Stories from Wednesday, July 23, 2008

LA FORTUNA, Costa Rica -- One day of our work week in Heredia province, the pastors with whom we were working -- Marlon and his father-in-law Eduardo -- decided to give us the day off and drive us to the Pacific coast, three hours away, for fun at the beach...

Due to circumstances completely within my control (I forgot to pay the cable bill again), we were without television for a few days last week. I believe, with therapy, we will make a full recovery. My oldest son, Scott, who is annoyingly saint-like with his vegetarian diet and exercise regime, didn't even notice the idiot box had been decommissioned. He was out saving whales or Zen meditating under Rutledge Falls...

Engineers are worried about the possibility of "immediate collapse" of a building off the public square on East Depot Street that has been deemed unsafe for human habitation by the City of Shelbyville. Part of the sidewalk at 109 E. Depot St. is blocked by barrels and yellow caution tape to keep pedestrians out of the area where bricks have already fallen from the facade of the building...

Stereo equipment has been taken from vehicles at three locations in Shelbyville since Sunday, police report. An employee told police a GPS display module was missing from one of the trucks. A video surveillance system at the business allowed Officer Jerry Lawrence to view the in-dash players and an amplifier and speakers being taken...

More titles changed hands as the Shelbyville City Open tennis tournament continued Tuesday night at H.V. Griffin Park. New champions for 2008 include Sarah King in Girls 10-14 Singles; Kensuke Sugino in Boys 15-18 Singles; Roberto Morando in Men's C Singles; Andy Pounds in Meb's B Singles and Sugino and H. Akiyama in Men's B Doubles...

Heritage Medical Center may have settled into its new location on U.S. 231 North, but the skeleton of Bedford County Medical Center remains on Union Street in Shelbyville, and right next door sits its sister, Bedford County Nursing Home. Over the last several months, questions have been raised at county meetings and around town, as well as comments being posted on the Times-Gazette web site, as to what's next for the county-owned buildings...

Despite the only 30 percent chance of rain forecasters predicted for Tuesday, a thunderstorm with lightning, heavy rain and high winds swept through Bedford County. "I was driving home from Murfreesboro and it was raining so hard I couldn't see," said Jamie Shelton, a Draughons Junior College student who lives on Fairfield Pike...