Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge Peace Forum donates $7,500 to Rotary Peace Centers

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Oak Ridge Peace Forum Donates to Rotary Foundation

Past District Governor and Zone 30 Coordinator Karen Wentz, right, presents a check for $7,500 from the Oak Ridge Peace Forum to Rotary Foundation Chair Wilf Wilkerson, left, and Rotary International President Sakuji Tanaka at Duke University. (Submitted photo)

The Oak Ridge Peace Forum has donated $7,500 of its net proceeds to the Peace Centers Endowment of The Rotary Foundation.

“The Rotary Peace Centers offer an avenue for extending peace activities throughout the world through its growing cadre of Peace Fellows,” said Fred Heitman, chair of the Peace Forum planning committee, which decided in early April to make the donation.

The Oak Ridge Peace Forum is sponsored by Rotary District 6780, which is now led by District Governor Jack Bailey of Oak Ridge.

More than 250 people attended the Peace Forum on March 9 in Pollard Auditorium. The planning committee consisted mostly of representatives of three Rotary clubs in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Allstate Foundation donates to ADFAC on behalf of local agent, volunteer

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ADFAC and David Erb

The Allstate Foundation recently made a $1,000 contribution to ADFAC on behalf of local agent David Erb. Pictured from left are Erb, ADFAC Executive Director Annie Cacheiro, and Cande Seay, ADFAC vice president and development committee chair. (Photo submitted by ADFAC)

The Allstate Foundation recently made a $1,000 contribution to Aid To Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, a press release said.

The contribution was made through the Allstate Agency Hands in the Community grant program in honor of local agent David Erb in recognition of his volunteer work with the agency. Erb serves on the ADFAC Development and Public Relations Committee and is an active member of the “Dine and Donate” Committee, which is a new event that is replacing ADFAC’s “Feed The Need,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge brush pickup starts Monday

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The city-wide brush pickup  program for Oak Ridge begins Monday, April 29. City collection efforts will follow the accompanying schedule as closely as possible. The schedule is a general guide and can vary considerably due to weather conditions and/or the amount of participation by residents.

The city asks residents to follow a few guidelines: [Read more…]

Early registration ends May 4 for Kerry Trammell Memorial Run

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Kerry Trammell at Grand Canyon

Kerry Trammell at the Grand Canyon (Photos courtesy of Lori Anderson)

The early registration deadline for the Kerry Trammell Memorial 5K Run and Walk is May 4.

The race will start at 7:30 a.m. May 19 at the Oak Ridge Marina. The route includes Melton Lake Drive and the Melton Lake Marina Greenway. Proceeds will benefit the Anderson County Rescue Squad.

The race is sponsored by Secret City Runners and NHC Healthcare in Oak Ridge.

Registration by May 4 is $25. Late and race day registration is $30. [Read more…]

Pic: Roane Chamber honors 2013 business award winners

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Roane Chamber Business Awards

The Roane County Chamber of Commerce on Friday presented its annual business awards during a banquet at the Whitestone Country Inn. (Submitted photo)

The Roane County Chamber of Commerce on Friday presented its annual business awards for 2013 before a crowd of community and business leaders attending the Chamber’s 67th Annual Banquet at Whitestone Country Inn.

The awards included:

  • Chamber Ambassador of the Year—Rose Meza, of Harriman Care and Rehab;
  • Business of the Year—Foust Family Fitness, of Kingston;
  • Paul E. Goldberg Young Professional Award—Brantley Rivers, president of Acme Brick and Block;
  • Roane Chamber Woman of the Year—Gail Lyke, of First Bank of Tennessee; and
  • Distinguished Service Award—Paul Cowell, of Whitestone Country Inn.

Government asks court to dismiss one charge against Y-12 protesters

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Y-12 Plowshares Protesters

Pictured above are the three anti-nuclear weapons protesters who broke into the Y-12 National Security Complex on July 28. From left, they are Michael Walli, Megan Rice, and Greg Boertje-Obed.

Note: This story was last updated at 9:47 a.m. April 29.

Federal prosecutors have asked the U.S. District Court in Knoxville to dismiss one of the charges against the three anti-nuclear weapons activists accused of breaking into the Y-12 National Security Complex in July and splashing blood and spray-painting slogans on a uranium storage building.

