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 […]
Take Time to Reflect on Blessings
As I wake up this Thanksgiving morning I run down a check list of everything that needs to be prepared for the feast and wonder if there might not be something I’ve forgot about. I’m figuring out when each dish needs to hit the oven to be done on time. I’m also flipping through sales […]
Change in Weather Signaled a Good Week in East Ridge
Last week was a good one in East Ridge, wasn’t it? The weather finally broke, for one. Rain and gloom gave way to blue skies and crisp temperatures perfect for yard work, golf, boating and football. Football in East Ridge in mid-November is rare, isn’t it? Nevertheless, football it was Friday night and the Pioneers […]
East Ridge Alumni, Come Show Your Support
For many, many years East Ridge High School has enjoyed the benefit of the support of the community and alumni. Unfortunately, over the last few years that support has somewhat declined. This year, even with the condemnation of the home side of the stadium, the East Ridge football team led by Coach Malone has the […]
‘Groundhog Day’ Should Be City’s Official Movie
I don’t know about you, but I’m getting tired. I’m getting tired of living in the movie “Groundhog Day,” when you wake up day after day and the same things that are going on yesterday are happening today. “Groundhog Day” should be adopted by the City Council as the official East Ridge City Movie. Last week […]
Mouw Concerned About Development
I am concerned about the amount of traffic we will be having on Frawley Road starting October 12th. With all the new construction, including apartments, and now all the Camp Jordan traffic coming in the back entrance it will be quite congested. Also, it doesn’t seem fair to the fireworks business at the old Shoneys […]