Stories from Friday, March 27, 2020

Since “Playboy” recently published its final print issue, and since I’m reading a biography of publishing magnate Condé Nast on my tablet, I felt it appropriate to share my misgivings about magazines. During the research phase of this column, I developed severe writer’s cramp while standing in a bookstore frantically scribbling down the names of the mind-numbing array of specialized-yet-overlapping periodicals. ...

It is hard to know what to say to you all when the world is getting sick and we are all living with such unimagined realities. I hope that you all are finding good ways to access e-books or online audio versions of materials that are keeping your mind at least a bit distracted from daily worries...

Pinkie Rose Gumamela Benjil and Lance Childers, both of Tullahoma, recently announced their engagement. The wedding, which will be only conducted before family due to the recent coronavirus pandemic, is planned for April 4 at East Side Community Nazarene Church in Tullahoma...

At a time like this, in March of 2020, with all that’s going on in the world, we need something to smile about. We need something to take our minds off of viruses and social distancing. Humor is good for the soul, and we may need a good laugh right now; or maybe just a little chuckle will do...

What’s not to love about a rainbow, especially when 1,300 community residents use the colors to shed rays of hope all over town during a virus pandemic? Bedford County went on the map Wednesday afternoon with the first confirmed case of coronavirus. So being quarantined at home is going to likely become less of an option for local residents in the days ahead...

D espite the coronavirus pandemic changing church momentum, First Presbyterian staffer Cindy Lamb said Wednesday that she believes members are quickly discovering in this interim how the people, not the building at 600 North Brittain Street, are “the church.”...

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. Some coronaviruses cause cold-like illnesses in people, while others cause illness in certain types of animals, such as cattle, camels, and bats. Some coronaviruses, such as canine and feline coronaviruses, only infect animals and do not infect humans...

As the new coronavirus keeps turning up in more places, health experts say it’s wise to prepare for wider spread. But people shouldn’t panic or hoard large amounts of supplies, they stress. So what should you do? Some common-sense steps that are useful for any emergency, such as severe weather, can help get you and your family ready in case you need to hunker down...

NEW YORK (AP) — Can my kids go on a play date? Is it OK if I visit the gym? In this time of coronavirus, once-easy questions have suddenly become complex. Here are some questions and answers about the “social distancing” efforts to slow the epidemic in the U.S...

Saturday is looking warm and windy with temperatures approaching 80 and then a front moves in Saturday night bringing showers and thunderstorms. At this time it is looking like only a slight chance of severe thunderstorms in Tennessee with the heaviest activity in Mississippi and up in Illinois...

A man who told a 911 dispatcher he had been kidnapped was arrested after officers found six jars of marijuana in his Green Lane home early Thursday, Shelbyville police said. Hunter Riley Perry, 21, faces charges of possession of a schedule VI drug for resale and possession of a schedule IV drug and paraphernalia...

Bedford County School System continues to feed students breakfast and lunch during spring break. School is officially closed until April 24 and many students depend on school meals. Sharon Butler, bus driver, and Sarah Mason, part of the nutrition staff, prepare for the day’s event earlier this week. This week had been the previously-scheduled official spring break.

Two essentials during the coronavirus pandemic— two items certainly more crucial than toilet paper — are face masks and shields. Observing the need, seamstress Cindee Batey fashioned last weekend about 30 masks in her Manchester home; she said it takes only about 15 minutes of her time, per mask...

On Thursday, local government officials extended for seven more days their respective States of Emergency due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Bedford County was notified of its first coronavirus case on Wednesday by Tennessee Health Department officials...

After a month in office, Wartrace Fire Chief Jim Gardner resigned Thursday, at 4:30 p.m. following a confrontation at the fire department with alderman Allan Tabit. Gardner’s resignation was effective immediately. Just a few days before, at the Board of Mayor and Aldermen’s meeting on March 23, Tabit had launched a vitorlic attack on Gardner and, the board voted, despite the fact that the issue was not on the agenda, to move forward with a proposal to change the town code, wresting the power to appoint a fire chief from the mayor. ...

Abby Jennings and her grandpa, Billy Lokey, set out for a day of fishing on Normandy Lake, Thursday. The goal? Catch enough crappie for a Good Friday fish fry. Lokey is temporarily off work from his job with Nissan. Jennings, a senior at Cascade High School, is out of school until late April.

Patricia Touzel Ray, 94, of Shelbyville died Thursday, March 26, 2020. Due to the coronovirus pandemic no public visitation or service will be held prior to a private graveside service Sunday at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, Rev. Jeff Rasnick officiating. Hillcrest Funeral Home is handling arrangements.