Stories from Thursday, November 21, 2013

NASHVILLE -- A botched attempt to fire up a Tennessee high school football team has forced out the head coach and his three assistants -- two of whom are accused of vandalizing their own field house, and the third, who authorities say broke into a rival school to steal the opponent's playbook...

The Shelbyville & Bedford County Chamber of Commerce beautification committee will hold its annual Christmas decorations contest this year, with both commercial and residential divisions. Top three winners will be announced in each division. Entries will be judged on originality, creativity, neatness, and appropriateness to the season...

A potential shooter thought to be possibly on the loose in a high school -- with anxious parents, some panicking, outside. Substances leaking toward the city's main water treatment facility moments after a large explosion at a gas company -- next door to a animal shelter, two doors down from a detention center and two blocks from a school...

So often in this day and age, athletes go on to bigger and better things, forgetting who they are, and quite frankly change. But Colorado Rockies' relief pitcher Rex Brothers isn't one of them. On Tuesday night, following the basketball games between Cascade and Community High Schools, Brothers spoke to the FCA/FCS in the Community High School theater...

Two marijuana "roaches" were in the possession of a man arrested after a non-injury, single-vehicle wreck on Colloredo Boulevard at Woodbury Street early Tuesday night, according to Shelbyville police. Casey Lee Ward, 26, of El Bethel Road initially denied consuming alcohol or drugs but, after failing field sobriety tests, admitting having smoked marijuana and failing a drug test at work, officer Darrell Birdsong's report said...

Ty Carrington of Chapel Hill, a drafting and CAD Technology student at Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville, was named as the local school's Outstanding Student of the Year. The announcement was made by Ivan Jones, director of TCAT-Shelbyville, during a recognition luncheon for all nominees at Legends Restaurant...

Leroy C. Cunningham, Business Development Specialist with the Tennessee Small Business Development Center in Murfreesboro, TN, recently addressed the students of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Shelbyville. The purpose of the seminar was to provide students interested in starting a business a broad overview of the many things with which they'll be confronted as entrepreneurs. ...

FRANKLIN -- Atmos Energy Corporation said most of its utility customers in Tennessee could expect their natural gas bills this coming winter to be slightly higher compared to last winter. "Our residential customers could expect, on average, to pay 6 percent more for the natural gas they use this winter, compared with their gas costs during the past winter," said Kevin Akers, president of Atmos Energy's Tennessee Division. ...

Geraldine Neese, an agent with Coldwell Banker Segroves-Neese Real Estate, has been recognized among America's top agents by REAL Trends. "Geraldine was among only 52 agents in the State of Tennessee who met the minimum requirement of 50 transaction units required to be included in this group," said Harold Segroves, managing broker. ...

Bird Street Church of Christ, 428 Bird St., will serve Thanksgiving Day lunch on Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon. There will be take-out plates, or you may dine in the fellowship hall. Orders must be placed by 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 22. Call 684-3876 to order...

Thomas Magnet School is accepting applications for the 2014-2015 school year for grades K-5. Applications may be picked up at Thomas' office or they can be printed online at www.bedfordk12tn.com. Applications are due by Friday, Feb. 14, 2014. Applications may be mailed to Thomas Magnet School, 515 Tate Ave., faxed to 931-684-7174 or dropped off at the front office...

"The Game's Afoot; or, Holmes For The Holidays," a comedy by Ken Ludwig, will be presented in a dinner theater format Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 6 and 7 at The Fly Arts Center on South Main Street. The comedy, winner of a Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allen Poe award, is about a Broadway star, famous for playing Sherlock Holmes, who has to play the role for real when he's present for a murder at his Connecticut mansion...

On Wednesday night, men and women from First United Methodist Church continued their preparations for Friday's annual luncheon and bazaar. Turkeys are taken home by church members to be cooked, then brought back for carving. David Sherrill, left, carves a turkey while Jack Carney advises Donna Smith on how to proceed. (T-G Photo by John I. Carney)

Adults trying to earn their high school equivalency diploma are facing some new challenges, including higher costs, and may have to redo all their previous work. "It's going to be interesting," said Elaine Weaver, director of the Adult Education office in Shelbyville...

Bedford County will take bids on electronic monitoring ankle bracelets which could be used to place some convicts under house arrest, according to discussion at Tuesday night's meeting of Bedford County Board of Commissioners' law enforcement committee...

City crews are awaiting the results of tests from the state before moving on to the next step of cleaning up the aftermath of Monday's explosion at Southern Energy. Crews with Evergreen AES Environmental Service of Nashville have been at the site since late Tuesday afternoon, according to public works director Mark Clanton, who said the city is working in conjunction with Southern Energy in the effort to rectify the effects of the spill...

These students at Thomas Magnet School were chosen Positive Pupils. They were chosen for having a good self-concept; being happy; successful; healthy and creative. Front (from left): Rylei Hale; Elijah Smith; Alayna Cruse; Marena Jacobs; Joshua Rincon; Emmanuel Lopez; Kimberly Ramirez; Jackson Davis and Kohen Bush. Back (from left): Kay Elam, school counselor; Henry Simpson; Katelyn Carrillo; Elliott Caine; Caroline McKamey; Wendy Campos; Elijah Kirby and Ethan Clifford. (Submitted photo)

Tommy Ray Hudson Sr., 68, died Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2013 after a battle with brain cancer. He was a native of Shelbyville. A memorial service will be held Dec. 3 at First Presbyterian Church in Maumee, Ohio.

James Layton Bennett Jr., 60, of College Grove died Saturday at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville. Funeral services will be held at noon Friday at Gowen-Smith Chapel with Brandon Rediker and Larry Hammonds officiating. Burial will follow at Willow Mount Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-9 p.m. Thursday.

This shot was taken with an Android phone, while standing on the foot bridge in the middle of the creek.

Ashlyn Christopher, Issac & Logan had a great time at East Side Elementary's Reading Under The Stars