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Lee Meriwether had risen to fame in 1886, when, at the age of 23, he published his first book, A Tramp Trip: How to See Europe on Fifty Cents a Day, which became an instant bestseller.

When visiting his young cousin at the American Soldiers and Sailors Club in Paris in 1918, he had quoted Kentucky-born Marquise Susanne Henning de Charette, my late wife’s mother, as follows: “Maybe the law says I am French, but I say I am an American and always shall be.”

She’s been described as a “good witch,” and those who see her around town this week will surely agree.

Every year, the entire week leading up to Halloween, Linda Ethington gets all decked out in her witch garb whenever she goes anywhere, even to the grocery store, she said.

“Everybody knows I’m crazy, and they just love it,” she said with a giggle.

My last column was about how I like small towns because they develop some people’s character.On a related subject, I have often heard that small Southern towns seem to develop some people into characters.I believe this is true, and to make these characters more enjoyable to you and to them,have for you three theories, two questions and a wager.

What happens when you come home and see a window busted out, maybe a door slightly ajar or something out of place?

Of course, you call the police, but unless you live on Main Street in Shelbyville, between 5th and 3rd streets, it's going to take a few minutes for help to arrive.

If you are a registered gun owner, especially one certified to carry a weapon, you may be inclined to investigate on our own.

Saturday dawned bright and sunny, just perfect for a fundraiser designed to bring light into a young woman’s world.

More than 1,200 people attended “Save Savannah’s Sight,” held at the amphitheater at Clear Creek Park, which raised more than $22,000 to pay for a surgery that it is hoped will restore at least partial sight to Savannah Sanders.

The 21-year old, who was blinded in a childhood accident at age 10, was present at the event, and even performed a comedy act on stage.

Halloween is creeping closer, and annual events designed to provide a scare or two are popping up on the calendar.

In addition to the Trunk Or Treat events that have become popular at churches around Shelby County, the annual scare-you-to-death fundraisers are now open.

Back for its fourth season, the Blood Orchard Curse is offering scary tours Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m.-midnight at Red Orchard Park on Kentucky Street.

The costs is  $10 per person, and proceeds go to the Shelby County Parks and Recreation Department.

The first Dorman Center Carnival brought hundreds of folks out to Daniel Field on Saturday to celebrate and support the early intervention center.

The carnival raised more than $6,000 for Dorman Center, which provides help to more than 100 children ages 18-months to 5-years old that have been diagnosed with a disability, show signs of developmental delay, are at risk in their environment or have been determined to be in need of the program. The center starts with First Step early intervention and provides half and full day preschool classes.

Last fall I got hurt in an accident, and for two months, I couldn't drive, write or keyboard. I was so overwhelmed by the many helpful things our family and friends thought to do and the joy they seemed to take in doing it that I began to wonder if there's something about a small town that develops some people's character such that they enjoy the right thing.

The circle means many things.
You can circle the wagons for safety, and you can pull someone into your circle of friendship. Wedding rings are circles because they have no beginning and no end, going on forever.
And the International Order of The King’s Daughters and Sons embodies much of those ideals their “circles,” or small groups, that filter down to provide aid on local levels.