Stories from Sunday, March 22, 2009

"I said a hip hop the hippie the hippie to the hip hip hop, a you don't stop the rock it to the bang bang boogie say up jumped the boogie to the rhythm of the boogie, the beat." Oh yes, you know what I'm writing about here ... it's "Rapper's Delight," the 1979 one hit wonder from The Sugarhill Gang...

School Resource Officer Tim Fox has decided to suck up the pain and do a Taser demonstration at Cascade High School during the strong man performance he is organizing by Mike "The Machine" Bruce. The performance also includes a motivational speech. "I've been asking the students at Cascade for a while, 'If I got shot with a Taser and the money went to charity, would you come?'," he said. "The answer is always yes, so I've kind of backed myself into a corner here."...

The proposed water rate change in Bell Buckle is now in effect. A resolution raising the rates 5 percent across the board passed on its second reading at the Tuesday night meeting of the board of mayor and aldermen, following a public hearing on the matter. The rate change will take effect immediately and show up on the customers' next build...

The cast of Hee Haw and Howdy got together Thursday night for dress rehearsal in preparation for the group's opening performance Friday night. The show is scheduled to be performed at 7 p.m. this Friday and Saturday, and next Friday and Saturday, April 3-4, at Harris Middle School...

Lack of seat belts may have led to the death of a Manchester man in a single-vehicle crash Friday night near Bell Buckle, authorities said. Jerry Dean Swanson, 58, was dead at the scene on State Highway 82 East approximately four miles west of Bell Buckle, Sgt. Nikia Elliott of the Bedford County Sheriff's Department said...

There was something unusual about this year's Daffodil Day in Bell Buckle. It was warm and dry. "I think this is the first time ever," laughed Alderwoman Jenny Hunt. "Maybe seven or eight years ago ... we usually have it on the third Saturday in March, and that year we got the date wrong and had it on the fourth. It was beautiful. Maybe we should always have it on the fourth Saturday."...

My college boy was home last weekend for three whole days! Scott goes to the Nossi art school in Madison at nights, works at Food Lion during the day, and is paying his way through school by himself, including his apartment. So his schedule is full, his days and nights are busy, and no, he never calls home unless he needs something...

Death is a part of life, and so are miracles. Dr. Melita Bradley, a Shelbyville native, understands both concepts well. Melita's bittersweet journey with love, loss and renewed life began when she met Dr. Donald Hughes Bradley Jr. The perfect pair "We were a match," Melita said, of Don. "We were perfect for each other ... best friends and absolutely in love with each other."...

Liberty starting pitcher Tom Bird ran his season record to 3-0 with a masterful 54-pitch, no-hit complete game on Friday afternoon against visiting Huntland. Bird was a walk and an infield error away from a perfect game on a day that Patriot hitters provided plenty of support in their 11-1 win. The game was called after five innings due to the mercy rule...

Harris Middle fell 12-3 to host Franklin County North Thursday night in a Central Tennessee Conference baseball matchup. The Eagles scored three runs in the top of the first inning when Dax Ward singled and scored off a Reed Emerson hit, followed by a two-run double off the bat of Alex Birdsong that scored Jackson McAnally and Emerson...

Courtney Vassar powered the Community Viqueens to their first softball win of the season with a scorching line drive over the center field wall to drive in two runs in the top of the seventh inning and defeat Eagleville 6-4 on Friday evening. The Viqueens (1-2, 1-2 District 9-A) trailed throughout the game, as both teams scored twice in the first inning but only tallied one in the second with the Lady Eagles countering with a two-spot...

Harris Middle took an early lead but watched it slip away in a 5-1 loss to visiting Coffee County Middle in a Central Tennessee Conference softball contest Friday afternoon. Addison Galbreth led off with a walk and scored off a single by Kailey Hornberger to give the Eaglettes a 1-0 lead...

Community Junior High pitcher Zeke Grissom tossed six innings of shutout baseball as the Vikings defeated Moore County Middle 3-0 on Friday afternoon in Unionville. Zack West worked the seventh inning in relief to preserve the goose egg. West also plated their first run early in the contest...

Joel Basurto and Hunter Seibers both scored hat tricks to help Cascade Middle to a 7-1 win over visiting Good Shepherd Academy on Friday afternoon. Goalkeepers Cole Claxton and Cody Smith combined for nine saves behind the defense for the Champions (1-2-1)...

Cascade Middle pitchers Courtnie Carter and Ashlynne Miller combined for a one-hit shutout in a 12-0 win over Eagleville Middle in the first part of a doubleheader on Friday in Wartrace. Kaley Clanton homered and tripled to lead the Lady Champions offensively. They took control early with five runs in the first inning and six more in the second...

Shelbyville Central hit the road for a District 8-AAA matchup at Columbia but returned home empty handed in a 2-0 loss Friday afternoon. The Eaglettes (0-4, 0-3 8-AAA) outhit the Lady Lions 7-5, but just didn't get the hits at the right time and left runners stranded...

Blake Floyd, Austin Smith and Jake Pimental all worked walks to start off the Champion half of the fourth inning in a 7-4 Cascade Middle win over Westwood Friday. Nick Perry then stepped up with a two-run single to left field to break a 4-all tie. Tyler Wilson dropped down a suicide squeeze bunt to plate Pimental with an insurance run to seal up the rally...

Shelbyville senior Ceny Phelps will have the opportunity to further her education and play basketball as well while staying close to home. The talented guard has signed a letter of intent to play at Martin Methodist in Pulaski. "I think Martin Methodist is the perfect fit for me," Phelps said. "I didn't want to go too far and I really like coach Dee Bell. They also have a great nursing program and I'm very interested in that field...

Mike and Rosie Byrd of Unionville stood in front of the Thomas Kinkade print called "Heading Home," picturing a soldier, walking away, his head down. "We have that one. We got it just before our son passed away," said Rosie. Their son, Daniel, was also a soldier, and died of brain cancer while still in the service...

Jay Bishop earned a ride in the lead car of Cascade's hit parade in an 8-1 win at Cornersville on Friday. The junior knocked two singles, a double and drove in two runs for a quarter of the hits for the Champions (5-0). Josh Brown tripled and singled for the visitors. Chase Nunley doubled and singled. Tyler Bowen singled twice and scored two runs...

Food on television used to mean one of two things -- low-budget shows on public TV, usually on Saturday mornings or afternoons, or cooking segments on local morning or midday shows. I used to love watching the food shows on Saturdays. It was the late "Frugal Gourmet" Jeff Smith who inspired me to buy a garlic press and start using fresh garlic in recipes. ...

This week's recipe may be a soup, but don't underestimate its ability to fill you up and leave you satisfied. My broccoli noodle soup is an old family favorite, and just making it last night brought back lots of happy memories, as food often does. My mom's version of the soup is so hearty, that we always ate it as 'the main course' on a cold or rainy afternoon or evening...