Shelbyville Times-Gazette: News : Arts, Entertainment and Culture

Arts, Entertainment and Culture

Google makes artist's day (05/19/13)
A Shelbyville Central High School sophomore who loves drawing and fishing has caught the big one -- a Google art award, not a fish. Cesar Velazquez was the top high school entrant from Tennessee in the Doodle 4 Google contest. The competition invites K-12 students in the United States to redesign Google's homepage logo, or doodle. Entries are broken into several categories by grade level...

Banding together to grow (05/19/13)
Teamwork is an important part of any learning experience. It's when great ideas and hard work come together that something extraordinary happens--at least, it's the case for students and educators at Liberty School. In January, art teacher Helen Johnson proposed an idea for a stepping-stone garden to be designed by eighth-graders. According to Johnson, the garden idea quickly evolved into much more...

A Bedford County poet in the Big Apple (05/17/13)
Given some talent and skill, a bit of confidence, the difference between struggle and success at authorship is in learning the business side, and how to promote your work...

Bell Buckle group builds foundation (05/16/13)
Bell Buckle's new Arts Council is getting organized for future events to attract visitors. Sally Kilgore gave a status report on the new group, praising Tennessee Poet Laureate and town resident Maggi Vaughn for originating the idea. Vaughn had suggested inviting a different arts group to town each month, with the citizen-organized council standing on its own and with the blessing of the town board...

Songs from the heart (05/15/13)
Although attendance was down at Tuesday night's performance by the Nashville Symphony at Calsonic Arena, organizers of the concert say they were pleased with it anyway. Dawn Holley, a co-chair of the event, estimated the crowd at 550. The concert was scheduled later than usual and conflicted with several other events, so organizers were prepared for a hit in the normal attendance, which is often in the 700-800 range...

Blooming business downtown (05/15/13)
Business was blooming downtown last Saturday as merchants gave away free spring flowers to customers in honor of Mother's Day. Stores long-established and new participated in the May Flower event to promote gardens, home decor, fashions, and more, and encourage shopping in on an around the square. ...

It's all on the wall: MTSU, Community students paint murals (05/12/13)
Collaboration can be a beautiful thing. At one elementary school, it turned out to be a work of art. Students and teachers from all three Community schools recently collaborated with Middle Tennessee State University art education students on a project that not only gave students experience but helped to brighten the gymnasium of Community Elementary...

Smokestack Theatre Group holds year-end show (05/09/13)
After an eventful year on the stage, members of Community High's Smokestack Theatre Group took time out to reflect at the 19th annual End of the Year Show, an awards banquet held by the group. The evening began with a dinner to serve the more than 90 parents, teachers, and students gathered on the CHS stage itself. The show itself would include awards and dramatic and musical performances...

Just shufflin' along for a good cause (05/08/13)
What promises to be an evening of pure fun and entertainment for local residents is being held for a serious cause. The 8th Annual First Choice Pregnancy Center Fish Fry will be held Saturday from 3:30-7 p.m. at 1198 Whiteside Hill Road. The event is held annually at Walnut Ridge Farm, owned by Barry and Pam Cooper of Shelbyville. Pam is the client services director for the First Choice Pregnancy Center...

May Flower event planned for square (05/08/13)
On Saturday, May 11, merchants on the square will sponsor a May Flower event (April showers bring May flowers). This event is to promote gardens, home decor, fashions, and more, and encourage shopping in on an around the square. The merchants are joining The Uptown Association (working toward a Main Street designation), which will sponsor plant sales...

Back in action: Cars, more to roar in for annual show (05/07/13)
Celebration City Region Car Club, a local chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America, will hold its annual car, truck and bike show Saturday at the Celebration Pavilion on Whitthorne Street. This year's show has the title "Horsepower Unlimited!", chosen by club members to reflect the fact that this show is open to all sorts of vehicles, whether or not they're classified as antiques. Club president Jimmy Shreve said diesel truck classes have been added due to popular demand...

A weekend of fun activities (05/07/13)
Absolute Skyy, Hannah Pulvers up, presented the flag to open Friday night's Row McLaughlin and Greg Maupin Benefit Horse Show at Bedford County Agriculture and Education Center. (T-G Photo by John I. Carney)

Growing familly entertains seniors (05/05/13)
For about eight years, one family as dedicated their time and musical talents to a local rehabilitation center, socializing, visiting and playing music for the elders who live there. "The Collard family is very special to Glen Oaks," said administrator Daniel Richmond. ...

Symphony concert plans still in tune (05/02/13)
Tickets remain on sale for the May 14 "Symphony at the Celebration" concert featuring the Grammy Award-winning Nashville Symphony at Calsonic Arena on the Celebration grounds in Shelbyville. Resident Conductor Albert-George Schram will conduct a program of classical and popular favorites...

Wartrace MusicFest planned June 8 (04/28/13)
The ninth annual Wartrace MusicFest, to be held Saturday, June 8, will feature exceptional musicianship from a multigenerational roster of talent that includes an award winning seven piece teenage blues band, a rising twenty-something rock and roll trio, and a veteran boomer ensemble playing Santana inspired Latin rock...

Webb Players to present 'Theophilus North' (04/27/13)
BELL BUCKLE -- "Theophilus North," by Matthew Burnett and based on a novel by Thornton Wilder will be presented by The Webb Players on May 2-4 at 7:15 p.m. on the chapel stage. The production is open to the public. A $10 donation is requested. Webb students, faculty and staff will be admitted at no charge...

Gospel concert (04/26/13)
The Caltons will perform at 5 p.m. on Sunday at Edgemont Baptist Church. The public is invited. (Submitted photo)

Badge of caring: Jean named Professional Woman of the Year (04/25/13)
Accidental influences are all around us. They might be friends or family, or maybe just a stranger you met in passing. At the time, you didn't realize they'd have an impact on the course of your life. But often, these accidental influences are the ones who teach us the greatest lessons we know...

Next Step Home again honors mothers (04/24/13)
Mother's Day is just around the corner and what a wonderful time to remember those special women -- past and present -- who have filled your life with love. Many of the women in our lives say they don't want anything else that has to be dusted, watered or returned for a better fitting. Those same women have hearts as big as all out doors and are always ready to do for others...

Mommy & Me photo contest (04/22/13)
Do you want to pay tribute to your mom on Mother's Day, and possibly win her a great prize to boot? The Times-Gazette is gearing up for its annual Mommy & Me photo contest, and you're invited to participate by submitting a special photo of you and your mom...

Volunteer Garden Club meets (04/21/13)
The April meeting of the Volunteer Garden Club was held at the Bedford County Farm Bureau Building. Hostesses for the meeting were Lynn Hulan, June Gilmore and Becky Nichols. June Gilmore presented the devotional. Alice Jensen, a member of the club, presented a program on caring for orchids...

Tickets on sale for Symphony at Celebration (04/19/13)
Tickets are now on sale for the May 14 "Symphony at the Celebration" concert featuring the Grammy Award-winning Nashville Symphony at Calsonic Arena on the Celebration grounds in Shelbyville. Resident Conductor Albert-George Schram will again lead the Nashville symphony in a program of classical and popular favorites...

Rockin' to the 'Roo: Local band needs votes for dream gig (04/18/13)
Paul McCartney ... Mumford & Sons ... Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers ... R. Kelly ... Wu-Tang Clan ... The Lumineers ... ZZ Top ... David Byrne ... Dwight Yoakam ... "Weird Al" Yankovic ... Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes ... and dozens more. What musician worth his salt wouldn't want to play the same venue as a lineup like that?...

Community Middle presents new twist on old plays (04/18/13)
Community Middle School will present the play "Dorothy Meets Alice or The Wizard of Wonderland" on Friday and Saturday. Show time is 7 p.m. both days and admission is $2, said Jasen Richardson, eigth grade language arts teacher and drama director. The play is a mix of the stories "The Wizard of Oz" and "Alice in Wonderland." The main character has to write a book report on the stories but procrastinates till the last minute and falls asleep, Richardson said. ...

2013 'Salute' work begins (04/12/13)
Chamber of Commerce executive director Walt Wood met with Times-Gazette advertising director Sissy Smith to announce the kickoff of the 2013 Salute magazine campaign. The 2012 Salute was the inaugural edition of the magazine, the Chamber's premier promotional publication. Salute magazine features a wide variety of people, places and events that showcase the best of Bedford County...

Arts group forms for Bell Buckle (04/11/13)
The Poet Laureate of Tennessee wants to bring the arts back to Bell Buckle. Maggi Vaughn told Bell Buckle's board of Mayor and Alderman Tuesday about a question posed by resident Kathryn Strobel: "Whatever happened to the arts vision in Bell Buckle?"...

'The Odd Couple' -- with a twist (04/10/13)
The Fly Arts Center will present a female version of "The Odd Couple," Neil Simon's classic comedy, opening Friday. Instead of Felix Ungar and Oscar Madison, the main characters are Florence Ungar and Olivia Madison. But it's not artistic license; Simon, one of America's greatest playwrights, adapted the play himself for a female cast in 1985, with Sally Struthers and Rita Moreno playing Florence and Olivia during the Broadway run...

Dixie Line Days to host engineer (04/09/13)
The romance of the rails revolves around legendary steam locomotive engineers such as Casey Jones and the ill fated Steve, who rode to his death in the song "Wreck Of The Old 97." Dixie Line Days, to be held Saturday, April 20, at the Walking Horse Hotel in Wartrace, presents a rare opportunity to ask questions of a former certified steam locomotive engineer. ...

Motlow spring concert planned (04/07/13)
Music from Broadway musicals "American Idiot" and "Wicked" and songs made famous by the Beatles will be performed by the Motlow College Vocal Ensemble and Jazz Band during the Motlow Music Department's spring concert on April 18, said David Bethea, a music instructor at the college...

Bedford students star in Motlow play (04/07/13)
Motlow College theater students will join the thousands of actors around the world who have performed in "The Mouse Trap" when they star in the Agatha Christie murder mystery on Motlow's Moore County campus. Two Shelbyville students are in the cast...

Garden members celebrate spring (04/07/13)
The Shelbyville Garden Club held its annual Spring Luncheon on March 20th at Riverbend Country Club, with 24 members and five guests attending. Hostesses, Gaynelle Pitner and Nancy Hulan, planned a delicious menu and welcomed spring by decorating tables with lovely Kalanchoe begonias nestled in colorful Easter grasses...

For wagon train riders, mules rule (04/03/13)
An estimated 54 wagon teams, according to park ranger Shane Petty, were at the Henry Horton State Park campground Monday for the annual wagon ride to this weekend's Mule Day festivities in Columbia. Participants rode in and around the park on Monday, and visited the Nathan Bedford Forrest boyhood home on Tuesday before leaving the park today to head for Columbia, where Mule "Day" -- actually an extended, multi-day festival -- will kick up in earnest on Thursday...

