Stories from Wednesday, November 14, 2012

I was at a birthday party over the weekend for a 13-year-old whose parents got him a mobile phone for his birthday. He was thrilled with the gift, and his parents were thrilled that he was thrilled. But it was made clear that later, after the party was over and friends and family members had gone home, there would be A Discussion About The Rules...

During last month's Webb School Craft Fair in Bell Buckle, Dennis Young Sr., gave away a free stay at the new Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham, which is opening next month at 1207 N. Main St. in Shelbyville. Young is a managing member of Shelbyville Hospitality LLC...

Three taser stuns were used by a Shelbyville police officer to control an intoxicated suspect Saturday. Police were called to a Belmont Avenue residence where Michael Allen Toombs II, 36, was allegedly in a "drunken rampage" after a family member concerned about his drinking disposed of newly-purchased beer...

An occupant of a Railroad Avenue home was arrested for possession of marijuana as Shelbyville police and a Department of Children's Services investigator checked a report of possible drug activity Friday afternoon. Walter Michael Williamson, 31, told officer Tory Moore he used the marijuana "recreationally and for pain."...

Workers prepare to capture a small amount of diesel fuel leaking from a large truck after a collision on New Center Church Road at mid-afternoon Tuesday. Paul Bates Jr., 56, of Old Flat Creek Road told State Trooper Barry Qualls he was pulling onto the road, "couldn't find his brakes" and struck the pickup truck at right driven by Steven Andrew Qualls, 37, of Tullahoma. Steven Qualls was injured, investigators said. (T-G Photo by David Melson)

In the race to the top of academic standards, school administrators rely heavily on the data provided by the state after each year's Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program is complete. Of the many reports generated, one in particular generated a list predicting which students would likely not receive passing grades in the next assessment...

Members of the Bedford County Board of Education recently attended the 75th annual Tennessee School Board Association Leadership Conference in Nashville. The convention allows board members to share best practices, discuss changes in public education and explore ways to improve the state's public schools...

Three people -- one inolved in a similar incident last summer -- are accused of luring two men to a Shelbyville home for sex, then stealing their money, police said Tuesday. The men said Tabitha Lea Brown, also known as Tabitha Casteel, 20, of Courtland Avenue invited them to join her and a female friend, who has not been charged, at the Brown home Saturday night...

Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to join Tennessee Corrections Institute's County Corrections Partnership Initiative, which will provide consultation and referral as the county struggles to deal with jail overcrowding. State jail inspector Miller Meadows addressed the commission, telling them that the county jail is significantly overcrowded -- but it isn't alone; Meadows said 57 jails statewide are overcrowded, and so is the state prison system...

The following open houses are coming up in Shelbyville later this week. Check out this page each Wednesday for a preview of each weekend's upcoming holiday open houses. Friday, Nov. 16 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Door prizes and gourmet sampling Friday, Nov. 16 and Saturday, Nov. 17...

WARTRACE -- The Cascade Champions and Lady Champions took Tuesday night's intersquad scrimmage as a chance to put players on the floor and simulate a game-type scenario to work out some final kinks before the season officially gets underway next week...

Shelbyville Central opened the season on the short end of a 45-29 score against visiting Brentwood Academy in a TSSAA Hall of Fame Game on Tuesday night. The young Eaglettes played hard and with a lot of effort but a much bigger Brentwood Academy team proved to be too much to defend, especially in the paint, where the winners scored 38 points...

Shirley Ann Mooneyham, 81, of Shelbyville died Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012 at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Hillcrest Funeral Home with James Colwell officiating. Burial will follow at Willow Mount Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Thursday.