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BUILDING PERMITS / FORECLOSURES / PUBLIC NOTICES KAY’S COOKING CORNER REAL ESTATE P6 P10 P11 Volume 102 | No. 49 HAMILTON COUNTY Single Copy 50¢ CHATTANOOGA, HAMILTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE December 4-10, 2015 H EVENT CALENDAR Little Cedar Mountain Estate planning Trail hike e Nickajack Naturalist will host a free four-mile hike on TVA’s Little Cedar Moun- strikes a chord tain Trail on Sat., Dec. 5. is will be a moderate, leisurely- paced hike with two climbs and two descents averaging with new attorney 350 feet in elevation gain. e outing will feature scenic By David Laprad on the keys laid out before her in a regi- views of Nickajack Lake and mented line – Sherrell is a pianist. ere’s the surrounding mountains. Lauren Sherrell lowers herself onto the no better word for a person who plays this e group will meet at the piano bench in the sanctuary of Lookout beautifully. trailhead at 9 a.m. (To find Valley Presbyterian Church and takes Once upon a time, this was to be Sher- the trailhead, take exit 158 on a slow breath. Her small, thin frame is rell’s life. To prepare, she spent the greater I-24, and then turn left. Im- relaxed as she raises her hands and begins mediately look for a sign on portion of her youth seated at a piano, the right with an arrow point- to perform a Bach prelude. e composi- practicing for up to six hours a day under ing across the road to the tion begins in full stride, which sends her the auspices of her parents, who taught Little Cedar Mountain Trail. fingers dancing across the ivory keys and her to be a disciplined student of the Take the gravel drive down to propelling a whirlwind of notes into the instrument. When the time came for her a parking area, which is adja- air. e room is empty except for her and to attend college, she earned a degree in cent to the interstate right- the 300-year-old music she’s bringing to instrumental performance at the University of-way fence.) e hike is vibrant life. of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). After appropriate for ages 8 and up. In this moment – her head bowed slight- she graduated, years of performing and Lauren Sherrell is an attorney with an estate planning Participation is limited, and ly, her ebon hair falling across the back of practice at O’Shaughnessy & Carter. She spent her youth pre-registration is required. her grey suit jacket, and her eyes focused See SHERRELL, page 2 preparing for a career in music. (Photos by David Laprad) For more information and to register, email Bob Butters or call (423) 991-1548. Mainx24 Mainx24, a 24-hour festi- Legal Aid announces new leadership val celebrating Main Street the firm’s Pro Bono Committee. commitment to access to justice Baker Donelson’s Pro Bono and the surrounding South- She’s a long-time volunteer with is one of the primary reasons she Shareholder Lisa Borden echoed LAET’s Pro Bono Project in Chat- joined the firm over 14 years ago. Gray’s comments. “Sheri has side, will take place Saturday, tanooga, and has been recognized “Given that commitment, it is not been a tremendous asset to Baker Dec. 5. e annual event fea- as an Attorney for Justice by at all surprising that my Baker Do- Donelson’s pro bono program, tures parades, music, poetry the Tennessee Supreme Court. nelson family raised a lawyer who in East Tennessee and across the readings, chili cook-offs, and Fox has a wide range of litiga- would one day take the helm of firm. While I will miss Sheri’s more. e event is organized tion experience at both the trial LAET. I go with the firm’s heartfelt wise counsel on our pro bono by residents, merchants, and and appellate levels in state and blessings and promises of contin- committee, I’m thrilled to have friends of the Southside com- federal courts. ued support for access to justice.” the opportunity to continue to munity. Fox earned her Juris Doctor Marshall H. Peterson, LAET collaborate with her in her new Films at the Jewish degree from e University of board president-elect, chaired the role at LAET. We look forward Cultural Center Tennessee College of Law, and search committee that recruited to working together with Sheri to also holds an M.S. in Mental Fox. “I’m excited Ms. Fox accept- serve East Tennesseans in need.” Two award-winning Health Counseling from Nova ed this leadership position,” said “Legal Aid of East Tennessee documentary films will be University and an A.B.J. in Jour- Peterson. “Her legal experience has been blessed through the screened on Saturdays Dec. nalism from e University of and