News - Friday, September 2, 2016

Ronald Gorsline was a busy man. An attorney, he’d moved to a new firm earlier in 2012 and was hard at work developing a new avenue of practice. But he was about to learn life can change in a heartbeat.

A native of Greenville, S.C., Gorsline graduated from Bob Jones University in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in social studies education. Work took him to Indiana, where he taught high school for a brief time. While he liked teaching, his thoughts eventually turned to the law. Gorsline had been exposed to the profession through his brother, an attorney, and he believed he had a proclivity for the work.

Twenty-one of Baker Donelson’s Chattanooga attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2017 edition of “Best Lawyers in America.”Four of those attorneys were also named Lawyers of the Year, a designation given to a select group of individuals in high-profile specialties in large legal communities. Only one attorney in each specialty in each community is honored.

Attorney Scott Shaw has been elected president of the Chattanooga Theatre Centre (CTC) board of directors. He replaces Kim Jackson, who resigned at the end of her second term as president to serve as interim executive director of the CTC.

Since its inception in 1984, the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Chattanooga program has claimed some of the most influential, creative, and impactful members of our community as graduates. Every day, Leadership Chattanooga alumni work to ensure that Chattanooga remains prosperous, safe, and vibrant. As a member of the class of 2017, I’m honored to share my experiences with you for the next 10 months.

Next week, we observe Labor Day, a celebration of the American worker. And there’s a lot to celebrate, because our workers have accomplished great things and, in the process, demonstrated a variety of impressive character traits – many of which also can be useful to investors.

A few years back I wrote a column in which I noted that champ at the bit had been used in my daily paper. Twice in one day. In different articles, a few pages apart.

The first was a quote from a coach: “[O]ur guys are champing at the bit to get back on the court.” The second usage was in a headline. Another team was said to be “champing at the bit in the NCAAs.”  

The grand opening of the new Keller Williams Realty business center in Hixson last week was more than a party – it was a time to celebrate progress and potential.

Over the last year, KW Hixson has experienced two kinds of growth: it now has more Realtors than ever before calling it home, and it’s accommodating these agents in a much larger space.

Since September is Realtor Safety Month, it’s the perfect time to remind consumers why Realtors do certain things for your and their protection. Unfortunately, you do not have to go far to hear about real estate scams, such as email phishing or bogus website listings. And each of us has heard a news story about a Realtor being attacked or robbed while showing a property.

David Lemon had been living the busy corporate life for years, raising two little girls with his wife Susan in the midst of a hectic life in Baton Rouge. The day eventually came when, despite being a big LSU fan, he knew it was time for a change. He just wasn’t sure what that change would be.

All across the Chattanooga region, many families are making adjustments to their homes in order to stay with their families as they age. As part of this aging-in-place movement, universal design allows people with different sizes, shapes, and abilities to all enjoy the same house, even as some family members’ needs change over time.

Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise is the first organization in Hamilton County to participate in the HHF Blight Elimination Program (BEP). Tennessee’s HHF Blight Elimination Program is administered by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) and funded by the U.S. Treasury’s Hardest Hit Fund (HHF).

Kaci Clowers has joined SunTrust Mortgage as a mortgage loan officer serving clients in the Chattanooga area.

Clowers brings six years of industry experience to SunTrust Mortgage, and is looking forward to meeting new people and serving new clients in the Chattanooga community. “I am committed to fulfilling my clients’ individual needs with my knowledge and superior customer service,” said Clowers. “My attention to detail helps to make the mortgage process run smoothly.”

Street Corner Market at the Clemons is open on the ground floor of the historic Clemons Building.

Customers can select pastries, chocolates, and breads from the Bluff View Arts District; Fleetwood and Mayfly Coffees; jewelry from Elea Blake; florals from Grafe Floral Studio; and a curated collection of craft beers. In addition, the deli offers Boar’s Head gourmet sandwiches for lunch, meats and cheeses to take home after work, and a self-service salad bar.

“Don’t Breathe” nails nearly everything most scary movies get wrong. I say “nearly everything” because, like many horror films, it goes off the rails at the end. I didn’t care, though. I’d had so much fun up to that point, I was in a forgiving mood.

Boy Scout blood drive

Blood Assurance and the Cherokee Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America will host a week-long blood drive at Chattanooga-area donor centers and mobile blood drives Tuesday, Sept. 6 through Friday, Sept. 9. Donors will receive a Boy Scout Coupon Card valid at many restaurants and businesses across the region and an “I Bleed” college football t-shirt. Blood Assurance’s downtown donor center is located at 705 East 4th St., across from the UTC McKenzie Arena. Its Gunbarrel donor center is located at 1748 Gunbarrel Rd., near the Target Shopping Center. Its Hixson donor center is located at 1920 Northpoint Blvd., across from Hobby Lobby. To be eligible to donate, you must be at least 17 years old, weigh no less than 110 pounds, and be in good health. The process usually takes about 30 minutes. Donors are asked to drink plenty of caffeine-free liquids and eat an iron-rich meal prior to donating. For more information, contact Blood Assurance at (423) 756-0966, or visit www.bloodassurance.org.

At the Chattanooga Chamber’s Annual Meeting last week, Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke and Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger presented the first Mayors’ Arts Award to Unum.

Unum received recognition for encouraging employees to pursue arts-related volunteer opportunities, supporting ArtsBuild and the Hunter Museum of American Art, and for ongoing work with the Association for Visual Arts.

The City of Chattanooga last week announced Katelyn Kirnie as the new Public Art Chattanooga (PAC) executive director. With support from Benwood and Lyndhurst Foundations, PAC not only welcomes a new director but also new projects launching in the coming months.

Tennessee’s football team and its fans have the best of both worlds this weekend.

They get to bask in a season-opening Thursday night win and enjoy a feast of college football all day Saturday.

Saturday, Sept. 3, 1966

S.V. O’Lenic is retiring from the presidency of Chattanooga Gas but will remain associated as a special consultant to the board as of Sept. 1. Jacob Greenberg, former senior vice president, has been elected chief executive officer of the company.

Saturday, Sept. 2, 1916

Fifty-two members of the McCallie School Alumni Association were present at the annual banquet held at the Chattanooga Golf and Country Club Friday night. Judge Nathan L. Bachman served as toastmaster. Officers were elected for the new year. Carl Smith was elected president. He will succeed Eugene Bryan.

is a rose,” but when is a rose not a rose? When it is a peach. If you do not already know, peaches are from the Rose family (Prunus), and are classified as a “stone fruit” or “drupe.”

From that classification, come two more – they are either a Clingstone or Freestone, (referring to how easily the flesh of the peach separates from the stone) and from there, several varieties within those two classifications. Looks like peaches are indeed, a class act!