Stories from Sunday, April 10, 2016

My wife doesn't have to use any special face washes or creams or moisturizers to keep her skin looking nice. Paradoxically, the only time her face breaks out is if she decides to try my face-wash. I, on the other hand, wasn't exactly blessed with cooperative skin and wash my face religiously...

I've stood by the side of many graves over the years. Most pastors do at one time or another. We help families and loved ones say their goodbyes. But then sometimes we are part of the families that are saying farewell. In 2010 we stood at my mother's graveside in North Dakota as she was laid to rest...

My grandfather was born and raised in Western Michigan, and as a young adult he worked on an asparagus farm. So my family has always had asparagus on the table, although I never really appreciated it until I was grown and started roasting it in the oven. It is a great spring vegetable that can be used in so many ways, from cream of asparagus soup to appetizers rolled in phyllo dough to a main dish stir fry...

Today, April 10th, 1880, my dad's mother was born. She lived to be 94 years old. April 10th, 2004, her great-great-grandson, Luke, was born. The two will never meet on this earth, but things have a way of coming full circle...

One woman is sharing her hard-learned life lessons on living an authentic life in a new book. Ann White is the author of "7 Steps to Courage." She is the founder of In Grace Ministries and host of Christian talk show "Atlanta Live." She is also an author, speaker, teacher, and short-term missionary...

Hazel Gordon is celebrating her 99th birthday today. Her daughter Anne Gordon Sanders submitted these photos.

Brian and Sally Redd of Shelbyville announce the birth of a daughter, Sadie Ann Redd, on Jan. 21 at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital. The baby girl weighed 6 pounds, 13 oz. She is the granddaughter of Billy and Carolyn Cook, and Jimmy and Denise Redd, all of Shelbyville. She is the great-granddaughter of Sue Bragg, Thelma Redd, and Johnny and Betty Deason, all of Shelbyville...

Logan and Megan McClanahan of Shelbyville announce the birth of a son, Isaiah Benton McClanahan, on March 10 in Murfreesboro. The baby boy weighed 7 pounds, 10 oz. He is the grandson of Allan and Karen Harris, and Mike and Venessa McClanahan. He is the great-grandson of Harry and Elizabeth Molder of Shelbyville; Linda Harris of Bell Buckle; Carl and Pam McClanahan of Shelbyville; Betty Thompson of Yuba City, California; and Leon and Ruth McPeak of Shelbyville...

James Sutton and Sandra Redd of Unionville announce the birth of a son, James Dale Sutton, on March 10 at Harton Regional Medical Center in Tullahoma. The baby boy weighed 7 pounds. He is the grandson of Elizabeth and Tommy Sutton of Unionville, and Nellie and Richard Redd of Shelbyville. He is the great-grandson of Maybelline Wilhoite of Shelbyville...

Ashlee Darlene Molder and Ryan Nathaniel Jolley of Shelbyville announce their engagement. The bride-elect is the daughter of Larry and Cathy Molder of Shelbyville. She is the granddaughter of Bill and the late Aleta Sadler and the late David Sexton, all of Shelbyville, and the late Claude and Virginia Molder of Chapel Hill...

Emma Reese Poland of Brentwood and Matthew Kyle Phillips of Nolensville have announced their engagement. The bride-elect is the daughter of Phyllis Poland of Adamsville and Andy Poland of Nashville. She is the granddaughter of Kay Marlow of Selmer, the late Joe Marlow, and the late Johnny and Joyce Poland of Nashville...

Leeann Leversen is general manager of Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham. The local hotel is ranked as one of the best by its corporation and has won awards from online booking sites. Email Sadie Fowler at sfowler@t-g.com to nominate someone for Sunday Conversation...

You will find them, in little plastic packages, in a refrigerated case somewhere in or near the produce section. They come in various shapes and sizes, and they're called "wonton wrappers" or "egg roll wrappers." If you've never bought them, you're missing out...

UNIONVILLE -- The Community Middle Viqueens needed just three innings to pick up a 15-0 win over visiting Westwood on Friday. The Viqueens belted out 11 hits, led by Brianna Beech, Jaide Langley, Tatianna Eady and Gracie Greer with two each. Katilin Leverette tripled...

The Liberty Patriots picked up a big non-conference win on Friday afternoon, defeating visiting Riverside Christian in five innings, 11-0. It was Eighth Grade Night for seven Patriot players, with Elijah Pope getting the start on the bump. He went the distance for Liberty and kept the Knights' bats tied up and struck out 10, while allowing just two walks...

LYNCHBURG -- Cascade righty Hayden Edmondson was backed by a solid offensive effort and the Champions were able to claim a 12-2 win at Moore County on Friday evening. Edmondson pitched four innings and claimed the win, allowing one hit, while striking out five...

The Liberty Lady Patriots were able to capitalize on six Huntland errors and claim a 17-1 Game 1 win, and followed with an 11-5 Game 2 win. Liberty didn't waste any time and plated 10 runs in the bottom of the first inning of Game 1 to take a commanding lead...

