Stories from Sunday, September 21, 2014

Homeschooling is alive and well in Bedford County. At least two active associations of homeschooling parents meet weekly in the county during the school year, including the fast-growing Classical Conversations group in Bell Buckle. The group started last school year with 25 children and has grown to include about 64 children this semester, said parent LouAnn Smith. The families come not only from Bedford County but also from Murfreesboro, Christiana and Petersburg...

If you've lived in the south for any amount of time, chances are you've met the tomato pie, a southern classic comfort food that often stars in summer potlucks or gatherings. It's a great summertime treat as we try to think of different ways to use up those fresh garden tomatoes before fall moves in...

William Wilberforce was one of the best known British abolitionists to modern audiences. After many years of futile effort, he successfully lobbied Parliament in 1807 to pass the Slave Trade Act. His work was important in leading to the end of slavery in the British Empire (although that still took a number of years). ...

I am one of those people who listen to the TV news channels throughout the day: CNN, Fox News, HLN, and sometimes MSNBC. I can even listen to them in my car on satellite radio. Many days at 4 o'clock in the afternoon I watch Channel 2 News, and then the show "Inside Edition," and then the 5 o'clock news, and then ABC News Tonight at 5:30, and then the 6 o'clock news...

As hard as it is for me to type this, it's been almost 20 years since I remember having my first "movie night" with my family--I could very easily turn this into a, "Holy Crap, I'm turning 30" piece, but I will refrain--although, you should expect one around December...

Not having raised children myself, I am always surprised by the costs of all the things for which parents have to pay. Parents usually want to give their children all they can. In tight economic times, it is often very hard to say yes even when you want to...

Thomas and Tracy Simmons of Shelbyville announce the engagement of their daughter, Brooke Bailey, to Chad Sexton. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Ray Plunk of Jackson and the late Carmond Plunk, and of Kermit (Junior) Bailey of Jacks Creek and the late Shirley Bailey, and the daughter of Steve Bailey of Medina...

Gary and Teresa Puckett of Shelbyville announce the engagement of their daughter Deborah Puckett to Thomas Prosser. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Dorthea LaCoss of Shelbyville. She graduated from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in May 2014 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering...

Barrettea Johnson Bowling is a life-long resident of Shelbyville. She is the owner of Bella Donna Salon on the square. She loves spending time with her family and making women feel beautiful with new hairstyles. T-G: Tell us a little about yourself and your family...

A high school junior is battling cancer and inspiring the people around him, including his father -- who is also his coach. Jackson Smith at Shelbyville Central High School began treatment for Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ACL) on Friday, July 25, after being admitted to the hospital four days previously. This was about two weeks before his shotgun trap team went on to win a C-Class national title...

Members of Xi Alpha Zeta chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority held their first fall meeting with a Taste and Tell event at the home of Joan Gray. New Officers were installed and new members welcomed. Recipes from the event were submitted by members for publication in the Times-Gazette...

Students at Learning Way Elementary School placed pinwheels outside the school earlier this week in a project called Pinwheels for Peace. (Submitted photos)

Entries are now being accepted for the Bedford County Veterans Day Parade, which will take place 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, in Shelbyville. Although the legal Veterans Day holiday is on Nov. 11, holding the parade on a weekend afternoon allows it to take place during the daytime, which is preferred by many veterans, while still allowing school groups to participate...

Dogs, cats, their owners -- and lots of potential new owners -- bonded at the 10th annual Celebration Pet Day on Saturday. Many of the dogs, which dominated in numbers, and a few cats snuggled with owners, while several adoptables found new homes.

A family lost all their possessions as fire raged through their home on Anthony Road near Wartrace late Friday afternoon. Chere Quick and children Taylar, 18, and Collin, 16, "need everything," a Facebook post said Friday night, several hours after the blaze broke out about 5:30 p.m...

The Webb School hosted New Life Christian on Friday evening at Lagler Field and picked up its first win of the 2014 season with a hard-fought 26-20 victory. The Feet piled up 313 total rushing yards against New Life and were able to effectively move on the ground throughout the game...

The Community defense struggled to stop a potent Middle Tennessee Christian offense in a 66-21 loss Friday night. With the first quarter underway it only took the Cougar offense one minute to score. A short run up the middle gave them a quick lead. The Vikings stepped up and stopped the two-point conversion, keeping the lead at 6-0...

Even though Shelbyville Central played well, Franklin returned home from Eagle Stadium with a 30-20 victory on Friday night. The Eagles gained more total yards, collected more first downs, had six third-down conversions and were 2-for-2 in fourth-down attempts, but Franklin won the battle of points...

PULASKI -- Cascade coach Jake Tyre isn't one for moral victories. Although his team fell 38-24 on Friday night at Giles County, Tyre was pleased with how his competed and put forth one of the best efforts so far this season. "That was probably the best half of football we've played all year. These kids were clicking in the first half. We gave it everything we had. It was just a hard-fought game," said Champion coach Jake Tyre...

A critically wounded man attempted to drive himself to the hospital after being shot early Sunday, and authorities say they have a suspect. Matthew Cook of Shelbyville called 911 at 1:21 a.m. from Highway 82 west of Bell Buckle saying he was attempting to make it to Heritage Medical Center...