News - Monday, November 26, 2012

The portraits of three former General Sessions judges were unveiled Thursday, November 15 during a standing room only ceremony in the Jury Selection Room of the Courts Building. The portraits of the Honorable Russell Hinson, the Honorable Robert L. Moon, Jr., and the Honorable S. Richard Holcomb will hang in the General Sessions courtrooms. Pictured is the unveiling of the portrait of the late Judge Holcomb, with his wife, Karen, and the Honorable Clarence E. Shattuck drawing back the robe. (David Lapad)

The American College of Trial Lawyers recently inducted Rosemarie Hill, the head of Chambliss’ labor and employment group, into its fellowship.

The ACTL, established in 1950, is dedicated to maintaining and improving the standards of trial practice, the administration of justice and the ethics of the profession. Membership in the College is by invitation only and extended only to those whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality. Lawyers must have a minimum of 15 years of trial experience before they can be considered for fellowship.

Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger kicked off a yearlong event celebrating the 100th year of the Hamilton County Courthouse on November 15 in the courthouse’s rotunda. The historical exhibit contains photos and facts surrounding Hamilton County’s rich history and focusing on the county’s early years. Many of the photos have never before been released. The exhibit will remain in the rotunda until November 2013. In addition, the county is planning to host a series of public events, including a Christmas Open House and concert next month. (Photo by David Laprad)

In one photo, two men dressed as Confederate soldiers recline against a Domino’s Pizza, the bright red and blue colors of the company’s iconography standing out in stark contrast to the muted blues of history the men are wearing. The photo suggests the further we are from historical events, the more they fade from our collective memory.

Churchill Mortgage last week announced the addition Kevin Sipe to its Chattanooga office. Snipe is a home loan specialist responsible for helping homeowners choose the best mortgage structure for their needs.

“We are continuing to see tremendous growth, which furthers our need to add experienced professionals across our branches,” said Mike Hardwick, president of Churchill Mortgage. “We look forward to the successes this new group will bring as we continue to help families and individuals achieve their goal of homeownership.”

October saw a continuation of the trend throughout the year, with both home prices and home sales rising above the levels seen one year ago. In the October RE/MAX National Housing report, a survey of MLS data in 52 metropolitan areas, closed transactions increased 17.8 percent over October 2011. The Median Home Price rose 2.1 percent higher than the median seen last October, representing the ninth month in a row that prices have been higher than the same month last year. The falling Inventory is a significant concern in many markets. The number of homes for sale in October was 28.9 percent lower than last October. This has caused prices to rise, but also presents a serious challenge for many homebuyers. Multiple offers and some bidding wars have occurred in markets where inventory is sharply lower.

It is the time of year when we in the United States celebrate Thanksgiving. It is a time when we’re supposed to count our blessings and recognize how good we have it and how lucky we are. It is also the beginning of the “Holidays.” For some people, the “Holidays” is the loneliest and most unhappy time of the year. Ironically, at what most consider the happiest time of the year, many suffer incredible sadness.

I’m a sucker for a tale about justice and ethics, even if it involves football. Issues stemming from a now-weeks-old football game between the University of Wyoming Cowboys and the Air Force Academy Falcons have been in the news.

The second-string AF quarterback scored on a five-yard run with eight minutes left in the game, giving his team a lead it would not relinquish. The starting QB had left the game because his helmet had apparently been knocked off. The Cowboys’ coach alleged the player faked an injury to stop the clock, allowing his team to strategize. 

We hear so little about scarlet fever these days that when we do hear about it, it arouses instant fear. That’s because it used to be a serious illness, and usually involved isolating the patient and stringent cleaning - sometimes to the point of burning all of the patients’ personal items.

To begin with, how does someone even become a heckler? Do they evolve to become what they are? Or do they march from the womb with an already highly developed moral conscience, outrage, and sense of civic duty? 

Maybe it’s just something they’ve repressed from the Sixties.  

The other day as I was trying to find something interesting to write about, I came across Hummingbird Cake. Now you may have heard of this before, and maybe even had some, but for me – and in all of my culinary “time,” this one was new to me.

Just trivia. Something to mindlessly read while you sit back and enjoy another plate of leftovers (yum-yum) or take a break from decorating for Christmas!

 1. What is the difference between “ordinance” and “ordnance?”

Most movies about a person from history are either a sweeping epic that spans his or her entire life or an intimate drama that focuses on a short period of time. When I heard Steven Spielberg, who for years had labored to direct a movie about Abraham Lincoln, intended to tell the story about the last four months of the 16th president’s life, I thought he was making a mistake. If anyone deserved the grand treatment, it was Lincoln.

I want to wish everyone a blessed Thanksgiving. This is the time of the year when we need to reflect on the good things in our lives and give thanks for the many blessings we receive each day.

As a Growth Coach, I feel it is important to live a balanced life, and to me, that means spending quality time during this season of thanks with those I love the most. One of the ways I am doing this is to refresh the memory of those of you who have been reading my column of where your journey with me began. If you are new to reading my column, this will be a valuable starting point for you. This week, the emphasis is to understand that repetition is how you become good at doing the things needed to do to grow your business and balance your life. With that said, I hope you enjoy the following.

Saturday, November 24

Twenty-four Tennessee legislators were overnight guests in Chattanooga Friday night, meeting for a discussion of legislative issues at Lakeshore Lodge. Members of the Hamilton County delegation were host to the visitors.

Saturday, November 23

General James H. Berry, ex-Senator from Arkansas, the only surviving member of the Commission entrusted by Congress to see that markers were placed at tombs of 29,401 men of the South in the Northern Cemeteries, announced it has been finished and reported to the Secretary of War. The government spent over $200,000 on the project.

Friday, November 23

Keeping blood shortages under wraps

Blood Assurance is preparing for a shortfall of about 300 units of type O negative blood over the next two weeks, according to historical data and scheduled deliveries. To help local hospitals avoid a critical shortage, Blood Assurance is encouraging residents to get in the giving spirit this holiday season. The first five donors at each location on Friday, November 23 will receive a bundle of gift-wrapping supplies. Bundles will include a roll of wrapping paper, 25 name tags, tape and ribbon. For more information about donating blood, call 800-962-0628 or visit www.bloodassurance.org.