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March 31, 2006

George Jones Show Postponed

Saturday night's George Jones show at the Memorial Auditorium has been postponed. Jones has pneumonia. A new date has yet to be set.

Posted by colrus at 09:03 AM | TrackBack

March 30, 2006

Healy Wants His Job Back

Yes, really.

Former Parks and Recreation Director Rob Healy today sent a letter to the City Council requesting an appeals hearing. The letter reads:

Please have this letter serve as notice of my desire to appeal my termination as the administrator of parks and recreation for the city of Chattanooga.

Please provide to me, as soon as possible, the details regarding the time and date of a hearing.

How will Ron Littlefield feel about this? Let's consider his remarks when asked by The Pulse whether he would ever work with Healy again: "I’m a little bit afraid of Mr. Healy, to tell you the truth,” Littlefield says. “He’s kind of like a load of nitroglycerin. He’s exploded on me once, and I’m not eager to have him too close."

It seems fair to say this might be an uphill battle.

Posted by mesh at 03:42 PM | TrackBack

Give at Your Own Peril?

David Morton's thoughts on the upcoming WUTC pledge drive.

Posted by colrus at 03:20 PM | TrackBack

Craigslist: Now with Even More Owl Pellets!

When Craigslist first set up shop in Chattanooga last month, some were skeptical that the online classifieds page would fit a more rural market. "In cities with a highly computer-literate population – like San Francisco, New York, Chicago – there’s been a tremendous impact on classified revenue," said Molly Zanone, the director of new media for Contemporary Media Inc. "But in cities like Little Rock, or Memphis, daily papers and weeklies have seen no impact."

Well think again, lady. A recent glance at Chattanooga's Craiglist page shows exactly how well the locals have adapted to their brave new world. Consider this posting for a job available in "Rural Tennessee":

We are looking for a responsible individual willing to collect and sell Barn Owl pellets. Barn Owls cough or gag up pellets which contain the remains of prey they have ingested ( mice, moles. rats, voles etc.). We use barn owl pellets in science dissection labs in grades 1-12. By looking at the bones that are found in the pellet students can be lead into discussions about birds of prey, the cycle of nature, skeletal structures and anatomy etc. We will pay 35 cents per pellet. It is not unusual to find over 200 pellets in one day where owls are hunting, nesting and roosting. Barn Owls kill and eat over 3,000 rodents a year.

Let's see... 35 cents per pellet... 200 pellets a day... That's $70 dollars for a day of rifling through the underbrush in search of bird vomit. You won't find a job like that in New York City!

Posted by mesh at 03:17 PM | TrackBack

Bart Whiteman Links

There are some more folks discussing last week's passing of local arts booster and writer Bart Whiteman.

Here's his obit in the Washington Post.

There's a thread discussing his passing at the Theatreboy blog.

He's also being discussed at the brand spankin' new Washington City Paper editor's blog:

Today, there are 56 professional theater companies eligible for the Helen Hayes Awards (and plenty of smaller operations that aren’t quite big enough to be included in that count). The HH-eligible troupes produced 7,169 performances last year and sold 1.9 million tickets to them.

And if you read what D.C. theaterfolk are saying about Bart Whiteman, that richness, that diversity, that sheer number of people making theater had a lot to do with his role as evangelist and cattle prod and crazy-ass visionary.

There is also a feature story on Whiteman in this week's print edition of the WCP.

Posted by colrus at 09:29 AM | TrackBack

March 29, 2006

Renewed Renewal

Mayor Ron Littlefield joined a slew of local officials in announcing that the city has petitioned the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to double the neighborhoods eligible for Renewal Community tax breaks.

"We'll be able to use the full measure of our tax credits," Littlefield said at a press conference at the Saddlery Building this morning. "This is a very important program. I will not attempt to explain it to you."

We will: Chattanooga currently receives $12 million in Federal tax incentives for private construction and restoration projects for "distressed communities" including Alton Park and the Southside. Littlefield's request to HUD would expand the Renewal Community boundaries to include an area stretching from Cameron Hill north to Manufacturers Road and east to the Avondale and Oak Grove neighborhoods (see chart below). If approved, the expansion would make more than 15,000 residents eligible for tax breaks for constructing new businesses or restoring aging buildings.

"Bottom line: it creates new jobs, it creates new wealth, as a result of restoring old buildings or building new ones," said Enterprise Center CEO Joe Ferguson.

Since the city began its Renewal Comunities project in 2002, the mayor's office says 34 building projects in poor neighborhoods have received Federal tax breaks. (The Saddlery Building is one such project. Natch.) Chattanooga is one of two cities in Tennessee to receive HUD breaks: we split $24 million with Memphis.

"Chattanooga was in there when others were sleeping," Littlefield said. "I told [Memphis] we don't plan on giving anything up anytime soon."

