Stories from Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Sherry Patterson of Flat Creek submitted this photo from her property of a pecan tree that fell over several years ago during an ice storm. The roots were covered and the tree has continued to live and grow. The tree gave fruit to small pecans this past year for the first time since the family moved there in 1998. The Pattersons take family photos in front of the tree, and their kids played on it when they were young. (Submitted photo)

Shelbyville Animal Control Director Randy McCullough (left) accepts a donation of pet supplies and food from Dustin Rhodes of First Community Bank. Rhodes also spent time volunteering at the shelter. (Submitted photo)

Morgan Bargers stands in the kitchen of her bakery, Mouth of the South, at 1731 N. Main St. A Canadian film crew was at the bakery on Thursday and Friday last week filming an episode for a new Food Network show titled “The Baker Sisters.” The show will not premiere until sometime next year. (T-G Photo by Jason M. Reynolds)

First Community Bank held a retirement reception last Thursday for Beth Porter, who worked there for 16.5 years. Porter, shown here with husband Wayne, was vice president/executive assistant. She plans to spend more time on the family farm, with grandchildren and at church, her husband said. A large crowd filled the bank’s community room to say farewell to Porter. Linda G. Nichols (not pictured), vice president/marketing director, said Porter was “a dedicated employee that went above and beyond with her customers and her co-workers. She will be greatly missed.” (T-G Photos by Jason M. Reynolds)

The Center for Family Development, 1304 Madison St., recently placed blue and silver pinwheels on its campus to mark National Child Abuse Prevention Month, which is all throughout April. The center offers support to parents of newborns, adoption services, classes for parents who are facing various challenges, and other family services. Pictured (from left) are: Benita Caldwell, Katie Wortham, Sayle Hudson, Jessie Teal, Jeanne Edwards, Allison Perryman, Jessie Skimehorne and Mary Faxon. (T-G Photo by Jason M. Reynolds)

Pictured is one of two gardens tended lovingly by Mary Cook of Peebles Road. She spends four to five hours a day after work caring for all the plants. (Submitted photo)

The South Central Human Resource Agency reports that funds are available for energy bill assistance. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is for eligible households for low-income households that pay a high portion of income for home energy. ...

The Compassus program serving Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, Franklin, Grundy and Moore Counties will host a free hospice volunteer training orientation on Saturday, April 29, at the Compassus - Tullahoma location. Volunteers are an integral part of the Compassus care team and are relied on to provide support, companionship and dignity to members of the community facing serious and life-limiting illness. Administrative volunteer opportunities are also available...

Three teams from the University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Engineering, including Logan Rangel, a sophomore from Wartrace, competed in the recent American Society of Civil Engineers Deep South Conference at the University of Memphis. UT Martin students competed in the concrete canoe, steel bridge, surveying, mead paper and mystery event competitions and earned top-three awards in three of five events...

Titan Transfer, Inc. professional driver Ed Tobitt recently completed the safety feat of driving two million miles without a single preventable collision while with the company. Tobitt is the second Titan driver in the company's 17-year history to achieve this milestone. He joins Greg Farris, who accomplished this record in 2015...

Community Middle School's Stage 13 Productions will present "The Third Wave," a play by Joseph Robinette and Ron Jones, on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. in the middle school auditorium. Admission is $3 at the door. The play is based on co-writer Ron Jones' experience as a first-year history teacher at a Palo Alto, California high school in 1967. ...

Shelbyville Central senior Colt Williams will continue his education as well as his baseball career after signing with Johnson University. Johnson University is a private Christian university, located in Knoxville. “I am looking forward to the opportunity to further my education and play baseball at Johnson University. ...

Four-legged and four-wheeled methods of transport will come together for a good cause Saturday. The Bedford Cancer Foundation will host The Walking For Cancer Horse Show Saturday at Champions Arena on the Celebration grounds. There will be 30 classes. Admission is $5; children under 6 are free. Box seats of six are available for $50...

The Bedford County Board of Education is considering several school capital outlay projects. The board gave Superintendent Don Embry permission to use approximately $140,000 in leftover capital projects funds. The projects are paving the main parking lot and front circle at Liberty School and replacing the visitors' football bleachers at Cascade High School...

Summer time can be fun time -- and educational, too -- at a local school's summer camp. The Webb School will host its fifth annual Summer Day Camp for three weeks on June 12-16, 19-23 and 26-30. The camp is for rising 4th-8th graders. Sessions are in one-week increments, meaning a student can attend one week or up to three weeks, said director A.J. Swafford...

Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee deferred action again on changes to the county's beer sales law Tuesday night, this time to seek input from the University of Tennessee's County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS)...

She said she'd be right back with payment for her motel stay. But Virginia Crisp didn't get that money the honest way Tuesday morning. "She went almost next door from Bedford Inn, right down Madison Street to Title Cash," Shelbyville police officer Darrell Birdsong said. There, police said, she brandished a knife and demanded money, departing with approximately $170...

Specialist Jeremy Darrell Tomlin, 22, of Chapel Hill died Monday, April 17, 2017 in Leonardtown, Maryland after the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter he was in went down during a routine training flight. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, April 29 at Gowen-Smith Chapel with Rick Clouse officiating. Burial will follow at Cothran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-9 p.m. Friday.

Suzanne Stone Davis Cunningham, 70, of Shelbyville, died Tuesday, April 18, 2017. A memorial service will be 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 3, 2017, at First Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Allen Cross will officiate. Visitation will begin at 12:30 p.m. Feldhaus Memorial Chapel is handling arrangements.