Oak Ridge Today

UT Arboretum Society has Owl Prowl on Saturday

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Owl Prowl

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society has its annual Owl Prowl on Saturday.

It starts at 6:30 p.m. at the UT Arboretum program shelter with a program by the Clinch River Raptor Center, featuring owls found in East Tennessee. Live birds will be on display, and Kathy Strunk and Katie Cottrell will give information about their natural histories, a press release said.

The Raptor Center was started at Clinton Middle School by John Byrd 28 years ago. Since then, 2,090 birds have come to the Raptor Center to be rehabilitated, the press release said.

Strunk and Cottrell have co-directed the Raptor Center for more than 25 years and have given hundreds of programs in East Tennessee on birds of prey.

Saturday’s initial program will be followed by walks on the grounds of the Arboretum led by Strunk, Cottrell, and Byrd, with the goal of hearing some owls. Those who don’t want to go on the walks will have an opportunity to stay at the shelter and visit with the center’s educational owls, the release said.

Participants are encouraged to bring flash lights if they plan to take part in the “owl prowl.”

The UT Arboretum is located at 901 S. Illinois Ave.

To learn more about the Arboretum Society, visit them online at www.utarboretumsociety.org.

Demolition starts on K-25’s north end

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K-25 North End Demolition

Demolition started Wednesday on the north end of the mile-long, U-shaped K-25 Building in west Oak Ridge. (Photo submitted by UCOR)

Demolition work started Wednesday on the north end of the K-25 Building at the East Tennessee Technology Park in west Oak Ridge.

The building was constructed to enrich uranium during World War II as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project, and it was once the world’s largest building under one roof.

Previous plans had called for the north end of the mile-long, U-shaped building to be preserved for historic purposes. But an agreement signed this summer by federal, state, and local historic preservation groups allowed for the entire building to be demolished, including the north end, while still recognizing the historic significance of the site.

Demolition of the building’s east and west wings is complete, except for a small section of the east wing that has technetium-99, or Tc-99, a slow-decaying radioactive metal, according to a Wednesday press release from UCOR, the U.S. Department of Energy’s cleanup contractor in Oak Ridge. The north end forms the base of the “U” and is the smallest of the three sections.

“This is a tremendous day for employees,” said Leo Sain, UCOR president and project manager. “We have been working toward this since we arrived at ETTP, and it’s a testament to people here, at the Department of Energy, and at all the agencies who worked together to make this happen.”

DOE’s Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, or EM, expects the north end demolition to be complete in January. After that, workers will continue pre-demolition activities in the remaining Tc-99 area of K-25’s east wing, the release said.

“Completing demolition of the K-25 Building is our highest priority, and this is another significant step toward that goal,” said Mark Whitney, Oak Ridge’s EM manager.

The preservation agreement approved this summer calls for a replica equipment building and viewing tower, proposes a history center at a city-owned fire station at ETTP, and provides a $500,000 grant for the run-down Alexander Inn in central Oak Ridge.

During the decade-long discussion over preserving the north end, federal officials had expressed concerns about safety, the deteriorated condition of the building, and the cost of trying to keep that section.

DOE’s Oak Ridge Office awards $10 million information technology contract

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The U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office has awarded a $10.6 million contract to Global Engineering and Technology-Nuclear Safety Associates LLC, or GET-NSA, for information technology support services. The three-year contract will employ about 30 people in Oak Ridge and at the Pacific Northwest Site Office, a press release said.

“We are pleased with the selection of GET-NSA as the next information technology support contractor for the Oak Ridge Office,” ORO Manager Larry Kelly said. “The services provided under this contract are vital to our success, and we look forward to building a productive, professional relationship with GET-NSA.”

Tasks performed under the contract include a broad array of support activities that include cyber security operations, network operations, information engineering and systems development, and end-user support and help-desk type services.

The press release said GET-NSA is based in Oak Ridge, and it is a joint venture between Global Engineering and Technology Inc., based in Miami, Fla., and Nuclear Safety Associates Inc. of Johnson City. The contract’s period of performance is three years, including all options, the release said.

