Stories from Wednesday, April 11, 2007

U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon stopped by Shelbyville City Hall on Tuesday for a briefing about the city's master greenway plan, and expressed support for the city's pro-active approach. "I'm happy to see you're way out in front on all this," said Gordon. Mayor Geneva Smith, City Manager Ed Craig and Planning and Codes Director Kip Green made the presentation to Gordon and his Bedford County field representative, Sean Gilliland...

Robert Daniel, who has been the business manager for the county school system, was approved by Bedford County Board of Commissioners Tuesday night to be the county's new budget director. Daniel will officially change jobs on April 15 -- but for the time being, he and his staff will continue to work out of the school system central offices on Madison Street. ...

Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted 16-1-1 Tuesday night to approve borrowing $44 million toward renovation and expansion of Central High School, construction of a new elementary school on Learning Way south of Harris Middle School, and construction of a new building for Community High School...

This weekend's unseasonable cold snap has had a harsh effect on some crops and farmers, but University of Tennessee Extension Agent John Teague cautions homeowners not to panic or pull up a plant that seems to have been killed. The wheat crop has been dramatically affected. Farmer Bobby Vannatta said that his wheat crop, for use as grain, has been pretty much wiped out...

About half the residents of Bell Buckle will soon be receiving letters from the town requesting that leaks in their sewer service line be repaired. The town recently conducted smoke testing on the sewer line around Bell Buckle and, according to water manager Ronnie Lokey, 84 of some 160 households in the community were found to have leaks in their service lines...

Coach Patricia Petty couldn't have asked for a better performance from her troops in Tuesday's home opener against defending District 11-A champion Page. The Champions took control early and held on for a 4-1 victory. "It's just great," said Petty, whose team improved to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the district...

Shelbyville Central's track and field team fared well in a home District 8-AAA tri-match with Lawrence County and Franklin County in a meet on Tuesday afternoon. "I'm proud of the team's effort, however, we have a lot of work to do before the district tournament next week," Central coach Gary Sanders said...

James "Coach Jimmy Dee" Darden has announced his candidacy for a Second Ward seat on Shelbyville City Council in the June 7 city election. Darden is a retired employee of the U.S. Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Center, for which he worked 23 years. Prior to that, he worked at Uniroyal in Shelbyville for 17 years. He is a graduate of Burt High School, Austin Peay State University and the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa's continuing education program...

MoMo Stewart scattered six hits and struck out 10 to lead Cascade to a 16-1 District 9-A win over Community in Unionville. Justin Bryant got things going offensively for the Champions (15-5, 6-0 9-A) with a long two-run homer over to dead center. Two batters later Kyle Clanton matched the feat with a drive to left to give the visitors an early three-run lead...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republican Fred Thompson, the actor-politician who is considering a bid for president, said Wednesday he has lymphoma, a form of cancer. In an interview with Fox News, the former Tennessee senator said he is in remission and the diagnosis shouldn't affect his life expectancy...

A green Honda four-wheeler belonging to Richard Vester II was taken from behind his Sanders Street home during the day Sunday, according to a Shelbyville Police Department report. The following persons were arrested since Monday by the Bedford County Sheriff's Department, Shelbyville Police Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol or 17th Judicial District Drug Task Force and processed through Bedford County Jail. They are only charged; guilt or innocence will be determined by the courts...

The Rev. Al Sharpton is angry, downright outraged at the comments made last week by TV/radio talk show host Don Imus. And Sharpton has every right to be angry. The names Imus called the Rutgers women's basketball team were vulgar, thoughtless and mean...

It didn't take long for those in power to start proposing silly laws and taxes in connection with "global warming." One of the first ones has already come about in Belgium, where the region of Wallonia has approved a tax on barbecuing. Experts claim that between 50 and 100 grams of CO2, a "greenhouse gas" put into the air every time you exhale, is emitted during barbecuing. So starting in June, residents of Wallonia will have to pay 20 euros ($26) every time they fire up the grill...

Community threw down the gauntlet when they bounced back from a tough loss in extra innings on Monday with a thrilling come-from-behind 10-8 win over District 9-A rival Eagleville on Tuesday afternoon. Trailing 7-0 going into the bottom of the third, the Viqueens strung together five hits around two walks to score six times and reach striking distance. ...

It's a game Shelbyville Central would just soon forget. The Eagles were shut out 10-0 at Lincoln County in a District 8-AAA matchup Tuesday evening. "We just weren't focused, didn't hit the ball and didn't field the ball very well either," Central coach Brad Frasier said. "We had good pitching for three innings, but we just couldn't make a play in the field. Then, they hit a two-run homer and that started it for them. We just didn't give ourselves a chance offensively."...

Shelbyville's varsity tennis teams split 5-2 matches Wednesday at Tullahoma, with the girls finishing on top and boys losing. Seeds Nos. 2-4 in the Eaglettes' lineup -- Lorie Freeman, Amie Anthony and Andrea Barrett -- won singles and doubles matches...

Liberty Middle took down previously undefeated Cornersville Middle 6-3 on Tuesday. "By far, that's the best game we've played all year," Patriot coach Shane Shoemake said. "We executed all the fundamentals well." Seth Jarrell was strong on the hill for the visiting Pats, pitching all seven innings, giving up eight hits and striking out six without a walk...