Top 5 things to know in the Chattanooga area today

January 11, 2013 at 9:20 a.m. | Updated January 11, 2013 at 9:20 a.m.

by Staff Report

A small crowd of children watched as 1,500 catfish were added to the pond at MacArthur Park for the annual fishing derby there Thursday.

LR pond stocked for annual fishing derby

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1) FATHER OF 3 IS CITY'S FIRST HOMICIDE VICTIM OF THE YEAR

28-year-old Edward Glenn, a father of three, was shot more than once when two gunmen entered a home on O'Rear Street on Thursday. Glenn died at the scene, Chattanooga's first homicide victim of 2013. As of Thursday night, no arrest had been made in his death.

Since Sunday, police have investigated five shootings where a total of eight people were wounded. It's unclear whether any of the shootings this week are connected.

2) COMMISSIONERS TO VOTE ON PROPOSED SHOOTING RANGE

Hamilton County commissioners will decide next week whether to fund a gun range for area law enforcement officers. The Chattanooga Police Department and Hamilton County Sheriff's Office outlined plans Thursday for a $4 million indoor firing range at the old Farmer's Market off 11th Street.

3) TRUSTEE GOES AFTER BROWN FAMILY ASSETS

A bankruptcy trustee has asked for a restraining order to stop the family of former tax preparer Jack E. Brown from hiding assets owed to victims of his alleged Ponzi scheme.

The trustee charged that Brown and his family acquired virtually all of their money, property and possessions as a result of a long-term Ponzi scheme that began more than 12 years ago. The Browns had little or no income outside of the scheme and were forced to prop up the family's businesses using funds from continually attracting new investors, the trustee wrote.

In total, the Browns could owe about $12 million.

4) EAST RIDGE TO GIVE WORKERS BONUSES, PUTTING CITY INTO $100,000 HOLE

The East Ridge City Council has voted to give all city employees a one-time bonus, even though the move will set the city up to start the new fiscal year with a $100,000 deficit.

Councilman Denny Manning proposed the bonus, which will give a $600 one-time payment to full-time employees and a $500 one-time payment to part-time employees.

5) SOLAR POWER TO ENERGIZE BONNAROO FESTIVAL

With the flip of a switch, Bonnaroo officials in Manchester, Tenn., have turned on the power of the sun to energize the country's first permanent solar array for a music festival.

The 50-kilowatt solar system covers about 5,000 square feet and will provide about 20 percent of the power needed to run the festival.

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