Oak Ridge Today

CNC Bootcamp returns to Oak Ridge High School this spring

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Roane State and Oak Ridge High School educators joined specialized instructors over fall break for a CNC Bootcamp at the high school. The session welcomed the youngest-ever ACE training participant, Oak Ridge student Harry Shanafield, who was 13 when the camp took place. (Photo courtesy RSCC)

A popular bootcamp is returning to Oak Ridge High School this spring thanks to a recent partnership between Roane State Community College and the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI).

Roane State announced its workforce training partnership with IACMI last year, making the college just the third location in the State of Tennessee to offer specialized no-cost machine tool training opportunities through America’s Cutting Edge (ACE), a press release said.

ACE is a joint Department of Defense and Department of Energy effort launched in 2020 to re-establish American leadership in the machine tool industry through transformative thinking, technology innovation, and workforce development, the press release said.

Roane State and Oak Ridge High School educators joined specialized instructors during fall break for a CNC Bootcamp at the high school. The session welcomed the youngest-ever ACE training participant, Oak Ridge student Harry Shanafield, who was 13 when the camp took place.

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Anderson County Sheriff’s Department joins U.S. Marshals’ Smoky Mountains Fugitive Task Force

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Six deputies from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department have been sworn as special deputy U.S. marshals and form an Aggressive Criminal Enforcement (ACE) Unit. The ACE Unit is made up of Sergeant Wally Braden, Corporal Rick Coley, and deputies Charles Relford, Jason Leach, Shawn Williams, and Matt Forsyth. They will work part-time as needed with the Smoky Mountains Fugitive Task Force and the U.S. Marshals Service. Also pictured above at left is Chief Deputy Mark Lucas. (Photo courtesy Anderson County Sheriff’s Department)

 

Six officers from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department have been sworn in as task force officers with the United States Marshals Service’s Smoky Mountains Fugitive Task Force, or SMFTF.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department is the latest local law enforcement agency to become part of the specialized fugitive apprehension team, which is made up of the East Tennessee agencies listed at the end of this press release.

Task force officers are state and local police officers who receive special deputations with the Marshals Service, the press release said. While assigned to the SMFTF, these officers can exercise U.S. Marshals’ authorities, such as crossing jurisdictional lines.

Jimmy Fowler, U.S. marshal for the Eastern District of Tennessee, administered the oath of office to the deputies at the Marshals Service office in Knoxville.

“We are very excited about our new partnership with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department,” Fowler said in the press release. “Our communities are safer when local, state, and federal officers get to work together, and that is what the Smoky Mountains Fugitive Task Force is all about. The Task Force is made up of great officers from throughout East Tennessee. From Chattanooga to Bristol, these officers work together to ensure the safety of everyone by apprehending dangerous fugitives and reducing violent crime.” [Read more…]

Reported crimes down 45 percent in Anderson County

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The overall number of reported crimes in Anderson County fell 45 percent from 2007 to 2013, with the most dramatic drop during the past two years—2012 and 2013, Sheriff Paul White said in a recent press release.

Crimes against people have decreased 56.3 percent since 2007, crimes against society have fallen 42.5 percent, and crimes against property have dropped 41.1 percent, White said.

The most prevalent crimes in rural areas of the county are property crimes such as burglaries and thefts. Both have decreased significantly during the last two years, White said.

“This drop in overall crime can be directly attributed to proactive law enforcement and increased patrols of the rural areas of the county,” White said. “Added personnel in 2007 and 2008 have allowed directed patrols and enhanced investigations of property crimes. These efforts have resulted in more crimes solved and over 800 arrests for burglary and theft offenses since 2007.” [Read more…]

Roane State ACE courses available at no cost to qualified students

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Composites Program

Leslie Agron (left) and Dana Hudson work on a class project as part of Roane State’s Advanced Composites Employment (ACE) program. (Photo courtesy Roane State Community College)

Roane State Community College’s composite materials courses were just the challenge Dana Hudson wanted.

Hudson, of Knoxville, completed three introductory courses in composite materials through the college’s Advanced Composites Employment, or ACE, program. Hudson had taken college courses on and off for years. Her previous college work paid off because the number of college credits Hudson had completed qualified her to take the composite materials courses at no cost.

“It was a great experience, and it challenged me in some ways that I needed to be challenged,” Hudson said. “I learned a lot, and the courses added to my resume. The first night I was ready to quit, but I stuck with it and learned a lot, and I feel very proud of the achievement. Like I told my kids, you are never too old to learn.”

Roane State offers specialized composite materials courses as part of its Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in General Technology. Composite materials, such as carbon fiber, are used to make automotive body parts, pontoon boats, wind turbine blades, and much more. [Read more…]

Roane State’s ACE program, MasterCraft showcase carbon fiber part

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ACE Boat

This MasterCraft boat on display at the Downtown Knoxville Boat Show featured a carbon fiber bow cover. (Submitted photo)

Roane State Community College’s Advanced Composites Employment program and boat manufacturer MasterCraft teamed up to demonstrate how composite materials can be used in the boating industry.

One of the goals of Roane State’s ACE program is to promote how composite materials such as carbon fiber can benefit businesses. Tru-Design, a partner in the ACE program, designed and manufactured a carbon fiber bow cover for MasterCraft that was on display at the Downtown Knoxville Boat Show March 6-9.

The carbon fiber bow cover offers consumers a lightweight but strong part.

“The ACE program training is a real benefit for manufacturers in this area,” MasterCraft design engineer Adam Larson said. “The program provides manufacturers with a pool of well-trained individuals with hands-on experience in composite materials.” [Read more…]

Roane State ACE program hosts presentation on composites in the construction industry

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An expert on replacing traditional construction materials with composite materials spoke to representatives from the construction industry during a forum hosted by Roane State Community College’s Advanced Composite Employment program.

Isaac Diggs, president of Longhouse Enterprise Group, has more than 30 years of experience in civil construction projects. ACE and the East Tennessee Economic Council partnered to host Diggs’ Sept. 24 presentation at the University of Tennessee Outreach Center. The event is an example of how the ACE program raises awareness about the potential for composite materials in a variety of industries. [Read more…]

Advanced Composites program ‘perfect fit’ for Roane State teacher

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Andy Pokelwaldt

Roane State’s Andy Pokelwaldt, right, works with instructor Josh Martin to set up a filament-winding machine used by students in the college’s composite materials courses. (Submitted photo)

As the leader of Roane State Community College’s Advanced Composites Employment accelerator, Andy Pokelwaldt can blend his experience as a military trainer, an educator, and a mentor.

“I enjoy teaching, and I understand what having skills in composite materials will mean in the marketplace,” Pokelwaldt said. “Learning about composite materials will make people more employable, and that’s what this job is all about.”

The ACE program, based at the Halcyon Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, provides three introductory courses in composite materials. People with two- or four-year degrees can take the courses at no cost because ACE is grant-funded. [Read more…]