News - Friday, November 8, 2013

The five justices that comprise the Tennessee Supreme Court spent the afternoon and evening of Monday, November 4 in Chattanooga, first to swear-in attorneys to practice in the state and then as guests at a reception held in their honor. Chief Justice Gary R. Wade took the lead in swearing-in over two dozen in attorneys in the County Commission Room in the Hamilton County Courthouse. He and his fellow justices then retired to Hunter Museum of American Art, the picturesque setting for the reception. Guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and wine while they conversed and enjoyed music by the Booker T. Scruggs Ensemble. Pictured are (L-R): Craig Smith, president of the Bar; Lynda Minks Hood, executive director of the Bar; Justice Janice M. Holder; Chief Justice Gary R. Wade; Justice Connie Clark; Justice William C. Koch, Jr.; and Justice Sharon Gail Lee. More pictures on page 11 and 23. (Alex McMahan)

J. Bartlett Quinn, a lawyer with Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, has been appointed to the Governor’s Commission for Judicial Appointments. The selection was made by Governor Bill Haslam in consultation with Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey. By executive order, Governor Haslam created the Governor’s Commission in place of the Judicial Nominating Commission.

On Friday, November 1, Miller & Martin hosted an event that provided attendees with a first-hand update on the current status of legislative matters from U.S. Senator Bob Corker as part of the Chattanooga Corporate Counsel Network (CCCN) seminar series. Corker delivered remarks and took questions from those in attendance.

Olsen Law Firm announces that attorney Elizabeth L. Epps (“Eliza”) has joined the law firm as an immigration law associate. Eliza is admitted to practice in Tennessee.

Eliza is a native of Little Rock, Arkansas. She is an alumna of William and Mary Law School, and Sewanee: The University of the South.  While in law school, Eliza was deeply involved in student organizations and fulfilled several leadership roles including - Deputy Chief Justice of the Honor Council, staff member of the Journal of Women and the Law, Funding Chair of the Public Service Fund, Academic Chair of the Black Law Students Association, and served as a weekly volunteer for Student Legal Services.

My father joined the Air Force when he was 13 years old. Up to that point, he had lived in Coos Bay, Ore., as the son of a lumberjack. Money was tight, and he decided he would be better off in the military than he was at home. His decision still baffles me. It’s hard for me to imagine that things were so bad that going to war seemed like a good idea to him. He served in World War II and the Korean conflict. He was awarded the Silver Star for carrying a soldier some 20 miles after the weather plane he was assigned to was forced to land for some reason.

Over the last 12 months, our country has experienced more than normal flooding, tornadoes, wildfires, and hurricanes that have left hundreds of thousands of people stranded with nothing but the clothes they were wearing. The time for severe weather is once again approaching, so maybe we need to think about trying to prepare our families.

HOT SPRINGS, ARK. – 

“Old Pond” cartoonist  

big hit at haiku Hot Springs:  

Jessica Tremblay.

November rolls in with hints of summer and winter. Autumn’s colors dot the hillsides surrounding historic Bathhouse Row. Amid falling leaves a dozen and a half haiku versifiers, from Boston to Memphis to Plano to Vancouver, descend upon the Arlington Hotel.

Attorneys, their families and sponsors, and the justices of the Tennessee Supreme Court gather at the County Commission Room in the Hamilton County Courthouse to swear-in attorneys to practice in the state. (Photos by David Laprad)

There’s a lot to worry about these days, or so it seems, but only if you happen to be one of those people who has the ability to read or hear.

There is healthcare stuff out the wazoo, and every editorial writer out there has filled space with commentary on it for the last month. There is bad Middle East news, and bad economic news, bad texters who are bad drivers, bad extreme weather, bad bullies, etc., etc., etc.

I know chili can be eaten year-round and not just in the fall, but when there is a chill in the air, there’s something about a good bowl of hearty chili that banishes that chill right away! So for me, it’s officially chili time.

Chili is one of those recipes that can be fixed in so many ways that it would be almost impossible to count them. Some make it with cubed steak, some add corn, there is Green Chicken Chili, Taco Chili, Chili Con Carne, chili with beans, chili without beans, White Chili – you get the picture.

Donace Dillon did a lot of different things before she found the one thing she loves to do: real estate. But being a Realtor has been more than a job for her; it’s been an agent of change in her life.

Before earning her real estate license in 1997, Dillon had worked as a janitor, done a stint in a factory, and spent years in secretarial positions. When her last employer told her she’d gone as far as she could at the company - that they would be unable to give her another raise or promotion - she decided a change was in order.

Few things sound better than an evening of live music, especially when the fun will benefit a worthy cause. On Saturday, November 16 starting at 6 p.m. at Stratton Hall, Keller Williams will present Band Slam 2013, an evening featuring four celebrated local bands representing a variety of musical genres. The Communicators, The Zack Dylan Band, The Mountain Cove Bluegrass Band, and Scenic will take turns performing to benefit Chambliss Center for Children. Tickets including admission and non-alcoholic drinks are available for $15; tickets including admission and complimentary beer and wine are available for $25. Visit www.chattanoogabandslam.com for more details and to purchase tickets. (Photo courtesy of Amy Fletcher Photography)

The Bible is read and studied by millions of Christians, and is believed to be the inspired words of the Holy Spirit. In the following quiz are several stories most will know by heart. See how many you know. First, here are a few fun facts:

The Bible contains 66 books, divided among the Old and New Testaments: 39 OT books and 27 NT books.

1:36 p.m.: I’m looking at a sea of people converging and dissecting one another, selecting their lunch at a local grocery store with a sense of purpose and commitment. As I stare up at the menu board, I feel like I’m standing still and the world is moving around me. I make my selection, wait the appropriate amount of time for the clerk to crack a witty remark to her co-worker about how much they “love their jobs” and can’t wait to go home before they notice I’m standing there.

"Ender’s Game” is thoughtful science fiction with a complex central character. Movies like it are rare. At a time when most films of its kind aim only to wow audiences with dazzling action, it’s more concerned with its ideas and tracking the growth of its titular hero. Sadly, it’s poorly staged and at times awkwardly acted, which reduces it to a failed attempt at greatness.