Stories from Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Herman "Tootsie" McGowan, 83, of Chapel Hill died Monday. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Lawrence Funeral Home in Chapel Hill with the Rev. Larry Chatman and the Rev. Wayne Morgan officiating. Burial will follow at Swanson Cemetery in Chapel Hill. Visitation with the family will be 5-8 p.m. Wednesday.

Bedford County Bicentennial Book is in the final stage of accepting contributions. The deadline for submissions to the Times-Gazette's pictorial history book is July 1. The book, to be published in November just prior to the actual birthday of the county's founding in December, will highlight the historical journey from the American Indian presence to the rebuilding of the courthouse to modern day...

Manager David Crowell of Shelbyville Power, Water and Sewerage System says that an odor reported to the Times-Gazette by callers southwest of the square is the typical smell which emanates from the sewage treatment plant during the heat -- and that SPWSS has both short-term and long-term plans for addressing it...

Walt Wood, CEO of Shelbyville & Bedford County Chamber of Commerce, will serve as vice president of Tennessee Industrial Development Council for 2007-2008, and based on the normal rotation is projected to become president of the group in 2008-2009. "I'm honored to be selected by my fellow economic developers in the state for a leadership role in our professional organization," Wood said Tuesday morning...

Brandon Compton says that playing tuba in the Community High School band is his passion, and that passion has helped him to excel in his music. Compton was named first chair tuba player for the All-State Wind Band this spring. "This is a high honor for Brandon," said Stephen Givens, Community band director. "And it's rare for a sophomore to become first chair. All-State Band is like an All-State sports team, it's the best of the best."...

A driver who Shelbyville police said was speeding 102 mph on Madison Street early Saturday was captured, with help from the Bedford County Sheriff's Department's dog, after a car and foot chase. Terry Dwight Mooningham, 24, Fay Creek Road, was pursued from U.S. 41-A South onto Whiteside Hill Road until his car's engine quit...

Funeral services for Thomas Edward Love, 71, of Shelbyville, who died Wednesday at his home, will be 3 p.m. Friday at Hillcrest Funeral Home. The Rev. Jimmy Gray will officiate and burial will follow in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Visitation with the family will be 4-9 p.m. Thursday at Hillcrest Funeral Home...

There are many things I've conquered in life. I've made it through the fear of the dark and being alone in the house at night. I've bravely fought the overwhelming fear of numbers and mathematical concepts, always embracing the reassuring essence of the written word. I can even say I pride myself on having figured out the way to balance a budget, run a household and know when, finally, to change the oil in a car...

The response to this month's "Bicentennial Fair on the Square" was overwhelmingly positive. The attendance wasn't overwhelming, but it was respectable, and the people who attended all had a great time. Johnny Reed and Dawn Holley, who are the activity co-chairs for Bedford County Bicentennial Organizing Committee, worked countless hours, as did many, many others in organizing the event...