Stories from Thursday, April 30, 2009

Whenever my husband and I plan to spend anytime in the great outdoors in any way, something always goes wrong. This weekend was no exception. We rented a pontoon boat to take out on Tims Ford, and as we were coming back in, the gear shift went out on it. One of the guys who worked at the rental place came out to help, but he just made us bounce into the dock over and over again...

The Webb School Board of Trustees has named Gordon Bondurant, of Charleston, S.C., to be interim head of school for the 2009-10 school year. Bondurant is a former head of school at Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, and Darlington School in Georgia. ...

The summer of 1969 was a time of change, discovery and chaos in a world that was seemingly coming apart at the seams. "The Vietnam War is raging; Dorothy Gale of Kansas (Judy Garland) dies of a drug overdose; three men walk across the face of the moon; Charles Manson and followers go on a 'Helter Skelter' killing spree; and the hippies dance naked at Woodstock," said Marla Jennings, director of Shelbyville Central High School's play...

NASHVILLE (AP) -- Legislation that would set up a new system to adjust Tennessee gasoline taxes annually based on the consumer price index is advancing in the House. The measure sponsored by Democratic House Transportation Chairman Bill Harmon of Dunlap was approved Tuesday on a voice vote in the House Rural Roads Subcommittee...

Over three quarters of a million dollars in federal stimulus money is planned to be used for improvements to South Maple Apartments by the Shelbyville Housing Authority. It's part of $4 billion that is being used in an effort to create jobs by fixing up public housing projects across the nation. Shelbyville's cut of that money is $829,593...

Officials with the Shelbyville Housing Authority were surprised to learn that a recent article in USA TODAY identified SHA as one of 61 agencies across the country that was "faulted by auditors for mishandling government aid, but still receives federal stimulus money."...

Austin Smith was 3-for-4 with three RBIs to help Cascade Middle slug out a 10-5 win over Huntland Middle on Wednesday. Jake Pimental was the winning pitcher for the Champions, who improved their record to 8-7. Cascade welcomes Moore County Middle to Wartrace on Saturday at noon to finish up regular season play...

In keeping with springtime tradition, the city and church adult softball leagues are now gathering their many participants in an effort to showcase some extraordinary local fun and entertainment. The games are scheduled to begin on Monday night. City League games will be played at H.V. Griffin Park, while church leagues are at Never Rest Park. The games will be held on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights. There will be approximately 16-20 games throughout the season...

Cascade's soccer team put the finishing touches on their regular season with a 1-1 tie at Forrest on Tuesday. Junior Cody Wright headed in the lone Champion goal off a corner kick from sophomore Trent Turner. Senior goalkeeper Bryan Hayes came up with 19 saves...