Stories from Sunday, June 19, 2016

We celebrated my middle granddaughter's 5th birthday this week. It doesn't seem possible that Kori is already 5. She will be starting kindergarten in just a few short months. It doesn't seem that long ago that I had the privilege of holding her for the first time as a newborn...

Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there. It's time for us to spoil all those special men in our lives. Again this year, I'd like to applaud all the dads out there who have made special efforts to get their offspring to the library. It is such fun to see dads (with or without moms) on a family outing to find just the right books for everyone...

Caron Lovvorn of Shelbyville and Gregory Burr of Wartrace announce their engagement. The bride-elect is the daughter of Steve and Maria Lovvorn of Shelbyville. She is the granddaughter of Mary Sanders Lovvorn Hix, the late Lester Lovvorn, the late Reagor Hix, Clara Grubbs Stovall, and the late Doris Stovall, all of Shelbyville...

You know those scenes in Sci-Fi space movies where the ship hits warp speed and goes blasting through space? That's what my brain feels like right now. All I see on screen are white trails of light that go sweeping through my brain thousands at a time and I have no idea where this ship will stop.These white lights are the pixels that make up my computer screen...

On this Father's Day, Harold Smith of Bell Buckle, along with his brothers, Forrest Bedford Smith Jr. of Lakeland, Florida, and Gene Allen Smith of Smyrna, remember their father for his service to the country. Forrest Bedford Smith Sr. was a corporal in the U.S. Army during World War I. Harold Smith reports that he doesn't know a lot about his father's war career...

The Over The Hill Gospel Singers are a group of senior citizens who perform each Tuesday morning, rotating among various nursing homes and care facilities. Anyone is welcome to show up and sing as part of the group, which has grown from five members to more than 25...

St. William of Montevergine Catholic Church, on South Brittain Street, will mark the 75th anniversary of its dedication on Saturday, June 25, which is the feast day of St. William of Montevergine. A bilingual Mass will begin at 10 a.m. with the Rev. David Choby, bishop of the Diocese of Nashville; the Rev. Louis Edward Rojas, the church's current priest; and others presiding. The Mass will be followed by a meal outside the fellowship hall...

Kristin Conley took the helm at the Boys & Girls Club of Bedford County in April. Working with children is nothing new to the Cleveland, Tennessee, native as she has worked with the Department of Children's Services as a case worker and with nonprofits for more than 20 years...

The Anointed Word of Life Church on Union Street had a free clothes giveaway and prayer stop on Saturday, June 11. "It's the first time we have done this since our doors opened in December," said Lisa Armstrong, a minister at the church. "We want people to know that we are here and we want to help those in need."...

The debate needs to end now. There's but one true Hit King -- Pete Rose. Throughout his embattled 24-year career, Rose accounted for a record 4,256 hits and finished his career with a lifetime batting average of .303. Think about this for just a minute...

In the first day of competition in the Shelbyville City Open tennis tournament, six matches were held, featuring both singles and doubles competition. In the Boys 18 singles, Hunter Rodgers defeated Kyle Spence, 6-3, 6-1 to claim his tournament opener...

A lot of people misunderstand the Tennessee Open Meetings Act and think that it only requires that the final vote on a decision take place in the public. But the "Sunshine Law," as it's known, applies not only to the final vote but to the debate and deliberation which leads to that vote...

The story of a Vietnam War veteran who was thrust into some of the bloodiest battles of the conflict is the subject of the next "MTSU On the Record." Host Gina Logue's interview with Middle Tennessee State University alumnus J.L. "Bud" Alley will air from 5:30-6 p.m. Monday and from 8-8:30 a.m. Sunday, June 26, on WMOT-FM (89.5 and www.wmot.org)...

This letter written by Ewing Turrentine dated Jan. 5, 1919 refers to the sale of a 2-year-old black filly, an almost 2-year-old sorrell filly and a 4-year-old yellow Jersey cow "known as the Kit Moon cow" to W.A. Shapard, George W. Fogleman and Van Shapard. Kerry Dunn of Shelbyville, who found the letter among a late relative's belongings, is interested in finding out more information about these men. She can be contacted at dunnker493@gmail.com.

A man who allegedly attempted to enter a car in Bell Buckle shortly after midnight Friday morning has been charged with criminal trespassing. The suspect, Joseph Camaron Perez, 27, of Rockwood Drive in Shelbyville was driving a red Chevrolet Blazer identified as seen speeding away from an Abernathy Street home in Bell Buckle, according to the Bedford County Sheriff's Office...

Harris Middle School has offered a cooking class for a decade. Demand for the class is so hot that there is always a long waiting list, said Betsy Norris, the Bedford County Department of Education's grants and e-learning supervisor. It is offered during the year, after school has let out, and during summer school, which ends this week...

It's a long way to drive for an RC Cola and a Moon Pie. Four friends -- Tony Schwall, Frank Dupree, Layne Mattos and Mike Redus -- traveled by motorcycle from West Sacramento, California, to Bell Buckle, Tennessee so that they could attend Saturday's 22nd annual RC Cola / Moon Pie Festival...

Bedford Life is here! Our all-new, all-local magazine debuts today and is included with each print copy of the Times-Gazette. It's filled with local content ranging from brides to barbecue. Check it out!