Education

Tennessee's rural communities have a new pathway to higher education. This fall, Motlow State Community College will be offering associate of science degrees in agricultural business and animal science at the Fayetteville campus. The new degrees are part of the Tennessee Transfer Pathway program allowing students to earn an associate degree at Motlow while being assured that the credits will transfer to a bachelor's degree program at state universities in Tennessee...

The Smokestack Theatre Group at Community High School will present "To Kill A Mockingbird," a play based on the classic novel by Harper Lee, Friday and Saturday, Aug. 10-11, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 12, at 2 p.m. The story, which was also made into a classic film, is about Scout, a girl growing up in Maycomb, Alabama, in the 1930s with her brother Jem and theirtheir widowed father, attorney Atticus Finch...

Civil Air Patrol cadets from across the nation converged on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University this summer for two weeklong events that showcased aerospace and other science majors. This is the third year MTSU hosted the Tennessee Wing Encampment, a leadership and training opportunity for the U.S. ...

Once again, United Way of Bedford County is seeking school supplies for its "Stuff The School Bus" campaign, which distributes the supplies to needy children through the local school system. All collected supplies stay in Bedford County. The official "Stuff The School Bus" day will be July 28 at Walmart on North Main Street, from 9:30 until 1 a.m., when supplies will be loaded onto a school bus in the Walmart parking lot. ...

During the past five months the major candidates for governor of Tennessee and U.S. Senator have shared their ideas on several crucial issues facing Tennessee. This month, in the final installment of the series, candidates address education. Early voting for the August 2 primaries and county general elections begin July 13...

Gov. Haslam and the General Assembly have invested in education during the last eight years, has that been a good investment and should it continue? What do the candidates propose for the next four to eight years? Each of the major candidates for governor and U.S. Senate were asked to tell our readers about their views on education...

Everyone, and it seems every local group, has its own "clean up" time. Bedford County School Board's fiscal department is no different. In a special called meeting last Friday, the board approved several final budget amendments for the year. Finance Director Robert Daniel said some of the blueprints to the amendments presented were already approved but the state traditionally requires a little clean up at the end of the year...

Tennessee Promise students volunteered during the Duck River clean up in Normandy and other designated areas Saturday. All Promise students had until Sunday to finish their community service work. The Tennessee Promise Scholarship covers costs such as tuition and mandatory fees not covered by other grants and scholarships. (T-G Photo by Dawn Hankins)

The kids at Miss Judie’s Daycare and Preschool recite the Pledge of Allegiance after a parade on Monday. The T-G wishes everyone a happy and safe Fourth of July. (T-G Photos by Terence Corrigan)

Bedford County School Board unanimously approved for the new Cascade High School library to be named The Dixie Parker Memorial Library at its April meeting. Several minutes in the meeting were spent hearing testimonies from educators and friends as to why the late school board member deserved the honor...

Pottery instructor Sue Wood compared learning to make pottery to her experience learning to swim as an adult. “You’ve got to keep on keeping on,” she said, everyone makes mistakes, but mistakes are sometimes our best teachers.” Becoming proficient at swimming or making pottery “won’t happen overnight she said...

When Learning Way Elementary School teacher Rebecca Bradshaw said "overripe tomatoes" were a secret ingredient in a cake, the soon-to-be third graders did not think it was a good idea. "Nooo," and "ew" were the reactions of the students. The recipe came from the book "Thunder Cake" Bradshaw read to the kids as part of Read to be Ready Camp at Eakin Elementary School earlier this month...

A Middle Tennessee State University department is heeding the call for greater civility and decency in the workplace and in academia. Using the American Geophysical Union's ethics code as a guide, the MTSU Department of Geosciences has fashioned its own code of conduct for faculty, staff and students...

The Webb School Library Director Hannah Byrd Little is attending two events this week -- speaking at a national conference and presenting workshops at a state event. Today through Tuesday, she will attend and speak at the American Library Association annual conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. ...

The members of the Fairview FCE Club held a work day on May 16 at the Extension Office. Pat Hastings, club president, had previously talked with Carrie Brooke Simmons, guidance counselor at Eakin Elementary School, about a community project at Eakin. ...

William Brian Crews has announced his candidacy for re-election to the 2nd District seat on Bedford County Board of Education in the Aug. 2 general election. Crews, a Bedford County native, is a graduate of Shelbyville Central High School, Middle Tennessee State University, the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy and the Nashville School of Law. He received his doctor of jurisprudence degree in 2014 and became a licensed attorney earlier this year...

The following students received degrees from the University of Memphis during May 5 commencement ceremonies at FedExForum. Alexi Gordon, Bell Buckle, bachelor's degree in education, health and human performance; Aaron Caffey, Shelbyville, bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering...

Helen Dennis has done it again, and Bedford County Imagination Library gets the benefits. For the second time in three years, Dennis has been chosen as one of the winners of Shelter Insurance Companies' "Thankful For Our Communities" essay contest, and Shelter has made a $5,000 contribution to Dennis' charity of choice, Imagination Library. ...

