Oak Ridge Today

ORHS seniors wins $30,000 scholarship in national research competition

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Note: This story was updated, and a video of Andress and Toth added, at 1:59 p.m. Dec. 5.

They made it to the national finals in a prestigious competition for teen researchers, and on Tuesday, Oak Ridge High School seniors James Andress and A.J. Toth won a $30,000 team scholarship for their work.

Andress and Toth were one of six teams from across the country that made it to the national finals of the 2012 Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology in Washington, D.C. this past weekend. Their research could help in the development of anticancer drugs, a press release said.

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Construction work starts on Centrifuge Way interchange

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Centrifuge Way Interchange Improvements

Construction work has started on a $1 million state project to improve the interchange at South Illinois Avenue and Centrifuge Way in Oak Ridge.

Construction work has started on a $1.2 million state project to improve the interchange at Centrifuge Way and South Illinois Avenue, or State Route 62.

The work started Nov. 14 and could be complete by June 15, said Mark Nagi, Tennessee Department of Transportation spokesman.

The work is being done by J&M Grading Division LLC of Friendsville under a $1.165 million contract, Nagi said.

The work includes building three detention ponds that will be used as sediment basins during construction, reconfiguring the interchange, and extending Centrifuge Way, which was formerly known as Boeing Road.

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MMC recognized for safety

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Information from WYSH Radio

Methodist Medical Center was honored with an “A” Hospital Safety Score by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit run by employers and other large purchasers of health benefits.

The A score was awarded in the latest update to the Hospital Safety ScoreSM. The grades were assigned to U.S. hospitals based on preventable medical errors, injuries, accidents, and infections.

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Anderson County mayor hires part-time fiscal analyst

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Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank announced today that she has hired local businessman Thomas Shope as her part-time fiscal analyst.

“When I campaigned for office, I pledged to internally audit the books to look for efficiency on behalf of the taxpayer,” Frank said. “Hiring Tom is part of keeping that pledge.”

Frank was elected to her first four-year term as county mayor on Aug. 2.

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NNSA exceeds nuclear weapons dismantlement goal

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The National Nuclear Security Administration announced today that it exceeded its goal for dismantling nuclear weapons in the federal fiscal year that ended in September.

In a press release, the NNSA said it had reached 112 percent of its goal, although it didn’t give specific information on the number of dismantled weapons.

The Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge is one of the NNSA sites involved in the dismantlement work.

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ORNL’s Smith, Sokolov elected AAAS fellows

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Sean Campbell Smith and Alexei Sokolov

Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers Sean Campbell Smith (left) and Alexei Sokolov, have been elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. (Photo courtesy of ORNL)

Two researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory—Sean Campbell Smith and Alexei Sokolov—have been elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Fellow is the highest honor bestowed by the AAAS, the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science.

Smith, director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, came to ORNL in 2011 from the University of Queensland in Australia, where he was the director of the Centre for Computational Molecular Science. He was cited by his AAAS peers for “distinguished contributions to the field of computational and theoretical chemistry, including fundamental advances in unimolecular rate theory and exploration of novel functionalities in nanomaterials.”

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Official results: Liquor referendum fails in Oliver Springs

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Voters in Oliver Springs have rejected a liquor referendum that would have allowed retail package stores to sell alcoholic beverages.

The proposal failed 488-520, according to official certified results released after the Nov. 6 election. That’s a 48 percent to 52 percent vote margin.

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Registration under way for Roane State spring semester

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Registration is under way for the spring 2013 semester at Roane State Community College, and the fee deadline is Jan. 7.

Spring classes begin Jan. 17.

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YAB, Grove Theater host Breakfast with Santa

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Santa at Grove Theater

The 13th Annual Breakfast with Santa was at the Grove Theater on Saturday. (Photos courtesy of Matt Reedy)

The 13th Annual Breakfast with Santa was at the Grove Theater on Saturday.

It was hosted by the Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board and Grove Theater. Matt Reedy, the city staff liaison to the YAB, submitted a few photos from the event.

Activities at Saturday’s Breakfast with Santa included a breakfast buffet, Christmas crafts, holiday movies in the theater, and photos with Santa.

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Roane State names 2012 Outstanding Alumni

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Jeff Burchfield

Jeff Burchfield

A decorated law enforcement officer and an accomplished scholar have been named Roane State Community College’s 2012 Outstanding Alumni.

The recipients are Jeff Burchfield of Maryville, captain and training supervisor for the Blount County Sheriff’s Office, and Barry Vann of Corbin, Ky., professor of higher education and geography at the University of the Cumberlands.

Burchfield graduated from Roane State in 1993 with an associate’s degree in police technology. He spent eight years with the Maryville Police Department before joining the Blount County Sheriff’s Office in 1996.

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New federal health insurance law discussed Tuesday

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Paula Flowers

Paula Flowers

Attorney and business executive Paula Flowers will discuss the effects of the new federal health care law during a Tuesday meeting in Oak Ridge.

Flowers will also discuss the U.S. Department of Energy’s recent announcement of an award to support a new project to design, license, and help commercialize small nuclear reactors in the United States. The award was given to Babcock & Wilcox in partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority and Bechtel.

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Things to do in Oak Ridge and Clinton

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We’ve added several new events to our events calendar, including some happening this weekend. Take a look here.