Some people think he’s a loose cannon dispensing justice in a Roy Bean frontier style. Others love his unorthodox of problems.

He drives defense attorneys mad. But the city loves the way he runs City Court in Chattanooga.

Whatever anyone thinks of Judge Walter Williams, he’s one of a kind.

A few years ago, he was featured in an interview by Ed Bradley on 60 Minutes. He had, with the parents consent, spanked a wayward child.

Defense attorneys such as Hank Hill, Jerry Summers and others have a running battle. They objected when he had a TV screen installed to show a defendant’s record.

When Judge Williams fined over $50, he was contested and Judge Doug Meyer overruled him.

He had an attorney locked up when she challenged him, with the threat of contempt charges. Judge Meyer stepped in again.

Everyone wondered why government needed headhunters to fill vacancies. Maybe to rise above the buddy system in politics.

But good local people were overlooked.

Harry Reynolds tore up the city school system. and Skip Reeder cost Erlanger Hospital $26-million.

The jury is still out on Jesse Register. Like most educators, he’s not a good communicator, especially in politics.

The jury, especially the policeman on the beat, isn’t too please with Chief Jimmie Dotson. They say he doesn’t communicate with his officers on the beat, insulated from them.

One of his failed ideas was to make the seat belt a class one felony where officers could spot someone unbuckled and stop them. City Council had more sense and halted this.

He has had the same PR belief as Reeder and put himself on TV often.

Ralph Cothran came up through the ranks of the police department. He knew the city, its people and fellow officers.

Chief Dotson has a lot to learn.

His most recent goof has been a cosmetic transfer of 18 officers from one department to another. As one officer said, I just moved across the street, took a new title and do the same job, "a smoke and mirrors show to make the public think something progressive has been done."

More importantly, officers with experience with their work have been misplaced in new fields.

You could call it the parade that almost wasn’t. The annual Armed Forces Day parade held in Chattanooga since 1949 was being cancelled for "lack of interest." Those who had worked on it for years were understandably tired and saw a fading of the patriotic spirit among young people.

Beginning with a group at AL Post 95 and VFW Post 4848, a resolution was made and Bill Carman, chairman of the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council, picked up the banner. He asked me to set up an appointment with then Mayor Gene Roberts. Contrary to rumors, the city was for the parade.

Edith Adkins was picked as the chairman. Her experience and file on participants was invaluable. Bill Raines, then a colonel, was named military projects officer. Edith ran meetings with a strong hand, but she got the job done..

Most of us were new to parade organization and had to rely on the experience of others, people like Ray Atkins and George Bolus. It was tough going, but it was fun with everyone pulling together. That was 1995 when the CAVC stepped in to sponsor the parade, with the help of the city and County Commission. Experience has been gained and it works with more precision. But we’ll never forget the start and that it almost wasn’t.

Prosecutors learned nothing from the failed efforts of KEN STARR. Their 42 counts or reckless prosecution of FRANKLIN HANEY were dismissed. How do they pay him back for the smear they did to his life? How do they pay back the taxpayers for their waste? They should be held accountable. In a private firm, they would be fired by their employer. But the federal government rewards incompetence.

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No one wants a doctor operating on him if the doctor gets emotional in his work. Same follows with a newsman. DAN RATHER is a crybaby when he’s touched by something as immense as JFK Jr’s death.

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Downtowners welcome the opening of The Fountain where Eckerds left its customers on Market Street. The load shifted to harried clerks at McCallie and Willow. They have set up a half hour lunch break for pharmacists and the prescription counter now closes at 6 PM. Problem is a shortage of pharmacists. They can’t find enough.

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Best short order biscuits in Chattanooga are at the DAIRY QUEEN at McCallie and Central. Melt in your mouth.

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A letter from CHARLES OLIPHANT JR accused us of being Marxists for supporting the city’s buyout of its water facilities. He said he had been a combat veteran in WWII. While he was on the ground, VGG President RALPH WILSON was airborne over the battlefield. Besides, we all fought for Americans to have the right of free opinion and speech.

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In his tenure as director of Chattanooga’s National Cemetery, JIM WALLACE ran things with a strong hand, making a lot of friends and enemies. Some veterans actively campaigned for his replacement. At least Jim had one friend. Rep. ZACH WAMP gave him a set of Congressional cuff links. The government must feel Jim needs a rest. Of the five small cemeteries he will oversee from Culpepper, Va., four are already closed and just need grass cutting.