Posted by mesh at 12:10 PM | TrackBack

Theatre Centre Parking to Cost Monye

Not sure how to enjoy these first warm days of spring? We suggest that you drive your car across the river, park in the Theatre Centre lot, and stand there crying, saying goodbye. That's right: the Theatre Centre parking lot will begin charging fees as soon as the city begins installing North Shore parking meters. Is this news like finding out that your girlfriend has left you to become a prostitute? Yes. Yes it is.

It's not you, it's them: "I'm afraid we cannot be the free parking option in a paid district," Theatre Centre Executive Director Jeffrey Brown told the North Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce this morning. "I wish we could."

Brown said that rates for the 200-space lot have not yet been set.

Posted by mesh at 11:29 AM | TrackBack

March 28, 2006

Direct from The National Pulse: "The Fred and Curtis Show" Podcast Premiere

Click here to hear the premiere broadcast!

Posted by pulseblogger at 04:17 PM | TrackBack

March 27, 2006

How Do Appeals Appeal to You?

City Council members Duke Franklin and Jack Benson, along with Mayor Ron Littlefield and Federal Judge Bernie O'Brien, told the newly organized City Personnel Task Force last week that they support shifting employee personnel appeals away from the council. According to Chattanoogan.com, Benson said he stopped volunteering to sit on the three-member appeal panels after he voted to uphold an employee and a supervisor told him he had "undermined my authority" by his vote.

But some task force members said that a shift awafy from the council might not be the best move. Former Chattanooga Fire Chief Jim Coppinger said he is concerned that an appointed civil search board might wind up being as political as the council, adding that very few decisions by the council have wound up in court and that the hearings have been handled fairly thusfar.

The City Personnel Task Force -- which is headed by interim City Councilman Wallace Chambers and which met for the very first time just last week -- was created last fall in response to the dismissal of two longtime city recreation supervisors accused of misusing city funds. One, David Crutcher, has subsequently been charged with theft. The panel wants to learn about civil service boards in other cities and how their members are appointed. It plans to meet for about six weeks before making recommendations to the mayor. Among the issues being discussed by the panel is the possibility of granting tenure to city employees.

Let's hope this doesn't include the ones who are stealing from it.

Posted by pulseblogger at 12:54 PM | TrackBack

911 Fiddles While City Burns

When Stacey Hunter’s kitchen caught fire on March 20, she called 911. But no one answered. It was break time.

“You've got four people supposed to be dispatching and three people on break,” Hunter told the Associated Press’ Bill Poovey. “I can't still digest that.”

Hunter’s Missionary Ridge house didn’t burn down – her family members ran half a mile to the fire station – but Chattanooga’s 911 center is feeling the heat after Poovey examined records and found that 27,000 – read that number again – emergency calls went unanswered last year. By Friday, the story of our city’s 911 incompetence had reached the Boston Globe and Britain’s Guardian, while Hamilton County Sheriff and call center chainman John Cupp appeared on CNN, trying to explain the gaffes.

Chattanooga Police spokesman Tetzell Tillery said that the 27,000 figure was deceiving and that many of those calls were hang-ups or pranks. Which leads to a question: if you don’t answer the phone, how do you know it’s a prank? It could be Ashton Kutcher and his punk’ng pals. Or it could be your grandmother. Dying. You sort of have to pick up to know.

Cupp told the AP that Chattanooga’s call center suffers from understaffing, with only 68 of the needed 78 positions filled. “There is a shortage of personnel, and a lot of times when there is a shortage of personnel, you have problems organizing things.” But Mayor Ron Littlefield wasn’t buying that, arguing for the center to better manage its dispatchers. (Again, three of four operators on break? We’re with Ron.) Littlefield appeared on WGOW with Jeff Styles on Monday morning, saying that he had discussed the situation with County Mayor Claude Ramsey on a weekend trip. “We’re going to fix it,” he said.

Posted by mesh at 12:29 PM | TrackBack

Sno-Cones, Socks and Wicker Chairs

Last week, the Chattanooga City Council passed an ordinance -- because that's what they love to do -- banning street vendors from our newly awesomitized waterfront. Councilwoman Sally Robinson said without the legislation "we could wind up with people selling sno-cones out of the back of a truck." (Has she not seen the folks that are already doing just that at the foot of the Walnut Street Bridge?)

In passing the ordinance, some council members offered the opinion that the ordinance should be extended to cover other instances of unsightly, rogue commerce in the area.

Councilwoman Marti Rutherford said, "Brainerd Road looks so trashy in the spring with people selling socks, teddy bears and hot dogs."

Councilman Jack Benson cited "vendors on Shallowford Road selling furniture, rocking chairs and everything," adding that he "would really like to do something about all those wicker chairs."

Phil Noblett of the city attorney's office said an ordinance already exists that bans such licenseless vending. Councilman Leamon Pierce said it is not enforced.

