Stories from Friday, June 21, 2019

As intense lightning flashed across the sky and high winds raked Bedford County Friday night, a fireworks tent took the brunt of the damage. Fireworks were scattered across the Walmart parking lot on North Main Street after winds gusting possibly as high as 70 mph, according to the National Weather Service, accompanied a squall line through the area around 9 p.m...

Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved county budgets and an overall county property tax rate of $2.66 per $100 assessed value during a special called meeting Thursday night. That's a 10-cent raise over the current rate of $2.56. The entire amount of the raise is to pay for 20 additional employees that the state says will be needed to operate the new county jail when it opens later this year. ...

A handbag containing a pistol was stolen from an unlocked car at a home in the 200 block of Scales Road home overnight Wednesday, a Bedford Count deputy was told. The bag, which held a teal blue Taurus G2C 9 millimeter handgun, was left behind as the owner rushed inside during a storm...

A tour group organized by Celebration Travel just returned from an escorted visit to Italy. The group visited Venice, Rome, Florence, Pisa, Pompeii, and Sorrento. They are seen here on the Isle of Capri just off the Amalfi Coast overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Participants included Nakai & Tom Waynick, Shannon Marsh, Michelle Haislip, Kim Baker, Connie Smith, Suzanne Bowman, Aaron Milestone, Amy Beech, Connie Serena, Cathy Serena, Jeffery Haislip, Steve Barber, Stephanie Barber, Kim Vernon, Stephen Jones, Paige Jones, Bill Farrar, Cooper Jones, Robbie Grissom, Deborah Donegan, Kimberly Stoltz, Patricia Schroeder, Kay Rose, Lawrence Campbell, Rita Campbell, Sharon Lowery, Billy Lowery, Pat Robinson, Mike Grissom, Tracey Donegan, Joseph Stoltz. (Submitted photo)

Bedford Cancer Foundation received $21,304 in proceeds from the benefit Walking For Cancer Horse Show. From left are board members Rebecca Jones, Vickie Hull, Karen Inman, Pam Ingraham, Cathy Mercer, president Connie Allen, Janie Burk, Carole Lackey, Janeane Taylor, Virginia Stewart and Dr. Navid Monajjem. (Submitted photo)

The weather couldn't have been nicer June 14 during Shelbyville Housing Authority's annual "Strong Families Day." As a gentle breeze waved the American Flag behind the community center on Courtland Drive, children slurped from cups of ice cream and lined up for the water slide and pony rides...

To the Editor: "More research needed before climate change panic" (June 18) come from someone who admittedly has "no training in climate sciences." All of the best climate scientists around the world, ten of thousands of them (IPCC), are telling us it's definitely time to panic...

We are officially into summer in Bedford County and it is going to feel like it. High temperatures will be in the mid-to-upper 80s with high humidity so that will make it feel like it’s in the 90s. We will have those pop-up afternoon and evening thunderstorm chances at 40 precent this weekend and 60 percent on Monday and that could cool us off in the afternoon to give us a break, but they will be scattered and not everyone will get the showers...

Sometimes siblings can easily fade into the background or become weary of the lifestyle associated with a brother or sister's illness. Laura Reed says that is certainly not the case in their family. In fact, next month there will be a whole lot of togetherness in the family. Thanks to The Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Reeds -- Trace Reed; his parents Kenneth and Laura Reed; and siblings Ryan, 14; Brooklynn, 12; and Kaitlyn, 11 -- are headed for Walt Disney World resort in Florida...

On Thursday afternoon, the Shelbyville Sharks hosted the Athens Gators in a league meet at the Shelbyville Recreation Center. The Sharks eventually pulled away from Athens for a combined 332-253 win in the dual-team meet. In the meet, several Sharks recorded individual standout performances and the team finished with a stellar 79 personal best times...

Kittie Margaret Kelley, 90, of Shelbyville died Thursday, June 20, 2019. Funeral services will be held 7 p.m Monday at Hillcrest Funeral Home, Rev. Phillip Lane officiating. Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Graveside services will be held 1 p.m. Tuesday at Walnut Grove Cemetery in Fort Payne, Alabama.

Jonathan Price, 37, of Shelbyville died Friday, June 21, 2019. A Celebration of Life service will be held 6 p.m. Thursday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Wednesday and beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday.

Citizens Rod and Christy Phillips appeared Tuesday before Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee to object to the fact that county convenience centers won't take remodeling waste. Rod Phillips said he was remodeling his home and tried to dispose of two door frames and some pieces of trim at the Tollgate Road convenience center on State Route 82 south of Shelbyville, but was told that the center does not accept construction waste -- even from non-commercial, residential sources.. ...