Stories from Friday, August 29, 2008

Being an alum, I'm a huge Middle Tennessee fan and really enjoy covering the Blue Raiders from the press box and sidelines. But I've often wondered why the support and attendance at home games isn't better. The university has really undergone a lot of changes since I graduated in the late 1980s...

I flew in an airplane for the first time in about 10 years this week, and I was surprisingly calm. When I was a child, my sister and I would fly to Florida to see my grandparents or to Michigan to see my father, and I was never afraid of flying. In fact, it was fun and exciting...

Following a verbal confrontation with a Celebration staff member, the Conduct Committee of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration has suspended all rights and privileges granted to Wayne Abee indefinitely for a conduct violation, according to a Celebration news release. The suspension takes effect immediately and Abee may apply for reinstatement after Dec. 31 for the purpose of reviewing his conduct...

Funeral services for Charles Henry Taylor, 88, of Deason, who died Thursday at Bedford County Nursing Home, will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at Hillcrest Funeral Home with the Rev. Tommy Dye and the Rev. Mark Hall officiating. Burial will follow at Houston-Whitworth Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday.

Funeral services for Jeremy Quinn "J Mac" McMahon, 29, of Shelbyville, who died Wednesday at Heritage Medical Center, will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel with the Rev. John Perkins officiating. Burial will follow at New Hope Cemetery in Fairfield. Visitation will begin at noon Monday.

Funeral services for Wanda Louise Powell Fanning, 65, of Chestnut Ridge, who died Saturday at her home, will be held Sunday at 4:30 p.m. at Hillcrest Funeral Home with the Rev. Ronnie Adams officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday.

The entries don't close until noon today, so the question is still hovering in the air -- who will show in the World Grand Championship class Saturday night? Is Rowdy ready to Rev his engines? Is José in Intimidator mode? Will Missed the Boat make this launch? Will General's Show Stopper stop the show?...

WHBEA National Futurity Three-Year-Old Stallion champion, Naples Ritz and Tim Gray, riding for William B. Johnson of Atlanta, Ga., claimed the championship honors in the Three-Year-Old World Grand Championship division Thursday night at the Celebration...

If it had been a popularity contest, the entry from Harmony Walkers in Andalusia, Ala., would have won that class, hands down. It's hard to ignore a couple of thousand people saying, "Aaaawwww!" at the same time. The reason -- When the mare Perfect Cut Jewel was led into the Celebration ring for the mare and foal class Wednesday night, she was followed by not one, but two foals, little chestnut twins only a few months old...

Donald Ray Sachs is mentally competent to stand trial, according to court documents. Sachs is charged with criminal homicide in the death of 52-year-old Joyce Mattis of Murfreesboro. Her decomposed remains were found June 4 in a wooded area off Cannon Road...

Telling his attorney he wants to spare the family of a Unionville man grief, Kimery Wayne Hill waived his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday and was bound over to the Bedford County grand jury on a variety of charges, including vehicular homicide...

Shelbyville Central looks to bounce back on a high note in its home opener tonight at 7 against Warren County. The Golden Eagles (0-1) lost a 20-7 heartbreaker last week at Coffee County in a game they let slip away in the second half. The Pioneers (0-1) fell 42-25 to Class 3A's DeKalb County last week...

Autumn is creeping in, the air is crisp, the weather is almost perfect for soccer. After two fairly brutal halves, Shelbyville Central tied visiting Smyrna 3-3 in the home opener for the Golden Eaglettes. Shelbyville's Katlin Buchanan scored the game's first goal seven minutes into the match. With 17:23 left in the first half, the Eaglettes made it a two-goal advantage thanks to a boot from by Kayla Anderson...

Webb finished second in a tri-match behind Cannon County and in front of Middle Tennessee Christian. Cannon County stroked a 160, the Feet turned in a 187 and MTC banged out a 215. Sutton Jones and Blake Cocanougher paced the Feet (1-3) by carding a 43 apiece. Will Russell had a 49 and Manan Jobalia 52...

Webb hosted their first meet of the season on Thursday at the new John Freeman 3-mile cross country course. This was the first competition to formally take place on the track and the home advantage was obvious. New head coach Effie Rose had hoped to arouse enough interest from the campus girls to actually compete this year, and compete they did...

Jose Villanueva rushed for 106 yards and three touchdowns and fellow Community Junior High running mate C. J. Dowdy added 86 yards in a dominating 30-18 win over visiting Zion Christian on Thursday evening. An impressive defense keyed a well-oiled offense as the Vikings (2-1) rolled up over 300 yards while holding their opponent to just 127...