Stories from Sunday, May 11, 2014

It never fails, if I'm around someone that has a stomach virus, I am going to contract it. Not only am I going to catch the virus, the little bug is going to hit me about ten times harder than it did the person before. At least, this is how it seems...

I have a book of poems, published in 1917, that my mother gave me years ago. It is poems written by her favorite poet, Edgar A. Guest. This book has been a treasure of mine, and I have quoted some of Guest's poems in a number of my sermons over the years...

Whitney Lenae Gordon, 23, is a life-long resident of Bedford County. She grew up in Shelbyville and is now a teacher at Learning Way Elementary. She is a proud graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and is excited to be back in Shelbyville to begin her career in education...

Geocaching. That may be an unfamiliar term to some, but it's likely to become a household word in Bedford County soon. Geocaching is a popular worldwide activity in which people use navigational technology to find "caches" of toys or trinkets that may be traded or have sentimental value. ...

Joseph and Jennifer Hasty of Shelbyville announce the birth of a daughter, Bayleigh Mae Hasty, on April 1 at Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro. The baby girl weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces. She is the granddaughter of David and Sue Hasty of Shelbyville and Doug and Gail Nelson of Lynchburg. ...

Brittany Lynette and Matthew Allen Cooper of Murfreesboro announce the birth of a son, Brock Allen Cooper, on April 21 in Smyrna. The baby boy weighed 8 pounds. He was 20 inches long. He is the grandson of Chris and Sherry Cooper of Shelbyville, and Mark Cowan and Joy Cowan of Miamisburg, Ohio. He is the great-grandson of Ron and Sherrie Sutton and Joe and Linda McGowan, all of Shelbyville, Mary Lynn Cooper of Unionville, and Wanda Lee Saylor of New Paris, Ohio...

Heather Jacobs and John Smith announce the birth of a daughter, Madalyn Claire Smith, on April 17 at Harton Regional Medical Center. The baby girl weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces, and was 20.5 inches. She is the granddaughter of Mauro and Belinda Wolff of Cartersville, Ga., the late Ralph David Jacobs Jr., David and Cindy Vannatta of Bell Buckle and Johnny and Julie Smith of Manchester. ...

God is frequently alluded to as a lion. The Newsboys sing about God "roaring like a lion" in "God's Not Dead." C.S. Lewis, arguably modern Christianity's greatest writer, veiled Jesus in the character of Aslan the lion in his Narnia stories. And, of course, Jesus was the Lion of Judah in Scriptures...

Happy Mother's Day to everyone! And here's a special "thank you" to all the moms who have brought their children and grandchildren to libraries to give them the gift of reading. Thanks, too, to the moms who read to their children, the moms who keep track of what their children check out, and the moms who have their children read to them...

It's been a while since I've written a column -- we've been busy bees at the Times-Gazette lately. Everything from doing our best to present the daily, community-driven news to special sections including Mother's Day and elections to preparing for our upcoming edition of the Salute magazine, which we publish for the Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber of Commerce...

The strawberries are here! As the first fruit to ripen in the spring, the sight of these bright red gems with their perky little green caps seems to bring in the warm weather and the beginning of the summer season. They are only here for a little while so get them while you can over the next month or so...

James and Rebecca (Becky) Walker Swing were married on April 15, 1949. They celebrated their 65th anniversary on Sunday, April 13, at El Bethel Baptist Church, where they have been life-long members. Family, church family and friends shared the celebration with a potluck meal, cake and fellowship...

Four generations: Pat Wallace, great-grandmother; Amanda Howard; Lori Bates; and Makenna Howard, 10 months. (Submitted photo)

Ruby Ewing, left, a longtime board member of Caregiver Relief Program, has resigned. President Janie Burke presented Ewing a plaque for excellence in service to the program. Ewing served for over 12 years on the board. (Submitted photo)

What do Smokey the Bear, chicks, dairy cows and school children have to do with one another? They're all part of Environment Week at the Bedford County Agriculture Center. The program started 17 years ago to teach children about their environment, said Gay Ervin, University of Tennessee extension program assistant. Ervin said she founded the program, which has provided elementary school students with hands-on learning for 16 years (one year was cancelled due to bad weather)...

Donna Orr Hargrove has announced her candidacy for re-election as 17th Judicial District public defender in the Aug. 7 general election. Hargrove has held the office of public defender for 16 years. She was an assistant public defender for five years prior to that...

Two new agents of the state Fire Marshal's office were commissioned on Friday at the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy on Unionville-Deason Road, but as Commissioner of Commerce and Insurance Julie Mix McPeak read the oath of office, they didn't seem to be paying very close attention...

Joseph Adcock tells Kalissa Ferrell what parts of a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro to photograph during the Horsepower Unlimited Car, Truck and Bike Show held Saturday by Celebration City Car Club. From modern horsepower -- Corvettes, Mustangs and Camaros -- to classic '50s rides, trucks, motorcycles and "rat rods," the show was a car nut's dream. Look for more photos to come in the T-G and on t-g.com. (T-G Photo by David Melson)

The Community Vikings are riding high after claiming their first district title in 25 years last week. But their postseason work isn't finished. The Vikings have a chance to keep their postseason push alive if they can win a critical first-round Region 5-A game against East Robertson on Monday...

The Times-Gazette is proud to reveal the winner of its Mommy and Me photo contest, which honored mothers and their children of all ages by capturing special moments on camera. All contest photos were published in a special Mother's Day section Tuesday, May 6. All photos may be seen at t-g.com...

Evan Mallett wants to know. How many licks does it take to get to the center of these tootsie roll pops.