News - Friday, December 18, 2015

Perhaps there’s something about being raised in the Alaskan wilderness, but even as a child, Jill Thrash would reach beyond her circumstances to grasp things that seemed out of reach.

Thrash’s family had moved to Alaska when she was three – and not one of the populated areas, either, unless one counts bears, wolves, and other wildlife. Rather, they lived in a cabin with no running water, no electricity, and no roads nearby. She barely noticed, calling her childhood “magical.”

Realtor Teresa Clegg received an early Christmas present last week when she won the Charlotte Mabry Team’s third ACE Club drawing. The prize: $10,000.

The “ACE” in “ACE Club” stands for Agent Circle of Excellence. To participate in a drawing, an agent must sell at least one of Mabry’s ACE Club listings. Mabry holds a drawing every time agents have sold 40 Ace Club homes.

 “Five years ago, I underestimated the breadth and the depth of being a U.S. attorney. I was simply proud and honored to be elected. I leave this job with great respect for the Department of Justice, and satisfaction with what was achieved during my tenure. It has been my distinct honor and pleasure to serve the country we love.” - Bill Killian during his final remarks

The Chattanooga CRS-CRB Group elected its 2016 officers at its most recent networking luncheon, held Dec. 10 at Broad Street Grille. Serving next year will be: Steven LaMar, president; Kaye Ivey, president-elect; Brenda Pargeon, treasurer; and Susan Barnette, secretary.

The Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) has selected Chattanooga attorney Jeffrey Maddux of Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel to take part in its 2016 Leadership Law program.

Now in its 13th year, the TBA’s Leadership Law program is designed to equip Tennessee lawyers with “the vision, knowledge, and skills necessary to serve as leaders in their professions and local communities,” the TBA said in a press release.

Residential real estate is experiencing its best year since the recession. Housing demand is healthy, and that is expected to continue until the end of the year. This is great news at a time of year when things tend to slow slightly, which I don’t anticipate happening here in Greater Chattanooga.

Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel is pleased to announce that the firm has been ranked on the BTI Client Service A-Team for the sixth consecutive year. The ranking is based on direct interviews with corporate counsel and identifies law firms around the country that provide outstanding client service.

Home Owners in Chattanooga and the surrounding area just received some good news by way of recent legislative action in Washington, D.C. In an important victory for home owners, the U.S. House recently approved a five-year highway bill that will not use guarantee fees (g-fees) collected by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to pay for transportation programs.

Unprocessed evidence collected from an undetermined number of autopsies has been stored untouched in the Medical Examiner’s Office for up to 30 years, the Hamilton County District Attorney’s office recently learned. District Attorney General Neal Pinkston believes a significant number of these cases to be previously prosecuted homicides.

A new multi-purpose market has been selected to go into the ground story of the historic Clemons Building. Street Corner Market at the Clemons will be available for residents and nonresidents.

The store, scheduled to open in March, occupies a large portion of the ground level. Street Corner will feature fresh produce, Boar’s Head meats and cheeses, local coffees, and a rotating selection of craft beers and artisan snacks. Residents at The Clemons will also be able to purchase essentials at a self service station that will be accessible 24 hours a day.

Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger released this statement last week after Dalton Roberts, who served as the first county executive from 1978 until 1994, died at the age of 82 following a long illness:

“In 1978, when the voters of Hamilton County chose to adopt a new form of county government, Dalton was elected to the position of county executive, and spearheaded the formation of the present-day county government, along with its nine-member County Commission, which was elected from districts throughout the county.

Platinum Financial Funding this week announced the recent hire of two lending specialists with a combined experience of more than 40 years: Linda Denham and her son, Chris Denham.

Linda will serve as a mortgage loan originator at Platinum Financial’s Gunbarrel Road office. She’s held various management positions and owned her own mortgage company during her 30 years of industry involvement. Linda has earned many awards during her career, and once served as president of the Mortgage Bankers Association.

On Dec. 3, John Harper Farmer, 40, of Chattanooga, was sentenced by the Honorable Curtis L. Collier, U.S. District Judge, to serve 210 months in federal prison for sex trafficking of children. Farmer was also ordered to complete a 500 hour mental health program. Additionally, upon his release from prison, he will be supervised for five years by U.S. Probation.

