Stories from Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Although Bedford County schools' overall absenteeism rate is below the state guideline for a flu-related school shutdown, individual schools have shown spikes. The countywide absenteeism rate was 8.9 percent on Friday but East Side Elementary School had 23 percent of its 383 students absent that day...

The blue "stimulus" signs are up on U.S. 41-A South, signaling that work is now ongoing on the long-awaited construction of State Route 437 (Shelbyville bypass). Completion is estimated by July 31, 2011, according to B.J. Doughty, community relations officer for the Tennessee Department of Transportation...

Jury selection got underway Monday in the trial of two men who were allegedly involved in the operation of a gaming house that was raided last year. Andrew Welsh Craze and Samuel Cory Owen are facing one count each of aggravated gambling promotion -- a class E felony...

A poodle party was just one gathering of furry friends one could find at the fifth annual Celebration Pet Day, held this year at the Bedford County Agriculture Center. The event, a fundraiser for the Shelbyville-Bedford County Humane Association, was an opportunity for pet lovers from all over to come together for a day of family -- and pet -- fun. The celebration featured demonstrations, educational vendors, and a pet show, among other things...

Walter Donnie Lloyd, 55, of Bell Buckle died in a automobile accident Saturday. Graveside services were held today at Crossroads Cemetery.

A memorial gathering for Clark A. "T.J." Robinson Jr., who died Sept. 25, will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at 300 Cottonwood Drive, followed by a homegoing celebration.

Mary Elizabeth Perry Neese, 91, of Shelbyville died Monday. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Lawrence Funeral Home, Chapel Hill with the Rev. Donnie Jones officiating. Burial will follow at Swanson Cemetery, Chapel Hill. Visitation with the family will begin at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Barbara Ann Sica Coker, 64, of Shelbyville died Sunday at Heritage Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday at St. William's Catholic Church, where she was a member, with Father Richard Driscoll officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Hillcrest Funeral Home.

A Shelbyville man who thought he had been shot in the head Sunday in an argument over $30 only suffered a deep gash, Shelbyville police said. Tamra Shenell Whitley, 28, Woodbury Street, whose gun allegedly went off while she was using it to hit William G. Lynch of Shelbyville, has been charged with aggravated robbery, Bedford County Jail records indicate...

A letter from four Shelbyville council members told city manager Ed Craig he was fired Monday -- an action later determined to be a violation of the state's Sunshine Law. Instead, Craig's continued position with the city could be a topic of discussion at tonight's study session of the council, which meets at 6 p.m. in the courtroom at Shelbyville Police Department...