Stories from Sunday, April 17, 2016

On May 3, not-for-profit groups from throughout Middle Tennessee will participate in "The Big Payback," a fund-raising drive that challenges donors to give online during a 24-hour period. Eight Bedford County-based charities, along with other charities that have significant presence within Bedford County, are among the participating not-for-profits...

A fashion show will be held on Tuesday for special needs girls in grades 6-12. The second annual Shining Stars pageant will be from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at Fairlane Church of Christ, 101 Dow Drive. "Shining Stars is more then just a fundraiser," said organizer Marissa Countess. "It is an event that allows our community to unite as one and celebrate the gift of life and beauty...

Entries are now open in the Times-Gazette's annual "Mommy & Me" photo contest, sponsored by Heritage Jewelers on the square and the T-G. Domino's and DSC Sanitation are co-sponsors of the contest. The contest is for cute, funny, creative or meaningful photos which include both mothers (or grandmothers) and their children (daughters, sons or both)...

The intricate patterns of spider webs can be amazing ... especially when you can relax a little because the spider itself isn't around. (T-G Photo by Andrea Nix)

A chain saw, drill and rifle were taken approximately three months from a home on Horse Mountain Road, the Bedford County Sheriff's Office said. The theft was not reported until this week, when the property owner noticed the door was open in a storage area. No new thefts were noticed...

Here's our look back at the past seven days in local news. Choose the best answer for each question. 1) Murfreesboro real estate attorney Grant Starrett is challenging which incumbent in the August Republican primary? A. State Rep. Pat Marsh B. State Sen. Jim Tracy...

Bus safety awareness was stressed to Community Elementary second-graders Tuesday. Tennessee Highway Patrol Sergeant Jason Kelley, who developed the program, was assisted by Bedford County Schools transportation director Kenny Parker and Scott Peoples...

The Tennessee Senate passed several key bills this week, including the state budget and legislation to curb opioid abuse, as the 2016 session of the Tennessee General Assembly draws to a close. The $34.9 billion debt-free budget proposes state government spending for the next fiscal year that begins July 1, 2016 and extends to June 30, 2017...

A great piece of legislation that was passed this week was HB 2574 which amends the Basic Education Program (BEP) and fully funds it in 2016. Investing $223 million for this next year's BEP Enhancement Plan. This bill sets out how the program is funded and how the funds are distributed to our school systems. The Governor had a study task force look at this program for the past two years and they recommended the new program...

TULLAHOMA -- Shelbyville Central's track team competed in the District 8-AAA championship meet on Tuesday and a number of athletes turned in fine performances. Eaglette junior Kethlin Campbell earned the girls overall District 8-AAA Award after winning four events. Campbell won the 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, 400 meter dash and the long jump...

UNIONVILLE -- Five different Community Vikings had RBIs, with Ryan Fears leading the way with three hits and three RBIs as the Vikings used a complete game performance from Tyler Bushnell to defeat the Riverside Christian Knights 8-1 in the Walking Horse Classic Friday night...

The Cascade Lady Champions swept a doubleheader on Friday afternoon, knocking off non-district opponents Central Magnet School and Huntland by scores of 7-1 and 9-0, respectively. Against Central Magnet, Cascade (15-4) got the bats going in the second inning and never let up...

The Shelbyville Central Golden Eagle soccer team claimed a 5-1 District 8-AAA victory over Lincoln County on Thursday evening. The Eagle offense was spearheaded by Ishmael Hernandez, who led the team with a hat trick. Jovan Cruz added a goal off a header, while David Cardenas scored on an assist from Hernandez...

It's not every day one turns 100. But when you do, it's time to party. Mary Lynn Prince turned 100 on Monday, April 11. The day before, her family threw a party at Riverbend County Club. Daughter Marilyn Lewis estimates close to 400 attended. "It was one heck of a party," Lewis said...

Steve Mallard is an instructor for the Computer Information Technology program at Tennessee College of Applied Technology -- Shelbyville, and also serves as the school's IT manager. To suggest a future subject for Sunday Conversation, email Sadie Fowler, sfowler@t-g.com. Subjects don't have to be well-known, but please give us some ideas of what topics we might want to cover in our questions...

I got the California bug about 20 years ago while on some long run with my dad's younger sister, my aunt Marjie. At the time, she was in a similar situation to my present one, virtually a working, independent mom who found therapy and refuge in her long runs...

Last week I promised to tell you a little more about my search for family history and the Volga Germans. Digging around in reference books and databases, I learned that a great many of the Volga Germans settled permanently in the Lincoln, Nebraska, area. It turned out that the American Historical Society for Germans from Russia has its headquarters there and that they have a research library and small museum collection. One of my "bucket list" items was to get to spend some time in that library...

The Bedford County Family and Community Education (FCE) Clubs held their annual achievement program April 7 with 60 members attending. Elizabeth Coker, a historian from Rockvale, portrayed Tennessee pioneer Granny White and told her story of helping to settle Middle Tennessee. ...

When the weather would warm up, Mom would load my sister, Cindi, my brother, Paul, and me into the car and we would head out to the small town of Pekin, North Dakota. Pekin was a small farming town on the eastern plains of the state. Mom and her siblings grew up on a dairy farm not far from Pekin...

The mind has to be one of the hardest obstacles to overcome. In almost anything you attempt to accomplish or be good at, your mind will most assuredly try to find ways to make sure you don't. This includes life. Steven Pressfield, author of the "War of Art," calls this force "resistance." He defines this as "the destructive force inside human nature that rises whenever we consider a tough, long-term course of action that might do for us or others something that's actually good."...