Stories from Thursday, January 8, 2015

This character is slowly making his way across the parking lot of the Gateway Church building on Madison Street. For some reason, he does not seem to be making much progress. (T-G Photo by Jason Reynolds)

Proceeds from the Walking With Angels Craft Fair and Horse Show were used to purchase Christmas gifts for families in need throughout Bedford County. The names of the families were provided by Bedford County Schools. From left: Julie Lambert, Candy Green, Charlie Green, Russ Keyser and Robert Cortner drop off gifts at Eakin Elementary School. (Submitted photo)

Twelve people died Wednesday for telling jokes. Masked gunmen shouting "Allahu akbar!" stormed the offices of French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris, slaying editors, cartoonists and two police officers who were guarding them. The offices had already been burned to the ground in 2011 after the newspaper published controversial cartoons of Mohammed...

Our society needs to take a time out on police-bashing. I don't care what you think of the Ferguson controversy, if you fight with an officer you should expect to get shot, regardless of your race or the cop's race. Police are trained to defend themselves and others. They fear for their lives in a fight, and who can blame them. With that being said, it is a tragedy anytime a person, police officer or suspect, dies in a confrontation...

Amidst all the New Year's resolutions going around, it's time to make another one: Being there for others when it seems no one else is. Picture a woman, suffering sudden serious health problems at a young age, in a hospital emergency room. Add to those problems a head injury she's suffered, she says, because she was "possibly" pushed by her husband during an argument. She opened up, finally, after first saying she tripped and hit her head as she fell...

With the arrival of single-digit weather in Tennessee this week, the State Fire Marshal's Office is reminding residents to stay safe when using portable heaters to stay warm. While portable heaters are common sights during winter, they can sometimes lead to tragedy. An estimated 900 portable heater fires in homes are reported to U.S. fire departments each year, according to the U.S. Fire Administration...

Scott Johnson of Bedford County Emergency Management Agency reported that two people used the county's new warming shelter at First Church of the Nazarene during Wednesday night's bitterly-cold temperatures. Johnson said the two were referred to the shelter by Bedford County Sheriff's Department...

Bedford County Planning Commission gave its recommendation Tuesday night for rezoning property at 3319 U.S. 231 North in Deason from A-1 (agriculture) to C-1 (commercial). Ed Schultz of Two Creeks LLC requested the rezoning. The firm, which fabricates stainless steel items for use by food product testing companies, plans to use an existing 110-foot by 45-foot building at the site. Farming operations would continue on the property...

Shelbyville & Bedford County Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for its four annual awards, which will be presented during the Chamber's annual luncheon meeting on Feb. 10. According to Chamber CEO Allen Pitner, a committee of independent community volunteers reviews the nominations and chooses the winners. The selection is not based on the number of nominations received but on the nominee's qualifications...

Bedford County firefighters battled 3-degree temperatures to combat this blaze at a home on Nashville Dirt Road, owned by Robert and Sherry Lawell, before sunrise today. Residents were able to escape without injury, authorities said. The blaze was reported before 5 a.m. The cause was undetermined at press time, when firefighters were still on scene. (T-G Photo by David Melson)

It's the only time when crime does pay. Shelbyville's police department and the county sheriff's office are joining forces and sharing information received from the Crime Stoppers program, along with encouraging the public to use the anonymous tip line...

State Sen. Jim Tracy and State Rep. Pat Marsh expect Medicaid expansion, schools, roads -- and a tight budget -- to be on the minds as a new session of the Tennessee General Assembly begins this month. "We've got two big things coming up," said Tracy, one of them being the special session on Gov. Bill Haslam's proposed Insure Tennessee program...

The Crusader's Ministries, from Magnolia, Arkansas, will perform in concert 7 p.m. Friday at Bell Buckle United Methodist Church. The group had appeared previously in Bell Buckle to film a music video of its newest single, "He's Right There," including scenes outside Bell Buckle First Baptist and inside Bell Buckle United Methodist. That video will be shown as a part of Friday night's concert...