Stories from Sunday, June 30, 2013

Fireworks stands. Fireworks shows. Cookouts. Wearing red, white and blue clothing. All are American traditions on July 4. Seven in 10 Americans who plan to celebrate the holiday will attend a barbecue, cookout or picnic, totaling more than 164 million people -- a record in that category, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation (NRF), conducted by BIGinsight...

Dear Sasquatch, I'm choosing to communicate with you in this method because I've concluded that you must be able to read minds. How else have you managed for centuries to elude capture? How in an age of technology and advanced scientific gadgets have we not proved that you exist? You are always one step ahead and, therefore, must have some advanced form of telepathy at your disposal...

I caught my cat Beethoven having a little snack.

Lightning storm earlier this year. Taken at my house in Bell Buckle.

Shelbyville: H.V. Griffin Park Park opens at 7 a.m. Rec Center open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Indoor and outdoor pools open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Special rate of $1 per person (weather permitting) 4 p.m. Red, White & Blue Children's Parade All ages welcome to decorate bicycles, wagons and more...

On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As always, this most American of holidays will be marked by parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country...

There's a lot for Shelbyville's city council to talk about when they get together for their July study session Tuesday. First on the agenda will be a presentation and discussion with Clay Banks, the regional director for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development...

A four-wheeler stolen overnight Wednesday from the yard of a Mt. Herman Road home showed up within hours on the Craigslist website, the Bedford County Sheriff's Department was told. A friend of the victim emailed the "seller" and was told to meet him at a Walmart in Lebanon later Thursday, Deputy Jimmy Rhodes said...

Three weeks before a trial was to begin, a federal judge has dismissed a suit against the county and a deputy. U.S. District Judge Harry S. Mattice Jr. ruled that all federal claims made by Ricky Robertson should be dismissed with prejudice, meaning the case can not be brought back. The judge also dismissed all state claims without prejudice...

The Bedford County FFA chapter of Shelbyville Central High School is recalling a successful 2012-2013 year even as it plans ahead for back-to-school. On March 23, the Bedford County FFA chapter traveled to Gatlinburg, to attend the 85th Tennessee FFA State Convention. Students earned several honors...

George and Louise Clanton celebrate his 88th birthday with their grandson-in-law Scott Cook. While at the track, they also watched their grandson Clint Nichols race. (Submitted photo)

"Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful." --John Wooden Wiping up sweat off the gym floor...collecting dirty towels...filling water bottles...all are unglamorous tasks that a lot of high school students might just simply refuse to do...

A new church is forming in Shelbyville; Refuge of Faith Community Church will begin meeting July 7 at a meeting room at the Microtel Inn & Suites on North Main Street. The church will meet at 4 p.m. each Sunday. The husband-and-wife team of Gary and Galilee Guess will be the church pastors. ...

BELL BUCKLE -- Fifty-four seniors, including 10 Bedford County students, each received a Bible and diploma at the Webb School 143rd Commencement Ceremony on June 1. The day began with baccalaureate. An independent college preparatory day/boarding school for grades 6-12, The Webb School is the oldest continuously operating school of its kind in the South. The school has a dual emphasis on academic excellence and character development...

Paula Deen. There. Your strongly-held opinion of her probably flashed across your mind as you read her name, right? We heard from two women -- one black, one white -- who disliked an editorial cartoon showing Deen last week. At least there was some common ground there...

Dear editor: Our sincere appreciation to the Times-Gazette and to Sadie Fowler, Jason Reynolds and Jim Davis for your generous coverage of the 16th Duck River Clean-up. The lead lines and color pictures were terrific, then when the decision was made that the swift current and high water made the river unsafe for boats, etc., you ran articles informing our volunteers of the situation. This information was invaluable to the project...

For former Shelbyville Central High School baseball player Hunter Brothers, the dream of playing major league baseball is one step closer. Brothers was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 24th round of the 2013 MLB Amateur Draft. "I'm really excited that I had my name called for the next level," said Brothers...

Though diving into an outdoor pool for the first time might have created some challenges for some members of the Shelbyville Sharks, the team was able to put those aside and breeze past McMinnville on Thursday afternoon, 346-262. It was a fairly even battle amongst the teams during the relays, but once again, Shelbyville dominated the freestyle throughout all the age groups...