MLILY Mattresses in Chattanooga, TN

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The third-seeded Samford women's tennis team earned a 4-1 win over the host and sixth-seeded Chattanooga in the first round of the Southern Conference Tournament Thursday afternoon at The Champions Club.

With the win, Samford improved its record to 10-11, and the Bulldogs advanced to Friday's semifinal round where Samford will face second-seeded Furman at 9 a.m. (CT). Chattanooga ended its season with a mark of 8-14.

In doubles, Samford took the match at No. 3 with and defeating Margaret Manolache and Emma Pedretti, 6-3. After Chattanooga took the No. 1 doubles match, Samford clinched the doubles point at No. 2 when and defeated Caroline Gibbens and Emma Peeler, 7-5.

In singles, Chattanooga tied the match with a win on the No. 2 court, but Samford took the lead with wins at No. 3 and No. 6. At No. 3, defeated Peeler, 6-4, 6-2. On the No. 6 singles court, earned a 7-5, 6-1 win over Manolache to give Samford a 3-1 lead.

Samford clinched the 4-1 win at No. 5 singles when Jaraczewski defeated Pedretti, 3-6, 6-1, 6-0.

Samford will now take on the No. 2 seed Furman in the semifinal round Friday at 9 a.m. (CT). To follow the match online, click on the following link: TOURNAMENT CENTRAL.

Samford 4, Chattanooga 1 Singles Competition 1. Rozalie Dohnalova (UTC) vs. (SAMW) 6-2, 6-6, unfinished 2. Caroline Gibbens (UTC) def. (SAMW) 6-2, 6-2 3. (SAMW) def. Emma Peeler (UTC) 6-4, 6-2 4. Alice Hall (UTC) vs. (SAMW) no result 5. (SAMW) def. Emma Pedretti (UTC) 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 6. (SAMW) def. Margaret Manolache (UTC) 7-5, 6-1

Doubles Competition 1. Rozalie Dohnalova/Alice Hall (UTC) def. / (SAMW) 6-4 2. / (SAMW) def. Caroline Gibbens/Emma Peeler (UTC) 7-5 3. / (SAMW) def. Margaret Manolache/Emma Pedretti (UTC) 6-3

FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS: For the latest news and information on Samford women's tennis, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at /SamfordSports (Facebook, @SamfordWTennis (Twitter), and @Samfordwomenstennis (Instagram).

For the 13th consecutive year, local public-school teachers have earned grants for self-designed summer fellowships that they will use to enrich the knowledge of their students. The grants are made possible by the national non-profit Fund for Teachers and its partnership with Public Education Foundation.

“Congratulations to the seventeen local public-school teachers who won a 2024 Fund for Teachers Fellowship!”, said Dan Challener, president of Public Education Foundation. “We know that students benefit when their teachers have deep knowledge of the subjects they teach; these grants give our teachers the opportunity to become true experts. At a time when teacher morale is especially precarious, PEF is deeply grateful to Fund for Teachers for these fellowships.”

Fund for Teachers awarded over $77,401 in grants to teachers from Hamilton County and Bradley County this year. This past fall, all local public-school teachers were invited to apply for a grant of up to $5,000 for a fellowship for an individual teacher and up to $10,000 for a grant for a team of teachers.

The 2024 cohort of Fund for Teacher fellowship winners includes:

• Sara Zane of Tyner Middle and Julieta Goode of Hunter Middle will attend the International Society of Technology and Education (ISTE) in Denver, CO, to gain expertise in Computer Science integration across all content areas and bring back tools designed to help students become more proficient in computational thinking across the curriculum.

• Chad Burnett of Chattanooga High Center for Creative Arts will explore the people and pieces comprising New York City’s art galleries, particularly those in the Chelsea Art District, to deepen personal knowledge of art making skills, create a series of 'stories' about people working in the world of visual arts, and bring current artistic trends into the classroom.

• Rita Schubert and Michele Pesce of East Ridge Elementary will journey through the southern regions of France on a guided bike and boat tour and participate in the Agen Workshop focused on Comprehensible Input Methods for language acquisition to create engaging and meaningful lessons that support students’ linguistic development and academic growth.

• Jamie Kerns of Lookout Valley Middle/High School will undertake a journey through Morocco and the Canary Islands to immerse in their cultures and languages. This experience will include visits to historic sites, UNESCO biospheres, national parks, and participation in an intensive language course combined with a homestay. The purpose of this trip is to enhance his personal understanding of how these cultures and languages shape the Hispanic heritage that is common among an increasing number of his students.

• Catherine Cox and Sydney Parton of Chattanooga High Center for Creative Arts will explore the untouched beauty of Banff and Jasper National Parks in the Canadian Rockies to heighten personal understanding of the mental and physical health benefits of exploring nature. They will create a school hiking club that incorporates mindfulness, creative writing, and wellness education.

