Feature Stories

Two years ago, it was discovered that hungry termites were slowly destroying the 106-year-old Longview Baptist Church structure at 101 Cooper Road. In this new year, the Rev. Jonathan Osterhaus says there are a multitude of silver linings, like the open house celebration coming up Sunday for the new worship center...

Each year, First United Methodist Church on the square sends a team of volunteers to work with the United Methodist Committee on Relief's Sager Brown Depot, a warehouse in Baldwin, Louisiana. UMCOR is the United Methodist Church's disaster relief agency, responding to natural disasters anywhere in the world. Its motto is "When the Earth rocks, UMCOR rolls."...

Town and Country Garden Club held its January meeting at River Bend Country with Linda Anderton and Mary Pickhardt serving as hostesses. The program " Keep on Moving" was presented by Lindsey Trice. Winners in the floral categories were Rita McDonald, Pat Johnson, and Mary Howard...

Middle Tennessee State University now has a noticeable presence inside the Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee's newest contribution to teaching Middle Tennessee secondary school students about financial literacy. Junior Achievement, a volunteer-driven organization that provides programs focused on work-readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills, hosted a grand opening Tuesday afternoon of the JA Finance Park, a state-of-the-art program that will serve seventh- through 12th-grade students across Middle Tennessee and is the organization's first such venture in the state.. ...

For over six decades Feldhaus family members have provided various aspects of health care service to the Shelbyville community. Dr. Henry Feldhaus planted the seeds here in the early 1950s when, fresh out of Vanderbilt University, he moved to Shelbyville to set up his medical practice...

Frittatas are an Italian dish that is similar to an unfolded omelet or crustless quiche. It makes a great breakfast or brunch dish for a cold weekend morning because it's easy (unlike a quiche), feeds several people (unlike an omelet) and uses whatever you have on hand...

Bedford County educator Joan Gray, who after retiring from the local school system served as the first-ever executive director of Tennessee Educational Technology Association, was honored recently by TETA on the occasion of Gray's retirement. The recognition took place at a TETC conference last month in Murfreesboro...

"In a perfect world, what would your school look like?" Lowering her voice, Jennifer Simons said, "Just like it is." Simons does not hesitate to express her love for East Side Elementary School in Shelbyville. "I love the kids that I see everyday. I love the families," she said. "I found my home."...

NASHVILLE -- Many students leave college with a degree. Few leave a legacy that will live for years to come. Shelbyville native Olivia Doak received her college diploma this month and left a legacy of success in the classroom and on the soccer field that will be difficult for anyone else to match...

Marquis Who's Who has presented Richard Jensen, Ph.D., with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. Jensen has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes in his field. Individuals profiled in Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process...

Wartrace Fire chief Adam Smith and alderman Tammy Leverette stand with the food and toys they were able to collect for families in need of some help to have a good Christmas. Volunteer firefighter Jesse Julien spearheaded the effort, the first time the department has held this drive. With help from Iron Horse Pizza, Murfreesboro Aviation and the annual 41A Toy Convoy, the firefighters raised $5,650 for the project.

Nikia Elliott's dad, Dale, was a Shelbyville police officer and chief deputy of the Bedford County Sheriff's Department, but growing up Nikia did not consider a career in law enforcement. But, since law enforcement was "the family business," Elliott said, he decided he should at least give it a try to find out what it is like. "After years and years of hearing stories, hearing them talk about it, I thought being a reserve deputy would be a good way to get a taste of it," he said...

Second of two parts. Shelbyville's recent snow showers weren't enough to hamper attendance of about 60 people during a local Christmas tour of Homes. It's a local tour hosted every two years for a limited number of guests. Janice Carlton and Linda Brown served graciously as 2019 hostesses...

Shelbyville-Bedford County Public Library hosted its own "Family Gingerbread Wars" last Friday to the delight of several kids and adults. During this rainy Friday afternoon, participants selected their gingerbread house ingredients from a table supplied by the library-one filled with everything from sprinkles to cookies...

The Shelbyville Central High School Criminal Justice Student Organization completed its third annual toy drive on Dec. 16. The student organization was able to provide toys for a total of 25 families with 48 children. Yoes Barber Shop, Bedford Farmers CO-OP, and Dollar General are some of the sponsors who helped to make this toy drive a success.

