News - Friday, March 4, 2011

Two stories about attorney Tonya Cammon’s career stand out like framed pictures against the backdrop of her three decades in the work force. One shows how radical changes are sometimes necessary; the other demonstrates the importance of looking back at the mountain peaks that reach above the cloud-covered terrain of life.

People fall down, winners get up, and with Siskin Hospital people get up a lot faster, said Bonnie St. John, the inspirational speaker at Siskin Hospi-tal’s, eighth annual Possibilities Luncheon to celebrate life be-yond disability.

The Possibilities Luncheon was held Feb. 16 at the Con-vention Center to raise funds for Siskin Hospital patients who do not have adequate insurance or funding to pay for their rehabilitation care.

Sunday, March 5

Charles W. Hogan, re-tired Chattanooga attorney and member of a prominent pioneer Chattanooga family, died Sunday morning at the Alexian brothers Rest Home on Signal Mountain.

Last week I was driving back from a meeting of our State Bar’s Board of Governors with Carol, another governor. My wife Cheryl was with us, and so was Carol’s husband, Harvey.

We were in the middle of complaining about law schools graduating more and more lawyers, despite market conditions, when the conversation turned to judicial efficiency, and whether judges need to be lawyers.

The other night as I drove home from a church meeting, I was listening to my car radio and one of those talk shows. Usually, I avoid those programs like the plaque because they only cause high blood pressure.

My general listening is WSM, “The Air Castle of The South,” but that night I had been pushing the seek button trying to find a certain basketball game when I ran across this individual who was discussing the dangers of living in today’s modern world with all of its unknowns from chemical poisoning in our food to the shots we get for flu protection.

While I often say I have had one leg in Georgia and the other in Tennessee since my childhood, I will always be drawn to the things that make the peach state great. I have driven its highways and back roads, played in its theaters and music parks and acted in endless hours of television filmed in the Georgia heat and cold.

Judy Dotson McConnell, et al v. Pat Fuller, et al.

Hamilton County – In September of 2009, Judy Dotson McConnell and Jerry Dotson (“Plaintiffs”) sued Pat Fuller, John Fuller, and Lela Dotson Gravett (“Defendants”) alleging, in relevant part, that the Last Will and Testament of Clarence E. Dotson, which was offered for probate in May of 2003, was a fraudulent will. Defendants filed a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted alleging that the statute of limitations barred Plaintiffs’ claim. After a hearing, the Trial Court entered its order on February 16, 2010 finding and holding, inter alia, that Plaintiffs’ lawsuit was not filed within the statute of limitations and that Plaintiffs failed to “allege facts which would bring into play fraudulent concealment,” which would have tolled the statute of limitations. The Trial Court dismissed Plaintiffs’ suit. Plaintiffs appeal to this Court. We affirm.

We watched the Academy Awards from the comfort of what I once believed to be my earthquake-proof den, but more about that later. My daughter Alexis was in town and was excited about Hollywood’s biggest night of the year. I knew how she felt; I used to be the same way. But, as I told her, that was when movies were much better. I guess everyone is partial to his or her own generation of entertainment.

Mojo Burrito has a lot going for it. First, it’s got a good rhyme going on with the name. Second, as their slogan – “Let Us Roll One For You” – says, they are ready to roll up a tasty and plump burrito to fill your lunch or dinner cravings.

There’s a pretty good chance that if I hadn’t moved to Arkansas, I would have never heard or visited Tunica, Miss. But I did move to the Natural State (obviously) and I make the journey to the casino-abounding city at least once a year. In fact, I went there over President’s Day weekend with my husband and in-laws. It’s the latter who usually inspire the journey, especially my FIL – he is an expert on the craps table. He told us he would pick up the hotel tab if we drove them down there for my MIL’s birthday. Free room? Sign us up!

It seems like the southern states have been getting their fair share of seismic activity lately. Increase your knowledge of earthquakes by taking this quiz.

1. Where and when was the first earthquake recorded? Hawaii, Sri Lanka, Alaska, Chili.

These days, it’s a battle to stay in business.

From your command post at HQ, you see the daily skirmish as your employees go hand-to-hand with the competition. Sometimes they capture new clients and other times, they’re just not strong enough to withstand other forces. Top brass would love to have your people win, but the troops are getting tired and morale is low. Should you deploy more people, or stay the course?

Three nickels spray-painted green on one side, jewelry, sketches, song recordings, macramé, paintings, and anything else you can imagine is the kind of art that the main exhibition opening today at the Association for Visual Arts wants from the community.

Jerry Seinfeld. Jeff Foxworthy. Ron White. Bob Saget. Brett Butler. Paula Poundstone.

Those are just a few of the comedians who have brought their standup act to The Comedy Catch since the club opened in Chattanooga in 1985. Local favorites like Etta May, James Gregory, Tim Wilson and others have also performed at the establishment.

Originally both from the Atlanta area, Connie and Joey Faircloth moved to Dunlap to raise their two girls. Connie made friends with a Realtor who made the job look easy (as good Realtors often do), and so Connie decided to get her own license and try out real estate.

Like most middle and high school students, the Bontekoe children have a lot on their plates. Between schoolwork, sports and other extracurricular activities, their academic calendar is full. Yet, they still take part in church functions and socialize with friends.

My sister and I were talking the other day about fried chicken. She was explaining how her family had requested a dinner of fried chicken, so she got on her computer and Googled a recipe. This really got me laughing!

In our younger years, my family lived in the country with my grandparents, where we were taught how to raise most of our food. We raised chickens, rabbits, guinea hens, pigeons, pigs – you name it, my grandparents had it. And they weren’t raised for pets. They were a staple of our diet. Also, what is even funnier is that she used to help in the preparation of getting chickens ready to eat, which I will not go into. (Not our fondest memory!) One time she was accidentally locked in the chicken coop! She still has nightmares! Just kidding (about the nightmares).

If you haven’t seen “Drive Angry,” allow me to congratulate you. You’ve made a wise decision. Or you’re fortunate to not have been in a position to see it. I chose to review it instead of “Unknown” because it was the newest of the two films and it stars Nicolas Cage. There was a time when money spent on a Cage picture was money well spent, but these days, it would be more entertaining to sit in a theater lobby and watch people.