Stories from Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Shelbyville Central coach Kevin Thomas has guided the Golden Eagle basketball program to being one of the most successful in the mid-state over the past 10 years and the next win will be his 200th as a head coach. Thomas, one of the most talented young coaches in the state, came to Shelbyville 12 years ago as an assistant coach in both football and boys basketball then helped former Eaglette coach Rick Insell as an assistant his second year before taking over as head coach of the Eagles...

The Community Viqueens took on Franklin County and gave them all they wanted for better than three quarters Monday night before succumbing 62-45 to their Class AAA opponent. The Viqueens (3-2) trailed 12-5 after one quarter before battling back behind six points by Alyssa Fann and 3-pointers by Jessica Thompson and Aubrey Boyce in the second frame...

A Wartrace man died early Monday afternoon when his Suzuki SV6 motorcycle collided with a Tyson feed truck at 5099 Highway 64 east, in front of the Jimmy Hawkins Farm.... John Stanley Douglas, 46, was killed instantly, said Tennessee State Trooper Chad McAnally. Read more in Tuesday's Times-Gazette.

For a few hours Saturday, I was Jack Frost. In other words, the epitome of cool. Frosty. Chilly. Cold. Cool. Get it? Several talented Times-Gazette staff members spent part of Saturday afternoon transforming me into ... well, you had to be there...

Momma said there were going to be days like this. It wasn't for lack of effort or desire, it wasn't that they didn't hit the floor for every loose ball or bang physically with a bigger opponent under the boards, but the Community Vikings simply could not put the ball in the basket for the first 16 minutes of the game in their 61-44 loss to Franklin County...

The Webb Middle girls fought to the bitter end and clinched a nail-biting 32-31 win over St. Andrew's-Sewanee on Monday night at the Barton Athletic Center. The Lady Feet (2-6) had it cut out for them from the very beginning. Kat Coffey tallied five of the Lady Feet's seven points in the first, including a 3-pointer. The Lady Mountain Lions (3-7) held on tight and went to the second stanza down 7-6...

With a balanced scoring attack featuring three players in double digits, Harris Middle remains undefeated after a 42-24 win over visiting Tullahoma East in a Central Tennessee Conference matchup Monday night. Monte' Leslie scored a game-high 16 points, including eight in the first quarter, Kailey Hornberger netted 15 and Bre Horner added 10 to pace the Eaglettes (8-0, 6-0 CTC)...

Hard economic times have left almost everyone needing more, and the community has responded with gifts of toys, food and money to families in need. But there's another group that has been overlooked this holiday season and The Blockade Runner's Phillip Smith has decided to do something about it...

When Michele Mullaney returned to her office after giving a lesson to fourth graders about dealing with peer pressure, she had about 30 minutes to adjust to her next task, which would be teaching third graders about tolerance vs. prejudice. After that? Perhaps she'd help an eighth-grade student lay out his or her four-year academic plan...

While the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) agrees that the region needs a drought management plan, the state agency says a reduction of flow from Normandy Dam can't take place without an environmental review. Meanwhile, Bedford County is classified as being in a moderate drought, according to data released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) last week...

Imagine what life would be like if your brain began to gradually shut down, with no reason as to why. Living with an incurable disease provides many challenges affecting everyday activities. Alzheimer's disease is no exception....

Hazel Ann Cates "Haze" Bodin, 75, of Lynchburg, formerly of Shelbyville, died Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008, at Williamson Medical Center, due to complications following surgery. A memorial service will be held Thursday at the Lynchburg Funeral Home Chapel with Jimmy Jean officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Camp Joy. Lynchburg Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements...

Funeral services for James Gregory Crowell, 41, of Fort White, Fla., formerly of Hall's Mill Community, will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday in the chapel of Doak-Howell Funeral Home with Bill Doak officiating. His remains will be cremated after the funeral service. Crowell died unexpectedly Saturday Dec. 6, 2008, at Heritage Medical Center....