Stories from Tuesday, September 26, 2006

A motorcycle caravan to promote "Jessica's Law," which would strengthen penalties for convicted pedophiles, will stop at the Celebration grounds next month, and the organizer is hoping for strong local turnout in support of his petition drive. Mark Norman of Maryville told the Times-Gazette on Monday that he has 19,000 signatures on the petition so far. ...

Not guilty on all counts was the verdict Monday from a Bedford County jury that rejected charges of statutory rape and sexual battery last winter when a 14-year-old girl accused a 33-year-old man. "Thank God for the jury," Kim Reeves, wife of Roger Dale Reeves, said on the east steps of the Bedford County Courthouse, clearly happy because, "My man is coming home to be with me."...

An estimated $4.27 reduction in electric bills will be realized next month because of decisions made by TVA and local utilities, according to spokesmen for the utilities. The estimate is from Duck River Electric Membership Corp. and applies to what that utility's membership services director, Charlie McDonald, says is the average single family home in the service area...

Like the rolling currents of the ocean, the tides continue to pommel the Walking Horse industry. The waves rolling to the shore, however, are not just the hand of outside forces but from within the industry itself. In an all-day meeting Monday, the executive committee of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association (TWHBEA) in Lewisburg, headquarters of the breed registry, fired Executive Director Charles Hulsey for inappropriate registration policies and personnel actions only moments after voting to proceed with their plans for the November horse show to crown a 2006 World Grand Champion. ...

Mrs. Ophelia Powell Spence of Christiana, 85, died Monday at Northside Health Care Center. Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Woodfin Memorial Chapel with Albert Nelson officiating. Burial will follow at Miller Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be 4-8 p.m. today...

A thief or thieves went on a spending spree with a debit card stolen from a Shelbyville jeweler last week, police say. The card, belonging to Shelbyville jeweler Billy Lowery, was taken from his car while parked in the garage of his Union Street home...

Community took on Page's Lady Patriots at home Monday following a weekend tournament in Warren County where the Viqueens emerged as champions by going 7-0. Page proved to be up to the challenge, downing the Viqueens 25-16, 28-26, 25-20 on Senior Night...

Cascade defeated local rival Webb 2-0 in Wartrace on Monday afternoon. The victory marks the first time since 2003 the Lady Champions defended their home turf against the Lady Feet. "I hoped more than whether we won or not that we didn't have any injuries," said Cascade coach Patricia Petty, pointing to a pair of key District 11-A matches this week...

Some things seem to never change. For the fifth straight year, Harris Middle's Eaglettes finished the regular season atop the Central Tennessee Conference. The Eaglettes (9-2-2, 7-1 CTC) earned a share of the regular season conference title along with Coffee County by defeating visiting Franklin County North 3-0 Monday afternoon...