News - Friday, March 8, 2013

Family, friends, and members of the Chattanooga Bar Association gathered together on March 1 to honor the members of the bench and bar who recently passed away. The ceremony in the County Commission Room of the Hamilton County Courthouse was at times solemn, at times humorous, and always respectful of those who had committed their lives to the pursuit of the law.

Back row, L-R: Cassie C. Rieder of Spears, Moore, Rebman & Williams; Trevor F. Atchley of Dietzen & Atchley; Bill Rieder of Spears, Moore, Rebman & Williams; Mack Lundy of Patrick, Beard, Schulman & Jacoway; President Michael Thomas of Duncan, Hatcher, Hixson & Fleenor; Immediate Past President H. Eric Burnette of Burnette, Dobson & Pinchak; Secretary Jeffrey W. Maddux of Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel; Barret S. Albritton of Leitner, Williams, Dooley & Napolitan; Elizabeth M. Hill of Patrick, Beard, Schulman & Jacoway; and Jason Demastus, Tennessee Bar Association YLD district representative. Seated, L-R: Douglas S. Hamill of Burnette, Dobson & Pinchak; Vice-President and President Elect Corrin Fulton of Gearhiser, Peters, Elliott & Cannon; Treasurer Shelton Swafford Chambers of Joseph Decosimo & Co.; Kirby Waddel Yost of Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel; and Justin Bennett Faith of Gearhiser, Peters, Elliott & Cannon. Not pictured: Mi Wu Belvin of Bob E. Lype & Associates. (David Laprad)

Special to Hamilton County Herald

State Rep. Gerald McCormick (R-Chattanooga), says he sometimes has “to play the bad cop.”

As the House majority leader, he’s the one who often tells legislators a pet project in their district will not be funded to keep the state’s finances in order.

Vietnam veteran Jerry McCombs enters his name into the new veteran’s kiosk at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium. The kiosks allow anyone to enter the name of a military veteran and bring up a detailed record of their service. McCombs, who suffered hearing loss while serving in Vietnam, is also a past commander of the Chattanooga Chapter of the Disabled American Veterans. He lives in Hixson. Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium opened in 1924, built by the City of Chattanooga as a living memorial to veterans of the First World War. Following renovations in the 1980s, the building was dedicated on January 31, 1991 to veterans of all wars. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. (David Laprad)

Sunday was a cool, but beautiful, day. Somewhere around mid-afternoon, I grabbed my keys and was headed to take care of something of marginal importance. I cruised out of the garage and was headed for my car when the unforgiving corner of the basketball goal forced me backward. Once I’d gathered my wits, I checked my head for blood. There was no blood, but there was a very noticeable crease in my scalp. It hurt pretty badly.

My daughter has three children, the youngest of which are a 21-month old daughter and a five-month old son. Generally, she has no problems with any of her children – until the dreaded bedtime.

I don’t know why specifically, but bedtime is very traumatic to most toddlers. If you have one that has not been a problem of some kind at bedtime, consider yourself extremely lucky!

My wife and I enjoy your sense of humor,” the note began. “You write the funniest things!!” Double exclamation point? I like that!! “We read your column in the Memphis paper!! The voice mail one was a scream. The Mrs. has a question. Since you are a judge, professor and wordsmith with your columns, where do you get all this time?”

Bills will give all citizens a voice in the annexation process  

 State Representative Mike Carter (R–Ooltewah) announced this week he has filed a package of pro property rights legislation related to the annexation of land in Tennessee.

One of my friends I’ve known since college, Melanie McClure Gibson, recently posted a photo of her and some of her Pi Phi buddies from when we were in college, probably 1977-ish. It was a photo I keep returning to, and not just because of the Daisy Dukes. It brings back memories, all good now, even though if I think really hard, I can come up with a few not so pleasant ones – one of which happened early on, in my first semester when I was a student in Yocum Hall. In those days, the boys stayed in Yocum and the girls next door in Humphries.

Banana

Banana who?

Banana split, so ice creamed!

Okay, so, I’m not much of a jokester. That could be because I have two ornery sons and one very funny hubby who are always a step ahead of me! However, I thought this was a cute way to start my Banana Split column. First, a little information on some of the fruits in the yummy dessert I am sharing with you.

After 36 years in real estate, Crye-Leike broker Kathy Tucker has a lot on which to look back. Highlights of her career include winning local Realtor of the Year in 2004, and serving as president of the Greater Chattanooga Association of Realtors in 2004 and 2006, as chair of the Professional Standards committee of the Tennessee Association of Realtors in 2006, and as TAR Division 3 vice-president in 2007 and 2008.

After 12 years of helping hundreds of home buyers and sellers with their real estate needs, Realtor Mary Carlson has another great accomplishment to add to her list of career achievements.

Carlson recently completed all of the training and 90 hours of classroom instruction to earn her professional real estate designation as a Graduate Realtor Institute. Realtors with the GRI designation receive training and advice on several real estate topics to better serve and protect their clients. The GRI training program provides real estate agents with a specialized education that helps them to advise and assist their clients with contracts and negotiation, finance options, marketing, laws and ethics and everything involved with successfully buying or selling a home.

Dear EarthTalk: 

I like the feel of carpeting, but I’m concerned about the chemicals. What are some good non-chemical, but still soft, options? 

~ Jennifer Jones, Madison, Wis. 

We use our feet to carry us along life’s daily journey without ever giving them a second thought – until we have a broken bone, or worse. How much do you know about your feet?

1. Which word best completes the title of John Chilton’s autobiography, “Hot Jazz, __ Feet”? Clean; Warm; Open; Friendly.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has always had big muscles and a huge smile. Those are fine qualities in an actor who stars in the kinds of movies he’s made. But with “Snitch,” he brings something else to the table: acting chops.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last week announced that the City of Chattanooga is among 43 communities in 27 states that will receive technical assistance to pursue sustainable growth that encourages local economic development while safeguarding health and the environment.  EPA staff and national experts will conduct one to two-day workshops that focus on the Neighborhood Planning for Healthy Aging tool. The Department of Neighborhood Services and Community Development, Choose Chattanooga, and Southeast Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability requested assistance to explore the role of supportive neighborhood design in creating great places for aging residents.

Lent is a solemn observance of many Christian denominations that lasts for a period of 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer, through prayer, penance, and self-denial, for Holy Week, which marks the death and resurrection of Jesus. During Lent, many of the faithful commit to fasting or giving up certain luxuries. If that luxury happens to be meat, local McAlister’s Deli are making it possible for believers to eat out without faltering on their pledge. By selecting items from a special menu with starters, salads, sandwiches, and spuds, observers of Lent can eat guilt-free vegetarian nachos, a Cajun shrimp Caesar salad, a grilled cheese sandwich, a veggie spud, and more. Just pop in and look for the Lent menu on the wall behind the counter. (David Laprad)

The Chattanooga Chapter of the Women’s Council of Realtors on Wednesday, March 13 will vote on a proposed change to its local affiliate membership dues. If passed, the change will increase the organization’s dues to $100, effective January 2014.