Stories from Tuesday, October 2, 2007

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A Knox County jury has ruled unanimously that the county commission violated the state's open meetings law by privately discussing appointments for vacant positions. The jury began deliberating Tuesday morning and took about 4 1/2 hours to reach verdicts on 29 separate questions they were required to answer...

Bluegrass and country headliner Marty Stuart and the 2005 International Bluegrass Music Association's Entertainers of the Year, Cherryholmes, will perform at the 2008 Wartrace MusicFest on June 6-7. Don Gallagher, Mayor of Wartrace and chairman of the town's MusicFest committee explains, "Our 4-year-old music and craft festival continues to grow, and by securing two nationally known headliners with a large fan base, we hope to put MusicFest, and Wartrace, on the summer festival map."...

Graveside services for William P. Clifford, 85, of Shelbyville, who died Monday at Bedford County Nursing Home after an extended illness, will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Hazel Cemetery in Bell Buckle with Tom Clifford officiating. Visitation will be 6-8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Doak-Howell Funeral Home and beginning 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the cemetery.

While one of Bedford County's chief law officers says that the county "desperately" needs a federal database sharing program used to identify and deport illegal immigrants, getting it funded locally will be the biggest roadblock. The program in question is called 287(g), named after a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) passed in 1996, which permits the Department of Homeland Security [DHS] to enter into agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies to allow them full federal authority to enforce immigration laws.. ...

Two Tullahoma men were charged after allegedly deciding to spend a warm, fall Saturday smoking pot in the park. William Thomas Allen, 18, and Eric Reynolds Anderson, 20, were both allegedly sitting on small bags of marijuana when confronted by police, who had been notified by a Griffin Park security guard of possible drug use...

Shelbyville sophomore Chase Bledsoe advanced to region play by shooting an 81 in the District 8-AAA tournament at River Bend Country Club. "I'm very proud for Chase, he continues to improve and for him to make the region tournament as a sophomore says a lot," Eagle coach Lynn Burkey said. "I think he has a lot of great days ahead of him on the golf course."...

Whether making deals or cutting costs, businesses know that what happens today can shape tomorrow. That's why local companies will take steps toward stronger, healthier lives at the American Heart Association's annual Heart Walk at 1 p.m. on Oct. 28 at the Fly Arts Center on South Main Street...

LEWISBURG -- Police have charged a Shelbyville man with aggravated robbery in connection with a convenience store robbery on Aug. 30. Officials said a knife was used during the crime. Robert Derrick Johnson, 35, of Cherokee Lane was being held in the Marshall County Jail Monday afternoon in lieu of $15,000 bond, county records show. Johnson surrendered Friday to Police Detective Sgt. Dac Burrow...

State Sen. Jim Tracy is running again, and he's heading to Washington. But neither of those things has to do with politics. Yes, Tracy is a Republican from Shelbyville representing Bedford, Moore and parts of Rutherford counties in the State Senate. But the running he's planning on doing in Washington isn't running for office: it's running in the literal sense of the word, as a competitor in the annual Marine Corps Marathon on Oct. 28...

Funeral services for John Oliver "Big John" Williams, 79, of Panama City, Fla., formerly of Beech Grove, will be 4 p.m. Wednesday at Doak-Howell Funeral Home with Wade Campbell officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 3-8 p.m. today.