• Jennifer Ellis of STEM School Chattanooga and Jami Thomason of Ocoee Middle will observe some of the world’s leading conservation programs in the United Kingdom to create custom conservation PBLs for student implementation that demonstrate how ecosystems worldwide are affected by environmental and human influences.

• Abigail Klett of Chattanooga Preparatory and Susannah Jacobs of Thrasher Elementary will travel across Italy to study the art and design techniques originating from the Renaissance period. Their goal is to understand how innovation and design during that era can foster empathy. They plan to incorporate this understanding into new project-based learning lessons.

• Melanie Carpenter of East Ridge Middle will research the successful and ambitious

mental health modalities practiced in Barcelona, specifically for young people, and also meet with Liderazgo en Accion, an organization that helps immigrants integrate into society, to better meet students’ social and academic needs.

• Rowena Williams of The Howard School will live with the families of students who have migrated from the mountain regions of Huehuetenango and San Marcos in Guatemala. She aims to gain a deep understanding of their experiences and cultural background. This insight will be used to develop new educational content that celebrates students’ culture and addresses the challenges they face, such as trauma, depression, and homesickness. This effort is designed to help these students better cope with the stresses of school, work, and extracurricular activities.

• Kimberly O’Brien of Clifton Hills Elementary will engage in a cultural and linguistic immersion program based in Santo Domingo de Heredia, Costa Rica, and volunteer with CEDCAS, an organization dedicated to empowering families through education and medical support, to build strategies and competencies for meeting the academic, social- emotional, and linguistic development needs of newcomer students experiencing trauma associated with emigration.

• Alison Redfoot of Normal Park Museum Magnet School will explore the American Revolution from the perspective of a woman who lived through it. She plans to visit key historical sites in Washington D.C. and Boston to conduct her research. The goal is to guide her students towards understanding how perspective shapes one's thoughts and actions, thereby fostering a more nuanced view of history.

• Lora Taylor of Tyner Middle Academy will attend the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Deer Isle, ME, to discover exciting new ways to merge art and 21st-century technology in her school’s VW eLab. Her goal is to prepare students for the ever- evolving, technology-driven world while nurturing their self-expression through art.

“A curious teacher who recognizes students’ learning gaps, honors their lived experiences, and actively seeks innovative solutions will change the lives of those students and their families,” said Karen Eckhoff, Fund for Teachers’ executive director. “Our Fellows are models of what can happen when teachers are respected professionals and valued as agents of change.”

As a regional partner with Fund for Teachers, PEF provides targeted support for HCS teachers throughout the rigorous application process. This support has helped over 200 HCS teachers earn Fund for Teachers awards and pursue these enriching learning experiences around the globe. The personalized learning model invests directly in veteran teachers as they design and participate in unique professional learning during their travels. Following the summer fellowship, Fellows return to Hamilton County schools and develop lessons that are informed by what was learned during the Fellowship.

4th Clothing and Textiles-1st-Brogan Smith, CSLA, 3rd-Jane Yang, CSAS, 2nd-Reef Smith, CSAS, Partic-Blakely Vanderpool, NHCES

Fourth and fifth grade students from across Hamilton County gathered at the UTC University Center on March 24 for the 2024 Hamilton County 4-H Demonstration Contest. More than 70 first-place winners at 4-H school and community club contests gave five-minute presentations on how to do activities related to their 4-H project areas.

First-place winners at this County contest advance to the Multi-County 4-H Demonstration Contest to be held on May 2 in Bradley County.

2024 Hamilton County 4-H Demonstration Contest winners of the March 24 contest are:

Animal Science – Horse: 4th grade, 1st place – Alex Byard, North Hamilton County Elementary School (NHCES).

Animal Science – Horse: 5th grade, 1st place – Kynley Jenkins, Soddy Elementary.

Animal Science – Poultry: 4th grade, 1st place – Ansley Sullivan, North Hamilton County Elementary School (NHCES).

Animal Science – Poultry: 5th grade, 1st place – Alex Covarrubias, Hixson Elementary.

Animal Science – Swine: 5th grade, 1st place Heath Hassler, Chattanooga School for Liberal Arts (CSLA).

Art/Line & Design: 4th grade, 1st place – Anushree Bhagyaraj, Chattanooga School for Liberal Arts (CSLA).

Art/Line & Design: 5th grade, 1st place Jeffrey Stubblefield, Chattanooga School for Arts and Sciences (CSAS).

Citizenship: 5th grade, 1st place – Teniyah Tumlin, CSAS.

