Stories from Thursday, November 17, 2016

Johnny Fred Donnell, 73, of Wartrace died Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016 at his home. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Gowen-Smith Chapel with Bill Rhoten officiating. Burial will follow at his home. Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Sunday and beginning at 10 a.m. Monday.

An alternative to shopping is being offered state-wide on Black Friday, which is next week. Tennessee State Parks will offer free, guided hikes at all 56 of its parks on Friday, Nov. 25, the day after Thanksgiving as part of the "Opt Outside" event. ...

Bedford County needs 38 Tennessee Promise mentors. The organizing system, tnAchieves, has 46 of the 84 local mentors that are needed, said Graham Thomas, director of Community Partnerships. Most of the current mentors are returning volunteers. Monday is the deadline to sign up...

Students at Thomas Magnet School send off a trailer-load of about 2,500 canned foods items Wednesday to the Community Outreach Partnership, a food bank. Partnership members pictured are Joan Hall (left), Larry Fletcher (third man from right), Richard Smith (second from right) and Cortney Mansfield (Bedford County FFA member on right). Mansfield and Hunter and Lawson Lemmon (not pictured) helped with transportation. (Submitted photo)...

TIGER, Ga. (AP) -- Thick smoke has settled over a wide area of the southern Appalachians, where dozens of uncontrolled wildfires are burning through decades of leaf litter and people breathe in tiny bits of the forest with every gulp of air. It's a constant reminder of the threat to many small mountain communities, where relentless drought and now persistent fires and smoke have people under duress...

The Town of Wartrace has launched its first web page which can be found at townofwartrace.com. The new site features information about the town, its operations and services, historical information, and area attractions. "It is a pleasure to announce that the Town of Wartrace now has a web page making information available online for our community and visitors," said Mayor Thomas Hurt. "I believe our citizens will find the site to be very informative and helpful."...

All current Motlow State Community College Tennessee Promise students have until Dec. 1 to complete eight hours of community service in order to remain eligible for the Tennessee Promise scholarship. "There are numerous ways that students can complete their community service hours, including job shadowing, cleaning local, state, and recreational parks, or by assisting local non-profit organizations," said Jonathan Graham, Tennessee Promise coordinator at Motlow...

Alleged fast driving led to a driver being arrested on drug charges Tuesday. Deputy Chris Morton said he was passed at a high rate of speed on South Cannon Boulevard by Dannie Lee Pickering, 42, of Highway 64 West, who allegedly ran the traffic signal at the Lewis Avenue intersection.

To the Editor: Here's a great big thank you! to all the fine folks of Shelbyville who came out to enjoy the Veterans Day Parade in support of our men and women who have well served our country. Your participation is appreciated far more than you realize. Again, our thanks to you from all the supporters, auxiliary, members and officers of VFW Post 5019, DAV Chapter 43 and American Legion Post 23...

A new era in the Shelbyville Central Golden Eaglette basketball program begins tonight when the Eaglettes entertain Dickson County in a TSSAA Hall of Fame game. New head coach and former Golden Eaglette standout Kim Dye was hired near the end of last school year after the departure of coach Kevin Thomas, who returned home to coach the boys program at Jackson County High School...

Shelbyville Central's Golden Eagle basketball team is excited for the start of the season with a new coach at the helm of the program. New head coach Ben Holl was hired a few days before school started and has been busy trying to incorporate a smooth transition after the departure of former coach Stan Eggleston...

The Women of First Presbyterian Church will host "More Than A Bake Sale" from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday in the church fellowship hall. Baked goods, canned goods and more items will be offered for sale. Items can also be purchased from Ten Thousand Villages, a fair trade retailer, including jewelry, baskets, Christmas décor and more...