News - Friday, May 12, 2017

It’s Sunday morning, and the air outside the Chattanooga Market is filled with the intoxicating smell of fresh strawberries. Near the entrance to the First Tennessee Pavilion, Mercier Orchards has placed dozens of buckets filled with the sweet, heart-shaped fruits on a table under a canopy, where a young man is offering passersby a free taste.

Remnants of rancor over Republican leadership roiled the House, a reminder of outrage over roguish behavior as representatives reached the finish line.

Alliteration is probably better suited for poetry. But in a case of what could be considered poetic justice, at least for some, this literary device – goofiness maybe – is suitable for legislative action requiring a score card to keep up with the characters and a bit of history to put it all together.

Now the truth can be told:  Darrell Bridges never stopped wanting to be a Chattanooga Moc.

Even after being left at the altar, as it were, due to the recruiting limitations, and even though as one of the Chattanooga area’s all-time great running backs he could not get the time of day from schools that could easily have used him, and even though he was the best thing on a bad team for the last two seasons, it somehow worked out.

Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel is expanding its estate planning and tax practices with the addition of two attorneys: Peter Harrison and Cameron Kapperman.

Both attorneys practice in the estate planning area. Harrison puts extra effort toward counseling clients in elder law and special needs planning, while the majority of Kapperman’s work is in estate administration.

Community members interested in honoring a loved one who served in the U.S. military can have a flag flown in their honor on the Veterans Bridge.

As part of the Veterans Bridge Flag Initiative, a ceremony is held each Memorial Day and Veterans Day to honor the country’s service men and women. New American flags are raised on the bridge and fly alongside the five permanent flags raised in memory of the four marines and sailor killed in Chattanooga on July 16, 2015.

 I’m going to make my review of Marvel Studios’ “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” easy. If you liked the first one, you’re probably going to enjoy the second one, too. If the original film was too goofy for your tastes, then odds are the sequel isn’t going to win you over.

When it comes to Butch Jones and the recent NFL draft, it’s a matter of perspective. Remember, no Tennessee Vols were drafted in the previous two years, which is a reflection on the recruiting by Jones’ predecessor, Derek Dooley. The fact that Tennessee had six players picked this time around – all in the first four rounds – speaks volumes, to wit:

Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Alexis Vinson of Chattanooga received the Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist qualification from USS Makin Island Commanding Officer Capt. Mark Melson on the mess decks of the amphibious assault ship.

The Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist insignia is a military badge of the United States Navy created in March 1980. The insignia recognizes those members of the Navy’s enlisted force who have acquired the specific professional skills, knowledge and military experience that result in qualification for service in the aviation activities of the Navy.

Three Chattanooga fire investigators received top honors from the Tennessee Advisory Committee on Arson this month. TACA named Captains Anthony Moore, Henry McElvain and Andrew Waters its Public Fire Investigators of the Year for 2016.

The investigators work under the auspices of Chattanooga Fire Marshal Beau Matlock. “These men and their families have made sacrifices in the performance of their duties,” Matlock says. “They have missed holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and other important personal events to do their job. But rest assured, they will continue to do all they can do to protect the citizens of Chattanooga.”

A contract has been accepted on your house. Buyer and seller have agreed on a price, but we must now get past the appraisal if the buyer is getting a mortgage to purchase the home. This week, we will explore what takes place during this phase of the transaction.

People remodel their homes for many reasons with an eye toward their own enjoyment and the eventual resale value. Some want to give new life to a house with an out-of-date floor plan. Baby boomers who want to stay in their homes as they age – as well as younger home owners who are looking ahead – want to enhance accessibility. And many home owners want to add sustainable home features that also save money on utility bills.

With Mother’s Day around the corner, you might wonder if you should go beyond chocolates and flowers this year and give Mom something that can help her far into the future. What sort of financial gift can improve her life?

You could, for instance, encourage your mother to fund her IRA. As long as she has any earned income, she is eligible to invest in a traditional or Roth IRA (although a Roth IRA does have income limits which, if exceeded, will reduce and eventually eliminate contributions).