Stories from Wednesday, July 26, 2006

H.V. Griffin, who was mayor of Shelbyville for several separate terms between 1969 and 1987, died this morning after an extended illness. He was 89. Shelbyville's park complex, which was built and opened in the 1970s while Griffin was mayor, was later renamed H.V. Griffin Park in his honor....

Although Bedford County Board of Commissioners' budget and finance committee still has some tweaking to do to the county budget, it appears that there will not be a county property tax increase this year. This is a reappraisal year for county property owners. ...

Changes are coming to Shelbyville's property tax. Following a lengthy budget workshop, the city council decided that Shelbyville's new tax rate will be $1.41, exceeding the certified rate of $1.23 by 15 cents. The tax is going down six cents from the current rate of $1.47...

Two of three suspects in an armed robbery at a Shelbyville convenience store June 21 have been arrested. Jeremy Ray Likens, 26, Highway 130 East, was charged with aggravated robbery Tuesday in the holdup of Pik-N-Chek Market, Lane Parkway. He is being held on $100,000 bond at Bedford County Jail...

The 2006 Bedford County Fair is in progress through Saturday at the Bedford County Agriculture Center. The schedule for today and Thursday: TODAY -- 10 a.m., Opening Ceremonies for Senior Citizens Day; 10:30 a.m., Fun Festival (seniors), 10:45 a.m., Bingo (seniors); 11 a.m., rabbit and poultry entries received; 11:30 a.m., lunch provided seniors by Midstate Finance; 12:30 p.m., bingo (seniors); 1 p.m., home ec/ag exhibit open; 6 p.m., Bedford County Idol; 6 p.m., Edgemont Baptist Church (music); 6:30 p.m., Fun Dog Show registration; 7 p.m., poultry and rabbit judging; 7 p.m., Fun Dog Show. ...

With the summer workout program winding down, new Shelbyville Central football coach Jason Hardy is pleased with the turnout and effort of the Golden Eagles throughout the summer months and looks forward to preseason workouts starting today. High school football teams across the state began workouts Monday. The Eagles will take the field in shorts today and can suit up in pads starting Monday...

It was ironic, driving out South Cannon Boulevard on a recent weekend and seeing: The Armory frequently hosts Hispanic-oriented events. It's likely that many of those Hispanics are in the country illegally. Imagine, crowds of illegal aliens -- right there in the home of Bedford County's military power...

Another election is coming up and the campaign signs are out everywhere. Candidate announcements have been gracing the front page of this publication, a special section was distributed Tuesday and soon voters will head to the polls to vote for the person of their choice...

Criminal court action stemming from last summer's deadly crash on Fairfield Pike has been postponed one month, but there's a promise of so much more to come. "Although I have no official capacity right now," Chuck Crawford of Fayetteville said Monday, "I see it as my duty to be able to hit the ground running with cases like this."...