Climbing Higher

REPORTING:  RABBIT ZIELKE

The Therapeutic Recreation Division of Chattanooga Parks and Recreation Department is teaming up with Rock/Creek and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Physical Therapy program to host Climbing Higher Adaptive Climbing Clinics for people with cognitive and physical disabilities. These clinics will be hosted at the Urban Rocks Gym in Chattanooga.

The program began last year and has been an exciting addition to recreation opportunities for people with special needs in the Chattanooga area.  The clinics will be held Monday May 3rd and Monday, May 10th from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.  Contact Elaine Adams at the City of Chattanooga Parks and Recreation Department to register or volunteer.

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The Mark Twain Centennial

This month is a special anniversary in the world of literature. It’s the Mark Twain Centennial… exactly 100 years since Mark Twain’s death. All over the United States, libraries, bookstores and museums are celebrating Twain’s legacy with readings and events.

In Twain’s obituary 100 years ago, The New York Times has said Twain was, “the greatest American humorist of his age,” and, quite possibly, the greatest American writer of fiction.

A young Sam Clemens, better known as Mark Twain

I wondered, is that still true?  And is Twain’s legacy and influence still relevant today?

I interviewed Christopher Stuart, who teaches Twain’s books at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.  I also interviewed Roy Morris Jr., a biographer who noted the Twain Centennial with a reading on the Delta Queen riverboat.

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On the Delta Queen riverboat, Roy Morris, Jr. signs copies of his Mark Twain biography.

Morris's Mark Twain biography.

The Delta Queen

Skills Training at Hatch’s House of Hope

REPORTING:  RABBIT ZIELKE

The Austin Hatcher Foundation supports research to help find a cure for pediatric cancer.  They are also the foundation behind Hatch’s House of Hope, a center dedicated to helping families that have been diagnosed with pediatric cancer find resources, skills and hope.

Staff and volunteers at Hatch’s House of Hope recently completed training in a program designed to help families discover and apply their own strengths to solve issues and make decisions.  Problem Solving Skills Training is a technique that guides the mother through a series of steps that will help them define problems, identify resources, plan strategies and implement decisions.

Hatch’s House of Hope offers this and many other services designed to serve the parents, siblings and child that is diagnosed with cancer.  Chattanooga is home to the first Hatch’s House of Hope and the Austin Hatcher Foundation is working toward opening other centers across the nation.

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Hamilton County Rabies Vaccination Clinics

REPORTING:  RABBIT ZIELKE

The Chattanooga Hamilton County Health Department has teamed up with Hamilton County Veterinary Medical Association to provide rabies vaccination clinics for the pets of Hamilton County residents.  These clinics provide rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats.  All of the veterinarians providing services at these clinics have donated their time to help reduce rabies.

Rabies is a viral infection most often found in wild animals.  It can be spread through saliva and is typically transmitted through a bite.  Rabies affects wild and domesticated animals and can also be transmitted to humans through animal bites.  According to the Center for Disease Control,  the symptoms of rabies in humans are very common and typical of many diseases in early onset such as fever, headache and discomfort.  As the infection attacks the nervous system other symptoms develop.  Rabies can be fatal to a human if not treated within a few days.

The Chattanooga Hamilton County Health Department has been hosting Rabies Vaccination Clinics to help reduce the potential for rabies and protect public health.  These clinics offer rabies vaccinations for cats and dogs at a cost of $12 per animal.  You can find a list of clinic locations at the Hamilton County website.   You can also register your cat or dog with the county and local municipalities at most of the clinic sites.  Annual rabies vaccination and pet licensing are both required by Tennessee state law for all cats and dogs.  By law, every dog three months and over must wear their tags.  You must provide proof of rabies vaccination to obtain the tags.

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The Barley Mob Brewers & National Homebrew Day

REPORTING:  RABBIT ZIELKE

The Barley Mob Brewers sure do enjoy brewing home-made beer.  They also enjoy sharing the secrets of beer with other brewers.  National Homebrew Day is May 7th.  The American Homebrewers Association has been hosting Homebrew Day since 1988.  Here in Chattanooga the Barley Mob Brewers will be holding their National Homebrew Day festivities on Saturday May 8th.  Big Brew Day will begin at around 8 am and continue until the group has brewed 50 gallons of ale.

Later this year the Barley Mob Brewers will be offering  advanced classes including courses leading to a certification in beer judging.  The organization hosts social events and gets together frequently to share recipes, experience, and of course beer.