Cheap reads available at library (04/02/13)
Do you love reading books but don't have a lot of cash? If so, head over to Argie Cooper Public Library. The library is holding its semi-annual sale of books, movies and audio books through the end of April. Hardbacks, movies and audio books are only $1, while paperbacks are a very affordable 50 cents...

Jack Trail offers fun experience (03/31/13)
Ready for a Tennessee road trip? Then saddle up and hit The Jack Trail, where you'll explore Tennessee's worldwide reputation for history, music, horses and distilleries, starting and ending in downtown Nashville. The Trail is being promoted by Discover Tennessee Trails & Byways through brochures that take motorists on self-guided tours, according to a press release by the South Central Tennessee Tourism Association. ...

Church to offer free portraits on Easter (03/29/13)
While you take a look at the Easter resurrection story, you can also get a look at yourself and your family this Sunday. The People's Church will give a free portrait to all attendees at the 10:45 a.m. service. "There are no strings attached to this free offer," said Pastor Drew Hayes. "Everyone will get a free 5x7 portrait and then they can also buy any extra pictures they want. But the free one is theirs' whether they buy anything or not."...

'South Pacific' to play in Tullahoma (03/28/13)
Keith Wortham of Shelbyville will play Lt. Joe Cable in the Community Playhouse production of "South Pacific," opening April 5 at the South Jackson Civic Center in Tullahoma. The beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein musical is set during World War II. Arkansas native Nellie Forbush (Jennie Kuebitz of Tullahoma) befriends and quickly falls for Emile de Becque (Tony Graham of Manchester), a French expatriate and plantation owner. ...

Artwork of Webb students selected for exhibit (03/27/13)
BELL BUCKLE -- Eight students from The Webb School had their work accepted for the "Art on the Rise Exhibition at St. Andrew's-Sewanee School, which will continue through April 13. Schools were permitted to submit 20 pieces. Both 2-Dimensional and 3-Dimensional pieces were eligible...

'Bible' viewers say 'amen' (03/27/13)
Readers of the Times-Gazette web site, in an unscientific poll, either like the History channel miniseries "The Bible" or haven't seen it. The miniseries, from married couple Mark Burnett (producer of "Survivor," "The Voice" and "The Apprentice") and Roma Downey (star of "Touched By An Angel") has gotten high ratings but, as with many Bible-based dramas, been accused of various inaccuracies...

'An edible Bible study': Methodists eat Passover meal (03/27/13)
On March 17, St. Patrick's Day, while many Americans were celebrating Irish culture, the members of Ransom United Methodist Church in Deason were learning more about Jewish culture. For the second year in a row, the church has held a Passover Seder meal, with Rabbi Ken Gibbs of Yeshuat Yisrael, a Messianic Jewish congregation in Franklin, conducting the proceedings...

'Hee Haw' tradition continues (03/27/13)
Terry Donegan has been in the annual "Hee Haw & Howdy" show, a benefit for the American Cancer Society, for more than 30 years, according to Harriett Stewart, the ACS staff partner who works with Bedford and several other nearby counties. Donegan, Pete Carter and James Smotherman have been playing and singing in the area for more than 35 years...

Watch the frost (03/24/13)
The sun is out, the air is warmer and the days are getting longer -- leaving no doubt that Spring is in the air. Nature is reacting to the change, and so are area landscapers and greenhouse operators, who are coming into their busiest time of the year...

Restaurateur visits Garden Club (03/22/13)
Members and guests of the Volunteer Garden Club were captivated by Lynne Tolley, owner of Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House from Lynchburg, during their annual brunch. Stories about guests, recipes and "Jack Daniel" himself kept the group spellbound. Program Chairwoman Suzanne "Susan" Bobo and Judy Pierce planned the event. Pat Hastings gave the devotional...

Easter Egg tree (03/20/13)
An Easter Egg tree, which buds one time a year, is in full bloom, along with some Easter Egg flowers at its base, on Cliffside Avenue in Shelbyville. (T-G Photo by Jim Davis)

Area woman publishes inspirational book (03/15/13)
Mary Ammons, a former Shelbyville resident now living in Fayetteville, has published "The Journey In Every Life," a book of poems and reflections. The book was released by WestBow Press, the self-publishing arm of Thomas Nelson Publishers, and is available from its site, and through Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. Ammons said she'd like to find a brick-and-mortar location in Shelbyville to stock the book...

58 November's legacy (03/13/13)
The adult son of the only Tennessee pilot to die in a hijacking is trying to produce a documentary for PBS that will ensure his father's memory lives on. Andy Downs is raising funds to produce "58 November," a film examining the Oct. 4, 1971, hijacking that resulted in the deaths of his father, Brent, another hostage and one of the hijackers. Brent Downs was a Shelbyville native...

Capri plans switch to digital projection (03/13/13)
Although some independent movie theaters have found the switch from film to digital a hardship, the owners of the Capri Theater in Shelbyville say they're excited about the process and plan to have their theaters converted to digital by May 1, with a brighter picture and better sound for theater-goers...

Voices of praise ring out (03/12/13)
Calsonic Arena was filled with sounds of praise Friday and Saturday during the 2nd Annual Middle Tennessee Gospel Music Festival, sponsored by the Rutledge Falls Baptist Church of Tullahoma. The group Locust Ridge entertained the crowd, which organizers said would swell over the two days depending on which of the 14 groups were performing. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely)

'Hee Haw & Howdy' returns April 12-13 (03/12/13)
It's a Bedford County tradition, bringing smiles to audience members and relief to cancer patients and their caregivers. The long-running annual "Hee Haw & Howdy" fundraiser to benefit the American Cancer Society Relay For Life will be held 7 p.m. April 12-13 at Shelbyville Central High School...

Working wonders with wood (03/10/13)
Walnut Wood Works furniture maker Justin Brady, 23, stands inside the door of the showroom he built recently with his father Tomm at the Readyville Mill. Brady makes his furniture at his shop in Bell Buckle and displays it here on Saturday mornings...

FCE Club reports (03/07/13)
Betty Brown reported for the club, which met on Jan. 15 at the Extension Office. Vice President Cindy Parker presided. Members took turns reading from the Call to Order, "The Month After Christmas." Susie Armstrong gave the devotion. She read Matthew 6:25 and had a prayer...

Enter 'The Tiger's Den' (03/06/13)
Are you looking for come comedic relief this weekend? From Friday through Sunday, Cascade High School's Black Curtain Players will perform "The Tiger's Den" in the school's auditorium. Written by Sierra Cortner, a senior at Cascade, this comedy is for an audience of all ages...

Middle Tennessee Gospel festival welcomes all (03/03/13)
The second annual Middle Tennessee Gospel Music Festival will be held Friday and Saturday at Calsonic Arena on the Celebration grounds. The festival is sponsored by Rutledge Falls Baptist Church in Tullahoma, which bears all of the overhead costs for the festival, according to organizers. The $10 ticket cost and the love offerings taken during the festival go directly to the participating groups, which have waived their normal honorariums or fees...

County fair: Bigger and better (03/01/13)
The Bedford County Fair has a new date and a new carnival -- and plans for a bigger year in 2013. The 16th annual fair will be held from July 29 to Aug. 3, whereas it used to be held in the third week of July, said Judy Gambill, the fair's president...

Kacey Smith performs for local crowd (02/27/13)
Shelbyville native Kacey Smith performed for fans Friday night at Riverview Bistro during the "Catching Up With Kacey" event. Smith updated fans on her 2012 accomplishments, which included the release of her first CD, "Country Girl." She performed a new song, "KISS," which stands for "Keep it Simple Stupid." (T-G Photo by Jason Reynolds)

R.O.K.ing the town (02/26/13)
Organizers of Saturday's Reaching Our Kids (R.O.K.) Concert estimate attendance at between 1,500 and 2,000, but say the event reached many more children than that when community appearances are included. The concert, held Saturday night at Calsonic Arena, was organized by personnel from local emergency services and was free for children and students. It featured Christian bands Burning Yesterday and Seventh Day Slumber as well as vocal group Unity...

Get ready: It's Eaglepalooza (02/26/13)
Five years ago, Shelbyville Central soccer coach Neal Gordon and the Golden Eagle soccer team started Eaglepalooza as a spin-off of the popular video game "Rock Band." To say that the annual event has grown into much more is a huge understatement. For the past two years, the event has featured all live bands and performers...

Great recipes demonstrated at Seasonal Eating class (02/24/13)
Whitney Danhof, extension agent at the Bedford County-UT Extension Office, held a seasonal eating cooking demonstration on Feb. 20. The demonstration was on "Dinner from the Pantry." The recipes were Chicken Cakes with Spicy Tomato Sauce, Asparagus and Pea Casserole and Date Nut Tart...

Talent to abound at Motlow concert (02/24/13)
Hillary Bevels, a fiddler, dancer and Motlow College graduate, is one of five musicians to be featured during an international concert at the college on Sunday. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Eoff Hall on Motlow's Moore County campus. It is free and open to the public...

Book illustrator visits Liberty students (02/24/13)
A successful children's book illustrator with Bell Buckle ties recently gave of her time to read one of her books to students at Liberty School. Jean Cassels has illustrated more than 60 titles since 1970 and teaches composition at an arts academy. Her full-time residence is in New Orleans, but she frequently gets away to her second home in Bell Buckle. During one visit there in early February, Cassels went to Liberty and read "Two Bobbies," a children's book that she illustrated...

R.O.K. concert (02/23/13)
Burning Yesterday opened Saturday night's R.O.K. (Reaching Our Kids) concert at Calsonic Arena, sponsored by personnel from local emergency agencies. (T-G Photo by John I. Carney)

Classic event to return May 14 (02/22/13)
Planning is underway for the annual "Symphony At The Celebration" concert, featuring the Nashville Symphony, to be held May 14 at Calsonic Arena on the Celebration grounds. The Nashville Symphony, under the direction of Albert-George Schram, will perform both classical and popular tunes, and the Community High School band, directed by Jimmy Bratcher, will be guest artists, performing both on their own during the first half of the concert and in tandem with the symphony for the evening's grand finale.. ...

