Stories from Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Dr. Charles Manning, chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents, will be guest speaker at this year's Shelbyville/Bedford County Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet. The banquet will be held 6 p.m. Feb. 6 at Blue Ribbon Circle on the Celebration grounds. Tickets are $30 each or $240 for a table for eight...

It's entirely possible that William Joel "Jo Jo" Haithcote II will spend 20 years in jail. That conclusion came to mind while listening to relatives and friends of Bedford County's quadruple murder victims react to the sentence imposed on the man one week ago today...

You sure do have a short memory, Al. One of the big news stories this week was former vice-president Al Gore's blistering speech about George W. Bush and the current National Security Agency (NSA) eavesdropping flap which has managed to sell some papers for the New York Times and books for author James Risen...

A man charged with DUI allegedly told Shelbyville police he was from South Africa and would pay to be allowed to walk away. "I told him he would have to go through our legal system to pay any fines," Officer Josh Leverette said. Garnett Geoff Webb, 29, of North Jackson Street, Tullahoma, was driving a Ford Mustang convertible which damaged landscaping at a Melody Drive home and the front yard of a Fairfield Pike residence...

The Community Clinic of Shelbyville might lose some of its state grant money awarded to help pay for medical services available to people who've been bumped from TennCare, according clinic officials. Clinic Director Julie Moore, who doubles as a nurse when needed at the clinic on Union Street, explained that the $37,500 grant was awarded on a condition that at least 500 more patients were served during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006...

Shelbyville Police Lt. Mike Baker is back on the job. After suffering severe personal injuries in a motorcycle accident on Dec. 7, 2004, the 18-year veteran saw his first day back in uniform Tuesday. "It's been a long road," Baker said of his recovery. "I'm thankful for the city to give me the opportunity to let me come back. Thanks to everybody for all their prayers."...

Bedford County's new driver's license testing station will open Feb. 1, State Sen. Jim Tracy reported on Tuesday. Tracy, who said he'd been receiving numerous questions from constituents about the center, contacted Tennessee Department of Safety about the matter and was told that the center will open that day. A formal grand opening will be held later, probably in March...

Thomas A. Smith has announced his candidacy for re-election as Bedford County Circuit Court Clerk in the May 2, Democratic primary. The Circuit Court Clerk's office is the primary record-keeper for Circuit Court, General Sessions Court and Juvenile Court...

Funeral services for Mamie Ruth Redd Miles, 90, of Shelbyville, who died Monday at Bedford County Nursing Home after an extended illness, will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Hillcrest Funeral Home with Jeff Smith officiating. Burial will follow at Raby Cemetery.

Memorial services for John Wayne Campbell, 56, of Shelbyville, who died Monday at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, will be 7 p.m. Thursday at Hillcrest Funeral Home with the Rev. Jack Carney officiating.

Harris Middle's Eaglettes (11-1) stepped outside conference play to claim an impressive 43-37 win over visiting Siegel Middle Tuesday night. Shan Scott led the way scoring a game-high 17 points while teammate Janie Graves netted 16, including three treys. Alex Martin added nine, including 7-of-8 free throws...

Thank goodness Cascade High School is a safe place. No guards patting you down. No metal detectors. Otherwise Cascade point guard Tiffany Gibbs would never have been allowed in the gym on Tuesday night with all the nails she had jingling and jangling in her pockets...

CHAPEL HILL -- Community took on Forrest on Tuesday evening and proved to be no match for the District 9-A standings leader, losing 66-34 in a game that got away from the Vikings very quickly. The Rockets (11-7, 6-0 in 9-A) scored the first 11 points and came close to shutting the Vikings down, finishing the period ahead 19-1...

CHAPEL HILL -- Community ventured to neighboring Marshall County to take on District 9-A leader Forrest on Tuesday night, falling 67-35 in a game that didn't get one-sided until the second half. In fact, the Viqueens threw down the gauntlet and gave the Lady Rockets all they could handle for two quarters of play as they led 14-11 after one period behind Jessica Thompson' seven points...

Cascade jumped on Middle Tennessee Christian early and maintained a solid lead throughout in a 53-40 District 9-A win on Tuesday night in Wartrace. The young, seniorless Champions used their aggressive style of play to get to the free-throw line 20 times, making their seventh consecutive contest whereby they had a minimum of 15 free throw attempts...

Webb fell 89-52 on the road to a sharp-shooting Ensworth team on Tuesday night. The Feet trailed 24-18 after a quarter and 48-34 at the half before the Tigers (7-5) kicked it into gear with four 3-pointers in the third stanza to carry a 73-44 upper hand into the final eight minutes...

TULLAHOMA -- Shelbyville Central turned up the defensive pressure in the fourth quarter to blow open what was a close contest through three periods as the state's second-ranked team increased their District 8-AAA lead by defeating Tullahoma 69-46 on Tuesday night...

TULLAHOMA -- Shelbyville Central looked to be in midseason form after defeating Tullahoma 59-27 to remain atop the District 8-AAA standings Tuesday night. The Golden Eaglettes (14-5, 5-1 in 8-AAA) entertain Columbia's Lady Lions in a key district matchup Friday night at 6:30...