Stories from Wednesday, November 4, 2009

NASHVILLE (AP) -- Tennessee's budget woes will likely make layoffs of state employees unavoidable, Gov. Phil Bredesen said Tuesday. "This will be my toughest budget year," said the Democratic governor whose term ends in January 2011. "I hate to go out that way, but that's the way it is."...

Two more methamphetamine labs have been uncovered by Bedford County deputies -- except this time, authorities weren't even looking for the source of the dangerous drug. Officers who had been dispatched on matters unrelated to meth stumbled upon the labs, ending up making three arrests, and came away with a damaged patrol car as well...

Tennessee Department of Education released the annual report cards Tuesday for schools, school systems and the state as a whole, although state officials say a recalibration of the guidelines makes it impossible to compare this year's letter grades with previous years. The letter grades apply to schools with students in fourth through eighth grades and are meant to describe the success of a school or school system in providing value added....

Liberty Middle's girls defeated Culleoka Middle 36-32 to advance to the Cornersville Tip-Off Tournament semifinals. Lady Patriot Kimme Bayne led all scorers with 16 points. Olivia Calvert contributed 10 points and 10 rebounds. Liberty takes the floor again in Cornersville on Thursday night...

Shelbyville Central faces a tall task with its season on the line as it travels to battle second-ranked Clinton in the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs. Kickoff is Friday night at 6 CST. The second-seeded Dragons (9-0) won District 3-AAA and have outscored opponents 346-157...

"Mom? It's 7:45. Are you taking us to school?" "Mom, the cats haven't been fed and they're staring at Dad while he's napping and licking their lips." "Mom? Mom? Are you in there Mom?" "What?" I dragged my hands away from the keyboard and my mind out of the torrid romance of the he-saids and she-saids of my growing novel to stare at the two bedraggled and neglected waifs standing behind me. ...

Gracie Mae 'Tilly' Dugger, 67, of Shelbyville died Tuesday at Heritage Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Lamar Dodson officiating. Burial will follow at Willow Mount Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m.

John Doyle "O.T." Coleman, 62, of Shelbyville, formerly of Winchester, died Monday at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville following an extended illness. Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Grant Funeral Services, Estill Springs with Randy Jackson and Kim Gi Sup. Full military honors will be bestowed followed by Masonic services. Visitation will begin at 4 p.m.