Stories from Sunday, August 21, 2016

Today starts the one-year countdown to a once-in-a-lifetime event for Middle Tennessee. On August 21, 2017, a total solar eclipse will pass across the United States, cutting a swath through Middle and East Tennessee. This will be the first time in a century that the path of a solar eclipse has covered the U.S. from coast to coast, according to the website nationaleclipse.com...

Gateway Church is celebrating the birthday of its new building on Madison Street amid a growth spurt and transforming lives. When the church moved to its new location at the old Walmart last Aug. 9, it went from two services to one. But that did not last long, pastor Jason Daughdrill said. They are back up to two services: 9 and 10:45 a.m...

Here's our look back at the past seven days in local news. Choose the best answer for each question. 1) According to a story last Sunday, Tennessee ranks next-to-last -- 50th out of 50 states plus the District of Columbia -- in what? A. High school graduation rates...

The Times-Gazette is extending its advertising deadline for its upcoming church directory project. Churches wishing to participate in this new publication now have until Aug. 31 to reserve their advertising space. The purpose of the directory is to highlight the variety of different denominations and styles of worship our county offers. ...

The Rotary Club of Shelbyville has partnered with Chick-Fil-A to offer grilled chicken sandwiches at the Rotary Club food booth during the Celebration. Kelleye Watts, Chick-Fil-A marketing director in Tullahoma, seen here with past president Don Gallagher, catered breakfast for Rotarians at the food booth and provided the program last Wednesday. (Submitted photo)

Being a guest columnist, so far editor Sadie Fowler allows me to select my own topics. The rub comes when I must select a single topic and then energize my creative juices to produce the column. I had settled on my next subject before Sunday morning when I read the T-G front page article about our state having the worst voter turnout at elections. Our registration of eligible voters isn't much better. Thank you, John Carney, for selecting my topic...

To the editor: Thank you very much to editor Sadie Fowler and publisher Hugh Jones and the Shelbyville Times-Gazette for their positive support of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. Sadie was exactly right when she stated in her editorial last Wednesday that the Celebration is a vital part of our community...

Shelbyville Central's 41-16 victory over Lawrence County on Friday night was a big win in a number of ways. It's always great to open the season with a victory on your home field, but this accomplishment was even more special as it was the first win for new head coach Justin Palmer...

LYNCHBURG -- Reflecting back to the 2015 season opening loss to Moore County, Champion coach Jake Tyre challenged his team to be a little more physical and dictate the game's tempo in Friday's opener. Message received. Cascade (1-0) pitched a second half shutout and behind a dominant defensive effort crushed the Raiders 32-12...

WOODBURY -- The Community Vikings enjoyed a halftime lead, but struggled on the offensive end in the second half as the Cannon County Lions came from behind to defeat the Vikings 26-22 in the season opener Friday night. Penalties were a common theme for the Vikings all night...

NIONVILLE -- It wasn't a loss, but it didn't go down as a victory either. The Community Viqueens had to settle for a non-district tie on Friday evening, hosting Dekalb County in a 2-2 draw. Dekalb County drew first blood with the first goal 33 minutes into the first half...

Community High School plans to "Sail for St. Jude" in the coming week. The student council is sponsoring the event, which will consist of a series of activities each day. Students are encouraged to bring loose change or any desired amount for donations. All of the proceeds will be donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis...

Jason Williams is pastor of Trinity Baptist Church, which now has a building of its own after years of various temporary locations. Williams is not to be confused with the chief sheriff's deputy of the same name. To suggest an interview subject for Sunday Conversation, email sfowler@t-g.com....

It's been a bit of a chaotic week to say the least. If anyone read Wednesday's editorial regarding the horse industry and the need for the community to support the event, one would remember a small portion of the editorial pertaining to an activist who caused disruption in our workflow earlier this week...

A local woman has released a novel that will tug at the heartstrings. Katie Guthrie-Shearin is the author of the self-published book "Love Enough For Two." (Her author name is Katie J. Guthrie.) She is active in the community, including being involved with the Shelbyville Lions Club...

My husband Larry says that I often take left turns and head off in another direction conversationally. I thought I might give you a taste of this for yourself in a literary sort of way. I have always found this particular character flaw to be quite useful when trying to find inventive methods to research and solve reference questions. It all seems quite logical to me, so here goes...

When I was a student at Intermountain Bible College in Grand Junction, Colorado back in the 70s, I attended a wonderful church there in town. The people of First Assembly of God welcomed me with open arms, even though I was a newcomer from a college of another denomination...

Megan Krista Bearden and Michael Rhett Perryman of Shelbyville announce their engagement. The bride-elect is the daughter of Steve and Tammy Bearden Shelbyville. She is the granddaughter of Carolyn Seibers and the late Larry Seibers, and the late Roy Gale and Rosalee Bearden, all of Shelbyville...