Stories from Sunday, August 12, 2018

When I first heard about Beautiful Jim Key, I was thinking of the horse buried in Wartrace and the monument near the old hotel. I was wrong. Wrong horse. In fact, wrong horse named Jim. The grave and monument in Wartrace is a memorial to "Strolling Jim", a Tennessee walking horse that won the first world championship for his breed. "Beautiful Jim Key" was an entirely different horse and an absolutely fascinating story...

Several years back, I drove to West Virginia and sat by the bedside of a dying friend. He had terminal cancer and his vital organs were shutting down. I sat with him in his hospital room and prayed while he slept, held his hand and prayed when he was awake, and I just wanted to be there with my friend...

Food trucks are all the rage today. And we're not talking just concession fast food but gourmet dishes from a portable restaurant. When I go to the Franklin Farmers Market I used to always stop by one of the trucks for a crepe -- sometimes savory and sometimes sweet but always fun and interesting with fresh ingredients from the market. Apples and brie cheese or roasted sweet potatoes, it was always good. Unfortunately the truck is no longer in operation...

Young engineers are often expected to know aspects of the job they may not yet be familiar with, and one of the biggest challenges they face is pinpointing where to find answers to their questions or identifying the best person to ask, according to Austin Voorhes of Bedford County, a senior mechanical design engineer at Arnold Air Force Base...

Shelbyville Police Department and Bedford County Sheriff's Department hosted National Night Out on Tuesday, bringing together a variety of local agencies for a night of fun and fellowship. National Night Out events are intended to help build communication and partnerships between law enforcement and the community...

LEBANON – Shelbyville Central capped off the preseason with a scrimmage at Wilson Central on Friday evening. The Golden Eagle freshmen claimed an impressive 24-0 win over Wilson Central in the first two quarters. Shelbyville Central’s varsity followed with a 17-3 win in a two-quarter matchup while the Eagle junior varsity played to a 6-6 tie in the final two quarters of play...

One of the men who escaped Bedford County Jail last Oct. 19 is in custody. James David Stinnett, 30, of Bird Street was returned Thursday after serving time in Blount County, Alabama, Sheriff Austin Swing said. After the escape Stinnett allegedly stole a truck from a farm in the Flat Creek area. He was arrested while driving the truck in Alabama and had been sentenced there for related charges...

Over the past week about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch of rain fell in most of Bedford County. Through the middle of next week I’m expecting a pretty average weather pattern with about a 30 percent chance each day of scattered thundershowers. Rain looks to become likely by late next week. High temperatures this week will be mostly 88 to 90 with lows 68 to 70...

The calendar on Becky Nichols’ antique roll top desk has fall beginning Aug. 1. She actually wrote it in that way on purpose. “I always thought fall started Aug. 1,” she told Shelbyville Woman’s Club members on Wednesday. “Am I the only one?” The River Bend Country Club dining room roared with laughter. Most of the women present for the August meeting are familiar with Nichols’ sense of humor...

Karen Inman remembers the rush felt when riding into the Celebration ring for the first time on a world champion steed briskly exhaling. She can still hear her husband, Mike Inman, say ‘hit the flat,’ as in, walk. And who could forget the cheering crowds as horses hit the big lick around the ring...