Stories from Sunday, November 22, 2015

The artist's hands quickly, deftly fly over the paper as he sketches the Bedford County Courthouse. Squiggly lines quickly transform into a work of art. Jim Trolinger is friendly to passersby, but hardly distracted as his black-and-white sketch, later to be transformed into an oil or watercolor painting, nears completion...

"We fix them during the day and they tear them down at night." Celebration maintenance worker Tommy Snell let out an exasperated sigh Friday morning while looking over another night's worth of damage at the Celebration Christmas lights display along Celebration Drive...

Even as Bedford County debates courthouse security issues and the long-term home of the county's judicial system, Columbia and Maury County are going through a very similar debate. Recent news stories and opinion columns in The Daily Herald of Columbia reveal arguments and counter-arguments very similar to those heard in Bedford County in recent years...

Claire Marcotte checks out jewelry on display at the Festival of Trees held Saturday at The Fly Arts Center. Watch the T-G this coming week for a full page featuring the winning decorated trees. (T-G Photo by David Melson)

Approximately $2,450 worth of unspecified items including electronics were stolen from a Highway 64 West home since early October, the Bedford County Sheriff's Office was told Thursday. The residents had been away since early October. *A shotgun was stolen from an East Cedar Street home overnight Wednesday, Shelbyville police said...

The undefeated Cascade Champions A team -- made up of 11-12-year-olds from Cascade and Harris middle schools -- won the Tennessee Youth Football League's A1 Division championship last weekend. Cascade (10-0) scored the winning touchdown with 40 seconds left, holding off the Nolensville Panthers 28-22 after leading 22-6 at halftime. Nolensville tied the game in the fourth quarter...

NASHVILLE -- Nashville Ballet has selected one dancer from Bedford County to join the youth cast in Nashville's Nutcracker Dec. 5-23, 2015, at TPAC's Jackson Hall. A total of 191 dancers from School of Nashville Ballet and the community at large will perform alongside Nashville Ballet's professional dancers and the Nashville Symphony in one of the city's most beloved holiday traditions...

Here's our look back at the past seven days in local news. Choose the best answer for each question. 1) What does Shelbyville Rotary Club give each year to local third graders? A. Toothbrushes B. Flu shots C. Dictionaries D. Mittens 2) Bedford County Health Department was among the agencies promoting interest in what national event, held on Thursday?...

Cats, creatures with amazing talent. They can walk up trees, protect themselves, and hunt moles and mice. For example, let's say you're a cat. A beast tries to eat you so you just walk up a tree for protection. In addition to protecting themselves, they can also protect your garden and your house from mice and moles. They do these amazing and helpful things with their claws. Don't declaw cats, because declawing a cat means they can barely do anything without their claws and it is evil...

Dear Editor: Having lived in and near Annapolis, Maryland for many years, I am very familiar with brick pavers. Streets, as well as sidewalks, in the city are composed of brick pavers. The crosswalks over the non-brick paved streets are brick; the ramps (which meet ADA requirements) are brick pavers...

As the regular basketball season begins, Shelbyville Central's Golden Eaglettes look to be a contender in District 8-AAA. The Eaglettes play in their home opener on Monday night against talented Stewarts Creek at 6. All the hard work in the offseason and preparation over the past few weeks well be tested as the team seeks to improves as the season progresses with hopes of peaking by tournament time...

It's the time of year Shelbyville Central Golden Eagle head basketball coach Stan Eggleston longs for -- basketball season. The Golden Eagles host Stewarts Creek in their season home opener on Monday night. "As the end of the football season nears, if you're a sports fan, you always shift that attention to basketball. I'm excited about this season for our team and I know our players are as well," Eggleston said...

LYNCHBURG -- A sluggish second quarter on the offensive end of the floor was more than Cascade could overcome in a last-minute scheduled game on Saturday morning at Moore County. Though Cascade hung tough with the Raiderettes through the remainder of the game, the second quarter disparity was more than the Lady Champions could overcome in a 71-56 loss...

MURFREESBORO -- A big first quarter was all the Cascade Middle Lady Champions needed to pull away from MTCS in a 35-14 win on Friday night. Cascade scored early and often as Lady Champion forward Elli Chumley scored 10 of the team's first-quarter points, including a triple...

It's a cloudy Monday night and six people are congregated in a converted horse barn just off Midland Road. Each is wearing a martial arts gi (pronounced ghee) and each is there to train in the art of Jiu Jitsu. They call themselves the Jiu Jitsu Club -- although club organizer Kenny Vanderpool admits the name is still pending a group vote...

This week, our Sunday Conversation features Alden Procopio, who started this summer as director of children's and youth ministries at First United Methodist Church on the square even as she pursues a master's degree. Procopio was placed at First UMC through the interdenominational Brentwood-based Center for Youth Ministry Training (cymt.org), which was co-founded by Brentwood United Methodist Church and Nashville First Presbyterian Church...

More than 60 attended the official Bell Buckle Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony at Southern Charm's Tea Room last week. Mayor Dennis Webb, flanked by other members of the chamber and Southern Charm's staff, cut the bright yellow ribbon amid much applause and many cheers from the gathered crowd...

The Eakin Elementary Chorus, under the direction of music teacher Lisa Crunk, presented a delightful program of patriotic music to the Shelbyville Woman's Club earlier this month. Phillip McConnell assisted with the program, in charge of the recorded music that accompanied the singers. Sixty fourth and fifth graders are involved in the chorus this year. Eakin Principal Dulcie Davis came to support her students and to enjoy the event...

Jennifer Boyette and Daniel Johnson were married July 11 at Brentwood Hills Church of Christ in Nashville, with Robbie Forrester officiating the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Mike and Marilyn Boyette of Brentwood.* She is the granddaughter of Jo Murriel Pigg and the late Billy Pigg of Petersburg, and Ronald and Norma Boyette of Shelbyville...

Brandi Denise Ward and Daniel Patrick Dye of Shelbyville announce their engagement. The bride-elect is the daughter of Jeff Brown and the late Buffy Brown of Shelbyville. She is the granddaughter of Marvin and Betty Brown, the late William "Bill" Sledge Jr. and Charlotte Sledge, all of Shelbyville...

The recent attacks in Paris brought back the sad memories of September 2001. Like the stricken New Yorkers on those hard days, Parisians are standing strong in the face of terrorism. I may never visit France, but that country's influence on my daily life is clear on so many fronts...

Being woken up is one of the worst daily experiences that a human can have, given normal circumstances. I have never been a morning person, just ask my former employers. I'm like the walking dead until a steamy cup of coffee eases down my gullet and is emptied into my stomach, where all the necessary caffeine is absorbed...

Life is sometimes chaotic at the Dezotell house. But that's okay, because it's my three granddaughters that are in the center of the chaos. We love them dearly, but Lynn and I spend a lot of time trying to calm the chaos. Our son, Michael, lives with us, and he is a big help with the girls too...