Lamar Russell Gilbert, 79, died on May 24, 2013 at a local health care facility. Arrangements will be announced by John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Ave., 622-9995. (click for more)

Stanley Whitman, 60, of Chattanooga died on Thursday, May 23, 2013.   He was a native of Altamont, Tn., and was preceded in death by his father, Elmo Whitman. Survivors include sons, Ransie Whitman, Tracy City, Renzo Whitman, Tullahoma; mother, Frances Whitman, Altamont; sisters, Carolyn Nunley, Altamont, Glenda Francisco, Virginia; brothers, Gary Whitman, Jasper, ... (click for more)

Nellie Mae Smith Hess, 94, of Kimball, TN, and formerly of Grundy County, died Wednesday, May 22, 2013 in a local nursing home.   The daughter of the late John Lewis and Martha Tennessee Smith, she was a member of Kimball Church of Christ and a former member of the Mountain Beautiful Garden Club in Tracy City and the FCE Club.   She was preceded in death ... (click for more)

Roger Lee Easterly, 54, of Dunlap, TN, died Tuesday afternoon, May 21, 2013.  He was a well-known carpenter who was loved by many and he loved to make them laugh. He had a passion for drag racing and was an avid gardener. His hobbies included being a mechanic, dancing and shooting pool. He was a loving father and loved to spend time with his children and his grandchildren.  ... (click for more)

Wade Hinton, who led Mayor Andy Berke's transition team, has been chosen as city attorney. It is a joint appointment with the City Council, and the move was endorsed by a number of council members who appeared with the mayor at a press conference on Friday morning. Mayor Berke did not retain Mike McMahan, the longtime city attorney. He passed over Phil Noblett, a longtime ... (click for more)

The head of BB&T's Chattanooga commercial banking operations has been charged by federal authorities with making fraudulent loans. Tracy Brown is set to plead guilty to bank fraud on June 4. Authorities said Brown "appropriated the identities of three customers and took out fraudulent loans in their names. In October 2012, a customer of BB&T, D.M., went to the Ooltewah ... (click for more)