Stories from Thursday, February 7, 2008

Graveside services for James Harold Woods, 74, of Shelbyville, who died Jan. 31 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, will be 9 a.m. today at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. The Rev. Jack V. Carney will officiate. Hillcrest Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...

Funeral services for Juanita Neeley West, 72, of Bloomington, Ill., who died Monday at Manor Care in Normal, Ill., will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Hillcrest Funeral Home. The Rev. Jack V. Carney will officiate and burial will follow in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens...

The Center for Family Development is asking the City of Shelbyville to sponsor a federal grant that will provide a safe place for kids. Director Denise Hobbs addressed the council Tuesday during its February study session to request that the city partner with the Center by applying for a $300,000 grant for a program called Safe Haven Supervised Visitation...

A 5,500-watt generator was taken from Hillis Group, Squire Hall Road, according to a report filed by Deputy Kevin Roddy. The generator had been chained to cinder blocks surrounding the fuel tank. The blocks were "busted" and the chain was removed, Roddy said...

A play, a gospel singing extravaganza, an essay contest, a quiz bowl, and a banquet are all scheduled during February and March as part of a Black History Month celebration sponsored by the Black Awareness Community Coalition. According to Coalition President Coleman March Sr. of Lynchburg, all proceeds from these events will go toward financial awards to selected college students in the coalition's membership area...

Prices for the 2008 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration will remain the same for the third consecutive year, following recent action by the Celebration board of directors. "We feel like there were some great strides made in our industry during 2007," said board chairman David L. Howard. "After the events of 2006, The Celebration and our entire industry had to work hard to regain the public trust. That work is ongoing."...

Whoever said good things don't happen to good people must not know Shelbyville Central senior Stephon Ransom. Ransom signed a letter of intent Wednesday morning to continue his education and play football at Cumberland University in Lebanon. "This has always been a dream of mine," Ransom said. "I'll be the first one in my family to go to college and this is a weight lifted off my shoulders. To get a chance to play football as well is a huge plus...

A murder investigation is underway in Manchester after the body of a Bedford County man was discovered Wednesday. According to WMSR Radio, the remains of 32-year-old Derrick Lavell Rankins of Deery Street in Shelbyville were found early Wednesday morning in a wooded area along Highway 55, near Belmont Road just outside of Manchester...

A Liberty school teacher who bought a firearm to school last year was placed on pre-trial diversion Wednesday in Bedford County General Sessions Court. Dawn Bobo was sentenced to 11 month, 29 days of probation, will have to forfeit the weapon and pay fines and court costs...

Signing Day came and went on Wednesday. Stay-at-home high school football scouts all across the country are gathering around the water cooler to either brag about the prospects their school snagged or preaching about how their tight ends coach/recruiting coordinator has one true job to do and he failed...