Posted by pulseblogger at 10:32 AM | TrackBack

B-Back to the Blogs, Y'all

So yes, things have been quiet here at The PulseBlog. An intense group writing project for this week's print edition has diverted much of our available blogging time over the last few days.

But have no fear, oh seven readers of The PulseBlog! As of today, we are back online with hard-hitting hyperlinks and punchy analysis of the news of the day.

We've just gotta go get some coffee first. Bear with us.

Posted by pulseblogger at 09:46 AM | TrackBack

March 22, 2006

The Bomber: Why did Rob Healy pick a fight with the mayor?

(Click pic to read article.)

Posted by colrus at 10:13 AM | TrackBack

Ok, So Are We Supposed to Be MORE Political Or LESS Political? I'm confused

Just days after Rob Healy said he received flack from the mayor for not being political enough, Governor Bredesen pledged to "end decades of politics" within the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Thoughts?

Posted by colrus at 09:37 AM | TrackBack

What's the 411 with 911?

According to a TFP investigation, upwards of 27,000 calls to 911 went unanswered during one ten-month period in 2005.

The reason? Staffing.

Posted by colrus at 09:25 AM | TrackBack

March 17, 2006

Don't Squeeze the Leamon

Evildoers of Park City, let us offer a word of advice. City Councilman Leamon Pearce once allegedly charged into a police car to get at a handcuffed man who spit on him. He didn’t take any of that guy’s crap. Do you think he’s going to take any of yours?

Hell, no. Pierce is back in the news today after he took a picture of a group of men in his neighborhood and was yelled at by one of them. So Pierce called the police on him. The man, Maurice Terry, had an outstanding assault warrant. So off he went for another picture.

Pierce, who has pledged to clean up the Park City community near Clifton Hills, told Chattanoogan.com that he would continue the good fight. “I'm going to keep on. They are not going to stop me.”

Posted by mesh at 06:34 PM | TrackBack

March 16, 2006

Fort Ogletwirp

From an incident Joe already referenced this evening:

There is a little town called Fort Oglethorpe where, if you are mayor and your wife is caught speeding, the city manager will help you out by demoting the sheriff for doing his job.

Posted by colrus at 11:19 PM | TrackBack

School Board Tips to Scales

The Board of Education has chosen Dr. Jim Scales, a deputy superintendent in the Dallas, Texas school system, as the next school superintendent of Hamilton County.

Poor, poor Dr. Jim Scales.

"He really impressed me as a leader – a good fit for our community – a motivator, a collaborator," said School Board Chairman Chip Baker before a straw poll Thursday found seven of nine members selected Scales. The decision (the "identification of a preferred candidate," in the Board's wording) is subject to contract negotiations, background checks and a site visit to Dallas. The Board hopes offer a contract to Scales by its April 20 meeting.

Board member Joe Conner was chosen to lead the contract talks. He promised to be "frugal but fair. ... This is not a Boston market, it is not a Dallas market, it is not a New York market." He said former superintendent Dr. Jesse Register's contract, $150,000, would serve as a baseline.

Register himself was pleased with the choice. “I think Dr. Scales has a great background, both in large systems and smaller ones,” he said as he walked from Tyner Academy auditorium. “I think he’s an excellent choice and I hope the Board can work through the process.”

Rhonda Thurman was less cheered. She was the only Board member to vote against the official motion to pursue Scales, and after the vote said the search should have focused on local candidates. “I think that we have a lot of qualified people right here in Hamilton County,” she said after the vote. “We’re always saying our kids are leaving town, and then we give the highest-paying jobs to people from out of town. I wanted a local candidate right from the beginning.”

Continue reading "School Board Tips to Scales"

Posted by mesh at 05:21 PM | TrackBack

Fill Out Your Superintendent Bracket

You have four hours to make your pick in The Pulse's First Ever Hamilton County School Superintendent Pool. This is a good sight easier than picking the NCAAs. Our bracket looks like this:

(1) Dr. Jim Scales

(2) Dr. Bruce Harter

So who's it going to be? The Delaware guy (Harter) or the Texas dude (Scales)? Since we're only offering you one game, here's a teaser: how many County Commissioners will attend today's selection meeting? The over/under is set at 6 1/2.

The winner of our pool receives a copy of the 2003-2004 Business Expansion Report from the Chamber of Commerce (virtually new!). Maybe there'll be something else. But incentives aren't really a local specialty.

Posted by mesh at 11:05 AM | TrackBack

Healy's Moral Conflict Made Him Quit/Got Him Fired

From Chattanoogan.com:

Rob Healy on Thursday morning said he got in trouble at city parks and recreation when he made decisions he felt were morally right.

Mr. Healy, who said he was fired as of Wednesday midnight, said he sought to take action against two supervisors he said an audit showed were mishandling city funds.

