Stories from Monday, September 25, 2006

More than 150 firefighters from Knoxville, Memphis and a host of cities in between will gather Saturday at the Clarence "Pete" Phillips Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy on Unionville-Deason Road to test their skills in the third annual Tennessee Ultimate Fire Fighter (TUFF) Challenge...

NASHVILLE -- Vanderbilt hosted Tennessee State in a historical first-ever meeting between the two schools on a night that Mother Nature showed her might enough to delay the game's start for 40 minutes. Neither rain, thunder nor lightning could dampen the festive enthusiasm of the 27,460 people who braved the elements to witness the Commodores defeat the Tigers 38-9 in a game that was more competitive than the final score would indicate...

Webb earned a much-needed 1-0 win over Mount Juliet Christian Academy in Bell Buckle on Friday. Lady Feet freshman Melissa Wisniewski came through with the game's only goal. The young Webb squad hopes to use the victory as momentum heading into their match against Bedford County rival Cascade in Wartrace today at 4. The Lady Champions won the first battle between the two 3-1 back in August...

Shelbyville's city council will meet in special session Tuesday to discuss proceedings concerning the funding of Volunteer Fire Services Inc. in violation of state law. The possible action comes despite a meeting Saturday between members of both the city and county government in which some officials urged the city not to file a suit over the issue...

Jury selection was to begin this morning in Bedford County Circuit Court for the trial of a 33-year-old man charged with raping a 14-year-old girl. Roger Dale Reeves, 33, was indicted on April 17 on five charges, including statutory rape and sexual battery, having been arrested on such charges on Feb. 8...

A shortage of hay is anticipated in Bedford and surrounding counties, according to the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service here, and cattlemen are concerned hay prices will increase. "The hay crop and pasture have suffered a lot," John Teague, the agricultural extension service agent, said today when asked about the harvest since autumn began Saturday night with rain that postponed a 4-H horse show...

Autumn arrived at 11:03 p.m. Saturday. This is the time of year when the length of the days and nights are equal. However, the days will start getting shorter as they march toward winter and cooler temperatures. Cooler weather is a result of the angle of sunlight striking the Earth. Light loses heat as it travels through more atmosphere, and there are fewer hours for the sun to heat the earth, so the weather becomes cooler as the days lead toward winter...

Funeral services for David C. Hart, 82, of Shelbyville, who died Friday at the Alvin C. York V.A. Medical Center in Murfreesboro, were today at Hillcrest Funeral Home with the Rev. Bobby McGee officiating. Burial followed at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens...