Stories from Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Portia Lynn Troupe, 64, of Johnson City, New York, formerly of Shelbyville, died Monday, April 3, 2016. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 16 at CrossPoint Community Church in Binghamton, New York with the Rev. Marsh Sorber officiating. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m.

Thousands of dollars worth of jewelry and guns were taken Tuesday from three homes along and near U.S. 41A North in the same area northwest of Shelbyville plagued by daytime residential burglaries. No additional burglaries were reported in that area Wednesday, the Bedford County Sheriff's Office said...

Tennessee's cities would be entirely left out of a state repayment of highway funds under a new proposal by Gov. Bill Haslam, a Shelbyville official says. Shelbyville City Manager Jay Johnson said he learned Tuesday afternoon that Haslam has changed his plan for paying back $142 million out of more than $260 million the state had long borrowed from highway funds for the general fund...

Hundreds come every year to the First Choice Fish Fry & Auction for food and a fun time, but what does the fundraising event actually support? First Choice Pregnancy Counseling Center, 1102 Madison St., provides free and confidential services to pregnant women, new mothers and women who have experienced an abortion...

It's the middle of the night. Your home and possessions are in flames. You're standing in a neighbor's yard watching as firefighters battle the blaze. The only clothes you have left are the ones you're wearing. What do you do? The American Red Cross provides assistance to people affected by individual house fires, just as they would provide assistance in a large-scale disaster like a tornado or hurricane...

A $50 lottery winner who cashed a stolen ticket -- in the store it was taken from -- was the key to tracking down a man suspected of stealing more than $16,000 worth of merchandise overnight Sunday. More than $14,000 worth of Tennessee lottery tickets, $2,100 worth of cigarettes and several packs of alcoholic beverages were stolen overnight Sunday from Discount Tobacco Outlet, North Cannon Boulevard, Shelbyville police said...

Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee's Walk for Wishes presented by Franklin Kia will take place on Saturday, April 16, at 8:00 a.m. at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. Walk for Wishes supporters have raised more than two-thirds of the event's $90,000 fundraising goal...

The Nashville Free to Breathe 5K Run/Walk and 1-mile Walk presented by Sarah Cannon Research Institute at Tennessee Oncology will be Saturday, April 16. The event will be at Shelby Bottom Park, 1900 Davidson St., Nashville. All proceeds from the event support Free to Breathe, a lung cancer research and advocacy organization dedicated to doubling lung cancer survival by 2022...

Community Clinic of Shelbyville and Bedford County Inc. is participating in The Big Payback. The third annual The Big Payback is a region-wide, 24-hour online giving event created to help Middle Tennessee nonprofits raise funds vital to continue their work, which directly improves the community around them. This is the first year that the Community Clinic is taking part in the event...

The South Central Tennessee Development District Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program will conduct volunteer training April 25-26 at the SCTDD offices in Mount Pleasant. This program provides volunteers the chance to advocate for residents in long term care facilities -- which includes nursing homes, assisted livings and homes for the aged. SCTDD says there are over 60 such facilities in its 13-county district, and a need for volunteers in all counties...

To help kick-start the upcoming Middle Tennessee State University Alumni Spring Weekend, the colleges of Liberal Arts and Basic and Applied Sciences are inviting people to attend classes, labs and lectures at no cost. During the week of April 18-22, alumni, retirees and community members are welcome to register for topics such as genetics, professional pilot, evolution, exploring the universe and additional offerings from the College of Basic and Applied Sciences; or attend an English class specific to Harry Potter, visit a course on set design for the upcoming "West Side Story" production, join an art class for art teachers, attend a modern dance class and more from the College of Liberal Arts.. ...

Butler's Creek FCE Club met March 21 at Grace Baptist Church on North Main Street. Debbie Crosslin gave the blessing for the refreshments that were prepared by the club members. Louise Moore called the meeting to order with Kay Harrell reading "Do More." Melissa Turrentine gave the devotion and Freddie Edwards read "A Politician. ...

