Stories from Thursday, August 27, 2015

There's some rule changes that the Tennessee Supreme Court wishes to make that could make it much harder for the media to let you know what's going on in your courtrooms. It's centered around a proposed revision of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 30 -- adopted in 1996 to govern the use of cameras in the courtroom by news media...

Dear Editor, The city officials of Shelbyville, especially Mark Clanton, city public works director, for his onsite knowledge of the "flume," and Jay Johnson, city manager, should be commended. If they had not closed that section of Lane Pkwy several weeks ago, things very well could have been much worse. Even though it has been somewhat of a headache to most of us, the outcome of last Sunday, August 23, could have been a lot worse. Thank you!...

A bag containing 22.6 ounces of marijuana was found in a pickup driven by a man who was reported to police as possibly impaired Tuesday night. Michael Jacob Crosslin was stopped at a Madison Street store when officer Clint Adams found his truck and arrested him for public intoxication...

Back in May, Bedford County, taking advantage of a newly-passed state law, increased the minimum purchase that must be put out for sealed bids from $10,000 to $25,000. Now, three months later, county finance director Robert Daniel wants to adjust the minimum purchase for which competitive quotes must be sought, raising it from $2,500 to $5,000...

The site of Bedford County's oldest horse show now has a new sign. Jernigan Field is the home of both the Wartrace Horse Show, which held its 109th annual event earlier this month, and the Wartrace MusicFest, which takes place the first weekend in June...

Billy Coker of Olive Branch, Kentucky, sits beside his camper at the Celebration reading a walking horse magazine Wednesday morning. Coker used to show horses but is not at the present, and has been coming to the Celebration for over 40 years. (T-G Photo by Jim Davis)

Tennessee public high school students showed a slight gain statewide on the ACT, according to data released Wednesday by the state Department of Education. For the third straight year, Tennessee public high school students improved on the ACT, administered to all students statewide, according to a press release from the Tennessee Department of Education. The average composite increased from 19.3 last year to 19.4 this year, adding to what has been a three-year pattern of growth for the state...

Bedford County Financial Management Committee will hold a study session on Monday to discuss specifics for a proposed county wheel tax, after receiving background information on the tax during its regular monthly meeting, which was held Tuesday. Commissioners believe some sort of additional revenue will be necessary to fund a new jail and a new Cascade High School, and want to put a wheel tax proposal before voters during the March election. ...

"It looks like a bomb went off inside it." That description from public works director Mark Clanton underscores the extent of damage from Sunday's collapse of Shelbyville's underground flume system. Work crews were busy digging early Wednesday morning in the parking lot of the Shelbyville police and fire departments -- and damage to the flume is very apparent...

Evening classes at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration begin at 7 tonight. Trade Fair The Celebration Trade Fair will be held through Sept. 5 inside Calsonic Arena. Hours are 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. each day. Additional vendors will be added starting Saturday...

The Cascade Middle Lady Champions claimed a nail-biter win over cross-county rival Community, defeating the Viqueens 5-4. Kailey Snell led the Lady Champions with a hat trick, while Carmen Ray and Elli Chumley added one goal apiece. Cascade keeper Tori Hull added 13 saves in goal as well...

Shelbyville Central's comeback effort fell a little short in a 4-2 loss to visiting Blackman in a soccer match Wednesday night. After spotting their opponent an early lead, Eaglette senior Olivia Doak scored a pair of goals, one off a penalty kick, but it proved too little too late...

The Cascade Champions had a rough go in their 2015 opener, allowing 21 unanswered points to Moore County and suffering a 24-14 loss. Coach Jake Tyre knows his team can produce better results -- and he's got high hopes for Friday's non-region game against Lewis County...

Thomas E. Johnson Sr., 79, of Shelbyville died Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Edgemont Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Haley Cemetery. Lie-in-state will be from 11 a.m.-noon Saturday at the church, with visitation beginning at noon. New Generation Funeral Home of Antioch is handling arrangements.