Stories from Thursday, April 20, 2017

Randy Dean Whitaker, 57, of Shelbyville died Wednesday, April 19, 2017. A Celebration of Life Service will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m.

The play's the thing, according to good ol' Bill Shakespeare, and you have several opportunities to see thespians, young and old, on stage over the next week: Shelbyville Woman's Club will give the final presentation of the play "Good Help Is So Hard To Murder," by Pat Cook, Friday at the Fly Arts Center. Show time is 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for the center section, $8 for the side section. To reserve seats, call 931-684-8359...

A man stopped for speeding Tuesday provided police his "international driver document" when asked for his license by police. Maximino Barrera Rosales, 32, of Germantown Road later admitted the "document," not recognized by any law enforcement agency, was fake -- and police discovered he had not one, but two real Tennessee licenses, both suspended, with different birth dates on each...

Although she hid 5.9 grams of methamphetamine in her pants in an apparent attempt to conceal it from police, 32-year-old Susan Marie Taylor was reluctant to accept a plea deal April 17 that resulted in a four-year prison sentence. She must serve 30 percent of the sentence (14.4 months) before becoming eligible for early release...

When Robert Carlyle Clanton was convicted on 10 drug charges after a trial in August 2015 he was sentenced to 23 years and six months in prison. Clanton was 36 years old at the time. A jury had found him guilty on charges involving the sale of methamphetamine...

Agents with the 17th Judicial District Drug Task Force set up three drug buys involving the illegal sales of prescription painkillers in January 2016 that resulted in the arrest of 34-year-old Crystal Marie Johnston. Johnston pled guilty April 6 and was sentenced to five years in prison and a $6,000 fine...

Organ Donor Day will be held Friday from 10 a.m.-noon at First Community Bank on Elm Street. Individuals can sign up to become an organ donor during the event.

WKRN (Channel 2) Chief Metorologist Danielle Breezy will be the keynote speaker for the 24th annual Professional Woman's Luncheon, presented by WLIJ-AM and WZNG-AM. The event will be held 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 26 at the Blue Ribbon Circle. As usual, four local women will be honored at the event:...

Today's Pretty Pet is a Golden Red Pheasant owned by Beverly Fears...

Gov. Bill Haslam's highway funding package, which increases taxes on gasoline and diesel while lowering the sales tax on groceries as well as other taxes, passed both houses of the Tennessee General Assembly on Wednesday. The differences between the House and Senate version will have to be worked out in conference committee before a final version of the bill can be approved and sent to Haslam for approval...

It was another mixed bag of results for Shelbyville tennis on Wednesday afternoon. The Eaglettes claimed a 7-0 clean sweep, while the Eagles suffered a slim, 4-3 loss to Lincoln County. In the girls action, No. 1 Keely Smith and No. 5 Selena Hernandez won convincing singles victories, while No. 2 Priscila Morales and No. 3 Jade Gomez had to grind out 8-6 victories...

Finally, baseball. After a week’s worth of rain postponements and delays, the Cascade Champions finally got back to work in District 12-AA play. On Wednesday afternoon, the Champs (8-13-1, 3-7) faced Marshall County in a double header, taking Game 1 7-6 in nine innings, while falling 6-3 in Game 2...

As I netted the final Caney Fork rainbow trout of the day, in near total darkness, I wondered if anyone realized what a positive impact the TVA has had on cold water fishing in Tennessee. In 1933 President Roosevelt, as part of his New Deal initiative, signed a bill creating the Tennessee Valley Authority. The TVA was created to help fill the demand for hydroelectric power in the Tennessee Valley. Dams were built and thus rivers called “tailwaters” or “tailraces” were formed...

WINCHESTER — Shelbyville Central continues to rack up District 8-AAA wins after a 6-2 victory over Franklin County on Wednesday evening. Senior Colt Williams got the win on the mound pitching 6 2/3 innings, allowing a pair of runs while scattering six hits with six strikeouts and three walks...

A former Bedford County jailer has been charged with official misconduct for allegedly attempting to smuggle items into the facility. Corey Richard Johnson, 22, of Anthony Lane has been dismissed, Sheriff Austin Swing said Wednesday. Swing said he could not comment further at this time because the case involves his department...

A memorial reception was held Wednesday at Fire Station No. 1 in honor of the late 67-year volunteer firefighter Johnny Deason. Deason, who died Sept. 21, 2016, had retired in 2013. Shelbyville Fire Department honored him during a ceremony on what has become the annual Johnny Deason Day in the city, the anniversary of his retirement...

Tiesha Lavon Bailey Vaughn, 52, of Shelbyville died Tuesday, April 18, 2017. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday at Nelson & Sons Memorial Chapel. Public viewing will be 4:30-7 p.m. Sunday with family visitation beginning 10 a.m. Monday. Burial will follow in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens.