Stories from Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Edith Mae Cooper, 53, of Shelbyville died Monday at her home after an extended illness. No services are scheduled. Hillcrest Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

A choosy thief took rock and rap compact discs, along with the CD player, from a car owned by Martha Farrar overnight Thursday at Park Trail Apartments, Green Lane, but left behind country CDs. The driver's side door may have been left unlocked, police said...

Constant scorching heat and no rain is putting Bedford County agriculture in a serious bind. Farmers are selling off herds and searching for ways to keep the animals they still have watered. John Teague, who runs the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Office, says that the conditions will likely result in some cattlemen going out of business this year...

It was announced last week that Harris Middle School is on the state's school improvement list after failing to meet its adequate yearly progress (AYP) goals for two years. But Bedford County School Superintendent Ed Gray, reporting to the Board of Education Monday night, also said that Central High School is on the state's target list after failing to meet its goals for one year, and that Thomas Intermediate School missed the target list by one student...

Bedford County Election Registrar Anna Clanton has decided to retire effective Sept. 30, after 27 1/2 years in office. Bedford County Election Commission discussed the vacancy last week and will meet again 5:15 p.m. Wednesday at the courthouse to discuss filling the position...

Though it won't be managed by the Celebration for the first time in 20-plus years, the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association (TWHBEA) will again host its National Futurity competition at Calsonic Arena on Aug. 23 at 5:30 p.m...

Ashley Pritchet of Hendersonville was named Miss TWHNC Queen on Saturday night. The event, sponsored by the Shelbyville Jaycees, is a part of the yearly pageantry of The Celebration where the queen and her court will be presented on Aug. 24. First runner-up of the event was Emily Margaret Hobbs of McMinnville. ...

Graveside services for Mrs. Grace Marie Partain Brian, 78, of Bell Buckle, who died suddenly Monday at Bedford County Medical Center, will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Old Ethridge Cemetery in Ethridge with Lewis Davis officiating. A gathering and meal will follow at Ethridge United Methodist Church...

Bedford County's Hoodlum Alley Claybusters competed amongst more than 1,600 youths from 29 states at the National Shooting Sports Foundation's (NSSF) Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) National Trapshooting Championships in Sparta, Ill. Shelbyville's Vincent Caldwell, Chase Smith, Travis Townes and James Anthony teamed with Jay Haithcote of Unionville to rung up a score of 818, good enough for third place in the Rookie Division...