News - Friday, August 17, 2018

President Donald Trump draws raucous approval at his rallies when he rails against illegal immigrants with such applause lines as “we’re sending them the hell back!” and “Build the Wall.”

But those sentiments send chills through the commercial real estate industry – contractors, bankers, developers, etc. – especially in areas like Middle Tennessee where the building boom is requiring a massive influx of skilled and unskilled labor.

As an employment attorney, Doug Hamill spends his days instructing others about the law, whether it’s a client he’s representing or a defendant against whom he’s bringing a case.

Hamill’s clients have taught him a few things, as well, during his 14 years of practice with Burnette, Dobson & Pinchak. This has turned a career in which he often changes the lives of others for the better into a job that occasionally changes him.

Mayor Andy Berke and the Chattanooga City Council will introduce on Tuesday a joint resolution confirming Phil Noblett as city attorney and chief legal officer for the city of Chattanooga.

A native of Asheville, North Carolina, Noblett earned his Juris Doctor from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham and has been a licensed attorney in Tennessee since 1982.

If Clint Eastwood were to make to a sequel of “The Outlaw Josey Wales,” state Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver could play Granny Hawkins because of her penchant for blunt language.

On the run from Union troops after refusing to surrender early in the tale, the vengeful Wales runs into Granny Hawkins, who tells him she hears the feds are going to “heel and hide” him to a barn door.

Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Signature Brokers has announced the addition of two agents to its office in Ooltewah.

Cynthia Moore brings her experience serving the men of women of the U.S. military in Hampton Roads, Virginia, to Greater Chattanooga, while Lisa Lewis has more than a decade of real estate experience in Tennessee and North Georgia.

Schools are back in session, which means we’re inching closer to the end of what is typically the busiest time of year in real estate.

However, the market in Greater Chattanooga continues to remain competitive and shows no signs of slowing down. Housing inventories are near decade lows, which directly puts pressure on home prices.

Maintaining a healthy lawn can be a challenge during the hot summer months but ignoring that challenge can quickly diminish a home’s curb appeal and even impact its value.

Potential home buyers might interpret a shabby lawn as a sign of a neglected home. For homes that aren’t for sale, having well-maintained yards will help sustain and strengthen overall home values throughout the neighborhood.

As the summer blockbuster season winds down, we get “The Meg,” a movie in which a giant shark spends two hours punishing human beings for making one stupid decision after another.

I’ve done some dumb things, but I don’t think I’ve ever matched the sheer idiocy of the characters in “The Meg,” who seem determined to place themselves in harm’s way and then look surprised as they scramble for safety.

You’ll always want to base your investment decisions on your own needs and goals. But there may be times when you might consider adjusting your portfolio because of risks and opportunities. Now may be one of those times.      

Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond and County Trustee Bill Hullander have declared war on several scams that are being conducted in Hamilton County.

For years, scammers have been using various phone scams to attempt to solicit personal funds from county residents.

With the new school year underway, many Chattanooga streets are becoming more congested with cars, bicycles and pedestrians. The Chattanooga Police Department is reminding drivers, bikers and walkers to exercise caution, especially during student drop-off and pick-up times.

Volkswagen Academy has relaunched its apprenticeship program with the most comprehensive update since the program’s inception in 2010.

The new program curriculum will address changes in technology and potential new products at the factory.

Ten local Latinos will be honored on Monday, Sept. 17, for their ongoing contributions and impact. The seventh annual Latino Leadership Awards Luncheon hosted by La Paz Chattanooga will be held at the Downtown Chattanooga Convention Center.

The following Latino leaders will be recognized:

Alan King, Brittany Carman and Ryan Hood, all CPAs, are now partners at public accounting firm J.D. Frost & Company.

King has more than 15 years of experience in both public accounting and industry. His practice focuses on construction, manufacturing and distribution, and technology industries as well as startup companies.

Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Chattanooga Area is hosting a series of DIY construction workshops that will continue through Thursday, Sept. 13. The clinics are being held at Habitat for Humanity’s Ooltewah ReStore, located at 9408 Apison Pike, from 5-6 p.m. on the following days: