Stories from Sunday, May 5, 2013

Owen Bradley looks at his watch one second after winning the Strolling Jim 40 ultra-marathon Saturday in a time of 4 hours, 56.05 seconds. The Birmingham, Ala. runner skipped the event last year but placed second in 2010 and 2011. See results at sj40mile.com. (T-G Photo by Sherry Miller)

An informal discussion between city council members recently touched on a number of factors affecting Shelbyville now and, likely, in the future. City manager Jay Johnson attended the spring city managers conference and shared a presentation with the council on issues impacting local governments. Johnson said some of the conference discussion "really described issues here in Shelbyville."...

State Rep. Joe Carr of Lascassas made his run for Congress official on Sunday, while State Sen. Jim Tracy of Shelbyville, already in the race, has announced additional supporters on his leadership team. Both Republicans are running for the 4th District seat currently held by another Republican, U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais of South Pittsburg. Another Republican, Chase Williams, had announced a run as well but has since suspended his campaign, according to an announcement at his web site...

The cheers of the crowd...the smell of hot dogs and nachos from the concession stand..."Eye of the Tiger" playing as the teams triumphantly ran onto the floor - it had all of the makings of a true sporting event. No, it was not a college basketball tournament game. It was the AWANA Final Four Night at Shelbyville Mills Baptist Church...

The junior high English class of Victory Baptist Academy recently participated in a "Wax Museum." Ten nervous students brought their research papers to life in the school's gymnasium. The excitement of the day was evident as fellow students and many supportive parents dropped change into the students' jars that were placed at each table. ...

Eakin Elementary kindergarteners toured Heritage Medical Center on Monday, April 29. The students were given surgical hats, gloves and face masks and spent the morning visiting the emergency room, operating room, radiology and medical/surgical departments and an ambulance. They learned all about the different areas of the hospital and even got to practice the Heimlich maneuver on the Choking Charlie manikin...

An advanced class is being offered on Saturday for women who want to learn more about using a gun for self defense of home and family. Defensive Consulting Group is holding the class at the Wartrace Regulators range, 1486 Cortner Road in Normandy. Cost is $150. Approximately 15 participants will be accepted, and they must already have a carry permit, said Jeff Sweeney of DCG...

CHAPEL HILL -- They say it's tough to beat a team three times in one season.Try three times in a week. After knocking off their cross-county rivals from Cascade twice last week, the Community Vikings thought they would get one more crack at the Champions in the opening round of the District 9-A tournament...

Shelbyville Central jumped out to a big lead and cruised to a 9-3 victory over visiting Columbia in District 8-AAA Tournament action on Friday evening. The Eaglettes (22-7) scored five runs in the first frame followed by four in the second and that proved to be more than enough for the victory despite not scoring a run over the final five innings...

Shelbyville Central had a tough task facing talented Columbia and one of the state's top pitcher in Hayden Stone in second round action of the District 8-AAA on Friday. "We played well but Columbia is a good baseball team," Shelbyville coach Brad Frasier said...

Harris Middle School's Golden Eagle soccer team claimed a 5-4 win over Franklin County Sounty on Friday afternoon. Edgar Cruz and Cesar Lopez each scored a pair of goals while Jovan Cruz added a goal. Six-grader Dalton Corley moved to starting varsity and did did a great job in goal...

I'm waiting on a new passport to arrive. It doesn't seem possible that it's been more than a decade since my first foreign mission trip, to Nicaragua in January of 2003. I went on eight trips in eight years, five of them to Kenya. I had taken a little break the past few years. ...

Jennifer Jarrell had a vision. For quite some time, she has had a passion for helping women accomplish their potential, physically, mentally and emotionally. She did this through personal training and life coaching. But her vision was to do more. Recently her vision has come to fruition by way of the Way Fit Farm, a 234 acre farm nestled in the rolling countryside of Bedford County that has been transformed into a retreat facility for anyone wishing to rejuvenate themselves...

Obeying God's will is not always an easy task, but it seems one local couple would have it no other way. Robert and Jennifer Drawdy of Shelbyville have tried to listen to each calling that God has put on their lives, and are making the difference in others' lives as a result...

William A. "Billy" and Betty Smith Lemmons celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on April 13 at Zion's Hill Methodist Church. The party was hosted by their children and grandchildren: Chris, Amanda, Anna Katherine, and Macie Lemmons and Dr. John L., Benita, Johnny, and Ben Gilmore. They were married by Roland Perkins in Rover, Tenn., on April 12, 1963...

Matthew and Renee Taylor of Manchester announce the engagement of their daughter, Krislyn Renee Harrington of Manchester, to Nathan Hunter Melson of Spring Hill, son of Mike Melson of Manchester and Robin Smith of Tullahoma. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Raleigh and Pamela Jernigan and Allan and Martha Taylor, all of Manchester...

Kevin and Angela York of Gallatin announce the engagement of their daughter, Kaitlyn York of Gallatin, to Robby Rowland of Shelbyville, son of Carolyn Rowland and the late Jimmy Rowland. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Virgil and Cynetha York of Gallatin...

On Wednesday, April 17 at 11:20 a.m. my third granddaughter, Jolie Camille, was born. She weighed 6 pounds and 13.6 ounces and was 20 inches long. She is a beautiful little girl with a full head of lush black hair, and she has already got her papa wrapped around her little finger...

Teaching children values. Hopefully most parents are teaching their children values. But when even some adults don't seem to know what a value is, it's good to know that elementary schools are making sure that students at least have heard about the concept. The state of Tennessee mandates character education in schools...

William Grey "W.G." and Kenzie Miller announce the birth of a son, Jep Russell Miller, on March 26 in Murfreesboro. The baby boy weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces. He is the grandson of Ron and Connie Miller, Chad and Lisa Hall, and Jimmy Whorley. He is the great-grandson of Earl and Ann Lindsay, and Mildred Bobo, all of Shelbyville...

Jason and Beth Teague Harris announce the birth of a baby boy, Ford Elliott Harris, on April 11 in Greenville, S.C. The baby boy weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces. He is the grandson of John and Melody Teague of Shelbyville, Jim and Betty Harris of Bear, Del., and Clarice Harris of St. Petersburg, Fla. He is the great-grandson of James and Janice Carlton of Shelbyville and Kenneth and Jackie Teague of Jacksboro, Tenn...

For about eight years, one family as dedicated their time and musical talents to a local rehabilitation center, socializing, visiting and playing music for the elders who live there. "The Collard family is very special to Glen Oaks," said administrator Daniel Richmond. ...

Willie and Tammie Carter of Wartrace announce the engagement of their daughter, Amelia "Millie" Sue Carter of Wartrace to Matthew Henderson, son of Glen Henderson and Ollie Taylor of Shelbyville and Tina McAfee of Shelbyville. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Brian and Niki Woods and Florine Carter Copeland of Wartrace and Lee and Cathy York of Wartrace. She is the great-granddaughter of Ester Whitney of Wartrace...