Time for Togetherness (02/22/13)
Brian Waggoner, a teacher at Southside Elementary School, dances with the vocal group Unity as they performed at the school, and delivered an anti-bullying message, Thursday morning. Unity will be one of three Christian rock or pop groups at Saturday night's Reaching Our Kids concert in Calsonic Arena. Seventh Day Slumber will headline the concert, which will begin at 6 p.m. Burning Yesterday will also be featured. Local students will be admitted free, while adult admission is $5. (T-G Photo by Jim Davis)

Stage prepares students for life (02/24/13)
If the world is indeed a stage, to paraphrase William Shakespeare's "As You Like It," then about 60 Bedford County students are being prepared for life. The 10th annual Smokestack Theatre Festival was held last week at Community High School, despite school being out of session for President's Day. ...

'Vagina Monologues' performed as part of worldwide observance (02/20/13)
On Valentine's Day last week, a group of local members from Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment (SOCM) performed "The Vagina Monologues" as part of a global day of action to raise awareness of violence against women. Millions of people across the world took part in V-Day by staging plays, organizing flash mobs, performing street theater, holding concerts, and more. Proceeds from event in Shelbyville benefited both V-Day and SOCM...

Find your character (02/17/13)
Marla Jennings and her crew in Shelbyville Central High School's drama department entertained members of the Shelbyville Woman's Club Wednesday during the group's monthly meeting at the Riverbend Country Club. Each of six students performed short acts for the ladies to enjoy and later Jennings asked members to test out their own skills by getting into various roles through various characterization exercizes...

Alena Nicholson: Living two dreams (02/17/13)
Alena Nicholson has tremendous passion for two things -- horses and music. She barely has time to breathe as she travels back and forth between her horses at Canter Farms in Bedford County to a budding country music career in Nashville. Alena's love for horses began early...

Lent: What treat to give up? (02/13/13)
Lent, one of Christianity's holiest times, starts Wednesday, and for some Christians, it is a time for sacrifice or deeper spiritual practices. Ash Wednesday kicks off the season of Lent, a countdown to Easter and a time of penance, repentance and self-denial for Christians. Some Christians give up a luxury, like chocolate, or take on a project like extra prayer or performing a service for others...

Hopper named Martin Methodist homecomeing queen (02/12/13)
Caitlin Alyse Hopper was crowned Martin Methodist College's 2013 homecoming queen on Feb. 2 after being chosen by the student body. Caitlin is a 2009 graduate of Cascade High School. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Drew Hopper and Marcia Arnold Hopper and the grandaughter of Dayton Arnold and the late James Vester & Alma Hopper of Shelbyville. She credits Ronnie Raby as a role model for many years...

Book covers history of Christian rock, pop, worship music (02/10/13)
Bob Gersztyn was a writer and photographer for the now-defunct Wittenburg Door magazine at the same time I was a frequent freelance contributor. Even though we were both listed on the masthead, we never met; I mainly dealt with the magazine's editor, Bob Darden, and even then only by phone and e-mail...

Southside student selected for Honors Choir (02/10/13)
Southside 5th grader Abigail Neeley is a member of the Southside Salamander Singers, a 4th and 5th grade choir directed by music teacher Jessica Morel. She auditioned and made the Middle Tennessee Honors Choir and the Tennessee Treble Honor Choir Abby's mom accompanied her to Middle Tennessee Honor Choir at Brentwood United Methodist Church on Jan. ...

Black history remembered (02/08/13)
Two upcoming events will observe Black History Month. The Black History Coffee will be held Tuesday. The host is the local branch of the National Association of Negro Business & Professional Women's Clubs, the Shelbyville & Vicinity NANBPW Club. The coffee will be from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber of Commerce, 100 N. Cannon Blvd. The Gilliland Historical Resource Center Inc. is a partner in the event...

Motlow art exhibit opens Thursday (02/03/13)
Work in a variety of mediums by Motlow College art faculty will be featured during an exhibit on Motlow's Moore County campus this month, said Brian Robinson, an associate professor of art at the college. The exhibit will open with a public reception from 11 a.m. ...

Dillingham celebrates 'hwangap' birthday (02/03/13)
One Shelbyville resident's recent birthday party had a Korean flavor. Wayne Dillingham and his family celebrated his 60th birthday on Jan. 20. The ceremony was called "hwangap," a Korean tradition in which one celebrates the completion of the lunar calendar cycle of 60 years, Dillingham said. The word "hwangap" is pronounced as "hawn-gop." In traditional Korean culture, the "hwangap" was also an important event because people did not live as long as they often do now, he said...

Garden club off to a bright start in 2013 (02/03/13)
Shelbyville Garden Club held its January meeting at the Farm Bureau, with Wilene Bomar and Toby Haynes serving as hostesses. President Janie Burke presided over the meeting with 18 members in attendance. Evelyn McGrew gave the devotion and Janie shared a thank you note from a member. Treasurer Gloria Hart presented the current balance and expenses for 2012...

Dream chaser: Kacey Smith pursues stardom, one song at a time (01/24/13)
There are at least several country songs about singers who start from humble roots and make it big in the music industry, and for most people those songs are just entertainment. But those lyrics are music to the ears of one young woman from Bedford County...

R.O.K.ing out and reaching out to youth (01/24/13)
A two-fold event -- a community-wide safety day followed by a Christian pop and rock concert -- is being organized by personnel from local emergency service agencies as a way of reaching out to children from the community, said organizer Jason Barber...

Chamber accepts nominations for annual awards (01/22/13)
Each year, the Chamber of Commerce presents four awards to citizens who have demonstrated outstanding commitments to the community. These recognitions are made during the Chamber's annual meeting, to be held Tuesday, Feb. 19. The Chamber is asking residents to submit one name in nomination for any of the following awards...

Library memorials announced (01/15/13)
From September to December 2012, the Argie Cooper Public Library received donations for the memorial fund and memorial books and building fund in memory of: Alberta Cooper Armstrong by Moe Johnson, Martha and Billy Burt, Earl and Barbara Morgan, Jackie and Debra Crosslin, Rheaetta and Bo Wilson, Jamie and Tina Barnes (Huntsville, Ala.), Rayburn and Nelda Sudberry, Co-workers of Rita Hardeman (Nashville): Susan Bowerman, Donna Burns, Willie Clark, Ed Davis, Shelia Heatherly, Linda Hill, Louanne Hill, Barbara Hutchison, Cindy Joyner, John Knox, Shelia Perry, and Anne Tyrrell, June McBride, Shelbyville Garden Club, Shelbyville Central High School Faculty and Staff, James and Elaine Reed;. ...

Gospel music festival returns (01/13/13)
The Second Annual Middle Tennessee Gospel Music Festival will be held March 8-9 at Calsonic Arena on the Celebration grounds. The event, featuring southern, bluegrass, contemporary and traditional gospel styles, is held during the second weekend of March each year...

'Lake Winnie' breaks ground on water park (01/11/13)
Lake Winnepesaukah amusement park near Chattanooga broke ground this week on SoakYa, a five-acre water park which marks the first major expansion of the attraction's footprint since the 1960s. "Lake Winnepesaukah has a hard to say and even harder to spell name," said Talley Green, the park's public relations director, "but through the years that name has become synonymous with family fun in our region. ...

Woman's Club to meet (01/04/13)
The Shelbyville Woman's Club will meet Wednesday, Jan. 9 at the Riverbend Country Club. Club representative June Savage said there was a delay in getting this month's reservations out, and anyone wishing to attend January's gathering needs to call and make reservations by Sunday, Jan. 6 by 8 p.m...

Posters to honor life of MLK Jr. (01/02/13)
A historical association is inviting students to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by creating posters commemorating one of his most famous speeches. The Gilliland Historical Resource Center Inc. is sponsoring a poster contest marking the Aug. 28, 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech that Dr. King presented on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C...

Car Club gives back (01/02/13)
Celebration City Car Club hosted the largest Antique Automobile Club of America dual meet to date over the summer, attracting thousands of people from all over the country. The car club is non-profit; thus club members carefully selected seven local agencies to benefit from the proceeds of the successful meet. On Monday, representatives from each gathered to receive their donations. From left: Jerry Clanton, club president; Calvin Kincaid, club member; Jimmy Shreve, club member; Paul Hopkins, club member; Joe Thatcher, Bedford County Amateur (ham) Radio Society; Wallace Cartwright, club member and Shelbyville mayor; Jeff Sweeney, Arrowhead Ranch; Terry Looper, Bedford County Board of Education Backpack Program; Eddie Carmichael, Bedford County Amateur (ham) Radio Society; Marie McLean, Bedford County Board of Education Backpack Program; Sonia Miller, Senior Citizens hot meals program; Teresa Winnette, Child Development Center; Kelly Gilbert, Haven of Hope; Mindee and Blake Howard; and County Mayor Eugene Ray. (T-G Photo by Sadie Fowler)

Dance, auction to benefit Relay For Life (12/30/12)
"Raising Cain 4 Relay," the annual dance and live auction sponsored by the American Cancer Society Relay For Life in Bedford County, will be held Saturday, Jan. 26, at the Blue Ribbon Circle on the Celebration Grounds. Local favorites Rayz'n Cain will provide the entertainment, and a variety of valuable items will be auctioned by Craig & Wheeler Realty & Auction. There will be a cash bar, and you must be 21 or older to attend. Dress is casual...

Bell Buckle events (12/26/12)
The Bell Buckle Banquet Hall is promoting two upcoming events: Multi-award winner Rhonda Vincent will be live there Friday. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15; dinner tickets are $25. For more information call (931) 389-0223 or (931) 389-0224...

Bust a Move (12/16/12)
B-boy J-V is his name and breakdancing is his game -- or, we should say, his passion. The Shelbyville Central graduate has more moves than a cat walking across a hot stove. Just watching his impromptu routines may make you want to find a couch and take a nap...

Students hope to make history (12/13/12)
Community Middle School students have an opportunity to compete in the National History Bee, which debuted last year on the A & E Network's History channel. Members of Community Middle School's National History Bee team include, back row: Esmeralda Nava, Samantha Mitchem, Preston Bennett and Tyler Roberts. ...

Fly attempts to stay warm (12/06/12)
Bedford County Arts Council is asking the city of Shelbyville for their help in getting a loan to keep their guests from freezing this winter. The council had made a request in May to both the county and city for extra funding to replace two of the large heating and air conditioning (HVAC) units that heat and cool the Fly Arts Center, which have broken down...

Wine Walk set for Friday (12/05/12)
You can shop, stroll and taste your way around Shelbyville's public square Friday as a variety of merchants hold their second "Wine Walk." The merchants will be offering free wine tasting as part of their "Sip, Shop and Stroll the Square" promotion from 4 to 7 p.m...

Word's in the air about aviation art competition (12/05/12)
Local participation has been key to Bedford County's success in the International Aviation Art Contest in previous years, and Hank Williamson of Shelbyville Municipal Airport wants to make sure the county continues to have a strong presence this year...

