Stories from Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Many of the world's and nation's leaders, or wanna-be leaders, are acting like unruly children lately. Trouble is, they're playing adult games with dangerous, sometimes life-threatening agendas. "Take it back!" he yelled. "Take it back!" Some Muslims are reacting the same way following Pope Benedict's XVI's comment in which, as the Associated Press reports, "he cited the words of a Byzantine emperor who characterized some of the teachings of Islam's Prophet Muhammad as 'evil and inhuman' and referred to spreading Islam 'by the sword.'". ...

Fourteen years and 10 days in prison are the sentences faced by the Shelbyville man who blamed his jury for ruining his life with their verdict after he didn't testify during his trial. Julius Cameron Hill, 23, who'd been living at a South Cannon Boulevard address prior to his Dec. 8 arrest, was convicted almost exactly a year after his July 2005 arrest on charges alleging he'd been selling cocaine...

At one point this month, it appeared that Daryl Holton's execution might be described as state assisted suicide, even though there's an argument to be made that while there's a law against helping a sick person die, there's also a law that convicted killers can be executed...

Funeral services for Nell Duncan Freeman, 79, of Unionville, who died Tuesday at Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro, will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Hillcrest Funeral Home. Horace Jacobs will officiate and burial will follow in Maplewood Cemetery in Tullahoma. Visitation with the family will be 4-9 p.m. Friday...

Funeral services for Elmer W. King, 79, were held September 19 at Lane Funeral Home in Chattanooga. Burial was at the Chattanooga National Cemetery.

Lyndall C. Bonner of Nashville died Friday. Interment will be 11 a.m. Friday at Hills of Calvary Memorial Park Cemetery. Lewis & Wright Funeral Directors of Nashville is in charge of arrangements.

Judging from the responses received over this past weekend, my last piece has really touched a nerve. I'm talking about Sunday's column over the reactions in the Muslim world over out-of-context remarks made by Pope Benedict XVI, in which he had quoted a 14th-century Byzantine emperor about Islam...

Bedford County Board of Commissioners will consider whether to close a dead-end portion of Shofner Bridge Road at the request of the Cooper family. John Cooper, son of the late Gov. Prentice Cooper and brother of U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, appeared with Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman and with Sammy Coates, who leases the property, before the commission's rules and legislative committee on Tuesday night. A home the Cooper family owns at the end of the road has been the target of vandalism...

Wink Groover of Longview, Texas, Leigh Bennett of Alvaton, Ky., Link Webb of Lewisburg, Justin Jenne of Shelbyville and Mack Motes of Eagleville were selected by the Walking Horse Trainers' Association (WHTA) to serve on a newly created Advisory Committee...

Illegal substances were found on two suspects in separate incidents Monday night and early Tuesday on North Main Street. Houser was spotted in a convenience store parking lot within a car fitting the description of one reported to police as driven by a DUI suspect...

An alleged child rapist and a young man who claims he accidentally killed a man he'd seen as a grandfather have been indicted in separate cases by the Bedford County grand jury. Those and 10 other defendants were named in "true bills" of indictment issued by the grand jury Monday morning and that afternoon Circuit Court Judge Robert Crigler presided over their arraignments...

Liberty Middle came up with several big plays but weren't able to capitalize in opportune times as they fell to visiting Huntland Middle 16-0 on Tuesday night. In each half the Patriots pushed the ball down inside the Hornet 20-yard line. But, fumbles and lack of execution led to stalled drives...

Family visitation for James E. Jernigan, 61, of Dixon, Ill., who died Sunday at CGH Medical Center in Sterling, Ill., will be 2-4 p.m. Thursday at McDonald Funeral Home and Crematory in Rock Falls, Ill.

Community won their third consecutive District 11-A match on Tuesday, defeating visiting Middle Tennessee Christian 25-19, 25-8, 27-25. The Viqueens, now 4-2 in district play, began the match a little lethargic, allowing the Lady Cougars to dictate the early part of game one, but got it together behind the pinpoint serves of Sherry Lynch and Ali Vincent...

Shelbyville Central's dominant play in District 8-AAA continued when the Eaglettes rolled past host Coffee County 5-1 Tuesday night. The Eaglettes (7-6, 3-0 8-AAA) remained undefeated in district play, along with Tullahoma, and have outscored their opponents 17-1 over those three district wins...

Cascade hit the road for a non-district matchup with Middle Tennessee Christian in Murfreesboro and came away with a 6-0 win on Tuesday. "We got off to a very slow and sloppy beginning," Lady Champion coach Patricia Petty said. "Tonight's game was like too many others in that we had one half of fine play and one half of weak play...

Harris Middle battled till the end and had a big night on special teams but fell 44-22 at Franklin County North in a Central Tennessee Conference matchup Tuesday. North's Brandon Speck haunted the Eagles, rushing for 394 yards and four touchdowns, including TD runs of 55, 85, 36 and 65 yards...

Webb's trip to the state's capital was soured by a 165-208 loss to University School of Nashville at Shelby Park on Tuesday. Sutton Jones led the Feet (6-3) efforts by shooting a 47. Bastian Peters and Stephen Barton both carded a 49. Sean Kim claimed a 53...

Harris Middle's Eaglettes tied 1-1 with Cox Middle of Columbia on Tuesday evening after losing a 4-0 match at Siegel Middle in Murfreesboro Saturday. It was the second time this season Harris and Cox played to a 1-1 tie. Lauren Warren scored for the Eaglettes (7-2-2) in the second half after a scoreless first half...