Stories from Wednesday, September 17, 2014

A breakdown of cuts to this year's Shelbyville city budget due to a litigation settlement to Wright Paving shows that each department had to make sacrifices. Last Friday, the city paid the company $1.5 million after a 10-year legal battle over a proposed rock quarry on L. Fisher Road...

The Bedford County school system has hired 82 new educators out of about 200 applicants since the end of last school year. Human resource manager James Claybourne provided that data Tuesday during the school board meeting. Thirty out of 80 applicants from a first-ever job fair in May were hired...

The second phase of school security upgrades was approved Tuesday. The Bedford County Board of Education approved a $75,168.33 capital outlay for electronic upgrades to elementary schools in the unincorporated portions of the county. Phase I was carried out last year at elementary schools inside the city limits...

The 10th annual Celebration Pet Day, taking place this Saturday at Bedford County Agriculture and Education Center on Midland Road, is stuffed with both fun and practical attractions for pet owners of all ages. "People will have a ball when they come," said Christine Carlton, treasurer of Shelbyville & Bedford County Humane Association, which organizes the event. SBCHA is an independent local organization, and all money raised stays in Bedford County, said Carlton...

Lee Roy Cunningham has announced his candidacy for mayor of Shelbyville in the Nov. 4 general election. Cunningham is a lifelong resident of Bedford County and has served on the City Council twice in past years. He currently serves on the Solid Waste board...

A suspect attempted to escape custody by running into a physician's office Tuesday afternoon, authorities said. David Michael King, 22, of Birch Street ran into the office of Dr. Lynette Adams, North Main Street, where witnesses directed Deputy Clyde Boyce to a restroom where he was allegedly hiding...

What's the right size for a smartphone? Steve Jobs was not a believer in "the customer is always right." He believed it was Apple's responsibility to follow its own research and design intuition and then to give the customer the perfectly-designed product that the customer didn't realize he or she wanted. That sounds arrogant, but Jobs' products, as created by legendary designer Jony Ive, tended to innovate in unexpected ways instead of responding to customer requests...

Charter Communications, which provides cable TV services to many of Bedford County residents, is converting to an all-digital network in Shelbyville, Bell Buckle and Wartrace, which the company says will improve service but which will force customers not already using digital cable boxes to get them...

Donnie Porter was guest speaker at the Vietnam Era Veterans' September meeting. Poter, a retired Marine, spent 37 years in service. He told of being in boot camp in 1967 during the birthday of the Marine Corps and it still remains a fond memory. Porter spoke of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's decision to merge JPAC (Joint MIA/POW Accounting Command) with DPMO (Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office). ...

An MTSU business professor continues her push for a more civil workplace. Dr. Jackie Gilbert, a professor of management in the MTSU Jones College of Business, joined forces with like-minded people across the state and nation to help craft legislation and guidelines that will help do just that within government agencies...

In recognition of National Childhood Obesity Month, Murfreesboro Medical Clinic's Weight Loss and Wellness highlights LAUNCH, a pediatric weight loss program. LAUNCH is part of a national effort to eradicate childhood obesity in the United States and ensure that young people get a healthy start in life...

More than half of the respondents to a non-scientific Times-Gazette poll say the construction on North Main Street hasn't affected their shopping or dining habits. "I'm used to big city construction," wrote one respondent. "This is nothing." "TDOT [Tennessee Department of Transportation] has done a great job of keeping traffic moving," wrote another. "It especially has not kept me from El Mexico," a restaurant located right in the middle of the construction zone...

Artist Meghan O'Connor recently attended a reception to open the exhibit of her work inside the Eoff Hall Art Gallery on the Motlow College Moore County campus. The exhibit will continue through Oct. 27 and is open to the public. O'Connor, left, is joined by friend Andrew Muller and Ann Smotherman, adjunct art instructor at Motlow College. (Submitted photo)

Tammy Anderson, plans and operations officer for Bedford County Emergency Management Agency, was one of the two people recognized by Tennessee Office of Homeland Security from District 6, composed of Bedford, Moore, Lincoln, Coffee, Franklin, and Coffee counties. The office holds a recognition ceremony each year on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks; this year's ceremony was held last Thursday at the War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville. Two public safety professionals are nominated from each district to be recognized. The honorees represent a variety of emergency service agencies, such as fire protection, law enforcement, communications, emergency medical service and emergency management. Anderson was selected for her management of and work with the county schools disaster response/safety enhancement program and the unique church storm shelter program. Anderson is seen receiving her award from State Sen. Becky Massey and State Rep. Ryan Haynes. (Submitted photo)

Shelbyville Central hosted the District 8-AAA golf tournament on Tuesday at River Bend Country Club and even though the team didn't advance to the region tournament, two individuals did. Eagle sophomore Elliott Smith carded a 76, the second lowest score for the boys just one-stroke back, while Eaglette freshman Miah Jones advanced after firing a 97...

The Community Viqueens hung tough in the first set with Lancaster Christian on Tuesday evening, but fell in straight sets to the visitors in a non-district match. "We're young. We're a little bit unsure of ourselves. We just have some young players. We had 32 dropped balls," said Viqueen coach Allison Martin...

It was a tough and physical battle from start to finish, but Shelbyville Central's soccer team remains undefeated in District 8-AAA play with a 4-1 victory over visiting Columbia on Tuesday night. The Eaglettes (7-3-1, 3-0 8-AAA) took an early lead as talented senior Alexis Larion scored off a rebound shot midway through the first half...

KINGSTON SPRINGS -- After a 2-0 win against Huntland on Monday night, the Community Viqueens hoped to pick up its second road win in a row on Tuesday night at Harpeth. Despite a solid effort against a top team, Harpeth was able to fend off a pesky Viqueen team for a 3-1 win...

On senior night, the Webb School Lady Feet volleyball squad fell in straight sets, despite excellent serving and a handful of opportunities to pull even with the visitors. Sidney Dupree led Webb with 12 assists, while Alex Foutch added four points off the serve and one kill...