Stories from Thursday, October 13, 2011

Leaves on the stream captured during a recent hike in Collins Gulf just above Horsepound Falls.

Rock walls along the Stagecoach Road Trail in The Savage Gulf State Natural Area. Three separate walls are visible in this photo. They were part of the McMinnville to Chattanooga Stagecoach Road system built primarily with slave labor back in the 1800's. The section of road where these walls are is very steep with many switchbacks as it descends from the plateau down into the gorge below. It is a strenuous trail that is in the middle section of the park...

For a warning siren to be useful, you have to be able to hear it, and to know clearly what it's trying to communicate. The Town of Bell Buckle is working with The Webb School to improve emergency notification for both the town and the private prep school located there...

Marty Bartlett, who grew up in Shelbyville and now lives in Texas, experienced the thrill of a lifetime recently -- tandem jumping with the Golden Knights, the elite U.S. Army parachute team. Bartlett was chosen with several other Texas civic leaders because of significant work done in conjunction with the Army in San Antonio. ...

Arrowhead Ranch is in the process of establishing its own set of traditions as it grows. This Saturday, Arrowhead's second annual spaghetti dinner and live auction will be held at the ranch on Cortner Mill Road in Normandy. The 200-acre ranch serves young men who have gone through hardships in life or who are in need of a safe place to live for a variety of reasons...

An escapee from the Bedford County jail admitted guilt on Wednesday, earning extra jail time as a result. Billy Ellis Gooch, 39, will serve six months consecutive to any other sentences he may face in other cases, afterwalking away from a Bedford County Workhouse crew detail on Aug. 19...

By now, news of Stephen Garcia's departure from the University of South Carolina has spread far and wide. Garcia was dismissed from the team after failing a substance abuse test for alcohol, which was part of the terms agreed upon by Garcia and team officials after being reinstated to the team for a fifth time...

After last week's loss to Huntland, the Community Vikings will attempt to rebound with a home win this week when the Vikings take on the Cascade Champions in a rivalry showdown. Cascade, who is fresh off a thrilling 29-20 victory over Marshall County, will look to Jakiel Hughes to get the run game going, while Jared Carkuff will get the start at QB this week...

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