Don Popham began the 102nd year of his life in September. He was born September 19, 1917. His most vivid childhood memory is of riding his Shetland pony, Nugget, in Emmett, Idaho where he grew up. “That pony raised me,” he said. “I rode everywhere.”...

This time of the year, people generally hear a lot about Josephs — the earthly father of Jesus, and the angel’s name called out by “Clarence” in the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.” This season, meet another one: Community High School senior Joseph Cagle, who has his own life aspirations...

For several years, Elisha Diane Hodge-de Osio has served as an attorney for the University of Tennessee’s Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS), which provides information and resources to cities and towns throughout the state, including the City of Shelbyville. It is a sister organization to the County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS), which does the same for county governments...

Reader David Smith saw this deer while he was riding the backroads. Share your own photos at t-g.com/yourphotos.

Much like the Halls Mill mother church, Crowell's Chapel Lutheran, two old cedar trees have maintained deep roots within the community. Now at the end of their prime, the wood has been turned into what friends and neighbors are calling "something beautiful."...

The holidays are such a busy time. With family meals to prepare along with potlucks, finger food parties and large family gatherings, it seems like we're always in the kitchen making something. Convenience products can be a big help during this month to save time and effort...

NOTE: See the story about Community High School's "Girls of 1973" in today's issue of "Bedford County Moments & Memories," included with the print edition of today's Times-Gazette, and available over the next few weeks at various locations around town...

Thanksgiving hadn't even arrived on Nov. 23, but it was beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Fly Arts Center. The Fly celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Festival of Trees and Holiday Craft Fair. Admission to the event was free. "It is not about bringing in money," Amy Jo Krise, event chairman, said. "It is more for the community. It also helps our local artists and craftsmen."...

Cassie Zebick, a Motlow State sophomore from Tullahoma; Gregg Garrison, professor of biology, and Sharon Kay Edwards, McMinnville branch librarian, are Motlow nominees for the 2019 Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) Statewide Outstanding Achievement & Recognition (SOAR) Excellence Awards for community colleges in Tennessee...

If you're looking for a gift for the history lover in your family, two new books shine a light on 20th Century history that touches on Bedford County and the area. "Voices of Camp Forrest In World War II," by Dr. Elizabeth Taylor, tells the story of the military base located in Coffee and Franklin counties, at the site that today is part of Arnold Air Force Base/Arnold Engineering Development Complex...

Thomas Magnet School drama club will present a very lively Christmas musical, "Elf Jr." 6 p.m. Dec. 12-13. Ticket prices are $5 at the door for students and $7 for adults. The students took to the road this month, giving previews of their upcoming musical about little Elf Jr. The troupe, in full North Pole attire, visited the recent Shelbyville Woman's Club gathering at Riverbend Country Club...

Continuing a tradition begun in 1986, members of the Shelbyville Satellite Group of Cheekwood Chapter, Embroiderers Guild of America, met at Pinnacle Bank on Nov. 19 to decorate a tree provided by the bank. This year’s theme is sleds. Janet Boyce and Janelle Douglas spearheaded the project, gathering the over 200 stitched ornaments and beaded icicles made by group members...

The 23rd annual Highway 41 Toy Convoy & Show took place Nov. 3, starting in Manchester and ending, for the first time, in Wartrace. The event generated 20 large 55-gallon bags full of toys, said organizer Katy Ishee, with an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 individual items. The toys were divided between Wartrace Fire Department, Manchester Police Department and the Gene Taylor/Steve Graves Christmas Foundation, each of which will distribute them this Christmas to those in need...

Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber of Commerce's Workforce Development initiative recently held its third annual 7th Grade Career Exploration Fair at Calsonic Arena, where over 750 students from Cascade, Community, Liberty, and Harris Middle schools checked out booths and participated in various demonstrations...

First Baptist Church's youth ministry has planned a free girls' night out 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, with young blogger, author and YouTube personality Emma Mae Jenkins. The event is designed for girls seventh grade to college-age and is cosponsored by First Choice Pregnancy Counseling Center...

Acorn squash are always fun in the fall. They are the perfect little individual bowl when cut in half. My Mom will put some cinnamon, a little brown sugar and butter in the middle and roast it for a great side dish to pork. The sweetness of the squash pairs well with the flavor of pork...

