News - Friday, May 3, 2019

Senior U.S. District Judge Curtis Collier is not one to sit idly by and let a problem take care of itself. So, when he perceived a decline in the public’s confidence in the courts, it was only a matter of time until he rallied himself and others to help restore it.

When native New Yorker Erin Olshever moved from the Big Apple to Chattanooga in January, she thought she was simply trading the harsh northern winters she’d come to despise for the milder December-March stretch for which the South is known. But Olshever and her fiancé quickly learned that the weather isn’t the only thing that’s friendlier in Tennessee.

United Way of Greater Chattanooga has named Mike St. Charles the 2019 campaign chair. St. Charles will lead a volunteer campaign cabinet and United Way staff as they work toward fundraising and engaging corporate partners later this year.

St. Charles is the president and managing shareholder at Chambliss Law. Additionally, he has served as the board chair for United Way of Greater Chattanooga for three years.

Pierce & Huisman Law Firm and Harvest Bible Chapel Chattanooga are soliciting donations to support the officers of the Chattanooga Police Department.

Through Project Thank You, the law firm and church will distribute to each sworn officer a gift bag containing items the officers have said would be helpful, including single-serve snacks such as crackers, nuts and granola bars, bottled water, Gatorade and Powerade, Chapstick, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, fast food gift cards, insect repellent, ponchos and evaporative cooling towels.

Hixson-based RE/MAX Renaissance Realtors celebrated its 2018 awards luncheon April 17 at Ruth’s Chris Steak House.

Katie Ashley and Brenda Purcell received 100% Club Awards. The award is given to RE/MAX sales associates whose paid commissions in a given year totaled $100,000-$249,999.

Buying a home is a big move, literally and figuratively. Buying a house requires a serious amount of money and time.

The journey isn’t always easy. It isn’t always intuitive. But getting the keys to your new home can be one of the most rewarding feelings pretty much ever.

Spring is the best time to revitalize the exterior of your house, so homeowners in the Tri-state area are using this time to give their properties some extra attention.

Updating the appearance of your home is a common home improvement project that adds value to your property by generating a strong return on investment. There are many low-cost updates you can tackle yourself. In fact, home exterior projects can be relatively affordable and simple to complete.

If you work for a business that offers a 401(k) plan, consider yourself fortunate because a 401(k), with its tax advantages and variety of investment options, is a great way to save for retirement. But what if you need to tap in to your plan before you retire? Is it a good idea to borrow from your 401(k)?

Goodbyes can be hard. Bidding farewell to a child who’s collegebound, a spouse who’s leaving to serve in the military or friends you’ll never see again can stir rivers of sadness in you as you think back on your time together and begin to feel the void their departure will create.

Trident Transport is expanding its Chattanooga branch by opening a second location across the street.

Trident’s growing need for space comes from the company’s continual growth. Office space at 1500 Chestnut Street will become the home of Trident Transport’s corporate office, a company gym that will offer fitness classes and a nutrition bar.

Mayor Andy Berke, along with UTC’s Mina Sartipi and Chancellor Steven Angle, have unveiled a smart city research tool that’s been installed along Martin Luther King Boulevard in Chattanooga.

The tool, called the ML King Smart City Corridor, is located on the stretch of MLK from Market Street to Central Avenue. It consists of sensors installed at eight existing traffic intersections. The sensors can measure traffic flow, air quality, pedestrian paths and more.

The Enterprise Center has selected Debra Socia to replace Ken Hays as president and CEO. Socia currently serves as president of broadband advocate Next Century Cities. Before her current role, Socia spent 32 years as an educator and administrator. She was the founding principal of the award-winning Lilla G. Frederick Middle School, a Boston Public School where she led the one-to-one laptop initiative. Socia will step into her new role July 15.

Chattanooga Red Wolves SC will build a soccer-specific stadium in East Ridge as part of a mixed-use development. The area, which will also include housing, retail, restaurants, a hotel and significant greenspaces, will represent a $125 million investment in East Ridge and Chattanooga.

“Cuba” gives audiences a chance to cross the Straits of Florida and get to know America’s southern neighbor.

The Tennessee Aquarium IMAX Theater will screen the film Friday, May 3, and Saturday, May 4, at 4 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 5, at 4 p.m. Purchase tickets at www.tnaqua.org/imax.

McKamey Animal Center will host its 2019 A Night for Paws Gala on Friday, May 3, at Hunter Museum of American Art. Nashville songwriters Don Goodman and Steve Dean from Operation Song will perform a piece about a veteran who credits his dog for saving his life. The evening will also include a cocktail hour, a gourmet dinner by Lee Towery Catering and a live auction featuring a weeklong stay at a beachfront property in Costa Rica. Proceeds from the night will provide care for the animals at McKamey. 6:30 p.m. Tickets: mckameyanimalcenter.org. Information: 423 305-6506.

Spring is here, which means it’s warm enough to visit a few dealerships and test-drive the new convertibles you’ve been eyeing all winter.

But which one to buy? Should you get a lithe, two-seat roadster or a roomy luxury convertible? To help you out, Edmunds highlights five of the best 2019 drop-tops.