Stories from Sunday, October 25, 2009

Preston and Jeffrey Sweeney said they felt "lucky" to have found their 200 acre plot of land in Normandy on the day it went up for sale. That may be true, if you consider that luck is really when preparation meets opportunity. The Sweeneys' lifelong dream of opening a ranch for boys in need of a safe place to live is about to become a reality in Arrowhead Ranch, the once large Normandy dairy farm of Randall Banks. ...

Maybe it's because I'm extremely pregnant and hormonal these days, but people just seem to be a lot meaner than they used to be. A few weeks ago, I was eating lunch at a restaurant and overheard two women talking. They appeared to be in their early to mid-20s. One was clearly upset. I heard her ask her friend, "What is it about me? Why do they always break up with me?"...

If burning, red eyes with dark circles under them are indicators of success, I'm OK with that -- today. That's how most of my friends at the Times-Gazette, including myself, look and feel this morning, which happens to be the day after our sold-out relish® Cooking School and Expo...

When I first started working, mowing lawns and baby sitting at 9 (younger than my youngest is now), I had a deal with my mom. I always gave her half of my earnings. Then, when I wanted to buy something major, she and Dad would match whatever she had saved back for me. ...

To the editor: The organizing committee for the 2009 George Faris Memorial Golf Tournament would like to thank all the hole sponsors, those who donated gifts, and all participants for making this year's fund-raiser a success. We also appreciate the Community High School cheerleaders for all their help in packing goodie bags, manning the registration table and other needed assistance...

Pat Marsh, who will be sworn in Monday morning as 62nd District State Representative, visited the State Capitol on Thursday to turn in some paperwork and take a tour. "I'm excited," said Marsh about the swearing-in ceremony. "It's a huge event." He said he expects about 30 family members and friends to attend the 10 a.m. ...

Area volunteers are gearing up for the 2010 American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Bedford County campaign, beginning with a birthday kickoff Monday, Oct. 26 from 5:30 to 6:30. The party will be held at the Blue Ribbon Circle on the Celebration Grounds...

A Shelbyville man is dead after gunshots rang out during an argument Friday night at a Burt Street apartment complex. Gary Latron "Tron" Thomison, 21, of Shelbyville was shot multiple times in the parking lot of Oak Hill Village II Apartments, Detective Sgt. Brian Crews of the Shelbyville Police Department said...

The Community Vikings took some exciting risks in their 52-6 defeat by visiting No. 8 Forrest in their last home game of the season. The Purple and Gold (0-9, 0-6 District 9-A) established some of their running game in the District 9-A matchup and exhibited their air attack more than they have all season. The offense tallied 221 total yards...

LYNCHBURG -- Cascade needed just five plays to jump on top of host Moore County by a pair of scores and cruised to a 47-15 victory Friday night. The win gives the tenth-ranked Champions the District 9-A title, their third straight season earning at least a share of a district/region plaque...

In one of their most productive offensive performances in years, Shelbyville Central rolled to a 48-0 win over visiting White County in a non-district clash Friday night. The Golden Eagles (5-4) remain in the hunt for a TSSAA playoff wildcard spot. They'll close out the regular season in a huge District 8-AAA matchup against Lincoln County Friday at home on Senior Night...

The ceremony at the log cabin behind the Gilliland House Friday morning was all about preserving history -- but was also about protecting the future by preserving the past. Since 1975, the former home of well-known black stone and brick mason James Gilliland at 803 Lipscomb St. ...

Those who own property in Wartrace but don't live within the city limits will now have some say-so on the liquor by the drink issue. Joe Peters, owner of the Walking Horse Hotel, recently asked the Wartrace Board of Mayor and Aldermen to petition the state for a special exception that would allow him to sell liquor by the drink at the hotel. Wartrace currently permits "brown-bagging," where customers bring their own alcohol to the venue...