Stories from Sunday, March 24, 2013

Years ago, my sister, Cindi, had the words "Live, Laugh, Love" emblazoned across her kitchen wall. I have always liked that phrase. Over the years I have seen it in many other places as well: stitched on pillows or throws; on plaques and wall hangings; displayed in homes or displayed in shops...

Brieanna Pickett and Travis Davidson of Shelbyville announce the birth of a daughter, Dani Jane Davidson, on March 11 at Harton Regional Medical Center in Tullahoma. The baby girl weighed 8 pounds. She is the granddaughter of Sarah Jane and Sambo Pickett, and James and Darlene Davidson...

"Can you hear me now?" a famous cell phone ad slogan goes. I'm often tempted to say "Yes, and you're too loud" to cell phone users. We've become a nation of cell phone-a-holics. Texting. Tweeting. Playing games. Web browsing. Listening to music. And that's not even using a cell phone for its most basic purpose. It's cool to play with a smart phone and the thousands of available apps. But with so many things in life, there is an appropriate time and place...

Tonya Marie Smotherman and Jonathan Bradford "Jay" Dunn have announced their engagement. The future bride is the daughter of the late Rick Busey and Belinda Busey of Smyrna and Mark Smotherman of Unionville. She is the granddaughter of the late Virginia Moore of Smyrna...

The sun is out, the air is warmer and the days are getting longer -- leaving no doubt that Spring is in the air. Nature is reacting to the change, and so are area landscapers and greenhouse operators, who are coming into their busiest time of the year...

Before their game Tuesday, Liberty School's baseball team honored a beloved student who died two years ago. Korley Davis died of lung disease on Feb. 2, 2011, just shy of her 12th birthday. The girl from Wheel touched a huge number of people during her medical battle...

Shelbyville Central High School's National Honor Society held its induction ceremony on March 12. Don Embry, SCHS principal and incoming superintendent of schools, gave the welcome. Alex Lempin, NHS president, introduced guests and recognized supporters...

The Shelbyville Central High School library offered its support outside of the walls of the library and school on March 17. Librarians Dona Northcutt and Heather Richards wanted to provide an avenue for students to get involved in a community cause -- Paws for a Cause Fun Walk...

I started my biggest bill in committee this week. This proposed legislation seeks to eliminate the Prevailing Wage law in contracting and construction in Tennessee. This is the wage that companies must pay their workers when working on state projects. It is mired down with wage surveys and unnecessary paperwork and contentious with many workers...

A voice mail claiming a $120,000 prize seemed too good to be true for the recipient, he told the T-G Friday. "The guy said he was from a prize center in Chicago and this was my lucky day," the recipient of the call said. "He said I won a $120,000 prize which I knew was a scam. I didn't call it back."...

Two suspects have been identified in recent incidents at Shelbyville businesses, police said Friday. Clemente Bell, 41, of Nashville, who is being charged with the Feb. 22 robbery of the Waffle House on Feb. 22, was arrested Tuesday morning on Interstate 440 in Nashville by Metro police...

"When you come to Christ," said the Rev. Kevin Minchey, "you still have to deal with your stuff." A religious conversion doesn't magically erase addictions, broken marriages, memories of abuse or poor family dynamics, or other factors, and someone with such burdens may feel out of place even among their new church friends...

The Shelbyville Central tennis squads were in prime form during Friday's match against Lawrence County. Both the Eagles and Eaglettes swept the visiting Wildcats 7-0 in both competitions. In the boys matches, the Eagles picked up convincing wins from Jonathan Smotherman, Tyler Merlo, Carson Clanton and Eddie Green...

The Cascade Champions improved to 4-3 on the young season with a convincing 10-1 win over Cannon County on Friday afternoon. The Champs saw both solid pitching from starter Heath Presley and reliever Chandler Sulcer, as well as impressive at bats against the Lions...

The Community Viqueens improved to 8-2 on the season with yet another doubleheader sweep. The latest victories came on the road Friday afternoon at CPA, where Community won a 7-4 opener and an 8-4 nightcap. In game one, the Viqueens fell behind by the bottom of the second inning when the home team notched a pair of runs to take a 2-0 lead...

COLUMBIA -- Shelbyville Central claimed a pair of pool-play wins on Friday night in the MTSCA Tournament. The Eaglettes (5-2) claimed a 2-1 win over Greenbriar, then edged Columbia Academy 7-6. In Shelbyville's win over Greenbriar, the Eaglettes banged out seven hits, including five for extra bases...

There's a saying that practice doesn't make perfect, but perfect practice does. That's the message Dr. Margaret Rhea Seddon delivered to a large group of middle school girls during the inaugural "Brightest Star in the Sky" conference held Saturday at Harris Middle School...

Domestic abuse may have been the motive in an alleged murder-for-hire plot last year, according to testimony from a TBI agent. Following a preliminary hearing Friday, General Sessions Judge Charles Rich found there was "more than sufficient evidence" to bind over Sean Gearhardt, 20 and Jason Starrick, 25, both of Antioch, and Susan Walls, 54, and Dawn Walls, 27 -- the wife and daughter of murder victim Larry Walls Sr. -- to the April 15 session of the Bedford County grand jury...

Little cousin and Big cousin enjoying each others company!

Mary Earle Bramlett, 85, of Oxford, Miss. died Friday, March 22, 2013 at her daughter's home in Shelbyville after an extended illness. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 30 at Oxford Memorial Cemetery. Doak-Howell Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Squirrel outside my window on Sunday afternoon

'We'll work it out. Everything will be okay," Matt Tiller told his wife, Christy, in an emotional moment after their family escaped alive from their burning Alta Avenue home late Sunday afternoon. Christy Tiller told the T-G she was cooking chicken when the fire broke out, spreading quickly from the kitchen...

Donald O. Barber, 75, of Shelbyville died Sunday, March 24, 2013 at Alive Hospice in Nashville. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Stephen Caine and the Rev. Kenneth Smith officiating. Burial, with full military honors, will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held from 4-7 PM Tuesday.

James Howard Cole, 71, of Shelbyville died Saturday, March 23, 2013 in Nashville. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Bird Street Church of Christ. Visitation will begin at noon. Feldhaus Memorial Chapel is handling arrangements.