Local musicians to perform in Tullahoma (12/05/12)
An upcoming performance in Tullahoma will feature some Bedford County talent. The Tennessee Fiddle Orchestra will perform a Christmas Concert on Monday, Dec. 10 at First United Methodist Church in Tullahoma, starting at 7 p.m.. Shelbyville residents Randy Throneberry, Shelia Shavers, and Rusty and Christy Anderson of Flat Creek, as well as Hillary Bevles will be the local performers that will be participating...

Christmas cheer: Parade delights large crowd (12/04/12)
Great weather and turnout made for one of the best Shelbyville Christmas parades in recent years. The number of floats was up and locals packed the streets near the square and up Madison Street to watch, several children hoping to fill their bags with candy...

Webb instructor to participate in screening (12/02/12)
Independent Television Service (ITVS), Nashville Public Television (NPT) and the Nashville Public Library bring director Neil Berkeley's award-winning documentary "Beauty is Embarrassing,' a film focusing on the life of renowned puppeteer and artist Wayne White, to Community Cinema at the downtown Nashville Public Library on Saturday, Dec. 15...

Pageant provides Christmas for those in need (12/02/12)
The Blue Ribbon Circle in Shelbyville was the sight of the inaugural Miss Fairytales Christmas Pageant and fundraiser Nov. 10. The event served to raise money to provide Christmas gifts and food for local children in need. Kim Hammond, pageant director, said, "It was a wonderful day for the girls and a very...

Who got the tree? (12/02/12)
Each November, a certain buzz whispers through the air at several local banks. "Who will get the tree this year?" bank employees might ask each other. Last week, local ladies skilled in needlework revealed the lucky recipient of their tree, beautifully adorned in detailed colors of red and white...

A holiday step into times past (11/29/12)
If you have grown weary of the mounting stress caused by today's hectic, networked world, perhaps it's time for something old fashioned. On Saturday, the historic downtown of Bell Buckle will be hosting their Old Fashioned Christmas, kicking off at 10 a.m. and lasting until 5 p.m...

Christmas Tour of Homes planned for Sunday (11/28/12)
Local interior designer Calvin Cannon says folks can expect great ideas as well as variety during the Christmas Homes Tour he's organizing for this Sunday. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at any of the six homes to be featured on the self-guided tour...

Shopping frenzy's on (11/27/12)
Shelbyville merchants reported mixed reviews following last weekend's holiday shopping, when shoppers around the country and locally leaped into the holiday shopping season in hopes of good buys. Traffic on Black Friday seemed steady, while the following day -- Small Business Saturday -- was busy for some retailers and slower for others...

Money tight? Layaway's available (11/27/12)
Money always seems to be tight during the holiday season, and with the economy still in the dumps, shoppers are returning to the old offer of layaway. Whatever you are shopping for this Christmas or another important date can be stored and paid for with installments, but time is running out for some of the layaway offers...

Get ready to rock at Christmas Parade (11/27/12)
The 39th annual Christmas Parade, sponsored by Shelbyville Jaycees and Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber of Commerce, will be held Saturday, beginning at 4 p.m. In case of rain, the parade will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday. The theme will be "A Rocking Christmas," and State Sen. Jim Tracy will be the grand marshal...

Bedford Co. dancers join 'Nashville Nutcracker' cast (11/25/12)
Nashville Ballet has selected four young dancers from Bedford County to perform as part of the youth cast in its annual presentation of Nashville's Nutcracker Dec. 9-23 at TPAC's Jackson Hall. They are: l Lydia Hicks, daughter of Corey and Susan Hicks, as a Native American;...

Shelbyville woman named Ms. Martin (11/25/12)
A Martin Methodist College freshman from Shelbyville was crowned Ms. Martin 2012 earlier this month. Kelsie Smith is an accounting major and a member of the RedHawk women's basketball team. The daughter of Troy and Cindy Smith of Shelbyville was crowned by Maria Charrys, the 2011 winner of the Ms. Martin Pageant...

'Messiah' a tradition at MTSU (11/23/12)
The Middle Tennessee State University Concert Chorale and Middle Tennessee Choral Society will present one of the greatest works associated with the holiday season, Handel's "Messiah," to the community on Dec. 2 and 3. Concerts are scheduled at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, and at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3, in Hinton Music Hall inside MTSU's Wright Music Building in Murfreesboro...

Story of survival: Korean War documentary to be screened (11/16/12)
In the winter of 1950, 15,000 U.S. Soldiers and Marines were surrounded and trapped by a force of communist Chinese soldiers in the frozen mountains of North Korea. Facing impossible odds, the men fought 78 miles to freedom and saved the lives of 98,000 civilian refugees...

Holiday open houses planned (11/14/12)
The following open houses are coming up in Shelbyville later this week. Check out this page each Wednesday for a preview of each weekend's upcoming holiday open houses. Friday, Nov. 16 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Door prizes and gourmet sampling Friday, Nov. 16 and Saturday, Nov. 17...

Letters to Santa sought again (11/13/12)
Once again, the Times-Gazette will accept letters to Santa Claus, and will publish them in the newspaper. Letters may be mailed to Shelbyville Times-Gazette, PO Box 380, Shelbyville TN 37162 or e-mailed to santa@t-g.com. Letters should be written by children, not parents...

Moose Lodge's turkey shoot is annual holiday tradition (11/13/12)
There aren't any live turkeys running about, but the annual event which runs every weekend between October and December each year has become a family tradition for many. The local Moose Lodge has held the turkey shoot for more than 35 years on Highway 82 South, with proceeds benefiting local families in need at Christmas time...

Breaking news: Children's TV shows are great! (11/11/12)
One of my greatest joys is being the grandfather to these two sweet little girls by the name of Charli and Kori. Just the thought of those little ladies brings a smile to my face and floods my heart with joy. Yes, they bring me joy! Koriana and I were sitting together in my recliner the other day watching Sesame Street...

'Christmas Carol' lives on (11/09/12)
It's a familiar tale, one popularized on stage and in film. The Smokestack Theatre Group of Community High School will present "A Christmas Carol" in two public showings, Nov. 16 and 17 at 7 p.m. at the school's theater. The student cast promises to bring Ebenezer Scrooge to life, along with Jacob Marley, Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit and those insightful "Ghosts of."...

Lighting up the park (11/08/12)
Jacob Cowell of the Shelbyville Parks and Recreation Department strings Christmas lights at H.V. Griffin Park alongside co-worker Bubba Yoes (background). (T-G photo by Jim Davis)

Christmas Home Tour (11/07/12)
The Christmas Home Tour will be held Dec. 2 from 1 to 5 p.m. and will feature six local homes. Tickets are $15 and will be available for sale Thursday at the following locations: Carolyn's Dress Shop, Merle Norman, Heritage Realty Group, Heritage Jewelers...

Long live Edgar Allen Poe (11/07/12)
Visitors to the library at Shelbyville Central High School in October were treated to a celebration of the life and works of Edgar Allan Poe. One of the first writers of detective fiction, Poe is probably best remebered for his horror stories and poetry. His works and those inspired by Poe were showcased by librarians Heather Richards and Dona Northcutt...

Holiday foods program (11/06/12)
From left, sisters Lana Newman and Diana James take delight in items Ann Throneberry prepared for her annual Holiday Foods program, held Monday at Duck River Electric. Newman and James have attended the program for years. Throneberry, a former DREMC employee, has presented the program to a full house each year for more than 35 years. Look for a feature on the program in the Times-Gazette's Christmas gift guide Thursday, Nov. 8, plus plenty more recipes from Ann through out the holiday season in the Times-Gazette Life & Leisure section. (T-G photo by Sadie Fowler)

Local poet publishes first novel (11/04/12)
Local poet and writing teacher Veita Jo Hampton has self-published her first novel, "August In Defiance: A Perfect Burial," which is now available for Nook and Kindle e-readers and which will be available starting Nov. 15 in print from vendors including Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble...

Truly 'Champions': Cascade marches to state band title (11/02/12)
Cascade High School Band, led by David Lucich, lived up to the nickname "Champions," winning the Tennessee Division I State Marching Band Championships held Oct. 27 at Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro. The band placed first in music and marching and second in percussion, in addition to the overall championship...

'The Schoolmaker' to be staged Nov. 8-11 (11/04/12)
The Webb School Players will present "The Schoolmaker: 'Sawney' Webb and the Bell Buckle Story" on Nov. 8-11 in the Black Box Studio. Showtimes are at 7 p.m. on Nov. 8-9 and 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 10-11. "The Schoolmaker," written by Laurence McMillin, is a biography of Webb's founder Sawney Webb. Since May of 2011, professional playwrights Carol Ponder and Robert Kiefer have been conducting research and interviews in order to adapt the book for the stage...

Veterans parade scheduled Nov. 10 (11/01/12)
Bedford County's Veterans Day parade will be held at 6 p.m Saturday, Nov. 10. Line-up will be at 5:30 p.m. at the corner of North Cannon Boulevard and Lane Parkway. There are no entry fees. Call 684-4838 for more information. Former prisoners of war are being sought to participate and should call the same number...

Just imagine: Program puts books in kids' hands (10/31/12)
Statistics show that early readers have higher reading, speaking, thinking and social skills than children who do not read, and a local program is reorganizing to support those skills. The Bedford County Imagination Library, the local chapter of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, is sponsored by the Friends of Argie Cooper Public Library...

Adult ghost story winner (10/31/12)
Kimberly Tapley holds the special Spooktacular edition of the Times-Gazette showing her story "Worth a Thousand Words." She was the first place winner in the adult division of the T-G's annual ghost story contest. (T-G photo by Jim Davis)

Cars fit to a 'T' (10/30/12)
For bystanders watching a parade of Model T Fords trek through downtown Shelbyville on Friday afternoon, the thought of hitting the road in cars aged 85-95 years old may have seemed "cool." But for one couple braving chilly winds following the passage of a cold front -- in an open car, no less -- the trip was downright cold...

Ghost story, drawing winners claim prizes (10/30/12)

Motlow to present 'Wizard of Oz' (10/28/12)
Students in the children's drama class at Motlow College are diligently practicing their roles for "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," which will open on Nov. 1 in Eoff Hall on Motlow's Moore County campus, according to director Debbie Zimmerman, an associate professor of communications and chairman of Motlow's Humanities Department...

FCEs present year's delights (10/26/12)
The Bedford County FCE club representatives gathered for their annual Taste and Tell luncheon earlier this month. The luncheon, always a bit, which showcases dishes from some of the best cooks around, took place as the UT Extension Office on Midland Road. To learn more about joining an FCE club, call agent Whitney Danhof at 684-5971...

