News - Friday, August 21, 2020

Attorney Mack Lundy was on the phone with a LexisNexis research representative when he heard a concerning noise outside his home. Cracking the window blinds in his office, he saw his 6-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son playing in the street.

After muting the call, Lundy did what many parents would do. “I opened the window and screamed at them to get out of the street,” he says, laughing in hindsight.

Baker Donelson has joined the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance. This recently formed coalition of more than 200 law firms is focused on utilizing private bar resources to assist legal services organizations in furthering their missions to dismantle barriers to opportunity in communities of color.

Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel has added new members to support its services in the areas of dispute resolution, business, commercial lending, estate planning, financial transactions, labor and employment, mergers and acquisitions, and real estate.

By David Laprad

When Joan Rose became serious about playing golf 17 years ago, she went all in. For years, she’d played casually with her husband to keep him company when they were on vacation, but when they moved to The Champion’s Club at Hampton Creek in Ooltewah, she decided it was time to kick things up a notch.

Warm weather can offer many ways to make us smile. Even with COVID-19, most people have been able to safely enjoy some socially distanced activities.

But summertime also brings its own challenges when it comes to managing your property. Here are some tips to help make these last few days of summer as welcoming as you can.

If construction terms like “punch list” and “draw” sound unfamiliar, you’re not alone. Most homeowners are not aware of the different terms remodelers and builders use in working a project.

To help you have a smooth remodeling experience, here’s a glossary of some of the common terms used by builders and remodelers:

RE/MAX Real Estate Center agent Vickie Dycus has received the RE/MAX Hall of Fame Award, which honors agents who have earned more than $1 million in commissions during their careers with the company.

Twenty-two percent of all active RE/MAX agents have earned this award since its inception.

Greater Chattanooga Realtor’s Northwest Georgia Council obtained a $1,500 grant from Georgia Realtors to help with the local impact of COVID-19. The council is providing the money to Habitat for Humanity for Walker and Catoosa counties in Georgia.

No matter how much skill goes into preparing food, the reaction of those who eat it boils down to preference. Case in point: The taco.

You might be a native El Salvadoran who owns a restaurant in Chattanooga and prepares tacos like mother did in the old country. (I’m thinking of you, Conga Latin Food.) But no matter how much love you pour into your homemade tortillas and fresh-grilled steak, someone is going to wish they were eating at Taco Bell instead.

 You won’t see any greeting cards celebrating it, and it’s not likely to be on your calendar, but in just a few weeks, National 401(k) Day will be observed. And this type of recognition might be warranted, too, because 401(k) plans have become key building blocks for a big part of people’s lives – a comfortable retirement. Are you making the most of your 401(k)?

SmartBank has hired Fabiola Ortiz as vice president, regional branch administrator in Chattanooga. Ortiz will join the bank’s branch administration team and oversee SmartBank locations in Chattanooga, Cleveland, Tullahoma and Murfreesboro.

Prior to joining SmartBank, Ortiz worked for the Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union as both a regional operations director and branch manager in Chattanooga.

Plans are underway for Erlanger Health System Foundation’s annual Believe Bash, scheduled for April 17 at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

Proceeds from next year’s gala will benefit Children’s Hospital at Erlanger.

The Curriculum in Motion Institute has selected Jessica Laliberte Bowman, a Chattanooga choreographer and Hamilton County Schools teacher, to join a yearlong professional development program for choreographers at Jacob’s Pillow.

Bowman will be joining 20 other participants from cities across the U.S. and around the world.

Amerigroup and its Foundation are donating $125,000 to nonprofit organizations in Tennessee to support ongoing efforts related to COVID-19.

The funding is part of the Foundation’s $50 million commitment for COVID-19 response and recovery efforts to help areas of greatest need, including Tennessee nonprofit organizations on the front lines of the pandemic, who have mobilized in response to the crises impacting the local community.

Starting Social Security early typically means getting a smaller benefit for the rest of your life. The penalty is steep: Someone who applies this year at age 62 would see their monthly benefit check reduced by nearly 30%.

Many Americans have little choice but to accept the diminished payments. Even before the pandemic, about half of retirees said they quit working earlier than they’d planned, often due to job loss or health issues.

We’re facing record-breaking unemployment, up by 1.8 million for July with a rate of 10.2%, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. These staggering numbers mean many people are looking for new jobs.

If you’re one of them you’re probably wondering where to begin. You might wonder where to find the best job search websites, and the best job search apps.

Many Americans are wary of flying because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Driving is one alternative to minimize your exposure to large crowds and still get an opportunity to see some sights this summer. You can also reduce your social contact on a road trip by driving a vehicle with an exceptionally long range.