Stories from Sunday, January 21, 2018

Bedford County Emergency Management Agency now has a new search-and-rescue dog, valued at $17,500 but donated to the county at no cost to taxpayers. Duke, a 3-year-old German Shepherd, has had some preliminary search-and-rescue training and will be trained more extensively in human scent tracking and in cadaver tracking...

A research group led by university veterinarians has released a report on the use of action devices used on Tennessee Walking Horses. The study was published in the January 2018 edition of the American Journal of Veterinary Research (AJVR). The researchers were from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville College of Veterinary Medicine and Iowa State University...

Police are investigating a bomb threat that was made Friday morning against the US Bank building downtown. “The caller stated, ‘There is a bomb in the building, it is going to explode,’ Detective Lt. Brian Crews of the Shelbyville Police Department said. Crews said the caller is believed to have been a male...

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville announced Thursday that its information technology and infrastructure management program has been named a finalist in the SC Awards 2018 for exemplary professional leadership in cybersecurity. The program was acknowledged as a finalist for Best Cybersecurity Higher Education Program in the professional award category. Winners will be announced at the SC Awards ceremony on April 17 in San Francisco...

A man brought to Tennova Healthcare-Shelbyville due to what investigators call an “altered mental state” was charged with disorderly conduct after striking out at medical and law enforcement personnel attempting to calm him Thursday morning. Jason Sours allegedly struggled with ambulance personnel and said he “wanted to meet God” before arriving at the hospital where he repeatedly refused to sit on a bed or submit to a blood draw in the emergency room, police said...

After jumping out to a big lead early, Shelbyville Central’s Golden Eaglettes fought of a comeback effort by Franklin County to claim a 70-63 victory on Friday night and remain undefeated in District 8-AAA play. Senior Jenna Holt dominated early, scoring 10 unanswered points to start the game, then nailed a 3-pointer midway through the opening period to increase the score to 15-0 before Franklin County made a basket. ...

Facing an athletic Fayetteville City squad after a week-long hiatus of games, Champion coach Mike Edmondson knew his team would have to dictate the pace of play in order to have a shot at bouncing back into the win column. His squad did just that with a stellar defensive effort in Cascade’s 45-33 win over the District 8-A leaders...

After a week layoff since their last game, the Cascade Lady Champions looked a little rusty in the first half against visiting Fayetteville on Friday night. In the second half, however, Cascade looked in prime form. Using the momentum shift in the second half, Cascade (3-14, 1-3) coasted to a 44-27 District 8-A win over the Lady Tigers...

NASHVILLE — Road victories are tough to come by and the Webb School learned that lesson the hard way on Friday night at CPA in a 56-55 defeat. Webb’s usual cast of suspects led the way, with freshman Jordan Jenkins’ 18 points pacing the Feet. Big man Wesley Hennis scored 16 to lead Webb in the paint, while sophomore Keon Johnson finished with 15 points...

UNIONVILLE – The Community Vikings took a nine-point lead into halftime and led by 12 points in the third quarter, but a Forrest Rocket comeback spoiled the night as the Vikings lost a 64-63 District 12-AA decision Friday night. With Dillon Whitaker scoring seven points and Alex Mitchell adding six, the Vikings came out hot in the opening quarter after a 10-day layoff. ...

UNIONVILLE – The Community Viqueens had a slow start out of the gate and had to play catch up the entire game as the Forrest Lady Rockets defeated the Viqueens 66-54 in a District 12-AA matchup Friday night. It was not the beginning the Viqueens envisioned in the first quarter. Community (8-8, 1-1 D12AA) could only manage four free throws and was held scoreless from the field as the Lady Rockets took a 12-4 lead heading to the second quarter...

Shelbyville Central’s Golden Eagles stayed within striking distance for three quarters but came up short in a 58-43 loss to visiting Franklin County in a District 8AAA contest on Friday night. The Rebels posted leads of 14-11 at the end of the opening frame, 25-19 at the intermission and 40-30 after three periods...

It takes a special kind of person to teach young children in a preschool setting; it takes an amazing person to do it for 20 years. Ginger Smith recently celebrated her 20th anniversary at Barnyard Kids Preschool in Shelbyville. She has been employed there since 1998 and has played an integral role in molding the lives of many children who are now successful young adults...

C. William Phillips was known as "Will" during his childhood in Shelbyville. He is a proud 1974 graduate of Shelbyville Central High School and received his bachelor's degree at Vanderbilt University. His next stop was Harvard Law School. After graduation he moved to New York City where he has been a successful attorney for approximately 35 years. ...

Madison Victoria Swafford of Petersburg and Dakota Randolph Smith of Shelbyville were united in marriage on the afternoon of Dec. 31. The bride is the daughter of Mike and Christy Swafford of Petersburg, and Shannon and Shannan Dover of Norman, Oklahoma...

According to National Geographic, giraffes are the tallest mammals on earth. An adult giraffe's legs alone are taller than most humans. Those powerful legs are at least 6 feet tall, sometimes longer. Adult giraffes can grow from 14 to 19 feet tall, and can weigh anywhere from 1,750 to 2,800 pounds...

Someone told me today I should write a column about fun in the snow. Not to be a downer, but there's not much about snow that I find fun these days. I think it's pretty and a far cry above the ugly and dull brown and yellow colors we're sick of by mid-January, but it's not fun...

According to Wikipedia, today is "Thank Your Mentor Day." I hope that this phrase brings back good memories of a time in your life when influential others were helping to mold you into the person you are today. I encourage anyone who enjoys their chosen career or hobby to become a mentor and share your experiences. ...

Stella is owned by Anne Dement. (Submitted photo)