A long-studied new cell tower at Lookout Mountain, Tn., may finally get underway. Wireless Properties and Crafton Communications, the two companies that have qualified to build it, will submit bids on Sept. 7. The next day, Lookout Mountain Commissioners will select the best bid and designate which company will build the tower.
Tennessee recently announced 170 schools statewide that were designated Reward Schools.
Lookout Mountain Elementary was one of them that earned the position because of performance. Some were on the list because of improvements made from the previous year. This year there will be 178 students starting school, an increase of six from last year, and there will be 30 new families at the school, four new teachers and a new greenhouse that is being built by the Lookout Mountain Beautiful Garden Club.
Don Stinnett, commissioner of schools, said registration was Monday and the first day of classes is Thursday. The kindergarten will be phased in over a period of one week. Parent orientation will be next Tuesday, and a meeting for Lookout Mountain School new parents is scheduled for Aug. 20. Sept. 1 is the first PTA meeting of the year starting at 6 p.m. The Boosterthon Fun Run will be held Sept. 3 and the Carnival is Sept. 22.
Chief Randy Bowden compiled statistics from the fire and police departments for the month of July that were presented by Commissioner of Fire and Police Jim Bentley. During the month there were 60 calls to the police, four assist citizen calls and 10 calls to 911. Police patrolled 4,282 miles in July, answered 20 false burglar alarms and made 10 traffic stops. There was one auto accident and no thefts. One arrest was made for a theft in June from an automobile that was parked near the Incline. There were 13 medical calls and one false fire alarm during the month.
Commissioner Bentley and Chief Bowden along with Town Consultant Dwight Montague recently went over all the equipment used in both the fire and police departments to make sure it was up to par in light of everything that occurred in Chattanooga with the military shootings. “Our guys are trained and equipped and should be ready if called upon,” said the commissioner.
Football on the mountain starts Sept. 1 and goes through Nov. 1, said Commissioner of Parks and Playgrounds Brooke Pippinger. Registration forms will be sent home from school in backpacks, she said. Practices will be at the school. Wrestling will begin in early November and continues until Christmas break in December. Practices will be at Lookout Mountain School on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Commissioner Pippinger reported on the success of Movie Night that was organized by Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church on Aug. 4. It was estimated that 400-500 people of all ages were there to see Despicable Me. It was a great event, said the commissioner. T-shirts and hats that were sold that night are still available by calling the church office.
The Mother’s Day Out staff at LMPC were recently trained in CPR by instructor Don Massengale from the town’s public safety department. This was time well spent, said Ms. Pippinger. Mayor Carol Mutter made the suggestion to also offer the class to the staff at Good Shepherd Episcopal.
The financial report for July showing $17,500 in new building permits was given by Mr. Montague. During the month, 44 percent of the budget came in, he said, including $573,938 from the Hall State Income Tax on dividends. The yearly audit was performed for the cost of $5,400, and he said payroll figures are high because there were three pay periods during July.
The public works department currently is busy spraying the roadsides for weed control, said Chief Bowden in the absence of Public Works Commissioner Walker Jones. The garden clubs on the mountain have joined to try and rid the town and National Park of invasive plants. Small signs have been placed in a few locations to help citizens identify the worst plants to be aware of. Many invasive species come from plants that our grandmothers planted, said Peggy Laney, but these can usually be kept under control if people keep them trimmed and if they pull new plants as they spread. The worst offenders are new invasive plants, she said. Porcelain Berry is a deciduous vine that grows incredibly fast and completely covers desirable plants and Ailanthus trees, also known as the Tree of Heaven, are two of the worst. The garden clubs plan on working with the town’s public works department to eradicate these plants before they get too far out of control.
Mr. Montague gave an update on the concert planned for Sunday night, Sept. 6, at the Commons that is being put on by a group of old friends from the mountain that are known as the “Fonty Dogs.” Three bands will play that night, opening with the Missionary Blues Band, featuring The Young Rascals with headliner The Lovin’ Spoonful. Tickets are available online at www.fontydogsreunion2015.com for $20 per person.
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n first reading, Jeff Allen was given permission for a zoning variance to extend the kitchen at his house at 611 Kyle Ave. The new building will come two and a half feet from the property line. The zoning ordinance specifies this distance to be 15 feet. The house on the lot next door adjoining the property line sits 25 feet away from it, which will allow enough space between the houses for a fire engine so Chief Bowden said he found no problem. Both adjacent neighbors have given written permission. A second vote will be required before the variance is granted.