Stories from Wednesday, April 1, 2009

"I feel the need -- the need for speed!" In 1986, it was Tom Cruise who delivered that line in the movie "Top Gun." But today, it's dial-up Internet users who feel the need for speed -- and who are sometimes frustrated in their efforts to achieve it...

I want to commend the ambulance drivers, fire fighters, law enforcement officers and postal carriers of Bedford County -- and ask you what kind of GPS you use. Considering that there are fewer street signs around here than there are jobs, it is a miracle y'all get where you need to go and get there on time...

A Shelbyville child was taken to a Nashville hospital for treatment after being bitten in the head and face by a dog Tuesday morning, Shelbyville police said. Kathy Darlene Gonzalez Cabrera, whose age was unavailable, was playing outside her home at an Industrial Parkway trailer park when the dog attacked, Officer Justin Smith said...

Charges have been filed against a Shelbyville woman who authorities claim caused a wreck on Interstate 24 last October that injured four people. According to The Leaf-Chronicle of Clarksville, Brenda K. Gordon, 43, was arrested and charged with reckless driving and accident involving personal injury...

Scientists working with the U.S. Geological Survey have identified a combination of plate tectonics and subterranean lava flow that they say will cause unusual electromagnetic fields between Tate Avenue and Elm Street in Shelbyville beginning this August -- forces they say could subject the area, which includes Thomas Intermediate School, to dangerous geologic conditions...

Wearing a shirt that reads, "no doubts, no worries," Ricky Turner remained optimistic at his restaurant, The Cedar Bucket, on Tuesday, a dim and dreary afternoon -- despite a situation that mirrored the weather. Just a few months ago, inside those same walls, Turner celebrated Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of equality being fulfilled during the inauguration of President Barack Obama...

Across the country -- across the globe -- it's the same. From nonprofit groups to super sports franchises, everyone is feeling the crunch as corporate sponsorship declines. In The New York Times, it was reported that the LPGA Tour is dropping four tournaments because three title sponsors dropped out, and the PGA Tour will lose three title sponsors but no events. ...

Less than a month after the walking horse owners and trainers agreed to dissolve the National Horse Show Commission and hand its duties over to the Celebration, the transfer is a done deal. The speed of the turnover surprised many, including Doyle Meadows, CEO of the Celebration, who said the feedback on the entire affair has been positive...

Webb pulled off an upset by taking down Franklin County 1-0 in Winchester on Tuesday. Danny Hwang scored on an assist from Chris Hoover in the 12th minute. "We played brilliantly," Webb coach Adrian Anderson said. "We controlled the ball all throughout the first half."...

Cascade Middle allowed four first-inning runs to Cornersville Middle before rallying for three scores of their own in the fifth and final inning, but it wouldn't be enough as they lost 4-3 Tuesday. Courtnie Carter toted the rubber all five frames for the Lady Champions...

Harris Middle let an eight-run lead slip away in an 11-9 loss at Tullahoma on Tuesday evening in a Central Tennessee Conference matchup. The Eagles (3-3, 3-3 CTC) scored four runs in each of the first two innings, then were outscored 11-1 from that point...

It was the first District 8-AAA match of the season, but it wasn't exactly the end result Shelbyville Central hoped for. The Golden Eagles ventured to Coffee County on Tuesday afternoon and returned home with a scoreless tie. "We're having trouble putting the ball in the back of the net right now," Shelbyville coach Neal Gordon said. ...

Shelbyville Central lost a tough 3-1 decision in a non-district softball matchup at La Vergne on Tuesday afternoon. La Vergne scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first, then added an insurance run in the third. The Eaglettes' lone run came off the bat of junior Alicia Bates, who crushed a home run over the left field fence in the fourth inning...

The Community Vikings took a step backwards on their home field Tuesday by coming up on the short end of a 15-3 score to Middle Tennessee Christian. It was their second loss in as many days to their District 9-A foe. Left-handed pitcher Jacob Cowell got the start and was victimized by an outfield error to fall behind 3-0 before his squad could get to the plate...

Michael Martin scored two of the three goals to help Cascade to a 3-0 victory over visiting Cannon County on Tuesday evening. "We had wonderful teamwork tonight," Cascade coach Monica Lewis said. Senior Mitch Rabbit fired off the first goal for the Champions (3-5-2) unassisted with 11:05 left in the first half...

Starting pitcher Kyle Mullins annihilated, devastated and obliterated Boyd Christian batters all Tuesday afternoon. The senior right-hander no-hit the Broncos to help Cascade to a 4-0 win. "My curveball was probably the best pitch I had today," Mullins said. "My defense was great. They were on it today."...

The keen nose of a K-9 is what led Bedford County sheriff's deputies to a local methamphetamine lab last week, resulting in several arrests. William Robert Haynes. 38, of Neeley Avenue, has been charged with initiating a process intended to result in the manufacture of methamphetamine, promotion of meth, possession of schedule II, possession of schedule V and being a felon in possession of a firearm...

A former teacher and baseball coach accused of propositioning a person he thought was a 13-year-old girl on the Internet made his first court appearance Tuesday. Joshua Daniel Smith, of Eastman Street, Murfreesboro, is to be represented by the public defender's office and will make his next court appearance on April 28...

Mary Elizabeth Neese Nelson, 84, of Shelbyville, died Tuesday at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Hillcrest Funeral Home with the Rev. Jonathan Sims and the Rev. Ray Armstrong officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Visitation with the family will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday.

Jack Lewis Lovell, 79, of Manchester, died Tuesday morning at Manchester Healthcare Center. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Manchester Funeral Home with Kerry Walker officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. Visitation with the family will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

Gladys Cook Manier, 80, of Cedar Grove community, died Tuesday at her home after an extended illness. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Lawrence Funeral Home, Chapel Hill, with the Rev. Joe Wiggins, the Rev. Scotty Sorrells and the Rev. Scott Yates officiating. Burial will follow at King Cemetery in Rover. Visitation with the family will begin at 4 p.m. Friday.