News - Friday, June 29, 2018

Rock climber Savannah Manning has tamed cliffs that towered above her like giant beasts daring her to scale their heights. The 24-year-old Chattanooga resident not only lives and breathes her passion locally but has humbled some of the most challenging rock faces in the U.S., including those that hem the rugged mountains of Tuolumne Meadows near Yosemite National Park.

Mercurial Republican Rep. Gerald McCormick went from kicking ass to kicking back. Only three days after saying his now-former Democratic opponent, David Jones, would realize how little he has in common with District 26 in Chattanooga “when he gets his ass beat in November,” McCormick abruptly announced he would not seek re-election this year and would be leaving the House effective Oct. 1.

The judges of the local Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims aren’t waiting until 2019, when the court will be five years old, to commemorate a milestone. Rather, they’re inviting their colleagues in the Greater Chattanooga legal community area to help them celebrate their four-year anniversary.

Jerry H. Summers was elected to be a member of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers at the academy’s recent meeting.

The American Academy of Appellate Lawyers was founded in 1990 to recognize outstanding appellate lawyers and promote the improvement of appellate advocacy and the administration of the appellate courts.

State of Tennessee v. Quintis McCaleb

Case number: E2017-01381-CCA-R9-CD

Authoring judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter

Originating judge: Judge Barry A. Steelman

Date filed: Friday, June 1, 2018

The State, pursuant to Rule 9 of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure, appeals the trial court’s grant of Defendant’s motion to suppress inculpatory statements made during his post-polygraph interview. The trial court found that the statements were voluntary but determined that they were inadmissible under Tennessee Rule of Evidence 403 because Defendant would be required to reference the polygraph examination to provide context for Defendant’s statements made during the post-polygraph interview. Concluding that the trial court abused its discretion by excluding the statements, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand this case for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

A little wine, a little networking and a lot of new construction drew members of the Women’s Council of Realtors to The Farm at Hampton Meadows in Ooltewah on the evening of June 21.

Bill Panebianco of Pratt Home Builders hosted the event, which included not only wine but enough food to feed a small army, an opportunity for guests to pose for a free professional portrait, door prizes and tours of newly built Pratt homes.

With America’s homeownership rate struggling to match falling unemployment and increasing consumer confidence, protecting the benefits of the secondary mortgage market remains critical to the health of the overall housing industry.

The National Association of Realtors hosted a roundtable event June 22 examining the scope and status of comprehensive Government-Sponsored Enterprise reform, moderated by Realtors Larry Black and Seth Task, chair and vice chair of NAR’s Conventional Finance and Policy Committee.

Chattanooga City Council members on Tuesday passed the first reading of Chattanooga’s 2019 budget, which includes a controversial increase in water quality fees for the next five years.

Residents will notice an increase on their tax bill beginning this October. The administration promised to look at the water quality fee structure to see if it can be made fairer to people with lower incomes, and low-income seniors participating in the city’s tax relief program will be exempt from quality fees.

Older Chattanoogans largely prefer to stay in their homes as they age rather than downsizing or relocating. This is a major driver in the continued growth of aging-in-place remodeling.

This technique involves making home modifications – big or small – to help the home owner live safely in their home for many years to come, especially as they experience changes in their health or mobility.

Though we often complain about our government, we count on it every day, in large ways and small.

An example of a small way … potholes. Which don’t seem like a small issue after they cause your tire(s) to blow out.

Taking action

Elections are the events that allow citizens to turn their complaints into action. They are our opportunity to effect change, or to support the status quo.

Is investment in public infrastructure important? And should Tennessee have more dedicated revenue sources to pay for construction and maintenance of infrastructure across the state, or is the existing tax structure – primarily the state tax on fuel, and wheel taxes – sufficient to pay for what Tennessee needs to sustain and grow its economy?

Don’t look for any campaign propaganda to be mailed out. There won’t be any personal stumping. Heck, Larry Seivers even refused to fluff up his own bio. If the former University of Tennessee two-time All-America wide receiver finds his way into the College Football Hall of Fame, it will happen because of the numbers and the memories that made him one of the game’s best in the 1970s.

Near the beginning of “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” a vehicle carrying a handful of people across Isla Nublar stops so the occupants step out to take in what is intended to be an awe-inspiring sight: a Brachiosaurus lumbering across the landscape.

We’re getting close to the Fourth of July, our national Independence Day. This celebration may get you thinking of the many freedoms you enjoy. But have you thought of what you might need to do to attain financial freedom?

Your first step is to define what financial independence signifies to you. For many people, it means being able to retire when they want to and to enjoy a comfortable retirement lifestyle. So, if this is your vision as well, consider taking these steps:

Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise has launched Money School After Hours, a monthly opportunity for Chattanooga area residents to learn about a variety of personal finance topics.

CNE is offering the program as an extension of its annual financial education event, Money School. This program encourages Chattanoogans to further educate themselves on personal finance in order to become financially stable. Money School After Hours is offered the second Thursday of every month.

Imagine that you are looking for a used car on a popular site, such as Autotrader, Cars.com or Craigslist. You find exactly the one you want, with a very attractive price.

The ad has photos galore and even a link to a vehicle history report, which shows the car is in good condition and has a clean title. There’s an email address for inquiries, but no phone number, so you write for details. In the seller’s reply, he volunteers that the car is such a great deal because he’s a pilot and has had to relocate to the United Kingdom for a job with British Airways.

Imagine that you are looking for a used car on a popular site, such as Autotrader, Cars.com or Craigslist. You find exactly the one you want, with a very attractive price.

The ad has photos galore and even a link to a vehicle history report, which shows the car is in good condition and has a clean title. There’s an email address for inquiries, but no phone number, so you write for details. In the seller’s reply, he volunteers that the car is such a great deal because he’s a pilot and has had to relocate to the United Kingdom for a job with British Airways.

Hamilton County government, in partnership with the City of Chattanooga, has completed the new Enterprise South Nature Park’s Summit Knobs Equestrian Trails.

The trails, which cover 10 miles of diverse terrain, were funded by a $230,000 grant provided by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Local Parks and Recreation Fund, along with $230,000 in matching funds split between the county and the city.

Ruby Falls has unveiled new venues and guest amenities following a multimillion-dollar renovation.

Highlights include a new entrance and ticket atrium with expanded guest services, the Blue Heron Overlook, which offers a bird’s eye view of the valley, seasonal food carts with shaded open-air dining and the Village Gift Shop. Ruby Falls Village Plaza connects these venues.

The Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Diversify Marketplace on Friday, June 29. Held at the First Tennessee Pavilion across from Finley Stadium, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., the Diversify Marketplace will feature an array of businesses and nonprofits, including woman-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned and more. Admission will be free.