Clothing and Textiles: 4th grade, 1st place – Brogan Smith, CSLA; 2nd place – Reef Smith, CSAS; 3rd place – Jane Yang, CSAS; Participant – Blakely Vanderpool, NHCES.

Clothing and Textiles: 5 th grade, 1st place – Tori Brown, CSLA.

Communications: 4th grade, 1st place – Vivienne Aslinger, CSAS.

Communications: 5th grade, 1st place – Eden Duguay, CSAS.

Companion Animal: 4th grade, 1st place – Elsie Callaway, CSLA; 2nd place – Annika Swain, CSLA; 3rd place – Cora Alverson, CSLA.

Companion Animal: 5th grade, 1st place – Audrey Clark, CSAS; 2nd place – Elizabeth Kinnamon, CSLA; 3rd place – Jalia Aker, Harrison Elementary; Participant – Jala Aker, Harrison Elementary.

Computers & Technology: 5th grade, 1st place – Joel Seo, CSLA; 2nd place – King Ali, Harrison Elementary

Electric: 4th grade, 1st place – Adam Anteneh, CSLA; 2nd place – Kai Satterfield, CSLA; 3rd place – Rylan Lewis, NHCES; Participant – Eshan Rous, CSLA.

Electric: 5th grade, 1st place – Sam Moffitt, CSAS; 2nd place – Alex Ervin, CSAS.

Engineering: 4th grade, 1st place – Syna Patel, CSLA; 2nd place – Kabir Brahmbhatt, CSAS.

Engineering: 5th grade, 1st place – Griffin Burk, CSAS.

Entomology: 4th grade, 1st place – Haley Schoneck, NHCES.

Food Science: 4th grade, 1st place – Ruby Walker, CSLA; 2nd place – Alex Maldonado, Hixson Elementary; 3rd place – Kyla Townsend, CSAS; Participant – Sebastian Ballard, CSLA.

Food Science: 5th grade, 1st place – Amelia Martin, CSAS; 2nd place – Riley Anderson, Hixson Elementary.

Horticulture and Gardening: 5th grade, 1st place – Beckett Adams, CSAS; 2nd place – Hiram Day, III, CSAS.

Leadership/Personal Development: 4th grade, 1st place – Katie Beth Hutchings, NHCES; 2nd place – Johnny Goulart, CSLA; 3rd place – Evan Hicks, Hixson Elementary.

Leadership/Personal Development: 5th grade, 1st place – Addie Ham, CSAS.

Nutrition, Health & Fitness: 4th grade, 1st place – Jane Farrell, CSLA.

Nutrition, Health & Fitness: 5th grade, 1st place – Helayna Garrett, Harrison Elementary.

Performing Arts: 4th grade, 1st place – Wilder Thomas, CSAS; 2nd place – Maggie Lee Thompson, CSLA; 3rd place – Luke Boutwell, CSAS.

Performing Arts: 5th grade, 1st place –TiJerria Woodruff-Mason, CSLA; 2nd place – Aniyah Johnson, CSLA.

Photography: 4th grade, 1st place – Audrey Leonard, CSAS; 2nd place – Riley Daniels, NHCES.

Photography: 5th grade, 1st place – Atharva Kolappan, 4-H Archery Club; 2nd place – Maddie McCamish, CSAS.

Plant Science: 4th grade, 1st place – Daniel LaBudde, Hixson Elementary; 2nd place – Saige Pell, CSAS.

Recreation: 4th grade, 1st place – Luke Haddock, CSLA.

Recreation: 5th grade, 1st place – Mason Scott, Hixson Elementary; 2nd place – Drew Laymon, CSAS; 3rd place – Jarron Peterson, CSAS.

Veterinary Science: 4th grade, 1st place – Pia Slatton, CSLA.

Veterinary Science: 5th grade, 1st place – Rukiyah Usman, CSAS.

4-H STEM: 5th grade, 1st place – Kaylee Yates, Harrison Elementary; 2nd place – Ravi Kumbhaj, CSAS; 3rd place – Anderson Barger-Howell, CSLA.

4-H programs in Hamilton County are provided by staff of the University of Tennessee and Tennessee State University Extension Office for Hamilton County. All Hamilton County youth in grades fourth through 12th are welcome to join 4-H at any time, and there is no cost to join. More information on 4-H is available at the Extension Office website Hamilton.Tennessee.edu.

In the Third Round of the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, Birmingham Legion FC and Chattanooga Red Wolves SC had a rematch of last year’s Second Round match up, this time down at The University of Montevallo. This matchup in 2023 resulted in a 4-1 win in the Scenic City for Birmingham, but this year was tougher as the Legion equalized twice, forced extra time and ultimately won 4-2 in front of a capacity crowd.

