Stories from Sunday, April 9, 2017

Last week I went on a professional development tour to Arkansas with 21 other extension agents. One of the stops was at a rice cooperative, Riceland, and it was very interesting. First of all I had no idea that they grew rice in Arkansas. In fact, Arkansas is the top rice producing state. Secondly, I didn't have any idea how you grew rice, except that it liked water. The tour explained the whole process and they have a blog on their website that follows the farmers through the season...

Not only are they celebrating the NCAA win this month in North Carolina, there's a special celebration of another kind gong on later in April, in Charlotte. Little Golden Books are turning 75! I wonder how many of you are like me and treasured your little golden books as a child and almost wore them out rereading the stories. ...

Michaela Elizabeth Peyton of Chapel Hill and Christian Cain Barrett of Shelbyville announce their engagement. The bride-elect is the daughter of Shane and Julie Peyton of Chapel Hill. She is the grandaughter of William and Connie Alloway of College Grove, Wanda White of Brentwood, and B.F and Tammy Peyton of Murfreesboro...

For the first time in many years, I have struggled lately with writer's block. No joke, every time I start writing something, I get interrupted, off-track, lose momentum and walk away. When your livelihood depends on being able to write, this can be not only frustrating, but scary. I blame the block on simple confusion in my brain as I make some big transitions in life...

The old saying goes, "There's a first time for everything." Our granddaughter Kori had a list of "First Times" this week. She rode her bike without training wheels for the first time and headed down the street on her own. We were all so proud of her...

Today's column features quick looks at two titles by Nelson Books. The first is "Don't Settle for Safe: Embracing the Uncomfortable to Become Unstoppable," by Sarah Jakes Roberts. Roberts is a businesswoman, author and media personality. She is the daughter of Bishop T.D. Jakes and Serita Jakes. She and her husband Toure have six children and live in Los Angeles...

Terry Larkin will discuss and sign "The Light Gap: God's Amazing Presence" 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, at Shelbyville-Bedford County Public Library. She will also speak 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, at First Presbyterian Church. Larkin, a former Shelbyville resident, co-wrote the book with her sister Marjorie Steiner...

Leadership Bedford is fixing up a greenhouse for the school system. This year's class of the leadership group has been rehabilitating Liberty School's old greenhouse as its community service project, said Leadership Bedford vice president Justin Heid. The work includes cleaning and carpentry, and building a shed among other things...

Former NBA star and Slam Dunk Contest winner Spud Webb will be the guest speaker at the Eighth Annual Steak & Chicken Dinner, benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Bedford County. The event will be held at noon May 2 at the Blue Ribbon Circle. Webb began playing basketball early in life and, not being heavily recruited by Division I colleges, opted to play at Midland Junior College, where he was able to guide the team to the 1982 JUCO national title...

HUNTLAND — Cascade got back on track on Friday afternoon in a non-district clash at Huntland. After dropping three-straight, Cascade used a little two-out magic in the second to blow open the game en route to an 11-0 shutout win. Cascade took a 1-0 lead after the first inning, but with two out in the top of the second, senior Hayden Edmondson drove in a pair of runs on a double to jump start the offense...

The Community High School football program is churning out players to the collegiate level at an impressive rate. Already this spring, two members of the 2017 senior class have inked their letters of intent to play collegiate football. Joining teammates Tyler Hutchinson and Michael McClain, Sean Kennedy has signed his letter of intent to play football at the University of the Cumberlands, in Williamsburg, Ky...

One of the three men implicated in a violent purse snatching at Wal-Mart a year ago in May pled guilty Thursday to one count of robbery and was sentenced to serve three years and six months in prison. Zackary Allen O’Sullivan, 24, will have to serve at least 30 percent of the sentence before he becomes eligible for early release...

With all due respect to the Masters, taking place this weekend at Augusta National Golf Club, there’s more than one kind of golf. Disc golf, played on courses like the one at H.V. Griffin Park in Shelbyville, is a lot less expensive, but for enthusiasts like Zach Smith and Justin Merlo, it can be just as rewarding....

Cameron and Kat Cooper of Shelbyville announce the birth of a son, Maddox Andrew Cooper, on Feb. 14 at 1:29 p.m. at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro. The baby boy weighed 6 pounds, 11 oz. and was 19 inches long...