Stories from Thursday, December 10, 2015

Community Middle School students have been rewarded with three special breaks this fall for being responsible and well behaved citizens. During the latest nreak, teachers and administrators led various activities in the classrooms, library and gym. Students could take part in as many or as few as they wished during the last afternoon before the Thanksgiving break...

It's Christmas time in Big Orange Country. But that's upsetting for a few University of Tennessee faculty members and students, who in the name of "diversity" want holiday celebrations to be secular. Thankfully, Gov. Bill Haslam and cooler heads stepped in Tuesday and toned down a memo from the school's out-of-control Office for Diversity and Inclusion that said holiday parties should have -- this is a direct quote -- "no emphasis on religion or culture" and "no games with religious or cultural themes...Ensure your holiday party is not a Christmas party in disguise.". ...

Dear Editor, I would like to applaud Rep. Scott DesJarlais for introducing legislation that goes to the heart of the problem in the regulation of Tennessee Walking Horses, an inspection system wrought with inconsistencies and fraud. His bill also addresses the continued government overreach that is harming industry and small business all across America...

The annual Wine Walk around the square will be Friday from 4-8 p.m. Taste different wines and enjoy holiday goodies in each participating store while you do some Christmas shopping. Receive an engraved collectible wine glass with a $10 donation. Proceeds will be donated to local charities...

Cash was stolen in a burglary overnight Tuesday at Corner Market, Eagle Boulevard. A safe was opened and keys to the cash register stolen, Shelbyville police said. No signs of forced entry were found, but a drive-through window the night clerk said had been locked when she left was open when the day shift manager arrived around 4 a.m...

Jeff Rasnick, pastor of First Baptist Church, prepares to take donated food into the church last week to stock the pantry that serves people in need. Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville joined with the state's other TCATs to distribute food to non-profit agencies. The Tony Rice Center and VFW Post No. 1893 of Tullahoma also received food, according to TCAT-S officials. (T-G Photo by Jason Reynolds)

The Cheese Barn, 809 Old Nashville Dirt Road, will host an open house Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Refreshments will be provided.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Those federally mandated math and reading tests will continue, but a sweeping rewrite of the nation's education law will now give states -- not the U.S. government -- authority to decide how to use the results in evaluating teachers and schools...

Humble and yet super-talented. God-fearing and faithful. Personable and family-oriented. All these words describe up-and-coming hometown gospel singer Tiffany Lemmon. Tiffany is a Shelbyville native. She tours the nation much of the year with husband Shannon, who preaches and presents the Lemmon family's Bible ministry message; she sings worship songs as part of the ministry...

The Tennessee comptroller's office released its audit of Bedford County government on Wednesday, with only three relatively-minor findings related to computer software and data storage. "I'm pretty happy with the way it went," said County Mayor Eugene Ray on Wednesday. ...

Velda "Red" Flener, 81, of Wheel died Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015. Funeral services will be held at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Lawrence Funeral Home in Chapel Hill, preceded by visitation beginning at 2 p.m. He will be buried in Mackinaw, Illinois at a later date.

Eunice N. Sterwerf, 82, of Wheel died Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Lawrence Funeral Home in Chapel Hill. Burial will follow at Swanson Cemetery in Chapel Hill. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Saturday.