Stories from Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Bedford County veterans have a new contact at the courthouse. Veterans Service Officer Bill Tipps resigned due to health issues. While an official replacement has not yet been named, a new system means that, for the first time, the veterans office in the courthouse is open every weekday during normal office hours...

Local multi-talented artist Kati O'Grady is throwing a music party Sunday -- and you're invited. O'Grady is celebrating her album, "Love Lifted Me," during a CD release party from 6-8 p.m. Sunday at First Christian Church. Flat Creek musicians Jim and Inge Wood will accompany her...

A biker was seriously injured when his motorcycle slid into a utility pole in downtown Wartrace, just a short distance from his home, Sunday night. Robert E. Marlin, 42, of Wartrace was unconscious from severe head injuries when help arrived State Trooper Chad McAnally said...

Members of the Student Government Association (SGA) at Motlow College's Moore County campus recently visited the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature (TISL) in Nashville, according to Sheri Mason, SGA sponsor and assistant director of student services at Motlow. "TISL gives students an opportunity to learn how state government works, such as the role of legislators, lawyers, judges, lobbyists and the media," she said. From left are Mason, Rachel Luzader, Eryn Tripp, Cody Pyle, Dallas Foster, Alma Portillo Villamar, Terry Green and William Shavers. (Submitted photo)

Zander & Malek Johnson strike a pose on the railroad tracks by Central High School.

A free summit for teachers at Motlow set for this coming weekend means educators might win a big prize. Teachers who attend a Dec. 6th financial literacy summit at Motlow State Community College will each receive a $50 gift card from Amazon, and one lucky teacher will leave with an iPad mini...

The Times-Gazette is again accepting and publishing letters to Santa Claus, a decades-old tradition in Bedford County. Letters may be e-mailed to santa@t-g.com or mailed to Shelbyville Times-Gazette, P.O. Box 380, Shelbyville TN 37162. The deadline is noon Dec. 9, so that we have time to put the letters into our computer system and plan for the space to publish them. Please pay close attention to the deadline...

A customer allegedly insistent on entering a roped-off area of Walmart on Thanksgiving night has been charged with assaulting a clerk. The clerk said Crystal Dunn of Hilltop Drive didn't stop when entering the first time and a short time later tried to enter again...

Two area residents have reported recent fraud attempts. A caller claiming to be "Jason" from the "union" at Tyson Foods told a Shelbyville woman he knew her son was a beneficiary on her life insurance policy, police said. The caller wanted to meet her at her home or a restaurant to discuss the policy...

Liberty's Patriots took an early lead and never were challenged in a 47-28 victory over visiting Moore County on Monday night. The Patriots led 13-2 at the end of the first quarter then outscored Moore County 13-4 in the second period to take a 26-7 advantage at the intermission...

After a close first half, the Liberty Lady Patriots saw Moore County pull away in the third quarter to claim a 29-19 win on Monday night. The game was knotted at 4-all at the end of the first quarter with Moore County outscoring Liberty 12-7 in the second stanza to lead 16-11 at halftime...

After jumping out to a 12-6 lead against the Westwood Rockets on Monday night, the Community Middle Vikings saw their early lead evaporate by halftime due to untimely turnovers and points in transition for the visitors. Despite those miscues, the Vikings rebounded nicely in the second half and claimed a 30-25 victory...

The Community Viqueens fended off a third-quarter rally by the Westwood Lady Rockets on Monday night and coasted to a 33-22 victory. The Viqueens saw seven different players find their way into the scoring column in the win, with Anna Katherine Lemmons and Gracie Simmons combining for 17 points to lead the way for the Purple and Gold...