Stories from Wednesday, June 25, 2014

A familiar face has returned to the Shelbyville recreation department as Dan Jackson has taken over the job of assistant Parks and Recreation Director. He's in charge of the maintenance workers and the outdoor facilities in Shelbyville's parks, but this isn't his first time working for the city's recreation department...

Four or five years ago, Lyle and Leslie Beck were passing through Middle Tennessee while on a vacation trip and stopped in Bell Buckle. They were charmed -- but the townspeople told them they really ought to see what Bell Buckle was like during the annual RC Cola and Moon Pie Festival...

Maybe the names covering Perry Sanders' 1958 Chevrolet truck catch your eye first. Or maybe it's the whiskey still -- nonworking, of course -- in the bed. It could be the rat taking a, uhh, break ... atop the air breather. Or the Jack Daniel's bottle next to the radiator...

They've never spent a day in a classroom, but these two children have received a hands-on education that includes drawing illustrations and building erupting volcanoes. Sierra and Alex Johanson participate in the Bedford County Homeschool Enrichment Program (HEP) as well as a homeschool program in Tullahoma...

The residents of Fresh Start mainly use their home-grown tomatoes for slicing, and there's nothing whatsoever wrong with a nice sliced tomato as a side dish. A pinch of salt, and I could eat fresh, home-grown tomatoes all day. But my favorite use for home-grown tomatoes is in a tomato pie. ...

Depending on where you stand when you look at it, it can be a patch of tilled soil -- or a life lesson...

It's that time of the year again, when tents start popping up all over the region to offer fireworks for the upcoming July 4 weekend. For the Warren family, however, this marks the 20th year they've been selling the pyrotechnics to Bedford County residents...

The Shelbyville Sharks got back in the win column on Tuesday night, defeating the LAWave with a blistering 430-190 final score. The Sharks took a big bite out of the Wave to start the meet, sweeping the 100 Meter Medley Relay races. Shelbyville continued to pile on the wins in the freestyle event as well...

Good Samaritan recently received a food donation of 3,894 items from Lowery Jewelers. From left: Sharon Lowery, Cathy Miller and Billy Lowery. (Submitted photo)

Selling and preaching aren't as different as one might think, says Drew Hayes, a longtime minister now back in his "second vocation." Hayes is selling new GM and Ford products at Shelbyville Automotive, 2006 N. Main St., while launching a church consulting firm...

Murfreesboro Medical Clinic Podiatrist, Dr. Anthony Wright, is the first podiatrist in the United States to use a new plastic toe grip implant procedure that corrects hammertoe. Tennessee resident, Kathy Youse, received the implant to relieve the painful condition...

The Women's Center of Harton Regional Medical Center hosted the Healthy Children Project Center for Breastfeeding "Lactation Counselor Training Course" in April of this year. The 45 hour course provides a solid, up-to-date, research based body of information regarding lactation as well as the art of counseling...

Peoples Bank of Bedford County is proud to announce the addition of three members to its board of directors; Al Bellenfant, Warren Landers, and Wayne Simons. Al is a lifetime resident of Bedford County with over 25 years of banking experience. He is a graduate of the Tennessee School of Banking and has been a member of the Rotary Club, a board member of the United Way of Bedford County, and Leadership Bedford...

World War II pilot Ike Farrar thrilled Vietnam Era Veterans of Bedford County with tales of his exploits at the group's recent meeting. Farrar, 95, told the group he became a flight instructor in the Army Air Corps (forerunner of today's Air Force)...

Many parents pay for childcare or day camps in the summer while they work. According to the IRS, if this applies to you, your costs may qualify for a federal tax credit that can lower your taxes. Here are 10 facts that you should know about the Child and Dependent Care Credit:...

It takes a special gift to comfort people suffering their greatest loss and at the same time to help others prepare for one of the happiest moments of their lives. Leanne Moore, a florist, does just that. She has worked at Flowers for Keeps for 20 years, one of only three jobs she has held in her life. She started as a deliverer at the florist as a co-op student in high school...

