David Cheromei was born to run, into a family born to run. “I feel bad because I’m the only one not in the Olympics,” he said. And he’s serious.

The career of an Abingdon woman took on a whole new shape a few years ago when she left the corporate world to become a full-time potter. Joan M. Beck, who worked as a biochemist in Michigan, hung up her lab coat for the chance to discover her creative spirit through one-of-a-kind pieces of clay artwork. “There’s something invigorating about working with your hands,” said Beck, who traded her scientific paraphernalia for a pottery kiln that’s fired thousands of her clay pieces.

Police shut down a “shake-and-bake” meth lab at a campsite near South Holston Lake late Thursday afternoon. They arrested two people, including a Chilhowie woman, on drug charges and letting a 16-month-old baby be present during the potentially explosive drug-making process.