Stories from Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Funeral services for James Robert Arnold, 54, of Nashville, formerly of Shelbyville, will be 1 p.m. Friday at Gowen-Smith Chapel. The Rev. Jimmy Gray will officiate. Burial will be 3:30 p.m. Friday at Woodlawn Cemetery in Nashville. Visitation with the family will be 5-9 p.m. today and 3-9 p.m. Thursday.

A non-profit foundation has proposed marketing the vacant Harris Middle School / Central High School facility on Elm Street as an extension campus for a major state university. Glen Tilton of Brentwood-based Community Initiative appeared Tuesday night before Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee. ...

An 11-year prison term was handed down Tuesday at the close of a Bedford County Circuit Court sentencing hearing for a man who was repeatedly asked for names of drug suppliers, but the answers appeared worthless. John Walter Biaselli, 38, "gave only slang names," Judge Robert Crigler said as he reviewed factors that might mitigate, or lessen the effect of state sentencing guidelines on Biaselli's charge: possession with the intent to sell or deliver cocaine...

Bedford County Schools will be getting $119,364.68 in software vouchers as a result of a settlement in a lawsuit against Microsoft Corporation. In all, the Tennessee Department of Education will distribute $15,315,586.25 to local school systems. The recently settled class action suit alleged Microsoft used unlawful trade practices to maintain a monopoly and overcharge Tennessee consumers...

Jewel Fisher has been performing a solemn task at Willow Mount Cemetery several times a year for an old friend but on her latest visit there found that something was amiss. Fisher has been placing flowers on the grave of Sheryl Anne Luna, who died in 1963 at the age of 3. But last week, she had trouble locating the plot...

MURFREESBORO -- Middle Tennessee took a one-point halftime lead and increased it to a 15-point victory as the Blue Raiders claimed an 86-71 win over visiting Old Dominion's Lady Monarchs in a non-conference clash Tuesday night. Amber Holt pitched in a game-high 27 points, including 10-of 12-from the free-throw line, while two others joined her in double figures...

Justin Stallings scored 28 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to lead the Community Vikings to a 59-53 win over Mt. Pleasant in Unionville on Tuesday night. The Vikings (6-3) and Tigers played to a virtual draw in the first quarter until a Stallings basket gave the home team a 17-15 advantage as the horn sounded...

Community led from the opening whistle to final horn in defeating visiting Mt. Pleasant 53-38 on Tuesday as they scored the first 11 points of the game and never looked back. The Viqueens' (8-1) press smothered the Lady Tigers ballhandlers and opened up easy scoring opportunities that they took full advantage of to lead 13-2 after one period of play...

When big brother's got the advantage in a tangle, it's often times tough to turn the tables. Cascade fell behind 16-6 in the early going against Class AAA foe Cleveland in each team's first contest in the Mid-South Classic. The Champions found out a few things about themselves by rallying against all odds to take a second-half lead before a so-so fourth quarter took its toll in a 55-51 loss on Tuesday at Upperman High in Baxter...

GAINESBORO -- Shelbyville Central had the Clinton County (Ky.) shoulders pinned to the mat but couldn't quite hold on for a three-count. The Golden Eagles missed out on a chance to repeat as Mid-South Classic champions as a shot rimmed off to end regulation with the teams knotted at 54-all and the Bluegrass ballers controlled overtime and won 63-57 at Jackson County High...