Stories from Friday, December 2, 2005

Funeral services for Elizabeth Mae "Wix" Cowan, 81, of Wartrace, who died Thursday at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, will be 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Gowen-Smith Chapel. The Rev. William Pritchett will officiate and burial will follow in Willow Mount Cemetery.

Graveside services for Mary Mable Bryant, 90, of Shelbyville, who died Thursday at Beverly Healthcare in Winchester, will be 1 p.m. Sunday at Smith Chapel Cemetery in Moore County. The Rev. Perry Whitaker will officiate.

Ashley Bledsoe and Laura Jett provided much of the offensive punch Cascade Middle needed to knock out visiting Moore County Middle 28-22 on Thursday night. Bledsoe's 11 points led all scorers while Jett contributed eight. Jett's play on offense gave the Lady Champions a viable second option to attack the Raiderettes...

An estimated $4,000 worth of items were stolen from a Hopkins Bridge Road home between 7:30 a.m.-8:50 p.m. Tuesday, according to a Bedford County Sheriff's Department report. Martha A. Skinner reported a pair of earrings valued at $2,000, a Sony Playstation II and games and about $1,000 worth of tools missing...

Dozens, if not hundreds of Bedford County Utility District customers will be voting Saturday in the county courthouse as two men are candidates to succeed a utility commissioner who's served 35 years. Ron Hatmaker, 55, of U.S. Highway 41A South, and John Jones, 57, of Normandy Road, were nominated Nov. 5 to succeed BCUD Commissioner Julian Troupe who's announced his retirement. Troupe nominated Hatmaker...

A Shelbyville man charged in four Bedford County murders during June 2002 was told Thursday there's no evidence in the record that he's been denied a speedy trial so the charges were not dismissed. "It looks like the case should have been tried within 120 days," Judge J.S. "Steve" Daniel of Murfreesboro said, "except that defense counsel has basically agreed to the delay so the defendant can't complain."...

Community Junior High's Vikings lost to Forrest Middle 27-22 on Thursday night in Chapel Hill. Brandon Adcock led the Vikings (6-3) with seven points. "We were a little rusty coming off of the break," Viking coach Kevin Snell said. "We played very well on defense but just could not get our shots to fall tonight...

A balanced scoring attack along with an aggressive defense paved the way for Harris Middle in a 50-20 win over Warren County Middle in a Central Tennessee Conference matchup on the road Thursday night. Janie Graves led all scorers with 16 points, Alex Martin netted 15 and Shan Scott added a dozen as the eighth-graders combined for 43 of the Golden Eaglettes' 50 points...

Gov. Phil Bredesen and Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD) Commissioner Matthew Kisber have announced the approval of a $84,600 FastTrack Infrastructure Development Program (FIDP) grant for the City of Shelbyville. The funding will assist in infrastructure improvements for Jack Palmer Foodservice on Lane Parkway...

In the old days, it was often the American Red Cross that notified soldiers or sailors of tragedy at home. In today's high-tech military, most soldiers, even in harm's way, are in e-mail communication with families at home. But the Red Cross still plays a vital role in helping arrange for emergency leave and other types of assistance for military families, and the events of the past four years have multiplied the calls for assistance to the Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross, which covers Murfreesboro and Bedford counties.. ...

There is a lot of excitement around the Shelbyville Central Golden Eagle basketball program these days. Coach Kevin Thomas and the Golden Eagles have worked extremely hard over the summer and during the preseason with anticipation of taking the program to the next level...

A dedication ceremony will be held 2 p.m. Sunday to honor the service of a former Tennessee Technology Center director, R. E. "Bobby" Holden. The dedication service will include the naming of the Administrative Office Complex after the former administrator...

The rich get richer. With each season under the leadership of coach Charlie Pope and his staff, the Cascade basketball program produces a select group of young men in Wartrace that evolve and prosper both as athletes and citizens. The 2005 class of graduating seniors that includes David Gallagher, Mike Bauman, Cain Owens and Zack Akers is no different and left some pretty big shoes to fill...

Action on Stones Throw Subdivision was tabled by the Shelbyville Municipal Planning Commission until a traffic study can be done. A preliminary plat has been submitted for the subdivision, which is now described as a 113 lot residential development consisting of 42.31 acres off U.S. 231 South, north of Naron Road...

It's the start of a new era for the Shelbyville Central Golden Eaglette basketball program, as new coach Lynn Burkey takes over for legendary coach Rick Insell. For the past 28 years Insell has been at the helm of the Eaglettes, guiding the program to one of the most successful in the country. All the tradition and wins haven't been forgotten or taken for granted and it's Burkey's intention for the program to never miss a beat...

When Webb coach Jon Bloom signed on to become head coach of the basketball team in Bell Buckle, it's doubtful he had any idea of the numerous hats he would have to wear. On top of his duties on the hardwood, Bloom also is athletics director and head lacrosse coach...

Funeral services for William Doyle Fisher of Murfreesboro will be held 2 p.m. Saturday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel. Merle Meade and Jim Thompson will officiate with burial to follow at Willow Mount Cemetery.

Here's to hoping that youth will be served. Community is stocked full of underclassman athletes that will be counted on to lead the Viking program for the next several years. The 15-man roster consists of nine freshman, five sophomores and one senior...

The Community Viqueens roster will look much the same as their male counterparts in the experience department as they have but one senior, Valerie Hobby. Gone are Jessica Jones and Latoya Morton, who held down the post positions, and point guard Casey Boyce, three players who carried away a large percentage of the Viqueens' rebounding and scoring capabilities...

There's always strength in numbers. Cascade lost but one senior off a team that went 10-16 overall last year and 6-10 in District 11-A play. Problem is, that lone graduate was all-district post player Laura Bunn. The Lady Champion offense ran in, through and around the now Motlow State Lady Buck...

Some people just do things differently from others. Priorities vary as greatly as the people who have them. At Webb, sports like basketball are not stressed the way they are in other parts of Bedford County. For many of the Bell Buckle students, sports are as much, if not more, about spending time with friends, building character and learning how to deal with pressure rather than wins and losses...

Luke Baum had seven of his 11 points in the second half and tallied 12 rebounds to lead the visiting Feet to a 34-18 victory over St. Andrew's-Sewanee for their second win of the season. Webb held a slim 7-6 lead after the first quarter and were up 13-10 at the half...

Liberty Middle's Jesse Calvert and M.K. Potts combined for 25 points in the first two quarters against visiting Pulaski Bridgeforth, opening up a 33-7 halftime lead and cruising the rest of the way to an easy 46-16 victory on Thursday night. "We have made a conscious effort to play a more intense type defense," Liberty coach Chad Spencer said. "The girls really responded well and we got some easy baskets off of the pressure that we were able to put on their ballhandlers...