News - Friday, December 13, 2013

With only three weeks of law firm experience behind her, 29-year-old attorney Amber Seay sounds more seasoned than she should. But she’s earned it. For three years, she labored at the Memphis Immigration Court, clerking for judges who had over 3,000 cases apiece on their dockets.

Christmas at the Courthouse returned to the historical Hamilton County Courthouse for 2013, allowing its performers to take advantage of the beautifully decorated century-old architecture and the pleasing acoustics under the dome. Each weekday day from December 2-13, choirs made up of local schools and other choruses sang holiday selections in honor of local elected officials. Here, students from East Hamilton High School, under the direction of Lucynda Holmes, perform for a number of local judges and court clerk personnel. More pictures on page 11. (David Laprad)

Accompanied by a six-car police escort, complete with blaring sirens and flashing

blue lights, two semi-trailer trucks arrived at the Partnership for Families, Children, and Adults offices on Oak Street Friday, Dec. 6 loaded with Christmas gifts donated

On the morning of Monday, April 1, 2013, two children were trapped in a house fire at 2014 Rawlings St. Chattanooga firefighters forced their way into the house, found both young boys, and carried them out. Tragically, one of the boys did not survive. The other, Tyler Jackson, was flown to the burn center in Augusta, GA, for treatment of his severe burns. His recovery will be a long-term, ongoing process. Recently, Tyler’s grandmother, Georgetta Jackson, asked if Tyler, now two years old, could meet the firefighters who saved him. The reunion took place Monday, Dec. 9 at Station 5 on South Willow Street.   

After a nationwide search, the Humane Educational Society of Chattanooga has selected a new executive director: Bob Citrullo. Citrullo is a 25-year military veteran who has spent the last 13 years working in animal welfare. Before joining the Humane Educational Society, he was the executive director of the Atlanta Pet Rescue & Adoption Center, located in Smyrna, Ga.

They don’t teach you much about how to run a law practice in law school. That includes the rules surrounding the decision of when you should close your office when it snows. It might be common sense, but I’ve never seen that problem discussed in a book. In my 20 years of practicing law, I’ve learned at least one thing about inclement weather: When the school district cancels school before the winter weather actually arrives, you close the office. That’s the situation I found myself in last week.

Getting a flu vaccine is good insurance for sure; however, it won’t always stop that nasty bug from putting many people I know in bed for three or four days. Even the healthiest people I know are susceptible. There is no 100 percent guarantee when there are so many bugs floating around in the air.

Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is the passenger in a Cessna. He’s headed to visit his dad in north Canada for the summer. The pilot dies of a heart attack. Brian crash-lands the plane in a lake surrounded by a dense forest. Can he survive?

The above is what I get from the first few chapters of the book I am planning not to read – “Hatchet,” by Gary Paulsen. What the heck? It’s a children’s book. And I don’t have to read it.

Circuit Court Judge Jackie Bolton and Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Hollingsworth enjoy a performance by the East Hamilton High School Choir. (David Laprad)

An old column that seemed appropriate this week.

It’s called “Cabin Fever.”

I grabbed my camera to capture some of the neighborhood kids as they sped down the icy slick surface that had once been our street. My neighbor next door was on her front porch, and she yelled that it sure looked like fun, and didn’t I wish I had a sled? I yelled back that I was too old (which I don’t really believe, but I said it anyway). In fact, she had given me the idea that I should join them, thinking there must be an old sled hidden beneath the cobwebs in our basement; one left behind from when our kids were young (and before I was too old). 

This past summer, I really got into grilling vegetables and fruits. I replaced my gas grill with a charcoal burning one (after years earlier replacing my charcoal burning with gas – something I consider a mistake).

After getting my charcoal grill up and running again, I grilled and grilled and grilled. I grilled everything I could imagine.

Greater Chattanooga Association of Realtors members on Saturday, December 7 brought their families and friends to the association to have their picture taken with Santa. Mrs. Claus made the trip from the North Pole as well to share cookies and punch with the children who were there. Pictured: Wayne Thomas with Re/Max Real Estate Center as Santa. Mrs. Claus was Martha Alexander with Jackson Realty. (Photo provided)

Platefuls of turkey and dressing, dark red poinsettias for everyone, and plenty of holiday cheer marked the final business resource and networking meeting of 2013 for the local chapter of the Women’s Council of Realtors, held Wednesday at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel. Business was attended to as well.

Television – it is the great American pastime. During cold or icy weather such as what we have had recently, television movies are what most people turn to while waiting out the thaw – provided the power is on! See how much you know about the following movies.

Solomon Northup is an upstanding citizen of Saratoga Springs, New York. He lives in a fine home, wears nice clothes, and walks as though he owns the streets across which his polished shoes carry him. Fellow citizens smile and greet him as he goes, and he grins back and tips his hat. A fiddle player of considerable talent, he’s in demand, which enables him to provide for his lovely wife and two children, who also wear fine clothes and polished shoes.