A woman was charged with aggravated assault after allegedly hitting a neighbor in the head with a softball bat Monday. Caroline Anita Spencer, 30, of Horse Mountain Road told officer Mitchell Warren she was retaliating due to residents of the neighboring home allegedly making insulting comments to her and family members over a period of time...

If the weather cooperates, this may be one of the biggest and best July 4th celebrations that have taken place at H.V. Griffin Park. Last year's event had to be postponed until Labor Day due to the dreary, wet weather, but the rain day for the event this time around is set for July 5...

Earlier this year, it seemed that just about every part of the Shelbyville Recreation Center was being worked on -- with needed upgrades and renovations to fix a variety of problems. But all of that is now complete, and parks and recreation director Sylvia Pinson said the attendance numbers are through the roof...

Former Cascade basketball player Wayne Buckingham says he wants to give back to the community. Toward that effort, the former Clemson University and professional player has organized a celebrity basketball game that he hopes will become an annual affair. The game, the Bertie-Ruth Buckingham Celebrity Charity Basketball Game, will be held on Saturday, July 26, at Cascade High School. The game is named in honor of his mother, who died of cancer in 2000...

Laura Jewell Head, 86, of Gun Barrel City, Texas, a native of Shelbyville, died Saturday, June 21, 2014, in Texas. Graveside services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, June 28 at Willow Mount Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 1--3 p.m. at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel.

I can't say that I've ever had a ball cap with a USB port before. A few weeks back, a friend of mine asked for my mailing address so that a friend of his could send me a product to review. Tuesday morning, I got a box containing two hats from a company called Power Gear...

Approximately 25 young members of First Baptist Church on Depot Street have been spending this week cleaning out a storage building on the property, Youth Minister Kenny Jamison said. He called the building "an absolute mess," but the teens seemed to have everything well in hand Tuesday as they salvaged wood to use for future projects. (T-G Photos by Brian Mosely)

It's cleaning time this Saturday on the Duck River! The river is considered one of the most biologically diverse bodies of water in North America, but it won't clean up itself. That's where you come in. The huge annual Duck River Clean-Up kicks off at 7:30 a.m. at Riverbottom Greenway Park behind Shelbyville Power, Water and Sewerage System, with registration and job assignments beginning at 7...

The Times-Gazette's Morris Winfrey stacks the first copies of this year's Salute magazine into a rack. Published by the T-G, Salute is a free, full-color magazine used by the Chamber of Commerce to attract visitors, recruit business and highlight positive attributes of Bedford County. Thousands of copies are distributed through more than 100 businesses and other locations in the region throughout the year. The Chamber also distributes several thousand copies annually in its recruitment efforts and to visitors. This is the third edition of the annual publication. Pick up a copy or come by the Times-Gazette for one. (T-G Photo by Jim Davis)

Marines aren't supposed to cry. But Mark Cutter, a retired Marine, was clearly emotional as he talked about the sacrifice made by his platoon-mate Daniel McClenney, 10 years ago yesterday in Kunar province, Afghanistan. Cutter, who lives in Colorado, had been searching online for information about McClenney this Monday, when he found a number of Times-Gazette stories. He called the Times-Gazette and was told about the ceremony Tuesday at Central High School in McClenney's memory...

Fred J. Mendonza, 88, of Shelbyville died Monday, June 23, 2014 at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville. Per his wishes, he will be cremated with no services being planned at this time. Gowen-Smith Chapel is handling arrangements.

Ava Marie Smith, 61, of Shelbyville died Wednesday, June 25, 2014. Funeral services will be held at noon Tuesday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel with the Rev. James Crutchfield as eulogist and Edward Buckingham officiating. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m.

Charles Ray 'Pop' Tribe, 62, of Shelbyville died Tuesday, June 24, 2014. A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 1 at Calvary Baptist Church with Tom Henry officiating. Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. at the church. Feldhaus Memorial Chapel is in charge of local arrangements. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Erath, La. at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 5. Burial will follow at LeBlanc Cemetery in Erath.