News - Friday, July 5, 2013

On June 27, dozens of friends and supporters of Legal Aid of East Tennessee gathered to celebrate Pro Bono Night at Bessie Smith Hall. The evening featured a silent auction, an awards ceremony, and catered food and drinks. Among those honored were Max Bahner, who received the Bruce C. Bailey Volunteer Attorney of the Year Award for going above and beyond the call of duty in 2012 to provide exceptional pro bono services. He is pictured with Tennessee Bar Association president Cynthia Wyrick. More pictures of Pro Bono Night on page 3. (David Laprad)

Legal Aid of East Tennessee during Pro Bono Night awarded the Hamilton County Herald the Alexander Hamilton Award, which the organization gives to a person, organization, or company outside the legal system that works to provide equal access to justice. Susanne Reed, general manager of the Herald, said, “We appreciate all Legal Aid of East Tennessee does to help low income people in our community. It is our pleasure to report on the good things you do.”  (David Laprad)

A number of Chattanooga lawyers were honored for their work in serving the legal profession and the public during the Tennessee Bar Association’s recent convention in Nashville.

Hugh Kendall with the Kendall Law Firm was recognized for his work as co-chair of the Ethics & Professional Responsibility Committee’s Transition Subcommittee, which worked this year to present a comprehensive plan on how lawyers can be prepared for the transition of their law practice in the case of death, disability, retirement or incompetency. Together with Nashville lawyer Marisa Combs, Kendall drafted proposed changes to the rules governing this issue, as well as materials for lawyers to use. Kendall and Combs also produced a seminar on the topic. Kendall received the president’s award from outgoing TBA president and Nashville lawyer Jacqueline Dixon.

I have always believed that education is the great equalizer. It does not solve all of a person’s problems, but a good education can go a long way toward leveling the playing field a person finds himself playing on over the course of his life. Education is definitely a key ingredient to financial security. If I am correct in my assumptions about education, why is it that we as a country make it so hard for our children and young people to get a good education?

Sheri A. Fox has been named a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, Baker Donelson announced last week.

A shareholder in the firm’s Chattanooga office, Fox has a wide range of experience in litigation, with a significant amount of focus in the health care field. She counsels and defends hospitals, long term care companies, physicians, nurses and other medical professionals against a variety of malpractice, liability and other claims, and counsels and defends drug, device and pharmaceutical manufacturers in product liability cases.

Bridgett Massengill, project manager of Thrive 2055, speaks about a Regional Growth Initiative at Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute luncheon Friday, June 28, at The Chattanoogan. (Susanne Reed)

I have chronic low back pain, neck pain and migraine headaches. I feel sure that most of the pain is due to a wreck in my thirties. I was stopped at a red light to make a left-hand turn when a drunk driver plowed into the back of my car. I did have on my seat belt, but it was before the days of air bags, so I suffered quite a jolt. My car was pushed through the light and into a parking lot on the other side of the street.

MARSEILLE, FRANCE – I never expected those other Rivieras to look anything like those here in the States. (See last week's column or risk being lost while reading this one. Hint: I'm on vacation.)

I'd like to use a Portofino or St.-Paul-de-Vence dateline. But, after writing last week's column, on each writing opportunity in those locales, I was too exhausted.

Judge W. Neil Thomas III is the go-to man for wild rice soup, according to the results of the 2013 Gourmet Guys competition. Gourmet Guys is a food-tasting gala pitting dozens of chefs against each other in an amateur event. Attendees are able to taste all kinds of appetizers, soups, sides, salads, entrees and desserts, and vote for their favorite chefs. Judge Thomas beat out a garden gazpacho and a lentil soup to claim the prize in the soups category. Other winners include Don Musick, who submitted a three pesto torte in the appetizers category; Lester Perreault, whose peanut butter dessert sweetened up the event; and Mike Brown, whose chicken francesca was voted best main dish. Sydney Franklin (peanut butter and jelly cookies) and Benny Scaduto (crispy fried risotto balls) tied for the popular vote, while Tamarah Daniel won best booth. Three Chattanooga Rotary Clubs teamed up to sponsor the 2013 Gourmet Guys Food Tasting Gala on June 22 at the First Tennessee Pavilion. Proceeds from the event will be used to support initiatives for needy children locally and internationally. Pictured: Chef Mark Kramer and wife with his smoked beef tenderloin. (Photo provided)

