Feature Stories

Movie fans often play the "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" parlor game, tracing the actor's connections to other actors through his many movies. Chili cook-off contestants could easily play a variant of the game and call it "Six Degrees of Dicky Thorpe," a Shelbyville competitor. The theory for the Bacon game is that "any two people on the planet Earth are six or fewer friend or acquaintance links apart" according to Wikipedia...

There was chili and there were dogs, but they were not served on buns. Vintage cars and various booths selling and promoting a variety of items were also on display. The square was filled with visitors last Friday night and Saturday as the 10th annual First Square Fair was held. ...

The Shelbyville Woman's Club met in June with Sara Wood presiding. The devotional was given by Janie Burke. Nelly Barnes did decorations, Sue Cates and Sandra Housch did placecards, and reservations were taken by Barbara Lamb. Roxanna Fransesconi and Dinah Agnew provided hospitality for the meeting. The scholarship winners were announced by Lynn Womack. These were Kaitlin Gann of Community High School, Emma Haynes of Shelbyville Central High School and Mariah Bowen of Cascade High School...

When you have a home named Heavenward, blessed with a truly beautiful view of the countryside of Bedford County, it is hard to believe you want to ever leave home. But Floyd Cole of Normandy has left home many times: in the service, visiting relatives and friends and just being a tourist with his wife, Mary. This past month he visited Vermont, completing his task of visiting all 50 states...

Members of the Bedford Cancer Foundation cleaned up a stretch of U.S. 231 near the airport on Saturday, June 24. Pictured (from left) are: Barbara Pate; Cathy Mercer; Rebecca Jones; Maddie Jones; Karen Inman; Connie Allen; and Ralph Allen. (Submitted photo)

My name is Ashley, and I have the pleasure of interning with Bedford County Extension this summer. I am about half way through my internship, and I am having a blast so far. I have learned so many new things and gained countless new experiences. Just last week, we went peach picking at Forgie's Fruit Farm located just outside of Lewisburg. ...

Mary Pitner has been involved with public education in Bedford County from every conceivable angle as an elementary school teacher in every grade K-fifth grade, an assistant principal, a principal, a Central office staff member in curriculum and student services and as the mother of two former students, Martha and Mike, who attended public schools. ...

The Webb School Summer Program Day Camp participants took part in many fun yet educational activities last week. They learned how to use a pottery wheel and took a completed project home at the end of the week. The class is taught by Sue Wood, Webb's pottery teacher. Other classes were Engineering Challenges, Outdoor Adventures, Inspirational Math and LEGO Robotics. To see day camp photos, visit thewebbschool.com...

Calvin Kincaid spent much of the early part of the day checking registrations for the show and directing drivers to the proper locations for judging during the Southern Wheels in Motion Show. The show attracted 298 entries. Before he could walk or talk, Calvin Kincaid was ready to drive a car...

Agronomy Team (from left): Rhiannon Overcast, Brett Harden, Lindsey Stephens and Kristyn Neese. Forestry Team (from left): Hunter Lemmon, Brett Harden, Emily Crabtree and Lindsey Stephens. Environmental and Natural Resources Team, front: Lawson Lemmon and Hunter Lemmon. ...

A variety of classic cars glistened in the Saturday afternoon soon as their owners gathered underneath a large shade tree on the Bedford County Courthouse lawn to talk about their cars and any other topics that came to mind. They were all part of the "Second Saturday Shelbyville Cruise-In. And while they all love driving their cars some of them also have special music serving as a soundtrack for the road...

I think I may have been the last person in America to finally buy a SodaStream. But I'm going to write about it anyway, as if it were something new that I'd just discovered. After all, I've wanted a SodaStream for years, back before the little boom in SodaStream sales a couple of years ago. But I couldn't afford one at the time...

Michelle Rathbun is the inaugural recipient of the Andrew C. Rambo Scholarship according to an announcement made recently by Keith Canter, CEO of First Community Mortgage (FCM) and David Urban, Ph.D., Dean of the Jennings A. Jones College of Business at Middle Tennessee State University...

The Shonta’ Whorley Lamb Memorial Softball Scholarship is presented every year at SCHS to an Eaglette Softball team member who is planning to play softball in college. This year’s recipient was Kendall Durard. Presenting her the scholarship is Elijah Miller, Shonta’ Whorley Lamb’s nephew. Kendall plans to continue her education and her softball career at Motlow State Community College.

