Stories from Thursday, November 3, 2011

Nelson "Russ" Hamblin, 69, of Shelbyville died Wednesday night at Glen Oaks Health & Rehabilitation Center after an extended illness. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Doak-Howell Funeral Home.

With the regular season in the rear view mirror, the Cascade Champions will get a chance to start over with the first round of the state playoffs on Friday. The Champs (6-4) will host Loretto (5-5) with the hopes of snapping a two-game skid. Although Cascade dropped its two final regular season games to Forrest (23-20) and unbeaten Eagleville (20-19), both games were close enough where the final outcome could have swayed either way...

A package of Kush, described by experts as a "synthetic marijuana," was found in a vehicle following a traffic stop Tuesday night, Shelbyville police said. Travis Lamar Briggs, 32, Warners Bridge Road, told officers several people had been driving his truck and the substance belonged to them. He was charged with possession of a schedule VI drug and posted $1,000 bond...

A Shelbyville church will serve as a drop-off location for a nationwide effort to bring gifts to hurting kids around the world. New Beginnings Baptist Church, 2027 Madison St., will be participating in Operation Christmas Child, which is described as the world's largest Christmas project of its kind, from Nov. 14-21...

Though the yard sale season is beginning to wind down some, it's not too late to clean out your closet, clear out the clutter and make a few dollars. Beginning in the spring and carrying on through usually November, yard sales are a part of many family's norm. Whether holding a yard sale or shopping at one, it's a fun family activity that for many is rewarding as well...

Following a two-day trial, a Shelbyville horse trainer was found not guilty by a Bedford County jury of sexually related charges involving minors. J.W. "Dick" Peebles, 61, of Holt Avenue was arrested in January and charged with two counts of sexual battery, two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means and solicitation of a minor...

What to do with a home and lot jointly owned by the county and Shelbyville that no one wants to buy was a topic of discussion for the city council, with suggestions that removing the structure would help to make it more attractive. Both governments have sought a buyer for several years for property at 732 N. Main St., which once served as the Child Development Center, but neither has had any results...

Nearly 200 local leaders ended up in jail Wednesday. But it was all for a good cause. "The police never came and got me, so I had to turn myself in," said Colleen Embry, one of the jailbirds charged with being a caring, good-natured and influential person...