Stories from Sunday, July 21, 2013

Gavin enjoyed running thru his sprinkler on a hot day.

Gavin Upchurch playing in his sprinkler. Trying to beat the heat, the 90 degree heat.

If you own a pit bull or a pit bull mix, you may qualify to get the animal fixed for free. The Middle Tennessee Spay and Neuter Clinic is using a $3,000 grant from the Petco Foundation to fix the dogs, said Kimberly Warren, executive director. The program runs until March 1, 2014, or until the funds run out...

Got a ton of junk laying around? Don't forget that you can get rid of it this week. Monday is the start of Shelbyville's first summer clean up event -- with public works pickups on the same day of the week as garbage collection. It's part of an effort to keep Shelbyville looking good, adding the event to spring and fall cleanups...

Volunteers representing Leadership Bedford worked on Saturday morning to install playground equipment at the Boys & Girls Club of Bedford County on Madison Street, including using an augur and post hole diggers. Even at 8:30 a.m., the heat was sweltering. The Leadership Bedford work day followed a work day on Friday representing Tennessee College of Applied Technology (formerly Tennessee Technology Center at Shelbyville). See photos of TCAT's work day on page 6A.

A few more steps remain before work can start on the Railroad Avenue state industrial road project, but city officials can't put a date on when it will resume. An agreement reached late Wednesday with seven property owners brought a three-month dispute over right-of-way claims to a end -- which had prompted the state to halt the $2.35 million widening of Railroad Avenue before work even began...

A woman accused of walking away from an injury accident early Thursday on South Cannon Boulevard was tracked down by police, with the help of a dispatcher. A witness told police they saw a woman walking away from a car in a ditch after wrecking shortly before 4 a.m...

A former minister accused of seducing a member of his church's youth group will have his case heard by the county's grand jury on Monday. Following a two-hour meeting with prosecutors, defense attorneys and the alleged victim's family, Joseph Todd Neill, 37, stood before General Sessions Judge Charles Rich and waived his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday...

The Shelbyville and Vicinity Club recently celebrated its 22nd Founder's Day Luncheon. The theme for this special event was, "Living With Purpose." The following people were recognized by the club for their outstanding service to the club and to the community:...

Shelbyville native Chase Prince recently achieved something that not a lot of people get to do. The 9-year-old 65cc 7-9 Limited dirt bike racer has qualified for the largest amateur motocross race in the world, the 32nd Annual Red Bull AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships at Loretta Lynn's Ranch...

From left: Wilma Bedwell of Wartrace, Justin Baltimore of Unionville, Colleen Philpott of Bell Buckle, and little Justus Baltimore of Unionville represent four generations living in Bedford County. (Submitted photo)

To the casual observer, 72-year-old James Brown is an active senior citizen who still drives a car, mows his own yard and goes to Shelbyville Recreation Center three times a week. For those who know Brown and his story, he is truly a marvel. Brown is no stranger to hard work. ...

Becky Landham and Justin Ward danced their way into Shelbyville last week when the served as guests of the Shelbyville Woman's Club. Landham and Ward own and operate Dance Murfreesboro, a studio that focuses on practical dances for adults needing to learn or spruce up their dancing skills before a special trip or occasion; or simply to learn a new skill and become more active...

Leah Ivy Ricks of Huntsville, Ala., was wed to Matthew Gordon Patrick of Huntsville on the evening of June 15 at the home of the bride's grandparents in Normandy. The bride is the daughter of Polly and David Wright Ricks of Huntsville. She is the granddaughter of John and Maurine Dement of Normandy and Earl and Amy Ricks of Huntsville...

David and Suzanne Jernigan of Crossville announce the marriage of their daughter Rachel Anne Jernigan of Crossville to John Kenneth Teague III of Shelbyville, son of John and Melody Teague of Shelbyville. The bride is the granddaughter of Betty Jernigan of Crossville and Harold Beech of Annandale. The groom is the grandson of James and Janice Carlton of Shelbyville and John and Jackie Teague of LaFollette...

"I still have my feet on the ground, I just wear better shoes!" That quote is attributed to Oprah Winfrey. Supposedly Marilyn Monroe said, "Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world." Oprah, and Marilyn before her, loved their shoes...

Does anyone else feel odd having nothing to do? I mean one of those days where all responsibilities are on hold and you do nothing that you're supposed to do. I had one of those days the other day and it felt strangely foreign. I may have even felt slightly wrong in being so indulgent in my nothingness. Then again, I don't feel too bad because it all happened, kind of, by accident...

Freda Capley of Shelbyville and Keith Cook of Shelbyville are engaged. The bride-elect is the daughter of George and Jean Baker of Shelbyville. She is the program director for the Tennessee Department of Human Services, Child Support Division, in Nashville...