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Demolished building once helped protect city, enriched uranium at Y-12

Posted at 2:18 pm June 1, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A building that was mostly demolished on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, once helped to protect enriched uranium at Y-12, and it was used by military police and the Oak Ridge Police Department to help protect the city. Part of the building, a former secure federal communications center, was still standing among the demolition debris late Wednesday afternoon. This picture was taken looking southeast from near the intersection of Bus Terminal Road and Oak Ridge Turnpike. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A building that was mostly demolished on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, once helped to protect enriched uranium at Y-12, and it was used by military police and the Oak Ridge Police Department to help protect the city. Part of the building, a former secure federal communications center, was still standing among the demolition debris late Wednesday afternoon. This picture was taken looking southeast from near the intersection of Bus Terminal Road and Oak Ridge Turnpike. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 8:30 a.m. June 2.

A building that was mostly demolished on Wednesday once helped to protect enriched uranium at Y-12, and it was used by military police and the Oak Ridge Police Department to help protect the city.

The building at 101 Bus Terminal Road was once connected by radio to a Y-12 building that stored the world’s only supply of enriched uranium-235, according to a 2010 newspaper article published by D. Ray Smith, who cited Bill Sergeant, head of security after World War II.

A small section of the Bus Terminal Road building that still had historic artifacts—two holding cells and a heavy, bulletproof steel door—remained standing, surrounded by demolition debris, on Wednesday and Thursday. It’s not clear why that one section hadn’t been demolished yet, but the 2010 newspaper article by Smith said it had been a secure federal communications center and was built to be safe from attack. That small section of the building, which had no external windows, was reported to have a concrete ceiling that was one foot thick.

The building, which is at the intersection with Oak Ridge Turnpike, is now being completely demolished so a Taco Bell restaurant can be built there. The building had been extensively modified, and it’s not clear how much of it might have been considered historic.

Smith said the Bus Terminal Road building was once connected by radio to Building 9213, which stored uranium-235 for about a year at Y-12. Building 9213 is on the south side of Chestnut Ridge, which is on the south side of Y-12. After it briefly stored uranium, Building 9213 was used for criticality experiments for years, Smith said. It’s also been used to train the National Guard to identify and isolate radioactive sources as part of their training for homeland security. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Federal, Government, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Slider, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Anderson County General Sessions Court, Auxiliary Military Police, Bill Sergeant, Building 9213, Building 9214, Bus Terminal Road building, Clinton Engineer Works, D. Ray Smith, Don and Emily Hunnicutt, Ed Westcott, enriched uranium, Guard Department, Katy's Kitchen, Manhattan District, Manhattan Project, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, Mark Watson, Midtown Community Center, military police, NOAA building, nuclear weapons, Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Utility District, Red Cross building, Security Forces, Stone and Webster Field Hospital, Taco Bell, Tunnell Building, uranium-235, uranium-235 storage, Warren Gooch, Wildcat Den, World War II, Y-12

Tonight: Republican Party candidates forum in Oak Ridge

Posted at 7:39 am April 3, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Anderson County Republican Party Primary Candidates Forum April 3 2018

The Anderson County Republican Party has a candidates forum in Oak Ridge tonight (Tuesday, April 3).

The forum will feature candidates for these seven Anderson County offices: mayor, sheriff, circuit court clerk, clerk, trustee, register of deeds, and road superintendent. The candidates are running in the May 1 Anderson County Republican Party primary.

The forum will start at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 3, at the Wildcat Den at 102 Robertsville Road in Oak Ridge. The doors will open at 6 p.m. for light refreshments, seating, and mingling with Republican primary candidates, a press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2018 Election, Anderson County, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Republican Party, Anderson County Republican Party primary, Anthony Allen, candidates forum, Circuit Court Clerk, clerk, mayor, register of deeds, road superintendent, sheriff, trustee, Wildcat Den

City board recommends senior center at Civic Center; will ask for $50K for conceptual studies

Posted at 1:00 pm March 10, 2016
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Oak-Ridge-Civic-Center-March-7-2016

A city board has recommended that the Oak Ridge Senior Center be located at the Civic Center on Oak Ridge Turnpike, and the board will ask the City Council to consider $50,000 for conceptual studies, possibly in April. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

An Oak Ridge board has recommended that the city’s senior center be located at the Civic Center and Alvin K. Bissell Park, and the board will ask the City Council, possibly in April, to consider $50,000 for conceptual studies.

