Being a Boy Scout was simply a part of Devin Hayes' growing up process. The Shelbyville youth has been a Scout for 10 of his 17 years. In late January, his perseverance paid off. During his Honors Court, Hayes was promoted to Eagle Scout -- the highest honor a Scout can earn.

It's a story as old as cops and robbers. A boy -- or in this case a young man -- watched in awe as the fire trucks and police cars roared by. He yearned to be one of them; he wanted to be part of the excitement. Did he ever get his wish.

Dirty words aren't as dirty as they used to be. At the risk of sounding like my parents, I think that many young people -- and a number of not-so-young people -- don't have much respect for the English language. These purveyors of pornographic prose fling four-letter adjectives with velocity and disregard -- much like a 9-year-old in a snowball fight who doesn't care who gets an earful of his icy ammunition.

Some phrases generally evoke strong emotions in a person. "You're pregnant!" can bring tears of joy. Then there's, "It's cancer." The tears are different. Now imagine hearing both of these with in just a few weeks of each other.

"Hello, Pat, Shelby County Public Schools needs ..." "Sure ..." That is always the response received when asking Pat Hargadon for assistance. As agency manager of Shelby County Farm Bureau Insurance and a 1979 graduate of Shelby County High School, Hargadon believes wholeheartedly in the Partner In Education program and in giving back to his hometown. The school system is, obviously, part of that hometown and he never hesitates contributing time or money.