Stories from Monday, June 16, 2008

Funeral services for Annie Marie Bowen Gatica, 62, of Shelbyville, who died Saturday at Bedford County Nursing Home, will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel. The Rev. John Brown will be the eulogist. Visitation with the family will begin one hour prior to service time...

Next year's budget for Bedford County Solid Waste Authority will be tight, according to officials, with an eventual shortfall expected despite a projected surplus to begin the fiscal year. Last month, the authority voted to submit two different budget requests to the county's Financial Management Committee. Budget "A" covers what board members believe the county's sanitation department will need, while Budget "B" contained a five-percent cut...

A foster mother charged with having sex with a teenager in her care is scheduled to appear in court late next month. Meanwhile, the Tennessee Department of Children's Services is continuing to look into the case, which a spokesman termed "shocking to us all."...

Tennessee Commissioner of Safety David Mitchell, during a visit to Shelbyville on Thursday, recognized Jessica Doak of Bedford County Emergency Management Agency for performing life-saving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) last month. On May 9, Doak was in her office at the EMA building on Railroad Avenue when the staff of the state driver's license testing station, which occupies the front portion of the building, called out, telling her that a female customer had fallen...

When the average person thinks of Shelbyville, they're more than likely going to think of horses and basketball. The roundball effect comes in thanks to the girls basketball program at Shelbyville Central. Now, anyone driving through can easily get a glimpse of just how great the Golden Eaglettes have been over the years thanks in part to the Kiwanis, Breakfast Rotary and Lions Clubs sponsoring six signs commemorating the 12 state championships and two national championships...

Winemakers Perry and Elaine Casteel have begun pulling up their vines after 15 years of crushing grapes at Tri-Star Vineyards and Winery. The Casteels plan to retire to their "dream home" after this season's harvest sells out. "We are in the process of closing out the vineyard by taking out the less productive and freeze damaged vines," said the Casteels, in a final mailing sent out to their customers. ...

Brandon Bassham has decided to leave his post as head baseball coach at Middle Tennessee Christian to take the same position at District 9-A rival Cascade, sources indicate. The hiring will not be official until the Bedford County Board of Education meets on Thursday evening...

Funeral services for Willard R. Baker, 76, of Shelbyville, who died Sunday at Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro, will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Charles Williams officiating. Burial, with military honors, will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Tuesday.

Rondell Eugene 'Ron' Thomas, 81, of Ormond Beach, Fla., died Tuesday. Per his request, he was cremated. Memorial arrangements are incomplete.

Funeral services for William Lawrence 'Billy' Sanders, 75, of Shelbyville, who died Sunday at Bedford County Medical Center, will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Hillcrest Funeral Home with Larry Sanders officiating. Burial will follow at Simpson Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Tuesday.

Bedford County teacher Neal Gordon is proof that Bonnaroo isn't just for the young, but also for the young-at-heart. Gordon, 43, teaches chemistry and physics and coaches soccer at Shelbyville Central High School and is currently teaching summer school at Harris Middle. With friends Laura Capps and Kara Spray, plus other out-of-town guests, Gordon made the short trek to Coffee County this past weekend to join about 80,000 fans at the festival...

John Henry King, 78, of Shelbyville died Sunday at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Thursday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow at Willow Mount Cemetery. Visitation will begin at noon Thursday.