Stories from Sunday, February 16, 2014

I am thankful for the opportunity to write this commentary on the American farmer. I was born on a farm; I was "raised" on a farm; I have worked on a farm; I live on a farm; and, if God is willing, I will die on one. This is more than a commentary on the American farmer. It is a tribute to the American farmer...

Nothing Like Family!

PULASKI -- Tournament time has struck District 12-AA. After trailing by 11 points to No. 2 CPA at two different times in Friday's District 12-AA semifinal game, the No. 3 Cascade Lady Champions (14-13) rallied past the Lady Lions (16-8) with a buzzer-beater shot by sophomore Maya Gaston to reach the 12-AA championship game on Saturday...

Elimination games are tough. Shelbyville Central found that out the hard way with a 62-56 loss to Coffee County in the quarterfinals of the District 8-AAA Tournament on Friday night. The loss ends the Golden Eagles' season. Shelbyville (11-17) had defeated Coffee County in both regular season games...

PULASKI -- After being lumped in with top-ranked CPA in the district reclassification a year ago, Cascade coach Mike Edmondson and his team set a goal to finish at least second in their new league. After dispatching the Page Patriots (9-17) with a 69-58 win in the District 12-AA semifinals on Friday night, the Champions (19-5) at least clinched a second-place finish...

UNIONVILLE -- Usually 77 points is enough to win a high school basketball game, but it wasn't enough on Friday night as the Middle Tennessee Christian Cougars defeated the Community Vikings 81-77 in the consolation game of the District 9-A tournament...

Earning All-Tournament Honors for their efforts in the District 9-A tournament are Lucas Pruitt (Forrest), Ty Hoeft (Forrest), Derrick Spears (MTCS), Kobe Foster (Huntland), Darian Pride (Community), Calen Parker (Eagleville), Tanner Simmons (Community), Aaron Parks (Fayetteville), Luke Primm (Community), Nick Hopkins (Fayetteville), James Keith (Fayetteville), and Blake Leonard- MVP (Forrest). (Photo by Anthony S. Puca)

Earning All-District honors for their efforts in the 2013-2014 regular season are Kobe Foster (Huntland), Calen Parker (Eagleville), Brandon Kelley (Eagleville), James Keith (Fayetteville), Nicholas Hopkins (Fayetteville), Blake Leonard (Forrest), Jacob Daughrity (Forrest), Ryan Northcutt (Moore Co.), Dylan Davis (Moore Co.), Bryson Crear (MTCS), David Capps (MTCS), Ben Brown (MTCS), Blake Fanning (Community), Luke Primm (Community), Tanner Simmons (Community) and Derrick Spears- MVP (MTCS). (Photo by Anthony S. Puca)

Rita Allen is no stranger to libraries. The new director of Argie Cooper Public Library has worked in such institutions all her life. She spent 35 years at her first library, Flathead County Library in Kalispell, Mont. Raised in Montana, Allen received her bachelor's degree from Montana State University and her master's degree from the University of Washington...

Hundreds of Hispanic residents in Bedford County have applied for a particular immigration status that allows them to attend school and find jobs without worrying about being deported. Bill Geissler and Miguel Gonzalez are two concerned citizens who help immigrants fill out paperwork for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Deferred Action allows eligible undocumented immigrants to stay and work for two years...

Do you love to shoot hoops? Then you can do something you love while helping save lives in the developing world. On March 7-8, First Baptist Church of Normandy will sponsor a three-on-three basketball contest. The event, at Cascade High School, will benefit Turn on the Tap, a Samaritan's Purse program that provides water filters to people in the developing world...

Jeffrey Ronald "Jeff" Sullivan has announced his candidacy for Bedford County Clerk as an independent candidate in the Aug. 7, 2014, general election. Sullivan, a native of Bedford County, has been a co-owner of J&J Detail for the past 21 years. Born and raised on a farm, he was active in Bedford County 4-H and the FFA Organization, receiving numerous awards and competing on the state and national levels in 1992. He is still an active sponsor of 4-H...

