Stories from Thursday, May 26, 2016

Rose Ramirez said she was honored to be asked to speak at this year's Field of Heroes Memorial Day observance, which has an emphasis on women in the military. But at the same time, Ramirez' focus for many years was on telling her recruits, "a Marine is a Marine is a Marine," and dissuading women from using their gender as an excuse...

PFC Pamala C. Derragon-Deason, U.S. Army, will be one of the guest speakers at the Field of Heroes Ceremony. She served as a combat medic based at Ft. Carson, Colorado, 3rd Forward Support Battalion in 1984-1987. She is the daughter of the late Staff Sgt. Richard E. Derragon, who had 30-plus years as a veteran of the Army and Air National Guard. She is the granddaughter of the late Ralph Derragon who served in World Wars I and II. She has uncles and cousins who served in the military...

Pamela Roberson will speak on behalf of the U.S. Army Reserve at Memorial Day's Field of Heroes observance. "I served six years in the U.S. Army Reserve in Michigan," Roberson said. "I went in as a private first class and came out as a staff sergeant after six years."...

A retired Marine Corps captain will be one of the guest speakers for the Field of Heroes Ceremony on Memorial Day. Sandy (Wells) Sharp was born in Shelbyville on May 21, 1950. Her father's family is from Shelbyville. Her father was Walter Ward Wells Jr. She still has aunts and uncles living in Shelbyville. Her mother's family was from Bell Buckle. Her mother's name was Roberta Faye Edwards. Both are buried at Willow Mount Cemetery...

A Memorial Day ceremony just would not be the same without participants dressed up in uniform. Fortunately for Bedford County, Guy Hill has just the uniform or two. Hill draws from his extensive military uniform collection every year to outfit participants in Memorial Day ceremonies. With approximately 180 uniforms or more spanning all the way back to 1885, he has a few to choose from...

A woman accused of torturing a 9-year-old girl last year accepted a plea bargain as the third day of her trial was set to begin Wednesday in Circuit Court. Rochelle Clayton, 39, accepted a 20-year-sentence to be served at 85 percent. Clayton has been jailed since her arrest in March 2015...

Summer time means it's farmer's market time in Shelbyville and Bell Buckle. The Bell Buckle Farmer's Market will open Friday from 3-6 p.m. and will run weekly through October, said the town's vice mayor, Jenny Hunt. The market will be held across the street from Town Hall by Southern Charm. Locally grown vegetables, baked goods and gourmet coffees will be offered...

Where is Sky? The anxious family of Sky, a dog missing when his owner went to pick him up Monday morning from Shelbyville's city animal shelter, wonders not only where and how he is, but why he disappeared. Sky, described by owner Chase May as a "full-blooded blue heeler that looks like a German Shepherd," was taken to Shelbyville Animal Control early Sunday night following a complaint from a Earnhart Street neighbor...

The woman who has been executive director of adult education in Bedford and two other counties reported on dramatic changes to the way the program is organized during a report Wednesday morning to Shelbyville Rotary Club. Until 2013, each county in Tennessee could manage its own adult education program. In 2013, the programs were consolidated by the state, and Bedford County's program won a contract to manage a three-county area consisting of Bedford, Coffee and Warren counties...

Davin Lynch was a fifth grade student at Southside Elementary from kindergarten until Christmas break 2015, his fifth grade year, when he was killed in a traffic accident. Davin was so passionate about art that the Davin Lynch Memorial Art Award was set up in his memory...

Sarah Pierce and Community High School basketball have become synonymous with each other--and both have become quite good. Though her final appearance in a Purple and Gold uniform came to an end in the Class A state semifinals, Pierce has earned a scholarship to continue her basketball career at the United States Air Force Acadmy...

Patriotic music is always a vital part of the Field of Heroes Ceremony, and this year will not be any different. Local gospel singer Tiffany Lemmon said she will sing the national anthem at the start of the event. Later, she will sing "God Bless America" during the placing of the wreaths...

As Memorial Day approaches, the Tennessee State Library & Archives is commemorating the 100-year anniversary of World War I by launching a new digital collection on TeVA (Tennessee Virtual Archive). The Tennessee World War I Gold Star Records, 1918-1924 is a memorial collection honoring Tennessee servicemen who died during the Great War. Soldiers' records offer insights into early 20th century life and the loss experienced by servicemen and their families...

As the weather marches towards summer, it's time for local farmer's markets to open, showcasing the best in locally-grown produce: l Bell Buckle Farmer's Market will open Friday from 3-6 p.m. It will be held across the street from Town Hall by Southern Charm. Enjoy locally grown vegetables, baked goods and gourmet coffees...