Stories from Wednesday, July 16, 2014

School Superintendent Don Embry's contract was renewed for one year by the Bedford County Board of Education during its meeting Tuesday. His contract, which began last year, was for three years -- through 2016, Chairwoman Amy Martin said. Now, the contract will run through 2017...

Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee has recommended another rezoning of property along U.S. 231 north of Shelbyville. Warr Development Co. is requesting that its site at 2723 U.S. 231 North be rezoned from A-1 (agriculture) to C-2 (commercial) so that the land "can be held for sale as commercial," according to the rules committee agenda and to Bedford County Planning Commission minutes...

"I finally won!" "This is my first time to win!" "I've shopped at Kroger for 50 years!" "God is good!" These are just a few comments from the 10 lucky winners of last year's $1,000 Grocery Give-Away, a contest sponsored by the Times-Gazette and Kroger...

Jerry Bowman has announced his candidacy as an independent for a 9th District seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 7 general election. Bowman is the owner of Grace Nursery and has owned and operated Bedford Quality Fencing for 27 years. Bowman has volunteered and taught numerous seminars on conservation and safety for young sportsmen...

Billy King Jr. has announced his candidacy as an independent for re-election to a 4th District seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 7 general election. King serves on the commission's courthouse and county property committee. He works in retail operations for W.S. Badcock Corp. and is currently manager of its Shelbyville store. He is a past member of Bedford County Board of Education and a past member of Shelbyville Jaycees...

MTSU's Confucius Institute has hired a former Bedford County educator to help promote Chinese language and culture in area K-12 schools. Mike Novak, most recently principal of Liberty School, became the institute's new assistant director July 1. "I am very excited to be part of the team at the Confucius Institute," said Novak. "I look forward to expanding educational opportunities for Tennessee and China...

Murfreesboro Medical Clinic recently announced two of its physicians -- Dr. Tammy H. Adams (Pediatrics) and Dr. Kelly G. Williams (Obstetrics & Gynecology) -- are listed among America's Top Doctors by the physician-led research team of Castle Connolly...

A Bell Buckle man was charged with taking a gasoline tank from a Midland Road residence Monday afternoon, according to Shelbyville police. Michael Shannon Spain, 43, of Webb Road West admitted taking the tank after initial denial, then offered to pay for the gas inside, officer Jose Garza said...

Vietnam Era Veterans heard a military historian at their July meeting. Dr. Ferris Beasley of Lincoln County, a retired veterinarian, attends many Civil War military re-enactments. He told the group more battles were fought in Tennessee and Virginia than any other states...

Dr. William Gross, an Otolaryngologist (ENT) at Murfreesboro Medical Clinic, is conducting research with the use of balloon sinuplasty for the treatment of chronic sinusitis. The treatment option is an alternative to invasive surgery, as the procedure takes place in the office using a local anesthetic...

Fun and charity at the same time make for a perfect combination, and the Moose Lodge is ready. The third annual Chili Pepper River Float & Hog Roast, sponsored by Moose Members for a Cause, is scheduled Saturday, July 26. The public is invited to participate...

Adobe Photoshop used to be a software package you would pay a lot of money for -- hundreds of dollars, depending on the situation. Photoshop CS6, for example, had an MSRP of $699. But it was the gold standard for photo editing software, the kind of product so universal that the manufacturers probably worried about "Photoshop" becoming a generic term for photo editing...

First Community Bank CEO Scott Coconaugher, right, joins Celebration CEO Mike Inman after the announcement was made that FCB is a new premier sponsor of the Celebration. The first Saturday night of the horse show has been designated as "First community Bank of Bedford County" night. (Submitted photo)

Joe Kimery of the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury's office appeared before Bedford County Board of Commissioners last week to present County Mayor Eugene Ray, Finance Director Robert Daniel, and Daniel's staff with the county's fifth consecutive award for excellence in financial management and reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association. Kimery said only eight counties received the award last year, with Bedford County being the smallest. He praised Ray, Daniel, the school system and highway department, and commissioners themselves for the county's financial management. From left are Ray, Kimery, Daniel, and finance department staffers Lori Schuler, Pat Thomas, Mary Anna Mitchell and Joyce Glover. (T-G Photo by John I. Carney)

At a recent meeting of the Bedford County Bar Association, President Kristin Green presented awards for Outstanding Court Personnel to Michelle Murray, Jennifer Little and Deputy Steve Trapp. Also recognized but not present was Deputy Tommie Boleyn. (Submitted photo)

'Change isn't always a bad thing.' That's the message Community Viking assistant football coach Mike McClain and the remainder of the coaching staff is trying to deliver to the team following head coach Johnnie Frost's departure earlier this month. "The community has really stepped up behind us. We take care a lot of our marketing stuff during this time," McClain said...

Tennessee Commissioner of Transportation John Schroer visited Shelbyville on Tuesday as part of a tour of Tennessee Department of Transportation projects statewide. Schroer visited North Main Street (U.S. 231), which will soon be widened, but had to cancel a planned visit to the already-underway widening of U.S. 41A between Shelbyville and Tullahoma. From left are County Mayor Eugene Ray, State Rep. Pat Marsh, State Sen. Jim Tracy, Schroer, Shelbyville Mayor Wallace Cartwright, Shelbyville Public Works Director Mark Clanton, State Rep. Mike Sparks of Smyrna and Bedford County Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman. (T-G Staff Photo)