Stories from Sunday, July 27, 2014

A couple of weeks ago, local Boys & Girls Club director Roger Harrell experienced one of many moments that have touched him over the last four years. A child walked up to him, gave him a hug and handed him a piece of paper. It said, "The Boys & Girls Club is the best place to be."...

One church took a turn at feeding the hungry this weekend, with people lining up at least three hours before the doors were scheduled to open. Christian Chapel Church gave out five pallets of food Saturday to approximately 100 households, said church volunteer Greg Music. The giveaway was scheduled for 8 a.m., but the church opened the doors at 7 because people had already lined up by the time volunteers arrived just before 5:15 a.m...

United Way of Bedford County's annual "Stuff the School Bus" school supply drive is well underway. A manned collection event was held July 19 at Walmart, and a second is planned for 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Wednesday at Regions Bank on the square. Unmanned collection boxes are set up at numerous local businesses...

A week's worth of family fun starts tomorrow, but if you have an exhibit to enter, today is your deadline to participate. The 17th annual Bedford County Fair runs from Monday through Saturday at the Bedford County Agriculture Center. New features for the fair include nightly pony rides and a petting zoo, fair president Judy Gambill said...

Members of the Bedford County Special Response Team, as well as emergency response personnel from the Rutherford County Special Operations and Response Team, Smyrna Fire Department, Maury County Fire Department and Tennessee Emergency Management Agency gathered in Shelbyville last week for a training event on handling of hazardous materials...

From one extreme to another, a man accused of leaving the scene of an accident kept police busy Thursday morning. Clifford Lindsey Zilly, 40, of Kingree Road was unresponsive after police found him in his van at a Madison Street store moments after a crash at the North Main Street-Elm Street intersection. Zilly allegedly struck another vehicle at a store on North Main Street before ending up on Madison Street...

Chris Grooms has been the Vikings' coach for a little less than a week, but has spent the week getting to know his team and new coaching staff. Here's a closer look at the man behind the whistle: T-G: Tell us a little bit about you. Grooms: I'm married and have three kids. My wife Denisse Grooms is the backbone of my family. I grew up in Mayfield, Ky. and played football my entire life. I was in the military for nine years and was a Green Beret for five of those nine years...

Governor Haslam said he is looking to Washington to solve the current disaster on the Southern border because this is a federal issue. Senator Lamar Alexander said that "...in our system of government it's the President's job to lay out a specific plan for what we should do about it and it's our job then to say 'no we don't like that', we're going to change this and respond to that."...

Dogs have often been labeled man's best friend. Having a good dog by your side can get you through the toughest times. If anyone can attest to this statement, it is Andy Kraft. The furry companions have helped Andy through one of the toughest times in his life...

Last month, the Rev. Lanita Monroe became the pastor of First United Methodist Church on the square, having been appointed during the church's Tennessee Annual Conference. Her predecessor, the Rev. Lloyd Doyle, moved to a new appointment in Brownsville, in West Tennessee...

Children got to pet a goat and learn to care for pets during a summer day camp. "Whiskers and Paws" Summer Camp was on Monday, July 21. The annual camp is sponsored by the Middle Tennessee Spay & Neuter Clinic. Approximately two dozen first to sixth graders attended the camp at the Bedford County Agriculture Center...

This was my first year to start a vegetable garden. My interest in starting a garden is rooted in wanting to eat healthier and my fear of GMO's. There are a billion articles on the Internet both for and against genetically modified food products. I tend to lean towards the side that isn't convinced of their greatness...

I worked as an orderly at a nursing home when I was a teenager, and I met a woman there named Minnie. She had a great personality and she was a joy to care for. I would be called to come and help the nurse's aide move Minnie from her bed to her chair and back again. Minnie had only one leg so she couldn't help much in the transfer. But she made our job easier by being lighthearted and fun-loving...

Another Summer Reading Program is history at Argie Cooper Library. We had a great time at the grand finale with games, prizes and face painting. Billy Hix was there with his huge inflatable planetarium and his fascinating program on the constellations. It was a record breaking year...

Kelsey Elaine Jolley of Petersburg and Brian Timothy Oldfield of Tullahoma are engaged. The bride-elect is the daughter of Jeremy and Rebecca Jolley of Petersburg. She is the granddaughter of Phillip Powell of Petersburg and the late Mary Powell, and Marshall Jolley of Fayetteville and Della Jolley of Kelso...

Allison B. Martin of Clinton, Tennessee, and Alexander E. Jones of Shelbyville are engaged. The bride-elect is the daughter of Sheila Martin of Clinton and the late Terry Martin. She is the granddaughter of Conley and Barbara Stocksbury of Norris, and the late E.L. and Alma Martin...