Xi Alpha Zeta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi met recently for its annual Taste and Tell meeting. Members were kind enough to share their recipes with us. Becky Cortner 4 cups Monterey Jack Cheese 1/2 large green pepper, chopped 1 can sliced black olives...

Smokestack Theatre at Community High School will present the original play "Night Of The Living Dead 1984," written and directed by the school's drama teacher, Anthony Davis, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 1-2, at the school's auditorium. Admission is $5 at the door...

"Are you excited to see your grandmother, Maria?" Mom asked as we turned onto grandma's street. Maria didn't respond because her mom already knew the answer. Maria and her 7 year old sister, Savannah, were visiting their grandma for the weekend for her 50th birthday. They pulled into grandma's driveway and seen her house. It was an old house, at least 30 years old, with rotting wood and nasty windows. They got out of the car and seen their grandma run out. She gave them all hugs and kisses...

That day was like any other Monday at Community Middle School. It was a warm October morning, except that there were no teachers at the school. It was really weird, because after the bell rang, the announcements began; however, it was not our principal. The voice was really deep and disturbing. The strange voice said, "Today your teachers couldn't make it."...

There I was, in the darkness of my bitter, cold, grimy room. The stench of old, rotten perfume fills the air around me. My lungs feel like there are ten thousand bricks stacked up, making it hard to breathe. My eyes feel like a neverending waterfall...

Alice stared, nervously transfixed at the heavily wooded lot she would have to cross to reach her house. It was foreboding enough in broad daylight, so thick and dark with tangled vines and drooping Spanish moss. It was almost as if the darkness within was a presence actively shunning and trying to repel the sunshine from penetrating its black, evil heart. ...

I was screwing around on a video chat room called Omegle one night last week, but I never showed my face. I had a major trust issue, especially after all of the web horror stories my mom has told me. But anyway, I ended up chatting with a very pretty girl that I had never seen before. She was in a dark room, the light of her computer dimly illuminating the room...

I turn the TV down, I'm tired of hearing it. "The Countdown," it's been going on for days now. Nineteen days to be exact, nineteen days for 19 bodies. 19 children gone, vanished, disappeared, no trace of the killer, no evidence, no anything. Not even a body...

When twenty-something Jordan Ray finishes her day of teaching agriculture mechanics at Shelbyville Central High School's Career and Technical Education program she's likely to get dirty working on cars at her father's shop, Hockaday's Auto Repair. "I know my way around cars," she said. "I can do anything on a car. I grew up with it. I'm there every day after school, still."...

If you're hoping to buy the best steaks at the grocery store, you might want to see if Allison Davis or Nick Moore will go along and help you choose. But, if Davis or Moore is not available then try and get in touch with Ian Alcox or Dorothy Brandon...

Agritourism -- the development of public attractions on farm property -- has become a trend in recent years. Whether it's "pick your own" berry farms or pumpkin patches, cornfield mazes, or more elaborate attractions, the trend continues to grow. Bedford County's agritourism infrastructure has been growing as well. ...

In 4-H you get to show animals, including horses. You practice all year long and finally at the beginning of summer you have your county show. You get to compete with others from your county before you move on to the regional show at the Tennessee Miller Coliseum in Murfreesboro. At regionals you compete with other 4-Hers from your region...

Have you ever thought about joining 4-H? 4-H is an organization for 4th-12th grade boys and girls that has a lot of different activities and opportunities. Some activities include: Livestock projects, judging teams, photography, public speaking, dairy, shooting sports, and many more...

What is 4-H? What do you do in 4-H? How did you get involved in 4-H? What is your 4-H project? These are questions that I am frequently asked when I tell people that I am in 4-H. This is when I take the opportunity to tell them all about 4-H and my project...

The 4-H slogan is "Learn by doing." Learning by doing means people interacting with their environment in order to learn something new. In 4-H, kids are taught to be visual learners and to use their knowledge to help other people. 4-H is an honorable organization that teaches leadership, citizenship, public speaking, and prepares kids for life after high school. ...

I am part of Bedford County 4-H. I am involved in the sheep project and love it! By being involved in 4-H I have had to learn to lead groups of youth, speak in front of people and keep myself organized because I stay very busy. 4-H has already made a big change in my life! I also participate in Livestock Judging, am a member of Honor Club and enjoy the Photography Project Group. There are many other things you can do in 4-H too but sheep is the best!...