Stories from Sunday, September 18, 2011

I just returned from a trip to Jackrabbit, Ariz., one of my favorite places to visit. It is the home of NAOMI House (Native American Outreach Ministries, Inc.). I spent a week there visiting, ministering, resting, and being blessed. And I enjoyed spending time with one of my heroes, Linda Thompson, the director of NAOMI...

I am sure you have probably noticed all the clearance sales going on at almost all stores. This is one of my favorite times of the year when I look for those great bargains nestled on the clearance racks. This is the best time to buy the end of season summer clothes at really great discounts as well as many summer items like picnic plates, cups, knick knacks and more. Don't forget about those great cookout closeouts where you will save really big...

About a year ago, Jennifer Jarrell was going through some difficult times in her personal life -- and her marriage was falling apart. "You sense something is wrong, but then when you know it for sure it rocks your world," said Jennifer, a local real estate agent...

In my next life I'd like to learn to be a food stylist. Can you imagine having wonderful food prepared for you; food you get to arrange nicely and photograph before indulging in? And getting paid for all that? Of course, writing an occasional and very much amateur food column (in my case) doesn't qualify me as a professional food writer or photographer; it does allow me to daydream every now and then. ...

Three times the bell rang -- a soft chime that drifted over the silent crowd at the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy late Saturday afternoon in Deason. The bell, they said, was calling two firefighters home, telling them their shift had ended, their duty was done...

Three years ago, Kelsey Thompson was a big fish in a small pond; the star of the show at any given Shelbyville Central High School halftime show. She wanted more, and more she got. Thompson is a third year member of Middle Tennessee State University's cheering squad, and she's excelling with pom poms and pyramids -- and her grades. She recently earned another scholarship, for having a 3.2 grade point average, that's helping her live out her dream of cheering at college...

If you're looking for the "Best of" middle Tennessee and you live in Bedford County, you don't have to travel far to find it. Tennessee Magazine, published by the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association and Duck River Electric recently announced the winners of its annual Best of Tennessee Readers' Choice Awards, and both Bell Buckle and Wartrace made their presence known...

Three times the bell rang -- a soft chime that drifted over the silent crowd at the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy late Saturday afternoon, Sept. 10 in Deason. The bell, they said, was calling two firefighters home, telling them their shift had ended, their duty was done...

Oct. 31 is just around the corner and the ladies of Bedford County are prepared to make this year Halloween extra devilishly devine. Members of local Friends, Community, and Education (FCE) clubs gathered recently to brainstorm and share arts and crafts and recipe ideas with each other...

In my next life I'd like to learn to be a food stylist. Can you imagine having wonderful food prepared for you; food you get to arrange nicely and photograph before indulging in? And getting paid for all that? Of course, writing an occasional and very much amateur food column (in my case) doesn't qualify me as a professional food writer or photographer; it does allow me to daydream every now and then. ...

About a year ago, Jennifer Jarrell was going through some difficult times in her personal life -- and her marriage was falling apart. "You sense something is wrong, but then when you know it for sure it rocks your world," said Jennifer, a local real estate agent...

Cascade Middle edged Webb Middle's girls soccer team 1-0 at Cascade on Thursday. Having three games in one week proved too much for her team, Webb coach Mary Jo Johnson said. The Lady Feet visit Liberty at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Visiting Forrest downed Liberty 30-12 Thursday, but the Rockets didn't go home without a fight. End Clay Fletcher returned an interception 42 yards to score and running back Jay Wilkerson took the reins at quarterback, punching in a bootleg for a touchtown for Liberty's Patriots...

Webb placed fifth behind Page, Portland, Shelbyville and Columbia in the Forrest All-Comers cross country meet last week at Henry Horton State Park. Hayden Cliche led the Feet, finishing 13th with a time of 20 minutes, 12 seconds. Other Webb finishers were Tian Wang (37th; 21:51); Woochan Jeong (46th; 22:29); Micah Rasnick (60th; 22:53); and Evan Aliquo (68th; 23:18)...

The undefeated Community Viqueens continue to roll through their opponents with a 3-1 win over the Middle Tennessee Golden Eagles on Friday. Kali Sitz opened the scoring just three minutes into the match with a goal deftly placed into the right corner of the net on an assist by Courtney Williams...

EAGLEVILLE -- The final score was a deceptive 41-20 in favor of 10th-ranked Eagleville, but that large whoosh heard in southern Rutherford County afterwards was the capacity home crowd letting out a collective sigh of relief when the final horn sounded...

COLUMBIA -- If Shelbyville Central was supposed to be intimidated when they walked onto the field Friday night to face Columbia Central, the defending 5A state champions and state's top-ranked team, someone must have forgotten to tell them. The Golden Eagles fought tooth-and-nail with the Lions from the opening kickoff to the horn at the end of the game, coming up just a few inches short on a 2-point conversion attempt in a 49-48 District 8AAA loss on the road...

Want to show off your pooch, support a good cause and get your picture taken with Darth Vader's thugs? If so, Saturday will be the day for you as the Shelbyville Bedford County Humane Society will be holding their seventh fall fundraiser at the Bedford County Agricultural Center...

A judge has ruled in a vehicular homicide case that certain evidence and testimony by several Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers will not be allowed because he said THP has been reluctant to turn over the evidence. Meanwhile, prosecutors are trying to decide how to proceed in the case, which is set to be heard by a jury in two weeks...

"God has used the city of Shelbyville greatly in our lives," began Denis Odhiambo, speaking of his home town of Homa Bay, Kenya. Since 2001 volunteers and churches from the Shelbyville area have devoted money to the Homa Bay Water Project, bringing fresh water to thousands of residents in a town west of Nairobi...

The Cascade Champions turned up the heat as they scored 22 unanswered points in the second half of Friday night's District 9A matchup against the visiting Huntland Hornets to take a 39-25 come-from-behind victory. "Tonight started out about like our practices did this week. It wasn't good early on--but as the game progressed--we got better," Cascade coach Kenny Parker said...