Stories from Monday, May 8, 2006

TULLAHOMA -- A five-run fifth inning boosted Shelbyville Central to a 7-3 win over Tullahoma Saturday at Tullahoma's Grider Stadium. The win put the No. 1 seed Golden Eagles (22-11) into the semi-finals (winner's bracket) of the District 8-AAA Tournament against Columbia this afternoon at 1. Today's winner advances to the title game Wednesday...

MURFREESBORO -- Opportunity after opportunity slipped through second-seeded Cascade's fingertips as they dropped their District 9-A quarterfinal matchup with Middle Tennessee Christian 5-4 on a soggy Saturday night. Three hits, a walk and an error led to the host Cougars jumping out to a 4-0 first-inning lead against Champion ace pitcher Jeffrey Comstock...

A nominating committee has presented a slate of officers ready to be elected by the recently-revived branch of the NAACP in Bedford County. The Rev. Sandra Avent, who's been serving as interim president in recent months, has been nominated to continue in that position following balloting anticipated this Thursday night...

A new defense attorney will be working for the public defender's office in Bedford and three other counties in this judicial district starting Monday next week. She's Cathy Hickerson of Tullahoma who's been working for four years as a law clerk for two senior judges based in Murfreesboro, both who've presided over cases in Bedford County Circuit Court...

A Shelbyville man has ended his write-in campaign for the Republican nomination to run for state representative and a doctor has failed to win enough write-in votes to be named as a candidate for a Bedford County Commission on the August ballot. "We're going to abandon the campaign at this time," said Wayne Hitchcock, the Madison Street insurance agent who wanted the GOP nomination to challenge state Rep. Curt Cobb (D-Shelbyville). "The reason being that there are a lot of hurdles to overcome."...

Funeral services for Julia Grant Cox Mangrum, 85, of Manchester, will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at Hillcrest Funeral Home with Charles Williams officiating. Burial will follow at Middleview Cemetery in Lewisburg.

Funeral arrangements for Jacqueline Martin, 47, of Shelbyville, who died Saturday at Cornelius Place in Nashville, are incomplete and will be announced by Feldhaus Memorial Chapel.

Memorial services for Douglas Marks "Markie" Stephens Sr., 73, of Shelbyville, who died Thursday at his home after an extended illness, will be 6 p.m. Tuesday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel with Dr. Isaac McDuffie officiating. A private burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens...

Funeral services for Martha Ann Ragsdale Wright, 52, of Shelbyville, will be 2 p.m. today at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel with Jimmy Gray officiating. Burial will follow at Willow Mount Cemetery.

CHAPEL HILL -- Ann Mullen and Heather Lemmon combined for six hits, three stolen bases, four runs scored and four RBI to lead Cascade to an 8-3 victory over Community in the second round of the District 9-A tournament on Saturday. Cascade (16-8) opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with two runs, only to have Community come right back with two of their own in the second...

Webb came out sharp early but faltered late in their 14-5 loss to host Memphis University School in the Tennessee Scholastic Lacrosse Association quarterfinals on Saturday. "In the first two and a half quarters, we played probably the best lacrosse all year," Webb coach Jon Bloom said. "We played really well in the first half. We had a lot of opportunities in the second quarter."...