Stories from Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Do you know how to find a person who uses a cell phone while driving? Look for a bad driver. Not necessarily reckless or fast -- cell phone drivers tend to be like pot smokers when they get behind the wheel, driving a little erratically and way too slow. But bad drivers, nonetheless...

What started out as a sudden interest for a young teenager has turned into an everyday part of life for one recent high school graduate. Through the first 15 years of his life, Jordan Phelps had never picked up a tennis racket or given the sport much thought. Then, one particular afternoon watching the U.S. Open on television while in Florida, he told his uncle he wanted to play. The two went out the next day to hit and the sport soon became an addiction...

A custom-made aluminum fishing cart was stolen from the back of a truck in a handicapped parking space at Walmart, North Main Street, Shelbyville police said Tuesday. The cart was described to police as very light with a solid front wheel and two back wheels containing air. The theft occurred last Thursday, according to the report released Tuesday...

Anita Epperson of Shelbyville has announced her write-in candidacy for a fourth district seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 5 general election. Epperson currently works for DMS in Shelbyville. She worked as a master barber and manager for a clothing store before working in the newspaper industry for 14 years. She then worked in the internet sales business...

Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved county budgets and tax rates Tuesday evening for the 2010-2011 fiscal year which starts Thursday. The county property tax rate will remain at its current level of $2.27 per $100 assessed value. The budget approved by the commission includes a 2 percent salary increase for county government employees other than school system employees, with a promise that the county will review its fiscal position in six months to see if another percentage point can be added at that time.. ...

Dan Lyons lost two of the most important women in his life. His daughter, Tammy, died of breast cancer in 1995, at age 17. His wife, Diana, was killed by a drunk driver. Rather than become bitter, Lyons, 58, uses his time trying to make the world a better place. ...

Shelbyville residents will be paying $11 a month for trash pickup sometime later this year after the city council passed the 2010-2011 budget Tuesday night. On a vote of 4-2, the council passed the $11.2 million dollar budget that will be balanced using the fees collected from residents for garbage pickup...

Closing arguments begin this morning following a second day of testimony in a reckless homicide trial that had the judge warning family members about their behavior in the court. Circuit Court Judge Lee Russell issued an order Tuesday morning barring family members from both sides of the case from expressing any reactions to testimony or statements made during the trial of Matthew Patterson, who is accused of reckless homicide in the death of Anthony "Rooster" Marlin...

Margaret Logan Sherrill, 89, of Shelbyville died Wednesday at Heritage Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Hillcrest Funeral Home with the Rev. Jack Carney officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Friday from 5-8 p.m.

Suzanne Veitch, 61, died Monday at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville. A memorial service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Lighthouse Christian Church, Ardmore Highway, Fayetteville. Visitation will begin at 5:30.

James Murphy "Murf" Stem, 89, of Rockvale died Wednesday in Murfreesboro. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Lawrence Funeral Home with the Rev. Ronnie Grooms officiating. Burial will follow at Cothran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3-8 p.m. Thursday.