April 29, 2008
Recycle Right
I know, I know, not another recycling entry.
Surprise! I'm not whining and complaining this time.
I just saw that at www.recycleright.org you can sign up for an email alert. They will send you a reminder when it is time for you to set out your stuff.
I signed up.
If you have as tough a time remembering and/or figuring out when they are coming to pick up your recyclables as I do then you probably should sign up too.
Posted by Sara at 03:26 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 05, 2008
Tennessee At High Risk For Voting Mishaps
According to one report: Six States at High Risk for Voting Machine Mishaps on Super Tuesday.
You guessed it, Tennessee is one of those states:
Are there any precincts in Chattanooga that use the electronic voting machines they are referring to?
Posted by Sara at 07:23 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 04, 2008
Tomorrow's Ballots
Here are samples of the ballots for tomorrow:
Democrat Ballot
Republican Ballot
If you are voting on the Republican ballot you can also vote for delegates. Can someone explain to me how that works? Why isn't it the same with the Democrats?
I wonder how many people will vote for candidates who already dropped out of the race?
Posted by Sara at 10:04 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 17, 2008
SNOW
You would think that after snow like this: (Minnesota Dec. 2007)
We wouldn't get very excited about this: (Chattanooga Jan. 2008)
But we were all crazy excited about our snow last night. Even though some of it is already melting I love looking out of the window at it this morning.
Posted by Sara at 09:57 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 14, 2007
Daffodils In December
It looks like someone beat me to the punch.
This makes the second year in a row that our daffodils bloomed in December.
I remember getting in the van ready to leave for our Christmas trip to Minnesota and seeing actual daffodils blooming beside our driveway. It looks like, unless this little cold snap kills them, they might bloom for Christmas again this year.
Posted by Sara at 03:38 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 11, 2007
Speeding Cameras Coming To A Neighborhood Near You
It looks like Brainerd is going to get it's own set of traffic cameras. Does the city Council have any say in this? Do we as citizens get an opportunity to support or oppose it?
Article on the Chattanoogan.com: City To Install Speed Cameras At 7 Intersections
Mr. Van Winkle said the aim is "to make the streets safer" rather than revenue collection.He said signs will be posted in the vicinity of the cameras. He said, "We are not out to surprise anybody. We want to persuade them to change their habits."
"Mr. Van Winkle said there will be two cameras at North Moore and Brainerd - one for eastbound traffic and another for southbound traffic."
He said the speeding cameras have been a success. The city has speed cameras at the Hixson Pike S Curves as well as some mobile cameras that are moved from location to location.
I must admit, I really didn't get too up in arms about the other cameras. They didn't affect me directly, I rarely drive in the area where they have been installed. Now, they are putting them up in an area I drive through any time I go somewhere. It is an intersection I CAN NOT avoid.
I am someone who tries to drive carefully and within the speed limit, but my mind does get sidetracked sometimes and I might not always pay attention to my speed.
I hate to think that I'm going to feel like someone is just waiting to catch me in a mistake and punish me for it. I don't mind people slowing down, but I don't like the idea of the cameras.
Posted by Sara at 06:47 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
November 06, 2007
Who is representing me in District 6?
I'd like to contact my city council representative and see if the new pooper scooper laws apply to cats as well as dogs.
We have mounds of cat poop in our yard left by our neighbor's uninvited cats and we are the ones who have to clean it up.
The problem is, I don't currently have a city council representative.
Posted by Sara at 10:46 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 08, 2007
Mayor Littlefield Has Cancer
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_114827.asp
Posted by Sara at 01:03 PM | TrackBack
June 10, 2007
U.S. PIPE
The US Pipe building was imploded Sunday morning. This is a shot I took of the remains on the way to my parent's house Sunday afternoon.
Although it was ugly, and it will be exciting to see what goes up in its place, the sentimentalists in me was sad to see it go.
I grew up in Lookout Valley/Tiftonia and saw US Pipe on a regular basis. As kids we would watch for fire when we drove by. We called it the "burnin' place". It was especially fun to see the fire and sparks at night!
Driving around the bend is one of my very favorite places in Chattanooga. The view of the river and the mountains is absolutely beautiful. Of course the foundry and US Pipe were/are eyesores in the midsts of the natural beauty of the area, but to me they were a picture of our city's history.
A big part of our history can be told in a single snapshot of the the area. The mountains, the river, the railroad tracks and the remnants of a once thriving industrial site...that is what made Chattanooga, Chattanooga.
Kinda sad to see it go...
Posted by Sara at 11:25 PM | TrackBack
April 23, 2007
Can someone explain...
how purchasing Green Power would affect my electric bill?
