Stories from Friday, January 5, 2007

Harris Middle's Eaglettes continue to struggle after a 37-29 loss to host Franklin County North in a Central Tennessee Conference matchup Thursday night. After dominating conference play the past several years, the Eaglettes (5-5, 3-5 CTC) have now lost three conference games in a row...

Funeral services for Paul Wilkins, 65, of Shelbyville will be held at McConnell Funeral Home in Athens, Ala. Local visitation will be held 4-8 p.m. Saturday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel. Mr. Wilkins, owner-operator of Richard's Cafeteria, died Wednesday at Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro.

Lawrence Charles Sickinger Jr., 53, of Bell Buckle died Wednesday at his home. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Woodfin Memorial Chapel in Murfreesboro with Bob, Janice and Michael Hall officiating. Graveside service will follow 3 p.m. Saturday at Ilsley Cemetery in Ilsley, Ky...

When Kenny Baker was faced with the problem of dogs attacking his horses, he came up with a rather unusual solution. After losing two colts to dog attacks, Baker brought in the guard -- in the form of llamas. Baker says he isn't the only one in the county that raises the South American camel, which is starting to become more popular with farmers. Alpacas, a close cousin to the llama, are raised in the county as well and are valued for their wool, which is fetching a good price these days...

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As the 110th Congress convened Thursday, U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon was sworn in and voted for an aggressive ethics reform package that will help to restore integrity to the House. Gordon became chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology, becoming Tennessee's first full House committee chairman in 30 years...

Part of the recordings made by drug task force agents for a bust two years ago may be heard by a Bedford County jury in about three weeks because of a judge's decision yesterday. Circuit Court Judge Lee Russell ruled after listening to about 15 minutes of recordings made before, during and after Joshua Alan Robb, 25, allegedly sold cocaine to a confidential informant controlled by the task force...

Sometimes it's extremely hard to get back into the swing of things after being on vacation. The snooze button on the alarm clock just gets pounded and pounded before getting ready to clock back in. Cascade's ladies apparently took their time before strapping on their blue collars for the 2007 portion of their schedule after losing by 28 points on Tuesday night and being held to just 15 first-half points on Thursday evening against visiting Nashville Christian...

Cascade's contest with Region 5-A opponent Nashville Christian was a see-saw affair with five ties and five more lead changes in the second half alone on Thursday night in Wartrace. Champion senior guard Alex Craig sank a 3-pointer at the top of the key with 5:34 left in the game to tie matters at 42-all...

Coach Jim Fitzpatrick's Webb Middle team gave him the best start to the new year that they possibly could have by defeating Middle Tennessee Christian 30-24 Thursday night in Bell Buckle. Webb (1-9) allowed the Cougars a 12-11 first-quarter lead. The Feet defense took over from there, holding Middle Tennessee Christian (8-7) to just 12 points the rest of the way...

Liberty Middle's boys morphed a seven-point lead into an insurmountable upper hand after outscoring host Cornersville Middle 14-4 in the second quarter of Thursday night's 36-31 win. The Bulldogs didn't lay down in the second half as they mounted a comeback against some of the less-experienced Patriots (13-2)...