News - Friday, April 30, 2021

As the pandemic rocked many Chattanooga businesses, one local venture expanded from the owner’s home to a 6,000-square-foot warehouse in a year.

Founded by mother-of-three Melanie Phillips, Kids Art Box helps teach children ages 3 to 12 how to create art.

Criminal Court Judge Barry Steelman says he’s experienced many memorable moments since the beginning of the pandemic. Some were challenging, others were enlightening and still others were inspiring.

And at least one was weird, he adds.

Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly has selected attorney and community leader Emily O’Donnell to serve as city attorney. If approved by Chattanooga City Council, she would be the first woman to occupy the city’s top legal office.

“Emily is an outstanding attorney and a committed advocate for families. Throughout her career, she has been a champion for women and vulnerable communities, most recently launching an eviction prevention initiative that kept dozens of families in their homes,” Kelly says.

Realtor Diane Joyner says it’s important for agents in this housing market to stay ahead of the competition and then move quickly when opportunities arise.

With buyers snapping up new listings in the blink of an eye, Joyner says she’s working hard to be on top of the market.

Last week, we viewed from a homebuyer’s perspective the potential risks of making sight-unseen offers. For understandable reasons, this practice is becoming more and more common.

Realtors haven’t seen this level of competition in a very long time – if ever. Buyers are looking for any way to get an advantage over someone else’s offer, and making a sight-unseen offer seems practical to many folks.

Does it seem this spring there are record numbers of apartments, condominiums and houses under construction in the Tennessee Valley?

That’s because there are. Housing production rebounded across the country and the South in March as buyer demand remains solid due to low mortgage interest rates.

What’s the biggest financial mistake you can make? Choosing the wrong investments? Waiting too long to save for retirement? Underestimating the costs of retirement? All these are reasonable answers, but the biggest mistake you might make is not looking at your financial picture holistically – that is, not bringing into the picture all the elements of yourself.

Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly’s senior leadership team draws together a diverse group of experienced leaders from the private, public and nonprofit sectors who will execute Kelly’s vision for the city, his office says.

Kelly has begun working with his transition team to assemble “an experienced, capable and diverse city staff that reflects the community it serves.”

Hamilton County Schools has made several personnel changes ahead of the 2021-2022 school year.

Crystal Sorrells is now principal of Brainerd High School. She previously served as principal of East Ridge High School and is Hamilton County Schools’ 2021 Principal of the Year.

Tax season will be coming to a close later than usual this year due to the May 17 extended deadline. Until that time, you might hear advertisements from car dealerships urging you to bring in your refund or pandemic stimulus check to buy a new car. Given that the average tax refund issued in 2020 was $2,741, the IRS reports, it is a solid amount that people often use to make major purchases.