Chattanooga Times/Free Press (Chattanooga, TN) articles from July 2003

Chattanooga Times/Free Press (Chattanooga, TN) archives from July 2003

Some Chattanooga, Tenn., Streets to Close During Waterfront Expansion Project.
July 1, 2003

Tennessee Insurance Executives Form Firm to Assist with Employee Benefits.
July 2, 2003

Rate Drop Offers Relief for Tennessee College Tuition Costs.
July 2, 2003

Regulatory Panel to Determine Water Rate Increase for Chattanooga, Tenn.
July 2, 2003

CEO of Community Bank in Chattanooga, Tenn., Plans for Steady Growth.
July 4, 2003... Byline: Dave Flessner Jul. 4--Greg Jones says he's always been fascinated with money. "Ever since I was a child, I was interested in how people make it, how people save it and how people spend it. So I went to school to find out and...

Chattanooga, Tenn.-Based FSGBank Hires Former Bank of America Official.
July 4, 2003... Byline: Dave Flessner Jul. 4--The former regional president of Bank of America in Chattanooga was appointed to a similar post at FSGBank on Thursday after four of FSG's top officers left the bank earlier this week. Larry Richey, who...

With Patent Approved, Chattanooga, Tenn., Furniture Firm Cleared for Expansion.
July 4, 2003... Byline: Jason M. Reynolds Jul. 4--A Chattanooga company has cleared the only obstacles preventing its growth, its owner said. "We have no major obstacles for a major growth plan," said Stephen Culp, who owns the company with his...

Tennessee Lottery Not Expected to Become Boon for Convenience Stores.
July 8, 2003... Byline: Bob Gary Jr. Jul. 8--Tennessee students who'll get lottery-generated scholarship money will fare better than convenience stores selling tickets, according to officials with Golden Gallon and Favorite Market. Joe Turner, a vice...

Original 'Little Debbie' Offers Sage Advice to Chattanooga, Tenn.-Area Girls.
July 8, 2003... Byline: Dave Flessner Jul. 8--Her face has adorned billions of snack cake boxes over the past 43 years. But even as the corporate symbol for the nation's biggest independent snack bakery, "Little Debbie" McKee says she generally shuns...

Tennessee Valley Authority Draws Fire Over Proposal to Cut Industrial Rates.
July 8, 2003... Byline: Dave Flessner Jul. 8--The Tennessee Valley Authority was denounced Monday by its biggest customer group for proposing to cut industrial electric rates while increasing power bills for residential and commercial power users. ...

Environmentalists Win Halt to Wal-Mart Construction in Brainerd, Tenn.
July 8, 2003... Byline: Mike Pare Jul. 8--A Hamilton County judge ordered work to halt temporarily on the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Brainerd as environmentalists voiced concerns that construction is damaging nearby wetlands and other areas. Chancellor...

Chattanooga, Tenn., Infiniti Dealership to Undergo $500,000 Makeover.
July 8, 2003

Parents Planning for Future College Educations Favor 529 Investment Plans.
July 9, 2003... Byline: Bob Gary Jr. Jul. 9--As a professional financial adviser, Ward Petty knows about 529 investment plans. As the father of Tyler, 11, and Mimi, 7, he considers the college savings vehicles "invaluable." "I don't know of a...

BellSouth Rolls Out DSL Lite for Online Users Who Won't Pay for Full Strength.
July 9, 2003

Catering to New Demand, Asian Food Markets Spring Up in Hamilton County, Tenn.
July 10, 2003... Byline: Jason M. Reynolds Jul. 10--Asian markets that have sprouted up in Hamilton County to service Asian immigrants are finding that other customers are helping to propel their growth. "We're getting more and more Americans into the...

TVA Prepares to Add Environmental Cleanup Fee for Electricity Users.
July 10, 2003... Byline: Dave Flessner Jul. 10--Electricity users in the Tennessee Valley may soon get an extra fee on their monthly bills for cleaning up the pollution from TVA's 59 coal plants. For the first time in its 70-year history, TVA is...

Older Chattanooga, Tenn., Suburbs See Continued Declines in Population.
July 10, 2003... Byline: Dave Flessner Jul. 10--Chattanooga's older suburbs continued to lose residents last year to faster-growing suburban towns in counties neighboring Hamilton, according to city population estimates released today. The U.S. Bureau...

Wal-Mart Developer in Brainerd, Tenn., Attempts to Correct Environmental Snags.
July 10, 2003... Byline: Mike Pare Jul. 10--The developer of a new Wal-Mart in Brainerd says it has fixed construction violations at the site and hired an environmental consultant with power to temporarily stop work if future problems arise. "That...

Tennessee Governor Expected to Draw Big Crowds for Convention Bureau Meeting.
July 10, 2003

Chattanooga, Tenn., Pavilion May Get New Name.
July 11, 2003... Byline: Bob Gary Jr. Jul. 11--The Old Testament holds that a good name is preferable to great riches, but the Carter Street Corp. could have both later this year. Tim Riddle, executive director of Carter Street Corp., which operates...

