Stories from Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Microsoft is playing the long game, betting that its hybrid tablets running the full desktop version of the Windows 8 operating system will in the long run gain a foothold against iPads and Android tablets because of the versatility that comes from a full desktop operating system...

A school security threat turned out to be a prank call, but the ongoing struggles of the Tennessee walking horse industry were all too real, as the Times-Gazette continues its countdown of the top 10 local stories of 2013 as determined by a panel of 12 T-G employees...

Investigators are continuing efforts to identify a man who a woman says abducted her from the Dollar General Market shopping center Monday night. The suspect was hiding in the back seat of her car as she left a hair salon, authorities said. Seconds after she pulled away he ordered her to "drive," Det. Sgt. Brian Crews of the Shelbyville Police Department said Tuesday...

A woman kidnapped at gunpoint from a Shelbyville shopping center early Monday night escaped without injury south of the city, investigators said. As of 10:45 p.m. a search was underway in the Hunters Lane-Simmons Road area off State Highway 82 for the man, described only as a black male wearing blue jeans and a jacket, Sheriff Randall Boyce said...

The thief who has plagued Shelbyville residential areas since autumn apparently struck again over the weekend. A car was stolen, several more were entered and guns were taken from a garage, police said. Police think the man is the same who was involved in the other burglaries. He fits the description given by other victims, Det. Sgt. Brian Crews of the Shelbyville Police Department said...

New years are often times to look forward to new things in life, to make resolutions to make some change (regardless of whether you stick to the change) or to reflect on what happened in the outgoing year, for good or bad. For this new year, the Times-Gazette asked people what they were thankful for during 2013; health, family and bicycles were among the responses...

NASHVILLE -- Mississippi coach Hugh Freeze spent 13 years coaching high school football in Tennessee so he feels very comfortable in the Volunteer State. And his Rebels made sure he started and finished this season with victories in Music City. Bo Wallace ran for two touchdowns and threw for another score, and Ole Miss beat Georgia Tech 25-17 Monday in the Music City Bowl. ...

The Times-Gazette's Big Event contest is underway and readers have until Monday, Jan. 6 to submit their entries to win a cash prize. The supplement includes a number of Big Event logos hidden throughout the advertising messages. Readers should count the number of logos found within pages 2 through 31 OR 2 through 32 of the section and write the number on the entry form included in the supplement...

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Keenan Reynolds has two more seasons at Navy and a chance to join another select group of players. A half-century after Hall of Famer and two-time Super Bowl champion Roger Staubach won the Heisman Trophy playing for the Midshipmen, their current quarterback is now only the fourth player to rush for more than 30 touchdowns in a season...

Shelbyville Central's Golden Eaglettes totally dominated the boards on the way to a 59-41 victory over Bell County of Kentucky in third-day action of the Landair Ladies Classic in Greeneville on Monday. The Eaglettes (9-7) are scheduled to play mid-state foe Wilson Central today to close out the tournament...

EAGLEVILLE -- Points in the clutch allowed the Cascade Lady Champions to win their second straight game in the Eagleville Christmas Classic and close out the first half of the season with an upset win over former district rival Forrest, 56-49, on Saturday afternoon...

EAGLEVILLE -- Saying the Cascade Champions are shooting the ball well could be a bit of an understatement. In their second game of the Eagleville Christmas Classic on Saturday afternoon against former district opponent Forrest, the Champs shot an impressive 28 of 42 attempts from the floor and cruised to a 77-52 win to close out their run through the round robin tournament...

Does your New Year's plans involve a cozy night at home or a big night out on the town? Whichever choice you make tonight, the the State Fire Marshal's Office is hoping you add fire safety to the celebration agenda. Celebrating a new year with consumer fireworks has been a long standing tradition in America, but thousands of people, most often children and teens, are seriously injured each year through their use...

Talent comes in many forms and many times in surprising ways. The Emergency Department staff, nurses and physicians at Harton Regional Medical Center are often faced with unimaginable challenges. Even so, they dig deep within themselves and find that strength which with their education and training allows them to deal with the emergency at hand...

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Sean R. Hornberger has graduated from the U.S. Navy's Officer Nuclear Power School at Naval Nuclear Power Training Command in Goose Creek, S.C. Nuclear Power School is a rigorous six-month course that trains officer and enlisted students in the science and engineering fundamental to the design, operation, and maintenance of naval nuclear propulsion plants...

A woman caught trying to pass allegedly counterfeit checks had several in her possession when arrested, Shelbyville police said. Melissa Anne Talbot, 34, of South Cannon Boulevard cashed a counterfeit check for $296 at a Shelbyville store Thursday, officer Jon Cooke's report said. The store's owner notified police when Talbot allegedly attempted to cash a fake check for $2,500 Friday...

Bringing Christmas to local nursing homes is a family affair for the Warrens. Christy Warren and her family held another successful year of Christy's Cuddlies for Clera. The 8-year-old mission provides toiletries, stuffed animals and other items for nursing home residents...