Feature Stories

A special 2020 prom, sponsored by friends of the Community High graduates, was held at Bell Buckle Banquet Hall last week, with several Community High seniors attending in their formal attire. Though the school-sponsored spring prom was cancelled, due to COVID-19, some residents in the community opted to host a candlelight banquet and dance...

Shelbyville, Wartrace and Bell Buckle will not sponsor public fireworks displays this weekend. Fireworks are still being sold and all city and town ordinances apply to the use of those Independence Day fireworks. Fireworks will begin over Tims Ford Lake 9 p.m. Saturday. For many years, boaters have enjoyed watching the sunset and the culmination of the red, white and blue fireworks...

The arrival of warm weather provides more opportunities to gather and celebrate. From national holidays to impromptu backyard barbecues, the opportunity to kick back and relax is a hallmark of summer. Fireworks also figure prominently in summer. When in the hands of professionals, fireworks are a wonder to behold from a safe distance. But far too often people set off their own pyrotechnics and meet with grave results...

Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Randall Burt Fisher of Ringgold, GA., officially retired after 32 years of military service on June 30. The most important thing, he told the Times-Gazette this week, is to note in his retirement announcement that he’s the grandson of 92-year-old Mabel Sue Burton of Shelbyville...

With most public July 4 fireworks events cancelled this year, due to the pandemic, it’s time to head to the backyard for a picnic under the stars with family or a few close friends. The first thing to keep in mind when packing a backyard picnic, if you’re traveling to a friend’s house, is to make sure you create recipes that are easily packable. Worst thing you want to happen on the 4th is for your red, white and blue salad to thaw before you make it to the party...

Professional photographer Annie Leibovitz once said, “The camera makes you forget you’re there. It’s not like you are hiding but you forget, you are just looking so much.” Since the age of 15, Chloe Thomas has shared many such an experience, many times, behind the camera lens...

The smiles are still there within the classes of 2020 in Bedford County, despite their last high school year abruptly ending. From left, Mason Landers, Madison Madden, Gracie McCullough and Alex Mitchell.

Community High School graduate Noah Charles “TJ” Bowling leaves for basic training at Fort Benning, GA with the U.S. Army, infantry division, July 6. “I've wanted to join the Army since I was a little boy, like my uncle Luke," he said. TJ's step-grandfather was in the military (JP Yates), his uncle ( Luke Bowling), great grandfather (George Charles), cousin (Paul Compton) and great-uncle (David Compton). An Eagle Scout with Troop 223, he hopes to obtain a degree in criminal justice; his long-term goal is to work for the ATF or FBI. When asked by his recruiter as to why he wanted to enlist, his answer was as follows: “ I want to serve my country and protect my loved ones and everyone’s freedom that my family has fought to protect before me.”

I wanted to let you all know that this will be my last article as library director of the Shelbyville-Bedford County Public Library. On June 9, 2020, it will have been 50 years since I started working in public libraries. I had never even been inside one until I got the job. I was a bookmobile kid from the get go...

ACT scores mean a lot these days for graduating seniors; they can gain nice scholarship packages as a result. The ACT scores also help Bedford County School System meet its expected state standards. Local high school seniors of 2020 can receive a lot of credit for helping scores rise. Cascade, Community and Shelbyville Central High seniors ended their high school years with some pretty exciting scores...

For over 65 years, Raus Community Club has conducted its annual ice cream supper. COVID-19 recently swept that event right off the community calendar, but organizers are confident as soon as social distancing allows, the event will be held at its usual spot...

A veterans’ program started here in Bedford County just a few short years ago-the Quilts of Valor-is still going strong, according to local representative and presenter, Amy Martin. One of Martin’s goals is to make sure all veterans, but particularly the remaining World War II veterans, receive their rightful recognition. She’s been embraced, she said, following her presentations and even wiped the tears from many veterans’ eyes...

Native American and Shelbyville Central High School graduate, Allison LeMaster, moved to Shelbyville 15 years ago with her family. The upcoming graduate and her Cherokee family are now highly anticipating her senior walk, especially as she’ll be wearing, along with her traditional gown regalia, a stole gifted by her tribal elders...

Great is the love of a father and his daughter. Ryan Sherron and daughter, Noelanie Sherron, prepare to celebrate Father’s Day, which is observed Sunday.

Pairing these make-a-head recipes (provided by some old school cooks) with your favorite fruit beverage is a great way to lessen the stress during a Father’s Day social. These dishes freeze well, so if you make extra, you will have them for next week’s graduation parties as well...

Crystal Bentley doesn’t even have a 2020 graduate, but she decided to start a very special Facebook page dedicated to social media followers adopting Bedford County seniors during COVID-19. It has been a success, judging from all the posts, and senior smiles...

William and Andrea Bolden of Unionville spend a lot of their retirement hours now in their vegetable garden. The produce assists Andrea, a long-time “Taste of Home” magazine editor, in creating her highly sought-after recipes. Below, Andrea shares some of her spring choices for everyday lunch or a special barbecue. From hamburgers to chicken, the recipes below make great barbecue sides...

