Stories from Sunday, March 23, 2014

"You're all plastic soldiers in a miniature dirt war!" screams Jim Morrison (as portrayed by Val Kilmer in Oliver Stone's film, The Doors) from the top of a car to an on looking crowd, who are somewhat amused and bewildered at the eccentric rock icon's antics. I've always pondered that phrase because I was so struck by its profundity the first time I saw it, which was when I was pretty young...

There it was, hopping across the brown winter grass in my front yard: a beautiful robin, with its magnificent red breast. I got excited when I saw that wonderful bird. I've always heard that was a sign that spring was on the way. I'm like everyone else, longing for a break in the weather, ready for spring...

Daryl Ann Bell and Clinton Thomas Adams, both of Shelbyville, are engaged. The future bride is the daughter of Joe and Camille Bell of Shelbyville. She is the granddaughter of the late John T. and Carolyn Ledbetter, the late George D. Bell, and the late Jay and Rena Geary, all of Shelbyville...

My fascination with one pot wonders and Mediterranean flavors won't go away. This time of year -- this year, especially -- the weather plays tricks on our minds and for me, weather greatly affects the types of food I crave. I like light and simple dishes during summer and spring, yet all these cold snaps have me craving hot, filling, comfort foods...

Elizabeth "Bea" Sharon Patrick of Fayetteville and John Charles Marsh of Shelbyville are engaged. The future bride is the daughter of Chuck and Patty Patrick of Fayetteville. She is the granddaughter of the late Charles and Mary Patrick, and the late Walter and Ruth Harris...

The Shelbyville Satellite Group has had a several-year outreach project of stitching bookmarks for students at Bedford County elementary schools. In previous years, they targeted one or two classrooms. "For this year, we set ourselves the challenge of providing a bookmark to every second grader at a single elementary school," said group member and photographer Libby Covington. "Their teachers and the school principal also receive a bookmark."...

The following conversation reflects a Q&A interview with Frederica Edwards and the Times-Gazette. If you have someone you would like to nominate for Sunday Conversation please contact editor Sadie Fowler at sfowler@t-g.com. T-G: How long have you lived in Bedford County? Did you grow up here? If not, where did you grow up, and what brought you to Bedford County?...

Bridge is addictive, according to some who play it. A duplicate bridge club formed about two months ago and is recruiting new members, said one player, Donna Green. The club meets on Mondays at 12:30 p.m. at the Shelbyville/Bedford County Senior Citizens Center. There are currently about 20 members, including several new participants...

(Editor's Note: The following guest column was written by State Sen. Jim Tracy. Generally, the Times-Gazette has not run letters/opinion pieces during election season. However, with the Common Core issue at the forefront of legislative debate, we believe this commentary is both relevant and timely for the Bedford County community.)...

Two men accused of drug dealing were arrested Thursday by the 17th Judicial District Drug Task Force. Kavaris Lequan Kelso, 27, of Green Lane and William Henry Smith Jr., 35, of Lipscomb Street were arrested at a Barksdale Lane apartment complex, Asst. Director Tim Miller said...

Shelbyville was targeted for Tennessee Highway Patrol "anti-crash" saturation patrol Friday. State troopers fanned out across Shelbyville making massive numbers of traffic stops. Drivers who were texting while driving, distracted in other ways or not wearing seat belts were stopped by THP personnel from the Lawrenceburg, Chattanooga and Nashville districts, said Trooper Joe Agee...

Rod Stacy has announced his candidacy for Bedford County Sheriff in the May 6 Republican primary. Stacy is field training officer for Shelbyville Police Department, a position he's held since 1997. He joined the department in 1992. Stacy, a lifelong resident of Bedford County, is a 1988 graduate of Shelbyville Central High School and was a member of its undefeated 1987 football team. ...

A few years ago, the Times-Gazette shared a story about a scared, young woman trying desperately to understand what was wrong with her. She'd experienced severe rectal bleeding since she was 16, but out of fear never told anyone. In fact, it wasn't until many years later -- after going numb and nearly passing out at work -- that she learned that there was a name for what she'd been going through all those years...

Calsonic's first 5K run is expected to become an annual event, organizers say. Drew Bradford sped to the finish line in 19 minutes, 56 seconds to win the event. A total of 86 runners entered, said run co-organizer Beth Carr of Calsonic, who was also the first female across the line with a time of 24:24...

The first weekend of spring brought about 120 runners and walkers to Arrowhead on Ranch Saturday for the fourth "Run for the Ranch." Participation has doubled each year, ranch founder Jeff Sweeney said. Starting at the Duck River on the back of the 187-acre Christian-run ranch, 5K runners and others taking a more leisurely pace made their way up the horse trail and then back to the entrance of the property...

NASHVILLE -- The Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) is reminding Tennesseans that open enrollment for Affordable Care Act (ACA)-compliant plans ends on March 31. After the March 31 deadline, TDCI cautions that it may be challenging to acquire ACA-compliant plans outside of special enrollment periods...

An insurance company will be in Shelbyville this week to help sign people up for the Affordable Care Act. The HealthTN Tour bus will be in Shelbyville on Saturday, March 29 from 4-6 p.m. at Madison Street Station, 626 Madison St. HealthTN is a subsidiary of Continental Health Alliance, an insurance broker firm in Brentwood...

MURFREESBORO -- Compliance with the Affordable Care Act is crucial for businesses since the new law is complex and ever-changing, an insurance benefits advisor said Wednesday. Joe Lacher, group benefits advisor for The Crichton Group in Nashville, gave a presentation on the ACA, or Obamacare, to a crowd of about a dozen people at the Small Business Development Center. ...

After falling behind 3-1 by the end of the first inning, the Liberty Patriots rallied in the third, fourth, and fifth innings to force the 10-run mercy rule in a 14-4 win over Moore County on Friday night. Although Moore County plated three in the first inning, Liberty got one back in the bottom of the inning when Darius Ransom crossed the plate...

Seventh-grade Lady Champion pitcher Brooke Sudduth spun a one-hit gem against the Moore County Raiderettes and the Cascade offense banged out eight runs on seven hits to take the 8-1 win on Friday evening. Though held scoreless through three innings, Cascade eventually broke through and got two RBIs from Kailey Snell's bunt single and Jacie Williams' RBI single. Williams later scored on an error in the outfield, giving Cascade a 3-0 lead after three innings...

UNIONVILLE -- The Community Middle Vikings avenged an earlier loss in the week to Cascade by edging the Champions 8-7 in an intra-county baseball battle Friday night. Though outhit 9-2, the Vikings took advantage of 10 walks, two hit batsmen, and five errors to capture the come-from-behind win...

A four-run third inning was the difference in Harris Middle's 4-3 loss to Coffee County in a Central Tennessee Conference matchup on Friday afternoon. Trip Hardison turned in a fine performance on the mound for the Eagles, allowing only a pair of earned runs while scattering seven hits with four strikeouts and only two walks...

Shelbyville Central's Madden Reeves ripped a base hit up the middle in the Eagles' 7-0 loss to visiting Blackman on Friday. (T-G Photo by Gary Johnson)

The Community Viqueens had little trouble driving in the runs against Central Magnet School on Friday evening. The Purple and Gold drove in a combined 25 runs, picked up one win and settled with a tie in game two. In game one, Central Magnet threatened early, leading off the first inning with a base hit and a walk to put two on...

Are you 50? Have you had a colonoscopy? March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month, and the medical recommendation is that most people with a normal cancer risk get a colonoscopy at age 50, and every 10 years after that, according to Shelbyville physician Navid Monajjem...