But he said Mayor Ron Littlefield asked him to keep the two supervisors in the department. He said, "I told the mayor I was not going to do that."

In an interview with Jeff Styles on Talk Radio, Mr. Healy said one of the supervisors was given a $2,000 per month consulting contract while the other was moved to Memorial Auditorium at a salary higher than the new manager of the Auditorium/Tivoli.

Criminal charges have been filed against one of the two supervisors.

Developing...

Posted by colrus at 10:23 AM | TrackBack

Bo Bice Coming to Club Fathom

2005 American Idol runner-up Bo Bice will be appearing at Club Fathom on Friday, March 24. Doors open at 7 p.m. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are (only) $10. 98 presale tickets will be sold at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 18.

Posted by colrus at 10:05 AM | TrackBack

March 15, 2006

More from Littlefield on Healy

Vague accusations of impropriety lobbed in Mr. Healy's direction:

Mayor Littlefield said he checked the list of those hired by Mr. Healy, "and there was not a single person there other than ones hired by Mr. Healy."

The mayor said his administration had been aggressively seeking out fraud within city government, and he said some of those being investigated were among his supporters in the last election.

From Chattanoogan.com.

Posted by colrus at 02:42 PM | TrackBack

Free Caffeine

Starbucks is offering complimentary coffee until noon in an effort to counter McDonald's new line of gourmet coffees.

The promotion may be a nationwide blitz, but it wasn't exactly being heralded at the company's Broad Street location. There were no signs outside the shop or at the counter, and the line at 11:25 consisted of... me. I asked the barista if they were still offering free cups; he nodded and poured me a cup of the house blend. And that was it. I felt somehow let down: if I'm going to take part in a corporate gimmick, I would at least like to be congratulated for my savvy with some balloons. Still, the coffee was hot, and they had plenty of cream. This strikes me as a success.

Posted by mesh at 11:39 AM | TrackBack

Healy: Suicide Bomber?

Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield said this morning on WGOW's "Morning Press" that Outdoor Chattanooga will go forward and that he’d intended for it to go forward with Rob Healy at the helm.

Commenting on Healy's reaction to the proposed promotion -- back to the position he was already promoted from -- Littlefield said, “I’m very surprised by this sort of suicide bomber way of going about things.”

Yep, he said "suicide bomber."

An excerpt from the conversation:

Littlefield: "I don't mean this as a criticism. I really like Rob Healy. I think he's a great guy. I think he had become a lightning rod, which was not necessarily of his making. I've been a lightning rod myself, many of you can remember situations where you get yourself into a situation where people are making you the issue rather than the real issue which was providing the best parks and recreation department that the city deserves. But, Rob is one of those individuals who sort of quits on a daily basis, so the fact that he was showing a little dissatisfaction with this change I didn't take all that seriously.

Styles: "Is this fixable?"

Littlefield: "Well, sure. Everything's fixable and, in any effect, the programs Outdoor Chattanooga will go forward and the parks and recreation department will go forward and there is really no break in the progression of things. The only break is I was really surprised by this public stance last night, which caught me completely off guard."

Reynolds: "You were blindside by this?"

Littlefield: "Absolutely."

West: "What's Rob's status this morning, or the quote-unquote 'suicide bomber''s status this morning?"

Littlefield: (Laughs) "Well, I don't know. I was called, of course, last night by several reporters who said, 'Have you fired him?' I said, 'Listen, if he's fired, that's been the most generous firing I've ever heard of. I'll sit down and talk with him and see what he wants to do, but I'd say that he's sort of burned his bridge at this point. It kind of destroys credibility and I'm a little concerned about how he might behave in future situations."

Posted by colrus at 10:40 AM | TrackBack

Bart Whiteman, 1948-2006

Bart Whiteman, an arts reviewer and political columnist for local publications including Chattanoogan.com, the Chattanooga Outlook and the Enigma, died of a heart attack last night.

Whiteman, a Yale graduate and Lookout Mountain resident, specialized in strongly-worded attacks on the Bush administration and careful analysis of local theatrical productions.

When not writing, he worked as a mortgage specialist, and his final column addressed the virtues of FHA mortgages. It concluded:

I could have gotten the house for SP for nothing out of pocket, even getting his earnest money deposit back. His first year savings could have been over $2000. That’s money he could have spent furnishing his new home.

I guess he likes the spare look.

I also guess he didn’t want to save money. His gratification was in spending more money to get the same thing and not having to “mingle with the poor people.” Maybe he didn’t want someone else to know he had used an FHA mortgage. Maybe I shouldn’t have tried so hard with him. Smart people use FHA when they can. Not so smart ones or people who have listened to the wrong advice don’t.

Happy mortgage shopping!

