The most memorable quotes in the Times Free Press for Dec. 30-Jan. 4.
"At this point we're moving from something tragic to something special."
- Ringgold City Councilman and middle school teacher Nick Millwood, on the opening of the brand-new eighth-grade wing of Ringgold Middle School. The wing was destroyed in the tornado of April 27, 2011.
"She spoke up whenever she saw a need, so people saw her as having courage and bravery at a time when we were not expected to be brave."
- Longtime civic leader Moses Freeman, on civil rights trailblazer and 20-year state legislator Tommie Brown
"We have a saying here. We aren't pessimistic or optimistic, we're o'possumistic."
- Clay Logan, organizer of Brasstown, N.C.'s, possum drop
"Heat waves will become more severe in most regions of the eastern United States, and both the Northeast and Southeast will see a drastic increase in precipitation."
- Joshua Fu, a civil and environmental engineering professor, on a new study about what the nation can expect in terms of climate change