Stories from Tuesday, June 23, 2009

In the theater world, it's called "hell week" -- those last few days before opening night, when you wonder if the set is ever going to come together, if that one actor will ever get his lines straight, and when Murphy, and his innumerable laws of what can go wrong, will show up, because you know he's going to...

T. Scott Cunningham, 47, a Shelbyville Central High School graduate who had a busy career as an actor in stage, television and film, died Saturday at New York University Medical Center in New York City from complications due to pneumonia and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, according to Sam Rudy, a spokesperson for The Vineyard Theatre...

Bessie Haynes Hudson, 62, of Shelbyville, died Tuesday at her home after an extended illness. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Carl E. Hall will officiating. Burial will follow at Hopper Cemetery in Marshall County. Visitation with the family will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.

A memorial service for Annie F. "Fran" Clark, 62, who died Sunday at Heritage Medical Center, will be held 2 p.m. Thursday at Gowen-Smith Chapel. Steve Powell will officiate. Visitation with the family will be 1 p.m. Thursday until service time.

Trial dates have been set for a man charged in the traffic death of a woman last year. Claude David Merritt, 65, of Tollgate Road, will be tried Nov. 9 and 10, Circuit Court Judge Robert Crigler said Monday. Merritt has been charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, two counts of reckless endangerment and driving on a revoked license, third offense in connection with an accident that claimed the life of Mildred Misch on Oct. 17, 2008...

It was a banner weekend for baseball in Bedford County as 31 teams invaded H.V. Griffin Park for the third annual Bedford County Summer Bash, an affiliate of the Tennessee Youth Baseball Association. The weather was scorching hot and so was the action on the field as teams from as far away as Pleasant View and Spring Hill ventured into Shelbyville to try out the competition...

A Tullahoma man indicted Monday by Bedford County's grand jury on rape and kidnapping charges was given an extra 20 days in jail for contempt after walking away from questioning before a judge. James Lynne Stewart, 51, of South Anderson Street, Tullahoma was indicted on the charges of especially aggravated kidnapping, aggravated rape, aggravated assault and theft over $500 in connection with an alleged incident in 2002...

Jordan Burchett singled twice and scored two runs to help Shelbyville Senior American Legion Post 23 earn a 4-4 tie with the Gulf Coast Stars over the weekend in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Unfortunately for the local boys of summer, they dropped their other three contests down in the Heart of Dixie...

A beautiful, hot Saturday night greeted competitors and fans alike at Duck River Speedway. The crowds have increased week after week as the action on the track has picked up. Shelbyville's Matt Odeneal grabbed two different pole positions, taking the fast time in both the Super Late Model and Two-Barrel Late Model divisions...

Bedford County Board of Education voted Thursday night to approve the school system budget for 2009-2010. The budget will now be submitted to the county's Financial Management Committee and ultimately the County Commission for approval. The general fund budget includes $49,685,766 in expenses; the child nutrition fund will spend $4,097,235; and the school-age care program will spend $491,122. No property tax increase is being requested...

Bedford Builds Habitat for Humanity received almost $17,000 from the state to go toward the building of a Habitat home this year. The Tennessee Housing Development Agency awarded 20 affiliates with the grant funds. "This is the first time we've received the THDA grant in Bedford County," said Pam Birtcil, director of Bedford Builds Habitat for Humanity. Birtcil said the $16,725 will go directly toward the completion of a local Habitat home...

Joe Kennedy Shearon Sr., 68, of Shelbyville, who died Sunday at Select Specialty Hospital in Nashville, will be cremated, per his own request. A memorial service will be announced by the family at a later date. Gowen-Smith Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Funeral services for T. Scott Cunningham, 47, of New York City, who died Saturday at NYU Medical Center from complications of pneumonia and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, will be 11 a.m. Friday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens...