News - Friday, September 13, 2013

Given the chance, many people would make their work easier, allowing for less stress and more free time. But not Marc H. Harwell, attorney at law. Rather, he chose to make his practice more difficult.

Hearing this, one might think Harwell is cut from rare cloth fashioned for mountain climbers. That is not the case. Rather, he wanted to develop as a lawyer and reap greater rewards.

The Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute (CWLI) has announced 16 women participating in the 6^th Annual Women Mentoring Women program. 

The Women Mentoring Women program is designed to help women develop or sharpen their mentoring skills and to assist them in giving back to the community by mentoring other women. The program consists of eight two-hour sessions led by recognized women in the community, who will present on topics such as the use of power, authority, and influence in the workplace, team building, understanding communication styles, and political savviness. The goal is to encourage women to utilize their talents and experience to help increase the presence of women in positions of civic and business leadership within the community.

Monday, September 16, 6-7 p.m., Hamilton County Courthouse

Judge Neil Thomas, III and Linda Moss Mines, Chattanooga and Hamilton County historian, will lead the first of four Constitutional Issues seminars on “Contempt of Court: The Ed Johnson case.” “Contempt of Court,” published in 1999, was written by Leroy Phillips, Jr., and Mark Curriden. Phillips was a prominent Chattanooga trial attorney and active CBA Member who passed away in 2011. Curriden is the legal affairs writer for the Dallas Morning News and lives in Dallas. The Johnson case was the first criminal case heard on appeal by the United States Supreme Court.  Unfortunately, a mob surrounded the Hamilton County jail and Johnson was hanged before the Court’s ruling could be enacted. 

The Chattanooga Fire Department’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team began special training Tuesday morning at the old Alabama Furniture Company, located at 2200 Glass Street. USAR team members from all three shifts practiced “shoring” techniques, which are used for incidents involving collapsed structures.

What’s the one thing that would make all the difference in your life if you could just get it done? If this one thing would really make the difference, why have you not done it yet? Is it because it’s too complicated? Do you need help? Is your lack of inaction nothing more than a lack of true desire to do what you think needs to be done? If you don’t desire to do it, maybe it’s not really the thing you need to do.

Referral List for Attorneys – the Center for Nonprofits (www.cnpchatt.org) often receives requests for attorney recommendations from local and regional nonprofit organizations.

Nonprofits might need help with filing a Form 1023 or 990, transactions, dissolution issues, HR concerns, and other issues.

I know that this is supposed be a health-related article, but I received an email from a friend this morning that I thought was worth passing on. And I guess it could be considered health because if this ever happened to you, you might explode!

I’m not sure if these stories are true or not, but I know one thing – if it has been thought of, then surely someone can actually do it. Read and maybe be a bit more cautious! 

Circa 1991, one of my golf buddies uttered a sentence using irregardless. Knowing what that meant, I didn’t challenge him. I figured someone else would. I was right, and he was able (at the other person’s expense) to point out that irregardless had been admitted to a certain dictionary the previous week. And thus was now part of his vocabulary.

The first sign that my husband and I were going to be in Chattanooga far longer than we planned was probably when I started my first volunteer gig.

It started when I saw a poster advertising a “Raptor Experience.” As a bird lover, and particularly birds of prey, I immediately told my husband, “We’re doing that!”

He was beaten (he knew that), but he was not broken. He saw, once for all, that he stood no chance against a man with a club. He had learned the lesson, and in all his afterlife he never forgot it. That club was a revelation. It was his introduction to the reign of primitive law... 

This past weekend, my daughter, son-in-law, and three grandchildren came to visit us for a few days. In our new, smaller home, things were loud and rowdy, as you would expect. But it was fun, and everyone seemed to fit in quite comfortably! I guess with kids and grandkids, there’s not much of a way to be uncomfortable.

Realtors have a bad name, says broker Vickie McBryar, and she wants to help change that. For her, improving the public image of real estate agents begins with making sure her clients understand their relationship is not about dollars.

“I have walked away from closings with no money because my clients trusted me, and I didn’t want to let them down,” she says. “As a Realtor, I’m in a position to help people. Sometimes, that means not taking my commission.”

Chattanooga Red Cross Emergency Service Director John Hitchens spoke during the monthly business resource and networking meeting of the local chapter of the Women’s Council of Realtors, held at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Wednesday, September 11. Hitchens spoke about the history of the Red Cross, the organization’s response to 9/11, and services the organization provides. He also called on Realtors to become Red Cross volunteers. Pictured with Hitchens is the local WCR board. From L-R: Nina Boss, Century Title & Escrow; Karen Flores, Cornerstone Community Bank; Cheree Dumas, Keller Williams; Ann Martin, Coldwell Banker; Kim Bass, RE/MAX; Brenda Pargeon, Crye-Leike; and Caryl Ann Sikes, Crye-Leike. The next meeting will be held Wednesday, October 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the same location. For more information, call Pargeon at 423-413-5802. (David Laprad)

Cabbage Patch Kids dolls are celebrating their 30th anniversary this year. I can remember when those fat-cheeked little dolls first started production. I can’t believe it was 30 years ago.

In honor of this little baby, which you can name and that has its own birth certificate, I have found a few facts you might not know about them. See how well you do.

The summer movie season might be over, but the opportunity to see the films released over the last few months at home instead of the theater is quickly approaching. With that in mind, I recently wrote about some of the best moments in movies over the summer; this week, I’ll cover the worst. As you consider what to rent, stream, VOD, or buy in the coming months, keep these things in mind.