Stories from Friday, July 5, 2013

6 month old Eli spends his 1st 4th of July swinging in his new swing.

With just one regular season swim meet left on the schedule, the Shelbyville Sharks traveled to Lawrenceburg on Monday to take on the LA Wave. With the season's end in sight, the Sharks completely dominated the Wave, winning by a final team score of 418-194...

Every Fourth of July consists of cookouts, fireworks, and hotdogs. So it makes sense to keep with American traditionalism with the Nathan's Famous Hotdog Eating contest on Coney Island, New York. And for the past seven years, there has been no competition with American Joey Chestnut dominating the annual hotdog eating affair...

It was the late '80s, and Tony Arata had moved to Nashville from Georgia. A songwriter trying to get his songs heard by anybody that would listen, Arata frequently visited open-mic nights in the Nashville area. On one of those particular nights, at a place called Douglas Corner, Arata played the first song he had recorded since moving to Music City -- a little song titled, "The Dance." You may have heard of it. ...

Bedford County Emergency Management Agency director Scott Johnson urged local residents to stay away from the Duck River and other high water, as heavy rain on the Fourth of July has brought the river to high levels. "If you fell in the river," said Johnson, "it would be hard to find you."...

An unusable fire hydrant near the square is causing concern for city officials over who pays for it and how it may impact upcoming renovations, with one city councilman calling the situation "crazy." Last week, the city received a grant for over $300,000 from Gov. Bill Haslam for sidewalk improvements on East Depot Street, as well as Brittain and Holland streets on the west side of Shelbyville's downtown...

Joyce McGee has earned a break. After 50 successful years working with several Shelbyville dentists, she has retired this summer. "After going to work for 50 years, staying at home might be good," McGee said. McGee has no big plans other than helping out at her church, Edgemont Baptist, and keeping her grandchildren when needed...

Marcia Schinkowitch Cape, 73, of Mandeville, La., died Tuesday, July 2, 2013. She was the mother of Pete F. Drewek of Shelbyville. Private funeral services were held.

Jerry Thomas Martin Sr., 61, of Shelbyville died Wednesday, July 3, 2013. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Doak-Howell Funeral Home with Jimmy Gray officiating. Mr. Martin will be cremated following the service. Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Friday.

Allena Murray Womble, 87, of Shelbyville died Wednesday, July 3, 2013. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday at Hillcrest Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Mt. Herman Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Friday.

Drugs and money were confiscated by Shelbyville police at a North Main Street hotel early Thursday morning in what was originally a call about an unwanted person. Anthony Brandon, 39, of Shelbyville was arrested on multiple charges. From left, drug dog Julie and officers Jody Shelton, Todd Sanders and Jose Garza with $8,558, 17.12 grams of crack, 10.28 grams of cocaine and 1.96 grams of marijuana found in the room. (T-G Photo by David Melson)

"No one's in the truck, but we've got a mess here," a deputy radioed to Bedford County Communications Center after arriving at this accident on Squire Hall Road late Thursday night. The truck was registered to Russell Geeck of Midland Road, officials said. (T-G Photo by David Melson)