Stories from Thursday, January 2, 2020

Cindy Allen-Medley, senior coordinator at Shelbyville Parks and Recreation, along with some of her family and friends, organized the annual Christmas Day potluck meal at the Rec Center for senior citizens. The holiday was filled with good conversation and a long table full of everything from stuffed eggs to green beans with country ham.

Vietnam Era Veterans will meet Thursday, Jan. 9, at El Mexico restaurant, 6 p m. Tia Zanghi, a partnership specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau, will be the speaker. Zanghi seeks out and provides support to state and local organizations and governments that can help improve participation in the 2020 Census. Zanghi is a Bedford County native; she graduated from Shelbyville Central High School and currently has two children attending Bedford County schools. She is currently a graduate student at Middle Tennessee State University earning a master’s degree in healthcare informatics, and holds a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration from MTSU. For more information, call Tom Taylor, 931-684-2557.

A lot of awards shows and other programs generally do an "in memoriam" segment honoring those of the trade who passed during the year. In 2019, we've lost our fair share of loved ones, friends and co-workers in Bedford County. This week Bedford County Emergency Medical Services and this entire county lost one of its own dedicated emergency medical services workers, Capt. Chris Wrenn. Our hearts go out to his family...

The Fairview FCE Club met Nov. 14 at the UT/TSU Extension office. The meeting was conducted immediately following a countywide meeting held by Extension Agent Whitney Danhof. Danhof has prepared several foods appropriate for the Christmas season and provided recipes as well. ...

The Fly Community Theatre's production of "Gladys in Wonderland," by Rosemary Frisino Toohey, will be hosting cold-read auditions 2 p.m. Sunday and 6 p.m. Monday at The Fly Arts Center, 204 South Main St. Parts are available for seven women and four men, and production dates are March 13-14 and 20-22, so those auditioning must be available on those dates...

Plans are being made for a book and a historical marker on Elm Street celebrating the contributions made by African-Americans to Bedford County history. Organizers are currently seeking contributions of the names of ancestors, along with photos, history and any additional information. The target date for the book’s publication is 2021...

Bedford County Census Counts Committee provided a Christmas tree featuring homemade ornaments during the recent Fly Cultural Arts Center’s Festival of Trees event. Assistant Census Chair Luci Taylor, left, and Sylvia Pinson, local Census chairperson, provided information about the official April 1 Census Count.

With the second half of the school year to begin next Tuesday, Bedford County Board of Education has several open-ended agenda items carrying over into 2020. One of those carryover action items recently discussed is a new roof at Southside Elementary School. The current 20-year-old structure will have to be replaced, Daniel Kleindienst, director of maintenance, recently informed the school board...

Beulah Mai Haynes Russell, 88, of Shelbyville died Wednesday, January 1, 2020. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, January 4 at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel. Rev. Dr. Paul H. Mullikin will officiate, with burial to follow in Swanson Cemetery in Chapel Hill. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Friday.

Bonnie Bates, 65, of Shelbyville died Wednesday, January 1, 2020 at Tennova Healthcare-Shelbyville. Arrangements pending from Doak-Howell Funeral Home.

Mary Ruth Walker Shelton, 77, of Christiana died Monday, December 30, 2019. Funeral services will be 2 p.m.Sunday, January 5, 2020, at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel with burial to follow at New Beechgrove Cemetery. Brother Tim Key will officiate. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m.

Joe Harry Beech, Sr., 78, of Shelbyville died December 28, 2019 at his home. He was entombed at Willow Mount Cemetery in a private gathering of his family. There will not be another public service for Mr. Beech.

Samuel Arthur Oates, 94, died Thursday, December 26, 2019. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, January 4, 2020 at Galilee Primitive Baptist Church, 917 Sevier St, Shelbyville. Burial will follow at Mount Ararat Annex Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m.

Kathy Smith Collins, 67, of Shelbyville died Thursday, January 2, 2020. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Monday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel. Pastor Carl Hall will officiate, with burial to follow in Jones Haynes Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Sunday.

McCleish Christmas “Mac” Benham, 33, died suddenly Tuesday, December 31, 2019. A Celebration of Life service will be 5 p.m. Saturday at Doak-Howell Funeral Home with Pastor Steven Murphree officiating. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m.

Jonathan Jackson 'Jon' Vannatta, 48, of Maumelle, Arkansas, a native of Shelbyville, died Tuesday, December 31, 2019, in a plane crash near Kansas City, Kansas. Funeral services will be 3 p.m. Thursday at Fairlane Church of Christ with Mark Pierce officiating. Burial, with full military honors, will follow at Willow Mount Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. A memorial service is scheduled in Little Rock, Arkansas at a later date.