Stories from Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Dottie is not quite sure what to think about the camera!

Beautiful summer sunset in Flat Creek.

Lucille Triplett of Shelbyville died Dec. 18 at The Heart Remembers at Carriage House Inn after an extended illness. A graveside service was held at Happy Valley Memorial Park in Elizabethton on Dec. 21 Feldhaus Memorial Chapel assisted with local arrangements.

R.C. Gambill, 89, of Petersburg died Tuesday at Marshall Medical Center in Lewisburg. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at London Funeral Home in Lewisburg. Burial will follow at Old Orchard Cemetery in Petersburg. Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Thursday.

Stanley Paul Alexander, 67, of Murfreesboro, formerly of Shelbyville, died Tuesday. Funeral services will be held at 12:30 p.m. Friday at Hillcrest Funeral Home with Alex Hoffner officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Thursday.

Three equine related businesses are joining forces to become the country's largest supplier of tack and apparel for gaited horses. The Winner's Circle Horse Supply, LLC of Shelbyville has announced an agreement to purchase the assets of gaited horse tack retailers World Champion Horse Equipment and National Bridle Shop...

Tennessee's district attorneys say that synthetic and prescription drug abuse will be the biggest challenges they face going into the new year. District Attorney General Charles Crawford and 30 others recently met for the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference to identify what they termed "serious areas of concern" which must be addressed at the state level in 2012...

Charlie Coffey enjoys a Christmas Eve ride through Shelbyville in his horse and buggy. He said the buggy, made by the Amish in Ethridge, was a gift from his sons Mike and David Coffey. (T-G Photo by David Melson)

Perhaps the most unexpected new story of the year, and the continuation of last year's top story, take the sixth and fifth places on the Times-Gazette's annual countdown of the top local news stories of 2011 as determined by a poll of the Times-Gazette staff...

A federal judge has ordered another delay in an ongoing lawsuit over a proposed rock quarry, canceling a June 2012 trial date. Last October, Norma and Tommy Wright, Wright Paving Co. Inc., and Custom Stone LLC filed a suit in federal court for $10 million against the city of Shelbyville, its board of zoning appeals, planning commission, and codes and planning director Ed Dodson "in his official capacity and individually," accusing them of violating due process, inverse condemnation, unconstitutional taking, negligence and creating an unconstitutional "floating" zone.. ...

WATERTOWN--After being off for a week, the Cascade Champions had one goal--keep the momentum rolling into the second half of the season. The Champs had no trouble picking up right where they left off before the break with a 57-48 win over Gordonsville on Tuesday night in the opening round of the Watertown Christmas Tournament...

WATERTOWN -- Every time the Cascade Lady Champions seemingly got a sizable lead on Gordonsville, the Lady Tigers clawed their way back into the game. Eventually, Cascade was able to pull away late in the fourth quarter to hold on for the 54-45 opening round win of the Watertown Christmas Tournament on Tuesday night...

NASHVILLE -- Shelbyville Central saw an early lead slip away in a 49-46 loss to Clarksville in the Father Ryan Christmas Tournament on Tuesday afternoon. The Eagles (3-9) jumped out to a 6-0 lead and held a 10-7 advantage at the end of the first quarter after Sterling Smith stole the ball and scored in the closing seconds...

Four people were charged after incidents Sunday at a South Cannon Boulevard residence. Micah Jordan Chapman, 21, of another South Cannon Boulevard home, allegedly rammed his vehicle into the victim's front porch, causing "severe damage," then attempted to gain entry by breaking a window with a piece of outdoor furniture before leaving, police said. Car parts found in the victim's yard matched damage to Chapman's vehicle, according to police...

You may never have heard of it, but the Stop Online Piracy Act, or SOPA, could if passed have a huge impact on the way the Internet operates. The act has a commendable goal -- stopping the trading of illegally-copied music, movies or other copyrighted content, as well as other inappropriate content, such as advertising for counterfeit medications. It's backed by major entertainment industry companies and other key players...

Most students have witnessed a trial in some form or another, maybe though real life situations or from a movie or television show. Some may even be semi-familiar with the legal lingo involved, but few know the true in's and out's of the courtroom. Though this week at Community High School, students in Mr. Garrette's government class have had the personal opportunity to step foot into the courtroom and attend the mock trial of Tracy Rose...