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and the state of Tennessee is promoting a campaign it calls "Thumbs Down to Texting and Driving." The Tennessee Governor's Highway Safety Office and the Department of Safety and Homeland Security have joined in the effort. They're asking social media users to post a selfie giving the "thumbs down" symbol using the hashtag #ThumbsDownTN...

Atmos Energy's natural gas pipelines are damaged, on average, 372 times each year in Tennessee and National Safe Digging Month aims to remind the public to call 811 before digging. A simple call can prevent traffic delays, evacuations and in serious cases, injury...

UNIONVILLE -- The Community Vikings used a pitching gem from Robby Gray and some timely hitting to defeat the Fayetteville Tigers 6-2 in a District 9-A contest Tuesday night. Gray went the distance, striking out 10 without walking a batter as the Vikings completed the two-game sweep over the Tigers...

UNIONVILLE -- Viqueen pitcher Karla Pena was in prime form on Tuesday night against Huntland. She was not only effective from the pitcher's circle, but also a perfect 3-for-3 on the night at the plate in the 12-6 win. "Very pleased with how we hit the ball. Also impressed with how we got after it on the bases," said Viqueen coach Cam Farrell...

Luanne Neeley is one of the many volunteers who operate the Good Samaritan Thrift Store, which held its monthly bag sale Monday. All sales support Good Samaritan's charitable work. (T-G Photo by Jason Reynolds)

Pinnacle Financial Partners donated $500 to United Way last Friday. From left are: Andrea Sublett, United Way Executive Director Pam Fisher, Jo Ann Fann of Pinnacle and Marsha Howard. (T-G Photo by Jason Reynolds)

Shelbyville Central's Golden Eagle soccer team rolled to an 8-2 victory over visiting Lawrence County in a District 8-AAA match on Tuesday afternoon. Senior Ismael Hernandez and junior Edgar Cruz led the way each with a hat-trick, scoring three goals apiece for the winners...

Shelbyville Central's Golden Eaglettes fell in a 3-2 loss to Coffee County in a District 8-AAA matchup on Tuesday evening. Coffee County shortstop Haley Hinshaw provided all the offense the Lady Raiders needed, ripping a two-run homer over the left field fence in the first inning...

The Shelbyville Central tennis teams didn't miss a beat after an extended hiatus through spring break. Both the Eagles and Eaglettes defeated Coffee County to claim the first district win of the season on Tuesday afternoon. The Eagles got a quality leg up, sweeping doubles against the Raiders, with Eddie Green and Malik Ransom edging out an 8-6 No. 1 win, while Hunter Rodgers and Eli Miller claimed an 8-1 win...

Junior righty Seth Gardner had the right stuff on the mound against Marshall County on Tuesday night. But what he couldn't get were the plays needed behind him, as the Champions (8-8, 1-3 12-AA) committed seven devastating errors in a 5-0 loss to the Tigers...

MANCHESTER -- Not much went against the Community Middle Viqueens on Tuesday afternoon at Westwood. The Viqueens hammered out 18 hits and claimed an 18-3 win over the Lady Rockets. Kaitlin Leverette and Brianna Beech each connected on four hits in the win, with Leverette driving in four runs...

It was another rough afternoon for the Liberty Patriots. After taking an early lead against visiting MTCS, the Cougars rallied with a late, three-inning surge to close the game with a 12-1 win over Liberty. Liberty scored the game's first run in the bottom of the third inning after reaching base via error and scored the run by stealing home after being caught in a run down...

FAYETTEVILLE -- For the second straight night, the Liberty Lady Patriots laid claim to a shutout victory, defeating Riverside Christian 7-0 on Tuesday night. Gracie Beth McCullough gave another stellar effort a night after pitching a no-hitter, and allowed just two hits to Riverside...

Offense was in no short supply for the Cascade Lady Champions on Tuesday night during eighth grade night. Against Cannon County, the Lady Champions plated 12 runs on 12 hits and held on for a 12-11 win. Kailey Snell highlighted the Lady Champs' win, slugging a home run in the third inning...