The pop culture stereotype of high school involves various cliques -- athletes, top students, the "cool kids" and various scattered outsiders. But a new program at Shelbyville Central High School aims to change the school's culture with a message of unity and inclusiveness, one which participants hope will lead to greater success for each individual student...

There were no cell phones or radios in buses 37 years ago when Freda Alford began driving special needs children to school. The pay was low. Winter mornings were vicious...

Cub Scout Pack 476 held a coat drive to benefit Clothe Our Kids of Bedford County, which provides clothing for children in distress or state custody. Standing, from left: Ritchie Morris, Atlee Hancock, Zach Farrar, Leroy Addison, Charles Borgstrom, Matthew Plunkett, Eric Faulkner, Matthew Boyce. Middlerow: Trystain Cadenhead, Joseph Brannon, Cory Cunningham, Johnathan Taylor, Jesse Sweeney, Robert Petty. Sitting: Phoenix Balys, Dakota Perkins, Joshua Taylor, Grady Dodd, Mason Short, Bentley Short, Oliver Cawthon, Wyatt Helms and Brayden Cadenhead. (Submitted photo)

The holidays are upon us. Now that Halloween is past, the stores ring out unabashedly with Christmas music, the holiday movies have started airing and minds are turning to thoughts of turkey and dressing and pie. Vegetables, especially for southerners, have always played a big role on the holiday tables at Thanksgiving and Christmas. ...

Did you realize that November 24 marks the 100th birthday of the venerable (and still-published) comic strip "Gasoline Alley"? Besides presenting wholesome depictions of small-town life, "Gasoline Alley" has reveled in the distinction of being the first comic strip to let characters age normally. The clock started ticking on Valentine's Day, 1921 when bachelor Walt Wallet found an abandoned baby (eventually nicknamed "Skeezix") on his doorstep...

I'm enjoying a history of Community School. Priceless! In 1927, there was a "field day" where Community competed with other schools at the "fairgrounds." I suspect this was the start of basketball, before A or AAA divisions. Did you know that Community had a brass band conducted by a "Mr. Smith" of Poplins' Cross Roads? (I'm sure the late Dick Poplin mentioned this in his past Times-Gazette articles.)...

The only thing that's worse than being sick with a bug, is being sick with a bug with a child on your hands. Actually, there is something worse than that -- which is if the kid happens to be a toddler or infant and you have no one to watch them. I rarely get sick but all I could think about during my sleeping hours between Sunday night and Monday morning was how was I going to get Dani ready in the morning. ...

Kaitlyn Danielle Warren of Flat Creek and Joshua Anthony Wells of Shelbyville were married Oct. 20 at New Hope Chapel in Shelbyville. The Rev. Charles Redmond of Faith Baptist Church conducted the double-ring ceremony before a large company of guests...

Shelbyville-Bedford County Public Library donations for the Building Fund, Memorial Fund and Memorial Books have been made in memory of: Walter Leon Bobo by Barry and Pam Cooper; Heather Bowman-Teal by James and Ann Richardson; Mary Catherine Pewitt Brown by Barry and Pam Cooper;...

The Fairview FCE Club met Oct. 17 at the UT/TSU Extension Office in Shelbyville. President Pat Hastings read the household hint, and Carolyn Jones read the call to order. Cindy Parker gave the devotion, “Refreshment for Our Souls.” The minutes of the September meeting were approved as read by Betty Brown. Eight members were present. Brown also presented the treasurer’s report, and Susie Armstrong gave the sunshine report...

Scott and Cindy Nichols of Bell Buckle announce the engagement of their daughter, Katlynn Nichols of Bell Buckle, to MIchael Blacksmith Jr. of Shelbyville. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of the late William Mitchell "Nick" Nichols of Unionville; the late Annette Nichols of Shelbyville; the late Margaret Barile Sulls of Chicago, Illinois; and the late Samuel Sulls of Murfreesboro. ...

Friends and Family FCE met Oct. 9 at the UT/TSU Extension office with six members present. President Bonnie Hill opened the meeting giving the household hint: To clean dirty window tracks, sprinkle with baking soda, add a little vinegar and let stand for 10 minutes, wipe out with rag or paper towels. ...

Travis and Kelly Green Lester of Shelbyville announce the birth of a daughter, Maisyn Elizabeth Lester, Sept. 17 at Tennova Healthcare-Harton in Tullahoma. She weighed 6 pounds, 5.6 ounces and is a sister to Madisyn Reese Lester, 4...

Julie Breanne Patrick of Shelbyville and Jason Travis Pilkington of Shelbyville were married in an evening ceremoney Sept. 2 at Sacred Stone in Fayetteville. Willie Brown of The Loft Church, assisted by Kevin DuMont of Hendersonville, conducted the double-ring ceremony before a large company of guests...

On Sunday and Monday, the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg will offer complimentary tours for all current and former service members with valid ID. On Monday, all locations of Gateway Tire & Service Center, including the one in Shelbyville, will offer free oil changes, or a $25 discount on any other service, to veterans, active military and their affected partners with a valid military ID...

Col. (Ret.) Jeff Davidson has joined United Communications as broadband ambassador. Davidson will be responsible for working with municipal, county, and community leaders, along with existing and new potential customers to successfully expand broadband service to underserved communities in the Middle Tennessee region. ...

Friday and Saturday Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday Saturday, 4-8 p.m. The store will be closed Saturday until time for the open house. Dec. 8, 11 a.m.-2 p.m...

Murfreesboro Medical Clinic & SurgiCenter is the Official Medical Group of MTSU Athletics. The multi-specialty healthcare facility located in the heart of Tennessee entered into a continued partnership with Middle Tennessee State University's athletics department in July...

Lena Dye-Peels has retired from First Community Bank, where she had been employed for 26 years. She joined the bank in October 1992 and has held a number of different positions. (Submitted photo)

Maroney Real Estate, 3704 Highway 231 North, held a Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday. Owner-broker Michel Maroney held the ceremonial scissors and Whitney Collier with the Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber of Commerce presented the business with a first dollar plaque. (Submitted photo)

A list of upcoming holiday open houses.

Samantha Skinner, a student at Community Middle School, is one of more than 500 elementary, junior high and high school cheerleaders and dancers who will represent Varsity Spirit in the Thanksgiving Day Parade at Walt Disney World resort in Florida...

The pop culture stereotype of high school involves various cliques -- athletes, top students, the "cool kids" and various scattered outsiders. But a new program at Shelbyville Central High School aims to change the school's culture with a message of unity and inclusiveness, one which participants hope will lead to greater success for each individual student...

There were no cell phones or radios in buses 37 years ago when Freda Alford began driving special needs children to school. The pay was low. Winter mornings were vicious...

Family Academic Support Team (FAST) held its first meeting in September at Eakin Elementary School, with 75 percent of kindergarten parents attending. "We were just ecstatic . . proud," said Connie Banks, literacy coordinator and organizer of the recent meeting...

The Tennessee State University National Alumni Association will hold a holiday luncheon 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, at the Manchester-Coffee County Conference Center, 147 Hospitality Blvd. in Manchester. James Shaw Jr., hailed as a hero for disarming the gunman at the Waffle House shooting in Antioch in April, will be the guest speaker...

The Shining Stars program made a donation to Bedford County Schools vision teacher Pam Feldhaus, third from left, to assist students with vision problems in Bedford County. Making the presentation are Shining Stars volunteers Evie Winfrey, Mary-Alice Shavers and Seth Countess. (Submitted photo)