Stories from Sunday, December 25, 2011

Make breakfast memorable with this kitchen sink scrambleI truly believe the old saying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. After spending some quality time in Europe and Southeast Asia soon after graduating from college, I learned that bacon, eggs and cereal are not the only menu items one should consider for the first meal of the day...

If you're looking for that perfect last-minute recipe for your holiday dinner, you might consider giving Pinterest a try. Several months ago, I caught on to the buzz I'd heard related to this website. Ten minutes on the website turned into an hour and though I should have been studying for finals, I had found dozens of new recipes to try...

After the toughest semester in college so far, I am home for the holidays. This semester was challenging, but it was also extremely rewarding. Through the hard times this semester, I have learned so much about myself. Though I have always been good at managing my time, this semester I had some issues balancing school, Up 'til Dawn, my sorority, work, a social life, exercise, you get the idea. Without my family, friends, and sorority sisters' support, I don't know how I would have made it...

When local educator Bill Pietkiewicz took a group of Shelbyvile Central High School students to a student council workshop in 1981, all he really hoped for was the students returning home feeling inspired. The motivational speech they heard that day, given by well-known speaker Mark Scharenbroich, planted a seed in the students' minds to start a canned food drive. That first year, 1,000 cans were collected...

This past year has brought an increased awareness of couponing. We have seen news coverage, television shows, store policy changes and a greater number of people clipping the savings. Some of these things have brought positive results, while others have left a negative opinion and result for many. ...

The 2012 Gator Bowl pits 6-6 Ohio State against 6-6 Florida on a collision course. Both the Buckeyes and the Gators are no stranger to successes on the national scene. Both have earned national championships in the last 10 years, with Ohio State's last one coming back in 2002. Florida, meanwhile, savored in the victories and successes under Urban Meyer's reign with Tim Tebow leading the way...

Starting something from scratch is never a simple task. Whether it's a club, an interest group or sports team, it's always a difficult process to begin. Despite difficulties facing the Shelbyvile Golden Eagles wrestling team, the program is in the process of reestablishment under head coach Marcus McDonald...

The T-G advertising staff, from left, Janis Cannon, Colleen Embry, Sissy Smith and Beth Pessing join publisher Hugh Jones, center, to display the prize for The Big Event: a 46" HD smart TV valued at $1,000. This is the biggest prize ever offered in The Big Event, and this will be the most challenging version of the game ever. Players will need to carefully read and study each advertisement to spot the hidden logos (in various sizes) in the special Big Event section included with Tuesday's newspaper. Readers can also play and enter online at t-g.com. Look for the Big Event button on the site starting at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday Dec. 27. Complete rules are online and in the special section. Look VERY carefully!

Corbin Riley, son of Kacy and Nathan Riley, is not as distressed as he was in the winning "Scared Santa" contest photo when he and Tanna Warren, who submitted the winning photo, picked up the prize of matching chocolate pearl necklace and earrings. Warren, who runs Corbin's daycare, said Corbin is 14-15 months old. The "Scared of Santa" contest was sponsored by the Times-Gazette and Lowery Jewelers. Voters chose the winner of the contest through the Times-Gazette web site. (T-G Photo by Kent Flanagan)

EDITOR'S NOTE: Julio Francesconi of Flat Creek is kind enough to share his short fiction with us on holidays and special occasions, and we're delighted to pass along his Christmas effort. Tapalco, Mexico, c. 1900 Leonora, a handsome young Indian woman, watched with sadness in her eyes as Lupita, her 6-year-old daughter, carried a large bucket of water in one hand and, with the aid of a homemade crutch in the other, tried to keep her balance. ...

The hiring of a new school superintendent, and accusations which closed a well-known local business, begin the Times-Gazette's annual countdown of the year's top stories, as determined by a poll of the T-G staff. Many things can make something newsworthy, from long-term significance to simple water-cooler buzz, and this year's list includes a variety of topics...

On this Christmas Morning, I want to share the true Christmas story with you from the Gospels of Luke, Matthew and John. This of course is the greatest story ever told. Luke 2:4-20: 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David),* 5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. ...

The white Unionville buck in the sunshine last week of October.

The white buck of Unionville