Posted by mesh at 10:05 AM | TrackBack

March 14, 2006

Healy to Littlefield: "No"

From Chattanoogan.com:

Former city deputy parks administrator Larry Zehnder is replacing Rob Healy as director of city parks and recreation, Mayor Ron Littlefield said.

Mr. Healy had been offered his former position as director of Outdoor Chattanooga, but appeared before the City Council on tonight and declined the outdoors post. Healy was named head of parks and rec on May 24 of last year.

Healy read this statement at tonight's City Council meeting:

"I am assuming by the resolution presented by Mayor Littlefield to execute a contract with Barge, Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon, Inc., to perform professional management services for the Department of Parks and Recreation that I have been fired from my position as the administrator.

"Over the last nine months I have been told many times to be more political. I have come to realize that this means that I must compromise my values and ethics so as to appease separate interest groups.

"I have been encouraged to look the other way when people are misusing city funds. I have been pressured to hire people that are not the best candidates for the job. Continually I have been told one thing in private and, when there is public opposition, these private commitments are not honored or voiced.

"I was hired by Mayor Littlefield to be the administrator of Parks and Recreation. It is an organization that is broken. I have started to organize a department of people that are committed to restoring it just as I am. I believe you hire great people and then you give them guidance and encouragement and try and provide them the tools they need to be successful.

"I am actively working to restore accountability, credibility and a solid work ethic in this department. I certainly disagree with the proposal to outsource the management of this department, which is one of the largest in the city, and I hope that I can finish the job I started. While my tenure may be considered controversial, I feel we have made a lot of progress and I am convinced that we are on track to meet the needs of the mayor, Council and the community. I am not afraid of the challenge to continue this important work for our community.

"I believe that decisions should be made based on what is right or wrong. You make them based on what is morally right and what is in the best interest of the citizens - not based on what is politically right, not based on what is most convenient, not on black or white, rich or poor, male or female, friend or foe, political contributor or an opponent's ally. I have worked hard to base my decisions on what is best for the great city of Chattanooga - and do what is right 100 percent of the time, not 50 percent or 60 percent.

"I really appreciate the great people I have met and worked with over the last 18 months - new friends - and people that share the same visiion of making this a better city for our children and all our citizens."

Posted by pulseblogger at 10:53 PM | TrackBack

Meet the Finalists

The public is invited to the Chattanoogan today and tomorrow at 4 p.m. to meet the finalists for Hamilton County Schools Superintendent. Dr. Jim Scales is in town today. Dr. Bruce Harter will be here tomorrow.

(Here is this week's full schedule of related events.)

The Hamilton County School Board is scheduled to make their decision this Thursday at 3 p.m. at Tyner Academy.

Posted by colrus at 03:48 PM | TrackBack

Fowler Will Not Seek Fourth Term

From a press release:

State Senator David Fowler (R-Signal Mountain) announced today that he will not seek a fourth term in the State Senate and will officially withdraw his name from the ballot next month.

“After much struggle and prayer over the last year about whether to offer myself for another term, it has become clear to me over the last few weeks that it is time for me to conclude my service in the General Assembly. When I first ran, I had said that two or three terms should be long enough, and it is,” stated Senator Fowler.

Senator Fowler has served in the General Assembly for 12 years, having won his first term in 1994. Senator Fowler was re-elected without opposition in 1998 and again in 2002.

Thoughts?

Posted by colrus at 10:01 AM | TrackBack

It's OK to Smile on Stage

Rickie Lee Jones’ somewhat disappointing recent visit to the Tivoli last month was still fresh on the minds of at least a few of us in the crowd at Friday night’s Big Head Todd and The Monsters show. In short, Ms. Jones just didn’t seem to want to be there that night. Luckily, this was not the case Friday night, as it was quickly evident that the “Big Head” in Big Head Todd is simply an anatomical reference and nothing more.

Continue reading "It's OK to Smile on Stage"

Posted by colrus at 09:53 AM | TrackBack

We've Lost Our Kia

The announcement Chattanooga has long awaited took place Sunday night. In West Point, Georgia.

South Korean automaker Kia announced that it will open a 1.2 billion plant in the town near the Alabama border, bringing nearly 5,500 jobs to people who we are in no way jealous of. We didn’t want that plant, anyway.

Well, yes we did: “We are disappointed but optimistic because of TVA’s projection that another four or five assembly plants will locate in the Southeast over the next five years or so,” Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce Vice President J.Ed Marston told the Times Free Press Sunday. “Manufacturing is the key for Enterprise South, and we believe we will be successful.”

Never let it be said that faith doesn’t mix with government.

Posted by pulseblogger at 09:49 AM | TrackBack

March 11, 2006

Tom Fox Is Dead

Tom Fox, a former Chattanoogan who was kidnapped in Iraq last year, has been killed.