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Reduced Rate Rabies Clinic May 1 in Whitfield County

The Whitfield County Animal Shelter in Dalton, Ga., will host a reduced rate rabies clinic at various locations in Whitfield County on May 1.   Rabies shots are $10.00 while other cat and dog shots will be offered for $15.00. So for a total of $25.00 you can have your pet completely vaccinated for the year.  A local veterinarian will be at the animal shelter  giving the three-year rabies shot for $10.00. It is available for your pet if it  is over a year old and has been previously vaccinated. The Whitfield County Animal Shelter is located at 172 Gillespie Dr, Dalton.  For more information call (706) 278-2018. A complete schedule of clinic locations is available online.

A Short History of Chattanooga

Chattanooga, TN— The Chattanooga History Center will present A Short History of Chattanooga at 7:00pm on four consecutive Tuesdays:  May 11^th, 18^th, and 25^th , and June 1^st. The series will be held at the History Center’s interim location at 615 Lindsay Street, Suite 100, and will feature its Executive Director and Historian, Dr. Daryl Black, as instructor.  There is no charge for the program, but space is limited, and pre-registration is required.  The deadline is May 7^th.  Call 423-265-3247, extension 10, to register.  This mini-course will explore the many fascinating layers of Chattanooga’s dramatic and colorful history, and will include some of its quirkier stories.  It will also feature artifacts from the History Center’s collection, some of which are under consideration for use in the new exhibits at the Center’s new home.

WUTC Pledge Drive Reaches $100,000

 

Robin Higgins stands beside the world's largest pledge card.

 

This morning, WUTC 88.1 FM hit the $100,000 mark during its Spring 2010 pledge drive.  Listeners from right here in Chattanooga, as well as all over the Tennessee Valley, have been calling in and pledging financial support.

As a public radio station, WUTC relies directly on listeners to help pay for programs such as Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Around and About, Fresh Air, and local music programs.

The overall goal of this pledge drive is to raise $140,000 dollars.  Frequently, people call and ask, “How much longer will the pledge drive continue?”  The answer: as long as it takes to raise all the money that is needed.

WUTC’s NPR programming fees are high… nearly two hundred thousand dollars a year.  Morning Edition and All Things Considered are the gold standard in national news, and they don’t come cheaply.  Local music and news programs are expensive to produce as well.  But listeners feel that such programming is very valuable… and listeners make it all possible by supporting WUTC every year.

You can pledge at: www.wutc.org.

 

 

TVA announces Upcoming Hwy 153 Lane Closure

April 13, 2010

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Traffic on the four-lane Highway 153 Bridge across the Chickamauga Dam (Wilkes T. Thrasher Bridge) will be restricted to one lane southbound on Saturday and one lane northbound on Sunday, April 17-18 for repairs to the bridge’s lights.

The southbound lane across the dam will close Saturday, April 17, from 7 a.m. until about 4 p.m. EDT. Northbound traffic will not be affected on Saturday. Work crews will switch sides and close one northbound lane on Sunday, April 18, from 7 a.m. until about 4 p.m. EDT. Southbound traffic will not be impacted on Sunday. 

Motorists should expect delays and may want to consider another route. TVA Police will be assisting with the lane closures.

The Tennessee Valley Authority, a corporation owned by the U.S. government, provides electricity for 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states at prices below the national average. TVA, which receives no taxpayer money and makes no profits, also provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists utilities and state and local governments with economic development.

The above is from a press release sent on April 13, 2010 which you can access here at TVA’s newsroom.

Here’s an historical picture of Roosevelt signing the TVA Act from TVA’s website.

Here’s what the caption under the picture says:

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the TVA Act on May 18, 1933. The president is surrounded by various members of Congress from the TVA region, and at his left shoulder is Senator George Norris of Nebraska, after whom Norris Dam is named.

Here’s another photo taken at the 1982 World’s Fair linked from this TVA page:

Reporting: Monessa Guilfoil

WUTC-FM 88.1 kicks off 26th Year Fundraising Event

WUTC is in its third day of fundraising and we count on listener support to keep Chattanooga’s NPR affiliate strong.     If you listen to “Morning Edition”, “All Things Considered”, or WUTC’s own, “Around and About” via 88.1 on the FM dial or via the internet or if you find yourself logging in here to WUTC’s blog to find out about people and events in our community then please consider a contribution today.    Simply go to  WUTC.ORG and click on the “Pledge Now” button to become a member or renew your membership online.    This blog is provided by WUTC-FM and the support of listeners and viewers like you.    

 Thanks from the WUTCANA team!