Stories from Thursday, March 6, 2008

When it's college basketball tournament time, everyone's got an opinion. This year, your best guesses about the winners and losers of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament could be worth a 32-inch flat panel television -- or even $25,000. This year, several Tennessee teams are expected to be well-seeded in the annual tournament, and local interest may be at an all-time high...

"We need to do it right." Those were the words of Shelbyville City Manager Ed Craig as he spoke about ending the 35-year practice of allowing a single business to handle all the towing and repair of city vehicles. Shelbyville will bid out the contract instead of allowing Beech's Body Shop to continue to perform the towing service for free...

An estimated 60 percent of Bedford County residents go elsewhere for their hospitalization needs, but the new CEO of Bedford County Medical Center told city officials that the new Heritage Medical Center should turn that trend around. That was the message Dan Buckner had for Shelbyville City Council Tuesday as he briefed them on what to expect when the new facility opens on July 12...

MURFREESBORO -- Gaby Bussell took the court at Middle Tennessee's Murphy Center on Wednesday morning with aspirations of finishing her career at Forrest as she did her sophomore year, helping carry off a gold ball and a tournament MVP trophy. Neither will come to fruition as Forrest dropped their state tournament opener to former region foe Wayne County 59-50...

NASHVILLE -- What a difference a couple of years can make. Shelbyville's own Barry Stewart can attest to that. Just two short years ago, the eventual Class AAA Mr. Basketball recipient was in the process of leading his Golden Eagles to a magical 34-4 season and an eventual runner-up finish in the state tournament...

Over the years Shelbyville Central's Golden Eaglettes have become one of the nation's premier high school girls basketball programs. It didn't happen by chance. Talented players, outstanding coaches and relentless work ethic are all associated with the success...

A number of burglaries and thefts have occurred on U.S. 231 north of Shelbyville in the past few days, reports indicate. An alarm alerted law enforcement to a break-in. Deputy Jimmy Rhodes arrived at 11:22 p.m. to find broken door glass and glass broken in the front of the machine...

Jesse C. Rigsby Sr., 81, of Eagleville died Wednesday at his home. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Lawrence Funeral Home, Chapel Hill, with Julian Goodpaster and Dr. Louis Rideout officiating. Burial will follow at Cothran Cemetery in Rover. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Friday.

Funeral services for Frances Marie Reynolds, 49, of Wartrace, who died Thursday at Alive Hospice at St. Thomas Hospital, will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel. The Rev. Eddy Reed will officiate, with burial to follow in Houston-Whitworth Cemetery.