Stories from Friday, February 23, 2018

George Clarence Pickney III, 56, of Shelbyville died Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018. Per the family's request he was cremated. Memorial service 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at Nelson & Sons Memorial Chapel.

Improving communication among direct farm marketers, family members, employees, customers and industry partners can positively impact farm profitability. "A lack of communication and interpersonal skills can lead to estranged family relationships, employee turnover, poor customer retention or conflicts with other key business players," says Megan Bruch Leffew, a specialist with the University of Tennessee Center for Profitable Agriculture...

The Bedford County FFA of Shelbyville Central High School traveled to Nashville, on Feb. 20 to attend the Annual Tennessee FFA Legislative Breakfast held at the War Memorial Building. Chapter members were able to mingle with other members from around the state of Tennessee as well as meet with Rep. Pat Marsh. In addition to Marsh, the students were able to listen to greetings from House Speaker Beth Harwell, U.S. Sen. Bob Corker and the current State FFA Officer Team...

The Liberty FCE Club met on Feb. 19. Sarah Keeley called the meeting to order. Joan Pimentel read the call to order and Debbie Parker gave the devotion. There were 11 members present. Ardis Caffey and Parker had birthdays. The community service project will be nursing or assisted living centers. The club will make a donation to 4-H and a family...

Three sobriety checkpoints and two safety belt checkpoints are scheduled for three Fridays in March in Bedford County, according to a Tennessee Highway Patrol press release issued Thursday. Sobriety checkpoints are planned for 10 p.m. March 2 on State Route 82, March 9 on U.S. 41A North and March 30 on U.S. 41A South. More specific details were not released...

Meth left on a nightstand alerted police to the presence of drugs at a South Cannon Boulevard home led to a woman's arrest on drug charges early Tuesday, Shelbyville officer Nick Jordan, investigating an unrelated issue, saw "powdery and rock-like substances," he said in a report. Cynthia Michelle Harris, 34, denied knowledge of the substances but said she was a recovering addict clean for a few months, Jordan's report said...

The eighth annual Bald in the Boro will take place Friday, March 16, at Lanes, Trains and Automobiles in Murfreesboro. Bald in the Boro is a community-wide tradition that involves buzzing bald heads in exchange for donations to the St. Baldrick's Foundation for childhood cancer research...

After starting 0-7 to begin the season, the Cascade Champions (11-17) simply struggled to form their identity for a good portion of the season. As time marched on, the Champions not only began to realize their repsective roles on the team, but began to gel as a team...

District 8-AAA champion Shelbyville Central will host Blackman in the opening round of the Region 4-AAA Tournament tonight at 7. The tournament will then move to Columbia for Monday’s girls semifinals and Wednesday’s girls finals. By chance, if 7-AAA teams were to sweep both boys and girls quarterfinal games the tournament would switch to Oakland for semifinal and final contests...

This month, Volunteer Garden Club members were challenged to make a creative mass design using fresh fruits and vegetables. Winners, from left, were Sylvia Pinson, June Gilmore, Claudia Hazelwood, Frances Baucom and Judy Pierce. Jane Bartlette was the horticulture winner her white poinsettia. (Submitted photo)

The Webb School has enjoyed some of its best basketball in school history in the past few weeks. Webb (23-6) claimed the Division II, Class A, District 3 championship and followed with a Division II, Class A, Middle Region title as well. Though Webb has been to Lipscomb in the state tournament before, the reclassifications put Webb in a much tougher schedule of competition this season...

Weather forecasters are predicting that this February may be the wettest one on record since 1871. Tuesday of this week was the warmest Feb. 20 on record, with a high of around 80 degrees. The average high temperature for Feb. 20 is 53 degrees. The old saying goes, April showers bring May flowers but this year the poem might be best revised: February showers bring winter flowers...

TVA is seeking public input on new ways it plans to generate power. TVA is beginning work on the 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), a comprehensive study that provides direction on how to best meet future electricity demand, according to a press release. There will be an associated environmental impact study...

Water rushes over the top of the dam at Fisherman’s Park Thursday. On Thursday alone, Shelbyville received 0.91 inches of rain, according to Weather Underground. Tracy Vannatta, whose family has long tracked Shelbyville’s weather, said he has recorded 9.6 inches of rain so far this month. That is the most rain in a February since 2016, which had 6.9 inches. So far this month is the wettest by Vannatta’s measurement since December 2016, which saw 10.3 inches of rain. (T-G Photo by Jason M. Reynolds)

Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee added its recommendation Tuesday night to a proposal that the county adopt the 2015 International Building Code and the 2015 International Electrical Code, replacing the 2009 versions of those codes currently used by the county...

Robert Edward Garrett, 83, of Wilkesboro, North Carolina died Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018 at his home. Services will be private. Arrangements: Reins Sturdivant Funeral Home, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

Jimmy Gray Everett, 73, of Shelbyville died early Friday morning, Feb. 23, 2018 at St. Thomas Rutherford in Murfreesboro. Funeral services 2 p.m. Monday at Doak-Howell Funeral Home, Carroll Crosslin officiating. Burial in Smith Chapel Cemetery. Visitation 2-5 p.m. Sunday.