🌱 "Chattanooga Tom" Dies + Erlanger Foundation Receives Donation

Good morning, Chattanooga! Like many of you, the Patch staff will be taking some time off for the holiday season, so you may not see as many newsletters in your inbox between now and the New Year. We will resume our normal schedule during the first week of January. For now, here’s what you need to know about what’s happening around town.

But first, your weekend weather:

• Saturday: Breezy in the morning. High: 26 Low: 17.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny and very cold. High: 30 Low: 14.
• Monday: Cold with clouds and sun. High: 35 Low: 23.

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Here are the top three stories in Chattanooga today:

1. Radio personality "Chattanooga Tom" Phillip passed away on Friday morning at the age of 67. The proud Dalton native had a length radio career in the Chattanooga and Dalton areas. (ChattanoogaRadioTV.com)
2. The Erlanger Foundation in Chattanooga received two donations towards its goal of purchasing pediatric critical care transport vehicles. The donations come from local families with experiences related to the need for critical care for children. (The Chattanoogan)
3. A tractor-trailer fire in the Brainerd area closed down eastbound lanes of I-24 early Friday morning. According to the Chattanooga Fire Department, the incident occurred between Germantown Road and Belvoir Avenue shortly after 2 a.m. No one was injured, and firefighters were eventually able to put the fire out. (WTVC)

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Today in Chattanooga:

• Brainerd Farmers' Market At Belvoir Ave (10:00 AM)
• Live Nativity, Petting Zoo & Photos With Santa At St. Marks Church (4:00 PM)
• Christmas Eve Service At Mac Avenue Event Space (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Do you have room in your home for a furry family member? Check out this roundup of adoptable pets in the Chattanooga area and meet Romeo, Daphne, Lydia, and many more pets waiting for a new home! (Chattanooga Patch)
• The holiday season can present an increased risk to the health of yourself and those around you. The Hamilton County Healthy Department has shared some useful health and safety guidance to keep you and your loved ones safe for the holidays. (Chattanooga Pulse)
• The In-Town Gallery in North Shore is welcoming in the new year with a new special showing of work by talented young artists. Eight artists from the Splash Youth Arts Workshop will have the opportunity to showcase their work beginning Jan. 6. (Chattanooga Pulse)

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You're officially in the loop for today. See you all next week for another update. Happy Holidays!

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a senior writer with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.