Animal control officers resign, shelter open fewer hours

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Oak Ridge Animal Shelter

Two animal control officers have resigned, and the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter on Belgrade Road will be open fewer hours.

Two animal control officers resigned suddenly Tuesday, so the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter will reduce the hours it is open to the public, the Oak Ridge Police Department said Wednesday.

For now, the shelter on Belgrade Road in east Oak Ridge will be open from 2-4 p.m. Tuesdays thru Saturdays, a press release said.

Oak Ridge Police Chief James T. Akagi declined to name the two officers who resigned from the three-person staff or explain the circumstances.

The city is accepting applications for the two animal control jobs through Wednesday, Oct. 31. More information is available at oakridgetn.gov.

In the meantime, the press release said, volunteers are encouraged to continue to take part in shelter activities.

Alexander: UPF, ORNL remain priorities even in tough economic times

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Senator Lamar Alexander at Hoskins Drug Store

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, center, a Tennessee Republican, visited Hoskins Drug Store in Clinton on Tuesday to show support for state Rep. John Ragan, an Oak Ridge Republican seeking re-election.

CLINTON—Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Uranium Processing Facility remain funding priorities even in tough economic times, U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander said Tuesday.

A Tennessee Republican, Alexander said all federal government funding is under pressure and should be until the nation’s debt is under control. But the UPF at the Y-12 National Security Complex is the top priority of the U.S. Department of Energy, the senator said. And ORNL performs crucial missions, the senator said.

“In difficult times, they’ll still continue to receive a good funding stream,” he said.

Alexander said he would also like to see cleanup work continue in Oak Ridge, including mercury cleanup projects.

Alexander said the UPF project, which could cost up to $6.5 billion, is a costly 50-75 year decision that could affect the health and safety of hundreds of workers, and it should proceed as rapidly as possible, although a good design is needed.

Republicans Support Ragan

Top local, state, and federal Republicans and other residents turned out at Hoskins Drug Store on Tuesday to show support for Tennessee Rep. John Ragan, fourth from left, who is seeking re-election in the Nov. 6 election.

Asked about the July 28 security breach at Y-12, Alexander said it shouldn’t have happened, but he’s not ready to turn over security to another government department, as U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, an Ohio Republican, has proposed.

Alexander said “some heads have rolled,” and investigations have been launched that will help determine the right next steps.

He said roughly $3 billion in federal money is spent in Oak Ridge each year for all DOE facilities. But there have been budget uncertainties caused by Congress’ inability to make decisions, Alexander said.

Alexander was at Hoskins Drug Store in Clinton on Tuesday with other top local, state, and federal Republicans to show support for Rep. John Ragan, an Oak Ridge Republican who is running against former Rep. Jim Hackworth, a Clinton Democrat, in one of the half-dozen key races in the Tennessee House of Representatives.

Lady Wildcats lose regional soccer match to Knoxville Catholic

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Lady Wildcats and Knox Catholic Soccer

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats lost an exciting, hard-fought regional tournament soccer match to Knoxville Catholic at Oak Ridge High School on Tuesday night.

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats lost in a penalty kick shootout during a regional tournament soccer match with Knoxville Catholic on Tuesday night.

The game was tied 1-1 after 80 minutes of regular time and 30 minutes of extra time at Oak Ridge High School. Knoxville Catholic beat Oak Ridge 4-2 in the best-of-five shootout that followed, coming up with two crucial saves.

Both teams had missed opportunities to score during the game, and Oak Ridge had several shots bounce off the crossbar and posts.

“You’ve got to finish those,” Lady Wildcats soccer coach Tom Gorman said. “Close doesn’t cut it.”

It was a disappointing finish to an exciting, hard-fought game for the Lady Wildcats.

Oak Ridge beat Hardin Valley in the district tournament game last week and finished the season 17-1-3, Gorman said.

Knoxville Catholic goes on to play Farragut on Thursday.

