Features

Tammie Rogers and her husband, Robert, who live and operate their Darn Far Ranch northwest of Brownstown are doing what they love to do best – working with and training dogs…and the dogs’ humans.

Sometimes, a really special dog comes along that is needed by a special person. Tammie recently shared this touching story that has a happy, tail-wagging ending. “Bree” is that special dog and Kevin Boston of Greenville the special person.

Approximately nine years ago, the Rev. Raymond P. Faulkner decided to build a house … not a run-of-the-mill house, one designed and drawn on blueprints by a professional. Nor did he want it built by professionals.

He wanted to build the dream house of wife Mollie and daughter Priscilla, with the emphasis on “home,” not “house,” a “home that love built.”

A minister, not a professional carpenter, he set about to accomplish the self-appointed task.

Gary Smith went to Santa Cru, South America, last year on a construction mission, and the experience opened his eyes about how fortunate Americans are.

“We don’t realize how blessed we are. Simple things in South America, like turning on tap water, safe water to drink is not available. We take it for granted,” he said.

Lisa Robbins wears more than one hat…and is more than happy to do so.

She loves children and feels she has the best of both worlds, as she teaches kindergarten at Jefferson School during the school year and works with them in the summer as manager of the Vandalia Municipal Swimming Pool.

She will begin her 24th year teaching kindergarten this year, and has worked at the swimming pool for 30 years.

She began working at the pool as a lifeguard.

The scene opens on a young woman, her emotions obviously intense and personal. She had received word of her soldier husband’s return home after months of not knowing if he was even alive.

A voice-over of a male speaks the words of her husband’s letters as she gets ready for the day… and leaving the viewer intensely interested and wanting the movie to continue with the story.

This is the trailer for the film, “As Ever, Stan,” written and directed by Alex Schwarm.

The stately building standing at 321 S. Seventh St. in Vandalia is actually an old mansion built around 1864 and has served as the home of American Legion 95 in Vandalia for many years.

A veterans’ museum was started within its walls in 2004, in which many artifacts – items, photographs…and memories – are displayed for the public to view

At this time of the year, it is usual to see the farmers working their fields, or the planted fields showing the evidence of the work done.

The heavy, frequent rains have changed the countryside this year, as they have prevented most farmers from having access to their fields with the farm machinery.

Ron Marshel recognizes the seriousness of the situation, sympathizes with the area farmers and continues to work to help better the agriculture industry for the farmers in his position of manager of the Fayette County Farm Bureau.

Every year at this time there are many reunions and celebrations of family, high school graduations and other milestones reached.

One of the foremost annual events is the Fayette County Relay for Life, an all-night event featuring various activities and entertainment, as well as a community walk in celebration of life by cancer survivors, and families, neighbors and friends of the many whose lives have been touched by the disease.

Some years ago, it was the dream of most little boys to have an electric train for Christmas. The name “Lionel” was probably almost synonymous with “Christmas wish” for young boys.

It was not unusual to see Christmas trees, often decorated with colorful Noma Bubble lights and little electric trains running around their base.

The electric trains, with maybe a few more feet of track and accessories added, eventually were packed away and stored in the attic as the boys became interested in other toys and pastimes.

Not so with Mark Miller.