Stories from Saturday, March 4, 2006

Howard LaDon Parsons, 50, of Athens, Ala., died Friday at Huntsville (Ala.) Hospital. Funeral services will be 7 p.m. Sunday at Limestone Chapel in Huntsville with Phillip Presley officiating. A graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Monday at Willow Mount Cemetery in Shelbyville.

Placement of commemorative brick pavers for the Bedford County Veterans Memorial Plaza should be completed by Tuesday, according to the contractors who started laying the bricks on Friday morning. When asked which brick would be placed first on the plaza, Ronnie Upchurch II, one of three brickmasons hired by the Bedford County Veterans Council, replied that they'd be placed "just as the Lord tells us."...

An employee of Tyson Foods in Shelbyville has tested positive for tuberculosis, according to complex manager Michael Sheets. The employee has been sent home, while 64 others working in the same department have been given skin tests for the disease. The company has also been educating employees about the disease...

The late RPM, World Grand Champion Tennessee Walking Horse, is at the center of controversy in a complaint filed in Bedford County Circuit Court on Thursday. The plaintiff, Jaclyn Smith-Tillman, and her attorneys, Terry, Terry & Stapleton and Wilkerson, Gauldin, Hayes & Jenkins filed a complaint consisting of seven counts against William R. ...

A 4-year-old boy who had been living with family in Bell Buckle was returned to his former foster parents in Orange City, Fla., on Thursday, according to the Orlando Sentinel. However, it is uncertain whether Christian's latest move will be permanent one because a Circuit Court judge will decide who gets to adopt him...

Webb hosted Father Ryan on Saturday in their second lacrosse match of the young season, falling 10-6 despite a three-goal effort by Rhea Hyatt. Webb led 3-2 after one period and 5-4 at the intermission on a Will Taylor goal with just 33 seconds remaining...

"Hogwash." That's the word county commissioner Roger Brothers used to describe the proposed Sunshine in Government Improvement Act of 2006, which is before the Tennessee Legislature this session. The proposed law looks to beef up provisions of Tennessee's existing Open Meetings Act [more popularly known as the "Sunshine Law"]. ...

Sixty years ago Saturday marked the beginning of permanent changes in Shelbyville journalism. On March 4, 1946, sales of both the Bedford County Times and Shelbyville Gazette were announced. The Times was purchased by Franklin and Johnnie Yates, whose family owned what became the Times-Gazette until two years ago. Most readers are probably familiar with Franklin Yates' many journalistic achievements...

Tennessee concluded its two-day acclimation period with a second extended workout at Haslam Field in as many afternoons. The Vols worked 2 1/2 hours Friday for the second straight day in anticipation of the upcoming first practice of full-contact drills...