Bell Buckle could have faded into the distant memories of everyone, if it hadn't been for its resilient community. The town is made up of approximately 500 residents and 164 households, only 215 less residents than when it was in its heyday in 1890. If you want true southern hospitality and charm, this is the place...

Kara Bellenfant of Shelbyville has been named to the spring semester dean’s list by Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. Samford releases dean’s lists after the close of the fall and spring semesters each academic year. To qualify for the dean’s list, a student must have earned a minimum 3.5 grade point average out of a possible 4.0 while attempting at least 12 credit hours of coursework. Dean’s List is the highest academic recognition given by the school at the end of each semester...

The Webb School, in Bell Buckle, recently announced its A and B honor rolls for the fourth quarter of the 2017-2018 school year. An independent college preparatory day/boarding school for grades 6-12, The Webb School is the oldest continuously operating school of its kind in the South. The school has a dual emphasis on academic excellence and character development...

Some vocational programs will show you the ropes. But a new program at Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville will show you the cables. TCAT-S will offer Network Cabling, Copper-Based Systems, a 40-hour curriculum, July 16-31. The class will run from 5-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday...

June 8-9, the Bedford County FFA Chapter of Shelbyville Central High School traveled to Doyle to compete in the Tennessee State FFA Forestry CDE, the Tennessee State FFA Environmental and Natural Resources CDE, and the Tennessee State FFA Agronomy CDE held at Camp Clements...

Bedford County Retired Teachers met last week. Mary Cathryn Perry, left, presented the club’s scholarship winner, Lindsey Stephens, and her mother, Misty Stephens, to the members. Lindsey will be attending Tennessee Tech in the fall, majoring in education. (Submitted photos)

Principal's List: A Honor Roll Fifth Grade Ella E. Batchelor, Elliott C. Chapa, Lane E. Comstock, Mason L. Crowder, Savannah N. Davenport, Paiseley E. Davidge, Julia R. Gonzalez-Ramirez, Ellisia S. Harrison, Elizabeth C. Houle, Macy B. Howell, Ian C. Jordan, Amelia R. Kilpatrick, Brandon D. Mccroskey, Kayden A. Mersing, Aaron M. Moore, Sophie M. Ray, Ella G. Thompson, Alayna E. West, Gracie E. Winsett...

The Bedford County FFA of Shelbyville Central High School has announced its 2018-19 officers: He is the son of Rodney and Dixie Harden. Brett chose to be an officer because he wanted to lead the chapter that he has been very passionate for since his freshman year...

On Monday, May 28, 2018, the Bedford County FFA Chapter of Shelbyville Central High School traveled to Doyle, Tennessee to attend State FFA Leadership Camp at Camp Clements. ...

Motlow State Community College Testing Center will administer the Residual ACT exam on June 15 and 21, July 20, and August 10 from 8:30 a.m. -- noon, and on July 31 from 12:30 - 4 p.m. The test will be administered in room 1043 of the Crouch Center on the Moore County campus...

Motlow State Community College will administer the High School Equivalency (HiSET™) test several times throughout the remainder of the year on the Fayetteville, Smyrna and Moore County campuses. A high school diploma remains the primary ticket to many entry-level jobs. ...

Rising third graders from Bedford County Schools’ summer program toured the Times-Gazette on Monday. City Editor John I. Carney and Business Manager Becky McBee led tour groups through the newspaper, showing students how advertising, news and other content comes together and makes its way to the printing press, and then to homes and businesses. (T-G Photos by David Melson)

Since the Times-Gazette shared a number of unidentified World War I service member portraits in April, The Webb School has heard from family members identifying two of them. The photos belonged to William R. Webb Jr., son of Webb School founder Sawney Webb. ...

On May 5, Cascade FFA held its annual banquet at Cascade High School. The chapter celebrated the year's accomplishments and presented several awards. The banquet not only recognized the members, but the parents and community as well. Emily Houle introduced the 2017-2018 Cascade FFA officer team as they entered to conduct the opening ceremonies. ...

Tracy Watson was named principal of Thomas Magnet School on Thursday. Watson, an 18-year veteran of the county school system, was most recently the assistant principal of Cascade High School. She previously served as assistant principal at Thomas for three years, and before that was a guidance counselor at Cascade Elementary School for 14 years. (Submitted photo)

More than 100 Columbia State Community College students were recently honored for excellence in academics, leadership and service at the 52nd Annual Student Honors Convocation. Rebecca Bobo of Unionville received the Academic Discipline Award in human anatomy and physiology. Tamara Rhodes of Shelbyville received an Academic Excellence Award for maintaining a 3.9-4.0 grade point average...

Three Shelbyville students -- Marcus Bryson, Brittany Herman and Lauren Jaykus -- have been named to the Cumberland University Dean's List for Spring 2018. The Dean's List honor is reserved for students who have achieved a grade point average of 3.50 or above on all classes attempted. The list is issued during the fall and spring terms...

