News - Friday, November 29, 2013

Two Chattanooga attorneys have been selected to participate in the Tennessee Bar Association’s 2014 Leadership Law class: Neil Brunetz of Miller & Martin and Sean Martin of Carr Allison. Now in its 11th year, the class is designed to equip Tennessee lawyers with the vision, knowledge, and skills necessary to serve as leaders in their profession and local communities. This year’s class of 33 attorneys – chosen from across the state – will meet for its first session in January, and then spend the next six months learning about leadership in the legal profession, issues in the courts, policymaking in state government and the importance of community service.

Miller & Martin on November 1 hosted an event that provided undergraduate minority and female students from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a first-hand look at the legal profession. Attorneys from several of the firm’s practice groups served as panelists in an interactive question and answer discussion about the firm, law school, and various careers within the law.

The Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team completed its final phase of training last week with a simulated trench rescue incident on the property of the Moccasin Bend Wastewater Treatment Plant. The USAR team, based here in Chattanooga, is responsible for responding to technical rescue incidents, primarily in a ten county area of Southeast Tennessee.

The Chattanooga Police Department is now accepting expired, unused, or unneeded prescription medications from the general public. People can dispose of unwanted medication in a large drop box located in the lobby of the Property Division, located at 3204 Amnicola Highway. Anyone can bring in old prescriptions from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. seven days a week. “The program aims to keep dangerous substances out of our landfills and drinking water,” said Lt. Brian Cotter, pictured. Cotter was among those in the department who spearheaded the installation of the box. (David Laprad)

It is the time of year when we in the United States celebrate Thanksgiving. It is a time when we’re supposed to count our blessings and recognize how good we have it and how lucky we are. It is also the beginning of the “Holidays.” For some people, the “Holidays” is the loneliest and most unhappy time of the year. Ironically, at what most consider the happiest time of the year, many suffer incredible sadness.

Two Chattanooga attorneys are among the top 100 Mid-South Super Lawyers for 2013. Jerry H. Summers of Summers & Wyatt and Roger W. Dickson of Miller & Martin were selected by their peers for inclusion on the list.

Since beginning his practice in 1966, Summers has served as an assistant district attorney, as lawyer for the Hamilton County Election Commission, as municipal judge, and was a finalist for a federal district judgeship.

I’m getting older, and I know insomnia is just one of the problems the senior generation has difficulty with. However, in today’s world, being unable to sleep is not limited to one age group; people of all ages are having sleep problems.

A few weeks ago, I began a column with “Harassing phone calls. What other term would fit?” And ended said column with a plea for help. Viewer mail came pouring in.

Victoria’s glad to know she’s “not alone with these calls. I got them at all times of the day and night! It made me furious! I am on the Do Not Call Registry, but I had bazillions of them show up on my landline … [A]fter the 1st round of these calls I started documenting and keeping track of every one of them ….

Attorneys Arthur Grisham, David Noblit of Leitner Williams Dooley & Napolitan, and James Vick of the board of professional responsibility on Tuesday, December 3, at Springhill Suites Marriott will present a seminar titled “Quality of Life: Taking the Stress out of Success.” Breakfast and registration will take place from 7:45 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. in the River Room; the seminar will begin at 8:15 a.m. and conclude at 11:30 a.m. Attendees will earn three hours of dual CLE Credit approved for Tennessee. The cost is $75 for members of the Chattanooga Bar Association, $125 for non-members, and $25.00 for legal support staff.

We’d reserved a 9:45 tee time, and Fred said they’d probably pair us with another twosome because it was another busy Saturday morning. Not good, I thought, remembering other pairings we’d endured there in the past.

Like the time one Fayetteville attorney joined us and slaughtered a big snake at the edge of the No. 9 fairway with what looked to be a seven iron. Fred and I thought it was a bit much – a nine would have been plenty –  but the way he was swinging that club, we kept our mouths shut.

This is an article I wrote several years back. It’s one of my favorites. If you’ve read it before, I hope it’s one of yours also. If you haven’t, I hope you enjoy it.

I remember growing up in Black Forest, Colo., with my parents, brother and sisters, and my grandparents on my dad’s side. It was quite a houseful, but that  really didn’t matter. We were all happy, and we all have fond memories that we share with each other quite often.

ERA Real Estate this month announced the affiliation of RE/MAX North Properties in the greater Chattanooga area. With one office and 20 agents, the firm will now do business as ERA Blue Key Properties. Led by Sheila Shipley and her son Aaron Shipley, ERA Blue Key Properties serves the growing Chattanooga region.

Few things sound better than an evening of live music, especially when the fun will benefit a worthy cause. On Saturday, November 16 at Stratton Hall, Keller Williams presented Band Slam 2013, an evening featuring four celebrated local bands representing a variety of musical genres: The Communicators, The Zack Dylan Band, The Mountain Cove Bluegrass Band, and Scenic all took turns performing to benefit Chambliss Center for Children. Pictured are (L-R): Katie Harbison, vice-president of development and administration at Chambliss; Sumer Arispe, development officer at Chambliss; Jason Carr, KW agent; Amanda Cordell, agent; Mark Hite, agent; Janet Henninger, agent; Robert Moss, agent; Carlyn Voges, agent; and Libby Dixon, agent. (David Laprad)

The undersigned wishes to hire ten or a dozen men, familiar with the management of horses, as hostlers, or riders on the Overland Express Route via Salt Lake City. Wages $50 per month and found.” - Ad in the Sacramento Union, March 19, 1860.

Guest columnist Dennis Brown is sitting in for Craig Miller this week.

Over 14 years ago, I began dating my beautiful wife of ten years, Julie. I knew I was being accepted into the family when I was invited to be part of a trusted family Christmas tradition from her childhood. An annual tradition that started well before Christmas in the hot summer days of July and August. But, I will get back to that in a moment.

Here’s a quick and dirty FAQ for “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” the second movie based on “The Hunger Games” trilogy of science fiction adventure novels. If you’re only browsing and want to move on without reading the whole thing, “Catching Fire” is “The Empire Strikes Back” of this series. Now to the FAQ:

The rocky, windswept and remote South Georgia Island lies more than 1,000 miles east of the tip of South America. Massive storms frequently roll through this region, whipping the Southern Ocean into one of the angriest seas on Earth. 

In spite of the harsh conditions, this place is a remarkable oasis of life – including one amazing colony of King Penguins. Audiences will feel surrounded by these majestic birds as they watch “Penguins 3D,” which hits the giant screen at the Tennessee Aquarium IMAX Theater today.