Editor’s Note: The views of contributing writers do not necessarily represent those of East Ridge News Online The Chattanooga nonprofit sector is dangling gift money before people in hopes they will help improve government schools. The sector in view of these charitable sentiments in the biggest consumer of tax dollars in Hamilton County, absorbing F$405.68 […]
Outrage Over Property Crime
In a recent poll question, East Ridge News Online asked readers if they had ever been a victim of a home or auto burglary. Not surprisingly, 62 percent of the people who voted said that their home or car had been broken into. I’ve had two cars broken into and items stolen and the door […]
Our Council Needs Help
When it comes to running a government it’s not as simple as hitting an autopilot switch. For 22 or 23 weeks out of the year a group of five duly elected citizens meet for a couple hours and take up and vote on decisions that could and will effect our city for years to come. […]
Dyslexia Remains Public Policy in ‘Read to be Ready’ Program
Gov. Bill Haslam’s proposed reading program for East Ridge and other cities does not overturn the long-term Tennessee policy goals in functional illiteracy The governor and his wife, Crissy, launched a campaign Feb. 17 for “a statewide focus on the critical value of reading — not only the value of learning to read but also […]
Why Are There Not More ER Watchdogs?
“Why do you think you need to be the East Ridge Watchdog?” That was a question that was asked of me a couple weeks ago by Marvin “Stump” Martin, the city’s Parks & Recreation Director. I’ll admit that when the question was asked I was kind of shocked and stunned. The reason I was stunned was […]
Taking Stock
East Ridge News Online has come a long way since November 2013 when Mimi Lowrey brought Karen House into my living room and asked if I would continue the work that House started. House, who is not a native to East Ridge, said she was going to be moving to the country and she didn’t […]
Emotional Week in Our City
This week in East Ridge our emotions were stretched from elation to despair, as we got to see the finest and the worst of what our society is all about. On Thursday our first responders plucked a homeless man from the rising waters on West Chickamauga Creek. Apparently the man’s wife went to get a […]
$25,000 Party… Really?
East Ridge is set to turn the big “nine five” this year and the city is planning a bash to celebrate. The idea has been mentioned in various forms since late last year. However, ideas actually began to take shape when the Mayor had it added to the agenda of the Decembers City Council […]
ERPD’s New Tool To Recover Stolen Property
A few weeks ago pawn shop owner Anna Lovell posted a tall stack of pawn tickets with a statement about how they haven’t been seen by any member of law enforcement in years. This caught the attention of East Ridge News Online Publisher Dick Cook who decided to look into the issue. Mr. Cook learned […]
Time to Toss Testerman
Last night while watching the nightly news I got the pleasure of watching David Testerman shout at a roomful of parents in an attempt to admonish them for wanting to protect their children. “Whats wrong with you people?” Testerman shouted as he rose from his seat in anger. Mr. Testerman what is “wrong” […]
Wrong Questions Being Asked
After Thursday’s City Council meeting, I got a phone call from a concerned citizen over what he witnessed at the meeting. During the “Communication from Council” portion of the meeting, Councilman Denny Manning asked Mayor Brent Lambert if the applications for the job of City Manager were going to City Attorney Hal North’s office. Manning […]
Goodbye Rick Smith
There is nothing in life more important than the health, safety, and well-being of our children. That statement comes with no caveats, asterisk, notation or exception. When a parent entrusts their child to the care of another, especially into the care of school employees, they do so with the expectation that this tenet will be […]
Predictions for our City in 2016
On New Year’s Eve, just before toasting in 2016, I made a startling discovery. I was playing around with the “snow globe” Santa left for me under the tree as Alabama scored what seemed like its tenth touchdown of the night over my cousin Conner Cook’s hapless Michigan State team. The snowflakes aligned in the […]
Maybe a Little More Mistletoe and Holly
My grandsons missed the East Ridge Christmas parade the other week because they had to go do some other important stuff with their mom and soon-to-be step-father. Needless to say they were very disappointed, especially James, the youngest. Yesterday, my bride announced that James wanted to go see the Red Bank Christmas Parade. Being the […]
Shopping Small is Very Big
I was reminded the other day that today, Saturday, Nov. 28, is Small Business Saturday. I’m told it originated in 2010 to encourage people to support small, local businesses. I don’t do a lot of shopping. Black Friday! Forget it. I’m not getting out there and fighting the traffic, standing in line in some major retailer […]