Stories from Wednesday, August 15, 2007

What a difference a year makes. Harris Middle kicked off the football season with a non-conference matchup at Siegel Middle in Murfreesboro on Tuesday night and avenged an embarrassing loss last season. The Eagles claimed an impressive 26-0 win, making up for a 34-0 loss to the Cavaliers in '06...

First goal. First assist. First save. First game. It was a series of firsts for a pair of soccer programs playing their schools' inaugural matches as Community Junior High and Liberty Middle faced off amidst one of the hottest days of the year on Tuesday...

Bell Buckle's Board of Mayor and Aldermen began taking the first steps Tuesday in establishing a municipal court for the small community. Workshops with the Municipal Technical Advisory Service [MTAS] are to be scheduled so that board members will know the proper handling in setting up the court...

"If wasn't for Normandy Reservoir, we'd be looking at water rationing." But thankfully, said Bedford County Utility District [BCUD] General Manager Marty Davis, we do have plenty of the wet stuff and they are pumping it to their customers at record levels during this summer's continuing drought...

Tom Grott of American Constructors said the summer was a productive one for the renovation and expansion of Central High School. "We've had a very good summer," Grott told Bedford County Board of Education on Monday, describing the SCHS project as on schedule...

Much of the country was indescribably blue 30 years ago tomorrow. On Aug. 16, 1977, Elvis Presley, the so-called King of Rock and Roll, breathed his last on a seat which wasn't exactly a throne. "That's someone you never forget," many are probably thinking...

On the first day of Christmas ... I am penning a portion of this editorial while holding a pencil featuring the jolly face of Santa. Obviously, it was a gift from months past but with the way my days typically run, I am left wondering two things: how does he get it all done and how does he stay so jolly while getting it all finished?...

Was it a robbery -- or not? Shelbyville police are unsure exactly what happened early Tuesday behind a Madison Street laundromat. The alleged victim, identified as Darby Redenour, said he was walking along Madison Street about 12:30 a.m. and asked occupants of a passing car for a ride to South Cannon Boulevard...

Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved a 2007-2008 budget and property tax rates on Tuesday, staying within the same property tax rate as in 2006-2007. Not everyone was happy with the process. Commissioners P.T. "Biff" Farrar and Linda Yockey wanted a separate vote on a portion of the budget which gives 40 percent raises to county commissioners; Farrar said that since the measure changes the commission's pay, it should have gone before the rules and legislative committee, especially since the resolution as originally proposed gave the rules committee responsibility for enforcing commissioner attendance.. ...

A new state law requires that organizations such as PTOs, booster clubs and alumni associations which use a school's name, mascot or logo to raise funds will need to enter a written agreement with the school system and provide the school system with complete financial records on request...