Stories from Sunday, December 27, 2015

A store that never opened and a terrorist camp that, apparently, never existed are the first two items on the Times-Gazette's annual countdown of the year's top news stories, followed by an all-too-real weather event that left thousands in the dark...

As if enjoying her first new grandchild in 14 years isn't enough, Betty Pendergrast's entry in the Times-Gazette's "Adorable Christmas Kids" contest won first prize and a $200 gift card from Lowery Jewelers. Pendergrast submitted a photo of her 6-month-old grandson Zane which drew 392 votes on the contest web site. The winning photo, along with the second-place photo from Jennifer Napier as well as 46 other contest entries, appears in a special pullout section of today's Times-Gazette...

Bedford County's preliminary unemployment rate for November held steady at 5.9 percent, the same rate as in October. Unemployment figures were released Wednesday by the state. The employment picture improved in 12 of the state's 95 counties, got worse in 59 counties and stayed the same in 24, including Bedford...

What's on your mind? The Times-Gazette asked that question at a diner last week. Wayne Cook of Bell Buckle was waiting for salads to go for his wife, Sharon, and himself on Wednesday. His in-laws were going to gather for Christmas dinner; they do it every year...

Duck River was near the top of the dam at Fishermen's Park on a sunny Saturday morning after torrential rains Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Despite sunshine and temperatures in the low 70s, the park's picnic area was closed due to the high water. No serious flooding was reported in the area except for the usual low bridges on Bugscuffle and Mullins Mill roads. Some wind damage was reported, though, at the Newell Rubbermaid distribution center on Railroad Avenue and Calsonic on Stanley Boulevard. (T-G Photo by David Melson)

I learned of the untimely death Saturday evening of a good friend, former colleague and professional mentor to not only myself, but likely many journalists that had the opportunity to be sprinkled by his talent over the years, most of us in Tennessee...

Community senior Darian Pride had an eventful weekend in early December. As an official recruit for Navy, Pride was invited to watch the Army-Navy game in which the Midshipmen came away with a 21-17 victory. While Pride has yet to make an official decision concerning a potential commitment, he says the experience in Philadelphia was that of a lifetime...

On Thursday, we kicked off our holiday bowl guide. Here are the top five bowls you'll see this holiday season: 5. Battlefrog Fiesta Bowl No. 8 Notre Dame (10-2) vs. No. 7 Ohio State (11-1) Jan. 1 Two powerhouses that just couldn't quite make the cut...

Jim and Teresa Ward of Shelbyville enjoy the peace in their home; their children raised and all. But a little dose of persistence from a fuzzy young feline combined with the Wards' kind hearts changed their plans a bit this holiday season. Earlier this month, Jim and Teresa, an employee of the Times-Gazette, heard a little noise outside their front door. Upon opening the door, the couple found a small baby kitten, no more than about six weeks old...

Marissa Countess, the subject of today's Sunday Conversation, is a senior at Cascade High School. The future Cascade alumnus is extremely active at school and in the community. Last spring, she organized a sort of beauty show for special-needs girls called Shining Stars...

Jennifer Shelby and Alex Shelby of Shelbyville announce the birth of a daughter, Madalynn Rae Shelby, on Dec. 18 in Murfreesboro. The baby girl weighed 6 pounds, 15 oz. She is the granddaughter of Annette and Jesse Martin, Tim and Lisa Shelby, and Crystal and John Manuel, all of Shelbyville. She is the great-granddaughter of Mary Shelby of Shelbyville, Earl Burress of Shelbyville, and Winona Smith of McMinnville...

I am actually excited about celebrating New Year's Eve with my wife this year. Lynn won't be at work. For as long as I can remember she has had to work on New Year's Eve, waiting to deliver those New Year's babies. Lynn is a labor and delivery nurse...

As another year winds to a close, I keep thinking back to my own childhood in the 1950s. Maybe it is the nostalgia of seeing all the favorite Christmas television specials pulled out of mothballs for yet another presentation, or maybe it is just seeing kids and their excitement and energy...