Stories from Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Monday marked two milestones in Donna Anderson's life. Five years ago on Dec. 22, the battle her mother fought with cancer ended. Yesterday, her own life as an independent, self-sufficient woman, a working and contributing member of society, also ended. Anderson, 51, was employed with Summit Polymers. She was one of about 35 who were laid off, and they were only the first wave...

Aubrey Boyce scored 16 points to lead the Community Viqueens to a 57-47 basketball win over visiting Nashville Christian Monday night, making the holiday break a little more enjoyable after an emotional, heartbreaking loss Friday. The Viqueens (6-4) rode nine points from Boyce to a quick start but found themselves down 15-12 after one period as Ashley Chambliss matched that total for the Lady Eagles, who had four of five starters score...

"We've waited 42 years for this day," said Carolyn. "We thank God it's over with." The sister of Deborah Ray, who did not reveal her last name to a Times-Gazette reporter, choked back tears as the decades-long ordeal to bring her sibling's killer to justice finally came to an end Monday...

Coach Jace Bryant's team is simply not going to make things easy on Community basketball fans' cardiovascular systems this season. The Vikings (7-3) took on a relatively young and inexperienced Nashville Christian team and, for much of Monday night, seemed to be on the precipice of turning the game into a rout, only to slide back to square one time and time again in their 51-48 win...

CULLEOKA -- Tiffany Gibbs went off for 10 of her game-high 22 points in the first quarter to help propel Cascade past Hampshire 59-30 at the Culleoka Classic on Monday night. The senior drained four field goals in the opening frame and her Lady Champion teammates locked up defensively midway through the contest to help them improve to 7-4...

CULLEOKA -- The bitterly cold climate carried over to the shooting touch of the Cascade Champions on Monday evening as a 3-for-21 effort from the field in the opening half left them down 26-7 to the Culleoka Classic host Warriors. The Champs huddled around the locker room bonfire at the half and came out blazing in the third quarter. They outscored a much larger and more experienced Culleoka squad the final two frames, but it wasn't enough to overcome the early deficit and Cascade lost 47-34...

The man responsible for the vehicular homicide death of a Unionville man was sentenced to 14 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to charges on Monday. Kimery Wayne Hill showed little emotion as Judge Robert Crigler handed down the 14-year sentence for the vehicular homicide charge and eight counts of reckless endangerment...

Two women who were found guilty in the shooting death of Bill Ross appeared in court Monday to made motions. Defense attorney Jack Dearing made a motion for a new trial for Ashley Mai Cook, who was convicted in October of shooting the Shelbyville auto salesman three times on Valentine's Day 2007...

EDITOR'S NOTE -- As United Way of Bedford County conducts its fall fundraising campaign, the Times-Gazette is presenting a weekly spotlight on the local health and human service agencies it supports. The tree is up, the presents are wrapped, and the cookies are baked...

Ray Charles Campbell, 51, of Shelbyville, died Saturday at Heritage Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at noon Friday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Robert McClean officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Ararat Cemetary. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Friday.

Nina Kay Whitaker Porter, 28, of Shelbyville, died Sunday at Heritage Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. John E. Brown officiating. Burial will follow at Antioch Cemetery. Visitation will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Sledge Funeral Home, Fayetteville, and 1 to 2 p.m. Friday at the church.

Dr. C. Wymer Wiser, 85, of Murfreesboro, died Sunday. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Woodfin Memorial Chapel, Murfreesboro, with Ron Harper, Leamon Flatt, and Cy Wiser officiating. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Murfreesboro. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.