For the love of horses (and Benji): Filmmaker finds new home in Bedford County (10/24/12)
In the early 1970s, Joe Camp had a great idea for a movie, built around a unique central character. The Hollywood studios, however, didn't see it that way, and all of them rejected the project. The head of distribution for Universal Studios said he liked the movie but didn't think he could convince others to do the work that would be required to sell it. He suggested that Camp distribute the movie himself...

Steampunk hits Shelbyville students (10/24/12)
In time for students to begin contemplating a scene-stealing Halloween costume, the library at Shelbyville Central introduced Steampunk to students in a September display. "Steampunk has elements of science fiction and fantasy, and involves a setting where steam power is involved, often located in a Victorian or Wild West type world," said librarian Heather Richards. ...

Ghost stories, spooky drawings haunt T-G (10/24/12)
Kimberly Tapley's tale of a mysterious image took first place in the adult division of the Times-Gazette's annual ghost story contest, while 11-year-old Jaydah Curry took top honors in the age 9-13 division with a story involving a frightening dog.

The Dark Lady of the House (10/24/12)
He was tired. He was wet. The wooden tool and nail boxes of his trade weren't getting any lighter in this rain either and he had toted them many miles into the gathering darkness....

A no-out contract (10/24/12)
Calvin hadn't darkened the door of a church in more than 20 years. It was uncomfortable that first Sunday, like the first day at a new school. But he knew many of the people. After all, Calvin had worked in real estate in Green Valley for 30 years....

The beast under the bed (10/24/12)
"Dad, are we there yet?" Holden asked. Holden is my eight year old brother. My name is Gracie I am six years old and I am moving into a new house. My family moves around a lot because of my dad's job....

On the 10th step (10/24/12)
One windy afternoon a 7 year old girl was out shopping with her mom at a thrift store. The girl saw a Barbie doll and asked her mom if she could have it. The mother said it was okay as long as the sales clerk said it was....

A Walk In The Woods (10/24/12)
One cool night in October, Bobby, who had just left a friend's birthday party, decided to take a walk with some other friends through the woods. He did this instead of getting a ride home with his neighbor....

Worth A Thousand Words (10/24/12)
"Ahh, ahhhh!" the bloodcurdling shrieks came from the attic. Clarissa. I kicked over the box full of books I had been unpacking in my mad dash to get to my little sister, morbid images of accidents that befall little children in attics causing me to bolt all the harder up the wooden staircase and rickety attic ladder....

Local author publishes Christmas books (10/24/12)
Visiting home recently for her 40th class reunion, author Carol Katrana shared her new book, Charlie the Christmas Camel, with old friends. The daughter of Morgan and Marjorie Lorance, Katrana has fond memories of her father's long-time service in the Rotary Club and on the board of the Celebration...

Bell Buckle painting from 1894 on display (10/23/12)
BELL BUCKLE -- When Dr. Charles E. Hawkins, III (Webb class of '42) and family members were perusing some of his mementos last spring, they discovered a painting of Bell Buckle United Methodist Church, where Dr. Hawkins' grandfather, the Rev. C. E. Hawkins, served as pastor. It was painted in 1894 by Susan Webb, daughter of The Webb School founder, W.R. "Sawney" Webb, when she was 12...

Life House shines light on real drama (10/19/12)
Oct. 31 has become one of the most popular dates on the calendar, with grown-ups and youth embracing the Halloween date as a day to dress up in costume and to be frightened -- on purpose. Some years ago a local church hosted a 'haunted house' type event, presenting a Christian message while entertaining the holiday crowd...

Garden club creates 'boot' arrangements (10/19/12)
Town and Country Garden Club held its latest meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at River Bend Country Club, with Dot Tune and Ann Farrar serving as hostesses. Winners in the arrangements and floral specimens prepared at home were Barbara Thomas, Gail Parsons, Charlene Nelson, Naomi Luna, and Betty Shofner...

Historical Society holds conference (10/18/12)
On Saturday, Oct. 13, the Bedford County Historical Society hosted the 2012 Conference of the Genealogical and Historical Societies of Middle Tennessee in the Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church. The Conference is an annual meeting of the societies from throughout middle Tennessee and is devoted to improving operations of the societies -- resolving common issues and concerns, improving communications between sister societies, and sharing successes on their home fronts...

Buckling down for fun: Town prepares for annual craft crowds (10/17/12)
The first signs of chill in the air mean that it is time, once again, for a great weekend of fun, food and shopping in historic Bell Buckle. Craftspeople, artisans, antique purveyors, gourmet food sellers and vendors of all type descend upon this quaint, little middle Tennessee town the third weekend of October each year to offer their wares and crafts at the Bell Buckle Downtown Show...

Guns up for grabs at Longbeards event (10/17/12)
You'll see a lot of chili suppers popping up this time of year, but there's one on Friday night at the Hall of Fame Room at Calsonic Arena that'll be a guaranteed blast. It's the biggest local fundraiser of the year for the Bedford County Longbeards, the local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation. Of course, patrons will be served chili and enjoy fellowship, but the real pull here is the club's annual 10-gun and safe drawing...

Beta sigma phi hosts fashion show (10/17/12)
The Xi Alpha Zeta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi met Thursday evening at the home of Donna Stearns-Smith. The group was entertained with a poolside fashion show presented by J. Jordan Boutique and narrated by Jennifer Jordan-Thompson. The models were owners or employees of businesses on the Shelbyville square. ...

Garden club holds monthly meeting (10/14/12)
Shelbyville Garden Club met last month with 14 members present. President Janie Burke opened with a devotional, and thanked Laurie Bierovic and Kay Simmons for co-hosting. Gay Ervin with the Bedford County Solid Waste program presented a very informative program on re-cycling...

Our Town prepares for Art in the Park (10/04/12)
The Our Town Shelbyville promotions committee, led by Cliff Hirst, met with local members of the artist community and Sylvia Pinson, Shelbyville Parks and Recreation director, recently. Plans for the Art in the Park, to be held Saturday, have progressed quickly, with a great line-up of artists and entertainers. ...

Shelbyville native to speak at library luncheon (10/04/12)
You can hear the drawl creeping off the pages of Fortune's Fool as author Jane Sevier's characters use idioms and expressions that can only be pulled from a life of southern experience. Sevier -- a Shelbyville native -- will share some of her southern-fried knowledge and skills with hometown fans at the Friends of the Argie Cooper Library's annual luncheon at Blue Ribbon Circle on the Celebration grounds on Tuesday, Oct. 16...

Big time in a small town (10/02/12)
Tiny Normandy's spirit came alive Saturday night, thanks to the support of hundreds who came out to hear top country recording artist Jamey Johnson perform on Front Street. The Full Moon, Full Life benefit concert served to raise funds and awareness for pancreatic cancer...

Speaking of success: Insell challenges local business leaders (09/28/12)
It'd be a bit of an understatement to say that coach Rick Insell knows success and how to go about reaching it. He may well be the epitome. It should be no surprise, then, that a local network of professionals would ask Insell to impart some of his knowledge and the lessons he's learned in a motivational speech that addressed topics such as vision, goals, attitude and communication...

Share your ghost story with T-G readers (10/17/12)
It's time again for the Times-Gazette's annual ghost story contest and our "scary drawing" contest for children. The story contest will be divided into three divisions by age, with a $25 gift card awarded in each division. The winning entries, as well as a number of honorable mention stories, will be published in the Oct. 24 "Spooktacular" edition of the Times-Gazette...

Dare to Be Different brings bluegrass to Bell Buckle (09/19/12)
It's a flat-pick lovin', fiddle-fiendin', boot-stomper's dream come true -- seven bluegrass bands interrupting what would be a sleepy Sunday in Bell Buckle for a day-long showcase. It's the sixth annual Dare to Be Different bluegrass benefit, and you can thank celebrated picker and singer Valerie Smith for hosting the Sunday, Sept. 23 jamboree...

Liberty Lions to host poker run (09/19/12)
A lucky biker will take home an extra $200 cash if they bring in the winning hand during the Liberty Lions Club Poker Run and Rally on Saturday, Sept. 29. There are also cash prizes for the worst hand and the biker who travels the farthest distance to join the Rally. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. At the Shelbyville VFW Hall on East Depot Street with the run starting at 10 a.m. A lunch and special drawings will be held at the VFW following the ride...

Spreading the Word, song by song (09/18/12)
An up-and-coming worship team has been getting to know Shelbyville this week. The band Fervent Worship has been performing at Living Stones Community Church, and will enjoy a final worship service there this evening. Fervent Worship serves as the worship team for The Ark Outreach Ministries in Florence, Ala. They frequently minister at worship conferences, regional gatherings and outreach events...

A stitch in time: Christine Craighead sews a pattern of giving (09/16/12)
The need for a seamstress has been a part of life since Adam and Eve first sewed fig leaves together in the Garden. Yes, man has needed someone handy with a needle and thread since the beginning of time, and many people have learned the fine art of sewing from their mothers or their grandmothers, or maybe even their father...

Singer-songwriter helps friend raise funds to fight cancer (09/16/12)
About three years ago, Nikki Mitchell heard of a historic property for sale in a little town called Normandy. She had never been to the idyllic town sandwiched between a lake and a river, but figured it was worth a look. "As long as I can remember, I've always wanted to live in a historical building on a main street or square," Mitchell said. ...

Monsters prepare with 'Spooktacular' training (09/13/12)
Summer's slipping away, but that doesn't mean it's too late to get your running feet ready. The United Way of Bedford County will host its 5th annual Spooktacular 5K and 10K costumed run and walk on Saturday, Oct. 27, and they're looking to help folks get prepared...

Idioms in the corn (09/12/12)
Recently the farmers at Grandaddy's Farm have spotted strange markings in the corn field near the pumpkin patch. It is said that they resemble a mama duck and her ducklings. Starting Sept.15, Grandaddy's Farm will open for the season. Opening day hours are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. The farm will then be open each Tuesday -- Thursday 1:30 to 6 p.m., Friday 1:30 to 10 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m...

Flat Stanley sees the world: Students' new friend has amazing adventures (09/09/12)
He showed up in the mail the day after local students got out of school for the horse show break, and Quana Smith admits she gritted her teeth when opening the envelope, not looking forward to completing a school project during the holiday. Lindy Holland, a second grade teacher at Thomas Magnet School was the accused 'culprit' who addressed Flat Stanley to her students...

Name proposed for square park (09/05/12)
Last year, the empty lot between Pope's Cafe and the Norton Law Office on Shelbyville's public square was transformed into a small, inviting park. Now, the time has come to name it. Members of the non-profit Uptown Shelbyville organization appeared before the city council Tuesday to request that the property at 122 E. Side Square be officially named "Our Town Community Park."...

