Stories from Sunday, November 2, 2008

My co-worker Mary Reeves recently wrote a great blog post urging people to get out and vote. She included the oft-spoken line that if you don't vote, you don't have the right to complain. Well, that drew a response from one of our commenters: "I am all for voting, but your comment about not griping unless you vote is wrong. If I don't vote, I still have the right to gripe because I pay taxes."...

Bricks and mortar. And, a financial burden of hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. That's possibly the final ending of the 1939-vintage ex-Central High/Harris Middle building on Elm Street, along with its dilapidated 1954-vintage gym, and the 1950-vintage ex-Bedford County General Hospital on Union Street...

Myra Ireland of Tennessee Valley Authority said an open house-style public hearing held Oct. 23 drew a good turnout but that there were no real surprises in the public response to a proposed new electric switching station in Unionville or a new transmission line between Unionville and Columbia...

A proposal to look into privatizing local ambulance and rural fire protection services died Tuesday night in Bedford County Financial Management Committee due to lack of a second. Commissioner J.D. "Bo" Wilson had invited representatives of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Rural/Metro Corp. to appear before the committee...

The white house at 312 East Lane St. had stood in the historic neighborhood for some 50 to 60 years. However, the passage of time, decay and possible impending action from the city of Shelbyville prompted the home's owner to have it demolished this week...

Tears were shed by many Saturday as Bedford County honored its Vietnam veterans and their families at the opening ceremony for the Moving Wall memorial. The ceremony took place under clear blue skies at Shelbyville's Riverwalk Park, and offered some closure for those who still suffer emotional wounds more than 30 years after the unpopular conflict ended...

In a true microcosm of their season, the Community Vikings outgained and outhit the Eagleville Eagles with 412 yards of total offense Friday, doubled time of possession, won the turnover war, ran up over 300 yards on the ground, and had two touchdowns called back on ghostly-like penalties...

There's something to be said for going out in style. Cascade wrapped up their regular season schedule by sending out 11 seniors with a perfect 10-0 regular season and an outright Region 5-A championship after defeating White House-Heritage 63-20 at The Stable on Friday night...