Stories from Friday, October 24, 2008

The much anticipated John Freeman Cross Country Invitational took place at Webb School in Bell Buckle on Wednesday evening with four schools participating. St. Andrew's-Sewanee led the pack with first place titles from the boys and girls division. The fastest recorded time of the day on Webb's 3-mile cross country course was by Daniel Shaver of the Mountain Lions. ...

When Middle Tennessee State University launched its "MTSU South" web site earlier this month, Dr. Mike Boyle, dean of continuing education and distance learning at MTSU, hoped that an interest survey on the site would draw 200 to 300 responses. As of Thursday morning, 1,087 people had completed the survey, which asks what types of programs and classes participants would like to see at a proposed MTSU satellite campus in Shelbyville...

On your mark, get set, GO! ... that's what more than 60 folks prepared to participate in the United Way Spooktacular 5K Run are waiting to hear as race day draws near. The 5K run/walk will kick off at 9 a.m. at Eakin School, 1100 Glenoaks Rd., and registration begins at 8 a.m. (the cost is $25). The race will finish at the Shelbyville Recreation Center, which is adjacent to Eakin School. Racers are asked to park at the school, and make the short walk back to Eakin following the race...

The "Splendor of Autumn" celebration planned by Main Street Shelbyville, a proposed Tennessee Main Street Community, continues on Depot Street this weekend -- with some changes. The International Chili Society-sanctioned chili cookoff and other contests will contiinue as planned, but the gospel singing event on the Square Sunday has been cancelled...

Shelbyville Planning Commission on Thursday approved site plans for a new four-story, 60-plus room Microtel hotel to be located at 1207 North Main St., and for the new Shelbyville branch for Ascend Federal Credit Union, which will be located at 1900 North Main St...

A former Marshall County High School student who was charged in the 2007 shooting death of a Shelbyville car salesman pleaded guilty Monday and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Jason Young, 21, of Lewisburg, will be nearly 47 years old when he might be put on parole, District Attorney Chuck Crawford said of the last of three defendants to be convicted for the murder of Bill Ross on Valentine's Day 2007...

In the third installment of Disney's "High School Musical" franchise, opening today in theaters, the main characters are high school seniors -- and the diplomas they receive in the movie's graduation scene were produced at the Jostens plant in Shelbyville...

Shelbyville Central faces its toughest challenge of the year when they travel to Nashville to face sixth-ranked Maplewood in a Region 5 4-A matchup tonight. The Eagles (3-5, 1-4 5-4A) claimed their first region win last week at home against Stratford while Maplewood (6-2, 3-1) enters the contest with a four-game win streak...

The Community Vikings are coming off of their best outing of the year to take on Region 5-A playoff minded Forrest in Chapel Hill tonight. The Vikings (1-7, 1-6 5-A) are coming off of a closely contested 31-27 loss to Middle Tennessee Christian last week in which they got three touchdown passes and 283 yards through the air from senior quarterback Justin Stallings...

Bedford County neighbors Webb and Community kicked off the junior high season in Bell Buckle last night in front of a large and festive crowd. Community's Viqueens (1-0) won 42-20 behind 14 points from Megan Smith, who outdueled Lady Feet guard Kat Coffey with 10 points, including three from behind the arc...

Funeral services for Thomas Neil McCrory, Sr., 87, of Unionville, who died Thursday at Heritage Medical Center, will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Gowen-Smith Chapel. The Rev. Drew Hayes will officiate, with burial to follow at Willow Mount Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Gowen-Smith.

Gene Thomas Morris, 76, of Winchester, died Wednesday at the Golden Living Center after a brief illness. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at Hillcrest Funeral Home with Dale Andrews officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday.

I experienced a personal triumph two days ago, and I was still paying the price for it this morning. I ran the entire 3.1 miles of the United Way Spooktacular 5K route Wednesday, and when I finally dragged myself out of bed this morning at 5 a.m., even my hair hurt. I was SORE...