Chattanooga, Tenn., Chamber Raises Nearly $9 Million for Job-Growth Effort.
July 11, 2003... Byline: Mike Pare Jul. 11--Tom Kinser says the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce has seen a lot of change in the past few years and raised nearly $9 million for its job-growth efforts, but the real test is ahead. "Now we have to...

Chattanooga Times/Free Press Business Briefs Column.
July 11, 2003

Chattanooga, Tenn., Planners Focus on Revival, as Key Building Revamped.
July 12, 2003... Byline: Mike Pare Jul. 12--A key building in downtown Chattanooga's central business district is undergoing a revamp as developers and city planners sharpen the focus on reviving the heart of the area. "We think retail will rebound in...

Consultant Says Chattanooga, Tenn., Sports, Visitors Committees Should Merge.
July 12, 2003... Byline: Bob Gary Jr. Jul. 12--The Greater Chattanooga Sports & Events Committee should be merged with the Chattanooga Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, according to a study by a Tampa, Fla.-based consultant. "Given that they share a...

Sparring Match Continues over Chattanooga, Tenn., Wal-Mart under Construction.
July 12, 2003... Byline: Mike Pare Jul. 12--An attorney for the developer of the new Brainerd Wal-Mart, responding Friday to an earlier court order to stop work temporarily, says the site has been used commercially for at least 40 years. But a leader...

Birmingham, Ala.-Based Bank to Expand Chattanooga, Tenn., Operations.
July 15, 2003... Byline: Dave Flessner Jul. 15--Eight years after entering the Chattanooga market, Regions Bank is positioning itself for major growth with the addition of four top officers formerly with Frontier Bank, a bank official said Monday. "We...

Public TV Station in Chattanooga, Tenn., to Upgrade to Larger Headquarters.
July 15, 2003... Byline: Jason M. Reynolds Jul. 15--Public television station WTCI-TV is leaving in its current headquarters near Chattanooga State Community College for new quarters off Bonny Oaks Drive. The 31,000-square-foot building will allow...

Chattanooga, Tenn., Pubic Television Station to Move to New, Larger Location.
July 15, 2003... Byline: Jason M. Reynolds Jul. 15--Public television station WTCI-TV is leaving its current headquarters near Chattanooga State Community College for new quarters off Bonny Oaks Drive. The 31,000-square-foot building will allow Channel...

Regional Planners Approve $15 Million Housing Development in Hixson, Tenn.
July 15, 2003

Tennessee Department of Revenue Expands Online Tax-Payer Services.
July 16, 2003... Byline: Mike Pare Jul. 16--Tennessee businesses have another way to file sales and use tax returns as the state continues to use the Internet to collect taxpayer data. The state Department of Revenue has set up a Web site for sales and...

TVA Chairman Urges White House to Hold Fire on Debt Reduction Plan.
July 16, 2003... Jul. 16--The chairman of the TVA Congressional Caucus urged the White House on Tuesday not to push for too harsh a debt reduction plan on the Tennessee Valley Authority. "I would hope that the Bush administration would hold its fire for a...

Chattanooga, Tenn., Insurance Group Bought Out by Local Holdings Firm.
July 18, 2003... Byline: Bob Gary Jr. Jul. 18--One of Chattanooga's older insurance names is now one of its newer. The Synaxis Group, First Tennessee Bank's commercial insurance arm, recently purchased the local operation of Willis Group Holdings. ...

Chattanooga, Tenn.-Based Road-Building Equipment Maker Posts Steep Losses.
July 18, 2003

New Accounting Standards Should Help Limit Financial Abuses, Expert Says.
July 19, 2003... Byline: Dave Flessner Jul. 19--New accounting and disclosure standards adopted in the wake of recent corporate scandals should help limit financial abuses and alert investors to business problems earlier, the head of the nation's biggest...

Air Quality Improves in Tennessee Valley, Report Says.
July 19, 2003... Byline: Dave Flessner Jul. 19--The air is getting cleaner in the Tennessee Valley, according to an analysis of pollution data released Friday by the Tennessee Valley Authority. "This report confirms, with the data to back it up, that...

Tennessee Communities May Have to Earn State Tourism Funding, Governor Says.
July 19, 2003

Chattanooga, Tenn., Developer to Expand Recently Purchased Industrial Park.
July 19, 2003

Expansion Project to Double Size of Chattanooga, Tenn., Sports Medicine Center.
July 22, 2003... Byline: Dave Flessner Jul. 22--Chattanooga's biggest orthopedic group is doubling the size of its main facility. Surgeons in the Center for Sports Medicine recently put down their scalpels and picked up shovels to break ground on a...

Chattanooga, Tenn., Airport Approves Funding for Development Projects.
July 22, 2003

Planners Prepare to Transfer Army Land to Chattanooga, Tenn.-Area Officials.
July 22, 2003

BlueCross in Tennessee Launches Drive to Promote Generic Prescription Drugs.
July 23, 2003... Byline: Dave Flessner Jul. 23--Tennessee's biggest health insurance company is trying to get its members to ignore some of the frequent advertisements for brand-name drugs and use a generic substitute instead. BlueCross BlueShield...

