A Snowman Like No Otter At The Tennessee Aquarium

Friday, December 11, 2009 - by Thom L. Benson

While the forecast calls for a spring-like day on Monday, the Tennessee Aquarium’s North American river otters will have a play day in the snow.

Shaved ice from the Tennessee Valley Ice Company will be brought into the Appalachian Cove Forest exhibit located high atop the Aquarium’s River Journey building. Staff members Courtney Lewis and Amy Graves will build a snowman for the otters complete with tasty treats like grapes, clams and smelt.

Ms. Graves expects this enrichment activity to be quite a sight as the feisty animals tear into the frozen form. “These guys really love to play in the snow,” said senior aviculturist Amy Graves. “And enrichment activities, such as building snowmen with hidden treats, are important for the otters’ overall health. It’s stimulating and fun for the animals.”

This winter enrichment activity will also be a lot of fun for visitors to watch. Guests will have two opportunities to see the otters playing in the snow on Monday, Dec. 14, at 11 a.m., and again on Friday, Dec. 18, at 2 p.m.


Chattanooga Featured In Where To Retire Magazine

Chattanooga has been selected by Where to Retire, the only magazine in America geared toward helping people with retirement relocation decisions, as a top retirement destination and will be profiled in the feature story “8 Terrific Towns for History Lovers.” The March/April 2012 issue will be available nationwide on February 21, 2012. Where to Retire editor Mary Lu Abbott said ... (click for more)

91st Annual Thomasville, Ga., Rose Show And Parade Is April 26-28

Celebrating 91 years, the Annual Thomasville Rose Show and Festival blooms April 26-28. A Southwest Georgia tradition since the 1920s, the free family-friendly Festival encompasses the Rose Show, which presents contemporary and heirloom roses against a backdrop budding with thousands of the blooms; the Rose Parade, known for its rose carpet and flowery floats; the Street Dance, ... (click for more)

Man Tells Police He Just Murdered His Wife

An Chattanooga man told police Monday night that he had just murdered his wife.  Police said Robert Lee Hardnett, 50. showed up at the County Jail to turn himself in at 8:40 p.m. He said his wife's body could be found at his place of employment, Power Supply Company, 1907 Daisy St.   Officers responded to that address and found the body of 34-year-old Elizabeth ... (click for more)

Red Bank Commissioners Choose Kenneth Welch To Replace Greg Jones; Jeno Won't Run Again

The four remaining members of the Red Bank Commission held a special called meeting on Tuesday and chose Kenneth Welch as the replacement for Vice Mayor Greg Jones, who moved to Alaska. At the same meeting, Commissioner Ruth Jeno announced she will not seek a new term. She urged the candidates who were not selected - Michael Tindle and Eddie Pierce - to run in the next election. ... (click for more)

Thoughts On The Mathews Sentencing

It is not by coincidence I haven’t submitted an opinion piece in some time to the Chattanoogan.  The topics I cover are generally vitriolic in regards to local political decisions and their makers regarding public safety and I do not wish to associate my name with more noble subjects such as that of the heroic death and cowardly murder of Chattanooga Police Sergeant Tim Chapin, ... (click for more)

A Good School Takes Involvement - And Response

As I have read the articles concerning Normal Park School I can’t keep from thinking when our children started to school in the 1960‘s. The two elementary schools in the city that were considered tops were Barger and Woodmore. We did not live in the zone for either school so we looked for a house to buy that was zoned for Woodmore.   We found ... (click for more)