Stories from Thursday, January 17, 2013

It is hard to imagine anything more horrific than the December shooting that took place in Newtown, Connecticut. By the end of that fateful day, we learned that 20 first-graders and six educators had been shot and killed by a deranged gunman. As a nation, we came together to pray and offer our deepest condolences to those who had lost a loved one. ...

Motlow College is inviting area residents and Motlow faculty, staff, students and alumni to Homecoming 2013 on the Moore County campus, said Sheri Mason, assistant director of student services and Student Government Association (SGA) sponsor. The event, hosted by the SGA, will begin at 1 p.m. ...

The AEDC Fire Department hosted Mark Kelly Olson in a recent visit. Olson, 10, of Shelbyville, was diagnosed with very high-risk, acute lymphocytic leukemia in May and was later "adopted" by the Arnold AFB Fire Department as their new deputy fire chief. Olson conducted roll call, inspected firefighting equipment and helped demolish a car, symbolizing his battle with cancer. His father, Mark, is an ATA operations controller at Arnold. (AEDC Photo by Rick Goodfriend)

Bedford County Juvenile Court Judge Charles Rich swore in three CASA Works Inc. volunteers on Jan. 14. The volunteers will advocate for abused and neglected children in juvenile court. Pictured, from left, are: volunteer supervisor Melissa Wilson; Cynthia Lorrow; Carolyn Fisher; Judge Rich; Executive Director Lynne Farrar; and volunteer supervisor Peggy Ruhl. Wilson, Lorrow and Fisher were the ones sworn in. (Submitted photo)

Officers blocked several streets in southern Shelbyville late Tuesday after an armed man who had allegedly been drinking fired shots inside his home. A home on Riverview Drive just off South Cannon Boulevard was surrounded by city and county officers after Troy Alen Cleek, 41, allegedly shot walls and objects, Detective Sgt. Brian Crews of the Shelbyville Police Department said...

The trustees of Longview Community Center, which has become little-used in recent years, have offered the property to Bedford County if the county will place an active fire station on it within three years, according to discussion at Tuesday night's meeting of Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and property committee...

Shelbyville's fire department has once again been given one of the best ratings in the state, allowing citizens to continuing saving money on their homeowners insurance. The Insurance Services Office (ISO) has given the department a rating of "3," which city manager Jay Johnson said is an "excellent rating for a city this size." The rating was first given to the city in 2005...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Pauline Friedman Phillips, who as Dear Abby dispensed snappy, sometimes saucy advice on love, marriage and meddling mothers-in-law to millions of newspaper readers around the world and opened the way for the likes of Dr. Ruth, Dr. Phil and Oprah, has died. She was 94...

Bedford County Emergency Communications District (E-911), like similar groups across the state, is fighting a decrease in revenue as customers drop traditional land lines for mobile phones and for Internet-based telephone services. Local communications centers are funded by a surcharge on landlines; there's also a surcharge on mobile and Internet phone service, but that goes to the state, not to the local com centers...

Shelbyville has picked its new planning and community development director. Amanda A. Rhinehart, who has already been working with the city's planning commission as director of local planning for the South Central Tennessee Development District (SCTDD), accepted the job offer...

William Morton "Slick" Thompson, 88, of Shelbyville died Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at First Christian Church with the Rev. Tom Bierovic officiating. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Friday. Feldhaus Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Juanita Crowell, 84, of Shelbyville died Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013 at Christian Care Center of Shelbyville. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Hillcrest Funeral Home with Frank Butler officiating. Burial will follow at Willow Mount Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Friday.