Stories from Saturday, November 19, 2005

Gov. Phil Bredesen announced Friday that the state will provide $12 million in short line railroad improvement grants to counties across Tennessee, including $153,479 for track improvements and $49,694 for bridge improvements in Bedford County. "The short line railroads make efficient rail freight service available to many Tennessee communities," said Bredesen in a news release. ...

It will be the start of a new era for Shelbyville Central's Eaglettes while the Golden Eagles look to build on the success of recent seasons as high school basketball across the state opens this week. Shelbyville opens the season Monday night when Smyrna invades SCHS Gym for a pair of non-district games starting at 6:30...

A couple old friends and roommates got together on Friday night as coach Charlie Pope's Cascade Champions squared off with coach Jamie Wilson's Harpeth Indians in a Hall of Fame contest in Wartrace. Wilson's Class AA squad used a balanced scoring attack to walk out with a 69-48 victory...

Momma said there'd be days like this. Cascade fell 68-29 to Harpeth, the state's 10th-ranked team, on Friday night in Wartrace to complete their two-game Hall of Fame exhibition schedule. The Indians jumped out to a 25-4 first-quarter lead and went into the half up 43-13...

Community hosted Santa Fe for their second Hall of Fame contest of the season Friday night, losing a heartbreaker 40-38 in the final seconds. Stoked by the strong shooting of Ryan Zindars, Josh Hull and Chris Molder, the Vikings maintained a lead after each of the first three quarters and led by as many as seven points late into the fourth...

Community's Viqueens didn't give up after falling behind in the second quarter, turning in a valiant effort before falling to Santa Fe's Lady Cats 47-40 Friday night in Unionville. The Viqueens were down by as many as 13 points in the second quarter before turning the game around behind the sharpshooting of Heather Small, Jessica Thompson and Carly Daffern...

Student athletes from Shelbyville Central High who participated in football, girls socccer, golf and cheerleading were honored at the annual Fall Sports Banquet Thursday night. The event is hosted by the Shelbyville Quarterback club. Master of ceremonies was SCHS principal Don Embry...

A 10-month-boy was seriously injured when the van in which he was riding was struck in the rear in El Bethel late Friday afternoon. Dylan C. Perry of Bridlewood Drive was flown from Bedford County Medical Center to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the van's driver, Terry L. ...

Former county commissioner and school board member Roy "Sonny" Ferguson Sr., who died Friday at 77, is being remembered as a champion of education and an ambassador for his home town of Wartrace. "He was a very dedicated commissioner, and a very hard worker, committed to education," said County Commission Chairman Eugene Ray on Saturday. "We have lost a dedicated person."...

Funeral services for Roy W. "Sonny" Ferguson Sr., 77, of Wartrace, who died Friday at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville, will be 1 p.m. Monday at Doak-Howell Funeral Home. The Rev. Jack Carney will officiate and burial will follow in Hollywood Cemetery in Wartrace...

If a federal court wants to stop an execution to have more time to consider the case, it has the authority to do so, but in Gregory Thompson's case, that's not happened. Tennessee Attorney General Paul Summers said so on Friday as he countered Thompson's argument that his execution should be delayed because his case is still being considered by a federal appeals court...

More than 100 people went to Shelbyville-Bedford County Senior Citizens Center on Thursday to learn about Medicare's prescription drug plan which started enrollment Tuesday. Many, perhaps most, left confused. "I do believe one-on-one explanations would be better," Sonia Miller, director of the center, said as another official explained Medicare Part D to an overflow crowd through a loudspeaker...