News - Friday, May 3, 2013

The Honorable Lamar Alexander, United States Senator, was the guest speaker at the Chattanooga Bar Association’s Annual Law Day Celebration May 1 at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Sen. Alexander told the story of his early swearing in as Tennessee’s 45th governor in 1979 at the request of then-U.S. Attorney Hal Hardin to avoid the inappropriate release of inmates by then-incumbent Gov. Ray Blanton. As Law Day honors the place of law in society, Sen. Alexander tied his speech into brief comments about the rule of law in action. From L-R: Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger; Lynda Hood, executive director of the Chattanooga Bar Association; Sen. Alexander; attorney Paul Hatcher, treasurer, CBA; and attorney Craig Smith, president, CBA. (David Laprad)

Like many lawyers, Karen McGuffee’s business card includes a “J.D.” after her name. And like her colleagues across Chattanooga, she did more than earn the degree and pass the bar; she worked for her stripes, cutting her legal teeth on appointed cases in Juvenile and Chancery Courts.

L-R: Mei Li Zuber, Alaire Gage, Aliza Cohen and Savannah Clay. The American Lung Association Tuesday at its annual Tennessee Women of Distinction luncheon honored these four young Chattanooga ladies with 2013 Young Women of Distinction awards. Zuber is a student at Soddy Daisy High School, Gage is a student at Red Bank High School, Cohen is a student at Baylor School, and Clay is a student at Silverdale Baptist Academy. They are “incredibly motivated and active high school seniors who have set themselves apart as individuals outstanding in leadership, academics, and character,” said Lynda Minks Hood, chairwoman of the 2013 Women of Distinction Committee. Chattanooga Women of Distinction honors were presented to Ann Ball, Julie Brandao, Kim Chapman, Holly Harwell, Pam Ladd, Mary Stewart Lewis, Kristina Montague, Carol Mutter, Diane Parks, and Jean Burke Young. A new distinction this year, Diamonds of Distinction, was presented to Maxine Alper, Mary Barker, Nell Mohney and Jo Ann Yates for over 60-years each of volunteer service. (Susanne Reed)

Smaller government and lower taxes were the watchwords of Republican leaders as they began this session of the state legislature in January.

With lopsided majorities in both the state House and Senate, the Republicans could do pretty much whatever they wanted.

“Be it resolved…that this body hereby expresses its firm intention and resolve to fully marshal the legal resources of the state of Tennessee to judicially challenge and overturn any effort by the federal government to restrict or abolish the right of the people to keep and bear firearms or ammunition.”

The Tennessee Constitution is designed to be difficult to change.

But that doesn’t stop legislators from trying.

More than a dozen constitutional amendments were introduced by lawmakers at the just-completed session of the state legislature.

I started my week with a scheduled jury trial in South Arkansas. It was to start Monday morning. The trial was postponed after my client granted himself a continuance by not appearing for jury selection. I was disappointed that the trial was not going since I had spent the entire weekend working on the case in preparation. Deciding to make the most of the situation, I stopped at my favorite Mexican restaurant in Arkadelphia on the way back to Little Rock.

Do you love to visit a spa, but the prices are just a little “too pricy?” Then do what thousands of others have started doing – make your own spa at home!

The World Wide Web is a great place to start, but if you don’t have Internet handy, try a bookstore or library. The resources are limitless.

With acknowledgments and apologies to Merriam-Webster.

Here are my top ten words (and phrases) that were admitted to the dictionary in the year 2012:

AHA MOMENT, noun. Point in time when one has a significant insight.

MAN CAVE, noun. Room in a home primarily furnished to accommodate the recreational interests of males.

When I first heard about the new burger joint in Red Bank, I did what a lot of people have likely done: snickered. And that’s the point. When you name your restaurant Sofa King Juicy Burgers, you’re not promoting your cushy seating; you’re trying to get the attention of people that already have plenty of options for the product you’re selling.

I had another potential buyer for the Jeep on the phone who identified himself as Charlie from Hot Springs and asked me to tell him something about the vehicle I was selling. So I did, then telling him, at that particular moment, it wouldn’t start.

Move over papayas – I’m on a mango kick! And, strangely, I didn’t even know I liked them until a few weeks ago. Crazy, huh? Well, they are now my new favorite fruit!

Not long ago while on a trip, I bought some mango frozen yogurt. It was so good, I ordered a mango during breakfast the next morning. I loved it! In fact, I could have just eaten mangos and nothing else.

Fifteen years ago, Yun Gravitt asked broker Pat Green for a chance to sell real estate at Coldwell Banker Pryor Realty. A South Korean who had moved to the United States in her early thirties, Gravitt’s English was rough, so Green was unsure.

In keeping with the vision of RiverRocks founders Mike and Stormy McGauley to raise money and awareness for local land trusts and conservancies, recent fund distributions to eight local organizations bring the total contributions to $100,000 over the first three years of the festival.

I couldn’t decide on what I wanted to write about for this game, so I decided to mix it up. I call this “This and That.” Have fun.

1. Where did the potbelly pig originate? Vietnam; Russia; England; China.

2. Which one of these songs was officially composed by all four members of The Beatles in 1967? Birthday; Piggies; Flying; Rain.

Fill in the blanks in the quote

using the following words:

Different, weather, rain, braces, sunshine, snow

“_____ is delicious, _____ is refreshing, wind _____ us up, _____ is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only _____ kinds of good _____.” 

It’s not just that I want everything you have, it’s that I want you to not have it.”

If there has ever been a line in a movie that perfectly encapsulates the theme of the film, this line from Pain & Gain is it. Spoken through gritted teeth by Daniel Lugo to Victor Kershaw, it sums up the perversion of the American Dream that has bubbled to the surface of our culture in recent decades. The Dream is no longer about doing well financially and having the things you want, but about grabbing every dollar you can at the expense of others.

Black Creek Mountain, a resort-style community located in Chattanooga, has announced Ben Jones as the new general manager of its club.

The Black Creek Club offers a golf course, tennis courts, a cascading pool, a sports complex, nature trails, and a clubhouse with fine dining, a men’s grille, a fitness center, and a  lounge.  Golf Digest consistently ranks Black Creek Club among the top 10 golf courses in Tennessee.

Dear EarthTalk: 

What is the Monsanto Protection Act, and why are environmentalists so upset about it? ~ Rita Redstone, Milwaukee, Wisc.