Local and Region News from TimesFreePress.com | http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local On a recent Saturday, Kathy McManus, a librarian at the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library downtown, found herself in a bit of a tizzy. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/postal-service-eliminates-87-collection-points-cha/ Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:00:00 EST http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/postal-service-eliminates-87-collection-points-cha/ With his sentencing in sight, more that 600 pages of documents seek to paint the former Hamilton County sheriff as a model citizen whose criminal behavior didn’t jibe with the Billy Long who pleaded guilty in May to extortion and money laundering. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/hamilton-county-long-court-filings-plead-lenience/ Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:01:00 EST http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/hamilton-county-long-court-filings-plead-lenience/ A record-setting stock market rally Monday helped pension managers regain nearly half of what they had lost in the previous eight trading sessions, but many government pensions in Tennessee have still suffered double-digit losses this year. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/tennessee-roller-coaster-market-trims-value-govern/ Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:01:00 EST http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/tennessee-roller-coaster-market-trims-value-govern/ National polls show 93 percent of Americans have decided whom they want to be president. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/hamilton-county-early-voting-begins-tomorrow/ Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:01:00 EST http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/hamilton-county-early-voting-begins-tomorrow/ Replenished fuel supplies in the area have caused gas prices to plummet, which industry experts believe could become the norm. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/chattanooga-gas-prices-fall-vary-across-region/ Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:01:00 EST http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/chattanooga-gas-prices-fall-vary-across-region/ About 15 or so senior citizens gathered Monday night at a meeting meant to answer questions about proposals to provide a property tax freeze or a 50 percent match to a state tax relief program. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/hamilton-county-finance-administrator-answers-ques/ Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:01:00 EST http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/hamilton-county-finance-administrator-answers-ques/ When Buffalo Wild Wings went smoke-free last October to comply with a statewide smoking ban in enclosed areas, the local manager questioned whether revenues would take a hit or get a boost. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/chattanooga-clearing-air/ Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:01:00 EST http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/chattanooga-clearing-air/ With the stock market rebounding Monday, Dade County, Ga., is preparing to issue $6.5 million of bonds this week to pay for equipment and facilities for the county, the city of Trenton and the Dade County Industrial Development Authority, the county’s bond advisor said Monday. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/dade-county-prepares-bond-issue/ Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/dade-county-prepares-bond-issue/ The candidates in the race for the open District 3 Georgia House of Representatives seat are similar on the surface. Both are family men who are active in their churches and who said they support education and the Second Amendment. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/georgia-battle-house-district-3/ Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/georgia-battle-house-district-3/ After another episode of violence at Club 2301 early Sunday, Chattanooga police are reviewing the club’s record to decide whether to ask a judge to declare it a nuisance and cite the owner with running a disorderly business. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/chattanooga-shooting-club-could-shutter-business/ Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/chattanooga-shooting-club-could-shutter-business/ Together, Cleveland and Bradley County issued more than $8 million worth of building permits last month. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/cleveland-public-projects-boost-building/ Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/cleveland-public-projects-boost-building/ Newly constructed gated communities in Tennessee must be outfitted with receivers that allow access for emergency responders, according to a law enacted by the legislature this year. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/chattanooga-law-requires-receiver-new-gated-commun/ Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/chattanooga-law-requires-receiver-new-gated-commun/ Work on downtown Pikeville’s $800,000 downtown revitalization project will begin early next month, officials said. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/pikeville-launches-work-downtown-face-lift-novembe/ Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/pikeville-launches-work-downtown-face-lift-novembe/ As of Oct. 1, it’s open season for insurance agents to launch sales pitches for Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Part D supplemental drug plans http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/tennessee-officials-warn-medicare-scams/ Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/tennessee-officials-warn-medicare-scams/ Three young Georgia teens are facing charges in Polk County, Tenn., after leading county deputies and Benton police officers on a 120-mph chase in a stolen Jaguar, police said. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/georgia-teen-driver-reaches-120-mph-crash/ Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/14/georgia-teen-driver-reaches-120-mph-crash/ Translator Paula Maldonado speaks English and Spanish, but she’s often asked to take a stab at Arabic or Somali. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/13/chattanooga-challenged-language-barriers/ Mon, 13 Oct 2008 01:27:00 EST http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/13/chattanooga-challenged-language-barriers/ http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/13/audio-school-board-candidate-gregg-juster-meets-ti/ Mon, 13 Oct 2008 01:12:00 EST http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/13/audio-school-board-candidate-gregg-juster-meets-ti/ Dr. Bill Owens, senior pastor of 2,452-member Ridgedale Baptist Church, says he’d like to answer a parishioner who asks how he’ll vote in next month’s presidential election. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/13/chattanooga-pulpit-politics-create-fine-line-clerg/ Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:01:00 EST http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/13/chattanooga-pulpit-politics-create-fine-line-clerg/ It was a matchmaking event of a different breed as 25 adoptable dogs from the Humane Educational Society shelter took to the “runway” at the eighth annual Paws in the Park fundraiser at the Baylor School on Sunday. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/13/chattanooga-dogs-strut-their-stuff-shelter/ Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:01:00 EST http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/13/chattanooga-dogs-strut-their-stuff-shelter/ The thought of driving in circles used to drive City Councilman Jack Benson crazy. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/13/chattanooga-roundabout-way-ease-congestion/ Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:01:00 EST http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/oct/13/chattanooga-roundabout-way-ease-congestion/