Stories from Thursday, September 8, 2011

The Community Vikings, fresh off of a record-setting offensive game last week, welcome McEwen to Unionville on Friday night with high expectations of returning to the win column against their perennial powerhouse opponent. The Vikings (1-2) have exhibited quick strike capabilities so far this season and ran up over 400 yards of offense against District 9-A opponent Forrest on Friday night despite coming up on the short end of the score...

Bedford County Planning Commission voted to recommend rezoning a site on State Route 64 West (Lewisburg Highway) from A-1 (agriculture) to C-1 (commercial) so that it can be sold and converted into an automobile repair shop with sales and repair of construction equipment...

Stephen Gallagher, like his father Don before him, grew up surrounded by guitars. Gallagher guitars, of course, beautiful works of art and music crafted by the family's company in Wartrace. There have been countless photos in the media of Stephen, Don, and Don's father and founder of the company, J.W., bent over work tables, making the instruments...

Sheriff Randall Boyce claims no overtime was approved for members of his department's crime suppression unit, denying allegations by detectives that they have been victims of retaliation for filing a lawsuit. An affidavit from Boyce was filed Wednesday in federal court in response to the suit, as well as a detailed answer to the allegations, with the sheriff saying the detectives are not entitled to any back pay...

One of the goals of al-Qaida on Sept. 11, 2001 was to break America's resolve. But Bedford County emergency officials say the attack actually led to more teamwork between agencies. "It's brought on a lot more cooperation and camaraderie between departments," Chief Mark Thomas of the Bedford County Fire Department said...