It’s $2 movie ticket time at The Capri Theatre on the public square. Showtimes are 2, 4 and 7 p.m. daily. Social distancing rules still apply. Contact the theatre on Facebook with questions. Showing June 5-11, downstairs, is the 1970s Spielberg thriller, “Jaws. Showing upstairs will be “Dora and the Lost City of Gold.”...

Barbed Wire Entertainment flagship recording artist and owner of Maverick Management, Kolt Barber, has announced his 2020 American Cowboy Showdown tour, with the Southeastern launch planned for 7 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at Calsonic Arena. In conjunction with Tony Keeton and Rockin’ K Rodeo in Lawrenceburg, the American country music traditionalist is teaming with the professional stock contractor Keeton to provide rodeo action and LIVE country music entertainment. ...

During her daughter Rita Brooks’ recent wedding, 94-year-old Wilma Bedwell of Wartrace caught the bridal bouquet. “I got it! I got it!” she shouted. “I’m next! I’m next!” The senior was very happy to be with family, despite COVID-19 changing the amount of family and friends who could attend the May 15 outdoor ceremony...

Local freelance photographer Zoey Grissom admits COVID-19 social distancing has certainly put a freeze on a lot of her photography this spring. Still, she considers herself fortunate for the opportunity to be behind the lens capturing once-in-a-lifetime moments for 2020 graduates...

When it comes to planning the annual Memorial Day lunch, especially during a pandemic, the best thing to do from the kitchen is likely seal the lunch with a K.I.S.S., that is, keep it simple sweeties. There are so many inexpensive places to purchase simple red, white and blue table decorations, it’s a cinch to do your own tablescape with ease. ...

Shelbyville Central High School student Trinity Vickers is a part of the Shelbyville Rainbow Hunt Group on Facebook. Here’s a poem the student has written to “spread the happiness” during COVID-19. By the way, the local Rainbow group has about 3,000 members at this time...

Sculpting from clay she found in her backyard as a child was a small beginning and eventually a pathway leading to great things for internationally exhibited sculptor Tracy H. Sugg of Wartrace. Sugg reflected recently how she visited a bronze foundry in her native state of New Mexico; she was inspired. Watching every step of the lost-wax bronze casting process, she had pretty much already discovered her life’s calling by age 8...

Bedford County Arts Council proudly announces a newly established annual $1,000 scholarship in memory of Jonathan Price, a life long participant and supporter of the arts in Bedford County, announced Christine Carlton, arts council member. The Jonathan Price Memorial Fine Arts Scholarship will be awarded to a deserving high school senior planning to continue his/her education in the area of fine arts including visual arts, performing arts, literary arts or music...

W e are slowly getting back to our new normal. The 3 three-hour no contact drive through service days seem to be growing in popularity. We are glad to see patrons again even from a social distance and with half their faces covered. Please listen to our answering machine recording at 931-684-7323 for days and times. ...

Kim Mantooth is fairly used to wearing a mask; she’s even used to the drill by now of avoiding germs. You see, while everyone else is greatly worried about the pandemic, Kim and her husband, Jay, are also living life with cancer to boot. In 2019, an oh-so-familiar enemy, breast cancer, rekindled in Kim’s body with a vengeance. First diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in 2015, she was cleared of cancer the following year. Life was good...

Micah Rasnick has had a little time to spare lately, so rather than have idle hands, he turned to his kitchen. Since, his Facebook page has been filled with requests lately for his warm, cinnamon rolls right out of the oven. “I have always enjoyed being in the kitchen, but have been getting more seriously into cooking over just the past three or four years,” Rasnick said. “The cinnamon rolls . . . new to me.”...

2 lbs. fresh peaches, peeled, pitted, and halved 1 C. orange juice 1 C. plain yogurt 2 Tbsp. honey 2 Tbsp. lime juice  1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp. salt Place the peaches in blender and process until smooth. Transfer to a large bowl and add the orange juice, yogurt, honey, lime juice, and cinnamon. Adjust the thickness with more lime juice if necessary. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving or up to 8 hours...

Motorcycle enthusiasts with Big G Express say they’re anxious to get their “knees in the breeze” after many have been quarantined due to COVID-19. Their upcoming event May 30 will help St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital continue to lead the way in how the world understands, treats,and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases...

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, Jack Daniel's visitor center temporarily suspended tours on March 16. Miss Mary Bobo's Restaurant and the Lynchburg Hardware & General Store also closed temporarily. Distillery operations have continued as normal. Moore County has been greatly spared with to date only 3 COVID-19 cases.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges cancer patients to take extra steps to lower their risks of getting sick with COVID-19. There are videos on the CDC website which may assist patients. The CDC urges patients to call their doctor right away if they have a fever or feel sick during chemo treatments...

