Stories from Thursday, September 29, 2005

Funeral arrangements for Haggard Neal "Uncle Buddy" Johnson, 90, of Shelbyville, who died Thursday at Alvin C. York Veterans Administration Medical Center in Murfreesboro, are incomplete and will be announced by Feldhaus Memorial Chapel.

Graveside services for infant Delia Sebastian Gaspar of Shelbyville, who died Wednesday at Bedford County Medical Center, will be 2 p.m. Friday at Willow Mount Cemetery. Gowen-Smith Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Death penalty opponents are challenging the scheduled execution of a man convicted for the death of a former Shelbyville Times-Gazette reporter who was the niece of the police chief here at the time of the murder. The Tennessee Coalition to Abolish State Killings on Wednesday quoted the state Attorney General as saying in 2001 that Gregory Thompson is incapable of making rational decisions, so a conservator was needed for the man on death row...

A country music song could be written about a case in Bedford County Sessions Court on Wednesday when the judge found an ex-husband guilty of harassment three years after a divorce from a woman he kept calling on the telephone. "I hope you can get this behind you," Judge Charles Rich told Steven B. Smith after fining him $50 and playing nine recorded phone messages Smith left for his ex-wife, Tara Fox, who was told in the recordings, "I tried to be there for you," and "I won't call you again."...

Police captured a man accused of shooting a Ledbetter Lane man to death and seriously wounding his brother after spraying smoke into the apartment where he was holed up Wednesday night. Antwain Tapaige "Scooby" Sales, 31, was staying at a South Maple Street home, Detective Sgt. Jason Williams said...

After a week of non-region football games across the state has come and gone, teams are digging in for the stretch run at the playoffs. Cascade and Friday night's opponent, White House-Heritage, are no different. The Champions are 2-3 overall. The Patriots boast a 3-2 mark. More importantly, both teams are 1-1 in Region 5-1A and looking up at the two 2-0 teams, Jo Byrns and Forrest...

Community's Josh Haywood was the overall winner with a time of 19:21 in their cross country meet with Hampshire. Fellow Viking Cody Pierce came in third (19:49). Chelsey Gochee finished fifth for the Viqueens after clocking a 26:46. Erica Hoffman wasn't far behind in sixth place (26:59)...

Tuesday will be the day to fill your plate and belly as the Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber of Commerce once again holds the Firehouse Food Festival. The event, which is in its eighth year, kicks off at 5 p.m. Tuesday under the large pavilion at H.V. Griffin Park and gives everyone a chance to sample some of the best food in the county...

Funeral services for Mary Jane Ervin Clanton, 70, of Shelbyville, who died Wednesday at Bedford County Nursing Home, will be 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Hillcrest Funeral Home. The Rev. Kenneth Neil will officiate and burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens...

Bedford County Board of Commissioners tried to pass a wheel tax last year but had it rejected this year by county voters. Tuesday night, the commission's budget and finance committee discussed the fact that the City of Shelbyville is now trying to pass a vehicle fee which would, in practice, be very similar to a wheel tax. The city's fee, since it isn't technically a wheel tax, is not subject to a voter referendum...