News - Friday, May 22, 2020

When Gov. Bill Lee issued a statewide order March 22 limiting Tennessee restaurants to take-out, drive-thru and delivery services only, he intended to strike a blow against the growing COVID-19 pandemic.

“The pandemic has created both an economic and a health crisis, and our response must continue to address both aspects,” Lee said in a statement. “Our goal is to keep the public, especially vulnerable populations, safe while doing everything possible to keep Tennesseans in a financially stable position.”

The Tennessee Bar Association has elected Brittany Thomas Faith of Grant, Konvalinka & Harrison, General Sessions Judge Alexander McVeagh, Justin Faith of Gearhiser, Peters, Elliott & Cannon and John Carreras of CommonSpirit Health to serve on the executive committee of the board of the Tennessee Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division.

The Tennessee Supreme Court last week entered an order regarding administration of the July 2020 bar examination.

The order states the July examination, to be held July 28-29, will go forward with reduced seating. The court also approved new Board Policy P-4.03, which establishes a protocol for seating applicants.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee has launched Pro Bono Matters, a website that allows volunteer attorneys to express interest in specific cases.

Located at www.laet.org/pro-bono-matters, Pro Bono Matters contains brief synopses of cases for clients who need help with their civil legal issues.

Ralph Maples’ morning began with a routine chore: Letting his chickens out to range. Ever since he acquired an oversized flock of 28 fowl just before the lockdown began in March, it’s how he’s started his days.

Maples looks forward to this task because it affords him with a gorgeous a.m. view of Apison. He and his wife share an 11-acre patch off Prospect Church Road with her parents, and he loves soaking in the scenery.

While the stock market recovered significantly in March, COVID-19’s impact on the economy continues to build. In just the last four weeks, more than 20 million people filed initial unemployment claims, according to the Department of Labor, fueled by stay-at-home orders and a slowdown of economic activity across the country.

You might have more people in your home than usual as summer approaches and communities across the Chattanooga area continue to practice social distancing to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Whether it’s your college student who has moved home earlier than expected or young children spending more time at home than usual, finding storage for blankets, clothes, books, toys and other items that are taking over your living areas can seem challenging. But there are practical and attractive ways to incorporate storage throughout your home.

As an investor, you’ll always need to deal with risk of some kind. But how can you manage the risk that’s been made clear by the recent volatility in the financial markets? The answer to this question may depend on where you are in life.

With Nashville recently marking the 60th anniversary of the successful sit-in campaigns that integrated downtown businesses, permit me to deliver a civil rights pat on the back to my native Mississippi.

I know. Shocking.

My relationship with my home state is decidedly ambivalent. That’s not unusual, I think, for a lot of Mississippians, or Southerners in general. We’re justifiably proud of our state’s contributions to the arts world, especially music and literature. We celebrate its slower pace of life, its down-home food, its reverence for friends and family.

The Chattanooga Zoo is home to two more meerkat pups born through natural breeding. This is the second litter of pups for their mother, Flower, at the zoo.

Last October, Flower was placed at the Chattanooga Zoo through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan with a breeding recommendation. Flower gave birth to her first litter of pups in February.

Book drops are now open at the Chattanooga Public Library’s five branch locations. As part of its plan to reopen in phases after the COVID-19 virus shutdown, the library is asking that everyone drop in any checked out books, audiobooks and DVDs.

Sara Mingus is selling her half of Southern Soul Yoga to her partner of three years, Heather Dendy, effective June 1.

“I have learned to go with the flow. I sold North Shore Yoga previously so I could be home to raise my son, Hawkins. When he started school, I co-created Southern Soul Yoga with Heather.

School-aged child care at Hamilton County Schools will begin June 1 and be expanded to 25 schools.

The additional locations will keep the number of children at each site lower than summer programs in the past. The number of children at each location is limited to the first 25 children registered.

The Chattanooga Chamber and other local organizations have launched a Small Business Assistance Hotline in an effort to provide professional advice to small businesses seeking financial, human resources, banking, credit and business assistance as a result of the economic impact of COVID-19.

Tennessee American Water and the American Water Charitable Foundation are providing $15,000 in grants to four Tennessee organizations for their COVID-19 relief efforts.

Tennessee American Water, with funds from the American Water Charitable Foundation, is donating to the YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga, the Marion County Food Bank, La Paz Chattanooga and the Sequatchie County Food Bank to assist with meals and support services during the pandemic.

East Brainerd Oral Surgery is offering patient care services at its temporary location inside Wilkins Center on Gunbarrel Road.

The practice experienced major structural and water damage during the Easter Sunday tornadoes. The temporary office is located 1 mile from the main office, which is undergoing renovations.

Two Hamilton County health centers will receive federal funding for expansion of COVID-19 testing. The U.S. Health Resources and Services awarded the funds as part of the nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Chattanooga Hamilton County Hospital Authority will receive $318,919 and the Hamilton County Department of Health will receive $192,349.

The U.S. Census Bureau is looking for 8,000 applicants for temporary jobs in Southeast Tennessee to support the 2020 census.

Particular need is in Hamilton, Bradley, Polk, Meigs, Rhea, Grundy and Franklin counties.

The census is underway now and more than half of households have already responded, but workers are needed to follow up with households that do not respond on their own.

The Public Education Foundation has selected 34 teachers from the Southeast Tennessee region to participate in the ninth cohort of STEM Fellows during the 2020-21 academic year.

The STEM Fellowship is an annual cohort of K-12 educators who engage in a year of professional learning focused on developing and implementing a STEM, or STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics), mindset.

The Chattanooga Department of Transportation has launched a pilot program designed to help businesses increase capacity safely during COVID-19.

Streets as Places: Reimagining the Outdoors (SPROUTS) is a retail and restaurant recovery pilot program designed to help businesses, restaurants services and community agencies support social distancing inside and outside their buildings.

Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond and Chattanooga Police Chief David Roddy on May 13 recognized local law enforcement personnel who were killed in the line of duty with a brief wreath laying ceremony at the Fallen Officer Monument downtown.

Each year, the U.S. president designates the second week of May as National Police Week and law enforcement agencies, elected officials and citizens across the nation recognize those who serve and honor the legacy and memory of the country’s fallen officers.

The Chattanooga Symphony & Opera will conclude its 2019-20 annual fund campaign May 31 as the organization concludes its fiscal year.

This year’s campaign ends as the organization faces new challenges due to the COVID-19 health crisis. The remainder of its 2019-20 season was canceled as a precaution against the spread of the virus, including five regular concerts and both performances of “Disney in Concert” March 28.

A school reopening task force is making plans for the return of children to school this fall.

Keith Fogleman, chief talent officer for Hamilton County Schools, and Lt. Colonel William Brooks, director of JROTC for Hamilton County Schools, will lead the work.