Stories from Monday, October 8, 2007

Despite posting an overall record of 1-5, good things are happening to the Middle Tennessee football program under second-year head coach Rick Stockstill. I've been covering the Blue Raiders for years and attended games while a student. Saturday night, I witnessed a few things that I've never seen before at Floyd Stadium...

Jeff Fisher is in his 13th full season as head coach of the Tennessee Titans and owns the franchise record for most wins with 110 victories. He is also the National Football League leader in tenure with one team among active coaches. His status in that category was solidified recently when team owner Bud Adams rewarded him with a new contract running through the 2010 season. He also entered the ranks of the highest paid coaches in the league with the new deal...

KNOXVILLE -- The words and notes of "Rocky Top" are starting to sound a little clearer. After dropping two of their first three games in embarrassing fashion, the Tennessee faithful were starting to slur while attempting to bellow out lyrics to their fight song...

Robert "Bobby" White, 67, of Farmington died Sunday following an extended illness. Graveside services will be noon Tuesday day at Hopper Cemetery in Marshall County with the Rev. Bobby Wines officiating. Visitation will be 10 a.m.-noon. Lawrence Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

If arts and crafts are your passion, then the streets of the Webb School and Bell Buckle should be your destination in two weeks. The 31st Annual Webb School Arts and Crafts Festival takes place from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20 and from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 21...

An independent film that was partly shot in Wartrace is set to be screened later this month. Middle-Tennessee-based screenwriter Jonathan Richard Cring will be premiering his new movie, "The Drive," on Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Palace Theater in Gallatin...

NASHVILLE (AP) -- Bob McLean was once lauded as a guardian angel protecting American musical history -- buying and donating prized instruments played by some of the founders of country and bluegrass. But the fate of the artifacts is in doubt after the 60-year-old was found dead behind First Christian Church in Shelbyville Sept. 25 in an apparent suicide, months after investors accused him of fraud by collecting $40 million in an alleged Ponzi scheme...

Over 800 bikers took to the road on Saturday to raise money and awareness for the fight against Multiple Sclerosis (MS). They stopped for lunch at the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy on Unionville Deason Road before heading towards Motlow State Community College, where they camped overnight. ...

Harold Bryan McKee, 67, of Shelbyville died Friday at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Gowen-Smith Chapel with James Lamb officiating. Burial will follow at Willow Mount Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday...

William "Bill" White Sr., 78, of Chapel Hill died Sunday at his residence. Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Swanson Cemetery with the Rev. Joe Wiggins officiating. Visitation with the family will be 4-8 p.m. today at Lawrence Funeral Home, Chapel Hill...

Funeral services for Joe Edward Nelson, 77, of Shelbyville, who died Friday at Bedford County Medical Center, will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Scott United Methodist Church. Dr. Robin Kimbrough will be the eulogist and the Rev. Sandra K. Avent will officiate. Burial will follow in Willow Mount Cemetery...

Funeral services for Wilbert Gordon "G" Jones, 46, of Shelbyville, who died Friday at Bedford County Nursing Home, will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Galilee Primitive Baptist Church. The Rev. Robert L. Stevenson will be the eulogist and burial will follow in Willow Mount Cemetery...