News - Friday, August 20, 2021

Don’t blink! You might miss the grand opening of another Dollar General store. OK, that’s an exaggeration. But not by much.

In the 14 years since an investment group purchased the family owned business and took it public again two years later, the Goodlettsville-based chain has added nearly 10,000 stores to boast more retail locations than any other company in the United States – quickly closing on 18,000 stores in 46 states.

When Charles Atchley, Jr., arrived at the office of Lamar Alexander last year to discuss his bid to become a U.S. district judge, the now retired U.S. senator offered good news.

“He said, ‘We’re going to recommend you to the White House,’” Atchley recalls. “I thought, ‘This is fantastic!’”

After Cyril Berdugo’s grandparents emigrated from Morocco to France, his father grew up in low-income housing and relied on government subsidies to maintain a roof over his head.

Through his family’s story, Berdugo says he developed a desire to help people achieve the American dream of homeownership.

Dale Akins, president of Knox County-based building consultant The Market Edge, is known for dropping gold nuggets during his presentations to the members of the Home Builders Association of Greater Chattanooga. It’s one of the reasons the meetings he headlines draw a large gathering.

Summer is starting to wind down, and schools are beginning in their different capacities, but don’t think the housing market is slowing down. On the contrary, while the national economy is still recovering from COVID-19, the housing market remains as fast as ever.

It’s back-to-school time in Tennessee and the surrounding areas!

Heading back to the classrooms can be stressful, from shopping for school supplies and packing lunches for picky eaters to setting a morning routine to get them out the door on time.

The former owner of The Blue Plate and ROBAR is assembling his dream team for a new Main Street gathering spot.

Under construction at the corner of Main and Cowart Streets, Hello Monty is a 6,200-square-foot space that will include a community bar, an open dining area and a 1,300-square-foot outdoor dining porch and yard that will run along Cowart Street. The restaurant is slated to open mid-October. Its on-site brewing operation will open later this year.

The Tennessee Housing Development Agency this month awarded $414,000 to The McNabb Center to provide homeless outreach services to individuals in the greater Chattanooga area.

The funding comes from the THDA via an Emergency Solutions Grant and was arranged in collaboration with the Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition.

Following a national application and audition process, Chattanooga Ballet has welcomed five new dancers to the company for the 2021-22 season:

Andrea Chickness, a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Alessandra Ferrari-Wong, a New Jersey native who most recently danced with the New York Dance Project.

By Sara Rathner

Investing in cryptocurrency can be as easy as a few taps on your phone, and with crypto all over the news and coming up in conversations with friends, it’s tempting to dive right in. However, depending on your financial situation and appetite for investing risk, crypto might not be an appropriate investment for you right now – or ever.

Although SUVs dominate automotive sales, midsize sedans are still a practical choice given their roomy seating, respectable fuel economy and value. They’re also better able to provide sporty performance than a comparably priced SUV.

A handful of automakers have recently come out with new performance-tuned sedans that have upgraded engines and more responsive handling to make driving fun. Edmunds’ experts have selected their five favorite models for less than $35,000. The vehicles are sorted by manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination and handling fees.

Another sign went up nearby yesterday: “Now Hiring!”

That’s great, because you’re looking for a job. You want to work where you’re appreciated and want to be paid accordingly. Something interesting would be great, maybe a job with a title. But how do you find that kind of position in today’s job market? In “Next Job, Best Job” by Rob Barnett, you’ll learn how to search.