Stories from Saturday, July 28, 2007

In March 1957, Dorothy Elkins was asked to help out for a couple weeks in the office at Webb School. Fifty years later she is still there, that two weeks turning into half a century of service. "My good friend Sybil Steiner called me from Webb and asked me if I could come in and help out with some filing and typing for a couple of weeks," Elkins said. ...

Bedford County Board of Education approved a $42.6 million general purpose school system budget Thursday night within the current county property tax rate. The school budget will go to the County Financial Management Committee on Tuesday night and then to the full county commission in August. Combined with the budgets and tax rates approved so far, the school budget would not require any increase in the overall county property tax rate for 2007-2008...

Jim Davis, 71, of Chapel Hill died Friday in Shelbyville after an extended illness. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Monday at Lawrence Funeral Home in Chapel Hill with the Rev. Ron Chilton officiating. Burial will follow at Elmore Cemetery in Rutherford County...

Longtime Community High coach Mike Edmondson has accepted a position with Cascade and will begin teaching there when the new session opens. Edmondson departs Community School after two decades as a teacher and over 500 games as boys basketball coach...

Although many of us don't think about it every day, there are people in Bedford County who are in dire straits and need our help. With that in mind, there's a small yellow building with red trim at 405 Depot Street that has been seeing a lot of activity recently, with volunteers getting it ready to serve those who need it most...

Bedford County Board of Education has awarded American Constructors the contract to serve as construction manager for a new Community High School and for the new elementary school which will be located on Learning Way. The new elementary school has no official name yet, although it is frequently referred to as "Central Elementary" for the sake of convenience...

I have a confession to make. I am not a person that enjoys carnivals, clowns, circus events and generally, anything that might accompany any of the above. To me, there is nothing more frightening than a clown. Who wants to live behind a mask everyday? It's a sad way to face the world, being happy or sad and wearing a painted on smile or frown that is completely opposite...

Ironic sight of the week: The big box retailer demonstrating the picture quality of a huge flat-screen monitor with the film "Our Very Own," yet no copies were available for sale. Next month, the Shelbyville Planning Commission is set to take their first look at a series of updated subdivision regulations, which officials are hoping will improve the quality of life for those who live here...