Man-sized potholes; college is not for everyone; obit observations

Chattanoogans have short fuses about the state of our roads. As well they should. From Hixson to Hill City, our teeth-rattling roadways are in dire need of attention.

Plus, there’s a fair argument to be made that Mayor Tim Kelly’s now-famous pothole commercial was one of his top three campaign moves.

But, but, but — someone else always has it worse, right? Whatever teeth-rattling road you have to travel, check out a video of a seemingly bottomless pothole in Memphis that has become the talk of social media.

Traynor Jennings filmed the monstrous pothole that is almost-waist-deep on TikTok. It’s received millions of views and 250,000 likes in a week.

Be grateful for small things, like just a minor repair to a front wheel from Hixson Pike as opposed to the Memphis man-sized holes that can swallow an engine block.

SMART MOVE

The headline of the dropping rate of Hamilton County high school graduates heading to college caught a lot of eyes this week. Makes sense, it’s graduation season.

Count me among the folks who see a silver lining to the hand-wringing among the state’s educational leaders, including University of Tennessee System President Randy Boyd, who told a recent panel group, “We’re going in the wrong direction very fast.”

In an era when the public may be asked to cover the student loan debt of some, gauging the value of a college degree should be considered prudent.

A large part of the dip — almost 10% — happened in the aftershocks of COVID-19.

If these graduates are not prepared or not eligible to get into trade schools or colleges, well, that is problematic. But in a lot of cases, 18-year-olds self-aware enough to realize that college is not for them can be a good thing, too.

OBIT OBSERVATIONS

One of the coolest things our newspaper does is the veteran tributes each November.

A few years ago I got the chance to meet and write about C.B. Smith of Spring City, who served more than two decades in the Air Force and earned enough medals and awards to fill several trophy cases.

C.B. died late last month and was buried in the Chattanooga National Cemetery on Memorial Day.

Here’s an excerpt from his obituary: “(He) was the first pilot to graduate from flight school without a college degree. As the Korean Conflict arose, he was immediately promoted to pilot of a B-26, rather than serve tenure as a co-pilot and was the first 2nd Lieutenant and youngest to fly across the Pacific Ocean, then quickly dubbed 1st Lieutenant upon arrival at K-9 Pusan. Earning many accolades and medals, the highest honor was The Distinguished Flying Cross for bombing the largest ammo dump in Ichon, North Korea.”

Rest easy, C.B., and thanks for your time and for your heroic service.