Despite drizzly weather, over 600 people from all over Middle Tennessee turned out last week to experience the "Human Element" at Volunteer State Community College's 12th Annual Science and Math Expo.

Each year Vol State hosts a hands-on science fair and math exposition designed to get kids from kindergarten through middle school excited about science.

This year Vol State Science and Math students put together 50 activities with a focus on the human body. One of which was a full-size "operation man" where kids could perform surgery and remove bones and body parts.

Many popular activities return each year, such as the egg drop contest and science discovery room. Kids can watch as balloons are flash-frozen, or view germs under a microscope.

Other exciting demonstrations include rocket launching and making 'slime' in the chemistry lab.

By SAM HATCHER
MainStreet Media

He’s taking a break from the books this week although he will still be focused on reading.

While his classmates drive to the beach to enjoy spring break with some fun and relaxation, Hendersonville’s Steven Fox will be reading greens and sweating putts at the Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, GA.

A senior at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga and a product of Hendersonville High School, Fox is the reigning U.S. Amateur champion and because of that he will be listed among the best of the best players across the world, which will be competing in the Masters this weekend.

If you visit the Masters website you’ll see the young golfer’s photo among all competitors. The photo gallery is in alphabetical order. Fox is flanked by golf professional Ricky Fowler on his left and on the next line down by Japanese golfer Hiroyuki Fujita followed by Jim Furyk, Sergio Garcia and the rest including Mickelson, Woods and all of today’s great names in golf.

Fox became eligible to play in the Masters this year after winning the 2012 U.S. Amateur Championship at the Cherry Hills Country Club near Denver last August.

Winning at Cherry Hills was just the beginning.

By PATRICK HALL
The Gallatin News

Author and Gallatin resident Mary Reed will hold a book signing at the Gallatin Public Library for her recent book “Abused, Conquered, Alive.”

The book signing will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30.

“I was abused and conquered, but now I am alive,” Reed told The Gallatin News in October 2012, referring to the book’s title. “This is my first book.”

Reed said she married her first husband, who she pointed out was a Pentecostal preacher, and endured years of abuse. She also endured verbal and physical abuse from her father, noting it was all she knew in her life.

Through her experiences with her father and husband, Reed said she believed all men were abusive and thought her experiences were normal.

From staff reports

Habitat for Humanity of Sumner County is inviting all Sumner County residents to join them this Saturday for the grand opening of their new ReStore.

The Grand Opening will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, April 13.

The new building located at 327 Sumner Hall Drive in Gallatin is right on the corner of the intersection of Sumner Hall and Tulip Poplar which runs under Highway 109.

The first 200 guests will receive Restore T-shirts.

There will be food vendors, hourly specials, and a silent auction, “of thing you would look to buy in a ReStore,” Johnson noted.

Some of the items to be auctioned are gift certificates from various places and new items from Lowe’s and Home Depot.

Other expected merchandise is new flooring, rugs and painting supplies due to arrive before the Grand Opening.

“The ReStore is probably one of the single best things produced by Habitat for Humanity International,” said Habitat Executive Director Susan Johnson.

The purpose of the ReStore is to generate the income needed to cover all the operational and administrative expenses and to pay for the cost of building houses.

By JOSH NELSON
The Gallatin News

For almost a decade-and-a-half, it has been a site where children run, climb, slide, scream and laugh, but now, the city has decided the Project Play playground next to the Civic Center has run its course and is coming down.

“It has been so well-loved and so well-used that it is simply worn-out and has reached the end of its life expectancy,” a press release from the city released last Tuesday reads. “Regretfully, the City must now remove the playground in the best interest of the children who use it.”

In its place, a trailhead for the Triple Creek Park walking trail and Town Creek Greenway will be built.

The playground was built by volunteers as part of Project Play and has been maintained by the city Leisure Services Department since its completion and donation to the city.

“I was one of those volunteers who helped build Project Play,” Mayor Jo Ann Graves said at last week's city council meeting. “I think that between all of us who worked on it, we gave hundreds of hours of volunteer time and I was proud to be a part of it, and I think it has served the community well.”