The Oak Ridge Senior Center is currently located in a county-owned building on Emory Valley Road. It’s been there since 1999.

Some senior center users have been advocating for a new home for years, arguing that they didn’t voluntarily leave the former Wildcat Den (the Midtown Community Center) and that their current home has a number of deficiencies. But despite those efforts, the senior center remains on Emory Valley Road.

The current effort to find a new home has been under way since last year and picked up in January, said Linda McGhee, senior programs recreation manager in the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Government, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Alvin K. Bissell Park, Bob Smallridge, City Council, Civic Center, Linda McGhee, Midtown Community Center, Oak Ridge Public Library, Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department, Oak Ridge Schools Preschool, Oak Ridge Senior Advisory Board, Oak Ridge Senior Center, Senior Center, Wildcat Den, YWCA Building

Rescheduled: Atomic City Classic Car Show is Saturday

Posted at 9:57 am October 8, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Atomic City Car and Bike Show

A flyer for the Atomic City Car and Bike Show. It had originally been scheduled for Saturday, October 3, but it was rained out and rescheduled for Saturday, October 10.

 

The rescheduled Atomic City Classic Car Show is Saturday, October 10.

The car show, a benefit for Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association, had been scheduled for October 3, but it was rained out.

The show is sponsored by Atomic Speed Shop. It will be at the Midtown Community Center (Wildcat Den) at 102 Robertsville Road in Oak Ridge from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Organizers said the show will feature classic cars, trucks, street rods, motorcycles, and motor scooters up to 1975. There will be dash plaques for each entry, people’s choice awards in each class, and door prizes. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Meetings and Events, Nonprofits Tagged With: Atomic City Classic Car Show, car show, Don Hunnicutt, Midtown Community Center, Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association, Wildcat Den

Atomic City Classic Car Show on Saturday

Posted at 11:56 am October 2, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 1 Comment

Atomic City Car and Bike Show

The fundraising Atomic City Classic Car Show is on Saturday, October 3. The rain date is October 10.

All proceeds will benefit Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association. The car show is sponsored by Atomic Speed Shop.

It’s scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Midtown Community Center (the Wildcat Den) at 102 Robertsville Road in Oak Ridge. It is expected to include classic cars, trucks, street rods, motorcycles, and motor scooters up to 1975.

Dash plaques for each entry, people’s choice awards in each class, and door prizes will be given away. Barbecue, hamburgers, hot dogs, and sodas will be sold. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Meetings and Events, Nonprofits, Top Stories Tagged With: Atomic City Classic Car Show, Atomic Speed Shop, car show, Don Hunnicutt, Midtown Community Center, Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association, Wildcat Den

Atomic City car, bike show to benefit historic group on Oct. 3

Posted at 2:23 am September 21, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Atomic City Car and Bike Show

A car and bike show on October 3 will benefit the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association.

ORHPA plans to use the proceeds to repair the Midtown Community Center, also known as the Wildcat Den, on Robertsville Road.

“Few of the 1940s Manhattan Project buildings remain standing in Oak Ridge,” organizers said. “The goal of the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association is to preserve our past. This is our history!” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Community, Community, Meetings and Events, Nonprofits, Oak Ridge, Slider Tagged With: Atomic City Car and Bike Show, car and bike show, Don Hunnicutt, Midtown Community Center, Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association, ORHPA, Wildcat Den

Man dies, others injured in multi-vehicle crash at Midtown Community Center

Posted at 2:42 am July 5, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Midtown Community Center Crash Reconstruction

A man died and at least a half-dozen people went to the hospital after a mutli-vehicle crash in the parking lot of Midtown Community Center after fireworks in Oak Ridge on Saturday night. Above, an accident reconstruction team works in the pouring rain at Midtown Community Center on Robertsville Road at about 2 a.m. Sunday. At right is Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Grant Gouldie.

 

Note: This story was last updated at 10:15 p.m.

One person died after a multi-vehicle crash in the parking lot of Midtown Community Center sent at least a half-dozen people to the hospital after fireworks in Oak Ridge on Saturday night, authorities said.

The man who died has a Knoxville address, but police aren’t identifying him yet because family members are still being notified. It appeared that the man was on foot at the time of the crash, authorities said. The man who died was with his wife and children, Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi said.

Akagi said at least six people, including two children, were sent to three hospitals in three ambulances. The injured were taken to Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge and Children’s Hospital and University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. Their names and conditions weren’t immediately available.

