Stories from Friday, April 10, 2015

The Times-Gazette is announcing the winners of its Easter coloring contest. The first place prize, $25, was awarded to Landon O'Neal, 7, of Shelbyville. (T-G Photo by David Melson) Second place in the contest went to Jacob McGee, 8, of Shelbyville. (T-G Photo by Sadie Fowler)...

I took this picture from the back of a boat called The Sanibel Thriller on Sanibel Island Florida. There were 10 or more dolphins playing in the wake of this boat. You could almost reach out and touch them.

David Kenneth Couser, age 73, of Laurens, South Carolina, a native of Shelbyville, died Thursday, April 9, 2015. Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church of Laurens. Burial will follow at Westview Memorial Park in Laurens.

Despite protests from some citizens, Shelbyville's city council approved second reading of an ordinance rezoning nine pieces of property off Madison Street for a grocery store Thursday night. Developers hope to place the store at the northeast corner of the Madison Street-Deery Street intersection, bordered on the east side by Alton Avenue...

"We're in good shape!" Those words from Shelbyville & Bedford County Chamber of Commerce CEO Allen Pitner summed up the feelings of the city/county commerce business park oversight committee Thursday after some major hurdles were overcome this week...

The Nashville Symphony will make its annual visit to Shelbyville at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, with the Shelbyville Central High School band as this year's local guest performers. The symphony first came to Shelbyville in 1989 for a concert in the main Celebration arena and has been performing in Calsonic Arena each year since the early 1990s. The concert, called "Symphony at the Celebration," is casual and family-friendly, with children admitted free of charge...

An advocacy group is wanting to bring awareness to the need to end sexual and domestic violence assaults. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. And Haven of Hope wants victims to know it is there to help, said Melissa, an advocate with the organization. (Haven volunteers and advocates are not identified by last name because of the sensitive work they do.)...

Photos of Mom are among any family's most cherished possessions. And when it's Mom and her child or children -- it's even better. They're worth showing off. So share them with our readers in our annual Mommy & Me photo contest. The winner receives a one-night stay at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and $100 cash from the T-G. The second place winner will be awarded a $100 gift card from Heritage Jewelers. Third prize is a Domino's Pizza party...

Shelbyville's city council approved a settlement agreement with landowner Bobby Sanders on Thursday night over a piece of property he bought from the city nearly 20 years ago. The settlement was $30,602.77, with $10,000 coming from the Tennessee Municipal League's risk management pool and the city paying the remaining $20,602.77...

After a rough outing against Spring Hill on Wednesday evening, Cascade coach Brandon Bassham just hoped his team could recapture a bit of momentum against non-district foe Huntland on Thursday. His team delivered on the coach's wishes, getting a 4-0 win to snap the two-game skid...

MANCHESTER -- After falling behind early, Shelbyville Central's Golden Eaglettes battled back to tie Coffee County only to see it slip away at the end. The Eaglettes fell 3-2 to District 8-AAA leading Coffee County on the road on Thursday evening. Senior Brianna Jones blasted a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning to put Coffee County up 2-0 and that lead held up until the Eaglettes (9-4, 5-2 8-AAA) rallied for a pair of runs in the top of the sixth frame...

The CPA Lady Lions gave Cascade a scare, cutting the Lady Champs' lead in half in the top of the seventh, but in the end fell short of the home team, 4-2. Cascade starter Summer Carter took the win in the pitcher's circle, going the distance and only allowing five hits...

The Shelbyville Central girls tennis team kept its momentum rolling into Thursday, defeating Lawrence County 7-0, marking their second sweep of the week. It was total domination in both singles and doubles action for the Eaglettes. Led by No. 1 Keely Smith, the Eaglettes got a strong start in singles, with an 8-0 win over No. 1 Lady Wildcat Lauren Gage...

The Liberty Lady Patriots couldn't sustain an early lead against Huntland and dropped a 17-3 defeat at home on Thursday evening. Huntland drove in a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, but Liberty answered with a three-spot in the bottom of the frame...

The Community Middle Vikings capitalized on key errors by the Eagleville Eagles on Thursday afternoon to help propel them to an 8-5 victory. The Eagles were the first to strike on Thursday, scoring a run in the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. The lone run was starting pitcher Grayson Garrettes' only mistake as he pitched three innings while allowing only three hits and one run...