News - Friday, May 19, 2017

There’s a thread running through the life of Cathy Dorvil that’s unlike any of the others. In a tapestry of mostly vibrant colors, it stands out and can be easily seen among the shifting hues and intertwining patterns that represent the paths she has walked.

Hazardous weather was the news of the day in the Chattanooga area on November 29, 2016.

Watches, warnings, and advisories were in effect. The winds were fierce, and tornados touched down in surrounding counties.

But thanks to smart grid technology, the electric power provider Electric Power Board of Chattanooga was ready.

You live in the Gig City with its smart grid and internet speed of up to 10 gigs. 

Chattanooga’s Electric Power Board’s smart grid, “allows all of the emerging smart grid technologies to function together,’’ the EPB says.

If you ask Gov. Bill Haslam, Republican government is the best thing since sliced bread.

Not only is GOP leadership responsible for a myriad of tax cuts leading to record surpluses and a $37 billion budget funding better K-12 and higher education, shoring up the rainy day and TennCare funds, shrinking state debt and building an economic environment for job creation, Haslam says. It’s even bringing us the cleanest air since before the industrial revolution.

It’s hard to believe that a piece of land located between I-75 and U.S. Highway 41 can be a peaceful place. But if you doubt it, then you’ve never walked among the headstones in Anderson Cemetery.

Located in Ringgold, a mere 10 miles south of the Tennessee line (and Chattanooga), Nathan Anderson Cemetery is a wonder and an anomaly in 2017. Begun as a family cemetery all the way back in 1840, it was long ago filled to its capacity with local residents, Anderson family members from far and wide and a number of soldiers who lost their lives in the Battle of Ringgold Gap.

In a recent article at CBSSports.com, Nick Saban was ranked the top coach in the so-called Power Five conferences.

No surprise there.

With all due respect to what Urban Meyer has accomplished at Bowling Green, Utah, Florida and now Ohio State, he’s still playing catch-up to Saban. The same can be said for Dabo Swinney and his recent run at Clemson.

Judge Neil Thomas III, who serves the people of Hamilton County in Tennessee’s Eleventh Circuit Court, will resign from the bench on Oct. 5 after 20 years of public service.

“Serving the community for two decades has been an extraordinary honor I’ll cherish forever. Leaving the bench will permit me to invest more time in my heart’s desires – our great community and my family,” says Thomas, appointed in 1997 by Gov. Don Sundquist to fill the vacancy of Judge William L. Brown.

The Chattanooga office of Birmingham-based law firm Carr Allison has added a new associate, Grace Van Dyke. Van Dyke will focus on premises liability, transportation and construction.

Before becoming an attorney, Van Dyke was an internationally competitive equestrian and small equine business owner.

Before seeing “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword,” I had decided to brush up on both the legend and medieval English history after the movie so I could write an informed review. Upon seeing the film, I decided not to bother. It seemed as though the filmmakers hadn’t, so why should I?

The City of Chattanooga will enlist the help of the community as it selects the next chief of police. Last month, current Chief Fred Fletcher announced he will retire at the end of his contract this July.

The selection committee, which will recommend final applicants to Mayor Andy Berke, also includes community representation.

Nearly 115 Keller Williams Greater Downtown Realty agents and employees offered their time and energy to Chambliss Center for Children on May 11 during their annual RED Day.

“We always look forward to the Keller Williams group coming out to volunteer,” says Virginia Rushton, director of volunteer services for Chambliss Center. “Some have been coming here for RED Day for several years, while others are here for the first time. They always have a great time working as a team to complete our projects.”

After a slip in business in 2015, the National Association of Realtors Member Profile found that the income and sales volume of Realtor members increased in 2016. The median gross income of Realtors increased eight percent in 2016 as the typical member had the highest number of transactions in recent years.

Success Real Estate School has opened a location in Chattanooga to accommodate the surge in agent growth.

Greater Chattanooga Association of Realtors research shows membership in the organization jumped from 1,397 in January 2016 to 1,636 in January 2017, fueled in part by the rising median gross income for Realtors.

A 2013 East Ridge High School graduate and Chattanooga native is serving with a U.S. Navy squadron that flies one of the Navy’s most advanced aircraft – one with an important mission: keeping watch over the skies and oceans of the world.

Residential home sales across the Greater Chattanooga region declined in April.

There were 759 closed residential sales compared to 842 for April 2016, a 9.9 percent decline. Home sales also declined in January of this year; however, the year-to-date total remains a positive 1.4 percent.

You probably won’t see it on your calendar, but May 29 (5/29) is 529 College Savings Day, or 529 Day for short. This day, named after the 529 plan, a popular college-savings vehicle, is designed to promote people’s awareness of the need to save and invest for the high costs of higher education. And that need has never been greater. Consider the following:

The Photographic Society of Chattanooga will host a summer season reception at the Gallery at Blackwell on Friday, May 19, 6:30-8:30 p.m. The theme will be Chattanooga Scenes.

Refreshments will be provided and the public is welcome to attend. The gallery is located at Blackwell Automotive, 71 Eastgate Loop. Information: 423 344-5643, info@chattanoogaphoto.org, www.chattanoogaphoto.org.