Beginning in January, the Hunter Museum of American Art will offer free admission to all children and youth (17 and younger) with accompanying adult to both the permanent collection and all special temporary exhibitions.

Alongside this change, the museum will transition the day it admits adults for free to the museum’s permanent collection from the first Sunday to the first Thursday of every month from 4-7:30 p.m.

There’s a lot to know about investing, so it’s a good idea to get some professional help. But with so many financial advisors out there, how can you choose one that’s right for you?

You may have to interview several prospective financial advisors before deciding on one. When you talk to them, see if you can get a sense of how they might work with you. Specifically, try to answer the following questions:

It’s time to buckle up or pay up, Tennessee. As of Jan. 1, the fine for not wearing a seatbelt while driving will be doubled. The fine for a first offense will be raised to $25, while subsequent offenses will be increased to $50.

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, and the Tennessee Department of Transportation called for the increase in an effort to curb traffic fatalities in the state.

Chattanooga firefighters have something to brag about this month. With help from the public, the Chattanooga Fire Department raised more money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) than any other fire department in the state this year.

Last week at the fire administration building on Wisdom Street, Jack Thompson, president of the Chattanooga Fire Fighters Association, Local 820, presented a check for $84,063 to Holly Carroll, MDA National Director. The money was raised from an annual Muscle Team Gala event, a chili cook-off, and two Fill the Boot campaigns conducted by firefighters throughout the Chattanooga area.

Director Ron Howard’s “In the Heart of the Sea” has the makings of a great story. It has a man, placed upon a turbulent ocean in a sailing ship and pitted against a massive whale. It made for a classic American novel in Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick.” But it does not make for a good movie.

This is Badu, a 9-year-old male Francois Langur now calling the Chattanooga Zoo home. Badu came to Chattanooga from the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory of Saint Paul, Minn.

Since Badu’s arrival, the zoo has held him in quarantine. Although he passed his routine physical, he still needs to acclimate to his new exhibit.

The Chattanooga Zoo has been transformed into a winter wonderland for its annual Holiday Lights event, to be held Friday and Saturday from 5:30-8 p.m.

Activities will include watching the animals open their gifts, holiday crafts, cookie decorating, story time, and pictures with Santa.

Writing in the November issue of The American Lawyer, a quartet of byline authors put forth: “Among big-firm lawyers, the Dewey & LeBoeuf trial [which, after four months of testimony and 21-days of jury deliberation, ended in a mistrial] has produced reactions ranging from introspection to schadenfreude.” Of German descent, the latter word – combining schaden and freude – is, literally, harmjoy. And, apparently, this 13-letter word has an 11-letter synonym.

Saturday, Dec. 18, 1965

The Chattanooga Housing Authority approved by 3-1 vote Wednesday a progress report on plans for a 700-car parking garage and office building in the Golden Gateway block on the west side of Chestnut Street between Eighth and Ninth Streets.

Saturday, Dec. 18, 1915

Members of the Fire and Police Department surprised Commissioner T. C. Betterton by presenting him with a handsome silver loving cup. Honoring him for fidelity, courage, honesty, and impartiality in the administration of affairs of the department, L.G. Walker made the presentation.

The annual Sandhill Crane migration has been called one of the greatest spectacles of nature in the Southeast. Each winter, between 15,000 and 20,000 of these graceful birds converge upon the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge on their journey from the upper Midwest to Florida. “The cranes begin arriving in late November, but their numbers peak in early January,” said Kevin Calhoon, the Tennessee Aquarium’s assistant curator of forests.

Well, a new year is quickly approaching. It seems that they are beginning to fly by so quickly they are bumping into each other. I hardly get into one year before reading about something that will be bigger and better the next, or the year after that. This certainly aids in keeping the world moving faster and faster. The older generation seems to be struggling with most of the technology, while the younger generation is keeping up quite nicely!

If you’re reading this in our Tennessee paper, today is KM’s birthday, but I’m writing it a week before so I still have plenty of shopping days left. Speaking of shopping, I probably wouldn’t mind it so much if I were the only one out doing it, but as the song sings, “the traffic is terrific.” 

In my home, cutting boards and wood go together like water and ice, and to say I have an overzealous love for wood cutting boards would be an understatement. Not too terribly long ago, I made a custom wood cutting board for my best friend as a wedding gift, and she talks about the cutting board the same way I talk about my kids!