Stories from Thursday, October 8, 2009

Gary Ford, a retired senior staff writer for Southern Living magazine, paid tribute to all things Southern at the 2009 Friends of Argie Cooper Public Library author's luncheon. Ford, who now writes for the R.W. Norton Art Gallery in Shreveport, La., has contributed to the Encyclopedia of Southern Culture, Southern Places: A Classic Collection of Words and Images, and Southern Living Comfort Food. ...

A quadruple bypass couldn't stop Raymond Pimental's annual Strolling Jim Trail Ride -- but Mother Nature could. And has. "We're going to have to postpone it for two weeks," said Pimental Wednesday morning. "The field where we park the cars is too wet, and it's supposed to rain tomorrow and a 70 percent chance on Friday."...

Thefts occurred at two homes on Fairground Heights last weekend, Shelbyville police said. A new stove was stolen from a home under renovation and, about a block away, a vehicle jack and extension ladder were taken from a storage shed. Police said a lock was cut on the storage building while no signs of forced entry were found in the home...

Heritage Medical Center is taking a head on approach toward fighting breast cancer with several educational and informational activities taking place through Oct. 14. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and with that comes the celebration of Heritage Medical Center's newly renovated digital mammography suite. Heritage officials say the environment and skilled doctors and nurses will make patients feel right at home...

Jostens, 1401 Union St. in Shelbyville, is holding its first annual Fall Festival on Saturday. A guitar autographed by music icon Taylor Swift, just one highlight of the day, will be raffled off during the festival. The event will feature a wide array of fun activities for children, adults and pets to enjoy, and all proceeds benefit United Way of Bedford County...

Webb School's Town Hall meeting, a debate featuring two of the three candidates for the 62nd district seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives, almost became a debate featuring one of the candidates. Democratic candidate Ty Cobb was already a no-show, and when moderator Hannah Little introduced the candidates, Republican Pat Marsh first, then Chris Brown, Brown addressed the crowd...

Larry and Sandy Terrell don't believe in burying their talents. "The Lord gave us these talents," said Sandy. "It's our duty to share them with others." Sandy is an artist. Largely self-taught, she works in acrylics and oils to create country still lifes -- wooden decoys in front of quilts and barn wood...

A recent TVA study expects that the future demand for water on the Duck River between Shelbyville and Columbia could exceed the current supply. However, a needs assessment study to be released next month by the Duck River Agency may help to address water supply issues that may occur in the future...

Cascade and Community get started on the third phase of the construction of their gridiron rivalry Friday night. While the two Bedford County schools have battled competitively for over 30 years in other sports, the football side of things is still in its infancy...

Norma Lane Deason Starrett, 78, of Shelbyville died Tuesday at Harton Regional Medical Center in Tullahoma after an extended illness. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Hillcrest Funeral Home with the Rev. Drew Hayes officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Visitation with the family will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday.

Jessie Marie Fears Hill, 61, of Wartrace died Wednesday at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Mark Ashley officiating. Burial will follow in Willow Mount Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday.

A Shelbyville fireman has been suspended from his job and was expected to be fired this morning following his arrest on Wednesday, city officials said. John Randall Sullivan, 35, of Tyler Drive was charged with aggravated domestic assault and vandalism and was released under $30,000 bond following his arrest by Bedford County deputy Kevin Holton...