News - Friday, May 21, 2021

They are located more than 2,500 miles apart. But except for their polar-opposite population bases, there are many similarities between tiny Ketchum, Idaho (2,878 residents, the latest census figures show) and Knoxville (741,000).

Both cities sit in the heart of the nation’s largest mountain chains, the Rockies and the Appalachians, and both are near scenic entertainment/ski areas. Knoxville, of course, boasts Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and the Great Smoky Mountains; Ketchum counters with Sun Valley and Bald Mountain.

As the pandemic wore on and lawyers began to lament the walls of their home offices, Harry Ray was enjoying the open road.

Ray, 67, still rose early to work. But instead of being confined to his home in Ooltewah, he’d sit down at the table in his Forest River Flagstaff Super Lite RV, open his laptop and engage in the practice of law as the hills and fields of Georgia rolled by.

Most United States citizens consider themselves fortunate to live in a modern, mature democracy. We appreciate the great freedoms and abundant material things our democracy affords us. But while we all know the old adage that freedom is not free, neither is democracy.

Realtor, developer and builder Kelly Jooma is standing on a dirt road at the foot of White Oak Mountain in Ooltewah. From her vantagepoint, she can see Ooltewah Georgetown Road to her left. To her right, a curve bends the dirt road around a nestle of trees.

Last week, I enjoyed joining my fellow Realtors from across the state and country for the annual National Association of Realtors legislative meetings.

Like last year, we participated in these meetings virtually. Even so, that setting didn’t take away the impact or importance of our one-on-one meetings with our senators and representatives.

National Home Remodeling Month in May has even more reason to be celebrated locally as the remodeling industry remains strong in our area over a year into the pandemic.

In fact, the remodeling market has benefited as a direct result of the pandemic. Despite lingering supply-side challenges, confidence in the remodeling market continues to increase, according to a recent NAHB survey.

Picture this: You’ve had a long day and you’re famished. No one wants to cook so you suggest eating out. You’re thrilled when everyone agrees because the only thing that’s going to slay your hunger are the baby back ribs at your favorite restaurant.

When Cliff and Karen Tyllick set out to install solar panels on their Austin, Texas, home in 2012, their goal was to reduce their carbon footprint. The fact that they also saved thousands of dollars upfront and lowered their bills was a nice bonus.

United Way of Greater Chattanooga and its nonprofit support arm, Venture Forward, virtually hosted the inaugural Celebrate Awards this month. Three awards were presented to the winning finalists in the categories of Innovation in Action, Volunteer of the Year and Nonprofit of the Year.

As summer kicks off and families hit the road for vacation, the Chattanooga Police Department is partnering with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office to remind motorists to “Click It or Ticket.”

Participating agencies across the state will increase seat belt enforcement May 24-June 6 as part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s nationwide mobilization.

If you have children or grandchildren, you may already be somewhat familiar with the 529 plan, a popular education savings vehicle. But you may not have kept up with some recent changes in the plan’s capabilities and in the educational environment in which the plan might be used.

Starting in July, most families with children will start getting monthly payments of as much as $300 per child as part of the American Rescue Plan’s expansion of the child tax credit.

The payments are scheduled to end in December, and it’s unclear whether they will be extended. But even six months of payments could make a big difference in many families’ finances.

Maybe you’re cringing at the thought of going back to an office. The seed of a business idea floats around in your head between work videoconference calls, after the children are asleep or while you tend your pandemic garden.

Or perhaps you were laid off during the pandemic and forced to work for yourself, and now you’re wondering if you should continue down this path.

The launch of Ford’s Bronco, its highly anticipated Jeep Wrangler-like SUV, won’t likely happen until late this year. But there already is a Bronco-badged alternative at dealer lots: the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. It’s related to Ford’s Escape crossover SUV but has more squared-off bodywork and enhanced off-roading capabilities.