The Bedford County Education Association honored several local students with college scholarships at the end of the school year. High school seniors could apply for the BCEA scholarship by submitting an essay, teacher recommendations, report card, and ACT or SAT scores. The following students were awarded a $300 college scholarship: Erin Thompson (Community High School), Sarah Mayo (Community High School) and Bailey Sudduth (Cascade High School)...

Community FFA scholarship recipients present a check for $2,000 to Camden Collins at Community High School Honors Day, as part of their season of service initiative. Camden lost his parents in a motor vehicle accident in Rockvale in January. This year Community FFA has donated nearly $6,000 for community service projects including scholarships, toy drives and pet food drives. The FFA donors were Lindsay Melton, Zoey Grissom, Bailey Smith, Abby Holton and Bradley Adcock. (Submitted photo)

Pictured are members and advisors of Cascade Elementary School’s Student Council. First row: Allison Ferris, Leah Guffey and Bre Lovvorn. Second row: Lucas McCune, Lane Comstock, Hadley Engle, Ramzi Shipley, Morgan Housch, Cooper Phillips and Storm Sims. Third row: sponsor Jeannie O’Neal, Ella Parker, Christopher Philpott, Alexis Chamblee, Paisley Davidge, Laney West, Henry Stone, Ellisia Harrison, Logan Pulley and sponsor Mitzi Raney. Fourth row: Mason Crowder, Breanna Horn, Luck Harris, Jacqelin Willis, Katie Kilgore, Bella Griffy, Zach Crosslin and sponsor Cheri Blackwell. (Submitted photo)

During the week of May 1-5, the Bedford County FFA of Shelbyville Central High School competed in the National Land Judging Event in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The team competed against 92 other team from around the United States. The team placed 35th in the nation. Team members are (from left): LayCee Raby, Gracie Parker, Hunter Lemmon and Brett Harden. The chapter would like to thank Dixie Harden (not pictured) for serving as chaperone. (Submitted photo)

high honors Alaina Pinvises, who attends International School Bangkok, won the Global Citizenship Award from the East Asia Regional Council of Schools. She also was named to the honor roll and received a leadership and service award. Her great-grandmother is Mary Lynn Prince. Grandparents are Dan and Marilyn Lewis. Her parents Thienchai and Lynette Pinvises of Bangkok, Thailand. (Submitted photo)

There is a school club at Eakin Elementary called the Einstein Ambassadors which consists of 12 students and two teachers, Kari Tisma and Christy Hughes. It is a group of twelve 4th and 5th grade students who were nominated by their peers who display exceptional behavior, excel in academics and are willing to do great things for the benefit of others to serve the community...

One man is trying to send a message that fathers matter in the lives of kids, and he is doing so with a special event the day before Father's Day. Michael Knox is organizing a father-child outing on Saturday, June 17 at 1 p.m. "A Day At The Park With Dad" will be at Never Rest Park and will have food, drinks and more, at no charge...

If you try a bread recipe I found online last week, you may start saying, "Vive la France!" Let me share a little of my recent baking journey. I have been wanting to bake artisan bread for some time. My favorite source had been Wild Flours, a now-defunct mom-and-pop bakery in Murfreesboro. The owners are parents and earlier this year decided after several attempts to run a growing, in-demand business that family came first. Kudos to them. Family does come first...

A local Korean War veteran received top honors May 17 with a free trip to Washington, D.C. Robert "Bob" Fullerton flew in the Honor Flight of Middle Tennessee program. Honor Flight transports veterans to the capital to tour war monuments and memorials...

Retired Lt. Col. Herman Statum will talk about the impact of the Vietnam War era during the Field of Heroes Ceremony on Memorial Day. The Shelbyville native served in the Army for 20 years, including two tours in Vietnam. Statum was posted overseas for a total of 11 years...

Soldiers who "gave their last full measure of devotion," is how President Abraham Lincoln described the 51,000 Americans who died in the three-day battle at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 1-3, 1863. Memorial Day is too often mischaracterized, celebrated as a holiday, a long weekend for family parties, marking the unofficial start of summer. It is not a day for joyous celebration. It is a day to remember and honor those who sacrificed their lives for their country...

If you don't find Lindy Holland in her classroom going around the room encouraging her students to grow and achieve, you may find her outside the building helping her students throw paper airplanes. The Liberty School fifth-grade English language arts teacher finds creative ways to engage her students not only through reading but through research and application. And, she has drawn high praise from her peers across the state...

