Stories from Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Mrs. Melda Fields Charles, age 73, of Unionville, passed away Tuesday, February 28, 2017, at her home surrounded by her loving family. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Thursday, March 2, 2017, at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel. Pastor Lucas Bowling will officiate, with burial to follow in Cothran Cemetery...

Our beloved Melinda Gayle Reid Spearman passed away much too soon, on February 4, 2017, leaving her family heartbroken but grateful to have had her in our lives. She was born in Maryville, Tennessee, and lived a full life that included devotion to her family, medical service to her patients, artistic and scholastic pursuits, as well as being a mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, niece, artist, and friend. ...

Severe Weather Awareness Week began Sunday and continues through March 4. Bedford County Emergency Management Agency director Scott Johnson works hard on a variety of different storm protection initiatives, but this year is a particular milestone for Bedford County's storm shelter program, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary...

jreynolds@t-g.com East Side Elementary students were smiling when they slipped on new swanky shoes Friday. First Assembly of God worked with Convoy of Hope/Rural Compassion from Springfield, Missouri to provide a free pair of shoes to each student in the school. A shoe manufacturer, which prefers to remain anonymous, provided the shoes through Convoy of Hope/Rural Compassion...

Contender Farms LLP, the McGartland family and SHOW Inc. dropped a lawsuit challenging the enforcement strategies used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, according to a Celebration press release. The plaintiffs, all part of the Tennessee Walking Horse industry, had filed suit against the U.S. ...

Local elected officials, representatives from local utilities, local education professionals and members of the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Chamber Economic and Tourism Board heard a presentation by TVA’s Division of Economic Development Monday night at the Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber of Commerce. One topic of the presentation focused on how the quality of life in an area has become a very important factor in attracting both new business and workforce. Younger generations in the workforce are looking at places where they can live first, and seeking employment in those places second. (Submitted photos)

Shelbyville firefighters battle a blaze at the Bryan Warrick home on Foxhall Drive early Sunday afternoon. The fire is believed to have originated in a laundry room, according to Fire Marshal Jason Richardson. One end of the home received extensive fire damage while the far end was limited to smoke damage, Richardson said. (T-G Photo by David Melson)

MURFREESBORO — Shelbyville Central’s exciting season came to an end with a 53-25 loss to Stewarts Creek in the Region 4-AAA Tournament semifinals on Monday night at Siegel High School. The Eaglettes (19-8) played well on defense, but struggled on offense with turnovers and missed shots...

EAGLEVILLE — The Community Viqueens took a 12-point lead into halftime, but could not overcome a cold shooting second half coupled with the hot shooting of the Moore County Raiderettes as the Viqueens fell 58-48 in a Region 5-A semifinal contest Monday night...

CAMDEN — Going into Saturday night’s first-round region game, Cascade coach Mike Edmondson knew his team would have to show out in order to hand the Camden Lions their first home loss of the year. The Lions, however, showed out with an exceptional shooting night and ended Cascade’s season with a 77-53 defeat...

A memorial service will be held for Mr. Richard Russell Judd Sr. at Immanuel Baptist Church, 198 El Bethel Road in Shelbyville, on Sunday, March 5 at 3 p.m. Mr. Judd died on Feb. 10, 2017.

According to a Shelbyville Police report, William Green was arrested on Friday for driving on a revoked license (2nd) and for speeding. Officer Michael Taylor reports he observed the white Impala during his patrol on North Main Street. Taylor clocked the vehicle going 52 in the 30 mph zone...

Janet Edwards Bates passed this life on Friday, February 24, 2017 at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville at the age of 75. Mrs. Bates was born in Shelbyville, Tennessee to the late Thomas Marion and Virginia Williams Edwards. She loved the church and attended Grundy Street Church of Christ for over 40 years. Her faith was strong and she read her Bible every day. She had such a special group of friends at her church that she loved so much...

Funeral arrangements for Jeff Demars, age 55, of Shelbyville, are incomplete at this time and will be announced at a later date by Doak-Howell Funeral Home. Mr. Demars passed from this life Monday, February 27, 2017 at Tennova Healthcare.

On February, 27, 2017, Victor Max “Vic” Dearen was called by his Lord to join him in eternal life in Heaven. Vic was pre-deceased by his parents, William G. and Ruth Dearen, and an older brother, William H. Dearen. He is survived by his loving wife Donella of 64 years; two daughters, Vicki Suzanne Bean (Bryan) of Winchester, Tennessee, and Lisa Anne Vendley (Edward) of Tulsa, Oklahoma; a brother, Joseph Wesley Dearen (Lunette) of Louisville, Kentucky. ...

The Shelby Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) honored its 2017 DAR Good Citizen and American History essay contest winners at its annual George Washington tea. Sydney Morgan Smith, Nathan Larry Smith, and Hadley Mason were the 2017 Recipients of the DAR Good Citizen awards...