Stories from Sunday, September 14, 2014

Thomas Smith sits relaxing in his back yard in Shelbyville, and after working full time for 58 years, many would say he's earned it. He's currently enjoying his retirement after two careers -- 28 years as Bedford County's Circuit Court Clerk, and his first job right out of high school that lasted 30 years -- a route salesman for a local milk company...

"I'm speechless." There wasn't much more that departing Liberty School student resource officer Bob Filer could say as the students and staff held a surprise farewell party Thursday. "What can I say, you're my family," Filer said. "I'm going to miss all of you."...

Networking was the word on Friday during a free barbecue luncheon in Shelbyville. Middle Tennessee Business Network (MTBN) hosted the Business to Business Lunch at The Fly Cultural Arts Center. The lunch was an opportunity for business owners and managers who want to grow their business through networking, said Tom Waynick, who manages the organization with wife Nakai...

Anytime Cascade and Community meet--no matter the sport--fans are sure to get their money's worth. Friday night's rivalry game was no exception. The Community Vikings (0-4) were able to strike quick and build a sizable lead, but in the end, couldn't hold off a furious rally by the Champions (2-2) and fell, 42-28...

Shelbyville Central claimed a win over Webb School in a golf match at River Bend Country Club on Friday. The Eagles carded a team score of 163 with the Feet posting a 205. Elliott Smith was medalist with a 38. Webb School was led by Eli Freeman's 43...

The 2014 Tennessee School Boards Association South Central Fall District Meeting was held Thursday. Bedford County Board of Education board members attended, as did Superintendent Don Embry and board secretary Suzanne Alexander. Local boards of education learned about the changing landscape of education advocacy, heard updates on education legislation, and were provided with an update on student First Amendment issues and Limited Public Forums at the meeting at Marshall County High School in Marshall County. ...

Here's our weekly look back at the past seven days in local news. Choose the best answer for each question. 1) Shelbyville is competing with Arlington, Carthage, Ducktown, Etowah and Jamestown in the fourth round of participants in what state program?...

A thief used a debit card accidentally dropped Tuesday at Discount Food Mart, North Cannon Boulevard, to purchase more than $100 worth of items at that store and Walmart later in the day, Shelbyville police were told. The following were arrested since Wednesday by the Bedford County Sheriff's Department, Shelbyville Police Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol or 17th Judicial District Drug Task Force. They are only charged; guilt or innocence will be determined by the courts...

"What we have here, is failure to communicate." That classic line from the film "Cool Hand Luke" certainly applies to what Wartrace was subjected to this past week. The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) notified the Times-Gazette last week, by way of a routine news release, that the rail crossing on Highway 64 in Wartrace was to be closed so that CSX could replace ties and surface track...

Dear Editor, Do you know how you get the clothes you wear, food you eat, or medicine you take? All of these items, and basically everything we use in our daily lives, are delivered by a professional truck driver. Most Americans don't recognize the vital role the trucking industry plays in our everyday lives, but when you see a truck on the highway today, realize that a professional truck driver is delivering the goods that keep America moving. ...

Bullying is So Not Okay. That's the title of a book, "So Not Okay! Mean Girl Makeover," by best-selling author Nancy Rue. The first of three Mean Girl Trilogy books by Thomas Nelson Publishers in the story line is available in stores. Rue is more than an author. ...

Wayne and Fredda Smith of Oneida announce the engagement of their daughter, Kerstin Elizabeth Smith, to Channing Nathaniel Anderson, son of Jeffrey and Elizabeth Anderson of Lynchburg. Smith is a graduate of King University in Bristol, where she earned a bachelor's degree in psychology. She is employed at SunTrust Bank in Nashville...

Kelly Lee Green and Michael Travis Lester, both of Shelbyville, announce the birth of a daughter, Madisyn Reese Lester, on Aug. 29 at Harton Regional Medical Center in Tullahoma. The baby girl weighed 4 pounds, 9 ounces. She is the granddaughter of Lavenia Green of Shelbyville and the late James (Jim) Green, Mike Lester of Belleville, Tennessee and the late Audrey Lester, and Pam and Lewis Phelps of Shelbyville...

So, here's the thing. I love to cook, and as part of that I love making fresh salsa, of which my co-workers usually seem to approve. But I've never, ever canned anything. So when the University of Tennessee Extension advertised a salsa canning class, I decided to check it out...

Wanda Strayhorn is the new executive director of CASA Works Inc. The non-profit organization advocates for abused and neglected children in Bedford, Coffee and Franklin counties. If you would like to nominate someone for Sunday Conversation contact editor Sadie Fowler at sfowler@t-g.com...

Fall -- ahh -- a breath of fresh, cool, dry air. A welcome relief after the heat of summer. The gardens are winding down from the summer crops and cool season vegetables are taking over while the fall fruits ripen. It is the perfect time for relishes...

Sponsored by the American Library Association, Banned Book Week, Sept. 21-27, celebrates the freedom to read and highlights free and open access to information. Librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers and readers of all types join together to support free expression of ideas, even the ones that are unorthodox and unpopular...

My friend had quite a scare this week. She was sitting at her home computer just playing a game and her left arm and shoulder started hurting really bad. At first she tried to ignore it, like most people do, thinking it would go away. But, it only got worse...

Look, up in the sky! Last week I wrote about Batman and how we each adopt symbols--such as Mr. Wayne's bats--that represent our convictions. This led me to thinking about super-heroes in general--In particular, the most super of super-heroes, Superman. What exactly does Superman represent?...