Stories from Sunday, May 15, 2016

Bedford County high schools held graduation ceremonies Friday night and Saturday at Calsonic Arena. From left, Shelbyville Central graduates Chris McClean, Centa Muse, Tynel Murray, Odarius Davis and Isaiah Woodard await Saturday's graduation ceremony. (T-G Photo by David Melson)...

Tired, cold, but enthusiastic and ready to roll some more, Ragnar Relay runners on the semi-annual all-night run from Chattanooga to Nashville stepped into Shelbyville a little after midnight Saturday. Among them were a portion of the "Nutnin' Better To Do" team from Shelbyville, led by First Baptist Church pastor and longtime runner Jeff Rasnick...

A suspect was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia after his car was stopped for an alleged violation of the vehicle light law Thursday night. Alan Michael Boone, 22, of Deer Point Road allegedly had plastic tubing in his car's left rear floorboard, a butane lighter fluid container on the rear seat, a glass bowl with hash residue on it and two pipes, White Owl cigarillos and a butane torch, the Bedford County Sheriff's Office said...

Three women who juggle family and academic responsibilities while pursuing their collegiate goals will receive full tuition for one semester from MTSU's June S. Anderson Foundation. Organizers awarded the scholarships to the trio, all seniors at MTSU, at a May 11 luncheon at B. McNeel's restaurant in Murfreesboro...

Amber Russell Overcast graduated from Shelbyville Central in 2009, received her bachelor's degree in business administration (cum laude) from Middle Tennessee State University in 2012, and just graduated with a master's degree in business administration from MTSU May 6. Her parents are Charles and Angela Russell of Shelbyville. Her grandmother is Clara Macie Russell of Farmington. Her late grandparents are Clayton Russell (Farmington), William "Nick" Nichols (Unionville), and Annette Haley Nichols (Shelbyville). Overcast has taken a new position as a business planning/strategy professional at Education Networks of America in Nashville. She and husband, Mark, reside in Murfreesboro. (Submitted photo)

The Beta Nu Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International gathered on May 7 at Urban Plantation to observe Founder's Day of the professional educator's society. The Delta Kappa Gamma Society is an organization in which membership is extended by invitation to exemplary women educators. Dr. Elaine Alexander, Xi State Membership chairwoman from Murfreesboro, presented...

WINCHESTER -- Every team wants to peak at the right time, usually right as the postseason starts. Such is the case for Shelbyville Central's Golden Eaglette softball team. After ending the regular season as the fourth seed in the District 8-AAA Tournament, the Eaglettes claimed the district tournament championship with a 6-5 win over Tullahoma on Friday night at Franklin County High School...

FRANKLIN -- Going into Friday's District 12-AA championship round, the Cascade Lady Champions were going to have to win two-straight over Page, who was unbeaten in the tournament, in order to claim the tournament championship. That's just what they did...

Coach Chris Fritz challenged his Shelbyville Eagle soccer team Friday night to pick up the pace after a scoreless halftime tie. Fritz's words brought dividends as the Eagles claimed the District 8-AAA championship with a 3-1 victory over the Tullahoma Wildcats...

Here's our look back at the past seven days in local news. Choose the best answer for each question. 1) The winner of the Strolling Jim 40 ultramarathon has a military background, including which of the following? A. Navy SEAL training B. Army Ranger school...

Liz Gassaway was offered the opportunity to start, develop and teach the CDC special needs class at Community High School in 2008. The rest, she says, "is history." Since her beginnings at Community, she has taken her students to participate in the Special Olympics...

Joseph Ballinger is pastor of Whittaker Church of God. He and his family moved here last fall from East Tennessee to pastor the church. 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...

Today's column is about Ken Wytsma, who has some thoughts on creativity and leadership. Wytsma, a pastor in Oregon, is the founder of the Justice Conference, an annual event that aims to help Christians better understand and engage in social justice. More information is at thejusticeconference.com...

Tornadoes have to be one of the strangest forces on our planet. The sheer sight of a giant, funneling tornado invokes awe and wonder. This past week several storms that produced tornadoes moved across the plains, wreaking havoc, and leaving behind a trail of destruction and death...

The Times-Gazette is publishing a glossy magazine in June that will include features on weddings and bridal stories. The T-G is looking for wedding announcements of people who were recently married or engaged, as well as memories of people's weddings, no matter how long ago they were, for possible inclusion...

Claudia Curl is retiring after 43 years as a dietician. She works at Tennova Healthcare Shelbyville. She is a registered dietician (RD) and licensed dietician/nutritionist (LDN). The Times-Gazette recently held a Q&A interview with Curl. T-G: Please describe your job duties...

My mom was real big on good manners. I can't remember arriving home from a birthday party, sleepover, or play date where she didn't ask me if I had said, "Thank you," to my hostess or host. Thank you notes were required correspondence when gifts were received...

Life Happens! That is a statement that I make quite often when things don't go the way that I think they should. "Oh, well! Life happens!" When Asaph, the psalm writer, felt overwhelmed, he comforted himself with God's "songs in the night." Psalm 77:1-9 says:...

The Community Alumni Association awarded scholarships to two deserving Community High seniors at the school's Honors Day on May 6. Kateland Carpenter was awarded a $1,000 scholarship and Seth Crowder a $300 scholarship by association president Homer Gray, who presented the awards...