Stories from Thursday, June 24, 2010

You only get to celebrate your 200th birthday once. So organizers are busy making sure that Shelbyville's Bicentennial Celebration, set for Saturday, July 17, will be an event no one will soon forget. Shelbyville Main Street, the Merchants on the Square Association, and many other local groups have been joining forces to make the dream of a memorable celebration a reality...

The early portion of the summer is no time for the weary in terms of high school basketball as the TSSAA allows 15 days of practice and competition prior to the dead period. Add to that trying to have a wedding and a honeymoon and it's tough to even find the time to take a deep breath...

Blisters, limps, worn out ankle braces, sore muscles -- all part of the offseason. Playing a double-digit number of games in a small amount of time is commonplace for baseball and softball in the summer months. But basketball? With a mere 10 days allowed by the TSSAA for scrimmages before the dead period arrives, high school basketball coaches want to put their team up against the grindstone for a frenzied spell...

Within the school system, they're referred to as "McKinney-Vento" students, the name a reference to a federal bill. It's considered more respectful than the term "homeless." In the 2007-2008 school year, according to Supervisor of Student Services Terry Looper, there were 7 students in Bedford County who "lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence" as defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. In the 2008-2008 school year, there were 9 such students...

July 6 is the last day for new or purged voters to register and be eligible to participate in the Aug. 5 primary and general elections. Early voting will begin July 16 and continue through July 31. Voters may register in the county election office in the basement of the courthouse, or at any of these other locations:...

The all-star "Nashville Rising" flood relief concert Tuesday night at Bridgestone Arena had a Shelbyville connection: a giant autograph wall, set up by Shelbyville-based employees of Newell Rubbermaid, which makes the popular Sharpie line of markers. Celebrities participating in the concert signed the autograph wall during rehearsals and setups, and then fans were given the chance to sign it as well on the night of the concert...