News - Friday, April 26, 2013

The Hamilton County Coalition and eight other local organizations and agencies hosted the annual Victims’ Rights Luncheon at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Tuesday to honor the victims of crimes and those who advocate on their behalf. Above, U.S. Attorney William Killian, Eastern District of Tennessee, provides opening remarks for the community-sponsored event. “Justice is for the victims as well as the perpetrators. When we say justice for all, we mean it,” he said. “We must mobilize to meet the next set of challenges and think of new ways to extend our services to those who need them,” he said, speaking to those people and agencies whose job or mission involves advocating for victims of crime. (David Laprad)

Mayor Berke last week hosted a group of 20 local community and business leaders at City Hall. The round table discussion was facilitated by Mayor Berke and highlighted the common areas of concern felt throughout the city.

“There is tremendous momentum to make our streets safer, build opportunity in all areas of the community, and invest in our youth,” Mayor Berke told the group. “We must have people in city government waking up every day, thinking about the issues that matter most to our community.”

April F. Holland has joined Miller & Martin’s Corporate Department as an Associate. 

“It is a privilege to have April join our firm. Her business experience will greatly compliment the depth of expertise of our Corporate Department,” said Ward Nelson, co-chair of the firm’s Corporate Department.

Special to the Hamilton County Herald

As a freshman lawmaker, state Sen. Steven Dickerson (R-Nashville) says he spent his first legislative session “pretty-tightly circumscribed.”

In part, this was because he was new.

But, in large part, he says it was because he believes that even the best-intentioned law can have unintended consequences.

What do a home cooked Italian dinner, a three-hour dinner cruise of the Tennessee River Gorge, a 750 milliliter bottle of Jack Daniels, and an Elvis chess set (in which The King really is the king) have in common? They were all items available Thursday, April 18 during a silent auction at Baker Donelson, held to raise money to repair and renovate the playground at Hillcrest Elementary School. The Baker Donelson community service committee put together the event, with a representative saying they’d likely already reached their goal of raising $2,500 before bidding officially began. (David Laprad)

How many times in your life have you suffered for things you said? Think back and really consider the things you have said in your life that you came to regret. Failure to appropriately filter what is about to come out of your mouth during a heated conversation can be quite painful for both you and the target of the snarky comment. So often the best response to a situation is “no comment.”

On the second Sunday in May, moms across the country are deservedly showered with attention on Mother’s Day. Unfortunately, while most moms are being treated to breakfast in bed or having flowers delivered to them, tens of thousands of women spend their Mother’s Day living in shelters due to homelessness or as a result of escaping from domestic violence.

To observe National Autism Awareness Month, LearningRx of Chattanooga is offering 50 percent off cognitive skills assessments to children and teens with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. According to autismspeaks.org, autism affects one in 88 children and is the fastest growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.

Does this sound familiar? The alarm didn’t go off, the kids couldn’t find their shoes, the dog needed feeding, and you were late for work. Exasperated, you cut corners, and one of those was to skip breakfast. Or maybe you skipped breakfast because you are trying to “save” calories (you have an important dinner date tonight)! Still yet, perhaps you never eat breakfast – you are just not a breakfast eater.

In last week’s column, I told how a guy from another city and state who spends his winters in Belize wound up with a dead ringer for my phone number on a cell phone he bought in that country. Starting with Belize’s country code, 501, being identical to Arkansas’ 501 area code and continuing through each and every one of the last seven digits, “George’s” cell number is identical to my home land line.

Elemental is the perfect name for the newly opened restaurant by owner Charlie Loomis, former executive chef at Greenlife Grocery. Whatever you order, you can trace it back to the earth, whether you’re eating beef raised in a hormone- and antibiotic-free environment, or greens and other vegetables grown locally and raised free of pesticides. Not only that, but the staff at Elemental makes all of the stuff other restaurants buy from wholesalers. When my Sequatchie Cove Steak Salad arrived during my first visit to the restaurant, I knew someone had made the croutons and spicy buttermilk dressing only a few feet from where I sat.

The old red Jeep has traveled almost 150,000 miles, and when you start it up, the engine sputters a bit before firing up and running, and then it’s much louder than it should be, as if saying, “Please turn me off now.” We always knew our son was coming, even before he turned onto our street.

O land of soft, fresh breezes

And verdant trees so fair,

With the Creator’s glory

Reflected ev’rywhere,

O sea of palest em’rald,

Merging to darkest blue,

Whene’er my thoughts fly Godward,