Chattanooga, Tenn.-Based Covenant Transport Improves Second Quarter.
July 23, 2003

Chattanooga, Tenn., Residents, Business Officials Look to Rehabilitate Area.
July 24, 2003... Byline: Mike Pare Jul. 24--Terry Cannon quips that his 100-year-old building on South Broad Street is a blessing and a curse. "Everything's original," he said. But he noted the building's heart pine floor has the look of an antique,...

Bank to Erect Flagship-Headquarters Building in Chattanooga, Tenn.
July 25, 2003... Byline: Mike Pare Jul. 25--FSG Bank has purchased part of a downtown Chattanooga block and plans to erect a flagship headquarters building on the site. The Chattanooga-based bank has bought property at Sixth and Broad streets and its...

Earnings Grow for Chattanooga, Tenn.-Based Shopping-Center Company.
July 25, 2003

Chattanooga, Tenn.-Area Unemployment Rates Spike in June.
July 25, 2003

National Diner Chain Opens Chattanooga, Tenn., Location.
July 26, 2003... Byline: Jason M. Reynolds Jul. 26--A Brooklyn native is betting that his diner concept will catch on in Chattanooga just as it recently has in Atlanta. Lee Epstein recently opened City Diner Cafe in the former Denny's site at Days Inn...

Chattanooga, Tenn.-Based Disability Insurer Expects Second-Quarter Growth.
July 26, 2003... Byline: Mike Pare Jul. 26--UnumProvident Corp. says sales were softer than desired but business held up the past year despite a flurry of negative publicity, a drop in investor confidence and the firing of its chief executive. "The...

Chattanooga, Tenn.-Based Mall Owner Buys Virginia, North Carolina Properties.
July 26, 2003

Sluggish Economy Pulls Down Passenger Boardings at Chattanooga, Tenn., Airport.
July 29, 2003... Byline: Mike Pare Jul. 29--Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport boardings fell nearly 11 percent in the first half of this year as a sluggish economy acted as a drag on business, an official said. "A lot of it is the local economy. People...

Retirees, Investors in Chattanooga, Tenn., Ride Interest-Rate Roller Coaster.
July 29, 2003... Byline: Bob Gary Jr. Jul. 29--The dual-edged sword of low interest rates has cut one way for Jan Cooper and another for Jack James in the last couple of years. Mr. James, 82, said the low rates have stunted the growth of some of his...

School-Uniform Business in Chattanooga, Tenn., Area Opens Second Store.
July 29, 2003... Byline: Jason M. Reynolds Jul. 29--A Chattanooga couple has continued to expand a school uniform business with the recent opening of a store in Hixson. Brian and Jamey Elrod earlier this month opened the second Educational Outfitters...

TVA Directors Approve Privately-Funded Lease Arrangements to Help Reduce Debt.
July 29, 2003... Byline: Dave Flessner Jul. 29--The Tennessee Valley Authority may get some outside help in trimming its debt this year. Directors of the federal utility have authorized TVA's new chief financial officer to enter into a lease financing...

Head of Chattanooga, Tenn.-Area Fast-Food Eatery to Leave.
July 30, 2003... Byline: Dave Flessner Jul. 30--Phil Sanford, the former banker who engineered the purchase of the Krystal Co. six years ago, is stepping down next month as head of the fast-food restaurant chain. James Fred Exum, Jr., currently...

Home Builders in Chattanooga, Tenn., Unveil Plan to Help Chamber of Commerce.
July 30, 2003

Chattanooga, Tenn., Begins Demolition of Aging Civic Center.
July 31, 2003... Byline: Mike Pare Jul. 31--The Civic Forum is coming down after nearly 25 years as the heartbeat of Chattanooga business life, and the site is expected to undergo a probe of its environmental health. Demolition has started on the...

Chattanooga, Tenn.-Area Residents Split on Benefits of Low Interest Rates.
July 31, 2003... Byline: Bob Gary Jr. Jul. 31--The dual-edged sword of low interest rates has cut one way for Jan Cooper and another for Jack James in the last couple of years. Mr. James, 82, said the low rates have stunted the growth of some of his...

Tennessee Valley Authority Approves Residential, Commercial Power Rate Hike.
July 31, 2003... Byline: Dave Flessner Jul. 31--CHICKAMAUGA, Ga.--Near the site of one of the bloodiest Civil War battles 140 years ago, the Tennessee Valley Authority picked up some reinforcements Wednesday in the battle with its distributors over how to...

TVA Grants Approval for Luxury Home, Golf Course Development on Its Property.
July 31, 2003... Byline: Dave Flessner Jul. 31--The Tennessee Valley Authority cleared the way Wednesday for one of the biggest resort developments in East Tennessee. By a 2-1 margin, TVA directors voted to open up 161 acres of property along the...

Chattanooga, Tenn.-Based Carpet Maker Sees Sharply Lower Profits, Sales.
July 31, 2003