Stories from Friday, April 26, 2019

Motlow State Community College recently held its annual student recognition ceremony inside Nisbett Center on the Moore County campus. Motlow students were honored for academic excellence during the 2018-19 academic year. Students graduating with a 4.0 grade point average were recognized with the President’s Award. Front row, from left, are Leah Clark, Jordan Sells, Holly Yokley, Hannah Feaster, Daisy Martinez, Rachel Towle, Andrea Figueroa. Second row: Justin Duke, Claire Mason, Elizabeth Mason, Leah Seier, Brittanny McCoy, and Carlee Cowan. Third row: Ethan Tucker, Makenzie Whitlock, Joel Price, Jesse Smotherman, and Jesus Salcedo San Mart. (Motlow College photo)

Misty Griffith, Motlow State Community College associate professor of biology, and Peter Dowd, Motlow biology adjunct instructor, were awarded the 2019 Motlow College Foundation’s Faculty Excellence Awards during a recent ceremony on the Moore County campus. From left are Motlow President Michael Torrence; Dowd; Griffith; and Fran Marcum, vice chair of the Motlow College Foundation. (Motlow College photos)

Jacob Wade and Chance Phillips have been invited to compete in the 4-H National Shooting Sports Championships in June in Grand Island, Nebraska. Wade and Phillips were invited to the Tennessee 4-H State Invitational in October 2018 after the first year Air Rifle team placed third overall. Wade was named Air Rifle Champion at the 4-H Invitational held at the Ridley 4-H Center in Columbia...

To the Editor: The Mueller report has finally been finished after 2.5 years and $30 million of taxpayer money and 13 Democrat lawyers, one of which was H. Clinton's counsel. Yet he cannot reder a decision on whether there was obstruction of justice. I find that pitiful. Yet he throws it in the lap of Congress to make a determination! And that is just what the Democrats wanted. They want to continue chasing rabbits down rabbit holes for that elusive "smoking gun."...

Many things that United States senators can do to cause 20 million American families -- including 400,000 families in Tennessee -- to say, "thank you." After five years of work, Congress is ready to do just that by shortening the Free Application for Federal Student Aid -- the FAFSA -- from 108 questions to two dozen, and eliminating the need for families to give their financial information to the federal government twice...

Two Shelbyville Central High School students who refused all orders to stop fighting were pepper-sprayed by a school resource officer Wednesday, a Bedford County Sheriff's Office report said. The SRO, principal and an assistant principal tried to physically break up the fight and gave "countless" commands to the students, who were on the floor, to stop. Neither stopped or backed off before the substance was sprayed, the report said...

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Bedford County Mayor Chad Graham proclaimed Wednesday as Drug Endangered Children Awareness Day. According to the proclamation, “drug endangered children are at risk of abuse and neglect due to their parents’ or caregivers’ illegal drug use, possession, manufacturing, cultivation, or distribution .... [C]hildren whose caretakers’ substance misuse interferes with his or her ability to parent and provide a safe and nurturing environment and also be at risk.” With community support and collaboration among agencies, the likelihood increases of being able to intervene and break generational cycles of drug abuse and child abuse. With Graham are members of Prevention Coalition of Bedford County, a group created to make local residents aware of the drug and alcohol problem. The group meets the third Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the AP Building, 206 Madison St. (T-G Photo by John I. Carney)

When Wartrace Chamber of Commerce began organizing its first-ever Wartrace Strawberry Festival, planned for 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. May 11 on the town square, Leann Sulzner, who was in charge of lining up vendors, was hoping she could get at least 20. As of Thursday, she had 61...

A handful of people who had been given grim life expectancies in 1996 live on 23 years later, thanks to the late Tina Key's giving spirit. Tina's family made the decision to memorialize their loved one by making her an organ donor following her tragic passing on April 15, 1996...

It was a successful senior night for Shelbyville Central as lone senior Taylor Sanders and the Golden Eaglettes rolled to a 7-0 win over Columbia Central in a District 8-AAA matchup on Thursday evening. The Eaglettes made up for a loss at Columbia earlier in the season...

UNIONVILLE – The Cascade Champions were able to spread the wealth as six different players found the back of the net in a 6-0 victory over the Community Vikings in a District 6-A soccer match Thursday night. The Champions were able to advance the ball effectively against the Vikings as the ball stayed on the Community side of the field for a big part of the game. ...

Betty Sue Sanders Deason, 85, of Shelbyville died Thursday, April 25, 2019 after an extended illness. Funeral services 3 p.m. Sunday at Doak-Howell Funeral Home with Brother Bobby McGee and Brother Jimmy West officiating. Burial at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Visitation begins at 12 noon.

John Albert Ferraro, 75, died Wednesday, April 24th, 2019. He has donated his organs and requested cremation. A memorial service will be held 6 p.m. Sunday, May 5 at Cedar Grove United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill. Arrangements: Doak-Howell Funeral Home.