News - Friday, December 18, 2020

Some of the hardest moments of Dawn Stultz Kingsley’s life were a stretch of nine days in October as her father, Vader Stultz, lay inside Sumner Regional Medical Center on a ventilator, dying from COVID-19.

She was inside her car, staring at the windows of the hospital, wondering in which room her father was isolated. Was he scared? Because she was.

A little-known day of commemoration, Bill of Rights Day, arrived once again this week.

It was Dec. 15, 1791, that the first 10 Amendments to the United States Constitution – the Bill of Rights – were ratified. In 1941, 150 years later, Congress passed a joint resolution calling on the president to designate Dec. 15 as Bill of Rights Day.

Baker Donelson has added Shaheen Imami to its Chattanooga office as a member of the tax group.

Imami brings more than 20 years of experience working with clients on matters concerning trusts, estates and probate litigation. He also counsels clients in the areas of estate administration and estate planning matters and is a certified mediator.

Baker Donelson has appointed Ashley Gibson to serve as pro bono committee office chair for its Chattanooga office.

In this role, Gibson will work to identify and address local pro bono needs while coordinating with Baker Donelson pro bono shareholder Samuel Bowman on global pro bono initiatives.

Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel has added an audit counsel practice area that assists clients with strategy and preparation for future audits relating to the coronavirus aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, Paycheck Protection Program loans, Department of Health and Human Services provider relief funds and other legislative developments and financial opportunities that have arisen from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee has promoted human resources specialist Crystal Lugo to benefits and employee relations manager.

Lugo joined LAET in January 2017 to serve as a bilingual paralegal and human resources assistant after working for four years as a hiring specialist at Koch Foods and for one year as a paralegal at Southeast Tennessee Legal Services.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee has formed a partnership with Judge Jeffrey Hollingsworth, Chancellor Jeffrey Atherton, Hamilton County courts and local attorneys to help low-income people during the holiday season.

On Friday, Dec. 11, local judges decorated a pro bono Christmas tree at the Hamilton County Courthouse. Then, during the Monday, Dec. 14, docket call, the judges announced the tree is up and attorneys can choose a case off the tree.

Month after dismal month, Americans have been inundated by an ever-rising tide of devastating numbers. Hundreds of thousands of deaths. Tens of million unemployed.

By mid-December, five in every 100 Americans — more than 16 million — had been infected by COVID-19.

When she was younger, Lillian Andrews often pondered what she wanted to be when she grew up. She initially settled on social worker, but when she realized that was not the right career for her the question of what she wanted to do with her life once again bubbled up in her thoughts.

Cold weather is setting in but the housing market remains as hot as it has been since the summer.

The number of houses being shown remains higher than the same period a year ago across in most of the country, which suggests strong buyer demand is likely to continue into what is typically the slowest time of year.

The pandemic has changed many consumer purchasing habits in the Chattanooga area, from opting for more takeout to attending fewer in-person entertainment events. But how did the pandemic affect bigger purchases, like homes?

The National Association of Home Builders’ latest “Housing Trends Report” reports homebuying interest actually increased amid the pandemic in the third quarter of 2020.

First Horizon Bank recently named Darren Strickland senior mortgage officer. He will serve the areas of Chattanooga, Cleveland and North Georgia.

Strickland comes to the position with more than 25 years of experience in the mortgage industry. He is a certified mortgage loan officer and a member of the Chattanooga Mortgage Bankers Association.

The Ben & Jerry’s on Broad Street is partnering with The Women’s Fund of Chattanooga to provide virtual monetary donations toward feminine hygiene products and other products for those in need.

Customers who make a donation before Jan. 7 will be entered into a drawing to win free ice cream for a year. Ben & Jerry’s is offering many runner-up prizes available as well. All proceeds are being directly donated to the partner organizations.

The Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition will receive a large grant to support rapid rehousing and shelter for the local homeless community. The $2.5 million grant will go directly to local agencies that provide relief to the homeless in Chattanooga and 10 surrounding rural counties.

Chambliss Center for Children is joining forces with Northeast Tennessee-based nonprofit Isaiah 117 House to provide a living space for children in state custody who are awaiting a foster placement.

Inspired by her own fostering experience, Ronda Paulson founded Isaiah 117 House in Elizabethton in 2017.

The Tennessee Aquarium has completed an infrastructural project to increase air circulating volume throughout its buildings while improving air filtration.

The Aquarium recently was awarded a Tennessee Community CARES Program grant to respond to the impacts of COVID-19. It used the majority of the money to upgrade existing heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems within its buildings.

Confluent Medical officials say the company will launch operations in Chattanooga.

The company will invest $8.3 million to expand its capabilities to manufacture high-performance medical tubing. The project will create about 80 jobs in Hamilton County over the next few years.

As the year draws to a close, it’s fair to say that we’ve all learned something about the social, political, physical and environmental forces that have affected everyone. And, in some ways, our lives will be changed, perhaps permanently. But as an investor, what lessons can you learn from 2020?

The Build It Green community-resiliency program at green|spaces will continue to grow thanks to a $10,000 grant from Truist Financial Corporation.

The BIG program began several years ago in partnership with Build Me A World, a Chattanooga-based mentorship organization. As a sustainable building workforce development program, participants receive a biweekly living allowance plus a continuing education stipend when they finish the program.

Winter is coming, as is the unpleasantness of driving on wet, snowy or icy roads. A vehicle with all-wheel drive can help maximize traction in these conditions.

With four wheels being powered instead of two, you’ll have a better chance of avoiding spinning your vehicle’s wheels and getting stuck.

You probably need life insurance if your death would cause financial hardship to someone else. If the only coverage you have is through your job, though, you may not have enough.

Fortunately, buying life insurance has gotten easier in some ways during the pandemic. Plus, coverage may be cheaper than you think.

We’re all ready for this year to be over. Most days have been painful as we watch the news and wait for things to change. It’s felt helpless and, at times, hopeless.

But, it’s beginning to look like we’re in the final stretch of this pandemic marathon.

In a holiday season that many of us will spend apart from loved ones, gift-giving might feel even more important than usual. After all, if you can’t travel to see family, at least you can see them unwrap gifts over a video call, right?

And just as many families will use a video service for holiday celebrations this year, many will also turn to credit cards to cover their expressions of love.

There was a time when offensive balance was a trendy thing in the NFL. It was the way you built a team to operate with equal parts run and pass, and using them to complement each other.

That was before the league became focused on passing first with quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes. Then there was the influx of dual-threat quarterbacks who can be just as dangerous with their legs as their arms – or in the case of Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray – perhaps even more so.

First down: Don’t let up now. The Titans showed what they were capable of against a bad Jacksonville team, not allowing the lowly Jaguars much sign of life in Sunday’s win. The Lions, too, are a non-contender, but the Titans can’t allow them to find life early and stick around to be in position to pull an upset.