Stories from Tuesday, April 4, 2006

Kirk and Meredith Blanchette are logging a lot of miles walking these days, and they have a long way to go -- as in all the way across the country. But the Connecticut couple doesn't seem to mind since the reason behind their journey is to raise awareness about the physical and sexual abuse of children and get some changes made on the federal level to help victims...

Three men who allegedly forced their way into a Circle O Trailer Court residence and attacked two occupants early Sunday face burglary and assault charges. Steven Cory Buchanan, 21, Tullahoma; Robert Anthony Hargrove, 32, Circle O Trailer Court; and Jeremy Michael Knoer, 27, Lynchburg, are charged with aggravated burglary and aggravated assault. Bohanan was additionally charged with public intoxication and was released on $40,500 bond; Hargrove and Knoer each posted $40,000 bond...

No child abuse was found by a state investigation into the paddling of a Community High School boy late last year, according to a recent statement from the Department of Children's Services. Freddy and Tracy Manus of Virgil Crowell Road, Unionville, complained in late October, alleging that their 14-year-old son, Samuel, was paddled and suffered a bruise. A doctor in Smyrna said it was a result of child abuse...

National Guardsmen from the unit based in Shelbyville might be back, stateside, from Iraq in about eight months. That's according to Capt. Ted Webb, commander of Battery B 1st Battalion 115th Field Artillery, headquartered at the Armory on South Cannon Boulevard...

Are libraries becoming less relevant in the age of the Internet? No, says Argie Cooper Public Library director Pat Hastings, pointing to the 101,722 items checked out by her facility in the 2004-2005 fiscal year. "Last year was our highest circulation of books and materials," said Hastings...

Cascade pitchers Levi Bain and MoMo Stewart combined to no-hit visiting Community in an 8-0 District 9-A win on Monday afternoon. Bain struck out six Vikings without issuing a walk in five innings pitched to earn the win. Stewart closed the door with four Ks and one walk in the final two frames...

Cascade defeated Community 10-0 in District 9-A softball action in Wartrace on Monday. Lady Champion pitcher Katie Jackson threw a strong game, scattering five hits while striking out 10 without a walk. "We were consistent from a scoring standpoint," Cascade coach Stephanie Sutton said. "We scored in every inning. We have been scoring and then shutting down for a few at-bats...

Shelbyville Central's Golden Eaglettes were haunted by a five-run Lawrence County second inning in a 5-2 District 8-AAA loss Monday night at home. The Lady Wildcats took advantage of six hits and an infield error and had three back-to-back hits twice in the second inning...

Webb rebounded from a 1-0 halftime deficit to pull out a 2-1 victory over Class AAA's White County at Imre Lagler Field in Bell Buckle on Monday. The Warrior goal came via Corey Jones at the midway point of the first half. "We controlled the ball and moved the ball all over the field on them in the first half," Webb coach Adrian Anderson said. ...

The Shelbyville Central tennis teams claimed a pair of District 8-AAA victories over visiting Franklin County at H.V. Griffin Park on Monday. The Eagles downed the Rebels 7-0. The Eaglettes pulled out a 6-1 win over the Rebelettes. "The whole team has really stepped up and played well," Shelbyville coach Doyle Hutton said. "We've had some setbacks with injuries and other things, but this team (girls and boys) has shown its resilience...