Stories from Tuesday, November 28, 2017

To the Editor: I am a veteran, and I am getting sick and tired of hearing all the time that we support our veterans when half of them are homeless. The other half, or more, are living in poverty and we are making it by going to food giveaways or signing up for food stamps. I know becaause I live below the poverty line, living from check-to-check each month...

Ken Wiens holds the Christmas tree he and his wife Connie (not pictured) cut down Friday at Blackjack Farm Christmas Tree Farm in Deason. (T-G Photo by Jason M. Reynolds)

Ranger T. Walker, with his human companion Ernie Brewbaker, made an appearance at Eakin Elementary School as part of Ranger T. Walker’s “Just Say WHOA To Drinking, Drugs and Bad Decisions” campaign. (Submitted photo)

Employees of Jostens in Shelbyville recently conducted a food drive to benefit Community Outreach Partnership of Bedford County. Employees donated 6,858 food items from the drive. Community Outreach Partnership of Bedford County hands out between 75 to 100 food boxes per month, assisting 300 to 400 people. (Submitted photos)

The Unionville FCE Club met Nov. 21 for a brief meeting after its Thanksgiving meal at Bell Buckle Café. Members gave reports from yearbook and made decisions about giving to some Community Elementary School students for a brighter Christmas. The next meeting will be 1 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Unionville fire hall, for Christmas fellowship and finger foods...

Last Tuesday, the Thomas Magnet School Student Council put the finishing touches on their third annual Canned Food Drive. This event helps to benefit the food pantry shelves at Community Outreach Partnership (COP), and is a big part of helping COP through the holidays. ...

A Bedford County Jail prisoner was seriously injured late Thanksgiving night after allegedly being jumped by other inmates. Jonathan Hutchinson suffered what Sheriff Austin Swing described as a "broken facial bone." He was taken to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville for treatment...

Over the weekend, a handful of Bedford County basketball teams wrapped up their Thanksgiving tournaments. Boys Summertown 60, Cascade 36 CHAPEL HILL — Plagued by turnovers, the Cascade Champions found themselves in an early hole against the Summertown Eagles and never was able to recover in a 60-36 defeat...

UNIONVILLE — The Community Middle Viqueens spotted the Forrest Lady Rockets a 17-0 lead, then fought back but could not climb to the top of the hill as the Viqueens fell 35-29 in a DRVC basketball matchup Monday night. It was a nightmarish first quarter as the Viqueens could not tally a single point. Meanwhile the Lady Rockets scored early and often and took a 15-0 lead to the second quarter...

It was a gut-wrenching way to drop a loss, though not for lack of effort. After leading the majority of regulation, the Cascade Middle Champions came up just short against visiting MTCS on Monday night, 51-50. It was a closely-contested battle throughout most of the game, with Cascade holding a slim lead through the first three quarters...

UNIONVILLE — The Community Middle Vikings led in the fourth quarter, but went cold down the stretch as the Forrest Rockets defeated the Vikings 34-27 in a DRVC game Monday night. Maki Fleming of the Vikings scored five points, but the Rockets took a 14-7 lead after one quarter...

Cascade’s start against MTCS on Monday night wasn’t the cleanest or most efficient. Everything after the first quarter, however, went according to plan in Cascade’s 35-25 win over the Lady Cougars. Sarah Wishiowski was unstoppable for MTCS in the first frame...

It's the last week of fundraising for this year's "Wreaths Across America" ceremony, and organizer Tim Estes says he's about $9,000 to $10,000 short of what's needed to fund graves for all of the veterans at Willow Mount Cemetery. The ceremony will take place on Dec. 16, regardless, but if the target is not reached by this weekend the national Wreaths Across America organization won't be able to supply enough wreaths...

Former State Rep. Joe Carr, a candidate for the 14th District State Senate seat in the Jan. 25 Republican primary, said that his experience in the General Assembly would make him an effective legislator from the first day in office. Carr, during an interview at the Times-Gazette offices, called himself "a rural, family-loving Christian man who believes in hard work."...

Gov. Bill Haslam has announced that the general election to fill the vacant District 14 State Senate seat will be held on Tuesday, March 13, with party primaries to be held on Thursday, Jan. 25. Secretary of State Tre Hargett posted a copy of the governor’s writ of election to Twitter on Sunday afternoon....

Gladys Woodlee Powers, 91, of Murfreesboro died Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Friday at Hillcrest Funeral Home, Revs. Jack Carney and Eric Ross officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Thursday.

Patricia Sawyers Brown, 70, of Shelbyville died Monday. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel. Rev. James Smith will be eulogist. Burial will follow in Willow Mount Cemetery beside her husband who died last week. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m.

Rebecca “Becky” Mangrum, 57, of Wartrace died Tuesday, November 28, 2017. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel with Jimmy West officiating, Burial will follow in Hollywood Cemetery in Wartrace. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Thursday.

Agnes Louise Skeeters, 91, of Shelbyville died Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017 at Glen Oaks Convalescent Center. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Hillcrest Funeral Home, Rev. William Ronald Skeeters officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Friday.