Opinion

To the Editor: I am writing to thank Shelbyville residents for sharing the true meaning of Christmas with children in need this past holiday season. Because of the generosity of donors in Shelbyville and across the United States, Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan's Purse, collected more than 8.9 million shoebox gifts in 2019. Combined with those collected from partnering countries in 2019, the ministry is now sending 10,569,405 shoebox gifts to children worldwide...

When I talk with citizen groups in Tennessee about open government, people tell me they want more information about what their government is doing, not less. An informed citizenry results in better and more accountable government. But in plain language, people just want to know what's going on, particularly when it affects their lives directly...

On Tuesday, January 21, I will be introducing a resolution at 5 p.m. on the third floor of the Bedford County Courthouse. This resolution is a resolution of No Consent to Refugee Resettlement in Bedford County, Tennessee. As many of you have read over the past few weeks, Governor Bill Lee has announced his consent to initial refugee resettlement in Tennessee in response to Executive Order 13888 issued by President Donald J. ...

To the Editor: I'd like to echo the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation's recent recognition of David Womack Sr. of Shelbyville for his leadership and dedication to agriculture in Bedford County and beyond. In addition to advocating for traditional agriculture, David is a founder of the U.S. biodiesel industry...

A lot of awards shows and other programs generally do an "in memoriam" segment honoring those of the trade who passed during the year. In 2019, we've lost our fair share of loved ones, friends and co-workers in Bedford County. This week Bedford County Emergency Medical Services and this entire county lost one of its own dedicated emergency medical services workers, Capt. Chris Wrenn. Our hearts go out to his family...

To the Editor: The last two years has been puzzling for many Christians knowing the religious right have supported President Trump. The actions of President Trump certainly have not been consistent with the teaching of the Bible. As I was drinking my coffee this morning reading the paper and listening to the news on TV. ...

To the Editor: After reading the story printed in the Shelbyville Times-Gazette regarding the meeting of the Bedford County School board it is apparent that I either misspoke or misrepresented my thoughts or I was taken out of context in regards to conversations I had with commissioners as individuals...

The state Report Card is online line at the Tennessee Education Association's website. More features continue to be added to this website in an effort that the community better understand state indicators. I have learned much, and been a little aggravated at times, I'll admit, reading this report over the years. It certainly has been an "educational" process for this reporter...

To the Editor: We the people of the United States of America are asking for a change of venue for the trial of President Donald Trump. Before the impeachment trial even begins in the United States Senate Republicans are already defending the president and declaring his innocence. ...

It's that time of the year again when I do a little easy reading -- Tennessee Department of Education's annual Report Card. I must admit, I really do prefer Louisa May Alcott's "Christmas Treasury" or "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens...

To the Editor: Now that the impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump is over, and a number of witnesses have testified both from the Republicans and Democrats, we as American citizens are perplexed as to the outcome of the hearing. Who is right and who is wrong? All of the witnesses were honorable people. Some served as military officers, or appointed ambassadors, and some were just in the loop...

To the Editor: I am a volunteer at Good Samaritan. This is my second year for helping unload the cans of food and other items donated by Shelbyville Central High School. First, I would like to thank all those who donated food and toiletry items. We were getting very low on some food items and also toilet paper. ...

To the kind man in Kroger today (Monday, Nov. 25) who paid for my groceries: Thank you, it was a shock. God bless you; happy holidays. M. Williams --- The Times-Gazette publishes letters to the editor as space allows, and reserves the right to refuse any letter and to edit for content and length...