News - Friday, May 11, 2018

Realtor Linda Brock needed to run an errand while her 8-year-old son, Lee, waited in the backseat of her car.

“I’ll be back in a minute,” she told him. “Finish your homework.”

With the weary resignation of a young boy who had already learned what that meant, Lee asked his mother, “Do you mean a real minute or one of your minutes?”

The Fall Creek Falls Inn and Conference Center will soon be in ruins like the livelihoods of the state employees who worked there.

Fewer than half the state employees who worked at the inn found new state jobs after it closed in early April. Some are working for nearly half the pay, and some had to move away from Van Buren County or drive long distances to keep a job with the state.

Chattanooga attorneys and law firms have received significant recognition in Chambers USA 2018.

Each year, Chambers USA ranks law firms and individual lawyers based on various qualities, including legal ability, conduct, client service, diligence and commitment. Chambers’ research team conducts thousands of interviews with lawyers and clients throughout the year to create a basis for their rankings.

Real estate teams are all the rage these days, but there are only a few like the one Realtor Rosabelle Gorman has formed.

Gorman’s frequent collaborator is Marshall, who joined her nearly three years ago, when she was still relatively new in the businesses. At the time, Gorman had to carry Marshall in a sling, but after he learned to walk, she allowed him to tag along while she showed a client a home.

May is National Home Remodeling Month, a time of year when many homeowners may daydream about sprucing up their homes to gain equity or resale value, or simply find more enjoyment from their property.

Many homeowners find the idea of a remodeling project too overwhelming to take on, according to the National Association of Realtors. In fact, 35 percent of homeowners in the U.S. said they would rather move than remodel their current home.

The weather in the Tri-State area is finally turning warmer, flowers are blooming and the fresh scent of spring is at last in the air. That means coats and scarves are giving way to short sleeves and snow shovels are being replaced with gardening tools.

Government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac both reported multi-billion dollar profits this month. National Association of Realtors President Elizabeth Mendenhall issued the following statement calling on the Federal Housing Finance Agency to reduce the fees the GSEs charge to lenders and homebuyers:

I once came home from work to find my newborn daughter fast asleep in her infant seat. Her mother was collapsed on the couch, looking like she hadn’t slept in a month.

Mom warned me not to wake up the baby, but my bubble of oblivion shielded me from her pleas, and I brushed my daughter’s cheek with my finger. I couldn’t help it! She looked adorable. And then she was fidgeting and fussing, like nearly every waking moment of her short life.

If you’re a mother with grown children, you might receive flowers, candy, dinner invitations or some other type of pleasant recognition for Mother’s Day.

However, you might find that you can get more enjoyment from the holiday by giving, rather than receiving. The longest-lasting gifts may be financial ones – so here are a few moves to consider:

Tennessee Education Commissioner Candice McQueen and Hamilton County Department of Education Director Bryan Johnson have announced the members of the Hamilton County Partnership Network Advisory Board.

The advisory board will review the progress of the five schools in the Partnership Network – which the state has deemed to be priority schools – and make recommendations to HCDE and Network leadership to support student growth and development.

The Hamilton County Board of Education and the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department have adopted a tobacco-free campus policy for all Hamilton County Schools. The new policy prohibits all tobacco and tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco, electronic cigarettes (vaping) and all associated paraphernalia on the property of Hamilton County Schools.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation this month is marking the 25th anniversary of its Top 10 Most Wanted program.

Launched on May 5, 1993, the program harnesses the TBI’s relationship with the media and the public to bring attention to dangerous fugitives believed to be in Tennessee, while offering cash rewards for information leading to successful captures.

The Hunter Museum will host a solo exhibition of works by Karen LaMonte beginning Friday, May 25. “Embodied Beauty: Sculptures of Karen LaMonte” brings together “Nocturnes” and “Floating World,” two series of life-size evening gown and kimono sculptures in cast glass, clay, bronze and iron.

The Chattanooga Area Food Bank has added Sophie Moore as a development officer focused on health care partnerships. Moore will collaborate with hospitals, clinics, physicians and others to identify and connect those affected by hunger with food distribution sites. Moore will also assist with fundraising and community engagement efforts.

Burlington Stores is opening a new store at The Village at Waterside, 2521 Lifestyle Way, on Friday, May 11. The retailer will hold its ribbon cutting ceremony at 9:30 a.m.

CSO fundraiser returns May 12

The Chattanooga Symphony & Opera will host its 2018 fundraiser, UnCorked, on Saturday, May 12 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Renaissance Park. The event will feature a wine tasting, local cuisine, live music by OGYA World Music Band and a silent auction. Tickets