Reunited... and it sounds so good (09/02/12)
When German native Andreas Rohde toured the country interviewing prospective guitar makers, he had no idea that he would develop a 30-year relationship with a family from little ol' Wartrace. Rohde was already enamored with flatpicking icon Doc Watson and his signature Gallagher guitar, so Don and Jean Gallagher taking him in as family on his first trip to Tennessee was icing on the cake...

Garden Club greets new members (09/02/12)
The Shelbyville Garden Club held its August meeting at the Farm Bureau, with Gloria Hart and Dawn Rogers serving as hostesses. President Janie Burke presided over the meeting with 17 members and one guest in attendance. Following a devotion, Burke welcomed four new members; Faye Sudberry, Libby Davidson, Louise Armstrong, and Becky Cortner...

Changes on Square give diners another choice (09/02/12)
After spending a year on the east side of the Shelbyville Public Square, the Shelbyville Sweet Shoppe has moved and is now open on the west side of the square in the Gunter Building. "We really outgrew our space at the old location," said Jim Overcast, who along with co-owner Michelle Hastings will have the Sweet Shoppe in half of the building and will add the Riverview Bistro to the other half...

'Blue moon' not what name implies (08/31/12)
There will be a blue moon tonight. Or will there? It depends on what definition you use. For centuries, the traditional definition of a "blue moon" was the fourth full moon in a calendar season, which normally has only three. By that definition, tonight's full moon is not a blue moon, since it's only the third full moon of the summer...

Flags lower for Armstrong (08/30/12)
By presidential proclamation, flags are to fly at half-staff Friday as a mark of respect for the memory of Neil Armstrong. That's the day of a private service for Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, who died last Saturday in Ohio at age 82...

Community Unity Night (08/29/12)
The Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment Bedford County chapter announced its third Community Unity Night on Friday, Sept. 21 at the Fly Arts Center from 6-10 p.m. In addition to facilitated discussions, entertainment, art and food will be offered at the event...

Memories of the 'Wireman' live on (08/26/12)
The Celebration brings with it a certain frame of mind. For long-time residents, it provides a unique marker in your calendar each year. Whether you remember being at the show each night as a kid or you're taking your kids on vacation, it's hard to not be a little nostalgic about things come this time of year...

A true connection: Special guest travels 8,000 miles to meet local band that created autism benefit (08/12/12)
Every so often, you come across a cause that just warms your heart. Something that gives you hope, and makes you wonder why anyone wouldn't jump to lend a helping hand. The I Am What I Am Music Festival and Autism Benefit, slated for Saturday, Aug. 18 at the Bedford County Agricultural Center is sure to inspire this type of reaction here in Shelbyville. And Once you've got the details, there's no doubt that you'll feel happily obliged to join the factions of supporters...

Edwards is king of the stage (08/12/12)
Mark Edwards is the son of Jeanne and Ronnie Edwards of Shelbyville. Mark has little fear of the spotlight, loves the theatre, and has been playing drums for six years. Last week, Mark performed one of his favorite plays, Les Miserables in Manchester. Next weekend, he will join The Ghost Ballerinas to play a set of his favorite cover songs at the I Am What I Am Music Festival at the Bedford County Ag Center. His mom says to expect some Beatles songs, since they are his favorite band...

Dogs, ponies to prance at show (08/10/12)
A bit of sibling rivalry between pups caused Tango's injury, but organizers of this year's Dog and Pony Show at Clearview Farms hope to pair the hound with a loving family who can overlook the scars in his life. He was one of a litter of four pups that came to Bedford County Animal Control in early September. A puppy scuffle as the litter was caged together resulted in an injury to Tango's head, causing scars which are still visible...

'Catfish Moon' rises at Community High (08/07/12)
Some anglers believe night fishing is the best way to catch a big catfish; others rely on the phases of the moon to predict the best time to reel a fat cat. It's under such a moon that four old high school friends reunite this weekend in the Smokestack Summer Theatre's production of Catfish Moon...

Fair pulls into the weekend (07/20/12)
The truck and tractor pull pulled in the largest crowds so far this year at the Bedford County Fair. The fair continues through Saturday at Bedford County Ag Center.

More at the fair (07/19/12)
Rides at the Bedford County Fair light up the Wednesday night sky.

A parable in the form of a mystery (07/19/12)
"It's sort of a murder mystery," said Warren Sager about his play "Poor Richard." There's just one catch: "Nobody gets murdered." It's also sort of a Bible story, being inspired by Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan. "Poor Richard" will be presented as a dinner theater production July 27 and 29 at Fair Haven Baptist Church on U.S. 231 North, and without dinner but as a dessert matinee on July 28...

Fair fun continues (07/18/12)
The midway ride Cobra seems to show its fangs as Jackie Farrar, Emma Farrar and Haleigh Copeland show the effects of the twisting and turning ride at the Bedford County Fair on Tuesday night....

Bedford County Fair underway (07/17/12)
Kids chase a greased pig in the traditional competition as Cascade FFA members make sure the pigs stay lubricated. Monday night was youth night at the fair. (T-G Photo by Mitchell Petty)

Words of wisdom: Author weaves fascinating true tales (07/15/12)
The sound of children quietly yet enthusiastically pursuing their next adventure on paper excited Allen Shoffner during his recent visit to the Argie Cooper Public Library. After all, Shoffner, an 86-year-old gentleman -- gentleman -- who was born near Three Forks Bridge in Bedford County in 1926, understands the value of words, the value of education. ...

Fun fare at the Fair (07/11/12)
The county fair is an American institution. An emblematic part of summer, the fair is a time for a community to enjoy food and fun, and showcase its talents and agricultural prowess. There will be no exceptions this year, according to Bedford County Fair Association President Judy Gambill, who is promising the biggest and best fair to date next week...

Fairest of the Fair Miss Bedford pageant contestants (07/11/12)
2 p.m. -- Precious Miss (girls 0-11 months) 2:45 p.m. -- Baby Miss (girls 12-23 months) 3:30 p.m. -- Toddler Miss (girls 2-3 years) 4:15 p.m. -- Tiny Miss (girls 4-5 years) 4:45 p.m. -- Petite Miss (girls 6-7 years) 5:15 p.m. -- Little Miss (girls 8-10 years)...

Chili, canines, cars: Truly a triple treat (07/08/12)
If you enjoy titles or bragging rights, you, your car and your dog have a chance to be named "Best of Shelbyville" this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It's the fourth annual Uptown City Fair, featuring the Tennessee State Chili Cook-off Competition, a sanctioned event of the International Chili Society...

Decisions, decisions: Bell Buckle blast or Shelbyville showcase? (06/27/12)
Last year, when the City of Shelbyville cancelled its annual Independence Day fireworks display for budget reasons, a fireworks event in Bell Buckle provided an alternative. The town had been holding its own Fourth of July festivities for years, but last year found itself the only game in town...

Rasslin' rage (06/24/12)
It may be home to MTS Taxi, but on Thursdays from fall to summer, 316 Holland St. is home to the highest-flying, most adrenaline-fueled act in town. You can feel the electricity as you walk up the ramp into the venue. Strobe lights and lasers dart across the dark floor as a dance song reverberates in the small arena. A genuine giant of a man marches through the locker room doorway...

Carved into memory (06/24/12)
Creating art is a very private pursuit for many artists. Some don't even think of their creations as artwork. Of course, this isn't the only reason that some artists' works are only recognized posthumously, but it's definitely a factor. Ben Cartwright was one of those folks who preferred to keep his artwork to himself and his family. "Daddy Ben," as his family called him, probably would've been more likely to tell you that he carved as a hobby, or that he was just good with his hands...

Tradition lives on at Haley Social Club (06/22/12)
This week, an 83-year-old tradition continued as the Haley Social Club met at the Normandy Presbyterian Church. The club began in 1929, when women from Haley wanted to get together to catch up on the "town gossip." Then, they relied on their husbands to bring them to the meetings, a tradition that continued until about 10 years ago, when the men began to join the group...

Summer reading scoots along (06/22/12)
Summer Reading at Argie Cooper Library is underway and off to a great start. They've have had visits from Channel 4's Snowbird, the Red Dragon Martial Arts School and Mr. Richie the Science Guy. As of this week, the children have read an impressive 2,394 books. The boy and girl who read the most books will be puting a pie in Children's Librarian Miss Jessica's face on the last day of summer reading...

AACA show schedule (06/14/12)
There will be plenty of activities for classic car enthusiasts this weekend as the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Grand National show and Southeastern Special Fall Meet gets going. Today will mostly be devoted to visitors getting settled in and seeing the local sights, with the two big events set for Friday and Saturday...

Southern style: Moon Pie festival another success (06/19/12)
It was an early morning for the 970 folks who wanted to test their legs along the RC Cola-Moon Pie Festival's 10-mile running course on Saturday. Runners heard the blast of the gun around 7 a.m. Fifty-five minutes and 16 seconds later, Brad Chronister of Tullahoma made his mark as the first runner to reach the finish line in front of Bell Buckle's historic storefronts...

Horsepower...of a different kind (06/15/12)
Kisses, dust, horses, dust, and a big cheer for University of Tennessee football. And dust. Visitors to the dual AACA car shows got to meet and greet two Tennessee walking horses Thursday night inside dusty, steamy Champions Arena at the Celebration Grounds...

Car show roars into Shelbyville (06/14/12)
Starting today, a different type of horsepower will be displayed at the Celebration grounds as the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Grand National show, as well as the Southeastern Special Fall Meet, kicks off. Hosted by the Celebration City Region Car Club Inc., the three-day event will feature hundreds of classic vehicles from all across the country...

Fun-filled 4th in plans for Griffin Park (06/13/12)
Loads of fun are planned for July 4 at H.V. Griffin Park, with plenty of activities and entertainment set. The opening ceremony kicks off at 5 p.m. with the National Anthem sung by Gary Haile, followed by a children's parade at 5:10. Children's games will be available from 6 to 8 p.m., with other activities to be a red, white and blue parade, a 15-foot water slide, a watermelon split and a dunking tank benefiting the Children's Miracle Network. Tickets to the slide and games are 25 cents...

Moore County resident receives recording engineer award (06/13/12)
Lynchburg resident Jim Pugh was one of seven Nashville recording engineers to receive the first annual Lifetime Achievement Award from the Nashville section of the Audio Engineering Society and the Country Music Hall of Fame. The award was presented June 3 in the Hall of Fame's Ford Theater in Nashville. The engineers honored were called "Music City Recording Pioneers." They covered a period of time in Nashville's recording history from post-World War II to the 1980s...