The story of the match was a four-goal performance by Birmingham’s Stefano Pinho as he scored two equalizers in regulation and two more goals in extra time to send the Legion to the Round of 32. Pinho becomes just the 13th player in the tournament’s Modern Era (1995-present) to score four or more goals in a single game. In fact, he’s just the second during that span to score four goals after halftime.

The match started with a flurry of chances for Birmingham, with several corners and early fouls in Birmingham’s favor, but Chattanooga weathered that storm. At the 12-minute mark, the deadlock was broken by a picture-perfect set piece by the Red Wolves. Ricky Ruiz, the 2021 USL League One assists leader, put in a perfect ball into the box that was headed into the back of the net by Leo Folla.

Immediately after the resulting kickoff, Jake Rufe quickly picked up a yellow to open Legion’s book. Legion had several more chances to put a ball on target, but none to the worry of Tim Trilk, the Red Wolves keeper. That frustration really showed as in the 34th minute, Enzo Martinez picked up a yellow card on a late challenge. Outside of some small chances on each side, the first half ended up fizzling out with Red Wolves up 1-0 as they were seeking to reach the Fourth Round for the first time in club history.

The second half started with Tyler Pasher coming on for Enzo Martinez, and his impact was felt immediately with a beautiful corner finding the head of Stefano Pinho in the 48th minute to pull things level.

The match continued to gain intensity as Tabort Etaka Preston picked up a yellow card in the 57th minute. That intensity fully bubbled over as Legion goalkeeper Matt VanOekel and Red Wolves’ Ropapa Mensah had a nasty collision in the box, resulting in a Chattanooga penalty and a VanOekel yellow card, that was slotted away by Ricky Ruiz to give Chattanooga its second lead of the night in the 76th minute. Not even five minutes later, Pasher found Pinho again on a corner to draw the match back to level the score at 2-2 in the 80th minute.

The match fully went in the favor of Birmingham when Pinho was through on goal, and Gustavo Fernandes did what he had to do, and pulled him down just outside of the box, resulting in a red card for the Red Wolves in the first minute of second half stoppage time. Despite being down a man, Chattanooga managed to hold on to the draw long enough to force extra time.

In extra time, Birmingham continued to tighten the screws on Chattanooga, and at the very end of the first half of extra time, Pinho found himself on the end of yet another corner, this time provided by Kobe Hernandez-Foster in the first minute of stoppage time in the first period of extra time to give Birmingham their first lead of the night.

To start the second half of extra time, Prosper Kasim, the hero of Legion’s Open Cup run in 2023, turned provider and played a through ball to Pinho, who slotted it away for his fourth of the night, and the first open play goal of the night between the two teams. To end the night, 15-year-old Ramiz Hamouda made his first appearance for Birmingham Legion.

The match ended 4-2, but the scoreline does not reflect just how well Chattanooga played, but it is once again that Legion come out triumphant against the Red Wolves of Chattanooga to earn their way into the Fourth Round of the US Open Cup for the second year in a row.

Soon new homes will be on the market in Chattanooga. The grassy area located at 3525 Garner Road is set to be transformed into a gated-community of 42 micro homes.

A 2023 affordable housing report from Northside Neighborhood House said Chattanooga's current housing issue is two-fold, housing costs are at a record high and inventory is low.

Rashad Jones-Jennings, a retired professional basketball player and a former Howard School and Chattanooga State student said he wants to give back to his community by building up homes.

"My plan is to revitalize my community and love on the community and show them that you know, you can do it too," he said.

Jones-Jennings said his first project in Chattanooga was bringing a car wash on Wilcox back to life after being shut down for more than 5 years.

Now he's developing a gated community of 42 single family micro-homes ranging from 520 to 815 square feet in the east dale area. Valentina Estates ranges in price from $239,000 to $279,000.

"This development will have a park type feel to it, it's like your own little oasis inside of the Eastdale neighborhood," he explained.

The project was approved for a special permit from Chattanooga City Council in February of 2023. Jones-Jennings said the micro-homes will have attainable housing options and he's hoping to bring more homeowners to the community.

"I'm a big proponent of having a mixture of options so we can retain the people who are already in the community instead of having people run to the suburbs so we can get some of that tax revenue for our school system."

We spoke to one resident who says she's looking forward to these micro-homes.

"The plans looked really nice, I liked that the micro homes were very, it seemed like a very tight knit community. As far as the closeness and you'll be able to interact with people. I like the ponds and the dog park," said Melanie Conover.

Jones-Jennings said his main priority is to inspire the youth in Chattanooga and leave the community better than he found it. He said they are now waiting on the land disturbance permit, once they receive it they will start clearing ground and then it will be a 12 month process to develop the community.

Click here to learn more about Valentina Estates.