Stories from Wednesday, April 1, 2015

The former director of the county's Emergency Communications District (ECD) pleaded guilty Tuesday to theft over $10,000, making restitution to the ECD. Cathey D. Mathis made the plea before senior judge and former Tennessee Attorney General Paul G. Summers. She was placed on three years unsupervised probation as part of her no contest plea. Summers also ruled Mathis was eligible for judicial diversion...

Two different events, one on Friday and another on Saturday, will commemorate Christ's crucifixion by way of volunteers carrying a cross to the county courthouse. On Saturday, the Backwoods Hunting Ministry, and members of various churches, will carry a cross from East Park Methodist Church, 103 East Parkway, to the square, a distance of about 3 miles...

Tennessee Department of Transportation has announced a two-year pilot project to narrow South Cannon Boulevard from four vehicle lanes to two, with right-of-way for a commuter trolley running between the two lanes. Work on the project will start in spring 2016, although the trolley isn't scheduled to be built until 2021...

If you love the "Duck Dynasty" TV show and enjoy reading the Bible, the Times-Gazette has a promotion for you. The Times-Gazette published a review by staff writer Jason Reynolds of the Duck Commander Bible last fall. Thomas Nelson, publisher of "Duck Commander Faith and Family Bible," a New King James Version edition, provided the T-G with 10 complementary autographed copies to give away in a promotion. ...

Three Rutherford County men were charged Tuesday in connection with the weekend vandalism of three Midland Road churches. Alexander Burton, 20, Christopher Warner, 21, and Christopher Holden, 19, are accused of shooting full soft drink cans through windows of Whiteside United Methodist Church and Blankenship United Methodist Church and damaging siding at Midland Heights Baptist Church overnight Saturday...

Bedford County needs an Internet connection. The Internet is the nationwide network of business, academic and government computers you've been reading so much about in recent years. On the Internet, you can find everything from the funniest joke to the most boring government statistic. ...

Episcopal Church of the Redeemer and St. William Catholic Church are marking Holy Week services beginning on Thursday. Church of the Redeemer's Holy Thursday communion service will be at 6 p.m. with washing of feet. The sermon title is "Kindness, Courtesy, Sign, Service."...

"Easter, except for Halloween, is the biggest holiday of the year for candy," said Keith Kantor, a nutritionist and co-author of the children's book "The Green Box League of Nutritious Justice." That can be a bad thing -- especially since Easter-themed events may stretch out over a week or more...

The "Duck Dynasty" family has a new book that aims to point children to God. Korie Robertson and her mother Chrys Howard have released "Duck Commander Devotions for Kids." Korie is the wife of Willie Robertson, son of Duck Commander founder Phil Robertson. The publisher is Tommy Nelson, an imprint of Thomas Nelson...

Samsung's Galaxy Note Edge, like its Galaxy S6 Edge, gets its name from its distinctive screen. The screen curves part of the way around the right edge of the phone, and this curved area is used for notifications and toolbars without taking any space away from the phone's regular screen, even if you're watching a video or have the phone in a closed case (provided the case's design lets you look at the phone's edge)...

I will be the first to admit, I'm not a "techy" kind of person. I use my cell phone primarily to talk to people or text, take photos, check social media accounts, and -- above and beyond all else -- listen to music. I'd lose it if I lost my phone, as I feel my whole life is connected to it. I use an iPhone because it is the most user-friendly, and meets my simple needs...

Vehicles were entered at three locations across Shelbyville over the past week, police report. A Springfield Arms XD9 semi-automatic pistol and sunglasses case were taken from one of two trucks at a Wall Street home overnight Wednesday of last week, police were told Monday. One of the trucks was entered through a sliding rear window...

While sitting in his MBA courses at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), Jason Scales wasn't trying to figure out how to grow a successful business, but rather pondering different ways churches could grow and reach their communities. "We were doing case studies on Jos. A. Bank and Dell, how they got started--marketing and all that, and I'd be thinking about church," said Scales...

