Stories from Thursday, June 13, 2013

Lena Mae Cyree Howard, 107, of Tullahoma died Wednesday, June 12, 2013, at Harton Regional Medical Center in Tullahoma. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Grant Funeral Services in Estill Springs with Paul Howard officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens in Tullahoma. Visitation will be held from 5-9 p.m. Thursday.

It has been more than three years since President Obama and Congressional Democrats passed their overhaul of our nation's health care system. From its inception, the Affordable Care Act -- commonly referred to as ObamaCare -- has been fraught with unworkable mandates, impossibly complex regulations and unintended consequences...

Dear Editor, Kudos to Stanley Smotherman for posting a speed limit (30 MPH) on Old Unionville Road. It took the loss of our furry family member, Chewy to accomplish this. When the driver who hit and killed Chewy, not only killed our pup, he killed part of us as well. ...

Tennessee seniors and people with disabilities need to be aware of a potential scam involving recorded phone calls promising free or low cost personal emergency or medical alert systems. "The purpose of these calls is to possibly gain access to credit card or other sensitive information" said Jim Shulman, Executive Director of the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability. "This information should never be given out over the phone to someone you don't know."...

MURFREESBORO -- Shelbyville Central's Golden Eaglette softball team was well represented at the Middle Tennessee Softball Coaches Association Senior All-Star game at Riverdale High School on Wednesday evening. This past season's lone Eaglette senior, shortstop Morgan Ward, played on the White team with Eaglette head coach Shawn DiGianflelice and assistant coach Kerry Thompson...

Kyler Reynolds gave Junior Legion Post 23 the start it needed on the bump, but it was a key piece of hitting by three-hole hitter Alex Birdsong that put Marshall County away in an 8-4 victory on Wednesday evening. Reynolds gave Post 23 a perfect inning in the first by striking out the side, but it was Birdsong's two-run bomb in the bottom of the eighth inning that secured the win for the home team...

If you hear cannon or gunfire near H.V. Griffin Park next weekend, don't panic -- it's just a big history lesson. It was 150 years ago this month that Shelbyville found itself in the middle of the conflict that ripped the nation in two. That's why the Civil War sesquicentennial event on June 22-23 is called "Shelbyville in the Middle," where people can find out about this area's history, and perhaps learn something new about your own family...

The storm that swept portions of northern Bedford County late Monday afternoon wasn't a tornado, the National Weather Service said Tuesday. "A NWS storm survey team determined that damage in north central Bedford County 3 miles west-southwest of Bell Buckle along Minkslide Road, and focused at 150 Minkslide Road, was the result of straight-line winds from a microburst," an NWS press release said...

More promotions have been announced in the Bedford County school system. Four assistant principal positions were filled on Wednesday, Superintendent Don Embry said, three of which were filled by promoting teachers. Teachers who were promoted were: Janolyn King, teacher at Cascade Middle School, to assistant principal at Cascade Middle; Josh Young, teacher at Thomas Magnet School, to assistant principal at Harris Middle School; and Neil Watson, teacher at Thomas Magnet, to assistant principal at Cascade High School.. ...

Shelbyville attorney Forest A. Durard Jr. has been appointed as circuit court judge for the 17th Judicial District. The appointment, which fills the slot left by Robert Crigler, who retired May 30, was announced by the office of Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam...

Bell Buckle residents will see an increase in property taxes following the first reading of the town's budget. The rate is slated to go up 5 cents to 25 cents per $100 of assessed value, according to the town's budget ordinance. The budget will have its second and final reading at a special called meeting on June 25, starting at 6 p.m., which will be preceded by a public hearing at 5:45 p.m....

If Dad is a history buff, an adventure seeker -- or both -- look no further than the Smyrna Airport this weekend. The Liberty Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of World War II aircraft, is in Middle Tennessee this week. The Memphis Belle, a replica of the Boeing B-17 Bomber, will be open to the public and available for flights and ground tours Saturday and Sunday...

The ladies of the Farm Bureau prepared delicious treats for their annual coffee, held Tuesday, in honor of Dairy Month. Many of the recipes enjoyed by coffee patrons are featured below....

The Duck River will receive its annual cleaning on Saturday, June 22. This is the 16th year the Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber of Commerce's Beautification Committee is sponsoring the Duck River Cleanup. The Shelbyville Rotary Club is a partner in this year's program...

Row McLaughlin and his mother, Jenny, are recovering after successful surgeries Wednesday, according to the family's Prayers for Row McLaughlin Facebook page. Jenny donated a kidney to her 4-year-old son, who was suffering from chronic kidney disease, a term used for patients in renal failure. The transplant took place at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt...

Virginia Ann Ward, 79, of Bell Buckle, died early Thursday, June 13, 2013 at Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Doak-Howell Funeral Home with Charles Redmond officiating. Burial will follow at Willow Mount Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Friday.

Daisy and Emma Pittenger, of Kelso, TN, visiting their Great-Grandparents, Frank and Alice Nichols.

The wheels and tires were stolen from a Nissan Altima overnight Tuesday at National Auto Liquidation Center, Madison Street, police said. Also reported to police: l The license plate from Winners Circle Horse Supply's box truck was noticed missing Wednesday, police were told...

Matthew Zachary Huffer was recently named to the Dean's List at Vanderbilt University during the spring 2013 semester. He will be a sophomore this fall, majoring in political science and economics. He will serve an internship this summer with U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper in Nashville...