Stories from Sunday, April 12, 2015

The Strolling Jim 40, held each May in Wartrace, is a 40-mile ultramarathon. The idea of running 40 miles, to most people, sounds like a ridiculous, over-the-top challenge. That's because you haven't heard about the other races Gary Cantrell organizes...

Khrystal Bailey (left) and Lisa Price walk Snoopy during the inaugural Bark for Life Saturday at the Bedford County Agricultural Center. The event for canines and their owners benefited the American Cancer Society. Read next week's editions of the Times-Gazette and go online at t-g.com for more photos. (T-G Photo by Jason Reynolds)

Shelbyville's city council approved the next step in expanding H.V. Griffin Park Thursday night. The council approved negotiating an agreement, master plan, scope of services and project budget with Ragan-Smith Engineering of Nashville. The firm was recommended by the city's parks and recreation board...

The winner of this year's Bracket Bucks contest will be watching his favorite team on a new large-screen television. Jay Beal of Shelbyville scored the highest local point total in the nationwide contest, tallying 1,784 of a possible 2,000 points. He wins a 49-inch LG flat-screen television from Kincaid Service Co., local co-sponsor along with the Times-Gazette...

Crystal meth is growing more popular with drug abusers and, while law enforcement are going all out, officers wish there was more they could do. "I wish we had more people to fight it," Assistant Director Tim Miller of the 17th Judicial District Drug Task Force said Friday. "Right now, it's an epidemic. If anyone can help us we'd welcome it."...

UNIONVILLE -- In their first meeting this year, the Cascade Champions claimed a 12-1 win against the Community Vikings. But on Friday night, the Vikings gave the Champions a bit of a different look and competed with the Champions through the full seven innings, but in the end fell short, 6-2...

The Shelbyville Central Golden Eaglettes keep rolling. They knocked off Tullahoma on Friday night, marking their third team win of the week, 7-0. Keely Smith earned a hard-fought 8-5 win at the No. 1 singles spot, with Sydney Cooper and Madison Brown added 8-0 wins as well...

If ever there was a common thread for the folks who reside in Southern Middle Tennessee, it would probably be said that it would have to be "barbecue." Folks who live in the Tennessee Heritage Backroads communities will have a rare opportunity to enjoy an evening with a celebrity Chef Troy Black who has climbed his way up the barbecue ladder of fame. ...

Volunteer Garden Club held their spring luncheon at the Riverbend Country Club. Margaret Hicks, June Gilmore and Becky Nichols were hostesses. Devotional was given by Lynn Hulan. Outgoing president Becky Nichols installed the newly elected officers as follows: President-Edna Burk, Vice President-Sylvia Pinson, Secretary-Angela Dickens, and Treasurer-Maureen Garrett...

Ever since it was announced that a grocery store was being planned at the northeast corner of the Madison Street-Deery Street intersection, a small group of citizens have attempted to halt the move -- claiming that the neighborhood contains historic homes...

We had yet another very busy week here in the State Capitol but things are starting to wind down. It's expected that we'll end session for the year either next week or the week after. We still have many bills to get through the committee system and to the House Floor for a vote and we also need to debate and vote on the Governor's proposed budget...

"Why, sure! You can come interview me. Do I have to wear a tie? I don't usually wear one to work, but I'll put on one if need be." Wayne Bomar's deep, boisterous voice carries over the Easter Sunday crowd, but his tone is gentle and reassuring. The epitome of a Southern gentleman, Bomar is polite and quick to smile as he welcomes you into his office. True to his word, he isn't wearing a tie; rather, a plaid button up, a pair of khakis, and suspenders...

"I'm going to tell you now, there won't be one person out of 100 that will believe in these things, unless they see them work," says Dwight Stubblefield as he holds up his dowsing rods. "Sometimes, they don't believe anyways." Stubblefield is a shorter gentleman, with slick, white hair that he combs to one side. He has on a pair of tortoise-shell glasses that hide his cloudy blue eyes. With a slow Southern drawl, Stubblefield speaks with enthusiasm and charm...

This week the T-G caught up with student and actress Lindsey Slaughter. If you have anyone you think would make for an interesting Sunday Conversation please contact Sadie Fowler at sfowler@t-g.com. T-G: You are a musician and performer. What fostered and contributed to this in your life?...

The art of cooking, passing down family recipes and culinary techniques, is rapidly becoming lost as our lives become increasingly busy. It's all too easy to "grab and go" these days; picking up dinner from take out spots to get the family fed and manage our time. However, there is a case to be made for carving out a few minutes to pick up the wooden spoon and cook with your kids...

I need a new pair of house shoes, or as my mom used to call them, "slippers." I guess she called them that because they slip on easily. But, my house shoes have lived up to my mom's name "slippers" the past few months for other reasons. Not too long ago, we had a light snow, followed by freezing rain. I had a funeral scheduled for that day, so I went outside to see how iced over my car was. I was still dressed in my lounge pants and T-shirt, and, of course, my slippers...

Forks tinging against the plates in the background, ice rattling in glasses of sweet tea, perspiring because it was kind of hot in the building, I didn't want to get up and play the guitar, but my friend insisted. I'm not even sure how or why we ended up in the little cafe we were in, but it was packed. ...

I always enjoy hearing about new and different books I might enjoy, and I try to pass on tips in these articles. I thought it might be fun for you to learn what other library staff members are reading and what they recommend. After all, not everything I enjoy will necessarily be your cup of tea...

I've been reading a fascinating book that, if its principles are applied, could fundamentally change the way that Western Christians make disciples. Making disciples is a lifestyle based on relationships, of engaging with people who do not know Jesus, a father and son missionary team argue...

My familiarity with leeks goes back to my childhood when my Dad would make potato leek soup. He would bring home the long green and white leeks, chop them up and add to potatoes to cook and puree into a delicious winter soup. But leeks are so much more versatile than just in soup. They are an underrated vegetable that many people pass over. If you haven't tried them, grab a bundle at the grocery store or look for them when the farmers markets open up later this spring...