Stories from Sunday, December 1, 2013

Reagan Aymett, a looping first/second grade teacher at Learning Way Elementary, has been awarded an Ezra Jack Keats Minigrant to purchase new books for her classroom, and has also been selected for the National Education Association's Master Teacher Project, meaning videos of her teaching techniques will be available to teachers across the nation...

First place in fishing tournament

Some Bedford County residents are proving to others that Christmas and the holiday season are about more than just scrambling for the best deals in crowded stores. They are working hard to help those in need, but some of the organizations are struggling with donations...

The idea came to Greg McDonald in the middle of the night -- how to help families in need this Christmas season. "You know what, we just need to do some good," McDonald, sales manager at Shelbyville Ford Chevrolet Buick GMC, told co-workers. The concept is simple -- fill up two trucks with food for those less fortunate...

Shelbyville's economic development will be discussed again Tuesday at the city council's monthly study session. One concept would have the city and county come together to construct a spec building. City manager Jay Johnson told the council in a memo his objective is not to talk about the past, "rather the future of the city...

Taking a break from playing at H.V. Griffin Park on Friday were Byron, Kelcie, Naomi, Nathan, Johnny, Edward and Kendrick Palacios-Herrera. They were from North Carolina visiting family in Shelbyville. (T-G Photo by Jim Davis)

The county's jobless rate fell two tenths of a percentage point over the past two months to 8.2 percent, according to preliminary data from the Tennessee department of Labor & Workforce Development Tennessee's jobless rate for both September and October was 8.4 percent -- one tenth of one percentage point lower than the August revised rate...

With the game tied going into the fourth quarter, Shelbyville Central's Golden Eaglettes were outscored by six points in the final stanza and fell 47-41 to Cookeville in the Cannon County Tournament on Friday. Shelbyville posted a 9-7 lead at the end of the first quarter and a 20-17 halftime advantage. The game was knotted 30-all after three quarters...

A slow start proved to be more than the Shelbyville Golden Eagles could overcome in a 67-50 loss to Cookeville at the Cannon County Tournament on Friday. Cookeville outscored the Eagles 16-3 in the first quarter, led 30-16 at halftime and posted a 46-28 advantage going into the fourth quarter where the Eagles put up 22 points...

CHAPEL HILL -- Blake Fanning scored a career-high 34 points in leading the Community Vikings to a convincing 74-57 victory over Watertown Friday afternoon at the Forrest Thanksgiving Classic. Fanning scored all of his points in the first three quarters as the Vikings broke open a close game by pulling away in the second half...

The Cascade Lady Champions fell to the Stewart County Rebelettes 39-29 on Friday in Forrest's annual Thanksgiving tournament. The Lady Champions started out slow offensively on Friday -- going scoreless in the first quarter -- but played stellar defense and held the Rebelettes to only six points...

"If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is 'Thank You,' it will be enough." --Meister Eckhart Many times, as I lead my congregations in prayer, I pray a simple prayer such as this, "Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord!" We have just celebrated the annual Thanksgiving holiday, but thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day. It needs to be a regular part of our everyday lives...

It's the time of the year to be thankful--as I am daily reminded by the long list of "I'm Thankful For..." statuses that make up the majority of my daily Facebook updates. Among my favorites: "I'm thankful for holidays that don't force me to be thankful." -Facebook User 11.16.13...

A Community Elementary School fifth-grader is foregoing birthday presents to instead present gifts to one of her peers. Sarah Beth Stacy turns 11 on Friday, Dec. 6. She is hosting a party after school that day for six of her friends. But instead of her guests bringing toys and other gifts for her, they will bring money -- to provide Christmas for a child in need at Community...

Elisha Hodge is a legal eagle for the state of Tennessee and a Bedford County native. She works as the open records counsel for the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury's Office of Open Records. The Office of Open Records counsel serves as the contact for concerns on access to local government public records under the Tennessee Public Records Act (Tenn. ...

Longtime Bedford County resident Mildred Bomar recently celebrated her 100th birthday in Nashville, where she now resides. Over 160 well-wishers attended the festivities. She was wife of the late Edgar Alan "Teddy" Bomar of Wartrace. They were dedicated members of Wartrace United Methodist Church for many years. ...

The Shelbyville Central High School NHS Service Learning Leadership class decorated two pet adoption Christmas trees for the Shelbyville-Bedford County Humane Association. You can adopt dogs and cats from these trees in the Antiques, Arts & Collectibles Mall on the square and at The Fly Arts Center. Pictured (in no order) are: Octavio Ayala, Preston Brown, Sarah Coker, Brittany Cook, Allen Doyle, Courtney Hornaday, Amanda Jones, Madison Martin, Tiana Sanders, Ellie Smith, Garret Smotherman, Jonathan Smotherman, Shelby Smotherman, Karla Suazo, Alisha Tillman and Christie Tran. (Submitted photo)

Marine Corps League Detachment 1128 Commandant Dave Uselton presents Col. Ken Crowell, USMC retired, with a $500 donation to the 2013 Toys for Tots Program. (Submitted photo)

On Saturday, Nov. 23, the Cascade FFA chapter worked with the Shelbyville, Bell Buckle and Wartrace Fire Departments to conduct a smoke detector drive. After completing a two-hour training session, 20 FFA members, 10 alumni members and six volunteer firefighters hit the streets of Bell Buckle and Wartrace to inspect and/ or install smoke detectors. The chapter was very successful and installed 90 smoke detectors, while delivering literature about fire safety. Pictured are Haley Hollis and Carter McAnally. (Submitted photo)