Akagi said a pickup involved in the crash hit several vehicles, although it’s not clear how the man who died was injured.

It’s also not clear how fast the red Dodge pickup truck was going or whether it was backing up, he said. Witnesses said the truck had been parked at the east end of the parking lot facing east, or away from the entrance, and the driver backed up to leave as soon as fireworks were over. Witnesses said the truck was in reverse and driving fast. So far, authorities have been unable to confirm that.

“We don’t know what happened,” Akagi said.

But the truck’s back end appeared to have struck at least one vehicle.

Akagi said there were at least a half-dozen vehicles involved in the crash. He said he didn’t know if any other vehicles were moving at the time of the collision. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police, Police and Fire, Slider Tagged With: accident reconstruction, Adam Daugherty, Alvin K. Bissell Park, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Clinton Police Department, crash, Darryl Kerley, Dave Clark, fireworks, Grant Gouldie, Jim Akagi, Mark Lucas, Midtown Community Center, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Turnpike, ORPD, Robertsville Road, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Wildcat Den

Russell, scientist and environmental advocate, to be interviewed Thursday

Posted at 12:11 pm July 4, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Liane Lee Russell

Liane Lee Russell

Scientist and environmental advocate Liane “Lee” Russell will be interviewed in a Thursday meeting of Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning and Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association.

“She will share her many and varied experiences both as a highly successful scientist and truly dedicated and equally effective environmental advocate,” a press release said.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 9, at the Midtown Community Center at 102 Robertsville Road in the historic Wildcat Den.

“You will not want to miss this opportunity to interact with one of the most famous scientists in Oak Ridge’s history,” organizers said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Meetings and Events, Nonprofits Tagged With: Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Biology Division, environmental advocate, Lee Russell, Lianne "Lee" Russell, Lianne Russell, Midtown Community Center, Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Obed Wild and Scenic River, ORNL, scientist, Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning, Wildcat Den, Y chromosome

ORHPA celebrates 15th anniversary at Scarboro Road gatehouse

Posted at 4:19 pm September 10, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Bobbie Martin at Oak Ridge City Council

Bobbie Martin, one of the people who helped start the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association 15 years ago this month, accepts the keys to the Midtown Community Center, which includes the historic “Wildcat Den.” This was the culmination of close to two years of work that began with a newspaper article Bobbie wrote and the contact by Mick Wiest that brought the two of them and several others together in September 1999 and to ultimately to form ORHPA. (Submitted photos)

 

The Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association will celebrate its 15th anniversary during a Thursday night meeting at the “Midway Gatehouse” on Scarboro Road. That’s the location of the group’s original meeting.

The anniversary meeting is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, September 11. Parking is limited there. Organizers said those attending should consider parking at the nearby Y-12 Federal Credit Union and carpooling from there, or they could carpool with friends from the Midtown Community Center parking lot.

“Come by the Gatehouse anytime between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. to enjoy refreshments, see displays, and view the historic building and its artifacts, as well as help celebrate 15 years as an organization,” a press release said.

Here is the story of how the ORHPA began: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Nonprofits Tagged With: 15th anniversary, Bobbie Martin, David Bradshaw, Dean Novelli, Ed Westcott, historic preservation, Howard Harvey, Jim Kolb, Jim Lay, Mick Wiest, Midtown Community Center, Midway Gatehouse, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association, ORPHA, Scarboro Road, Steve Buxton, Wildcat Den

Y-12 work day at the Wildcat Den

Posted at 11:09 am June 1, 2012
By Dawn Huotari 1 Comment

Y-12 National Security Complex employees will be at the Wildcat Den at 8:30 a.m. Saturday for a work day.

The volunteers plan on working on the driveway and trim the back yard.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Wildcat Den, Y-12 National Security Complex

Ballroom dancing on Mondays in Oak Ridge

Posted at 12:01 am May 4, 2012
By Dawn Huotari Leave a Comment

The Midtown Community Center hosts ballroom dancing every Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the Wildcat Den Room. Free lessons are available from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and the dancing continues until 8:30 p.m. On live band nights, the music plays until 9:00 p.m.

Admission is $3 on regular Mondays and $6 on live band nights. There is a variety of music from big band to the ’70s, with a little “country” added to the mix.

For more information contact Ann Stuck at (865) 482-2658 or Patti at (865) 482-3701.

Filed Under: Dancing Tagged With: Midtown Community Center, Wildcat Den

Search Oak Ridge Today

Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

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