Stories from Wednesday, January 28, 2004

Bedford County Medical Center and its financial problems dominated much of Tuesday night's meeting of the Bedford County Board of Commissioners' Budget and Finance Committee. Before the almost two-hour meeting ended, committee members had unanimously recommended granting the hospital's request to access a $400,000 line of credit, which is to be repaid by the end of the fiscal year...

The courtroom was full of Millard Johnson supporters this morning in connection with the Future Farmers of America sponsor and agriculture teacher's first court appearance resulting from his criminal charges. Johnson, a teacher at Bedford County Vocational Center, was charged Jan. 13 with assault, sexual battery by an authority figure and attempted sexual battery by an authority figure alleged by one of his 17-year-old female students...

A Shelbyville man says he was robbed at gunpoint outside his Sherwood Court home Tuesday night. Jose A. Mendez-OIgui, 27, told Shelbyville police he was followed from a local business around 8:40 p.m. As he got out of his car, the man approached and asked to use his telephone, said Officer Cindy Ferrell. Mendez-Olgui said he didn't have a telephone; the robber pulled "a black handgun, stuck the barrel to his head, asked `where is the money?' and took $45 from his pocket," Ferrell said...

Harris Middle School's Eagles are one step closer to winning the South Central Middle School Conference Tournament -- being held on their home floor -- after manhandling Tullahoma West Middle School 44-29 on Tuesday. The win puts Harris in Thursday's 8:15 p.m. championship game...

Highland Christian of Pulaski took home a 58-49 win Tuesday night over Victory Baptist Academy. VBA had a 10-7 lead at the end of the first period and pulled ahead by six points, 25-19, by halftime. The visitors found their shots and tied VBA 40-40 heading into the final period...

It was a great game -- if you were a Webb fan -- and a nightmare for Holloway fans Tuesday night as the Feet delighted home fans with a 49-26 win. Four-year Webb veteran Kirk Gilmore sank his 1,000 high school point off a pair of fourth-quarter free throws which stopped the game for everyone to applaud this accomplishment in his career. ...

CULLEOKA -- "We made mistakes that we should not be making at this time in the season," Coach Tony Garrette said about the Community Viqueens' (11-7, 6-6) road loss in overtime to the Culleoka Lady Warriors, 70-66, in a District 11A contest Tuesday night...

CULLEOKA -- With three seconds left on the clock, Culleoka's Donavan Vasek hit two free throws to capture a 55-53 District 11A win over the Community Vikings (10-7, 7-5) in Culleoka on Tuesday. Andrew Lamb could not miss during the first quarter and collected eight of the Vikings' 12 points. He finished with 18 points despite missing playing time due to three early fouls...

LYNCHBURG -- Nothing seems to come easy these days for Cascade's Lady Champions. For the second straight game, the Lady Champions built a double-digit lead on the road, only to see it vanish before claiming the win in a four-minute overtime period...

LYNCHBURG -- Outstanding free-throw shooting and rebounding along with a great defensive effort were three keys in the Cascade Champions' 61-57 upset win on the road over District 11-A leader Moore County's Raiders Tuesday night. Cascade goes to 10-5 overall and 7-5 in the district while Moore County drops to 13-8 on the season and 9-2 in district action...

Disappointment and frustration filled Harris Middle School's gym Tuesday evening when the Eaglettes lost their bid into the South Central Middle School Conference Tournament championship round by falling 41-36 to Coffee County's Lady Raiders. Harris, a five-time SCMSC Tournament winner, has played in the championship game for the past few seasons...