Neighbors

A woman of music, a woman of Christ, a woman of community.

Betty Jean Chatham has been described in all these ways by many in Shelby County.

Chatham, who is set to retire after a 60-year musical career of much distinction, with a last concert on Sunday at First Baptist Church in Shelbyville, has been an inspiration to so many people in the community, and not just musically, said former student John Shannon, who was also her assistant director of the longstanding Life Singers choir.

Members of Beechridge Baptist Church have seen a lot of changes in its 200 years, including moving indoors and a name change.

This Bagdad-area church, located on Benson Pike about 3 miles east of the intersection with KY 395, started nearby its current location when parishioners would gather in the woods on log benches with lanterns hanging in the trees.

But it persevered, and by 1888 what was then the Baptist Church of Jesus Christ at Beech Ridge had its own building.

“I just had a baby three months ago, so this is a piece of cake compared to that!”

Those were the words of Tristan Stansfield, a fitness instructor, as she wriggled out from under the last strand of barbed wire in a sand pit.

“Hey, I think I ripped my pants,” came a comment from behind her.

The “sands of time” was only one of 23 activities set up on a 10K obstacle course set up for adults during the Swamp Tromp at Clear Creek Park on Saturday. A course for kids had 16.

Johnny Quaid said he never set out to be anything but honest with his music and his work.

On his grandparent’s farm near Shelbyville, where corn and soybeans grew, so did Johnny and his cousin Jim’s band, My Morning Jacket. Comprised of members from Pleasureville, Buckner, and Shelbyville, the band’s music reached international acclaim with its first albums recorded mostly on the family farm.