3/31/2002   Ocoee River opens 2002 rafting season

The 2002 commercial rafting season has begun on the Ocoee River . And a recent cold snap is not stopping the early rafting crowd.  http://www.timesfreepress.com/2002/mar/31mar02/Ocoeerafting.html
   

3/30/2002   More judges sought to ease federal crunch

An increasing federal court caseload in East Tennessee and elsewhere has prompted the U.S. Administrative Office of the Courts to ask for a $500 million increase in funding next year to add more judges, officials say.  U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., said budgeting for staffing and administrative needs of the federal court system was fully met for 2001 and 2002. However, the Office of the Courts requested the increase to pay for more judges, he said.  http://www.timesfreepress.com/2002/mar/30mar02/judgeFederalcaseloadcrunch.html
   

3/23/2002  Base to boost airport growth, aid fire protection

Drought in the South coupled with many diseased and dead pine trees have spurred worries about forest fires, officials said.  But a firefighting air tanker base set for Chattanooga should help, officials said.  http://www.timesfreepress.com/2002/mar/23mar02/webLN23airtankerfolo.html
   

3/22/2002   Airport picked for air tanker facility

Chattanooga has won the battle for a multimillion-dollar federal air tanker base that officials say will play a key role in fighting wildfires in the region.  U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., said Thursday the $2.5 million U.S. Forest Service facility will be built at Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport .  http://www.timesfreepress.com/2002/mar/22mar02/0322webA01Airportinvestmen.html  
   

3/16/2002   Police leadership academy graduates first class of officers

Twenty police officers from the Southeast on Friday became the first graduates of a University of Tennessee training program for police administrators.  The Southeastern Command and Leadership Academy , held in Chattanooga , trains officers in advanced leadership and management skills for the law enforcement field.  http://www.timesfreepress.com/2002/mar/16mar02/0316webB01PoliceAcademy.html
   

3/10/2002  Counties weigh pros, cons of regional jail

With local jails "falling down around our ears," officials from four Southeast Tennessee counties are weighing the pros and cons of building a regional jail.  http://www.timesfreepress.com/2002/mar/10mar02/Countyregionaljail.html
   

3/5/2002   Journal rates lawmakers conservative

Tennessee , Georgia and Alabama lawmakers were among the most conservative in Congress last year, according to recent rankings of congressmen and senators.  http://www.timesfreepress.com/2002/mar/05mar02/webLN05ConservativeTNcongr.html  
   

3/31/2002   Increasing debt limit sticky move in Congress

Tennessee members of Congress are in a pickle now that the U.S. Treasury insists the federal debt ceiling must be raised the same year that most of them allowed another big income tax cut and huge increases in defense spending.  http://knoxnews.com/kns/opinion_columnists/article/0,1406,KNS_364_1058184,00.html
   

3/28/2002   Modernization project gets under way at Y-12

As more than 100 onlookers watched Wednesday morning, a crane slowly lowered a tiny, rust-covered guard shack from atop its 40-foot tower at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant.
   

3/25/2002   ET House members split on raising debt

Congress must raise the federal debt ceiling soon to keep retirement, Medicare and other benefits checks flowing, the Treasury Department says, but East Tennessee 's House members are divided over whether they will approve a higher limit.
    

3/28/2002   New DOE manager's stay expected to be brief

Michael D. Holland says he's ready to begin his duties as interim manager of the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge Operations office.  http://www.oakridger.com/stories/032802/bus_0328020007.html
   

3/28/2002   Storage facility 'anchor tenant' for Y-12 effort

Although construction on a new storage facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex won't begin for a couple of years, officials say it will be the nation's repository for highly enriched uranium.  In addition to that, U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-3rd District, points out the facility will be a key element in the modernization of the aging Oak Ridge weapons plant.  http://www.oakridger.com/stories/032802/bus_0328020012.html
   

3/28/2002   YWCA kicks off Annual Giving Campaign

U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-3rd District, spoke to the group of about 400 Wednesday stating that he supports the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act and the YW in its efforts to shelter women who have been abused.  http://www.oakridger.com/stories/032802/new_0328020011.html
   

3/27/2002   U.S. Rep. Wamp defends campaign finance reform

Saying he "would bet my own money that it will be deemed constitutional," U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-3rd District, told an Oak Ridge audience Tuesday that the recently approved campaign finance reform measure, which he supported, is under attack by many who misunderstand it.  http://www.oakridger.com/stories/032702/new_0327020033.html
   

3/25/2002   NNSA official to visit Y-12 project  

Ronald Haeckel, a senior official with the National Nuclear Security Administration, is expected to visit Oak Ridge this week in connection with some modernization-related work at the Y-12 National Security Complex.  http://www.oakridger.com/stories/032502/new_0325020019.html
   

3/15/2002   'Jessie Culture': Bechtel Jacobs making progress

Bechtel Jacobs Co. has endured some harsh criticism over the past several months in the area of safety, but officials indicated Thursday the company is making progress with a specific goal that has been dubbed the "Jessie culture."  http://www.oakridger.com/stories/031502/new_0315020039.html
   

3/14/2002   Holland named interim OR manager

Michael D. Holland has been named interim manager for the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge Operations office.  Holland will replace Leah Dever, who has been detailed to the Office of Science at DOE headquarters. His assignment begins April 1.  http://www.oakridger.com/stories/031402/new_0314020005.html  

3/14/2002   Oak Ridge DOE manager out

Leah Dever is leaving her post as manager of the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge Operations office despite the fact that in the past, she and DOE have denied that would happen. http://www.oakridger.com/stories/031402/new_0314020011.html
   

3/7/2002   DOE cleanup officials arriving next week

U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-3rd District, has requested that the Department of Energy take a firsthand look at Oak Ridge 's cleanup needs.  Wamp is expected to join Bob Card, DOE undersecretary for Energy, Science and Environment, and Jessie Roberson, assistant secretary for Environmental Management, in Oak Ridge next week to address this matter.  http://oakridger.com/stories/030702/bus_0307020113.html