Stories from Friday, November 25, 2011

Samuel P. Pruitt, 77, of Shelbyville, died Wednesday at Christian Care Center of Bedford County. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel with Mark Pierce officiating. Burial will follow at Horse Mountain Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Saturday.

Randy Steven Hatchett, 54, of Wartrace died Thursday morning at Heritage Medical Center after an extended illness. Per his wishes, his remains were cremated. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Doak-Howell Funeral Home with Reggie Smith officiating. Burial will follow at Hazel Cemetery in Bell Buckle. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m.

A handful of seventh grade students at Harris Middle School are preparing to take the ACT alongside their college-bound high school peers this year. It's part of a seventh grade talent search conducted by the Duke University Talent Identification Program...

Bedford County's unemployment rate fell substantially in October to 9.8 percent, according to preliminary numbers released by the state's department of labor. That's a drop of 0.8 percent, since September's revised jobless rate for the county was at 10.6 percent. Unemployment for the county at this time last year was at 10.8 percent...

Shelbyville fell behind early and never recovered in a 47-41 loss to Creekwood in the Forrest Thanksgiving Tournament in Chapel Hill on Wednesday afternoon. The Eaglettes (2-1) trailed 11-4 at the end of the first quarter, cut the lead to 19-14 by intermission and were on the short end of a 35-25 scored after three periods...

After an eight day break from on-court action, the Cascade Lady Champions took to the floor in their first game of the Forrest Thanksgiving Tournament against Marshall County. Things got off to a rocky start for the Lady Champs, but after settling down, Cascade found its groove and cruised to the 50-37 win on Wednesday morning...

KNOXVILLE-- With the confidence he had in quarterback Tyler Bray, Tennessee wide receiver Da'Rick Rogers figured a 1,500-yard, 100-catch season might be possible. Since Bray missed five games with a broken thumb, Rogers is happy for now with exceeding 1,000 yards and flirting with a few team records...

Shelbyville Central senior Briana McDonald recently signed to continue her education as well as play basketball at The University of Tennessee at Martin. McDonald, an All-District 8-AAA player last year, averaged 11 points per game as a junior. "She (McDonald) can play multiple positions and will be solid on the perimeter and cause matchup problems inside," Skyhawks coach Kevin McMillan said...

The long wait in the cold was worth it at the Bedford County Highway Department's annual holiday feast Wednesday. Hundreds enjoyed turkey, ham and all the trimmings. (T-G Photo by John I. Carney)

Fairlane Church of Christ members Drew Wright, left, and Dennis Simmons fold shirts and sweaters during the church's coat and clothing giveaway last Saturday. Dozens of families in need of winter clothing visited the church fellowship for the free clothing offer. (T-G Photo by Kent Flanagan)

Ongoing chancery court issues and similar charges in a neighboring county have resulted in another delay for a number of local merchants facing gambling allegations. Naim Abulaban, 21, of Murfreesboro, Dipakbhai Bhagat, 50, Sejal Chaudhari, 26, Brad Jones, 36, Dharmendra Patel, 40, Rameshbhain Patel, 48, and Narendra Patel, 52, all of Shelbyville, were in General Sessions Court Tuesday, but had their cases continued until Jan. 17...

Elizabeth Ann Bogle Douglas, 85, of Unionville died Thursday in Shelbyville. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Lawrence Funeral Home in Chapel Hill with the Rev. Eric Richardson officiating. Burial will follow at Cothran Cemetery in Rover. Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Saturday.

Franklin D. Delffs, 78, of Tullahoma, formerly of Shelbyville, died Wednesday at his home after an extended illness. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel with William Prichett officiating. Burial, with full military honors, will follow at Willow Mount Cemetery. Visitation will begin at noon.

A woman airlifted to a Nashville hospital after a Thanksgiving night wreck in Deason is expected to be released Saturday, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said. Kathey Arlene McGrew, 48, of Pulaski suffered injuries to the head, neck and ribs, after the car in which she was riding was involved in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of U.S. 231 North and State Highway 82, THP Sgt. Monty Terry said...

If bats are blind then why is he looking at me? This little guy was on a tree in our back yard here in Shelbyville. At night the woods behind our house fills with thousands of bats.

A butterfly in our Marigold garden.

"Look how handsome i am with my tie on"

This hairy little spider has captured tonight's meal.