Stories from Wednesday, October 24, 2007

The Al Menah Shrine Circus, presented by George Carden Circus International, delighted visitors to Calsonic Arena for two shows Tuesday night, and was so well-received that the circus has already booked the facility for a return appearance in October 2008. Attractions included tigers, monkeys, elephants, aerialists, and six motorcycles in the traditional "globe of death."...

At least seven vehicles were entered Saturday in the parking lot of Bedford Manor Apartments, Barksdale Lane, One victim told police of missing items. Mattie Gipson said her purse and a safe containing collectible coins were gone. •More vehicle burglaries occurred Monday on Oakwood Place...

More than four dozen elected leaders from the five-county area of the Duck River watershed have been invited to Henry Horton State Park on Thursday night, when they’re to be advised of circumstances surrounding the reduction in water released by Normandy Dam...

The skies finally opened up this week and gave the region some much needed rain, but one area official says the situation with our water supply is a long way from getting back to normal. Doug Murphy, executive director of the Duck River Agency, said that this week’s rainfall wouldn’t be enough “to get us out of the condition we’re in.”...

On the east side of the Shelbyville public square is a building much like any other you would see in a small town, but a lot of good comes out of this structure. This building houses the Center for Family Development, which provides invaluable services to 12 counties in the Middle Tennessee area, Bedford, Coffee, Giles, Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Marshall, Maury, Moore, Perry and Wayne. The Center is a licensed Child Abuse Prevention and Child Placement Agency...

The cost of health insurance is rising �" but some members of the county’s Financial Management Committee told representatives of county employees Tuesday night that departments need to find a way to pay for it if they want the county to cover an increase in premiums effective January 1, 2008...

During the time that I was a student at Oral Roberts University, the Oral Roberts TV ministry offered a leather-bound Bible as a premium for people who donated a particular amount to the ministry. The Bible included a section with photos of various ministry activities. I guess it takes a peculiar kind of hubris to think that your own activities are worthy of being bound into, and distributed with, the words of holy scripture, but let’s put that aside for a second...