Stories from Thursday, May 24, 2012

For many couples, a church fellowship hall or gym is the perfect place for their wedding reception. But for various reasons, sometimes another location is the perfect place. At least three Bedford County locations can help. River Bend Country Club offers a picturesque, yet intimate spot for a wedding reception or rehearsal...

Dannielle Nichole Bowman and Donald Ray Perdue III, both of Shelbyville, were united in marriage on Saturday, April 21, 2012 by Kathy Prater. The double-ring ceremony was held in the morning and was attended by limited guests. The bride was attended by maid of honor and best friend, Kassidy Lane of Shelbyville. She is the daughter of Pamela and Bruce Bowman of LaVergne...

Jon and Lisa Chick of Shelbyville are pleased to announce the marriage of their daughter, Julie Ann Chick of Shelbyville to Spc. Kevin Scott Culp of Fort Benning, Ga., son of Kara Moffitt of Nashville, and Scott and Jenny Culp of Bell Buckle. The bride is the granddaughter of Ron and Joyce Stillwell, and Connie and the late Jon Chick Sr., all of Shelbyville...

Eddie and Linda Clanton of Shelbyville are proud to announce the engagement of their daughter, Gina Marie Clanton of Nashville to Steven Michael Grishan of Hendersonville. The future bride is the granddaughter of Harold and Frances Hayes, and Edward Clanton and the late Mary Jane Clanton, all of Shelbyville...

Nova Lee and Sophia Ford of Woodbury are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Ford, to Marcus Allen McBee of Wartrace, son of Allen and Becky McBee. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Mike and Delores Schneider of Winter Haven, Fla., and the late William and Nina Ford of Smyrna. She is a 2007 graduate of Cannon County High School, and a 2012 graduate of Middle Tennessee State University where she majored in Early Childhood Education...

Charles and Minnie Jones of Shelbyville are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Anna Jones to Jeffrey Allen "P-Nut" Brown Jr., both of Shelbyville. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of the late Herbert and Mary Carrick Jones. She is a 2011 graduate of Shelbyville Central High School, and is currently attending Motlow State Community College...

Jim and Paula Peissig of Shelbyville would like to announce the engagement of their daughter, Elizabeth Rose Peissig to Phillip Brian Pyrdum, both of Murfreesboro. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Rose Danek of Shelbyville, the late Joseph James of Port Edwards, Wis., the late Joseph Danek of Nekoosa, Wis., and the late Kenneth and Lucille Peissig of Shawano, Wis. She is a 2008 Cum Laude graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, and is employed by the Shelbyville Times-Gazette...

Jimmy and Charlene Smith of Bell Buckle are pleased to announce the marriage of their daughter, Brooke Ashley Smith of Bell Buckle to Walt Sanders, son of Dr. Susan and Randy Sanders, all of Lynchburg. The bride is the granddaughter of C.A. and Ruth Wood, and the late James W. and Lucille Smith...

Alfred Standfield of Melbourne, Australia and Olene Standfield of Unionville are proud to announce the engagement of their daughter, Brie An Standfield of Nashville to Alex Walter McCurry of Wartrace. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of James Leslie and Matilda Chambless of Unionville. ...

Ronnie and Donna Smith of Shelbyville would like to announce the marriage of their daughter, Sarah-Margaret Stearns of Shelbyville, to Adam David Woodard, son of Danny Woodard of Huntington and Gail Woodard of Cookeville. The bride is the daughter of the late Ken Stearns, granddaughter of Don Lee of Murfreesboro, the late Margaret Robertson, and the late Lloyd and Louise Stearns...

Mr. and Mrs. Grady P. Winsett are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Andrea Michelle Winsett to Christopher James McCandless, both of Columbia. The future bride is the granddaughter of Grady and Agness Winsett of Shelbyville, and Donald and Lynda Rickles of Foley, Ala. She is a 2008 graduate of Shelbyville Central High School...

Nancy Estes of Shelbyville is proud to announce her engagement to Marcus Higgins of Denver, Colo. The wedding has been set for Sunday, Sept. 23 at the Green Forest Chapel in Galveston, Texas. A reception will follow with family and close friends. The couple will honeymoon in San Francisco, Calif...

No piece of jewelry will ever be more treasured in a woman's life than her bridal rings. Today brides have a wider selection than ever -- but so many choices may be overwhelming. Big box stores may offer a wide selection and slick advertisements, but local jewelers can offer personalized service throughout the lifetime of your rings...

It wouldn't be a proper wedding without a proper wedding cake. Although TV shows like "Cake Boss" and "Ace of Cakes" call attention to outlandish (and outlandishly-expensive) representative cakes, Cindy Meeks of Creative Touch Florist and Bakery said that most people in this area prefer something a little more traditional. In addition, some don't care for the taste of fondant, the sort of edible modeling clay heavily used in those representational cakes...

Planning a wedding can be a stressful process. There's the showers, location, weather, reception and thank you cards, just to name a few. The honeymoon should be a time for care-free relaxation and celebrating for newlyweds, and Celebration Travel has got the experience and contacts to ensure that stress isn't part of the honeymooner equation...

The wedding is fast approaching, and there are so many things to do, including making sure that the flowers for the big day are just right. And according to three of Shelbyville's florists, traditional arrangements are the big thing this year. Beverly Phelps of Mary's Flowers, Gifts and Greenhouses says that for the weddings she has arranged, the girls are sticking with roses, with bold colors such as purple or pink...

When should a couple begin their registry? Most planners say the registry should be set up at least six months before the wedding date. "Traditionally, you want to shop for your registry about four months before your first bridal shower," said Sharon Lowery of Lowery Jewelers. Those months will be host to bridal parties, showers and other pre-wedding events, and the registry will serve as a convenient way for your guests to help you celebrate the big day...

Corner Cleaners and Blue Ribbon Cleaners each offer a selection of tuxedoes for your summer wedding ....

The sign says it all. Will Landers sweeps Hannah Martin off of her feet with some romantic help from the historic Princess Theater in Decatur, Ala. (Submitted photo)

MURFREESBORO -- After working out of a jam in the sixth inning against the South Pittsburg Pirates, starting Cascade Champion pitcher Gavin Elmore walked to the dugout, looked toward head coach Brandon Bassham and said, "I've got it. One more." He took the mound one final time in the top of the seventh and shut down the Pirates with a 1-2-3 inning and secured at least one more game in the Class A state baseball tournament with a 4-1 win over the South Pittsburg Pirates...

Roger Vannatta, 54, of Shelbyville, died Tuesday, May 22, 2012 after an extended illness. Graveside services will be held at 6 p.m. Friday at Hazel Cemetery in Bell Buckle. The Rev. Jim Beaty will officiate. There will be no visitation. Feldhaus Memorial Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Shawn O'Riley Malone, 54, of Shelbyville died Tuesday, May 22, 2012. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Southside Baptist Church. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday at Gowen-Smith Chapel.

Enjoying summer snacks and cooling down!

Now that school is out, it's time to get wet in the backyard. Jared Habel is having fun with his slip n slide.

To the editor: As a concerned resident of Bedford County I have a question. What would be the result if The Celebration were to cease to exist? I can hardly imagine the impact this would have on our community. All of the citizens of Shelbyville and Bedford County should be doing everything possible to insure that this treasure should continue for many years to come...

Bobby Robertson and Richard Waters sit behind a large assortment of ready-ripe, farm-fresh produce on a warm Friday afternoon at the Wartrace Square. (T-G Photo by Mitchell Petty)

A Murfreesboro man will spend no time in jail for his role in an accident that claimed the life of his wife in 2010. John David Haynes, 51, will spend a year on judicial diversion -- a probation period ending May 17, 2013 -- after being sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Lee Russell last week for reckless endangerment, a Class A Misdemeanor...

Searchers spent Wednesday morning along the banks of Duck River looking for bones or clues concerning Bobby Smelcer, whose skull was found in the Wolf Meadows area off Stewart Road in April. Several bones will be checked by forensics experts, Detective Sgt. Brian Crews of the Shelbyville Police Department said, but investigators suspect all are animal bones...

Bedford Builds Habitat For Humanity has announced plans to build its next home for a veteran. The local chapter of Georgia-based non-profit Habitat For Humanity hopes to hold a groundbreaking on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, with a foundation to be laid this fall and most of the construction to take place next year, according to executive director Pam Birtcil...

Shelbyville's city council will be busy crunching numbers next week as they made their first move into the annual budget process Tuesday evening. The council passed the first reading of the document, and set a public hearing date of June 14. Two sessions are set to be held next week -- on Tuesday and Thursday at 6 p.m., to go over the numbers in more detail and to make any changes...

National media reports regarding the training practices of trainer Jackie McConnell have played a role in influencing local public perception of the Tennessee Walking Horse industry. This week the Times-Gazette has invited public comment from readers, called upon local business people and solicited information in an online poll. Here's what they have shared...

Crews from Stansell Electrical Co. of Nashville were busy Wednesday starting work on a long-awaited signal light in front of Heritage Medical Center. The firm returned a bid in January of $58,498 of the project, under an engineers' estimate of $79,000. The city council approved having engineers Gresham Smith and Partners design the light for $11,420 last year. The hospital had placed $97,780 in escrow with the city's planning office for a full-fledged traffic signal in 2007, but TDOT told the city last May that the area did not meet the requirements for the signal they requested. Funds from the escrow account will be used to design poles and mast arms to go over U.S. 231 North for flashing lights. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely)

Frances Lokey Wachala, 87, of Bell Buckle died Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at Heritage Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. William Catholic Church with Father Thomas Kalam officiating. Burial will follow at Willow Mount Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Friday at Hillcrest Funeral Home.

Alice Elizabeth Bone Warren, 86, of Shelbyville died Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at Heritage Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Gowen-Smith Chapel with Don Jones officiating. Burial will follow at Willow Mount Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Sunday.