News - Friday, December 14, 2018

The first time Chris Collins stood before judge and jury, he wielded a defense few, if any, lawyers would ever touch.

The charge levied against his two clients was murder, and the evidence pointed in their direction with an unwavering finger of accusation.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has appointed the Hon. Muecke Barker to a new advisory board for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Haslam recently appointed 20 members to new advisory boards for each of the four campuses within the University of Tennessee system (the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the University of Tennessee at Martin, and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center).

The Tennessee Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission has released its annual report detailing the pro bono legal service reported by attorneys, bar associations, law firms, law schools, legal service providers, mediators, and other organizations. Pro bono is a Latin term meaning “for the public good.”

The Women’s Council of Realtors Chattanooga installed its 2019 leadership during its business networking luncheon held Dec. 5 at Walden Club.

“We’ve been through a tough couple of years implementing all the network changes, but as I traveled around the state this year, I’ve been proud that this network is the only one that’s fully adopted the changes and is thriving,” Susanne Barnette, director of career development at Crye-Leike Realtors and WCR 2018 state president, said prior to installing the new leaders.

When I recently came across news that Tennessee is on track for a record bear harvest this year, two questions sprang to mind:

1. People in the 21st century still hunt bears?

2. Why?

I am of course aware of the long historical association between Tennessee and bear hunting, an awareness I owe partly to that catchy little 1950s Disney ditty about Davy Crockett.

I’ve never liked Melissa McCarthy as an actor. Although her box office track record suggests she has a lot of fans, her appeal has always baffled me.

Not only has McCarthy starred in more bad movies than I could count (well, I could go to her Internet Movie Database page and count them, but I have a review to write), she laces her films with ridiculous, amateurish improv.

It probably doesn’t happen as much as you’d like, but you may occasionally have some extra disposable income.

For example, perhaps you have recently received, or will soon receive, a year-end bonus. Or maybe you will get a sizable tax refund in just a few months. Wherever this money comes from, you will want to put it to good use. Should you use the cash to pay down debts or should you invest it instead?

In the midst of decorating, entertaining and holiday parties, December is also a month to save. Yes, really. As the close of another year approaches, tackle these suggested four tasks from the National Association of Realtors for a bright (and money-saving) new year.

Family gatherings and festive celebrations are the hallmarks of the holiday season. It’s a time for decorating the house, buying gifts and traveling to visit loved ones. It’s also a time that comes with its own set of home safety concerns.

Efforts to reduce homelessness in Chattanooga will require a series of interventions and new resources, in addition to greater alignment between existing service providers, a new plan released by the Chattanooga Interagency Council on Homelessness explains.

In response to recent growth, the Chattanooga Airport is implementing temporary changes to help alleviate immediate challenges facing passengers while finalizing long-range plans for parking at the airport, which will include building a parking deck.

The Downtown Chattanooga Market is moving indoors for the final weekend of the 2018 season. Vendors will be at the Chattanooga Convention Center Dec. 15-16. The market will be open Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Foster Care information

Youth Villages will hold a foster care information session on Thursday, Dec. 20 from 6-8 p.m. The session will be held at the Youth Villages office, 6236 Airpark Drive. To reserve a spot, call 423 954-8843.

Girls Inc. of Chattanooga will recognize nine honorees at the 15th annual UnBought and UnBossed Awards Luncheon, scheduled for April 3 at the Chattanooga Trade and Convention Center. The honorees are:

• Bea Lurie, Women Repair Zone
• Cindy Wilson, Curate MedAesthetics & StyleLoft
• Donna “Elle” Harrison, United Way of Greater Chattanooga
• Helen Pregulman, Philanthropist and community volunteer
• Kayla Verner-Dingle, Tennessee Valley Authority
• Nicci Brewer, Tennessee Valley Authority
• Nicole Koesling, Volkswagen of America
• Rachel Maria Kelly, CHIPS Learning Services
• Rachel Schulson, A Step Ahead

The honorees were chosen by Girls Inc. high school students after learning foundational information about Shirley Chisholm, women’s history, and the traits of leaders.