Flower arrangement workshop held (06/12/12)
Shelbyville Garden Club held its June 6 meeting at Farm Bureau. There were 13 members in attendance and three visitors. Janie Burke and Babs Chicoine co-hosted. Helen Garner was club judge for horticulture only. President Janie Burke welcomed new member, Louise Armstrong, as well as Faye Sudberry, Libby Davidson, and Becky Cortner as guests. After devotion and roll call, Janie reviewed the clubs' by-laws for the new members and prospective members...

Good tastin' good times (06/12/12)
It's RC Cola and Moon Pie time again in Bell Buckle. The 18th annual RC-Moon Pie Festival will be held Saturday in the town. The long-running festival has been rated a top 20 event by the Southeastern Tourism Society. It began in the mid 1990s when a previous event, a somewhat generic country fair, was losing steam, and town merchants learned that the Moon Pie was about to celebrate a birthday. ...

Backroads tourism dinner to remember Templeton (06/10/12)
Pamela Thompson, Consultant with the Templeton Foundation and Project Manager for the Winchester "Spirit on the Square" event, will serve as the speaker at the spring dinner for Tennessee's Backroads Heritage, which promotes tourism in seven Tennessee counties including Bedford...

Watson's death hits Gallagher hard (05/31/12)
The late J.W. Gallagher and his son Don first met Doc Watson and his son Merle at a music festival in 1968. They handed Doc one of their guitars, and he liked it. They told him to keep it. From that point forward, Doc Watson played Gallagher guitars...

Meet 'Mr. AACA' (05/31/12)
For Joe Vicini, car shows are about more than the sparkle of paint jobs or the vroom-vroom of engines. In Vicini's world, every vehicle must be perfect. Each element -- whether visible to fascinated viewers or hidden under the hood -- has to be exactly as original...

Non-profits won't see more funds (05/30/12)
Shelbyville City Council, during a study session Tuesday night, voted to hold non-profit agency contributions to the same level as last year, to fund four new requests at half the asked-for amount, and not to grant a capital outlay request from Bedford County Arts Council...

Winning design was close to home (05/27/12)
The Bell Buckle Chamber of Commerce didn't have to go far to find the design for the shirts for this year's 18th Annual RC Cola & Moon Pie Festival. It's no secret that Bell Buckle is home to several artists, but what might've been hidden is the talent of The Webb School student Stefan Shelley...

Princesses, maids, aliens and time travel (05/23/12)
Shelbyville Parks & Recreation Department will again have its "Starlite Cinema" series of outdoor movies this summer at H.V. Griffin Park, with everything from drama to adventure. The movies begin "at dark," according to Jennifer Swann of the parks department, so the time varies as the season progresses. In case of inclement weather, the movie will be held inside Shelbyville Recreation Center...

Oatmeal pie eating competition to kick off Wartrace MusicFest (05/22/12)
The menu at the upcoming June 1 and 2 Wartrace MusicFest features plenty of Bluegrass, Blues, and Bar-B-Q. But what about dessert? Music fans 18 years and older have an opportunity to consume as many Little Debbie Oatmeal Crème Pies as they can eat in 45 seconds according to Ron Stacy, MusicFest chairman and Mayor of Wartrace...

Music, maestro, please! (05/16/12)
The Nashville Symphony made its annual visit to Shelbyville on Tuesday night, accompanied by the Shelbyville Central High School Wind Symphony. "Symphony At The Celebration" was the orchestra's first public performance since its well-reviewed return to Carnegie Hall on Saturday night...

Fish fry is 'biggest yet' (05/16/12)
The fish almost got the upper hand this year, according to organizers who served 877 guests at the First Choice Pregnancy Counseling Center Fish Fry on Saturday afternoon. "Our fish are usually caught and donated by a group of local fishermen," said Donna Thomas, director at First Choice. "The fish were slow to bite this year, so for the first time ever we had to buy fish -- and the fisherman took it hard!"...

Symphony's Shelbyville concert is always a classic (05/13/12)
The Nashville Symphony had been coming to Shelbyville for two or three years when there was a change in sponsorship, and the late Scott McDonald -- whose bank was the new principal sponsor -- decided to form a local steering committee for the event. ...

Car club revved up over shows (05/11/12)
The Antique Automobile Club of America Grand National show -- and the Southeastern Special Fall Meet, which will be held the same weekend -- are a little more than a month away. Officials of the Celebration City Region Car Club Inc., which will host the event, say that the numbers are looking good...

Freshman takes leading role in theatre awards (05/11/12)
Chelsea Mills became the first freshman in the history of the Smokestack Theatre Group to win the "Best On-Stage" award for her portrayal of Helen Keller in the spring production of "The Miracle Worker." She received the award at the 18th annual End of the Year Show, held by the group at Community High School on May 7 to celebrate the work of the school's acclaimed drama department...

Puttin' on the dog: It's the cat's meow! (05/10/12)
There's a "pawty" in Bell Buckle this Saturday, and you and your best furry friends are cordially invited. The second annual Mutts in May celebration is slated to begin at 10 a.m., and promises to once again be a sight for animal-loving eyes. The festivities are set to begin at 10 a.m. with The Gallagher Trio picking bluegrass tunes for patrons. Following the performance, there will be contests, vendors, speakers and humane societies...

The WILD blue yonder (05/10/12)
"Are you ready?" they asked. "Oh, yeah!" I said, quasi-confidently as I tried to keep my voice from crackling while the crew outfitted me with a parachute and strapped me into the seat. "Don't touch this lever, that button or that strap," they said. "Unless the pilot tells you to bail -- then pull this, that and that."...

Shelby DAR holds April meeting (05/08/12)
The Shelby Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution held their luncheon on April 25th at the Riverbend Country Club. Martha Watt gave her presentation wearing a "day dress" that is similar to what you might have seen if you lived in the area during the Civil War era. Sherry Sorrells also wore clothing from that time period...

Quilt's story is in the stitches (05/04/12)
Kevin Smith of Bargain Depot acquired an unusual quilt from the estate of Robert and Margarette Brown. In April, the Times-Gazette published a picture and request for information about the quilt. I was so amazed and surprised to see it when I opened the paper. I had seen this quilt before in 1992, and knew I had the story Mr. Smith was looking for...

It's elementary (at the high school) (05/03/12)
Shelbyville Central High School Theatre Arts Group will present the classic Sherlock Holmes this weekend at the SCHS Theater. The four-act play is based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous character Sherlock Holmes, who first appeared in publication in 1887 and would live out his fictional exploits as a London-based "consulting detective," in four novels and a series of short stories...

Fired up for funds (05/02/12)
A sign at Normandy Volunteer Fire Department promotes its hamburger and hot dog fundraiser, to be held from 4-7 p.m. Saturday at the fire hall. (T-G Photo by Jim Davis)

Blues, bluegrass, barbecue in Wartrace (05/02/12)
The Eighth Annual Wartrace MusicFest, June 1-2, will showcase bluegrass, blues and barbecue, say organizers. Thirteen bands will take the outdoor stage beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 1, as a full night of bluegrass music kicks off featuring Missionary Ridge, Lonesome Valley Grass, Friday Night Orphan Brigade, Golden Hollow, Spur of the Moment, the Steve Gallagher Trio, and Just Thrown Together...

Crawfish, country and fun(d)raising (05/01/12)
The schedule of performers has been announced for Saturday's "Cancer Sucks!" Crawfish Festival to benefit the American Cancer Society Relay For Life. The festival will run from noon until midnight at Sand Creek Farms, located north of Shelbyville at 3125 U.S. 231 North...

Bitterbox to rock stage at Saturday's festivities (05/01/12)
Among the entertainment line-up for Saturday's event are a group somewhat 'new' to local listeners. Bitterbox has been playing together formally for about a year and a half, and has already developed a growing fan base in the mid-South. Local businessman Billy Pack is among the five-man band. His professional relationship with David Bradley and Aaron James goes back a decade or more...

Bonsai trees charm garden club (04/29/12)
The Shelbyville Garden Club held its monthly meeting on Wednesday, April 18 at the Farm Bureau with 16 members present. President Janie Burke introduced guest speaker, Jean McCarter, who is a life member of the Richmond Bonsai Society. Jean presented an interesting program about Bonsai trees. ...

Bluegrass gospel to ring out at festival (04/27/12)
If you like sweet vocal harmonies, the bright twang of flat-picked instruments and the whine of a fiddle or two, there's a free event for you next week. Shelbyville's own CrossPoint String Band is hosting its fifth annual Bluegrass Gospel Festival, bringing bluegrass reverberations to the Lions Club Pavilion at H.V. Griffin Park on Friday, May 4 from 6 to 9 p.m...

Saluting success (04/26/12)
Hundreds of local women packed the Blue Ribbon Circle Wednesday for the 19th annual Professional Woman's Luncheon. The event, hosted by WLIJ and WZNG radio, serves as an opportunity to salute Bedford County women for their roles in service, volunteerism, administration and leadership...

Patriotic documents donated to sheriff (04/26/12)
ACLU, beware. June Griffin has you in her sights. Griffin, of Dayton, presented large, framed copies of the Ten Commandments, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence to Sheriff Randall Boyce on Monday. The documents now hang in the lobby of the Bedford County Sheriff's Department...

Taking flight (04/25/12)
Ethan Harris does a backflip with no hands as he enjoys the afternoon at H.V. Griffin Park's skateboard ramp. (T-G Photo by Jim Davis)

Oscar-nominated animator visits Webb (04/25/12)
BELL BUCKLE -- Oscar-nominated animator Don Hertzfeldt recently was on The Webb School campus to discuss his work and the independent film/animation industry. He gave a presentation as part of the school's Follin Speaker Series and also conducted hands-on workshops in art classes...

Toastmasters celebrate 10 years (04/19/12)
Toastmasters of Bedford County was formed 10 years ago by CalsonicKansei North America employees, and although none of the group's current members were in attendance that day in May of 2002, the current participants have helped to keep it going strong. For the group's 10-year anniversary, the Toastmasters International Lt. Gov. of Marketing and Distinguished Toastmaster, Kristi Coleman presented the club with a certificate and commended them on their exceptional efforts...

Hee Haw & Howdy this weekend (04/17/12)
The annual "Hee Haw & Howdy" fundraiser to benefit the American Cancer Society Relay For Life runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Harris Middle School. The long-running revue, done in the style of the "Hee Haw" television program, combines cornpone humor with top local musicians and vocalists...

A Purdy pretty purpose (04/12/12)
Fun, free activities are coming up at Purdy Court Park to get that area into shape for a planned August opening. An "Earth Day Celebration" is set for Saturday, April 21 from 9 a.m. until noon at the site off Colloredo Boulevard, according to Shelbyville parks and recreation director Sylvia Pinson, with plenty of free events for all ages...

