Stories from Sunday, December 22, 2013

The Christmas spirit is alive and well in Bedford County, as a minister and his family who lost their home to fire Saturday night can testify. "We've had people from all over the community helping us," Brian Lindsey, minister of Whitaker Church of God said Sunday. "We've heard from people who have never been to our church. It's really a testament to our community."...

Kidney disease is more prevalent in Bedford County than one may think, one relative says, and it blesses those struggling with the disease when they receive the commnity's support. "Bedford County needs more awareness of kidney transplant needs," said Daphne Smith. Her husband, Billy, received a new kidney on Nov. 24...

All bids for the widening of North Main Street have been rejected by the Tennessee Department of Transportation for being higher than estimated. A contract awards list for the Dec. 6 letting from TDOT states "all bids rejected" for the project -- which is to involve grading, drainage, and paving work from the Madison Street intersection to north of Rolling Road...

EDITOR'S NOTE: As always, we're delighted when Flat Creek resident Julio Francesconi shares his short fiction with us. Oh, I remembered quite well the night, four years ago, at the beginning of the Christmas season, when "Lou-Lou" came into our lives...

A woman taking her child to Heritage Medical Center for emergency treatment late Thursday afternoon was charged with reckless endangerment and reckless driving after allegedly refusing to stop for blue lights. Christina Ladd of Shelbyville called 911 during the slow-speed pursuit to say she would keep driving because her son was having trouble breathing and would not ride in an ambulance, officer Bruce Davis' report said...

Sobriety roadside safety checkpoints will be conducted on U.S. 41A during the week of Dec. 31 by the Bedford County Sheriff's Department. "Deputies will evaluate drivers for signs of alcohol or drug impairment," a press release issued by the department said. "Deputies will target those who operate a vehicle while impaired and take actions for other violations observed while ensuring the protection of all motorists...

Beginning Jan. 2, Tennessee College of Applied Technology/Shelbyville will offer the Patient Care Technician/Medical Assistant program at Middle Tennessee Education Center on Dover Street in Shelbyville. The program is being moved from an off-campus site in Fayetteville to a closer and more central location to the TCAT-Shelbyville to make the program more accessible to students from the surrounding counties...

Sandra Hughes of Heritage South Credit Union accepts a donation from the Shelbyville Civitan Club, represented by club member Mary Cathryn Perry, for the Friends of Mandy Jean fund. Donors are raising money for a wheelchair lift van for Shelbyville police officer Carol Jean, who must lift her wheelchair-bound 20-year-old daughter, who has cerebral palsy, into and out of her current van. For more information, go to www.gofundme.com/friendsofmandy. (Submitted photo)

COLUMBIA -- In one of their better performances of the season, Shelbyville Central's Golden Eagles cruised to a 59-43 victory over Lancaster Christian Academy in the First Farmers Christmas Classic in Columbia on Friday afternoon. The Golden Eagles (3-9) led 16-14 at the close of the first quarter, but were outscored 12-7 in the second stanza to trail 26-23 at the intermission...

Free throws in the clutch and a couple of key defensive stops helped the Community Vikings (9-6) escape the Cornersville Bulldogs with a win in the final game of the Community Christmas Classic on Friday night. "It was a challenge tonight, to say the least. When the game got tight, for the first time this year, we made them (free throws) to hold onto the lead," said Viking coach Robbie Davis...

Having suffered just their second loss of the season on Thursday night against Loretto, the Community Viqueens rebounded on Friday evening with a convincing 58-36 win over the Cornersville Lady Bulldogs in day two of the Community Christmas Classic...

COLUMBIA -- Shelbyville Central's Golden Eaglettes claimed a 39-28 victory over Franklin's Lady Rebels in the First Farmers Christmas Classic in Columbia on Friday. The Eaglettes (7-4) posted leads of 9-6 at the end of the first quarter, 17-13 at halftime and 29-26 going into the fourth quarter...

A night after a disappointing loss to Boyd Christian, the Webb School boys basketball team strung together their most impressive win of the season, taking down Christian Community 67-29. "This is a good team. Everybody played a lot. We played a little bit better and shared the ball," said Webb coach Jeff Mitchell...

Julie Culp got married in May, 2012 -- and then, about a month later, had to say goodbye as her husband Kevin deployed for Afghanistan with the U.S. Army. Their first Christmas, a time when most newlyweds might revel in their first Christmas together, they weren't together...

Liberty art teacher Helen Johnson ("Mrs. J") was born and raised in Winchester. She has been teaching art at Liberty School in Bedford County for two years and prides herself on an interactive approach where students learn as much about giving back to the community as they do art itself...

I am obviously too old to believe in Santa Claus. It would be weird if I did, right? It would be weird, yet, the other night I found myself caught up in the "magic" surrounding Christmas. It was a feeling that I hadn't had since I was a little child. Here's how it went down...

The Prophet Isaiah wrote, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah's prophecy was fulfilled in the birth of the One we know as Jesus Christ...

David and Brenda Knight celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at a party hosted by daughter and son-in-law Robert and Carla Ralston and their two grandchildren Stone and Gage Ralston. This celebration was on Nov. 16 at Our House Too. The Knights were married Nov. 16, 1963, in Ringgold, Ga...

Erica Jo Podolsky of Spring Hill was wed to Philip Brian Cox of Murfreesboro on the afternoon of Nov. 9 at Samary Plantation in Eagleville. The bride is the daughter of Robert and Linda Podolsky of Spring Hill. She is the granddaughter of the late Frank and Olga Podolsky and the late Jack and Thelma Fulsom...

Kevin and Heather Nerren of Shelbyville announce the birth of a son, Preston Grey Nerren, on Nov. 19 at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital. The baby boy weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces. He is the grandson of Terry and Leona Head, and the Rev. Bryan and Rhonda Nerren, all of Shelbyville. He is the great-grandson of Cecil and Joy Robinson, Robbie Barnett, Ben Nerren of Shelbyville and the late Mary Fox...