Stories from Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Brenda Sue Holt Waterman, 59, of Unionville died Thursday, March 1, 2018 in Columbia. Memorial service 6 p.m. Sunday, March 11 at Lawrence Funeral Home, Chapel Hill, Rev. Shane Peyton officiating.

To the editor: Things have become a little heated lately here in Tennessee’s 14th district. We are nearing the finish line of a special election to fill a vacated seat for the Tennessee State Senate and have two candidates to choose from. At the beginning of the election, both candidates agreed to run a clean campaign and to put the issues first. ...

Dr. Joe Tom Walker, age 90, of Beech Grove died Wednesday, March 7, 2018. Funeral services 11 a.m. Friday at Woodfin Memorial Chapel, Murfreesboro, Rev. Colin M. Ambrose officiating. Burial in Beech Grove Cemetery. Visitation 4-7 p.m. Thursday.

Willie James Cook Jr., 52, of Georgia died Friday, March 2, 2018. A memorial service will be held during the 2018 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. Arrangements: Advantage Funeral Home, Lilburn, Georgia.

Area law enforcement leaders are expressing wariness about a Tennessee legislative proposal which would allow school personnel to carry guns on campus. Proponents think properly trained, armed personnel could be a deterrent and would able to quickly respond if trouble arises...

In 1997, Jamel "The Voice" Thompson was playing professional basketball in Puerto Rico when Sam Worthen, the coach of an opposing team, noticed him and came up to him after the game. Worthen had been a player-coach in the show team the Harlem Wizards and thought Thompson might fit in. When Thompson returned to the U.S., Worthen brought him to a Wizards workout...

"Arsenic and Old Lace," by Joseph Kesselring, will be presented March 9-10 and 16-17 at 7 p.m. and March 18 at 2 p.m. at the Fly Arts Center on South Main Street. Brenden Taylor is directing the production. The play, which is well-known from a 1940s movie adaptation starring Cary Grant and directed by Frank Capra, is the story of Mortimer Brewster (Thacher Cleveland), a New York theatre critic and long-time bachelor who is on the brink of marrying Elaine Harper (Alex Torrejon), a minister's daughter.. ...

Whether you rely on expertise, luck, or something in between, your basketball tournament picks could win you up to $25,000 in this year's Bracket Bucks contest, sponsored by the Times-Gazette and Kincaid Service Company Last year's local winner of the contest was Jessie Stone of Portland, daughter of Dr. ...

Tennessee Board of Regents chancellor Flora W. Tydings is recommending Dr. Michael L. Torrence of Volunteer State Community College as the new president of Motlow State Community College. The board will meet in a special session Tuesday to consider that recommendation, plus a recommendation of Dr. Shanna L. Jackson to serve as president of Nashville State Community College...

Two weapons were found in or near Bedford County roads Monday following calls to law enforcement agencies. A Stevens model 94 shotgun wrapped in a white sheet was discovered alongside Depot Street early Monday morning. Officers were unable to find a serial number...

Students of teacher Zack Spears from Cascade High School are shown at a recent science bowl. Pictured are: Lucas McBee, Drew McPeak, Tristan Bowen, Zac Taylor and Whitney Sullivan. (Submitted photo)

Current and former principals Sharon Edwards, Josh Young (the current principal), Hal Skelton, Tim Harwell and Terry Looper are pictured at the boys substate basketball game Monday night. (Submitted photo)

The Shelby Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) honored its 2018 DAR Good Citizenship winners. Kendall Purdom, Maddie Northcutt and Kylie Freeman were the recipients of the awards. Kendall will graduate from Community High School. Kendall is the salutatorian of his graduating class. He plans to attend Tennessee Tech University to study Mechanical Engineering...

Columbia State Community College is proud to present the area big band swing unit, The Merchants of Cool, in a concert of music new and old March 27 at 7 p.m. in the Cherry Theater. "Columbia residents have an opportunity to come hear the swinging sounds of the mid-century," said Dr. ...

Avie Mae Walls Dyer, 95, of Chapel Hill, died Sunday, March 4, 2018 in Lewisburg. Funeral services 2 p.m. Sunday at Lawrence Funeral Home, Chapel Hill, with pastor Kevin Warren officiating. Burial in Swanson Cemetery near Chapel Hill. Visitation begins at 1 p.m.

The Arnold Engineering Development Center Test, Operations and Sustainment contractor, National Aerospace Solutions LLC, will host a small business training forum March 22 at the University of Tennessee Space Institute Auditorium in Tullahoma, 9 a.m. -- 2 p.m...

MURFREESBORO — On Tuesday night, Webb School sophomore Keon Johnson etched his name into school history by becoming the 2018 Division II Class A Mr. Basketball award winner. The announcement came on the floor of the Murphy Center at MTSU. “This is such an outstanding honor for all 30 of the young men and women recognized this evening at the Mr. and Miss Basketball Awards,” said Bernard Childress, Executive Director of the TSSAA...

Cub Scout Pack 476 in Unionville held its annual Pinewood Derby race night on Feb. 26. Andrew Simmons took First Place overall. Second went to Zach Farrar and third went to Nathan Hammermeister. Leroy Addison won Best of Show. All participating scouts won a ribbon and patch. Front row, from left: Oliver Cawthon, Tristin Cadenhead, Brayden Cadenhead, Robert Petty. Middle row: Nathan Hammermeister, Ronn Guinaron, Leroy Addison, Cory Cunningham, Zach Farrar, Atlee Hancock, Kaidyn Brown, Joseph Brannon. Back row: Andrew Simmons, Reece Cawthon, Kyle Cunningham, Ritchie Morris and Levi Ralston. (Submitted photo)

Allison Taylor Alcorn was recently crowned Miss Ninth Grade Academy in Lincoln County. She is shown with grandparents Luci and Tom Taylor of Shelbyville. She is also the granddaughter of Shirley and Joe Alcorn of Shelbyville. (Submitted photo)