Stories from Friday, September 24, 2010

MANCHESTER (AP) -- A soldier is accused of killing his girlfriend and her two young children, stuffing their corpses into plastic garbage bags and hiding them in a closet for days. A neighbor says he noticed an unusual stillness at the house normally busy with the toddlers and their friendly mother....

A 2000 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck was stolen from Pirtle & Howerton Automotive, North Main Street, between July 6 and Aug. 30, police were told Tuesday. The truck was missing when the lot was inventoried in August and a report filed after a file check to ensure the truck hadn't actually been sold...

MINNEAPOLIS -- Authorities are looking for suspects and potential victims in a Minnesota-based prostitution ring allegedly linked to Somali gangs that stretches to Tennessee, according to a search warrant affidavit briefly unsealed in state court in St. Paul...

Bedford County's jobless rate rose slightly last month to 11.9 percent, according to preliminary numbers released Thursday by the state department of labor and workforce development. The county had an estimated workforce of 22,200 people, with 19,570 employed and 2,630 without work...

Al Stephenson has announced his candidacy for a 2nd Ward seat on Shelbyville City Council in the Nov. 2 general election. Stephenson served as mayor from 1995 to 1999 and is now completing his first term on the council. He has served seven years on Shelbyville Municipal Planning Commission and on the Bedford Railroad Authority board. ...

Shelbyville's planning commission approved a plan for extensive renovations to First Community Bank of Bedford County that will include five drive-through teller lanes. Only 372 square feet of space is to be added to the existing facility -- an outbuilding for drive-through tellers -- but the rest of the work will involve landscaping, a change in parking and an inside renovation...

As of Sept. 14, Bedford County Schools had an enrollment of 7,866 students and an average daily attendance of 7,521, director of student services Terry Looper reported Thursday night to Bedford County Board of Education. The enrollment represents a slight increase over the 2009-2010 school year, said School Superintendent Ed Gray. ...

The Webb Feet outran host St. Andrew's-Sewanee 21-34 in a dual cross country meet on Thursday. Hayden Cliche headed up the Feet effort, crossing in 22 minutes, 40 seconds. Finishing second was Kyle Poulicek in 23:15. SAS runner Louis Solis was third (23:30)...

Shelbyville Central and visiting Columbia played to a 0-0 tie in a District 8-AAA soccer match Thursday night. Both teams had a number of quality scoring opportunities but just couldn't find the back of the net. "We played inspired ball, I thought," Shelbyville coach Neal Gordon said. "Columbia has a quality team and our defense really played well."...

Cascade Middle made Eagleville Middle pay dearly for turning the ball over, scoring three times on fumble recoveries as the Champions entertained their homecoming crowd with a resounding 51-0 victory at The Stable on Thursday evening. Six first-half touchdowns allowed the Champions to put the game on cruise control early as they ran their undefeated record to 6-0...

CHAPEL HILL -- What started with a bang ended in a whimper as the Community Middle Vikings fell to always-formidable Forrest Middle 24-6 on Thursday night at The Rock. Austin Bryant put the Community fans into a frenzy in the first quarter when he knocked a pass attempt by Forrest quarterback Triston Newman up into the air and caught it mid-stride on his way to a 46-yard touchdown run to give his squad an early 6-0 lead...

A pair of first-half goals stood up for Cascade in a 2-0 win over visiting Middle Tennessee Christian in a District 11-A/AA match on Thursday afternoon. Kayla Carden was a brick wall in front of the Lady Champion goal, totaling 13 saves to help preserve the shutout behind an improving defense...

Community picked up a highly-important District 9-A victory over Middle Tennessee Christian 3-2 in a gut-wrenching affair at Roger K. Brothers Gymnasium on Thursday. The Viqueens (4-7, 2-1 9-A) were edged in the first game 27-25 before turning the tables in a lopsided 25-13 second-game win...

It's Homecoming 2010 when Shelbyville Central entertains Marshall County tonight in a non-district matchup at Eagle Stadium. Homecoming festivities begin at 6:30 with kickoff to follow at 7. The Golden Eagles (3-2) look to end a two-game losing streak after starting the season off with three straight wins...