For the last 21 years, Steven and Ceal Flippo’s hearts have been tuned in perfect harmony. Yes, and even now, in the midst of a pandemic, they’re still singing Godly music. The two say social distancing, since COVID-19 crept into the community, has likely deepened their love and appreciation for their Christian music. Set songs like “Amazing Grace” to the backdrop of “beautiful Bedford County” and Steven says it’s a match certainly made in heaven...

Karrie Brandon, Garrett Gunn and Shyan Brandon are all set for a special Mother’s Day celebration. (This photo was accidentally left out of Tuesday's Mother's Day Section. We wish all a happy Mother's Day.)

Kinley and Brantley Watts, children of Blake and Sandy Watts, demonstrate how wonderful the Community School feed program is for the local children. Lots of volunteers have helped since March 17 to make this a very significant school program all over the county. The federally-funded food service program began on a once-a-week pick up schedule on April 15, due to pandemic. Now, each Wednesday, parents line up in their vehicles at their respective school for breakfast and lunch items.

Ethan Jolley and Kayla Fults are the 2020 recipients of the FFA leadership and FFA New Horizon scholarships. Both students are 4-year members and officers of Community High School FFA. Ethan and Kayla will receive their FFA state degrees later this month at a virtual ceremony. The state FFA degree is awarded to FFA members who have demonstrated the highest level of commitment to the association and made significant accomplishments in their supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs.)

Shelbyville Parks and Recreation areas are still closed to organized public events until further notice. But aren't the irises pretty right now surrounding the nearby sign. Park officials hope that all recreation areas will be back up and running soon, but much is dependent on continued COVID-19 cases.

It really is the thought that counts, but why not impress the special woman in your life this weekend with a special virtual celebration. Mother’s Day is Sunday and if you must social distance due to COVID-19, why not opt for a virtual-online-gathering. Create your event on Zoom video conferencing, upload toasts to Mom on Facebook (alcoholic or non alcoholic ones) or use some other virtual way of broadcasting your love for that special celebration with family and friends...

Ricky Reed’s family is in its fourth generation of farming on Old Nashville Dirt Road. While some days he’s just plain tired of being a farmer, he just can’t seem to shed those daily chores ingrained in his being from sunup to sundown since he was a young boy...

Local author and speaker Paul Engel says he’s on a mission through his new book, “The Constitution Study” to help everyday Americans read and study the historic document. Some think people of a certain ages should already know what’s in the document? When it gets right down to the historic notes, Engel doesn’t think Americans know as much as they think about “The Constitution.”...

What do two artistically-minded Community High School alums with time on their hands, living in different states, do during a pandemic? They reunite to present an online play, of course. Those Community graduates of 2015, back by popular demand, are Aaron Gaines and Chelsea Mills. The two theatre majors have revisited, “The Diary of Anne Frank,” which they performed on the Community stage during their senior year...

Bedford County sophomores and cousins Sophie Miller and Makenna Lamb recently gave new meaning to the phrase: “Bloom where you’re planted.” While being out of school and quarantined at home, due to COVID-19, they energetically cleaned out a flower bed at Sophie’s house; they have since recreated a colorful rock pathway, which was hidden underneath the dirt and grass...

Molly Mielneczek (left) and Hope Comeaux, who is visiting Shelbyville from New Orleans, took their four-legged friend, Macy, on a walk around South Brittain Street on Tuesday afternoon then stopped off to enjoy the sunshine and cool breeze from the family swing.

Emily Jensen, 5, recently submitted some Easter art she created to the Times-Gazette.

Easter may be over for some, but Emma Younger recently got in another egg hunt before heading to her brand new swing set at home.

A local mom and her child worked together recently on this special artwork at their Shelbyville home. The mom, who did not wish to be identified, notes it was truly a great experience and she's contributed it to the Rainbow group on social media for the idea.

During World War I, posters proclaiming “Food will win the war” encouraged Americans to grow victory gardens. A century later, home gardeners are returning to that idea in the fight against a global pandemic. Backyard gardeners are coming together, mostly virtually, to learn and share stories on how to grow vegetables, fruits and flowers as the novel coronavirus raises fears about disruptions in food supplies and the cost of food in a down economy...

Carolyn Davis has never celebrated a quarantined birthday, that is, because of something called COVID-19. But last Wednesday, she and family enjoyed some of her own recipes at home. While she couldn’t go out to dine publicly, due to social distancing laws, Davis was treated to her favorite dishes at home...

​Many of us are now at home due to business shutdowns, kids out of schools, cancelled meetings, etc. in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. That means having to feed a family three meals a day at home for many days. The good news is that often there are items in your pantry or freezer that can be pulled together to create meals to feed families when we can’t get to the grocery store every day...

While the Easter Bunny may have some social distancing issues this weekend, “Bubba” the rainbow horse, owned by Mindy Pruitt and family, is keeping everyone at their Shelbyville home and on social media in the Easter parade spirit. Pruitt’s horse riding group “Riding With Mindy” joined the Shelbyville Rainbow Hunt Facebook group recently. ...