Stories from Wednesday, April 23, 2008

The thief who robbed First Community Bank's Madison Street branch at mid-afternoon today (Tuesday) may have gotten away red-handed -- literally. A red dye bomb within a money bag taken in the robbery exploded less than 100 yards away behind the bank, police said...

Gilbert Smotherman, 73 of McMinnville, formerly of Bedford County, died today at Rain Tree Manor in McMinnville after an extended illness. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Doak-Howell Funeral Home.

Ricky Turner, 50, of Shelbyville died this morning. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Doak-Howell Funeral Home.

A memorial service for Hazel Jacobson Smith, 90, of Flat Creek, will be 2 p.m. Sunday, April 27 at Christ Lutheran Church, where she was a member, with Marie Hatcher officiating. Her cremains will be interred at Sunset Hill Cemetery in Lakewood, N.Y., at a later date...

Well, it's that time of year again -- time for me to remind you about "Symphony at the Celebration," the Nashville Symphony's annual concert in Shelbyville, which will take place Tuesday at Calsonic Arena. Last year's concert featured the Community High School band, and was a great success. This year's concert will feature the band from my alma mater, Cascade High School, and will therefore be even better. (I could be biased, however.)...

LYNCHBURG -- A Tullahoma man has been bound over to the Moore County grand jury, who will decide if first degree murder charges are warranted for the stabbing death of a Wartrace man. Jacob Wayne "Jake" Riddle of Tullahoma has been charged with criminal homicide in connection with the death of 20-year-old Joseph Timothy Floyd, who was fatally stabbed in the early morning hours of Feb. 2 at a party in the Lost Creek area of Moore County near Tims Ford Lake...

BALTIMORE (AP) -- A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction Tuesday barring Tyson Foods from advertising that its poultry products don't contain antibiotics thought to lead to drug resistance in humans. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Richard Bennett was a victory for rivals Perdue Farms and Sanderson Farms Inc., who are suing to stop the advertisements...

Concern about the fate of a tree on East Depot Street led to a small public hearing Tuesday between some downtown business people and city officials. Jennifer Templeton of Templeton Insurance started a petition to save the large tree in front of the business that is slated to be replaced by a pair of single stem crepe myrtles...

Some things never change. For the fifth consecutive year, Harris Middle has claimed the Central Tennessee Conference tournament championship. The Eagles shut out Tullahoma 3-0 Saturday for the title after winning their sixth regular season CTC crown as well...

Cascade Middle's first-ever season came to a screeching halt with a 6-5 loss to Moore County Middle in the Mid-South Conference tournament at Liberty. The Champions appeared to be on cruise control as they entered the seventh inning with a 5-2 advantage...

It is a natural, but undesired trait of a team to have a severe letdown following an emotional loss, especially a young team in its first season -- and if that loss occurred in front of the largest crowd of the season. Community Junior High suffered no such fate Tuesday night against Riverside Christian Academy as they came out hammering in the first inning, sending 12 players to the plate and scoring seven runs on nine hits to cruise to a 12-2 win in the Mid-South Conference middle school tournament at Liberty School.. ...

A routine double play quickly turned into disaster for the Shelbyville baseball squad in Lawrenceburg. As a result, the host Wildcats took advantage with a 3-2 District 8-AAA victory to split the season series. With one out and two on in the bottom of the seventh, a groundball hit a rock and bounced over Eagle shortstop Michael Watkins' head as Lawrence County (15-10, 6-6 8-AAA) was able to send home the game-winner...

Cascade clinched their second straight regular season District 9-A title by defeating Van Buren County 11-0 in Spencer. "It's evidence of the hard work the boys have put in all year," Cascade coach Chris Parker said. "It's just a step in the ladder for where we want to go."...

There was a lot on the line when Shelbyville Central's soccer team ventured to Columbia Tuesday night. Both teams entered the contest undefeated in District 8-AAA play with the winner coming away as the regular season district champions. Shelbyville claimed that title with a 3-1 victory over the Lions...

Shelbyville sophomore left-handed hitter Shelby Lamb has had a number of big hits in her high school career . She added another to that list Tuesday night. With the game tied at 7-7 in the top of the ninth inning with one out, Lamb stepped up to the plate and drilled what proved to be the game winning homerun over the center field fence to lead Shelbyville Central in an 8-7 win at Lawrence County...

Sophomore Hunter Foutch crushed a clutch two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the sixth to lift the host Webb Feet to a comeback 6-5 victory over Franklin Classical. In a back-and-forth contest, Webb (5-5-1) trailed 2-1 early but drew even at 2-all in the fourth...

Brittany Haynes struck out 10 and Amber Woods and Bianca Maselter each had two hits and two runs scored to lead the Community Viqueens to an 8-6 win over Huntland on a gorgeous Tuesday afternoon in Unionville. The offense had a good day, but the Purple and Gold defense shined by making several outstanding plays behind their freshman left-hander to run their win streak to four...

Webb struck early for a pair of goals in the first 20 minutes and cruised to a 2-0 win over Cascade at Lagler Field in Bell Buckle. Sean Kim got the Feet (5-2-2) on the board just 5:38 into the match. Josh Ferrell assisted. That lead doubled when Chris Hoover took an assist from his brother Daniel Hoover and put the ball into the back of the net in the 17th minute...

Leukemia patient Tyler Craig was surprised by the Make-A-Wish foundation Wednesday morning during an assembly at Central High School, where students had raised $6,500 to help grant his wish. Tyler was surprised with a trip to Hawaii, and a concert by RCA Nashville recording artist Chris Young...

This column is to clarify statements made by me at the recent Bedford County Board of Education meeting. The Shelbyville Times-Gazette reported that I said air horns (plural) blared at last year's graduation ceremony. There was one air horn but I have heard a (one) air horn also at Community High Schools graduation a year or two ago...

Webb softball coach James Garcia was so excited that he threw his hat 20 feet in celebration. And who could blame him? His Lady Feet had just earned their first win of the season, rallying for one of the most improbable comeback victories in recent memory...

Graveside services for Charles Franklin Spence Sr., 79, of Shelbyville, who died Wednesday at University Hospital in Louisville, Ky., will be 11 a.m. Friday at Willow Mount Cemetery. Jimmy Gray will officiate. Visitation with the family will be 5-8 p.m. Thursday at Gowen-Smith Chapel, which is in charge of arrangements...