Town Talk

REUNION

TED MILLS AND his classmates from Soddy-Daisy High School's class of 1940 get together at least once each year to talk about days of yesteryear. The remaining seven members of the class recently met at Karl's Restaurant in Chattanooga to celebrate their 72nd reunion.

It's an event that Mills said he looks forward to every year.

"Armed with walking sticks and assisted living equipment, the faithful few kept the reunion streak alive," said Mills, who, for the first time in his nearly 90 years, is walking with the aid of a walker, he said.

"In spite of being slow of gait, the attitude of the attendees was sprightly," said Mills, class president.

Mills said he reminded his classmates of what was going on locally at the time of their graduation.

"Chickamauga Lake had just been formed. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was present to witness the opening of the dam. Rural electrification transformed the area into a much improved standard of living," he said. "Too bad that World War II clouds were hovering overhead."

The graduates also included Willard Grant, Earl Lee Frazier, Almeda McRee Frazier, Martha Foster Watts, Charles Uren and June Wilcoxen Ralston.

HEARD ON THE TOWN

MAKE-A-WISH of East Tennessee held its first Stars, Stripes and Wishes Run at Enterprise South Nature Park.

More than 300 runners or walkers participated in the fundraising event.

"On average, one wish costs $6,900, therefore, we need great amounts of community support to keep making wishes come true," said Lindsay Reed, foundation spokeswoman.

"The runners were past 'wish' kids, families, volunteers and supporters," Reed said. "At each aid station along the course, there were wish families and wish kids cheering on the runners to encourage them and thank them for their support."

Scenic City Multisports, along with Stephanie Wilkins, the foundation director of development, helped in making the event a success.

"We wanted to create a unique, active event for Chattanooga, not only to help us raise funds but to increase the awareness of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of East Tennessee," Wilkins said. "At the end of our fiscal year, we will have granted close to 80 wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions throughout the East Tennessee area. Fundraisers like this help us do what we do -- grant wishes to some very special and deserving children."

Sponsors of the event were Affordable Botox of Chattanooga, First Tennessee Bank, Panera Bread, Kelley X-Ray and TNT Fireworks.

The mission of Make-A-Wish is to grant the wishes to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy, Reed said.