Stories from Sunday, August 9, 2009

MALABA, Kenya -- The New Life Restoration Church was evicted from its building in Jairos, a tiny village a few miles away from this small town on the Kenya-Uganda border, just a few days before the LEAMIS International Ministries team was set to arrive...

Anyone who has driven by Russ Faxon's studio in Bell Buckle can tell an artist lives there. The twin bronze Tree People towering over the doorway kind of gives that away. But when you walk into his real studio -- not the gallery where the finished pieces are displayed -- you realize Faxon takes that leap from artist to genius. ...

Shelbyville Central continued to show this could be a very exciting and competitive season after an impressive scrimmage with Class 6A powerhouse Mt. Juliet Friday evening at Eagle Stadium. The visitors claimed a 21-13 win, but the improvement of the Golden Eagles was very apparent...

Shelbyville Post 23 didn't get the hits at opportune times and were plagued by five errors in the field in their 10-0 elimination-game loss to Irmo-Chapin (S.C.) Post 193 in the American Legion Southeast Regional at Riley Park in Sumter, S.C. Jordan Cooper, Josh Brown, Jordan Burchett and Jeremy Estill all took the hill for Shelbyville in attempt of slowing down the bats for the South Carolina state champion. ...

Newell Rubbermaid informed employees on Friday that it would consolidate its Maryville distribution operations into the Shelbyville distribution center by early next year, affecting 40 jobs in Maryville. Displaced Maryville employees will have the option to apply for open positions at NewellRubbermaid's manufacturing facility there or at the Shelbyville distribution facility...

Final figures on Shelbyville budget performance for last year were given to members of the city council on Tuesday, but not before an outburst from one council member saying it's time for the city to stop spending money. "It's time to stop spending money that's not in the budget, period," council member Al Stephenson said, rasing his voice. "We can't afford to do it!"...

Birthdays don't really bother me anymore. I'm about to turn 32. I don't mind sharing my age with anyone, although some women do. Age is all relative. To a teenager, I'm ancient, but to someone who is in their 80s, I'm still a spring chicken. It seems like just yesterday I was 16, riding up and down Madison Street with my cousin, Kim, the windows rolled down, the Eagles or Garth Brooks blaring on the radio, singing along at the top of our lungs. ...

Upon arriving at the farm on Uselton Road, I could immediately smell, feel and see warmth, and I knew my cooking lesson would include much more than how to make cabbage. My first "Dinner with Sadie" features Marie Lane, a wife, mother, daughter, sister, folk artist, author, farmer, and cook extraordinaire. A few weeks ago, it was brought to my attention that Marie makes "the best cabbage in the world...."

Folks who work in the service industry seem to have all the power to make or break ordinary days for people like you and me. Frustrated by bellowing bloggers in an uproar over a school dress code (one that's likely not going away) and marathon meetings that conclude without solution, I had to take a step back...

When you enter the warm, serene environment at 865 Union St., you're likely to be greeted with a hug -- by an enthusiastic young man with a big smile, and an even bigger heart. The man's name is Will Hall, and if you haven't met him inside Celebration Way, perhaps you've seen him outside, waving as he works...

Kent Flanagan has joined the Times-Gazette as editor. Flanagan has just completed four years teaching journalism as distinguished journalist in residence at Middle Tennessee State University's College of Mass Communication. Prior to that he spent 26 years with The Associated Press, including 21 years as chief of AP's Tennessee bureau. Before that, he worked for 10 years with newspapers in Florida and Texas...