Stories from Wednesday, December 5, 2007

A weather system dubbed La Niņa, Spanish for "the girl," is partly responsible for drought conditions that a weather service hydrologist says will continue through winter. It's a weather system born of different temperatures in the Pacific Ocean that set up broad patterns of moisture, or the lack of it that can lead to drought or wet weather. Other factors apply, but La Niņa is a chief factor...

Herbert Jay Rainey, 79, of Shelbyville died Tuesday at Glen Oaks Convalescent Center. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Gowen-Smith Chapel with the Rev. Wayne George officiating. Burial will follow at Willow Mount Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be 5-9 p.m. today...

The latest purse theft in Shelbyville occurred at either Wal-Mart or Food Lion, police say. Brandie Hamilton of Shelbyville said she left her vehicle unlocked Saturday. The purse contained $16 and personal cards and papers. The following persons were arrested since Monday by the Shelbyville Police Department, Bedford County Sheriff's Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol or 17th Judicial District Drug Task Force and processed through Bedford County Jail. ...

Bedford County's Joint Economic Development Board [JEDB] will hold a series of public hearings next month on the topic of the comprehensive master plan to be used as an update to the county's growth plan. The series of public hearings are tentatively scheduled to be held Jan. 14 at Duck River Electric Membership Corporation, Jan. 15 at Cascade School and Jan. 17 at Community School. All of the meetings will start at 6 p.m...

Shelbyville City Council took a look at a revised wrecker ordinance Tuesday that was first examined in May. Several changes were made to the ordinance; most of the tow operators have agreed to them. Craig told the council that the city can't regulate the wrecker business, but it can contract with wrecker companies...

A three-member executive committee has been appointed by the Celebration Board of Directors to assist Interim CEO Virgil Johnson, according to board chairman David L. Howard. The committee will consist of board members Charles McDonald, John T. Bobo and Howard...

Stones River National Battlefield's ornament is prominently displayed on this year's official White House Christmas Tree. The tree is the centerpiece of elaborate decorations celebrating the theme of "Holiday in the National Parks." "It is an amazing honor for the National Park Service to be selected as the theme for the White House holiday decorations by the President and Mrs. ...

Hunter Foutch tallied 17 of his game-high 23 points in the second half to stretch a one-point halftime lead for Webb into a 48-40 victory over host St. Andrew's-Sewanee in Middle Region action on Tuesday night. The Feet (5-0, 2-0) were full throttle from the opening tip, going up 17-6 in the first eight minutes...

Webb fell into a 21-10 hole in the first quarter and never recovered in a 57-25 road loss to St. Andrew's-Sewanee in Middle Region play. The Lady Feet (2-3, 0-2) rebounded defensively to hold the Mountain Lions to just three second-quarter points but were unable to manufacture a basket of their own for any kind of a rally...

If you're looking for some quality high school basketball, with teams going back and forth throughout and a nail-biting finish, highlight the lines on Cascade's schedule that says Van Buren County. The two have met six times the last two years since the Eagles were added to District 9-A. With the exception of an 18-point Van Buren County win in the '06 district tourney, every game has come down to the final few possessions and three of those were decided by three points or less...

Cascade's game plan coming into their District 9-A matchup with visiting Van Buren County centered around slowing down all-district performers Porsche McDonald and Jaleta Grissom. The Lady Champions were relentless in their pursuit of the Lady Eagles' talent, holding the pair to a mere basket apiece...

FAYETTEVILLE -- If Shelbyville Central's performance against Lincoln County is any indication, they are primed and ready to defend their District 8-AAA title. The Eagles (7-1, 1-0 8-AAA) were clicking on all cylinders in a 72-46 blowout over Lincoln County (2-7, 0-2) Tuesday night in their district opener...

FAYETTEVILLE -- For years, District 8-AAA has been one of the most competitive girls districts in Tennessee and it looks as if this year is going to be much of the same. Preseason favorite Shelbyville Central (4-1, 1-0 8-AAA) had all they wanted and then some in their 54-51 win at Lincoln County (5-4, 1-1) Tuesday evening...

McMINNVILLE -- After a late arrival due to a scheduling conflict, the Community Viqueens overcame a sluggish start to run away from Boyd Christian 65-35 and post their first District 9-A win of the season. The Purple and Gold (3-2, 1-1 9-A) appeared to be a step slow on defense and were having trouble getting the ball to drop when junior point guard Carly Daffern put the team on her back and carried them to a 37-19 lead at the half after leading just 11-8 after one period...

Funeral services for Robert J. Huffman Jr., 45, of Wartrace, who died suddenly Tuesday at Bedford County Medical Center, will be 1 p.m. Friday at Doak-Howell Funeral Home with Bill Doak officiating. Burial will follow at Hazel Cemetery in Bell Buckle. Visitation with the family will be 5-8:30 p.m. today.

McMINNVILLE -- Community placed 12 players in the scoring column to defeat Boyd Christian 58-25 and notch their second District 9-A win on the road in the past four days. It wasn't a textbook win. But it wasn't designed to be, as the Vikings went into the game with very specific aspirations of working on some fundamental parts of their game that needed some fine tuning...