The Annual convention for members of the Arkansas Press Association concluded this past Saturday in Eureka Springs, one of my favorite Arkansas towns. Some of us more athletic press guys always kick the four-day event off with a golf tournament, which had as its venue this year, Holiday Isle. It was my first time on the course and it showed, as evidenced by the loss of three new Titleist Pro VI golf balls, which the lovely ladies at AT&T had donated to our cause. 

Everyone has problems. There is so much that can get in the way of what is real in our life that it is extremely difficult to stay focused.

Since I cook a lot, I prepare one particular food that I can directly relate to life and its problems: boiled potatoes.

On March 8, 2012, Army Specialist Andrew Smith was injured while on his first patrol in Afghanistan. He suffered severe abdominal injuries and lost both legs. Steps2Hope, a non-profit that helps young people with life-changing injuries re-gain their independence, and an army of volunteers and donors built Andrew and his wife, Tori, a new house in Apison, Tenn. Construction on the fully accessible home began Thursday, June 27, and was completed Wednesday, July 3. To learn more, visit www.steps2hope.com or www.teamandrewsmith.com. Additional photo on page 16. (David Laprad)

On June 23, Ellen Breland of Chattanooga received news that would change her life: She is the winner of the 2013 St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway in Chattanooga. The 3,000-square-foot single family home was built by G.T. Issa Construction and is located in the Hawks Landing subdivision of Apison, Tenn. The winning ticket was pulled from 7,000 tickets during the live St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway special on WRCB Channel 3.

Tennessee Aquarium visitors are having fun acting as penguin paparazzi, each one hoping to capture the perfect picture of a fuzzy new bird. “The guests love seeing this little Macaroni chick,” said senior aviculturist Amy Graves. “They ask a lot of great questions about baby penguins and the other birds currently incubating eggs.”

This column was originally published in the Hamilton County Herald on September 28, 2012. 

One of the things on my bucket list is to visit America’s National Parks. America has so many little known facts surrounding the states I’ll be exploring. See how many of these you know.

I used to say no one sets out to make a bad movie. Having seen White House Down, I realize that’s not true. Here’s a movie so outlandishly stupid, everyone connected with making it must have fully committed themselves to producing the dumbest possible film.

According to a RealtyTrac report, 20 percent, or 167,000, of American homes are abandoned after foreclosure.

The report says that states with long foreclosure timelines contain higher numbers of vacant foreclosures. Florida and New York have 55,503 and 9,173 vacant foreclosures, and Illinois has 17,672.

The prices of homes have increased and foreclosures are a lot less frequent, but some appraisers say that giving a value to a property remains an issue.

While the local housing market has improved and given appraisers properties to compare to determine a concrete value, appraisers say they’re still having difficulties.

Saturday, July 6

The appointment of Dr. Don A. Cannon as medical director of Bork Memorial Hospital was announced by Roy McDonald, chairman of the board of trustees. Dr. Cannon, who spent the past two years in the U.S. Public Health Service in Atlanta, recently opened an office for general practice of medicine at 804 Tunnel Boulevard.

Sunday, July 6

Among the diners at Signal Mountain Inn July 4 were Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Loveman, Mr. and Mrs. H. Clay Evans and party, Mr. and Mrs. George Fort Milton, Dr. and Mrs. J. W. Johnson, L.L. Fischer, R.C. Richard, Miss Augusta Gardenhire and Miss Ann Watkins.

Crafted by Southern Hands at Warehouse Row

This summer

Warehouse Row’s Civil War era buildings will fittingly serve as the host of the returning event series dubbed Crafted by Southern Hands. The event will showcase fashion, art, décor and food created below the Mason-Dixon Line.