Posted by colrus at 12:25 AM | TrackBack

March 10, 2006

Go West, Young Bob

The Memphis Flyer reports on Corker's kickoff stop in Memphis, and adds an interesting poll detail:

A new Rasmussen Reports poll released Monday showed all three Republican candidates leading Democrat Harold Ford Jr. in sample matchups. Bryant's edge was 45 to 36 percent, Hilleary's was 43 to 35, and Corker's was 39 to 35.

The article goes on to make the usual mention of Corker's $3.8 million war chest, but adds an oft-ignored fact: Ford's haul is more than $5 million. So there's plenty of cash for everybody to throw around. Except Van.

Posted by mesh at 06:29 PM | TrackBack

And Then There Were Two... (Unless It All Fizzles Out and They Have to Start All Over Again. Then, There'll Be Who Knows How Many...)

Liberty County, Georgia schools superintendant Dr. Steve Wilmoth, one of the three finalists for the Hamilton County Schools superintendant position, has dropped out.

"I wasn’t really comfortable with all the negative publicity and the lack of support from a small group of people," Wilmoth told the TFP. "I didn’t feel like some of the comments about the process were appropriate. You can’t go into a position like this without support."

"He must have been a fairly weak guy to start with," said Commissioner Curtis Adams in his ever-supportive style.

Further down in the piece...

Commissioner Charlotte Vandergriff said she is worried the "contentious, political" atmosphere will scare off all three finalists and cause them to withdraw.

"It makes me wonder why anyone would want to come here," she said.

It makes us wonder, too, Charlotte...

"It does nothing to create unity, which is what we said we’re looking for."

Yes, unity would be nice. But when it comes to schools -- and more importantly superintendants for schools -- unity has never seemed to be a priority. Why should we believe that this time will be any different?

Posted by colrus at 10:46 AM | TrackBack

March 09, 2006

It's Always Fun to Be Recognized...

Whenever we print the words "Bob Corker", both our site and our blog get hammered with hits. Sometimes it takes a while for all of the comments and links to find their way back to us.

The following was posted on January 16. From Jeff Ward's archives at the TeamGop Blog:

"I am still shocked that the Chattanooga Pulse put the picture of Sponge Bob on their cover late last year and I remember being congratulated by several reporters across the state as drawing first blood. Of course that was a long time ago and it is a long time till election day so our efforts must continue. (I have the cover framed on the wall of my study and I look at it every time TeamGOP gets an email telling us how insignificant we are and how we have no effect) Now some in the press openly expess doubt about Corker's proclaimed transformation to a Reagan Republican and see him more as a nice guy with money doing and saying what he thinks he has to in order to win."

Posted by colrus at 02:40 PM | TrackBack

Henry Defends Finalists

The words "this is getting way too complicated" spring to mind...

From Chattanoogan.com:

County Commission Chairman Larry Henry on Thursday defended the three out-of-state finalists for Hamilton County school superintendent.

"I can tell you this without reservation - we have three good candidates," he told fellow members of the commission.

Commissioner Charlotte Vandergriff said commissioners should stay out of the selection process.

"I certainly hope that the current personal, contentious political climate regarding the school superintendent selection does not cause all candidates to withdraw. It begs the question of why one would want to be here. t does nothing to create unity, which is what we say we are seeking. We need to let those charged with this responsibility to do their job independently as we did ours this morning (in filling the commission seat vacated by William Cotton)."

Posted by colrus at 02:10 PM | TrackBack

It's Unanimous: Mackey Appointed to County Commission

Dr. Warren Mackey has been unanimously appointed to the Hamilton County Commission.

"I want to thank you for making this decision so easy," said County Commissioner Fred Skillern. "With the life you've lived and the character you have, this is the easiest decision I've ever had to make."

Mackey replaces William Cotton, who resigned his post following his federal bribery conviction, and who will face Brian Caldwell in the upcoming election for the District 4 seat.

Thoughts?

Posted by colrus at 10:07 AM | TrackBack

March 08, 2006

They Really Want Rick Smith

Really, REALLY want him...

From Chattanoogan.com:

County Commissioner Bill Hullander said Wednesday that only a local county school superintendent "will be able to unite the community."

Commissioner Hullander said,"I hope the County School Board will reconsider appointing someone from out of state. From those I have talked to in the community, it is pretty much 100 percent who favor someone local."

He said he would like to see Deputy Supt. Rick Smith reconsider his decision to drop out of the running.

Posted by colrus at 02:24 PM | TrackBack

March 07, 2006

Don't the Words "Hamilton County" and "School Board" Just Exhaust You Sometimes?

Let's recap today's events:

Hamilton County Board of Education member Debbie Colburn was quoted in the today's TFP as saying that Rick Smith -- Curtis Adams' choice for superintendant -- was still a possibility for the position: "It's an option."

She went on to say that, "As an elected board, we can choose to do whatever feel is in the best interest of the district."

