CHATTANOOGA’S

MONDAY / OCTOBER 26, 2026

GOOD ENERGY. CHATTANOOGA EDITION.

Usher, raised in Chattanooga · Read the interview

ORIGINAL SCOOP ILLUSTRATION

New around here? You’re in good company. Good local news on Mondays. Your weekend plans on Thursdays.

01 / Good news. Better mood.

Chattanooga Zoo says Banana Ball raised more than $73,000 for a portable X-ray machine and ICU system. Both are planned for the Zoo’s future veterinary hospital.

See the Zoo’s Banana Ball update →

Chattanooga’s Michelin list just grew to five, and its newest addition, 2nd, had me guarding my leftovers on the drive home.

I was torn on what to order, but August walked us through it all, from drink recommendations to dessert.

The pot roast was melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and the mashed potatoes tasted like something straight off your nana’s kitchen table. Honestly, I don’t think you can go wrong with anything on the menu. From the timing to the little details, the whole experience left me impressed.

On the drive home, I actually gasped because I thought I’d left my leftovers behind. Luckily, they were tucked safely in the seat beside me. Some things are worth turning the car around for.

See Chattanooga’s full five →

Know someone who’d love the Scoop? Share your referral link below — every friend who signs up is one entry to win a $100 gift card to 2nd, the restaurant behind today’s Michelin story.

One referral, one entry. Winner drawn every month and announced right here.

At the Chattanooga Free Store, neighbors can pick up everyday essentials without a price tag. Volunteers sort donated items and stock the shelves, helping turn what one neighbor no longer needs into something another can use. Everything is free, and everyone is welcome.

Learn about the Free Store →

02 / MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR

Tish Gailmard’s first assignment at Reflection Riding came in a box: 300 keys, with the job of figuring out what each one opened.

A friend on the board had asked her to help out. After working in several areas, she found her way to the wildlife department, where she spent most of her years caring for animals. Today, she brings animal ambassadors into schools, senior living facilities, and events to help people understand native wildlife.

One memory involves a small, dominant female Red Wolf whose mate had died. An adult male with a history of aggression toward females needed to leave another facility. Tish believed the female could hold her own.

After time in an acclimation pen, the male joined her enclosure. He headed for a pile of deer meat, and she bit him in the haunch. Tish knew the pairing would work. It did: the two lived together for years and helped Reflection Riding teach people about Red Wolves.

The work has taught her patience, presence, and attention to detail. As she puts it: “Animals are always telling us something, we just have to learn how to listen.”

She loves helping people see wildlife differently. Someone who fears snakes may leave her programs with a new appreciation for their place in the environment, then share what they learned.

Her advice for Chattanooga neighbors starts close to home: plant native trees, shrubs, and flowers; leave some leaves and log piles; and offer a shallow dish of water. Or join a program at Reflection Riding and get to know the wildlife around you.

03 / REAL ESTATE · LISTING OF THE WEEK

100 Fairy Trail · Lookout Mountain, TN

$1,425,000
4 bedrooms · 3 bathrooms · 4,254 square feet

Blue walls, a green sofa and a fireplace make this Lookout Mountain home anything but beige. Built by George Getter on 1.4 wooded acres, it also has a sunroom, a deck and a renovated primary bath with heated marble floors. Come for the color. Stay for the soaking tub.

See every room on Redfin →

Listed by Julianna Robinson, Real Estate Partners Chattanooga LLC. Price and availability checked October 25, 2026; subject to change.

I don’t just write about Chattanooga. I help people find their place in it. Buying, selling, or just kicking around an idea? Let’s talk.

Dan Hicks | Senior Lead Agent | REDFIN
423-605-0773 | TN License #353819

04 / A LOCAL VOICE

by Sharon Smith Shadrick

I first met Chrissie Anderson Peters at Table Rock Writer’s Retreat back in 2022. We were both in Denton Loving’s nonfiction class. Chrissie had already been published in multiple Appalachian magazines and held several book titles under her name. I suffered from a severe case of imposter syndrome, having no books or poems published other than an article or two in the Dunlap Tribune.

Chrissie encouraged me to submit, pointing out publications that were a good fit for my work. She read what I had and suggested revisions. But, most of all she was a cheerleader, not letting me give up. Perseverance is the key to writing success. That and a community of writers who hold you accountable. For me, Chrissie was that person.

When Chrissie started writing her short stories that became Miles Away From Nowhere, I read them first, lending support to her as she had done with me. She wasn’t sure what she had as each individual story stood on its own. Gradually, she found the commonalities and realized the stories connected. The Appalachian town of Langston was born, filled with characters who were strong, but broken. Tested by fire and surviving.

Miles Away From Nowhere, published by Mountain State Press, is available for purchase at https://mountainstatepress.org/shop/miles-away-from-nowhere/. The book trailer, created by Minnow Media’s Donna Campbell, reveals Langston in its poverty and pride while also protecting its dignity and unique culture. You can view the trailer at chrissiewrites.com.

Follow Chrissie on Facebook

05 / A LITTLE IN THE WILD

On the outskirts of Chattanooga, on a mountain by a lake…is a perfect place to do some birdwatching. It becomes our way of life because you are actually living near the birds’ habitats.

It is not unusual to see our resident osprey zoom in and fish for his breakfast and dinner. Like clockwork, around the same time every day it happens. Sometimes if it is foggy, he suddenly appears out of the fog! And there he is. Landing and perching in the willow tree right in front of us. It is nothing short of spectacular.

We have discovered, along with
Birdwatchers everywhere, the Merlin app. The App Store is where you can find it and it is absolutely free.
Cornell University has done such a great job with this app; we donate money to the program.

How it works:
You install the app, Merlin finds your exact location and immediately gets to work. Any bird activity is picked up and recorded. Every time a bird makes a sound it is identified. Merlin provides pictures and all sorts of information about the birds also.

It’s wonderful for back porch sitting.

What is even more amazing is that when you go to other areas in the country Merlin goes with you. You have the opportunity to hear and let it identify all sorts of birds you may have never even heard of.
One of our favorite things to do is park our camper van in a state park, set up comfortable chairs and turn it on. I love taking screen shots of the list of birds identified.

The sky is the limit. You can do as much research about specific birds as you care to do. Every state you visit, the birds change quite drastically but it is always best when you are home in your own yard on the porch. We love sharing our home with them all.

Explore the free Merlin Bird ID app →

Sharon Hicks

Editor’s note: To try Merlin’s Sound ID, open the app and start a recording. It offers possible bird matches, not guaranteed identifications, and may miss some birds. Compare its suggestions with what you hear or see.

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Dan Hicks

DAN HICKS | REDFIN CHATTANOOGA | TN LICENSE #353819