The third annual Shining Stars program was held on April 29. The event provides special needs girls with a pageant event that includes dinner. Each of the 20 girls was crowned, received a medallion and flowers, said one of the organizers, Mary Leta Shavers...

Taking care of crime victims is what drives Jenna Miller of the Tennessee Department of Corrections. While her title technically is probation parole officer, Miller is effectively a pre-sentence investigative report writer. She travels the 17th District (Bedford, Lincoln, Marshall and Moore counties) to interview defendants and victims. She weaves together the story of what happened to whom to help judges Forest Durard and Lee Russell understand the story of the crime before sentencing hearings...

Ahh, spring. Out of the heavy, brown, meat and potatoes comfort meals of winter and into the colorful, bright, fresh produce of the season. Asparagus, spinach, broccoli and the jewels of the season, strawberries and rhubarb. Strawberries are a fruit everyone understands and welcomes in the spring. ...

At age 2, Andrew Curtis was struck by a car and suffered a head injury that left him with physical and developmental disabilities. When he got out of the hospital, his parents had to teach him to walk and talk again. They soon learned that Curtis is a fighter who succeeds through persistence. Curtis graduated from high school, got married and found a custodial position that lasted eight years. But after that, he struggled to find and keep employment...

Mommy (Wanda Lee) came to live with us from El Paso, Texas, after the passing of my father 19 years ago. While I always thought I knew my mother it was not until then that we really learned so much more. While in her traditional role of mother and wife, she was always quiet, hard-working and deferred to my father for most decisions regarding the family and home. All of us had moved away from home, when she had to step up to one of her toughest roles, caring for Dad after a debilitating stroke...

Hillary Head Westcott and Winston Westcott. (Submitted photo)

Five generations are shown during the recent christening of Jovie Elizabeth Wilson. From left: Aliene Bush, Lee Roy Cunningham, Tammy Cunningham Wilson and Tyler Cunnimgham Wilson, and Jovie. (Submitted photo)

Celebration Way Assisted Living residents Harriet Melson and (left) Will Hall pick strawberries at Valley Home Farm on May 2. (Submitted photos)

The Laureate Delta Chapter, No. 7, Beta Sigma Phi met on May 3. The Founder’s Day program honored Walter W. Ross, who started Beta Sigma Phi in 1931. Front row: June McBride, Pat Sherrill, Nancy June Brandon, Alice Durio, and Vavial Jamison. Back row: Barbara Brown, Renee Kowalski, Charlotte Presley, Tewaan Tucker, Charlotte Daniel and Debbie Kee. (Submitted photo)

For 34 years, Wilma Kane was employed in a high altitude profession. She worked as a purchasing manager at the University of Tennessee Space Institute near Tullahoma. After she retired in 2003, she embarked on a second career that was much more down to earth. As a matter of fact, she got right down in the dirt. She became a full time farmer, selling the produce she grows in area farmers' markets four days a week in the summer and early autumn...

Harris Middle School's LEGO Robotics team is building success and building a way to serve the community. The team has placed a number of impressive wins this school year, said teacher Debra Campbell, a team sponsor. "At the Tullahoma Qualifier, we won first place in our Project Presentation on December 17th, which qualified us to attend the Eastern Tennessee Regional Championship in Cookeville on February 11th on the campus of TTU," said 6th-grade science teacher Kim Dolan.. ...

Shelbyville Garden Club held its April meeting at Bennett Nurseries in Huntsville, Alabama. From left are: Rhea Hiett, Donna Simmons, Janie Burke, Kay Simmons and Shirley McGee. (Submitted photo)

"My life is a blessing from God," says Pam Cooper. "If it wasn't for the desire that he puts in other people's heart to give I would not be here. I owe my life to God, and the people that he has put in my path along the way who have graciously and selflessly given to me, and for that I am forever grateful."...

Ten-year-old Gavon Veach took the wheel of his bright red Super M McCormick Farmall before it was even off its trailer Saturday afternoon. The look on his face was one of determination. He was ready to fire it up and pull some weight at the Halls Mill Triangle Community Club antique truck and tractor pull...

When Carol Young came back to Middle Tennessee to retire with her husband of 54 years she discovered that nothing stays the same. "You can't go home again," she said. Carol was born in Woodbury seven decades ago but left shortly after getting married at age 16. When she came back, 40 years later, she and her husband, Charles "Butch" Young, bought a seven-acre place just outside Wartrace...