News - Friday, March 24, 2023

At 18, Brainerd High School senior Maurquez Thompson already knows what he wants to accomplish during the next five years. He expects to attend college and then law school. Along the way, he’ll complete internships that will acquaint him with corporate law.

Signal Mountain High School’s mock trial team brought home the runner-up trophy from the 2023 Tennessee State High School Mock Trial competition after reaching the final match in Nashville March 18. Front row: Erik Fowler (whose character was missing two teeth) and Adrian Andreescu. Second row: Bindi Patel, Mary Claire Blanton, Erika Ventura, Josh Dulin, Kaitlyn Castellanet, Lydia Miller and Caroline Burns. Third row: Mark Nashi, Jack Gibby, Logan Dapp, William Wright and Katie Ditmars. One of the team’s coaches, attorney Charles Poss of Leitner, Williams, Dooly & Napolitan, said it was the highest finish for a Hamilton County public school team in the 27 years he’s been coaching.

Former U.S. attorney general Alberto Gonzales will speak at the Chattanooga Bar Association’s annual Law Day Celebration. The event will take place Wednesday, May 17, noon-1 p.m., at The Westin Chattanooga.

After attending the U.S. Air Force Academy, Gonzales earned a graduated Rice University and earned his Juris Doctor from Harvard University.

Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel is adding two new attorneys, David Roberts and Eric Stocking, who will serve the firm’s estate planning and business practice areas.

Roberts represents clients from diverse backgrounds, including high net worth clients, local business owners and families with estate planning needs.

As a Realtor, Kim Doremus is always ready to help her clients achieve the American Dream of homeownership.

And as one of the new hosts of the television series “The American Dream” in Chattanooga, she’s ready for her close-up.

Let’s take a look at real estate in the Greater Chattanooga area in February and see how things stacked up.

Buyer demand was still down from its peak throughout the country. Home prices continued to slow nationwide, although prices remained up from a year ago. And sellers increasingly cut prices and offered sales incentives in an attempt to attract buyers, who have struggled with affordability challenges this winter.

Spring is the perfect time to make the outside of your home look like the best on the block. Outdoor upgrades will enhance your house’s curb appeal and deliver a more substantial return on investment if you’re trying to sell.

Some exterior projects might require the help of a professional, but many solutions are simple and affordable.

Most Realtors (92%) suggest sellers improve the curb appeal of their home before listing it for sale. Also, the largest shares of Realtors recommended owners complete landscaping-related features before putting a home on the market.

These and other findings come according to a new report from the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of Landscape Professionals.

A text message that changed my plans for Saturday arrived Friday.

“Join Chattanooga Seafood Company tomorrow from noon to 3 p.m. for our carry out lunch service. We’ll have our wildly popular Tunastrami, our Smoked Salmon Tartine and our Shrimp Po’ Boy.”

As most of the college sports world remains focused on the hardwood for March Madness, the Tennessee football team returned to the practice field this week to begin spring practice.

The Vols are riding the momentum from an 11-win 2022 season that was capped by a victory in the Orange Bowl and No. 6 ranking in the final Associated Press poll.

Chattanooga Whiskey has tapped Tiana Saul to serve as its head distiller. Saul succeeds founding head distiller Grant McCracken, who will continue as chief product officer.

Saul began her career with Chattanooga Whiskey in 2015 as the assistant manager at the Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery before transitioning to the production team in 2017.

SoLit, formerly known as the Southern Lit Alliance, will celebrate the 40th year of its SouthWord Literary Festival April 14-15 at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

“We’re proud to return from the pandemic with one of our strongest and most diverse lineups ever,” says SoLit board chairman and Evans, Harrison & Hackett attorney Tim Mickel. “Our mission is to deliver experiences that engage young people and adults in a lifelong love of reading, writing and community conversation. Every author we’ve curated as part of this year’s SouthWord lineup does that. We’re thrilled to bring them to Chattanooga – many for the first time.”

Each year, the Chattanooga Chamber recognizes several of the thousands of small businesses that form the backbone of the local economy.

These honorees will be celebrated during the Chamber Awards 2023 event, which is scheduled to take place May 17, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel is the presenting sponsor.

Your own decisions and actions typically determine your financial strategies. But outside events can affect your choices, too. And that may be the case with the recent passage of the SECURE 2.0 Act.

This piece of legislation covers many areas. But here are some changes that may be of interest to you, depending on your situation:

Some people rent in retirement because they don’t have much choice; they can’t afford to own homes. But financial planners say renting can make more sense than owning in some circumstances, even for retirees who can afford the costs of homeownership.

Real estate has been a popular investment for a very long time – for those who can afford it. But in recent years, trends such as house flipping, “house hacking” (living in one room of a property while renting out the others) and short-term vacation rentals have made real estate investment much more accessible, especially for millennials seeking a second income stream in an uncertain economy.

Equal Pay Day this year fell was March 14. This day symbolizes how far into the new year women must work to earn what men earned in the previous year. But, it’s important to note that when you look at specific groups of women, the date is later in the year.

The Toyota Prius, which has become synonymous with hybrid cars the past 20 years, is fresh off a full redesign for 2023. The prior generation’s oddball styling, quirky interior and feeble powertrain are now in the rearview mirror.

The new Prius now features an attractive look, a sleeker interior and a big increase in power. It’s even more efficient than the previous model. But it’s not the only hybrid car you should consider.