A motion filed on Thursday said the United States has determined that it is unable to establish jurisdiction for that charge, one of three faced by the defendants: Greg Boertje-Obed, Megan Rice, and Michael Walli. That charge alleges that the trio destroyed and injured, and attempted to destroy and injure, Y-12 property. [Read more…]

Court will not limit time for jury examination in Y-12 protester case

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A federal judge will not limit the time used to examine prospective jurors during jury selection on May 6 in the trial against three anti-nuclear weapons activists accused of breaking into the Y-12 National Security Complex last summer and vandalizing a uranium storage building.

As previously reported, attorneys for the defendants—Greg Boertje-Obed, Megan Rice, and Michael Walli—had asked for six hours for jury selection because of the publicity the unprecedented security breach has generated. [Read more…]

Solar company, German Energy Agency dedicate first U.S. solar project

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Vis Solis Solar Park

Local and state officials joined business executives and German officials at a Thursday ribbon-cutting ceremony for a 50 kilowatt photovoltaic solar array at Heritage Center.

Note: This story was updated at 9:25 a.m. April 29.

A Tennessee solar company and the German Energy Agency, or dena, celebrated their first U.S. solar project Thursday, a 50 kilowatt photovoltaic solar array at Heritage Center in west Oak Ridge.

The array includes seven ground-mounted trackers that are 20 feet high. They each include 28-30 solar panels. The trackers adjust themselves to capture the most sunlight, using two sensors each to adjust from east to west and tilting up and down.

It’s a public-private partnership involving dena and Vis Solis LLC of Franklin, Tenn., a subsidiary of Vis Solis GmbH in Breesen, Germany. Also involved is German manufacturer DEGERenergie.

It’s a $250,000 to $300,000 investment, said Carlos Mayer, Vis Solis chief executive officer. [Read more…]

B&W Y-12 names Kevin Corbett as VP of quality assurance

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Kevin Corbett

Kevin Corbett

Kevin Corbett has been named B&W Y-12 vice president of quality assurance. He is replacing Janice Christman, who will be retiring from the Y-12 National Security Complex at the end of April.

With 32 years of experience, Corbett has managed quality programs on projects and installations for the U.S. Department of Energy and National Nuclear Security Administration, the Department of Defense, and the Department of State, as well as commercial nuclear power facilities and large-scale infrastructure programs valued at more than $20 billion.

“The B&W Y-12 team certainly will benefit from Kevin’s broad range of experience,” said B&W Y-12 President and General Manager Chuck Spencer. “With quality being a key component of everything we do at Y-12, Kevin’s expertise will help us ensure quality is an integral part of our culture.” [Read more…]

Final ORSO concert Saturday features Tennessee composer, soloist

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Rachel DeVore Fogarty

Rachel DeVore Fogarty

Sabrina Laney Warren

Sabrina Laney Warren

Two talented Tennessee women are playing major roles in the final Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra concert of a season devoted to showcasing Tennessee music, composers, and performers.

The women, who both live in Nashville, are Rachel DeVore Fogarty—an emerging composer, church musician and collaborative pianist—and soprano soloist Sabrina Laney Warren, who was recently lauded by a German publication for her “bell pure soprano voice.”

You can hear them, and ORSO conductor Dan Allcott, talk about the concert music at the “Dialogue with Dan” gathering at noon Friday in the lobby of the Historic Grove Theater. [Read more…]

City sponsors co-ed flag football tournament on May 18

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The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department is sponsoring a “Just for Fun” Co-ed Flag Football Tournament at Robertsville Middle School on Saturday, May 18.

The entry fee for this double elimination tournament is $150. The tournament will be limited to the first 8 teams to register by May 11. All participants must be at least 18 years of age. [Read more…]

City will flush water system from April 29-June 1

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The Oak Ridge Public Works Department will be doing routine flushing of the water system starting April 29 and continuing through about June 1.

The flushing will be performed between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Residents in the areas being flushed may not want to wash laundry during those hours since the flushing may cause temporary discoloration of the water during the process. [Read more…]