Southside Elementary School’s Student Council officers for the 2018-19 school year were inducted at a recent ceremony. Juan Diaz will serve as president. Outgoing Student Council president Sam Smith lights the candle of incoming president Diaz. (T-G Photos by Andrea Nix)

Retiring certified and classifed employees of Bedford County School System were honored before last week’s school board meeting. Those attending a reception in their honor were, from left, Ronnie Curtis, mechanic/transportation, 21 years; Sheree Floyd, SACP supervisor/central office, 21 years; Freda Alford, bus driver, 37 years; Glenda Cooper, bus driver, 25 years; Cindy Skuce, fifth grade teacher at Cascade Elementary, 40 years; Beth Smith, fifth grade teacher at Cascade Elementary, 31 years; Deborah Bates, third grade teacher at Cascade Elementary, 37 years; Patricia Baker, Title I coordinator at Southside Elementary, 37 years; Teresa Gill, central office, 40 years; Wendy Davis, second grade teacher at Eastside Elementary, 16years; Charles Cathey, maintenance/plant operations, 44 years; Frankie Swing, eighth grade science teacher at Harris Middle School, 22 years; and Gayle Gragg, graduation coach at Community High, 35 years. All who retired represented a total 610 years’ experience. (T-G Photo by David Melson)

Shelbyville Central High School's 2017-18 valedictorian was Madelyn Marie Northcutt. As a freshman, she received academic excellence awards in honors English I, honors physical science and Spanish I, as well as an honors geometry award. As a sophomore, she received academic excellence awards in Spanish II and honors English II; a science award of excellence in honors biology; and an honors algebra II award...

Columbia State Community College has announced its spring 2018 graduates. The following students graduated from Columbia State in May, with 343 degree and certificate candidates recognized during the spring commencement ceremonies on May 5. l Tyler Baldwin of Bell Buckle, Associate of Science Degree in Agricultural Animal Science...

Elks scholarship recipients received their certificates Wednesday, May 9, 2018, at the Lewisburg Elks Lodge #1990. Elinor Foster, Exalted Ruler and Doug Cheek, Elks Scholarship Chairperson, presented the certificates to eight high school seniors from Marshall County and Bedford County, after a dinner that was prepared for them and their families...

KNOXVILLE (AP) -- Want a copy of a public record at the City County Building? Just whip out your phone and snap a photo. Don't try that across the street at the Andrew Johnson Building. Knox County Schools policy specifically forbids taking pictures of records...

Graduating Shelbyville Central High School seniors paid a motvational visit to Thomas Magnet School last week, doing a “senior walk” through the school’s corridors. Front row, from left: Anna Butts, Mattie Couser, Abi Canter, Grace Perryman. Second row: Brian Young, Riley Roberts, Kevin Carrillo, Jay Blackburn. (Submitted photo)

A budget containing a 3 percent raise for Bedford County teachers and many other school system employees was approved by the county school board Wednesday night. That proposed budget must now be approved by the Bedford County Commission at its June meeting...

As the Spring semester ended and final exams came to a close, students across campus began packing up for the summer. For 700 Belmont University students, including Shelbyville native Anna Aguirre, preparations to pack looked a bit different as they prepared to participate in one of 43 faculty-led Maymester and Summer Study Abroad experiences across the world...

Southside School recently held a drawing for students who participated in the candy bar fundraiser. Peyton Farrar and Douglas Crosslin won bicycles donated by Tyson Foods. Tyson representative Brent Osborne and Southside principal Reita Vaughn stand with the winners. (T-G Photo by Andrea Nix)

Motlow State Community College recently held a pinning ceremony recognizing the 2018 nursing graduates. Seated, from left, are Moore County campus graduates Amy Evans, Lori Todd, Stephanie Godinez, Kayla Matlock, Jessica Joslyn and Megan Walker. Second row: Tricia Hiers, Jessica Blankenship, Alexa Wright, Dana Gearlds, Ashley Morris, Holly Hinkle and Jennifer Alonso. Third row: Lori Nash, Brook Joines, Riley Sartin, Jeff Cates, Joleigh Johnson, Kimberly Taylor and Lisa Isley. (Motlow College photo)

The Girl Scouts of Bedford County used funds from their recent cookie sales to attend a Camporee in April. A total of 80 girls took a step back in time to learn about life in the days of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Girl Scouts were also able to donate 320 boxes of cookies to the Haven Of Hope, a local program addressing the problem of domestic violence. From left: Allison of Haven of Hope with Girl Scouts Hope Dennis, Emily Yates and Hailey Holder. (Submitted photo)

Sixty years ago, 118 students, the CHS class of 1958, graduated from Shelbyville Central High School and began new adventures that would take us to all parts of the world. A few married classmates, some became successful business men and women and farmers in and around Shelbyville, some became successful engineers, lawyers, architects, nurses, accountants, and soldiers, and seven finished university with PhD's and became award winning scientists, professors, and entrepreneurs, spreading their influence from coast to coast. ...

Shelbyville Central High School senior Braden McTigue joined 31 other soon-to-be graduates at Southside Elementary’s Senior Walk on Thursday. Southside students and teachers lined the halls as the new grads walked the halls in caps and gowns. Bedford County’s public high school graduations are this weekend at Calsonic Arena — Community on Friday night, Central and Cascade on Saturday. (T-G Photo by Andrea Nix)