Professional Woman's Luncheon set April 25 (04/10/12)
Know a strong, motivated woman who deserves more public recognition for the work she does? Now's the time to do your part, and nominate her for one of the 19th annual Professional Woman's Luncheon awards. This year's event -- sposored by WLIJ (1580) and WZNG (1400) -- will be held on Wednesday, April 25 at 11:30 a.m. at the Blue Ribbon Circle. WSMV (Channel 4) news anchor Jennifer Johnson will be this year's guest speaker...

Crawfish fest sells over 800 tickets (04/03/12)
More than 800 admission tickets have been sold for the "Cancer Sucks" Crawfish Festival May 5 at Sand Creek Farms, sponsored by the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Bedford County. Country recording artist Keith Anderson, best known for the song "Pickin' Wildflowers," will headline a diverse day-long roster of musical acts including Chase Perryman, Rayz'n Cain, Bitterbox, Kelly Lynn, Three Point Hitch, Zone Status, Tiffany Thompson and Granny Low. ...

Strike up the band! (03/27/12)
The program for this year's "Symphony at the Celebration" concert featuring the Grammy Award-winning Nashville Symphony will range from the macabre to the fantastic, with selections including the main title music from "Star Wars" and a tribute to George M. Cohan...

Unloading: Improvements to playground underway (03/27/12)
One of the six loads of engineered wood fibers was dumped behind Celebration Station at H.V. Griffin Park Monday as workers prepare to work on bringing the playground up to new federal safety standards. The playground is scheduled to reopen Friday afternoon. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely)

Imagine...'John Lennon and Me' (03/22/12)
The Heart House in Nashville is the scene of this weekend's play, "John Lennon and Me," presented by the Community Middle School Drama Club. Hollywood-wannabe Star (played by Jessica Hesson) is the ultimate Beatles fan. Her dreams are complicated by cystic fibrosis, an inherited disease which often assures a young death. Star is a frequent resident at the facility for seriously and terminally ill young people...

A sweet treat for a good cause (03/22/12)
Juanita Graham and her daughter Mya Graham give the camera a smile at Tuesday's Caregiver Relief Pancake Supper, co-hosted by First United Methodist Church. See story and more photos in today's print edition. (T-G Photo by Mitchell Petty)

Daffodilly Day meets St. Patrick (03/14/12)
Bell Buckle is going green -- and yellow -- for Daffodil Day, which will be held on St. Patrick's Day this year, Saturday, March 17. Nothing says spring is here quite like brilliant daffodils bursting into bloom. Thousands of daffodil bulbs have now turned into thousands of happy yellow faces casting a golden glow throughout the town...

Miracle Worker comes to Community (03/14/12)
Angie Gambill, a CHS graduate herself, has been doing wonderful work for her alma mater's Smokestack Theatre Group for years. This one promotes this weekend's THE MIRACLE WORKER (Fri-Sat. March 16th and 17th--7:00 p.m.).

Gospel music to ring out at arena (03/07/12)
Michael Morris, pastor of Rutledge Falls Baptist in Coffee County, says he hopes the Middle Tennessee Gospel Music Festival, which will take place Friday and Saturday at Calsonic Arena in Shelbyville, will be just the beginning of something big. A variety of southern gospel and bluegrass gospel acts will perform at the festival...

Alluring alpacas at local event (03/06/12)
Call it beginner's luck if you'd like, Patty Hasselbring doesn't mind. Her first trip to Calsonic Arena from Concordia, Mo., landed Patty and her husband Britt with plenty of bragging rights to go along with their growing collection of top ribbons. "We've been showing them for a couple of years," she said...

The Boogeyman strikes! (03/04/12)
You don't need millions of dollars or the glitz and glamour of Hollywood to make a quality film, just ask Middle Tennessee filmmaker Tommy Golden. Last weekend, Golden and his crew overtook Shelbyville's Lane Street Inn to film his screen adaptation of Stephen King's tale, The Boogeyman ....

Warm, fuzzy Alpacas arrive (02/29/12)
The 11th annual Southern Select Alpaca Show returns to Calsonic Arena on the Celebration grounds this weekend, and it's the type of show that's friendly to spectators, according to Kay Kemp of Petersburg, one of the organizers. There's no admission charge for visitors; the show will open to the public at 9 a.m. Saturday...

A big time (02/29/12)
Elephant rides were among an array of fun things to do during intermission at the Piccadilly Circus, which came to town Tuesday night. Two performances took place, at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m., respectively, at the Calsonic Arena. Many children in attendance also enjoyed the petting zoo, pony rides, inflatables and, of course, the show itself. (T-G Photo by Sadie Fowler)

Garden club preps for Chamber luncheon (02/21/12)
Pam Beasley and Suzy Stewart of the Shelbyville Garden Club put the finishing touches on their floral arrangements. The club made 30 centerpieces for the Shelbyville Chamber of Commerce's annual awards luncheon which took place today at the Blue Ribbon Circle Club. (T-G Photo by Mitchell Petty)

Holiday filled with stage delights (02/17/12)
Community High School will use the upcoming President's Day school holiday to promote Middle Tennessee theater efforts. Tony Davis, a drama and speech teacher, began the Smokestack Theatre Group in 1994 with the school's first play "Wait Until Dark." Since then, the group has offered ambitious productions such as Steel Magnolias, The Wizard of Oz and It's a Wonderful Life...

More than food: Event benefits fire department (02/16/12)
Don't worry about cooking supper on Saturday. The Wartrace Volunteer Fire Department has got you covered. The Wartrace VFD will host their second annual chili supper and auction from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday. Tickets for the event are $5. Like last year, the chili being served is from the late Bobby "Hoss" Cartwright's recipe -- a longtime local favorite. The chili will be prepared by Cartwright's grandson, Joel Johnson...

Doggy delight at rodeo Saturday (02/16/12)
Bert Davis, the "Coppertown Clown" and a former contestant on "America's Got Talent," will bring four different acts featuring 10 dogs as one of the featured entertainers Saturday night at the Lone Star Championship Rodeo. The rodeo will be held at Calsonic Arena on the Celebration grounds. Like most such events, it combines serious competition with pageantry and family fun, striving to entertain a variety of spectators...

Groovin' and givin' at Habitat Ball (02/14/12)
More than 230 people gathered Saturday night for a celebratory evening in support of a good cause. The 14th annual Habitat for Humanity Ball was held Feb. 11 at the Blue Ribbon Circle. Each year, proceeds from the benefit are used to build one local Habitat home...

Teens' play practice shot down (02/08/12)
There was a plot, sort of. But, for teens rehearsing William Shakespeare's "Macbeth," real life intermingled with the classic play -- and one actor was arrested. A deed of dreadful note. -- Shakespeare, from "Macbeth" The thespians descended on H.V. Griffin Park Monday, armed with memorized lines and a stage prop -- a BB gun...

July 4 show may return (02/03/12)
Fireworks for the 4th may be returning this year and will be up for a vote next week before the Shelbyville city council. A motion will be before the council next Thursday to conduct a fireworks display at H.V. Griffin Park on July 4, and will also ask for authority to approach the county to split the costs of any contract they enter into...

A high-flying hobby (01/24/12)
Shelbyville Rotary Club member Mark Cannon recently spoke to the club about his model airplane hobby. An accomplished pilot and builder of model airplanes, Cannon exhibits his collection and flies model planes across the area at shows and swap meets. Also participating in the program was Cannon's fellow enthusiast, Michael Young. From left are club members Ricky McConnell, Ivan Jones and Chad West; Cannon; and Young. (Submitted photo)

Reaching for a star: Kacey Smith hopes to become next country sensation (01/22/12)
There's a small buzz brewing in music circles in Nashville. A young singer and songwriter has been in development for most of the past year, and she's getting ready to break loose in 2012. The industry insiders who have heard her sing recognize the "It" when they hear it, and a launch into the country music stratosphere isn't so far-fetched an idea...

Bell Buckle performer lets the music flow (01/15/12)
If her dream out-of-the-blue phone call arrived, it would be from a big sponsor offering a world tour. For now, Emilie Burke is content with the "Arrival" of her independent-release CD by that name. The album was produced in "Big" Mike Griffin's home studio in Nashville...

Emoting 'The Odyssey' (01/11/12)
Students in Amanda Thompson's World History class at Cascade Middle School have been studying Ancient Greece. While covering the "Iliad" and "Odyssey" these fourth period students used their bodies to portray emotion through the characters of the Trojan War epics. (Submitted photo)

Winning play by Titan star (01/10/12)
There's no doubt that Tennessee Titan cornerback Cortland Finnegan loves Shelbyville. And for the hundreds of fans who showed up to meet him at a local restaurant on Saturday afternoon, Finnegan is now one of their favorite players, if not their favorite...

A wonderful life: Family, holiday fun (01/08/12)
My family and I had a wonderful holiday season. My oldest son, Gabe, came home from California in time for Thanksgiving, and has been with us through the New Year. I have really enjoyed having the whole family together. During the holidays, we have certainly enjoyed some good entertainment...

New Year's babies (01/05/12)
Bedford County's newest resident of the new year is Andres Navarro, a baby boy born at 12:58 p.m. Sunday to Teresa Arellano Gomez, according to Stephanie Speegle, director of marketing at Harton Regional Medical Center in Tullahoma...

Europe comes alive: College student learns while experiencing new lands (01/01/12)
How would you like to visit London, Paris, Alicante, Barcelona, Venice, Florence, and Rome all in the span of one month? Many college students are able to travel the world and get college credit for it. Kelly Pietkiewicz, a senior at the University of Memphis, had the experience of a lifetime this summer traveling through Europe...

Not a sleigh, but holiday fun (12/28/11)
Charlie Coffey enjoys a Christmas Eve ride through Shelbyville in his horse and buggy. He said the buggy, made by the Amish in Ethridge, was a gift from his sons Mike and David Coffey. (T-G Photo by David Melson)

Santa spreads gifts...and love (12/23/11)
NORTH POLE -- In November of this year, physicists had an argument over whether an experiment in a particle accelerator had shown that neutrinos could travel faster than light. According to Einstein's theories, nothing can travel faster than light, and eventually scientists said their original result had been a mistake...

Sparkling Christmas: Unionville display wins Chamber contest (12/22/11)
For the past 14 years in Unionville, Sonny Ballard has been carrying on a Christmas tradition started by his father. Each October he begins the process of preparing more than 11,000 lights for a holiday display at the home he shares with his wife Tammy. It's four weekends of work before the lights come on just after Thanksgiving -- but the light display has become an anticipated event for their friends and neighbors near Copeland Cove...

Home