Board member Rhonda Thurman was also quoted and could be heard later on WGOW's "F.R.E.D. The Show" with Jeff Styles saying similar things.

But then...

After Larry Henry was informed that the superintendent screening committee may have violated the state Sunshine Law by using secret ballots, Smith withdrew his name as a candidate.

Developing...

Posted by colrus at 04:44 PM | TrackBack

March 06, 2006

Choosy Chattanoogans Choose Choice

So, I go to dinner and now Joe and John are also commenting on Curtis.

The Internet is beautiful.

Posted by colrus at 09:06 PM | TrackBack

Choosy Commissioners Choose Smith

Despite the fact that an advisory panel recommended three other candidates for consideration for the Hamilton County School Board superintendant position, County Commissioner Curtis Adams says the school board should still hire Rick Smith.

"Rick Smith is the right man at the right time to lead our system and he is the right man to get the entire community behind the Hamilton County Schools," Adams told Chattanoogan.com. "We didn’t go out of town to get Chattanooga city mayors Robert Kirk Walker, Pat Rose, Gene Roberts, John Kinsey, Bob Corker and Ron Littlefield," Adams told Chattanoogan.com. "We didn’t go out of town to get Dalton Roberts and Claude Ramsey. Look at the record of Chattanooga mayors and look at the leadership abilities Dalton and Claude have brought to this position. We don’t go out of town to get our sheriff or judges."

He continues...

"When Tom Kinser retired from Blue Cross, they promoted a very capable Vickie Gregg. When Harold Chandler resigned at UnumProvident, they had Tom Watjen in the wing ready to be promoted. The last time superintendents were brought in from out of town, Harry Reynolds and Jesse Register, they had the academic credentials but neither could bring the community together. Rick Smith can and the elected officials, business leaders, and the public will make sure he is successful. The Courthouse and the Hamilton County Schools will be on the same team and the public will be behind us."

Let it be said that Curtis Adams is nothing if not a maverick.

Posted by colrus at 06:10 PM | TrackBack

March 05, 2006

I Just Knew That Talking About Adoption Didn't Make Us That Thirsty

In case you missed it, Rock and Country Club owner Bobby Massey and one of his employees, Tony Grimes, were busted last week for allegedly stealing water from AAA Women's Services, located next door to the club. Through an undercover investigation, the Chattanooga Police Street Crimes Unit discovered that Massey and Grimes had illegally hooked into the water line of the crisis pregnancy center. According to police, the club's water was shut off back in October after Massey refused to pay what he considered to be an unusually high bill. Officials from AAA Women's Services said that their water usage had risen from to 30,000 gallons per month from the normal 3,700 gallons per month, prompting the investigation.

In related news, amazing and awesome local progressive rock band Glass Hammer is tentatively scheduled to play a benefit show for AAA Women's Services sometime this year. In case you aren't familiar with Glass Hammer, they are awesome. Seriously. And amazing. Did we mention awesome? And they have great T-shirts. (Even though the first time we somewhat regrettably commented about two guys wearing their T-shirts, we didn't really know that they were their T-shirts. Our comments caused a bit of a stir. And so we published the stir. The big irony in all of this? Our editor once owned not one, but two Yes Relayer T-shirts emblazoned with the rather dark art of one Mr. Roger Dean. Did we mention awesome?)

Posted by pulseblogger at 10:54 PM | TrackBack

March 03, 2006

Know When to Walk Away, and Know When to Run

Riverbend officials have announced that this year's Old Dude(s) Playing With The CSO -- a title previously held by the Temptations, Randy Newman and Michael McDonald -- will be Kenny Rogers.

I'd like you to think about this.

"Islands in the Stream." With a full string section.

"Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town." Accompanied by woodwinds.

"The Gambler." With a harp.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Posted by mesh at 02:29 PM | TrackBack

You Need to Hear This Stuff: March

Compiled from David Morton's Rabbit Valley Road blog:

Downloads
The Liars have new record out on March 21. It is called Drums Not Dead. Click here for mp3's.

Now defunct, Imaginary Baseball League complete records.

Download new single from The Streets' upcoming LP,
The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living. Due April 10.

Dead Heart Bloom has a whole record available for free download.

Download "I Laughed" by Human Television. New record out May 2.

March Releases
3/7
Half-Handed Cloud – Halos and Lassos – Asthmatic Kitty
Centro-Matic – Fort Recovery – Misra
Jaymay - Sea Green, See Blue. - (no label)

3/21
Band of Horses – Everything All The Time – SubPop
Mates of State – Bring It Back – Barsuk
The Liars - Drums Not Dead - Mute

3/28
Margot and The Nuclear So and So's – The Dust of Retreat – Artemis
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Show Your Bones – Interscope

Be on the lookout for reviews, interviews and features on these artists this
month in The Pulse.

