Stories from Friday, February 6, 2009

Lawrence Lester Bullington Jr., 34, of Winchester, died Tuesday at Heritage Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Moore-Cortner Funeral Home in Winchester with the Rev. Alan Lewis officiating. Burial will follow at Franklin Memorial Gardens in Winchester. Visitation will begin at 4 p.m. Friday.

MANCHESTER -- Harris Middle's boys have shown steady improvement as the season progressed and displayed another example of that in the opening round of the Central Tennessee Conference Tournament with an impressive 44-38 win over Tullahoma East on Thursday night at Coffee County Middle...

MANCHESTER -- Some things never get old...like playing for the conference tournament championship. In what many deemed to be a "rebuilding' year, Harris Middle coach Mark Potts and his Golden Eaglettes will once again play for the Central Tennessee Conference tournament title...

Since he first set foot in the Wartrace/Bell Buckle school at the end of the summer of 2006, not much has changed. The wiry frame's still there straight-lined below his hairdo he brushes over to keep out of his eyes. At first glance, you wouldn't think a long stack of athletic accomplishments would need a stapler for his résumé. At 6-foot-1 and 150 pounds, he looks like he's more likely to score a 30 on the ACT than in a basketball game...

NASHVILLE -- Gov. Phil Bredesen hoisted his Open Government Award over his head Thursday night after receiving it from Tennessee Press Association President Tom Griscom at the TPA Winter Convention. "I've taken great pride in overseeing open, honest and ethical administrations, both as mayor here in Nashville and as governor," Bredesen said. ...

Economic vitality and the water and sewer system are the top two concerns of Bell Buckle's Board of Mayor and Aldermen. The board met Thursday afternoon in a special strategic planning session with Kristin Costanzo, of the state planning department, and Jamie Stitt, with the Economic Development Agency...

Shelbyville Central High School's Make-A-Wish Foundation fundraising campaign came to a close Tuesday evening with the crowning of Mr. Wishful 2009. In only its second year holding a Mr. Wishful competition, the SCHS Student Council raised $16,132.20, triple the amount from last year...

Wanda Ruth Ford Hoover, 73, of Cookeville, died Thursday at her home. Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home in Cookeville. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Unionville Cemetery with the Rev. Drew Shelley officiating. Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday in Cookeville. Lawrence Funeral Home, Chapel Hill, is in charge of Bedford County arrangements.

Lessie Cook Knois, 81, of Haskins Chapel, died Thursday. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Lawrence Funeral Home, Chapel Hill, with the Rev. Aubrey Knois officiating. Burial will follow at Hopper Cemetery near Laws Hall. Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday.

Finally, I get to report some success in my fitness world, as I've stuck to my guns this week and done everything I've set out to do. As I wrote last week, I had hit a plateau after losing 30 pounds, and it had become time for me to step up my fitness program...