Stories from Thursday, October 24, 2013

Deborah Ann Basham, 61, of Wartrace died Oct. 19, 2013 in Nashville after a prolonged fight with breast cancer. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the family's home in Wartrace. Feldhaus Memorial Chapel is handling arrangements.

A few nights ago, some friends of mine had a serious discussion of how many times I ought to be slapped, and how hard. It's not that I did anything slap-worthy, you understand; the butler did it. I'm playing the part of Chives, a sharp-tongued butler, in the play "Doctor Jeckyll ... No Place To Hyde," a comedy by Pat Cook which will open Friday night in a dinner theater production at Mel's (the former Fifties and Fiddles) on Depot Street...

Bedford County Historical Society recently held its fall quarter meeting in the Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church. Bill and Jane Cortner, Jay and Helga Maniscalco, Barbara Helms, Rod and Cindi Lindsey, and Mary Ruth Simmons hosted a capacity crowd of members and visitors in the Fellowship Hall, which was decorated in an autumn harvest theme with festive candles. ...

The "second place contest prize" of $250,000 a Shelbyville man was told he'd won sounded set off scam warnings in his mind. He didn't cash the $2,250 check enclosed as a "processing fee" in a letter he received this week. The intended victim "won" the money in a "consumers sweepstakes lottery" held Sept. 30, according to the letter, which bore a South Africa stamp...

KNOXVILLE -- Tennessee forward Jarnell Stokes has expanded his game and reduced his frame after receiving some pointed criticism about his pro potential. Stokes considered entering the draft after his sophomore season and got some brutally honest feedback from the NBA's Undergraduate Advisory Committee that inspired him to work harder than ever this offseason...

KNOXVILLE -- Tennessee center Mercedes Russell will begin her college career as the Lady Vols' most heralded incoming freshman since Candace Parker, a player she grew up idolizing and recently met. Russell was on vacation this summer when she stopped by a Los Angeles Sparks practice and spoke briefly with the 6-foot-4 Parker, a WNBA most valuable player and two-time Olympic gold-medal winner...

BOSTON -- Nearly a decade ago, the Boston Red Sox reversed The Curse. Now they're even getting key calls turned around in the World Series, leaving them on the verge of an opening Fenway Park sweep for the third time in 10 seasons. And not even a need for instant replay. The umpires overturned this blown call on their own...

The Cascade Champions have been riding high this season. Last week, however, the Champs (6-2, 2-2 12-AA) suffered a setback with a 21-20 loss to Page. With just two games left on the 2013 schedule, every game is a must-win with playoff implications on the line...

State Sen. Jim Tracy of Shelbyville, who is challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais of South Pittsburg in next year's Republican primary, was criticized by the DesJarlais campaign for promoting an endorsement from a specific Tea Party group...

Wartrace officials have chosen to cancel -- and rebid -- a downtown enhancement project due to cost issues. Earlier this month, bids were opened for Phase II of a Tennessee Department of Transportation grant that was to update the downtown area's sidewalks, and add street lights and landscaping. Estimated cost was $67,200...

A lawsuit that major railroad companies won against the State of Tennessee puts short-line railroads like the Walking Horse & Eastern at risk, members of Bedford Railroad Authority were told on Wednesday. Some 21 years ago, according to engineer Patrick Conyers, a percentage sales tax on diesel fuel was enacted by the state on railroads. ...

With Halloween a week away, the consensus of participants in a non-scientific poll of Times-Gazette website users seems to be that about 12 or 13 is the proper age for a child to stop going trick-or-treating, although some commenters say you're never too old to dress up in costume and ask the neighbors for candy...

All season long, the Community Vikings have been searching for a signature win. Last Friday night, the Vikings found such a win in thrilling fashion, defeating the Moore County Raiders 33-32. Riding off that confidence, the Vikings are hoping to make it two-straight with a win against the Huntland Hornets this week...

Bedford County is acknowledging its Civil War heritage with hopes of increasing tourism. The county is dedicating a Civil War Trails marker on the south courthouse lawn during a ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. "The marker is a good way for our community to increase tourism," Bedford County Mayor Eugene Ray said. "Bedford County has a significant amount of history from the Civil War."...