News - Friday, July 3, 2020

Chattanooga Realtor Kim Woodlief was weathering an unexpected and devastating loss when she made a choice that would define her future.

Woodlief’s husband, Mark, had died suddenly from what doctors said they believed was a heart attack, leaving her to grieve and care for their five children.

Growing up in Erwin, Bob Parsley loved sports. With little else to do in his small hometown, he played them all – baseball, basketball and football. He also ran track.

Despite his passion for athletic competition, the wiry Parsley was good at only one sport: distance running.

The Women in Law Empowerment Forum has certified Baker Donelson as a Gold Standard Firm for the sixth consecutive year.

WILEF grants Gold Standard status to firms that meet objective criteria concerning the number of women among equity partners, in firm leadership positions and in the ranks of their most highly compensated partners. Baker Donelson was among 48 U.S. law firms to earn this certification.

The Tennessee Judicial Conference has named Chancellor Pamela Fleenor moving vice president. She took the position June 19 following the election of new officers.

Fleenor served on the Tennessee Judicial Conference executive committee in 2019.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on June 25 issued the following statement on its commitment to equal justice:

“The Latin phrase that adorns the seal of the judiciary for the State of Tennessee means ‘Let justice be done, though the heavens fall.’

As far back as Bev Boss can remember, she wanted to be a teacher when she grew up. Inspired by an educator she knew who lived and breathed for the students she taught, Boss achieved her childhood dream, teaching first in Mississippi after graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi and then in her hometown of Chattanooga.

You’ve probably noticed there are fewer houses for sale right now. While your observation is correct, you might not realize there also has been a dramatic increase in the number of homes sold.

Our housing market is competitive, and properties are moving quickly. When you put these factors together, you’re more likely going to see multiple offers on listed properties.

If you’re like most Chattanooga-area residents, you’ve been spending a lot of time at home lately, and you might be especially motivated to find extra space in the house for your family to spread out a bit.

Expanding your home’s square footage could provide a playroom for your children, a place for extended family to stay during visits, a media room the whole family can use or even a space to rent out for some extra income.

Tennessee legislators, having adjourned sine die and high-tailed it homeward, it’s time for a final report card on the 111th session of the General Assembly.

The good news: It wasn’t all bad. The bad news: It wasn’t much good. Here is my highly subjective list of grades:

Local plant nursery Bees on a Bicycle celebrated its third anniversary by earning green|spaces’ sustainability certification.

Located in Chattanooga’s Southside, Bees offers native Tennessee plants and seasonal indoor and outdoor options. In addition, owner Cath Shaw Truelove hosts workshops and teaches customers how to make sustainable gardening choices.

As a white male, Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt can’t possibly understand what his Black players live through on a daily basis.

He doesn’t know what systematic challenges they face just because of the color of their skin.

The Tennessee Aquarium, Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center and Chattanooga River Market have announced expanded hours of operations for the Fourth of July weekend.

Aquarium visitors during the holiday weekend can take advantage of expanded hours, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 3-4. The final timed-entry tickets will be sold at 7 p.m. The aquarium will be open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, July 5.

Throughout much of your working life, you contribute to your 401(k), IRA and other investment accounts to help ensure a comfortable retirement. However, once you do retire, you’ll need to shift your focus somewhat from building these investments to using them – in other words, you’ll have to start withdrawing from your portfolio to meet the costs of living.

The Rotary Club of Chattanooga on June 25 welcomed Dr. Elaine Swafford as its 2020-21 club president. Swafford is the CEO of Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy and has been a member of the club since 2016.

Swafford is a graduate of Leadership Tennessee and a former vice president of economic and community development and vice president of student affairs at Chattanooga State.

American Bicycle Group will change the name of its gravel and mountain bike, currently branded Ocoee. The adventure brand was named based on an area close to the company in the mountains of eastern Tennessee.

When ABG CEO and president Peter Hurley learned that the name “Ocoee” is also associated with the 1920 lynching of an African American on Election Day in Ocoee, Florida, and the burning of that African American community, he will dissociate the brand from racial inequality.

Rotary Club of Chattanooga Hamilton Place has presented attorney Stan Hildebrand with the 2020 Service Above Self Award. The award is given to Rotarians who demonstrate their commitment to helping others by volunteering their time and talents to their club and community.

County Mayor Jim Coppinger has tapped local builder Jay Bell to serve on the board of the Hamilton County Water Wastewater Treatment Authority. Bell replaces Mike Moon as the builder representative on the board.

Bell and his company have built more than 3,200 homes in 15 communities throughout Hamilton County, including Bell Development subdivisions in East Brainerd, Hixson, Lakesite, Ooltewah, Red Bank, Signal Mountain and Soddy Daisy.