Stories from Wednesday, January 2, 2008

TAMPA, Fla. -- Was Huckleberry Finn added to the coaching staff just prior to kickoff? Between suspensions and injuries, Tennessee looked like the character from Mark Twain's novel on a raft floating aimlessly down the mighty Mississippi with some twigs and mud sewn and thrown together...

TAMPA, Fla. -- John Chavis was proud and prepared to boast. When the Tennessee offense broke on Tuesday afternoon, the defensive coordinator's much-maligned unit was there to pick up the pieces. His defense bent, but refused to break. And as a result, the 16th-ranked Volunteers escaped the Outback Bowl with a 21-17 win over Wisconsin at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium...

Funeral services for Elbert "Ebb" Cashion, 90, of Petersburg, who died Monday at his home, will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Gallant Funeral Home in Fayetteville, Burial will follow in Old Orchard Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be 4-8 p.m. today...

A memorial service for Shirley Eubank, 65, of Canton, Texas, who died Monday in Tyler, Texas, will be held 11 a.m. Thursday at Eubank Funeral Chapel in Canton, Texas. Visitation with the family will be 6-8 p.m. today.

A preliminary field review of the widening of North Main Street in Shelbyville has been set by the Tennessee Department of Transportation [TDOT]. The review will be held Jan. 16 starting at 9 a.m. at the Region 3 office building in the Survey and Design Conference Room on the second floor at 6601 Centennial Boulevard in Nashville...

Three veteran cavers say the incident in which three persons were rescued from a cave near Raus last Friday could have been prevented with proper training. "It's not easy to get lost in that cave," Paul "Bull" Snook of Christiana said. "You have to try to get lost in that one."...

FARMINGTON -- A man is recovering from stab wounds suffered Saturday morning at his mobile home, where he'd been dancing with a girl from his neighbor's trailer, according to his mother. Gerald Michael "Jerry" Watterson , 21, of 2648 Nashville Highway (U.S. 31-A), has been released from Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he was taken by helicopter ambulance after being examined at Marshall Medical Center in Lewisburg, Karen Watterson said of her son...

An armed robber took a relatively small amount of money from Saddlegait Market, South Cannon Boulevard, late Saturday night. The clerk told police the suspect entered shortly before 11 p.m., laid a black handgun on the counter and ordered her to give him the cash drawer...

Jean Thaxton Scott, 90, of Shelbyville died Tuesday at Bedford County Medical Center. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday at Fairlane Church of Christ with Geoff Giesemann and Russ Countess officiating. Burial will follow at Wilkes Cemetery in Culleoka....

Helen Modena Petty, 92, of Shelbyville died Monday at Bedford County Nursing Home after an extended illness. Funeral services were today at Hillcrest Funeral Home with the Rev. Jimmy Gray officiating. Burial followed at Beech Hill Cemetery in Moore County...