Stories from Friday, February 23, 2007

Just four more games. It seems so simple for high school teams still lacing 'em up in late February. Most of them have 20 or more victories already. But, four more gets you to the state tournament in Murfreesboro. Once you're there, anything can happen...

Volunteer Fire Services Inc. has two recent additions to its equipment roster which have benefited not only VFSI but other agencies as well, according to Chief Mark Thomas. A Cub Cadet four-wheel-drive vehicle can be used in situations like grass fires. But it's also been used by the Shelbyville Police Department when trying to locate a fugitive robbery suspect...

Shelbyville Central's Eaglettes and Eagles enter the Region 4-AAA tournament on a high note after both claimed the District 8-AAA tournament championship for the second straight year. Both are No. 1 seeds. The Eaglettes (28-5) entertain No. 4 seed Lebanon tonight at 7 while the Eagles (23-7) open region play at home Saturday night at 7 against fourth-seeded Blackman...

Bedford County doesn't have the resources to have a dog catcher out on patrol, so officials at the county commission's Law Enforcement Committee agreed new regulations should be seen as "complaint-driven" enforcement. That, however, would not prevent an animal control officer from responding to a vicious dog situation if it's witnessed by the officer, Commissioner Bobby Fox conceded as he pressed for a program that he repeatedly called "complaint-driven."...

Shelbyville's planning commission denied a rezoning request Thursday for land at the corner of Lewis Avenue and Coble Circle from R-1 [low density residential] to C-2 [highway service district]. City staff had recommended the denial due to encroachment into an established R-1 community being located near a flood prone area. Increased traffic at the location could also pose a hazard to the natural flow coming into Shelbyville from Highway 64, they said...

The former Bedford County paramedic who's been charged with more than 200 sex crimes accepted a negotiated sentence yesterday of 35 years in the state penitentiary. Edward Raven Odom, 30, appeared in court wearing a state prison uniform. "On major felonies we never make major agreements without conferring with the families," said District Attorney Chuck Crawford...

Graveside services for Glenn Farrar Gowen, 90, of Shelbyville, who died Thursday at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Willow Mount Cemetery. Bryan Elliott will officiate. Visitation with the family will be 5-7 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. until service time Sunday at Gowen-Smith Chapel, which is in charge of arrangements.

Homer Franklin Smotherman, 68, of Chapel Hill died Thursday. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Lawrence Funeral Home in Chapel Hill with Keith Tucker officiating. Burial will follow at Bethlehem Cemetery near Chapel Hill. Visitation with the family will begin 4:30 p.m. today...

Funeral services for Clyde Omar Woods Sr., 79, of Shelbyville, who died Thursday at Bedford County Medical Center, will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Hillcrest Funeral Home with the Rev. Bobby McGee officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens...