Stories from Friday, July 13, 2012

view of our ship in Skagway, AK

Glacier Bay, AK (view from our ship)

Yukon (Canada)

Recently-retired long-time Bedford County Board of Commissioners member Bobby Vannatta, 75, died Thursday at his home following an extended illness. Vannatta was also a former Tennessee deputy commissioner of agriculture and served on state and national agriculture-related boards and committees. He was Tennessee's Outstanding Young Farmer in 1971 and Sunbelt Expo Farmer of the Year in 1995...

Shelbyville's city council signed off on an amended agreement with the state over the cost of utility relocation on Railroad Avenue. The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will be contributing 50 percent -- around $191,000 -- of the $382,352 cost for moving utilities as part of the ongoing State Industrial Access (SIA) program on Railroad Avenue...

Bell Buckle heralds tradition and history with the best of towns. From the downtown square to The Webb School, it's a corner of the county where time moves slowly. So it was quite a shock for inhabitants to drive through the main drag this week and see a historic, century-old home reduced to rubble...

A widespread scam that claims to pay utility bills has made its way to Tennessee. Two of Tennessee's rural electric cooperatives reported incidents involving the scam on Monday, July 9, according to the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. The state's rural electric cooperatives are warning members to be aware of a bill-paying scam that asks them to disclose Social Security and bank routing numbers...

Tennessee's comptroller has given the 17th Judicial District's Drug Task Force a clean bill of health in its annual audit, while five other districts were cited for various issues. The 171-page report from state comptroller Justin P. Wilson reviews funds administered by the district attorney general's office and the drug task forces in the 31 districts in Tennessee for the year ended June 30, 2011...

A Shelbyville funeral home was recently assessed a $500 civil penalty, according to the state of Tennessee. Nelson & Sons Memorial Chapel was cited in the Department of Commerce and Insurance's June disciplinary action report, according to a list of violations released this week...

Giving his donkey a hug is Richard Fleener as he was brought to tears after his miniature donkey Topper was judged best of breed during the 21st annual Great Celebration Mule and Donkey Show at the Celebration grounds. His wife, Katrina, showed the donkey....

Bobby Walls Vannatta, 75, of Bell Buckle died peacefully at home on his farm in Deason on Thursday, July 12, 2012. Funeral services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Fairlane Church of Christ with Geoff Giesemann and Buddy Koonce officiating. Burial will follow at Willow Mount Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6-9 p.m. Saturday and 1-3:30 p.m. Sunday at Fairlane Church of Christ. Feldhaus Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Ron L. Taylor, Sr,, 68, of Shelbyville, died Thursday at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville after an extended illness. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Doak-Howell Funeral Home.

Wanda Raye Haskins, 54, of Bell Buckle died Thursday, July 12, 2012 after an extended illness. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Doak-Howell Funeral Home with Don Frensley and Jason Arnold officiating. Burial will follow at Hazel Cemetery in Bell Buckle. Visitation will be held from 4-9 p.m. Saturday and noon-2:30 p.m. Sunday.

Shelbyville native Kelly G. Rollins has been awarded the National Medallion of Honor by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America for his outstanding support and unusually devoted service in helping youth achieve a fuller and richer life through positive guidance and influence. This award is one of the organizations most coveted honors...

A Warren Circle resident was injured Wednesday after his daughter accidentally backed over him at his home. Bobby Brundige suffered injuries to his left side, Shelbyville police said. Kimberly Martin said her father may have fallen behind the vehicle as it was backing...