Mayor Ron Littlefield and several city and state engineers explained to the crowd of mostly-businessmen why the increase was necessary.

Un-funded mandates have come down from the EPA forcing expensive upgareds to the way the city handles rainwater runoff.

Littlefield used Atlanta and Birmingham as examples of what can happen if the city does nothing.

Littlefield revealed that beyond the appeal process, business-owners could receive credits against the fee by making improvements in the way run-off is handled on their property.

Many in the audience felt that the credit fell far short of the expense of making these improvements.

The city council will consider the public comments, but hold out little hope of reducing the fee.

Narcotics detectives were attempting to stop the suspects, who were driving a 2001 Mercury on Middle Valley road.  The suspects sideswiped a vehicle also traveling on Middle Valley road and continued on and turned onto Wesley Drive.  They traveled to the end of Wesley Drive only to find themselves on a dead end street.  When they turned and attempted to drive back towards the entrance, they drove into the path of a Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office K-9 vehicle.

The three suspects were transported to Erlanger hospital to be checked for injuries.  Detectives found narcotics valued at approximately $20,000.00 in the suspect’s vehicle and were described as Methamphetamine Ice, Oxycotin, Marijuana and Ecstasy along with a loaded firearm.

Joshua Robinson was found to have Felony warrants for Theft and Fraud in Gwinnett County, Georgia and a Felony warrant for Theft in Hamilton County.  The three suspects have been booked into the Hamilton County Jail on Narcotic related charges as well as the firearm possession.

As a result, Shirley has been removed the TBI’s most wanted list.

He had been wanted for questioning in the beating and stabbing death of his 27-year-old girlfriend Brandi Duba.

Duba’s body was found in the mobile homse she shared with Shirley back on November 3rd.

Her vehicle was also discovered burned and abandoned a short distance away from the residence.

Witnesses state a black male in all black clothing, hooded sweatshirt and a white mask approached the victim in the parking lot.

They then heard a single gunshot and the victim fell to the ground.

The suspect went through the victims pockets and shot him again.

Brown was taken to Parkridge hospital where he was later transferred to Erlanger.

He has undergone emergency surgery and is listed in critical condition.

The suspect was reported to have fled north on 4th Ave.

Anyone with information should call the Chattanooga Police Department at 698-2525.

Witnesses stated a small black car came down 2nd Ave and when it crossed Foust the rear passenger began firing in the direction of 1917 Foust St.

Ronald Glass, Jr. was standing on the sidewalk in front of 1917 Foust and was struck by one of the rounds that were fired from the vehicle. Glass was transported to Erlanger where he was treated for a minor gunshot wound to his lower abdomen.

The injury was non life threatening and he was will treated and released.

The second call was received just after 2:00 pm when officers were called to 1200 Grove St on shots fired, when they arrived several witnesses stated a small black vehicle stopped on Grove St and began shooting.

Officers did not locate a victim; however they did find evidence numerous shots had been fired. Officers found shell casings on the street and were able to recover casings from surrounding buildings.

The investigators on the first shooting were at Erlanger when 19-year-old Roland Reynolds showed up and told them he was standing on a porch in the 1200 block of Grove Street when a small black car, possibly a Ford Focus stopped and the right rear passenger fired 9 or 10 shots.

Reynolds sustained a single gunshot wound to the hand.

Chattanooga Police are looking for a late model small black vehicle, possibly a Ford Focus, Honda Accord or Saturn.

If anyone has info on this vehicle or either of these incidents please call the Chattanooga Police Department at 698-2525

He says he owns a vacant lot inside the city limits.

His property tax liability for the piece of land is 150 dollars, yet his stormwater fee will be 119 dollars a year.

City officials are holding a public hearing on the higher fees at 1 o’clock this afternoon in the city council chambers.

Pulse News will be there.

The Hamilton County Commission today voted to approve just over one million dollars to pay the vaccination program.

Several commissioners noted that one of the primary purposes of government was to look out for the general welfare of citizens, and felt that using tax money for vaccinations is a perfect example.

The Health Department, which noted earlier this week that there is currently a lull in H-1-N-1 related illnesses, said that they are receiving a steady supply of both the injectable and FluMist versions of the vaccines.

To make an appointment to receive the vaccine, county residents can call the department hotline at 209-83-93.

But now the north end is in need of repairs that will require closing the bridge down for 5 months.

North Shore business owners are not happy with the plan, as the closure will begin December 10th … at the peak of the Christmas shopping season.

Many of the shops only recently recovered from business interruptions caused by roadwork being done along Cherokee Boulevard a few years ago.

Roughly half of that will go toward the Section 8 program, nearly 12 million will go to low-income housing and the rest will go to operate the central office.

Housing authority Chairman Eddie Holmes said the small operating surplus is due to the hard work of his staff in running the department efficiently.

This coming Monday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. the public is asked to come by the dealership near Bradley Square Mall.

A rally is being held, and customers are asked to call GM headquarters and let their feelings be known, and they can sign a petition that will be forwarded to Michigan.

Don Ledford was one of 24-hundred GM dealerships to lose their franchise last year during GM’s bankruptcy.