Stories from Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Bell Buckle Park was hit hard by vandalism over the New Year's weekend. Musical notes, which vice-mayor Jenny Hunt described as "very accurate," were spray-painted all over, especially at the amphitheater, as well as a large amount of "very offensive graffiti," Hunt said...

The following students achieved the Dean's List at Belmont University for the Fall 2015 semester. Eligibility is based on a minimum course load of 12 hours and a quality grade point average of 3.5 with no grade below a C. Students include: Baylee Cook, Lewisburg...

Hilltop Bed and Breakfast Cottage and Gardens held a Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting and open house on Dec. 18. Vicki Black is the proprietor. (Submitted photo)

The Heart of the Home FCE Club met on Dec. 30 at the Life Care Center of Tullahoma with all members present. Dorothy Johns served as hostess of the potluck dinner. Donnetta Hurt, from the Friends and Family FCE Club, demonstrated a mesh ribbon candy cane...

A man tased while fighting arresting officers early Saturday allegedly claimed he was Ashton Kutcher and they were on the "Punk'd" television show, Shelbyville police said. Ricky William Rutledge, 31, Collier Avenue, grabbed a television stand and yelled, "Look, you're on TV!" as he began flipping it over in front of officers Mark McKinney and Clint Adams, according to McKinney's report...

In a non-scientific poll, readers of the Times-Gazette web site picked problems with the underwater storm flume as the top local news story of 2015, agreeing with the Times-Gazette staff. Between Dec. 27 and Jan. 3, the Times-Gazette counted down the year's 10 top local news stories as ranked by a panel of 12 T-G staff members. ...

Islam, Christianity and the public school curricula will mix in a church series starting on Wednesday, taught by a school board member who is also a man of the cloth. First Assembly of God is starting a teaching series Wednesday dealing with world religions, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism. The Rev. Glenn Forsee, who is also a school board member, said he will use the local school system's sixth- and seventh-grade world history curriculum...

Four convicted felons from Nashville, two armed with loaded guns, were charged with possession of cocaine after a traffic stop by a Bedford County deputy early Sunday. Searches at Bedford County Jail following the arrests revealed 46.7 grams of cocaine, deputy Chris Morton said in his report...

A woman who forced her way into five residences Nov. 17 in what police called "desperate attempts" to obtain money for drugs -- and who had been held on $900,000 bond at one point -- is charged with taking money from a Shelbyville man's home Monday...

Bedford County Chief Deputy Jason Williams lived one of his dreams -- and now he's using, and passing along, the knowledge gained at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. "It was the best experience in my law enforcement career as far as learning and networking," Williams said while glancing at plaques and awards earned during his time at the academy...

Robert Allen Pitts, 92, of Evansville, Indiana, formerly of Shelbyville, died Sunday, Jan, 3, 2016. A mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Evansville. Ziemer Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

James William Price of Shelbyville died Monday, Jan. 4, 2016. Per his request, there will be no services.

Robert Mitchell Reed, 73, of Shelbyville died Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016 at St. Thomas Mid-Town Hospital in Nashville. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Gowen-Smith Chapel with Jeff Faulk officiating. Burial will follow at Pressgrove Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-9 p.m. Thursday and beginning at 11 a.m. Friday.

William Larry Prosser, 66, died Tuesday, January 5, 2016. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Doak-Howell Funeral Home with Tbomas Lamb officiating. Burial will follow at Head Springs Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m.