Feature Stories

Shelbyville Woman's Club program chair Mary Ann Davis explained during this month's Valentine-themed luncheon that hearing the inspirational voice of soloist Carolyn Reed was going to be a sweet treat for all. Reed's standing ovation was likely an indication of how her music piped some sunshine into a rainy, gloomy winter day outside Riverbend Country Club...

The Elk River District of Scouts BSA held its annual winter camporee Jan. 31 through Feb. 2 at Camp Arrowhead along the shores of Woods Reservoir in Franklin County. Over 69 young men and women from troops across the Elk River District spent a weekend learning an assortment of scouting skills. ...

The Elk River District of Scouts BSA held its annual Eagle Scout and leader recognition banquet Feb. 8 at Cedar Lane Church of Christ in Tullahoma. The Eagle rank is Scouts BSA's highest rank award. In 2019, 27 young men from Shelbyville, Tullahoma, Winchester, Unionville, Hillsboro, Lynchburg, Winchester, Sewanee, and Estill Springs joined this elite group. Since the Eagle was first created, only two percent of Scouts have earned this prestigious rank...

Following the resignation of Wartrace mayor Vickie Smith, who served just one year of her four-year term, the town put out the word it was looking for someone who would be willing to serve for the next three years as interim mayor. There were five applicants. Four were people that can be fairly described as the “usual suspects,” and one that fits neatly in the “unusual” category...

When Iris Pierce speaks, she follows most sentences with laughter. Iris is 97 years old; she’s upbeat and she’s happy. She has an abundance of joy and a ready sense of humor. Laughing, she said, “I don’t want to live to be 100. I’m afraid I’ll get to where I don’t know anything. But, then I guess I wouldn’t know the difference, would I?”...

From retrieving birds and kittens from backpacks to giving high-fives for test scores, five retired teachers say they've pretty much seen, and heard, it all. Now into their jubilee years, they're still imparting knowledge, but this time around, they have a classroom partner with which to share the workload...

As the Christmas story was being read in homes and churches on Christmas Eve, Christ's birthplace of Bethlehem was being honored in another way as well. A new Internet radio station named Belén -- Spanish for Bethlehem -- went live Dec. 24 from Beth Sar Shalom Church on Madison Street...

In the first two full weeks of the new year, around 500 young firefighters and 157 instructors were engaged in intensive training in Bedford County, studying the tools and techniques for battling wildfires. While the 17th Annual Tennessee/Kentucky Wildland Fire Academy was underway, six new large wildfires were reported: in Colorado, Oklahoma and Georgia, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. ...

Charles Murphree of Unionville is pretty well known around here for his farm-fresh honey. What might just be one of this 87-year-olds undiscovered talents is what he considers a God-given gift for making musical instruments. Murphree most recently completed a fiddle from reclaimed wood from the old Longview Baptist Church, which due to age, was demolished in 2018. ...

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...