Jack Daniel Distillery master distiller Jeff Arnett was among four new members named to the Martin Methodist College Board of Trustees. The college announced the new trustees and elected three new officers at a recent meeting. Arnett, Debbie Cassetty, Harriet Norrie and Joelle Phillips were recently introduced to the 37-member board while three other Trustees were voted in as officers...

As a Christian, I don't just celebrate Jesus dying on the cross and rising from the dead just on Easter-- I celebrate it daily. That's a pretty bold statement, but its true. It's what I believe. At one point in my life, I didn't believe. Raised by a God fearing mother, I was taught the story of Christ as early as I can remember, but I used to think it was just a really good story...

As a student of biblical history since an early age, Ronnie Adams always wanted to make a trip to Israel. Adams, a faithful subscriber to Biblical Archeology and a pastor, eventually got his opportunity in 2001, and hasn't stopped visiting the Holy Land since...

A 10-run first inning led the way for Shelbyville Central in a 14-1 win at home against Lincoln County in a District 8-AAA matchup on Tuesday afternoon. The Eagles (6-5, 4-0 8-AAA) remain unbeaten in district play and will go for the series sweep at Lincoln County this evening...

FRANKLIN -- Some nights, the chips just don't fall your way. On Tuesday night, the Cascade Champions (10-3, 3-1 12-AA) took a tough one on the chin and suffered their first district loss of the season at Page, 2-1 in extra innings. For six innings, starter Chandler Monajjem had kept the Patriot bats relatively quiet...

COLUMBIA -- The Shelbyville Central Golden Eaglettes cruised to a 14-0 win over host Columbia in a District 8-AAA matchup on Tuesday night. Senior Baylee Cook led the Eaglettes at the plate with a grand-slam home run and a double. Lexi Sanders and Chelbie Gannon each added a pair of singles apiece for the winners...

Shelbyville Central and visiting Riverdale battled to a 0-0 tie in a match on Tuesday night. Both defenses played well with junior goalie Michael Thompson claiming the shutout in goal for the Eagles. Shelbyville Central returns to action on Thursday evening at Warren County at 7...

The Community Middle Vikings got off to a slow start Tuesday afternoon against the Forrest Rockets, but a rally in the sixth saw them get within one before falling 8-6. The first two innings of Tuesdays matchup were rocky for the Vikings as they gave up seven of the Rockets' eight runs...

Let's make one thing clear up front: Rooster may be a Rooster, but Rooster's a canine. As in...dog. He just doesn't know he's a dog. "He doesn't eat dog food and doesn't like tap water," his owner Ceola McCrory of Shelbyville says. "He likes purified water or sweet drinks and has to have everything cooked."...

"The sun had risen, and now the people we'd just lapped could see Ryan's scarred face and closed eyes. They could tell he was blind. Suddenly, without anybody saying anything, they cleared a path for us and started clapping, one by one, all the way down the hill. ... 'They had no idea what happened to you on that roof,' I said. 'They know nothing about your struggle or the guys who never made it back. All they know is that some blind dude just humped past them on a steep hill.'"...

What started out as a project to earn a scholarship turned into a passion for one high school senior. Arin Harwell says she was looking online at dosomething.org for a project to earn a scholarship and came across an idea that intrigued her -- a blue jeans drive...

He's an adorable little beast, with a taste for human flesh. No, this isn't a promotional line for a new horror movie -- it's what we've had to endure since adopting a puppy two weeks ago. We named him Bruiser -- and he's an interesting mix, his dad was half blue pit, half black lab, while the mother was half red heeler and half Australian shepard, but I'm beginning to think he may have a little wolverine in there as well...

One of the best-known paintings of all time will be brought to life Thursday night as part of a Holy Week observance at Cedar Grove United Methodist Church. The men of the church will re-enact Leonardo da Vinci's 1498 mural "The Last Supper" 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The church is located at the intersection of Cedar Grove Road and Manire Road west of Unionville...