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...

W hen my family and I first moved to Middle Tennessee, we rented a 25 acre farm just outside of Deason. I had started a Christian residential discipleship ministry in Murfreesboro helping men overcome their addictions, so it was an easy drive from our home in Deason to the ministry center in Murfreesboro...

The personal finance website WalletHub recently released its ranking of the “patriotism” of all 50 states. In an era of toppled statues, kneeling athletes, microaggressions, border wall controversies and globalist agendas, trying to define and quantify patriotism resembles voluntarily crisscrossing a minefield...

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...

Rita Colleen Philpott and Walter “Cruz” Davor Brooks were married May 15 during an afternoon ceremony conducted at the couple’s Shelbyville home. The Rev. Allen Brown of The Shelbyville Church read scripture and administered the double-ring vows before a limited guest company...

Motlow State is offering free dual enrollment courses to high school juniors interested in pursuing a degree in Mechatronics. The Motlow Middle College program will pay for all books, tuition, and even travel for juniors willing to pursue a dual enrollment mechatronics degree...

A recent study from the Business and Economic Research Center at Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro examines ways to strengthen the workforce of professionals in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The newly published research from BERC is part of a larger economic development project, “STEM Workforce Dynamics in the Tennessee Valley Corridor,” sponsored by the Tennessee Small Business Development Center, or TSBDC. ...

MURFREESBORO —  Small business owners across the state unclear about the process for applying for emergency assistance from the federal government are encouraged to seek free counseling assistance through the Tennessee Small Business Development Centers across the state. ...

The Motlow State Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program cleared a significant hurdle in April when it earned full accreditation with the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). The accreditation comes as the second MLT graduating class completes its requirements...

While he’s still unsure as to the best course of action for reopening Bedford County Schools during this pandemic, superintendent Don Embry told board of education members on Thursday, “No matter what we do, it’s not going to be right.” The noon special called meeting, which was accessible online, was scheduled for the board to approve some final 2019-2020 budget amendments. ...

Bedford County Board of Education recently asked parents to fill out a survey to get their input on opening schools Aug. 3. There were mixed reviews on that survey, which has not yet been made public, according to schools superintendent Don Embry. Embry said over 3,000 parents and or guardians took time to fill out the survey. There are currently over 8,000 students enrolled at 14 school sites in Bedford County...

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...