Filming began this week on a documentary film that will feature the Oak Ridge High School Wildcat Band, ORHS Band Director Spence Milligan announced Monday.

The film, entitled “TRADITION: A Year in the Life of the Oak Ridge High School Wildcat Band,” is being produced by Oak Ridger and award-winning documentary filmmaker Keith McDaniel. [Read more…]

Roane State open house will showcase advanced manufacturing programs

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Everyone is invited to learn how Roane State Community College’s advanced manufacturing programs can help their career at an open house on Tuesday, July 30, at the Clinton Higher Education and Workforce Training Facility at 214 Nave St. in Clinton.

The open house is scheduled from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Visitors are welcome to drop by anytime to learn more about the programs. Employers are also encouraged to attend to learn more about training opportunities for their employees. [Read more…]

Sign up today for wilderness first aid

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Roane State Community College’s Continuing Healthcare Education Department will host a wilderness first aid course at Oliver Springs High School.

The $125 course includes three sessions: July 30 from 6-9:30 p.m., Aug. 1 from 6-9:30 p.m., and Aug. 3 from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Schools hosts August reception for new administrators

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Bob and Carol Smallridge and Bruce Borchers

New Oak Ridge Schools Superintendent Bruce, right, will be welcomed during an Aug. 5 reception along with new Assistant Superintendent Chris Marczak. Above, Borchers speaks to Carol Smallridge, left, and former Oak Ridge Schools Superintendent and Interim Superintendent Bob Smallridge, second from right. Also pictured is Borchers’ son Jack.

Oak Ridge Schools will have an Aug. 5 reception for new Superintendent Bruce Borchers and new Assistant Superintendent Chris Marczak.

The reception will be from 5-6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 5, in the School Administration Building Board Room. It will precede the 7 p.m. Oak Ridge Board of Education meeting.

Borchers was hired in April, and he started in Oak Ridge on June 18. He replaced Interim Oak Ridge Schools Superintendent Bob Smallridge, who is also a former superintendent. Smallridge filled in after former Superintendent Tom Bailey retired at the end of 2012. [Read more…]

ORNL makes low-cost carbon fiber available to American manufacturers

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Carbon Fiber Technology Facility

Operated by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Carbon Fiber Technology Facility is accepting proposals from companies that want to test low-cost carbon fibers manufactured at the pilot scale plant. Pictured here are textile-grade acrylic fibers entering the first of four oxidation ovens, where they gradually turn from white to yellow, auburn, brown, then black. Once fully oxidized, the fiber is ready to run through the higher-temperature furnaces, which convert the oxidized fiber to carbon fiber. (Submitted photo)

Companies interested in testing the latest in low-cost carbon fiber have a new opportunity to partner with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Carbon Fiber Technology Facility.

The CFTF, operated by Oak Ridge National Laboratory as part of the department’s Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative, opened earlier this year to find ways to reduce carbon fiber production costs and to work with the private sector to stimulate widespread use of the strong, lightweight material.

In its first months of operation, the CFTF used traditional raw materials to assure the new pilot scale manufacturing line would produce a commercial-quality product. With that goal accomplished, the facility now will use less expensive “precursor” materials that can be turned into carbon fiber more cost-effectively. [Read more…]

Public ceremony for ‘In God We Trust’ signs this morning

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CLINTON—Four pastors, including the father of an Anderson County commissioner, are scheduled to speak during an unveiling ceremony this morning for four new “In God We Trust” signs on the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton.

The ceremony starts at 10 a.m., said Lynn Byrge, an Oak Ridge business owner who spearheaded the drive to install the signs inscribed with the nation’s motto. [Read more…]