David Robert “Bobby” Ray was born in McMinnville, Tn., in February 1945, the year the Axis Powers of Germany, Italy, and Japan were approaching the end of their World War II reigns of terror. He graduated from McMinnville City High School in 1963 and was awarded a University of Tennessee Alumni Scholarship, attending UT until 1966. He also completed an associate of arts degree from Cumberland University. Ray, 21, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in March 1966, four months after the first major combat engagement between the U.S. and the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) at la Drang. He reported to the Naval Training Center, San Diego, California, and was certified through the Naval Hospital ... (click for more)

Several months ago, after a young, prominent local businessman was horribly executed on the streets of downtown Chattanooga by a career criminal on video and in front of witnesses, I wrote to Chattanoogan.com asking when Mayor Kelly and Police Chief Murphy were going to be held responsible for increasing levels of violent crime in our otherwise wonderful city. Other than an announcement about joint policing with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department, I am aware of no other response or reports concerning the effectiveness of this cooperative effort. To this day, violent crime appears to persist on an unabated basis. Repetitive shootings and other forms of violence continue at levels ... (click for more)