If I purchase a block of Green Power then does that mean we at our home will personally be using it or are we just helping the EPB to finance it for all of Chattanooga to use?
Will my electric bill only be changed by adding an aditional $4 each month to my monthly bill?
The Green Power isn't going to save me any money, just help make it affordable for the EPB to use more evironmentally friendly options for creating the electricity we all use?
Posted by Sara at 02:28 PM | TrackBack
March 28, 2007
Who's Fault Is It?
This is just me thinking outloud again ...
Re: "Gang Problems" etc...
Gangs or no gangs, there is obviously an underlying problem and our youth is suffering from it.
The question shouldn't be:
What should THEY do to fix "the problem"?
The question should be:
What should I do to help fix "the problem"?
We live in a culture that allows us to hold everyone else accountable without holding ourselves accountable.
How do you think problems like this come about?
Is it the city's fault? Is it the plolice department's fault? Is it the park ranger's fault? Is it the school system's fault? Is it the media's fault? Is it the parent's fault? Is it the kid's fault?
It is because we live in a society that no longer feels a personal obligation or responsibility to anything.
Everything is someone else's fault and someone else should fix it - not me.
(Have I contributed to "the problem" in anyway? Have I attempted to make a difference? Can I be partially to blame? Can we all?)
Just wondering....
Posted by Sara at 10:11 AM | TrackBack
March 27, 2007
Another Letter To The Editor
Another Brainerd resident weighed in on the "gang problems" in Chattanooga. The following letter was posted on the Chattanoogan.com.
Volunteer To Help Solve Gang Problemposted March 26, 2007
In response to the many letters regarding the gang problem in Chattanooga:
I will not make judgments as to whether some comments are racist. What I will say, is that as a single mom of a 14-year-old son and a teacher of adolescent boys, I’ve seen that becoming a man is a difficult, complex and painful process. I also know that young men tend to express emotional pain and anger in physical ways.
I teach many boys who have fathers in their homes, who attend church and who have strong relationships with coaches and male teachers. These boys make mistakes, get in trouble and do stupid stuff. Some of them learn from their mistakes; some do not.
I was at the Riverpark on Saturday afternoon and saw one of the fights. The group had been there for several hours for a party. For most of the afternoon they were playing in the field, listening to music and behaving like teenagers. The kids who were fighting were just that: kids. They were boys. I did not observe any grown men in their group and I have no idea if these boys have dads in their homes or coaches who work with them.
But I do know that there are a lot of kids out there who do not have dads at home or any good male role models in their lives. There are many boys who need more grown people mentoring them, more positive role models influencing them and more opportunities to choose the right path. I hope some of the men and retired persons, who are writing to complain about the gangs in Chattanooga, will consider becoming a Big Brother, volunteering at after school programs, or starting a mentoring program at their churches. If everyone who wrote a letter would mentor one kid, just think of the difference we could make.
Candy Corneliussen
corncandy@att.net
One kid at a time may seem like small thing and my not seem like it would be very effective, but if each of these kids had some one involved in their lives who was a possitive influence it would make a big difference.
Some of them have parents, or family members who are doing their very best, but are at the end of their rope. I'm sure they would covet any help they were offered.
There are so many children in our city who need people to step in and help them change the direction their lives are headed in.
You might want to check out Chattanooga's Big Brother Big Sister organization.
Posted by Sara at 12:02 PM | TrackBack
March 23, 2007
Some Random Thoughts On The Recent Trouble In Our City
All this talk about groups of kids getting in trouble around the city has me troubled.
Just a bunch of random thoughts:
-They are causing trouble because they are on Spring Break and have nothing else to do.
-Where are their parents?
-An opinion article in the Chattanoogan.com suggests parenting classes to help curb the "gang problem".
Yes, that might help I guess - obviously a big part of the problem is lack of parental guidance.
The problem is the parenting classes would have to start at age 13. I see so many young, young parents walking up and down my street.
-I hope we never go to year-round-school, that would mean several more week long breaks during the year --> more weeks like this one..
At least when kids are out for the summer it is a long enough period of time for some of them to get jobs and stay busy.
I've always been slightly insulated from these kinds of things, but when a gun fired several shots just yards from my sister's house earlier this week (during the afternoon) it got a little too close to home. Not only were my neice and nephew in their backyard playing, but they only live a couple of blocks away and my kids play there on a consistent basis too.
I'll be ready for school to start back next week - hopefully before any more kids get themselves in trouble or worse.
Posted by Sara at 11:04 AM | TrackBack
March 20, 2007
Is Coolidge Park Safe?
There are some interesting opinion articles on the Chattanoogan about safety at Coolidge Park. I have heard other stories.
Are people overreacting?