Hope wants more retail, modernized homes, good relationship with schools

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Chuck Hope

Chuck Hope

It’s Chuck Hope’s first campaign for an elected office, but he already has some job experience.

Hope, a 49-year-old businessman, was appointed to serve on Oak Ridge City Council after former Council member Tom Hayes resigned in June 2011. Now, he’s running for a special three-month term on the city’s seven-member legislative body.

In recent forums and interviews, Hope has advocated for more retail development in Oak Ridge, modernizing older “legacy” homes, and reviving the city’s economic development fund.

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Body of woman reported missing found at Melton Hill Lake

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Rescuers Search for Missing Woman

Law enforcement authorities and volunteers search near Melton Lake Drive north of Edgemoor Road on Saturday for a woman reported as missing Friday. Her body was later found on the west bank of Melton Hill Lake.

The body of a woman reported missing on Friday was found Saturday afternoon on the west bank of Melton Hill Lake near the Bull Run Fossil Plant, authorities said.

Tara Ann Kobisk, 37, had been missing for about seven hours when a report was filed with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Friday evening, an Oak Ridge Police Department press release said.

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ORNL steam plant burns wood chips, saves energy

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ORNL Central Biomass Steam Plant

A steam plant that burns wood chips at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is expected to help save energy and reduce fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. At right is a blue wood chip hopper, at left in background is the exhaust stack, and at right in background is the steam plant.

A new steam plant that burns wood chips at Oak Ridge National Laboratory will save energy, reduce fossil fuel consumption, and cut greenhouse gas emissions, officials said Thursday.

The Central Biomass Steam Plant can produce 60,000 pounds of steam per hour. The steam is used to heat buildings during cold winter months and support research applications at ORNL.

The 21-megawatt plant is the flagship project in a $94 million, four-year-old Energy Savings Performance Contract with Johnson Controls Inc. of Milwaukee, Wis.

Officials had a dedication ceremony for the steam plant Thursday.

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Y-12 honors companies, advocates for small business success

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Y-12 Mentor Protege Agreement

Darrel Kohlhorst, president and general manager of B&W Y-12, at right, and Gary Johnson, president of CG Services Corporation, sign a mentor-protégé agreement as Johnson’s wife and CG Services Corporation Vice President Cindy Johnson looks on at the annual Socioeconomic Programs Awards ceremony held at Y-12’s New Hope Center on July 12. (Photos submitted by B&W Y-12)

The Y-12 National Security Complex honored six small businesses last week for “exceptional contributions” to its missions during Fiscal Year 2011.

The businesses were honored at the annual Socioeconomic Programs Awards reception held Thursday, July 12, a B&W Y-12 press release said.

Two Y-12 employees also were acknowledged for their role as small business advocates.

Honored as Y-12 2012 small businesses of the year were:

  • Small Business: SCI Consulting Services Inc.
  • Small Disadvantaged Business: GEM Technologies Inc.
  • Woman-Owned Small Business: G&S Construction Company Inc.
  • HUBZone Small Business: Oldenburg Group Incorporated
  • Veteran-Owned Small Business: Advantage Electronics Inc.
  • Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business: A1 Tactical and Safety

The two Y-12 employees honored as small business advocates of the year were Kealan Huckabee and Floyd Smith.

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Application deadline extended for AC circuit court clerk job

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Anderson County is still seeking qualified applicants to complete the unexpired term of the Circuit Court Clerk, and the deadline to apply has been extended, according to WYSH Radio in Clinton.

The Anderson County Commission agreed Monday to extend the deadline for applications and resumes until Sept. 21., WYSH said.

Commissioners are expected to select the next Circuit Court Clerk during a special-called meeting at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 1.

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Anderson County Fair ends Saturday

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The Anderson County Fair is in its last two days at the fairgrounds in Clinton, and the gates open at 5 p.m. today.

Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for kids ages 6 through 12, and free for kids under 6. An armband that will let you ride the rides all night long costs $20.

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