Stories from Thursday, June 23, 2016

Jared Habel, left, chairman of June Dairy Month in Bedford County, dropped by the Times-Gazette offices on Wednesday to drop by some cheese, and related snacks in thanks for the newspaper's coverage of Dairy Month and 4-H activities. At right are Adria Sharp of the newspaper's front office and staff writer Jason Reynolds. (T-G Photo by John I. Carney)

Bedford County Tennessee Wildlife Resources Officer Larry Thurston, left, was the guest speaker at the June 20 Shelbyville Optimist Club Meeting. The Optimist Club helped purchase the prizes for the Ed Carson Memorial Take A Kid Fishing Rodeo hosted by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. One of this year's Optimist Club Scholarship recipients, Heaven Roaden, and her father Michael Roaden were also special guests. (Submitted photo)

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam; Maj. Gen. Max Haston of the state Military Department; and Department of Children's Services (DCS) Commissioner Bonnie Hommrich announced Wednesday that Tennessee has been approved by the U.S. Department of Defense for a National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program...

A thief who authorities suspect was testing law enforcement response time broke into Three Corners Market, Longview Road, early Tuesday shortly after a deputy left following a previous alarm. The second time around, tobacco products were taken after a window was broken around 2:45 a.m., deputy Dillon Lipinski said in his report...

To the editor: Due to the Florida shootings, gun control issues again have surfaced, almost becoming a threat it seems, to law-abiding citizens who hunt or just enjoy collecting firearms through buying or trading. It seems when an atrocity is enacted against innocent people, the politicians of this country want to quickly pass outrageous gun restrictions on law-abiding citizens. ...

Starting this fall, area homeschooled high school students will have a chance to earn college credits and get a slice of Middle Tennessee State University by taking classes at University College's new Dual Enrollment Center at Bell Street. The university's dual-enrollment program allows high school students who meet MTSU's admissions criteria and gain approvals from their guidance counselors to take college classes before they graduate, thus earning high school and college credits at the same time.. ...

The 19th annual Duck River Cleanup will be held Saturday at Riverbottom Park, behind the Shelbyville Power, Water and Sewer offices on South Main Street. Registration begins at 7 a.m., with donuts and biscuits served and T-shirts distributed. Lunch will be served between 11 a.m. and noon. All sorts of volunteers are needed, and those with boats are particularly encouraged to participate...

The outdoor and indoor pools at the Shelbyville Recreation Center were popular places to keep cool Wednesday. Here, Glenda, Dakota and Marty Hoffman and Olivia and Daniel Evans take shade under an umbrella. (T-G Photos by Jason Reynolds)

WASHINGTON -- A drained and dwindling group of Democrats, some draped in blankets and toting pillows, carried their remarkable House floor sit-in past daybreak Thursday, disrupting the business of Congress in the wake of the Orlando shooting rampage with demands for gun-control votes in an extraordinary scene of protest broadcast live to the world...

Steven Reynolds of Murfreesboro held a formal announcement for his campaign for the 4th Congressional Seat Monday at Barfield Crescent Park in Murfreesboro. Reynolds is unopposed in the August Democratic primary, making him the presumptive nominee. He will face the winner of the Republican primary in the November general election...

Newton Motor Group has acquired Shelbyville Ford and Shelbyville Chevy Buick GMC, also known as Shelbyville Automotive. The dealerships join Newton Nissan South of Shelbyville, purchased several years ago. Former co-owner Jack Pirtle said he and his partner, Tim Weiland, made the decision in order to spend more time with their families...

Bedford County Arts Council elected a new executive board at its membership potluck earlier this month. Long-time president Roy Ferguson, who, along with his wife Dana, had put in countless hours promoting the arts council and its Fly Arts Center, was honored as he prepares to leave office at the end of this month...

Diana Crick Moore, 70, of Murfreesboro, a native of Shelbyville, died Sunday, June 19, 2016. Graveside services were held Tuesday at Cothran Cemetery in Rover. Feldhaus Memorial Chapel handled arrangements.