demonstrated commitment years with exemplary leadership,” 5 and Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. at the Georgia. to civil justice for all led to the said Donald F. Mason, Jr., LAET Jewish Cultural Center, lo- “I’m thrilled and humbled to board’s unanimous decision. I’m board president. “Sheri Fox will cated at 5461 North Terrace join LAET in its ongoing quest to confident Ms. Fox’s energy and be no exception. She’s bright, Road. Individual tickets are ensure that our elderly, abused, perspective will serve the people able, resourceful, energetic, and $10 per person, and include Sheri A. Fox and low-income neighbors of East Tennessee well.” articulate, with years of high-level popcorn and a soft drink. receive the legal help they oth- Russell W. Gray, managing litigation experience. Perhaps erwise would be denied solely be- shareholder of Baker Donelson’s most important, Ms. Fox brings See EVENT CALENDAR, page 14 e board of directors of Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) cause they can’t afford to hire an Chattanooga office, said, “LAET a servant’s heart to the helm of INSIDE announced last week that Sheri attorney,” said Fox. “While equal really hit a homerun with this LAET, which remains poised to A. Fox has been named executive justice remains a dream in this hire. Sheri is an excellent attorney deliver justice for all to the most n PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS P3 director of the 26-county civil law country, it’s a dream the lawyers, who has long been dedicated to needy among us. We are indeed n FINANCIAL FOCUS P4 firm. She replaces David R. Yoder, staff, and supporters of LAET pro bono efforts. She also has a pleased to welcome Ms. Sheri Fox n ARE WE THERE YET? P10 who retires Dec. 31. work tirelessly and courageously knack for generating creative and as the new executive director of Fox comes to LAET after 14 day in and day out to make a real- effective ideas, and making those Legal Aid of East Tennessee.” n I SWEAR P15 years as an attorney with the ity. I’m proud to join them as the ideas become reality. Sheri will Fox begins her duties with n NEW FEATURE: Chattanooga office of Baker, hands, feet, and voices of access have a positive impact not only LAET on Jan. 1, 2016. SUCCESS STORIES P19 Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & to justice in East Tennessee.” on LAET in her new role, but also Source: Baker Donelson and Berkowitz, where she served on Fox said Baker Donelson’s on the community.” LAET v 2 | December 4-10, 2015 Hamilton County Herald www.hamiltoncountyherald.com had never thought about those things.” someone has an estate of signifi cance, and But Sherrell was eager to learn. During doesn’t want to dump a lot of money on a the course of earning her MBA, she took a young child, or even a child in their twenties legal ethics class, which sparked her interest who might not have the wherewithal to put HCH in becoming an attorney. When she told her the money to good use, I enjoy letting them parents she was thinking about going to law know they can gift that money at certain Hamilton County Herald school, they approved. times through a trust,” she says. 101 years of service “My mother said it was a great idea,” she Most important of all, Sherrell says she Telephone 423-602-9270 says, “so I applied.” loves her work. “I have the same drive I did Fax 423-602-9269 Sherrell earned her Juris Doctor at the when I was playing the piano. When I was 1412 McCallie Ave. Chattanooga, TN 37404 University of Tennessee at Knoxville and then learning music, I had to practice for hours passed the bar last year. After a brief turn and play from memory, which placed me Don Bona Publisher with a Chattanooga law fi rm, she worked with under a tremendous amount of pressure,” she Rear Admiral Vance Fry, an attorney special- says. “Law school required a lot of work and Susanne Reed izing in estate planning, probate, and elder eff ort, too, and I’m proud I was able to get General Manager Web Editor law. through it.” She likens the experience to an apprentice- Sherrell still plays the piano publicly. She’s Jay Edwards Editor-In-Chief ship. “I learned the things law school doesn’t the pianist at Lookout Valley Presbyterian teach you,” she says. “I wasn’t sure I would like Church, and performs occasionally for First Karen Dunphy estate planning when he fi rst mentioned it, Baptist Church in Ringgold. (She’s playing in Production Manager but once I started doing it, I liked it.” the latter’s Christmas program on Sunday, David Laprad Working with clients further kindled her Dec.