Stories from Thursday, January 22, 2015

A benefit for George "Pokey" Sanders will be held Saturday at the Old Garrett Truck Stop on 41-A North. Sanders, who has a mental disorder, has been diagnosed with inoperable throat cancer. Music, by the Prime Time band, and food, provided by Backwoods Hunting Club, start at noon. An auction, conducted by Todd Davidson of Bob Parks Realty, will follow. For more information or to donate, call Doris Throneberry at 580-5348, Sudie Sanders at 685-9427 or Mary Ann Dennis at 580-1876...

Members of Youth Leadership Bedford stand up to receive recognition Tuesday during the Bedford County Board of Education meeting. (T-G Photo by Jason Reynolds)

Mildred Floyd shows off the Fossil watch she won in a giveaway to benefit the Times-Gazette's "Press Power" team in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life. For more information about the team, go to http://t-g.com/presspower. (T-G Photo by John I. Carney)

Freedom of speech is one thing. Blatantly insulting someone's beliefs, though -- or shocking someone else beyond reason to make a point -- is something else entirely. The editor of the French publication Charlie Hebdo -- that's "Charlie Weekly" in English -- is criticizing U.S. ...

In Shelbyville-Bedford County, why is it when these "qualified elected officials" make reckless decisions, they are never held accountable? For instance, the lawsuits seem to be never questioned when they occurred. I further don't understand why they seem to enjoy getting re-elected...

"Hi, how are you?" "You look fantastic!" These were the types of comments that Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors were tossing at each other during an exercise at the Fly Arts Center, where a half-day retreat was held Tuesday. Ivan Jones, director of Tennessee College of Applied Technology -- Shelbyville (TCAT-S), directed members to go up to someone they don't spend much time with, say hello and give them a compliment...

Bedford County Planning & Zoning Director Chris White told the county commission's courthouse and county property committee Tuesday night that it would be "cost-prohibitive" to use the county-owned Regions Bank building for courtrooms. Commissioner Linda Yockey told the committee that the county needs to come up with a plan for using the space in the courthouse, the Regions Bank building and Bedford County Business Complex on Dover Street...

Bedford County officials met with state jail officials on Tuesday night as part of the continuing discussion of the need for a new county jail. Jim Hart of the University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service is currently doing a study of the county's jail needs, while Bob Bass and Miller Meadows are with Tennessee Corrections Institute, the state agency that certifies local jails...

Audrey J. Butterworth, 88, of Shelbyville died Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015, at Heritage Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Hillcrest Funeral Home with the Rev. Scotty Sorrells officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Friday.

Zelma Delk Pilkington, 95, of Shelbyville died Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel with Bobby McGee officiating. Burial will follow at Willow Mount Cemetery. Visitation will begin at noon.

A woman was attacked in her car at CVS Pharmacy, North Main Street, at mid-afternoon Tuesday. The victim, who said she had never seen her assailant, told police she was meeting a woman to buy a shirt she had spotted on a Facebook site. A woman described as white and in her 20s got out of a blue Pontiac Grand Prix or Grand Am and began beating on the driver's side window of the victim's vehicle...

Thomas Jere Hall, 81, of Bell Buckle, died Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015, at his home. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31 at the Bell Buckle United Methodist Church fellowship hall.