Stories from Monday, March 4, 2013

Needles in possession of a Shelbyville man facing drug charges -- and the scars on his arms -- are related to chicken fighting, he told police Thursday night. Brandon Burton Stafford, 27, of Unionville-Deason Road said he uses the needles to give vitamins to his chickens, not on himself, and told Sgt. Merlo he could check his arms for needle marks...

Mary Pearl Lentz, 79, of Shelbyville died Friday after an extended illness. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Sandra K. Avent as eulogist,. Burial will follow at Willow Mount Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Monday and beginning at noon Tuesday.

Gary Edward "Buck" Cook, 57, of Unionville died Friday, March 1, 2013. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel with the Rev. David Wall officiating. Burial will follow at Cook Crowell Cemetery in Unionville. Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Sunday.

Eva "Beatrice" Crosslin Haynes, 90, of Murfreesboro, a native of Bell Buckle, died Sunday, March 3, 2013. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Woodfin Memorial Chapel in Murfreesboro with David Young officiating. Burial will follow at Hazel Cemetery in Bell Buckle. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Monday.

All Smiles for her mini photo shoot with Grammy.

It has been a good week here in the legislature this week. Things are still very busy, but there seems to be more order to the madness. It may be because we are starting to get use to the busyiness and fast pace. I passed three of my bills through the full committees this week and they will be hitting the house floor next week.

This week flew by at the Capitol as more heated legislation came into committees and session. My welfare reform bill, Senate Bill 244, passed through the Senate during Monday session. This bill would put restrictions the businesses in which public assistance EBT cards may be used, by prohibiting individuals from using them in liquor stores, adult cabarets, tobacco shops, and tattoo parlors. ...

Mrs. Jean Coursey read to Mrs. Horner's Class on Read Across America Day.

Brock Horner reads to Mrs. Horner's Class for Read Across America Day.

I made this picture Saturday as the snow had melted on the lower ground but the hills still had snow.

Brenda Woodard-Cole, age 59, of Whites Creek, formerly of Shelbyville, died Friday, March 1, 2013, as a result of an automobile accident. Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Victory Church in Nashville, and again at 1 p.m. Thursday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel with Bishop Kenneth H. Dupree as eulogist. Burial will follow at Willow Mount Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to service time.