Stories from Sunday, May 31, 2009

I am slowly coming to the realization I'm always going to look older than I am. When I was younger, it was great. I liked looking older then. One time my cousin Kim and I went to a restaurant and were waiting for a table at the bar. The bartender asked me if I wanted a drink, but said nothing to Kim. I was 18, and Kim was 22. And, no, I didn't get a drink that night...

When Wendy Morton looks out the large kitchen window each morning she sees green pastures, rolling hills, a pond, horses, cats, dogs -- and all things nature. It is exactly the window she'd been looking for her whole life. Dream farm Through triumphs and challenges, Wendy and her husband Bryant, both veterinarians, have paved the way to their dream home, nestled in the serene countryside of Flat Creek...

I noticed a couple months back while flying from Nashville they have what's called an "expert traveler" lane through the security checkpoints. This is brilliant, and more airports should have these lanes. I just returned from yet another trip to New York, and the entire airport process this time around was nothing short of annoying. Annoying doesn't seem like a strong enough word ... maybe disastrous is more like it...

A good friend of mine just told me she's having a baby. Well, she didn't exactly tell me. I heard the rumor almost 30 miles away and had to hunt her down to confirm it. I love small towns. But beneath the laughter and excitement as we talked, I could hear a strain of something else, something that was all too familiar...

To the editor: Thank you for allowing us to use this public medium to convey our express gratitude to the many "partnerships" that have contributed to the success of our Head Start and Early Head Start program year. We have been enriched by the many community volunteers who spoke at our parent meetings as well as contributed time and materials to the success of our program. Parent volunteers have been active and have ensured the success of our program as well...

Basketball as a summer sport? It's commonplace late each spring at Shelbyville Central's annual Eaglette Team Camp. The camp, which actually consists of over 150 hour-long scrimmage games pairing top Tennessee schools -- and Arab, Ala. -- will be held today through Wednesday at Central High, Harris Middle School, both Shelbyville Recreation Center courts and Cascade High...

A woman charged with vehicular homicide in an accident that occurred more than a year ago pleaded guilty Friday morning in Circuit Court. Lisa Marie Ruth, 44, of Oklahoma, was sentenced to 10 years for the crime. According to Mike Randles, assistant district attorney, she could be eligible for parole after 30 percent of her sentence has been served...

The Wartrace MusicFest kicked off Friday night to almost-clear skies and a cool breeze -- a nice change from last year's event. "We played here last year," said Roger Huffman of The Creek, one of the featured bands. "We almost got blown off the stage."...

Tears, celebration, and hope brought hundreds together Friday night for Relay For Life, the American Cancer Society's nationwide signature fundraising event, held in Bedford County at the agricultural center. Opening ceremonies began at 6 p.m., with an emotional survivor lap walked by those who have won the battle against cancer. This was followed by a caregiver lap, to honor family members struggling through the disease with loved ones and also to remember those who've lost the fight...

With Memorial Day taking away one of the three days we (normally) have to put together Life & Leisure, it was essential for this week's recipe to seriously be simple, quick and easy. I began racking my brain this morning about what to make -- but it didn't take me long to figure this one out. ...

I've always been a lover of music, but Thursday night was the first opportunity I ever had to actually yell "Bravo!" Throughout the years, my musical tastes have varied. The first record I ever bought was "Car Wash" by Rose Royce: "Let me tell you it's always cool / and the boss don't mind sometimes if ya act a fool."...