Stories from Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Atmos Energy Corp. reported system problems in Shelbyville on Tuesday which resulted in a disruption in natural gas service for about 35 meters. The company had to turn off the service to those meters while inspecting them. "Any time we experience pressure fluctuations, Atmos immediately double-checks our system lines and equipment," said Operations Supervisor David Roberts. "A safe and reliable system is, and will always be, our number one concern."...

Five coaches are joining Webb's athletic program this year, four of which are new to the Bell Buckle school. Effie Rose moves up to head cross country coach with Kelly Northrop as assistant. "We anticipate having enough girls this year to be able to put a girls team together and compete," said Rose, who was an assistant last season. "My focus this year will be on turning this into a team sport, in addition to being an individual sport."...

Vera Lavada Preston, 86, of Shelbyville, died Monday at Lincoln Medical Center in Fayetteville. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Jennings-Moore-Cortner Chapel in Lynchburg. Burial will follow at Lynchburg Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Although it has been around since 1996, the Tennessee Technology Center at Shelbyville's truck driving curriculum may be the best-kept secret in Shelbyville, according to instructor David Hart. "A lot of people don't even know we're here," he said. Hart said he's amazed that some local and area residents pay anywhere from $4,000 to $6,000 for a three-week training program at privately-owned trucking schools, when TTCS's 7 1/2-week program costs in the neighborhood of $1,250 -- and a lottery-funded scholarship can knock $500 off even that amount.. ...

As United Way of Bedford County prepares to kick off its fall fund-raising campaign, the Times-Gazette will present a weekly spotlight on United Way and the local health and human service agencies it supports. We begin this week with an overview of the United Way program itself....

The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration remains committed to having sound, clean horses in the show ring and will keep in place several measures with the health and safety of the animals and participants as well as the integrity of the inspection process in mind...

Traffic flow is the key to bringing more retail businesses to Shelbyville, says the head of the city's and county's Chamber of Commerce. Walt Wood, CEO of Shelbyville & Bedford County Chamber of Commerce, briefed city council members last week about the continuing efforts to bring more store fronts to the community...

Linda L. Taylor Fancher, 61, of Unionville, died Monday at her home. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Watson-North Funeral Home in Winchester with Charles Williams officiating. Burial will follow at Long Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday.

An employee of a Shelbyville auction firm has been accused of taking cash from the business and prescription drugs from a fellow worker's purse during Friday night's sale. Bryan David Tibbs, 44, Tollgate Road, allegedly stole Xanax tablets from a purse left near the cash register by a co-worker, Shelbyville police said...

The parent company of Sanford Corp. in Shelbyville announced today it will transfer its ink operations from Shelbyville to a new plant in Manchester. The current ink plant employs 60. Employees are expected to transfer to the new location in Manchester...

After a lackluster performance at the Stan McNabb Classic in Tullahoma last Thursday, Shelbyville Central's Golden Eagle golf team roared back, taking two District 8-AAA wins from Franklin County and Coffee County on Monday afternoon at River Bend Country Club...

Funeral services for Sally "Blanche" Sells, 92, of Shelbyville, who died late Monday at The Heart Remembers after an extended illness, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Doak-Howell Funeral Home with David Adams officiating. Burial will follow at Willow Mount Cemetery. Visitation will begin at noon Thursday.