News - Friday, January 20, 2017

Ruthie Thompson knew the arrival of the Volkswagen plant “was going to be a game-changer in terms of the type of ancillary businesses that it was going to attract, the kind of economic development that would happen, the stresses on our infrastructure.”

Rural broadband backers such as Misty O’Beirne in Rutherford County can take heart. Legislation to spread high-speed internet into cyberspace deserts is making the right connections.

When Misty and Peter O’Beirne moved to the Christiana community just outside Murfreesboro some five years ago to live with her parents, they didn’t realize their home would be too far from the nearest hook-ups for Comcast and AT&T.

State Sen. Bo Watson isn’t taking on the post of Senate Budget & Finance chairman wet behind the ears. He knows the panel holds awesome power.

“That is the area where you have to say no to members on their budget amendments, and I think the committee will continue to treat members respectfully. We’ll continue to treat all bills respectfully,” the Hixson Republican says. “But at the end of the day the committee’s ultimate responsibility is to maintain the financial strength and stability of the state’s treasury, and I think we will do that regardless of the legislation, regardless of the member.”

It was an evening filled with laughter, tears – and a little suspense – as the Greater Chattanooga Association of Realtors (GCAR) honored the best of its best and installed new leadership for the new year.

GCAR’s annual Installation & Awards Reception took place Tuesday, Jan. 17 at the Chattanooga Golf and Country Club. The first tears came as Jennifer Grayson announced Crye-Leike’s Vicki Trapp as GCAR’s 2016 Realtor of the Year.

In the 30-odd years that prep basketball has been a primary source of my employment over the long winter months, we’ve occasionally seen pockets of greatness amid large gulfs of mediocrity.

You can almost count the magic moments of Chattanooga prep basketball on one hand – Dorsey Sims’ Riverside dynasty, Venus Lacy leading the Brainerd Lady Panthers, Doug Mosier’s back-to-back trips to the state finals (one title) with K.K. Mikes and the City High Dynahs, Robert High’s three state titles with the Brainerd boys. Those moments shine like a lighthouse beam piercing a stifling fog.

About an hour into “Patriots Day,” I decided to drop my cynical attitude about the film and give over to the dawning realization that it’s not a bad movie. In fact, it’s actually pretty good.

I went into “Patriots Day” thinking it was unnecessary. Based on the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the ensuing terrorist manhunt, the movie follows a handful of people as they experience the events of that day and the aftermath. This includes victims, police officers, the terrorists themselves and more.

The Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) has elected Mark Cunningham, shareholder and health care chair of Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, as the vice chair of its Health Law Section Executive Council.

Cunningham devotes his practice to advising health care professionals and organizations. The Chambliss health care group has substantial experience counseling local, regional and national clients in the health care industry.

Food City officials present a check totaling $10,000 to the United Way of Greater Chattanooga. The check presentation took place at the Red Bank Food City following the store’s remodel celebration on Thursday, Jan 12.

Pictured, left to right, Daryl Massey, Food City district manager; Justin Whitaker, United Way of Greater Chattanooga; Michael Slocumb, United Way of Greater Chattanooga; Mickey Blazer, Food City executive vice president of operations, Knoxville and Chattanooga; Lesley Scearce, United Way of Greater Chattanooga president and CEO; and Emerson Breeden, Food City director of community relations.

Drivers along I-75 near Ringgold Road can see a set of new billboards as part of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s efforts to address the issue of human trafficking.

The billboards are designed to encourage people to visit www.ithastostop.com to learn more about the crime of trafficking and how it impacts Tennessee.

Six new agents have joined the team of real estate professionals at Exit Realty Scenic City in Chattanooga.

“We’re excited to welcome Brett Rucker, Michael Jackson, Haley Smith, Carolyn Boyd, Julie Marr and Sharon Talley to Exit Realty,” says Katherine Woodburn, franchise owner of Exit Realty Scenic City. “Exit is attracting quality business people each and every day. We’ve more than doubled in size since we opened in 2014.”

FSG Bank in Chattanooga has added Kim Cabe as a mortgage loan originator. Cabe brings 25 years of banking experience to her new position.

Prior to joining FSB, Cabe worked at First Volunteer Bank, where she served as a banking officer and mortgage loan originator.

Jennifer Farrar has joined the Tennessee Association of Realtors in the new role of political affairs coordinator. In this position, Farrar will help to advance the association’s strategic priorities in governmental affairs, including legislative advocacy and member engagement.

When Barry Young passed away in 2015, he left behind a matchless legacy of service to his community and its youth through sports.

Young is known to many Chattanooga-area parents and players as the curly-haired blonde man who called baseball in the summer, football in the fall and basketball in the winter. When the seasons changed, so did his uniform – but his commitment to kids never wavered, says Brian Noble, lifelong friend.

The Greater Chattanooga real estate market just closed out its fourth consecutive year of home sales increases! The overall market posted a 9.9 percent increase in the number of homes sold in 2016 when compared to 2015. With 9,623 homes closing in 2016, the market has eclipsed the prerecession high sales points.

If you are like hundreds of other Greater Chattanooga families, then 2017 is the year you’ve decided to purchase a new home. Whether as a first-time or move-up buyer, it’s wise to start preparing now. Following a few simple tips will help put you in a better position to find a home that’s right for you.

As we get older, the end of another year takes on greater meaning, in many ways, than it did when we were young. And if you’re a certain age, December 31 has a very specific meaning in terms of your finances, because it’s the deadline for withdrawing money from some of your retirement plans. What should you know about these withdrawals? And how much control over them do you have?

Hodgen Mainda has been named executive director of community development for EPB, Chattanooga’s Electric Power Board.

Mainda will lead EPB’s community development efforts while working with government relations at the state level.

The Impressions will help mark the 30th anniversary of a Night to Remember, an annual event that raises funds to support urban youth organizations in Chattanooga. Grammy nominated rhythm and blues singer Eddie Levert will also perform.

The show will take place Saturday, April 8 at 8 p.m. at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, Jan. 25 at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center, Mary’s Lounge and www.anighttoremember.org. Corporate sponsorships are available by contacting (423) 463-0687.

On Sunday, Jan. 22 from 2-4 p.m., the first Nextgen Home will be open to the public for tours. Nextgen Homes is a green|spaces initiative that began in 2014 with a design competition intended to raise awareness of net-zero energy construction.

Built by Collier Construction, the home includes sustainable materials and state-of-the-art building techniques including advanced framing, moisture control wrapping, use of daylighting, Mitsubishi mini-split systems, heat recovery ventilation, pervious pavers and solar panels. Tours are intended to educate the public, students and builders on these products and techniques.