Posted by Greg at 09:44 AM | TrackBack
March 14, 2007
Chattanooga Gangs On You Tube
I saw this on the Channel 9 News.
What Do You Think?
Posted by Sara at 05:09 PM | TrackBack
March 13, 2007
Blue Cross
There are two things that make me mad in the financial world... one is gas companies and the other is insurance companies.
While thinking about Cameron Hill found this Q & A on the Blue Cross website.
They are going to build a 950,000 sq foot building to help control costs?
The more I read the full of crap I think they are.
They are not going to raise rates to pay for the building, just use money in reserve. WHY DO THEY HAVE SO MUCH MONEY IN RESERVE!
Posted by Greg at 11:02 PM | TrackBack
Cameron Hill
While I was driving by Cameron Hill today it made me kind of sad to see the cranes and tractors building a Blue Cross headquarters. I believe I read that Cameron Hill used to mirror Lookout Mountain before they built apartments on it.
Is BCBS headquarters going to be better than apartments? I know the 'Hill' has already been ruined but it still made me sad.
And our premiums just keep going up.
This is a picture from their webcam.
Posted by Greg at 10:47 PM | TrackBack
January 26, 2007
Chattanooga Makes National News Twice This Week
For the second time this week, Chattanooga is featured on a national news website. Wonder if we could drum up some good news for them to use.
Foxnews:
6 H.S. Girls Charged In Murder Plot
CNN:
6 H.S. Girls Charged In Murder Plot
Couldn't get the CNN video to load but I found it on this Nashville station. It was CNN's top rated video for awhile.
Ooltewah Coach Fired Over Racial Slur
Posted by Greg at 12:30 PM | TrackBack
September 09, 2006
Gas for $2.11?
I got gas today for $2.11 at the Hi-Tech station near Dodds Avenue.
Posted by Greg at 10:19 PM | TrackBack
August 09, 2006
Costco In Chattanooga?
I'd always heard good things about Costcos, but never having actually visited one I didn't know enough about them to know if they were all that different than a Sams club. This story on 20/20 sold me on them.
Now I've heard rumors (most likely not very reliable) of a Costco going in behind Howard High School on the old Poss Homes site. I can't really imagine that one could fit back there, the area seems like an odd shape and size. I also can't imagine that kind of business in that area of town.
Any truth to those rumors?
Posted by Sara at 10:16 PM | TrackBack
April 22, 2006
Job Description?
It appears we are about to hire a new superintendent for the Hamilton County School System.
Jim Scales has been offered $194,000 plus. You can see his profile here
It will be interesting to see how much difference, if any, a new superintendent will make.
I've been searching the web for the job descripton of the Hamilton County School Superintendent. Does anyone have one? I'd be interested to see what a superintendent really does.
Posted by Sara at 11:02 AM | TrackBack
April 13, 2006
The Yellow Deli
Not sure why but I have been intrigued on about this story
about the Yellow Deli.
Anyone have some memories. I didn't come to Chattanooga until 1987.
Posted by Greg at 04:43 PM | TrackBack
March 09, 2006
They are dropping like flies, the candidates that is
It looks like Steve Wilmoth may be the smartest candidate for the new Superintendent job. The sad thing is, that isn't neccessarilly good for us.
It seems he got out while the gettin' was good.
After seeing how we run things here in Chattanooga he was "deeply troubled by the fuss" and withdrew his application.
After being cut from the final list of three Rick Smith also took his name out of the "hat."
Posted by Sara at 06:16 PM | TrackBack
March 07, 2006
Here we go again! Politics/Education - Education/Politics
What is one of the biggest problems with our education system? - POLITICS!
I wish there was some way to separate the two, but unfortunately I guess they are inseparable.
We are in the process of hiring a new Superindentent and here we go again! There are already all kinds of shinanigans going on with county commisioners, the advisory panel and the school board.
Isn't there some kind of procedure that has been written down. Can the school board not figure out how to follow it? How can there wouldn't be any question about the procedure of choosing a school superindenent this far into the process? Wouldn't you think they would know ahead of time how to proceed with the interview and selection process before they begin it? That certainly would help avoid any apearance of impropriety or whatever.
I get sick in my heart to watch grown-ups fight so hard just to get their way and to get what they want. I'm afraid most of the time they are so worried about being in control that they forget about what might be best for the children in our school system.
I hope I am wrong, but I don't have much faith in those who will be choosing a successor to Dr. Jessie Register.
Posted by Sara at 01:54 PM | TrackBack
August 22, 2005
County Commission Votes for Tax Increase
According to this Chattanoogan article the commissioners voted on a tax increase.
I can't help but wonder if they didn't use the school funding issue as a chance to sneak in more money for themselves. I figured if the tax was increased only part of it would go toward the schools.