Shelbyville Central's Golden Eagles dropped a 12-2 decision to visiting Spring Hill in a non-district clash on Friday afternoon. Spring Hill belted out 17 hits in five innings. Austin Dustin and Josh Wilkinson each collected three hits to lead the winners at the plate...

Two weeks ago, the Community Viqueens edged out a 1-0 win over visiting Cascade. On Friday afternoon, the Lady Champions got their payback, dealing the Viqueens a 2-1 defeat. Lady Champion freshman Brooke Sudduth was in prime form again, allowing a single hit to the Viqueens, which came off the bat of senior Davie Barnes...

UNIONVILE -- Simple execution and a big-time play by a senior was all the Community Vikings needed to close the week with a huge 12-2 win over visiting Boyd Christian on Friday evening. After the first inning left the score tied at one run apiece, the Vikings turned to simple execution of small ball to load the bases in the bottom of the fifth inning before senior shortstop Kyle Davidson put the game out of reach with a grand slam over the left field fence...

"Coming together is a beginning; Keeping together is progress; working together is success." -- Henry Ford Only about 10 more days until the end of the 109th Legislative Session. We are proceeding quickly to an abrupt end, probably on April 19th. Thursday of this week I presented and passed four of my bills on the House floor and have two more to do next week...

Passage of key job creation legislation in the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee topped a busy week on Capitol Hill. This includes a major bill to spur economic development in some of the state's most economically distressed counties. Twenty-one of Tennessee's 95 counties are considered economically distressed, meaning that they are in the bottom 10 percent nationally in terms of unemployment, per capita income, and poverty. ...

Five Shelbyville Central High School FCA students performed volunteer work April 1 at First Choice Pregnancy Counseling Center. They picked up auction items from local businesses, hung fliers around town to publicize the center's upcoming fish fry, and cleaned and sorted items for the Baby Boutique. Pictured (in no particular order) are: Colt Williams, Kobe Simmons, Magen Williams, Taylor Overcast and Brandie Dukes. (Submitted photos)

The Tennessee Department of Correction is partnering with Middle Tennessee employers to hold a job readiness and career fair for ex-offenders in the Nashville area on Monday. At 8:30 a.m., a Career Coach Bus from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development will arrive to provide assistance with resumes, interviewing skills and information about educational and training opportunities. ...

Eva Duplantis, 7, a student at Learning Way Elementary School, was the March Youth of the Month at Boys & Girls Club of Bedford County among ages 6-8. Maleah Vajcner, 11, a student at Harris Middle School, was the March Youth of the Month at Boys & Girls Club of Bedford County among ages 9 and over...

Tickets go on sale Monday for the 40th anniversary production of "Hee Haw & Howdy," an annual fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society performed as a tribute to the classic TV show "Hee Haw." The show, which will take place April 29-30 at Shelbyville Central High School, is produced by the Strength In Numbers team in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life...

A man arrested on a domestic violence charge allegedly attacked officers and kicked the rear window out of a Shelbyville police car Thursday. Officer Bobby Peacock said he was attacked by Jason Eric Jordan, 44, after telling him to quieten down as he arrived at a Bird Street home...

Here's our look back at the past seven days in local news. Choose the best answer for each question. 1) Which football coach will be the keynote speaker for the Boys & Girls Club of Bedford County's annual Steak & Chicken banquet, May 10 at the Blue Ribbon Circle?...

The Community Viqueen softball team showed the true meaning of sportsmanship and community support on Friday afternoon, wearing "#TeamSudduth" shirts to show their support for Brad Sudduth, who is the father of Lady Champion softball players Brooke and Bailey Sudduth. Following Friday's rivalry game, the Viqueens posed for a photo with Brooke, Bailey and their mother, Debbie. (Submitted photo)

Landon O'Neal, 8, won first prize, $25, in the Times-Gazette's annual Spring Coloring Contest. Landon, who attends Thomas Magnet School, wasn't yet sure what he would do with his prize money. Layne Burris, 7, of Rockvale had a big day Friday. She won a kayak at Community Elementary School as part of the "Viking Voyage" fundraiser and the $15 second prize in the coloring contest...

ABOVE: George Heeschen of Huntsville, Alabama, watches over his booth at the 14th annual Postcard and Paper Memorabilia Show held Saturday at the Fly Arts Center. Madalynn Wilson enjoys a pony ride during a Family Fun Day held Saturday in the parking lot of First Baptist Church-Depot Street to promote the Head Start and Early Head Start programs. (T-G Photos by John I. Carney)...

Four-legged and four-wheeled methods of transport will raise money to support local cancer patients on Saturday. The Bedford Cancer Foundation will host its annual Walking for Cancer Horse Show on Saturday starting at 5 p.m. at Champions Arena on The Celebration grounds. Admission is $5; children under 6 are free. Box seats of six seats are $50...

References to the Nashville Symphony's previous annual concerts in Shelbyville have been popping up in my Facebook memories for days now. This would normally be the time of year when I'd be busy trying to get the word out about the concert. I've had several people stop and ask me when the concert would be this year...