For the past few days, I've been enjoying local guy, James Sanders' online
radio show. I've heard everything from Lou Reed to Slowdive to Animal
Collective there. Check out the stream here.

E-Mail David Morton.

Posted by pulseblogger at 10:09 AM | TrackBack

March 02, 2006

Would Be Sheriffs on the Spot

Yes, they're all packin'.

Democracy for Chattanooga's recap of the recent Sheriff's Candidates Forum can be read here.

Posted by colrus at 03:48 PM | TrackBack

Craigslist Revisited

Officials at Craigslist did not respond to inquiries by our press deadline for this week's cover story. But they did respond. Below are the full comments of Craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster.

Continue reading "Craigslist Revisited"

Posted by mesh at 03:27 PM | TrackBack

Transcript: Bob Corker on WGOW's "F.R.E.D. the Show" with Jeff Styles, March 1

The following is an abridged transcript of former Chattanooga mayor and current senatorial candidate Bob Corker's interview with WGOW “F.R.E.D. The Show” host Jeff Styles on Wednesday. (Styles' questions and comments are edited and/or paraphrased. Corker's comments are verbatim.) Corker's local campaign kick-off takes place this Saturday at 1 p.m. at the C.S.A.S. gymnasium.

---

Styles: “What’s makes (this kick-off) official?”

Corker: “We’ve been building for 15 months towards this…and in the old business that I was in, you make plans, you get people around you, you create a vision about what you’re going to do. And then finally, one day, you say, ‘This is the real thing.’ Where the backhoe hits the ground, if you will. And, in this campaign, while we’ve been doing those things to build a great foundation all across the state – we’ve been organizing now in 67 counties, if you can believe that – you know, there comes a time a day when you actually announce and that’s going to be this Saturday…We’re excited about that. We’re going to have a big crowd there and it’s going to be a great moment here.”

Continue reading "Transcript: Bob Corker on WGOW's "F.R.E.D. the Show" with Jeff Styles, March 1"

Posted by colrus at 02:48 PM | TrackBack

March 01, 2006

Jim Halpert's iTunes Playlist

The song selection on the iTunes playlist (requires iTunes to read) of Jim Halpert, sales associate for Dunder Mifflin Paper, Inc. in Scranton, Pennsylvania (portrayed hilariously each week on NBC's "The Office") is eerily close to a playlist I could see Pulse City Editor Aaron Mesh putting together. Not surprisingly, Mesh (like myself) is a HUGE fan of "The Office," and Jim in particular.

(Link courtesy of Northern Attack: the biggest, baddest, bestest "Office" site on the Web.)

Posted by colrus at 04:33 PM | TrackBack

This Week's Craigslist Story Linked on AAN.org

Aaron Mesh's story about Craigslist coming to Chattanooga was linked on AAN's site today under the "Ad & Business News" section. Amongst Mesh's interviewees for the piece was Molly Zanone, the director of new media for Contemporary Media Inc., the parent company of alternative weekly The Memphis Flyer and other publications. The Memphis Flyer is a member of AAN.

Posted by colrus at 03:57 PM | TrackBack

Be Your Own Commissioner

Want to be the next County Commissioner for District 4? You still have a day to sign up. Commission Chairman Larry Henry said this morning that the deadline for applicants to immediately replace William Cotton is tomorrow at noon. The only current aspirants are Dr. Warren Mackey and Brian Caldwell -- the two men, not coincidentally, who are running for the seat in fall elections. If no one else applies, the Commission will select one of these men as an interim Commissioner on March 9 at 9:30 a.m. "I hope it's pretty much settled," Henry said.

In other Co-Com news:

-- Curtis Adams was on the front page of this morning's Times Free Press, having told the paper that he had been contacted by an E-Cycle representative and bagman Charles Love early in the FBI's Tennessee Waltz sting operation. The article did not allege any wrongdoing by Adams. The District 8 Commissioner was not available to answer questions this morning; he left the meeting early to serve as a pallbearer for former chief deputy Jack Russell.

-- Fred Skillern spent a few minutes praising Chattanooga State's Middle College program, and wondered aloud if local educational achievements couldn't be better explained to the Commission. "It seems like," he said, "the only communication we have with the school system is them asking for money and me saying 'no.'" Well, it's not just him saying it.

-- Skillern was also responsible for the morning's greatest disappointment. "We're here to honor Red Bank girl's softball," he declared while introducing an early resolution. "But we're also here to honor a little bit more." But it was pretty much girl's softball.

Posted by mesh at 01:10 PM | TrackBack

Condoleeza Rice Works Out!

Condoleeza Rice works out. Great. Good for her. More people should.

Next up: Donald Rumsfeld enjoys stamp collecting.

How can we have too much AND too little news at the same time?

Posted by colrus at 10:49 AM | TrackBack