Now lets see what happens when the school board can't blame the County Commission for all their problems.
I hope to see an explaination as to where the 10 cents given to the County government will be spent.
Posted by Sara at 10:20 AM | TrackBack
August 21, 2005
Do our schools need more money?
As we approach Monday morning's County Commission meeting (in which our commissioners might be voting on whether or not to increase our property taxes to help fund our public schools) I thought I would repost some things I found earlier last week.
The question is... do our schools need more money?
According to the NEA (National Education Association) website:
Tennessee ranks at the bottom of all states--50th out of 50--in the per capita revenue raised for public education.
Tennessee ranks near the bottom of all states--47th of 50 states--in per capita spending on public education.
Public education spending per pupil has declined in Tennessee. Since 2001, per pupil spending in constant dollars has declined by 2%.
Tennessee ranks 3rd worst in the country in the total taxable resources spent on public education. Education spending by the State of Tennessee and its localities amounts to just 3% of its gross state product.
According to the TEA (Tennessee Education Association) website:
Hamilton County ranks 11th out of 136 counties in expenditures per pupil.
And here Tennessee is ranked 41st out of 50 states as the smartest (or not) state. This is a list of factors used in the rankings.
So, does this mean anything to us as citizens of Tenneessee, specifically Hamilton County? Who's responsibility is it to fund the schools? Who pays the price when the schools are underfunded? Which costs us more in the long run, underfunded schools or a higher property tax? Can we trust the school board to use the funds responsibly?
So many questions and I don't have the answers.
Posted by Sara at 03:03 PM | TrackBack
August 18, 2005
How do we compare?
Just curiously conducting a google search trying to find some information to help form an opinion as to whether or not our schools need more funding. This is what I found:
According to the NEA (National Education Association) website:
Tennessee ranks at the bottom of all states--50th out of 50--in the per capita revenue raised for public education.
Tennessee ranks near the bottom of all states--47th of 50 states--in per capita spending on public education.
Public education spending per pupil has declined in Tennessee. Since 2001, per pupil spending in constant dollars has declined by 2%.
Tennessee ranks 3rd worst in the country in the total taxable resources spent on public education. Education spending by the State of Tennessee and its localities amounts to just 3% of its gross state product.
According to the TEA (Tennessee Education Association) website:
Hamilton County ranks 11th out of 136 counties in expenditures per pupil.
And here Tennessee is ranked 41st out of 50 states as the smartest (or not) state. This is a list of factors used in the rankings.
So, does this mean anything to us as citizens of Tenneessee, specifically Hamilton County? (Aside from the debate about how accountable our school board is to spend our money appropriatley.)
Posted by Sara at 09:09 AM | TrackBack
August 16, 2005
Roundabouts - slow down traffic?
Apparently while widening Igou Gap Road they are planning to put in what they call "roundabouts" to slow down the traffic.
I'd like to know what kind of research has been done to prove these things actually slow down the traffic. It theory it sounds good but I don't think it works in reality.
Those of us who live in Brainerd and use Old Mission Road as a bypass for Brainerd Road are familiar with these things. You can see a diagram of one in this article from the Chattanoogan.
I happen to live on Old Mission and can attest to the fact that they don't do a very good job slowing down traffic. As a matter of fact, my neighbor claims people just feel like they are race car drivers and try to see just how fast they can keep going while they manuver around them.
Personally I think they cause people to speed up in between them to make up for time lost while going around them.
We live between two of them and the cars go pretty fast by our house. I'd hate to see how fast people were driving on Old Mission before the roundabouts "slowed them down"!
Posted by Sara at 08:10 PM | TrackBack
City councilmen at it again!
Our city councilmen act more like the third graders I used to teach than the professional adults I would hope we elected to office. I just don't understand why they can't stop bickering and find a way to work together to accomplish a job.
I get so tired of reading about their shenanigans over and over again. It is embarrassing.
Actually, come to think about, it I believe my third graders knew how to work together better than the councilmen do. They probably could have taken care of city business better than the councilmen too.
Posted by Sara at 06:51 PM | TrackBack
July 06, 2005
Here We Go
We are very new to the world of blogging but excited about being part of it. We still haven't decided what our title will be or the direction this blog will take but we decided to go ahead and jump in with both feet. What better way to learn right?
We may try to take part in discussions about local issues or we may just decide to use this blog to share news about our ever growing family.
We are proud parents of four beautiful children and expecting another in November. We are very interested in local issues but have never actively participated in trying to affect change in our city.
We do have a heart for the people of our city and have been active with outreach ministries through our Church.
We have been active readers of Chattablogs for a while now and look forward to joining this blogging community.
Posted by Sara at 09:47 PM | TrackBack