After getting married on Valentine's Day at Bedford County Clerk Kathy Prater's office, Kristen and Francisco Casas have their picture taken by a friend who witnessed the ceremony. (T-G Photo by Jim Davis)

Frigid weather has resulted in further water loss for Bell Buckle. Residents leaving faucets dripping to avoid frozen pipes caused a loss of 33.3 percent, according to water supervisor Ronnie Lokey. Leaks were repaired on the 2-inch main line on Hinkle Hill and the 4-inch main line on Lee Road. Two service leaks were repaired, along with three frozen meters thawed. Water samples taken at the main line leaks were all negative for coliform and e-coli, Lokey said...

Community Middle School got a taste of Korea on Feb. 6. Paula Smith, third-grade teacher, has been conducting a series of lessons on foreign cultures. The study has included geographic locations, languages and society. As part of the series, Smith invited Jeong Hee Dillingham to discuss life in South Korea. Although Dillingham has been a U.S. citizen for more than 20 years, she was born in Suwon, South Korea, and lived there for more than 20 years before moving to America...

Three residents of Bedford County received academic honors during the fall semester at Martin Methodist College in Pulaski. Hayley D. Wilson of Wartrace was named to the President's List with a semester grade point average of 4.0. Laura Ibarra-Alvarez and Emily Lewis of Bell Buckle were named to the Dean's List with a semester grade point average of 3.5 to 3.9...

Happy Birthday, MTEC! The Middle Tennessee Education Center (MTEC), Shelbyville's own college campus, will soon celebrate its fourth birthday in its current facilities. Congratulations, and thanks to all who worked so hard to bring this wonderful facility into existence. Your efforts will pay tremendous dividends for years to come...

"Optimism is essential to achievement and it is also the foundation of courage and true progress." --Nicholas M. Butler I had a great week this past week meeting with several people from our district. Monday evening I had the honor of presenting a proclamation to Coach Phillip Fulmer and his wife, Vicky. ...

To my fellow Tennesseans: This letter is in regards to the disturbing statistics concerning our children. My name is Sharonita Liles and I am an active advocate for grandparents' rights. For too long, we as a society have watched quietly while our young children have been, and still are, mentally and physically abused, neglected and abandoned. ...

The glitz and glamor of ABC's "Nashville" show will soon include a Shelbyville connection. Shelbyville Mills Baptist Church sold the show's producers 18 large pews from the center aisles. The producers carted the 15-foot and 11-foot pews away last Monday morning, said associate pastor David Brown. The pews may have to be cut down in size...

Mary Lynn Dickens is a guidance counselor at Shelbyville Central High School. She is married to Jeff Dickens, and together, they have a four-year-old son, Reed. Dickens is a native of Bedford County. If you would like to nominate a candidate for Sunday Conversation, email sfowler@t-g.com...

Oatmeal and other hot cereals can certainly be comfort food, and oatmeal provides beneficial soluble fiber that can help lower your cholesterol. But hot cereal is not always convenience food. Yes, you can use instant oatmeal packets even in the break room at work, but those can get boring very fast...

In today's fast-paced society, people are constantly searching for easy ways to stay healthy. Rodney and Dawn Simmons, co-owners of Just Peachy All Natural Market in Shelbyville, along with help from Quinn Raines, owner of Warm Springs Wellness Center in Murfreesboro, are hoping to help Bedford County residents to get healthy and stay that way...

The song was written by songwriter Don Von Tress somewhere around 1990. Tress had the idea that he wanted to write a romance-gone-wrong song from a humorous perspective. I came across a Country Weekly interview with Tress where the writer recalls the song coming together at the "most unlikely of spots--at the drive-through at a Hardee's in Indiana."...

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now I see." (John Newton) "Alas! and did my Savior bleed And did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred head For such a worm as I?" (Isaac Watts)...

Clout, n. -- "the power to influence or control situations," as defined by Merriam-Webster. Jenni Catron defines clout as a combination of gifts, experiences and opportunities that God gives a person and how it can be unleashed for others. Clout is power and influence. And Catron wants to help people use their clout to help others to be healthy leaders, whatever their roles in life and work...

Courtney Alyse Smith and Nicholas Andrew Young, both of Winchester, were married on the afternoon of Nov. 2 at New Hope Chapel in Shelbyville. The bride is the daughter of Charles Mark and Beth Smith of Shelbyville. She is the granddaughter of Charles J. and Madge Cares of Murfreesboro, Harriet Cares of Shelbyville, and the late Robert H. and Sara I. Smith of Shelbyville...