Stories from Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Jeong Hee Dillingham, a South Korea native, received a surprise celebration Monday of the 25th anniversary of her naturalization as a U.S. citizen. Her husband, Wayne, marked the occasion with a cake during a class in conversational Spanish the couple is taking at Middle Tennessee Education Center (MTEC) in Shelbyville. (Submitted photo)

Bedford County Schools are working with Bedford County Emergency Management Agency to complete the steps necessary for the school system to receive “Storm Ready” certification from the National Weather Service. One requirement is for representatives to visit a National Weather Service office. During these visits the NWS provides a tour of the facility and meteorologists to explain how their agency can better serve the School System in preparing for and during severe weather incidents. At the National Weather Service radar site for Middle Tennessee are, from left, Bedford County Emergency Communications (E-911) director Phillip Noel; Krissy Hurley, a warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service; Dee Crabtree, health and safety coordinator for Bedford County Schools; and BCEMA director Scott Johnson. The school system has purchased updated weather radios for each school using grant funds. They will be programmed and then placed in the schools over the summer months. Having more than one means of obtaining severe weather warnings is another requirement of the Storm Ready program. Principals and assistant principals are also signed up for Code Red Weather warnings at their schools. (Submitted photo)

The Children’s Ministry of Friendship Baptist Church collected pennies for months to give to First Choice Pregnancy Counseling Center. The leaders of the ministry requested to present the check to First Choice at the annual fundraiser, the Fish Fry and Auction. The children collected $1,800 for First Choice. (Submitted photo)

Nashville is rockin’, and for once, it’s not because of the music. The Nashville Predators continued their historic postseason run on Monday night, eliminating the Anaheim Ducks with a 6-3, Game 6 win to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history...

New scoreboards are being constructed at several Shelbyville baseball and softball fields with help from a donation by the Shelbyville Kiwanis Club. Softball players, several members of Shelbyville City Council and Shelbyville Kiwanis Club gathered recently at Never Rest Park to dedicate one of the new scoreboards. (T-G Photo by David Melson)

Infinity Hair Salon, Elm Street, was awarded the Brighten Your Corner award for April by the Beautification Committee of Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber of Commerce. (T-G Photo by David Melson)

Bojangles, North Main Street, received the Beautification Award for business landscaping for April from the Shelbyvile-Bedford County Chamber of Commerces Beautification Committee. (T-G Photo by David Melson)

Sylvia Pinson was awarded the Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber of Commerce’s Good Citizen award for May, She was honored for active roles with the City of Shelbyville Advisory Committee, Bedford Arts Council, The Fly Arts Council, Volunteer Garden Club, First United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women. (T-G Photo by David Melson)

Annie Ruth Smith Murphree, 82, of Longview died Monday, May 22, 2017 in Shelbyville. A celebration of life service will be 10 a.m. Friday at Lawrence Funeral Home in Chapel Hill with the Rev. Jonathan Osterhaus officiating. Burial will follow in Pressgrove Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Thursday.

Kent Syler, an assistant professor of political science at MTSU, received the 2017 John T. Bragg Distinguished Service Award on April 24 at the Student Government Association Banquet. The SGA presents the award to a full-time Middle Tennessee State University faculty or staff member who has made a significant contribution to the state, the community, the university and student life. A student of Syler's, public administration major April Carroll, nominated the professor...

Liberty FCE Club met May 15. The meeting was called to order by Sara Kelly. Linda Jernigan read the call to order. Bonnye Catron gave the devotion, from old yearbooks. Bonnye Catron and Janie Pickle were the hostesses. Roll call was given, with 11 members present...

Bedford County Schools announces its sponsorship of the 2017 Summer Food Service Program, which is administered in Tennessee by the Department of Human Services under an agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Meals will be provided to all school age children and run in conjunction with the Bedford County Summer School. ...

A man who told police he fell asleep while driving Tuesday and hit another vehicle, then drove away due to fear faces three citations. Patrick Gant of Shelbyville allegedly crashed at the intersection of North Main Street and Colloredo Boulevard around 8:30 a.m., police said. Gant said he was "scared" following the crash...

Shelbyville could have a new city manager by October. The city council voted 5-0 Tuesday to use the Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) as a consultant for the search. Jeff Broughton, a municipal management consultant, will advise the city. He said he can begin meeting with council members individually next week to learn what they are looking for in a city manager...

Chasity Teran Osteen of Chicago, who ran from the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office while being served with a warrant, is escorted to Bedford County Jail by officers. She ran from the parking lot but was apprehended seconds later. She is charged with escaping the custody of an officer and evading arrest. (T-G Photo by Terence Corrigan)

The 2017 Spring/Summer edition of the Times-Gazette's popular magazine Bedford Life will be out at the end of next month. Bedford Life is our glossy seasonal magazine, launched a year ago. Its focus is summertime in Bedford County and the unique lifestyles of its people. ...

Bids for constructing a new Cascade High School, and the latest estimates for building a new jail and justice center, are both running higher than budgeted, but in both cases it's hoped that cost savings can be found. That was the report during Tuesday night's meeting of Bedford County Financial Management Committee...

Kurt Duane Claus, 58, of Shelbyville died unexpectedly Saturday, May 20, 2017. There will be a celebration of his life at noon Thursday at Winnette-Ayers Park in Wartrace. Heritage Funeral Home of Columbia is handling arrangements.

Arlie Clay Weddington Sr., 75, of Flat Creek died Tuesday. May 23, 2017. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel with Keith Reynolds, Michael Sliger and Marvin Whitworth officiating. Burial will follow at Hopper Cemetery in Marshall County. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Thursday.

Nicole Cheri` Jankowski, 37, of Shelbyville died Tuesday, May 23, 2017. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel with Maurice Dandy officiating. Visitation will begin at noon.