Stories from Thursday, June 12, 2014

Shelbyville Parks and Recreation Director Sylvia Pinson has cancelled Saturday's planned Flag Day observance due to wet conditions at River Bottom Park, which may be made even worse by forecast rain this weekend. Pinson noted that the patriotic observance of Flag Day should still take place throughout town, and that the mayors of both Shelbyville and Bedford County have issued Flag Day proclamations suggesting that the flag be flown at least between Flag Day (June 14) and Independence Day (July 4). ...

Learland D. Rodgers, 81, of Shelbyville, died Thursday, June 12, 2014. Thursday, June 12, 2014. Funeral services will be held at noon Tuesday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Jeremy Wells officiating. Burial will follow in Holden Cemetery.Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Monday and beginning at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Shanna Ruth Thomas, 28, of Arlington, Texas, a former Shelbyville resident, died unexpectedly Monday, June 9, 2014 at her home. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Rogers Funeral Home in South Pittsburg with the Rev. Brad Bridgman and Chris Bumbalough officiating. Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Friday.

A Flag Day dance will be held Saturday from 7-11 p.m. at The Fly Arts Center. The band 90 Proof will play. For reservations, call 684-8359.

The bumper sticker said "stunt driver" -- but, for those inside the county-owned Regions Bank building on the west side of the Shelbyville square, it was no stunt when a truck crashed through a front window late Tuesday morning. "We heard a big boom and glass breaking," said Vickie Hull, who was working inside the building when Martha Helton of Shelbyville lost control of her truck. "It almost sounded like a bomb when it hit."...

Hope didn't triumph for the manager of Blackberry Ridge Golf Club as he watched the clubhouse burn early this morning. "You think you're going to stomp it out," said Dave Phillips, who arrived moments before Bedford County firefighters. "We beat the fire department by three minutes."...

Tennessee Backroads returned to the Shelbyville city council to make its case for a $3,629 contribution. Last month, the group requested the amount the city has given since at least 2012. However, city manager Jay Johnson recommended the group receive no funding since Shelbyville has a hotel-motel tax, and said the donation should not be a general fund item...

Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to approve security renovations to the second floor of Bedford County Courthouse. The renovations, which will cost less than $5,000 due to the cost of inmate labor, will be paid for from a courthouse security fund. They primarily relate to the holding areas where inmates wait for court appearances...

Employees at Newell-Rubbermaid on Railroad Avenue were evacuated Thursday morning after a bomb threat was made around 8 a.m. However, it appeared that nothing was found. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely)

Bryant Hufstetter trims Christmas trees last week at his family's Blackjack Christmas Tree Farm in Deason. He said that it takes all year to get trees ready for the holiday. (T-G Photo by Jason Reynolds)

Bedford County Farm Bureau Women held their annual Dairy Month "Milk" -- don't call it a "coffee" -- on Tuesday at the Chamber of Commerce. The refreshments and door prizes all had a Dairy Month theme. The ladies were kind enough to share the recipes for some of the tasty treats they served...

You can add another "brother" to the Colorado Rockies major league baseball organization. Former Shelbyville Central and Lipscomb University standout Hunter Brothers had signed a contract on Tuesday and will join his older brother, Rex, in the Rockies organization...

Two pit bulls described as "aggressive" by police were pepper sprayed for officer safety on Shadow Drive early Tuesday night. Officer Bruce Davis, responding to a report of the dogs running at large on Warren Circle, found them behind the Shadow Drive home...

Emily Coffey of Petersburg qualified for the spring 2014 dean's list at Belmont University in Nashville. Eligibility is based on a minimum course load of 12 hours and a quality grade point average of 3.5 with no grade below a C. Emily, the daughter of Michael and Christy Coffey, is majoring in English with a literature emphasis and minoring in Education. She is an active member of the Education Honors Society, Kappa Delta Pi...

Ava Jewel is ready for Flag Day.