Stories from Friday, February 11, 2011

Okay -- it's not your usual Valentine story. Sandra Johnson of Waterfall Farms visited a friend's hunting plantation more than a decade ago and fell in love. Her husband Bill didn't mind, since he kind of fell hard himself. Now those who know the Johnsons and their amazing stable of walking horse superstar studs won't be surprised to find out that the object of their affections had four feet and a tail -- but they might be surprised to find out it didn't whinny. It barked...

As the regular season draws to an end the Shelbyville Golden Eagles' biggest challenge has been injuries and illnesses. Shelbyville Central has been bombarded with adversity throughout the regular season but brighter days may be in the forecast. "We played 22 games thus far and we've only had our complete team for five of those games," coach Kevin Thomas said. "We've had so many different starting rotations and it's been hard for us to gel as a team with all of our injuries and sickness."...

What do you get when you play a very tough schedule with a roster stocked full of underclassmen at every position? The Community Vikings can answer that question for you in one word: turbulent. The Vikings, playing with just one senior on their roster, have participated in 15 games that were decided by 10 points or less. ...

If there is a high school program on the rise in Bedford County, it is Webb Lady Feet basketball. It's been a slow and arduous process, but patience and consistency is starting to pay dividends. Second-year coach Scott Dorsett is doing everything he can to change the mindset of his girls and the program enjoyed one of its best starts in school history earlier this season...

On the strength of strong contributions of four seniors, Webb boys basketball skyrocketed onto the Division II-A basketball map last season. The Feet carried the excitement of the Bell Buckle community all the way to Lipscomb University where they reached the state tournament semifinals before falling 35-20 to University School of Nashville...

There have been some extreme highs and alternating devastating lows for the Community Viqueens this season but one thing remains constant. The program has the right leader in Coach Allison Martin whose steady and calm demeanor on the sidelines has helped guide her team to some impressive turnaround wins after losses...

When it comes to postseason matchups, few teams know one another like Cascade and Community. No district tournament the last four years has been completed without a showdown between the Bedford County rivals. Cascade came out on top 46-23 in the 9-A semifinals last year. The Vikings claimed third place in the tourney by topping Cascade 44-29 in the 2008-09 season. The Orange and Black ended Community's season by a score of 51-50 in the opening round of the tourney in 2007-08...

Breaking down its postseason barrier last year was vital for the process of building up the Cascade girls basketball program. After being eliminated by cross-county rival Community two years in a row, the Lady Champions returned the favor in Chapel Hill, gaining them three more tournament games...

Focus. That word best describes what first-year Shelbyville Central coach Allison Clark thinks the Eaglettes need to do to make a run in the postseason. "We've come such a long way since the start of the season and we still have a long way to go but I'm so proud how these girls have come together, worked hard and grown as a team," Clark said. ...

With one member calling it "the lesser of three evils," Shelbyville's city council passed the first reading of the ordinance that would do away with trash pickup in the city. Citizens will get to express their opinions about the topic next Thursday at a public hearing in the courtroom of the city's police department beginning at 6 p.m...