Shelbyville, Tennessee · Saturday, November 7, 2009
[SeMissourian.com] Fair ~ 76°F  
High: 72°F ~ Low: 42°F
Arts, Entertainment and Culture

Chili brings out a hungry crowd (11/05/09)
The side streets around Peoples Bank of Bedford County were lined with parked cars Wednesday between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and nobody seemed to mind at all. People were walking down the road, calling out greetings to those sitting on the porches, and they were all lining up for lunch. There were lawyers and farmers, mechanics and doctors, politicians and grandmothers of all colors and backgrounds...
Community opens new theater, 'Oz' with large cast (11/05/09)
The Smokestack Theater group of Community High School is kicking off its first year in a new building in a huge way. L. Frank Baum's classic "The Wizard of Oz" will be held Friday and Saturday night in the Community High School auditorium. "I wanted to do something to open up this new school building that was very popular and this seemed like a perfect fit," said director Anthony J. Davis...
Renovated Harris gym still a work in progress (11/01/09)
A lot of work has been done with the old Harris Middle School gym on Elm Street, now called Central Memorial Gym, and the public is invited to see the progress. An open house will take place Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. so the public can take a look at what's been done and perhaps chip in with ideas of their own...
A haunting tale at the library (10/29/09)
Circus offers thrills (10/22/09)
Shrine Circus returns to Calsonic Arena (10/21/09)
If you missed the relish® Cooking show held Tuesday night at the Calsonic Arena, you can grab another chance of fun tonight -- only instead of watching folks clown around in the kitchen, you can just watch folks clown around. The Al Menah Shrine Circus will return to Calsonic Arena on the Celebration grounds tonight, with performances, at 4:30 and 7:30...
A night of fun and recipes as chef wows cooking show crowd (10/21/09)
It's hard to tell who was having more fun Tuesday night at the sold-out Times-Gazette/relish® magazine Cooking Show and Expo with chef Jon Ashton -- the crowd, or Ashton. "It's really, really lovely of you to believe in me and believe in the magazine and let us in your life and have a bit of a laugh," the English cook said at the event, staged at the Calsonic Arena...
relish®/Times-Gazette Cooking Show will be high-energy fun, says chef Ashton (10/18/09)
"Lots of culinary entertainment." That's what folks coming out to see Tuesday's relish®/Times-Gazette Cooking Show and Expo can expect, said relish® chef Jon Ashton, in a phone interview Friday with the Times-Gazette. And who better to explain the evening's venue than the British rascal himself -- the star of the evening's comedy-filled culinary show....
Rain, cold can't stop Webb Art and Craft Fair (10/18/09)
It takes more than a little rain and cold weather to keep people away from the Webb Art and Craft Fair in Bell Buckle. In fact, it takes more than a lot of rain and cold weather. "There were people here at 6 a.m.," said Linda Simmons, who manages the Downtown Craft Fair set around Captain Rodney's stage. "They said they usually get here earlier but they were running late."...
Calsonic Arena crew members are quick change artists (10/16/09)
When Calsonic Arena opened in 1989, 20 years ago, officials from the Celebration and from the arena's benefactor and naming sponsor, Calsonic Manufacturing Corp. (now CalsonicKansei North America), said they hoped it would be not only a place for equestrian competition but also for a wide variety of events to benefit the community...
It's Webb Art & Craft Festival time again (10/14/09)
With hundreds of booths and thousands of visitors, the Webb School art and craft festival may be one of the biggest in the south -- if not the country. But then, that's because it's not just one show. "The official show is the Webb School Art and Craft Show, sponsored by Webb and the Bell Buckle Chamber of Commerce," said Billy Phillips, chamber president. "Then there's the downtown show at Captain Rodney's Stage, and the Maple Street Show and the High Street show ..."...
'Divine' spark drives humble artist's eyecatching work (10/11/09)
"Excellence and integrity cloaked in humility." That's the quote -- a prayer, actually -- engraved in Latin on the side of one of Tracy H. Sugg's sculptures. It also describes the sculptor herself. "I believe the artist has a duty to uplift, and bring beauty into the lives of people," she said. "It's not all about 'ME.' As a Christian, I believe it's that spark of the divine."...
Fall festival truly rocks, without rolling your wallet (10/11/09)
I don't often use my column to plug commercial ventures -- Godiva chocolate not withstanding -- but I've really got to, this time. Take your kids to the Cedar Rock fall festival! I took Buzz with me briefly last Saturday on opening day because I was one of the judges for the scarecrow contest. ...
Chili, knives and fun for a cause in Normandy (10/08/09)
Larry and Sandy Terrell don't believe in burying their talents. "The Lord gave us these talents," said Sandy. "It's our duty to share them with others." Sandy is an artist. Largely self-taught, she works in acrylics and oils to create country still lifes -- wooden decoys in front of quilts and barn wood...
Trail ride postponed (10/08/09)
A quadruple bypass couldn't stop Raymond Pimental's annual Strolling Jim Trail Ride -- but Mother Nature could. And has. "We're going to have to postpone it for two weeks," said Pimental Wednesday morning. "The field where we park the cars is too wet, and it's supposed to rain tomorrow and a 70 percent chance on Friday."...
Luncheon speaker pays tribute to the South (10/08/09)
Gary Ford, a retired senior staff writer for Southern Living magazine, paid tribute to all things Southern at the 2009 Friends of Argie Cooper Public Library author's luncheon. Ford, who now writes for the R.W. Norton Art Gallery in Shreveport, La., has contributed to the Encyclopedia of Southern Culture, Southern Places: A Classic Collection of Words and Images, and Southern Living Comfort Food. ...
Adoption tour cyclists to make stop in Bell Buckle (10/07/09)
Anyone who goes to Bell Buckle for a little shopping and dining is used to seeing motorcycles parked at the curb, their riders enjoying their own shopping and dining. But Thursday, there will be different sorts of bikes filling the parking lot. About 85 bicycles will be parked outside while their riders gather for a meal -- and a celebration. It is just one stop on the Adoption Tour, a state-crossing ride to raise awareness about adoption...
Episcopal church to hold pet blessing ceremony (10/02/09)
Every fall, in many towns across around the world, a curious phenomenon can be seen. In fields, in parking lots, in the sanctuary of churches, people are leading, carrying, dragging or holding their pets to be blessed by a local priest. Shelbyville is no exception. The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer will celebrate a pet blessing on Sunday at 4 p.m. in its parking lot...
Cedar Rock offers October thrills, fun (09/30/09)
How much would you pay to get lost in the country and have the bejeebers scared out of you? At Cedar Rock on Warner Bridge Road, for only $5 a person (and the fifth one is free with a coupon from the web site), you can go on a hayride, get lost in the corn maze, pet some barnyard animals and just have a haunting good time...
Pet Day draws poodles despite puddles (09/29/09)
A poodle party was just one gathering of furry friends one could find at the fifth annual Celebration Pet Day, held this year at the Bedford County Agriculture Center. The event, a fundraiser for the Shelbyville-Bedford County Humane Association, was an opportunity for pet lovers from all over to come together for a day of family -- and pet -- fun. The celebration featured demonstrations, educational vendors, and a pet show, among other things...
Southern Living highlights Wartrace to kick off new column (09/27/09)
Southern Living magazine has undergone a facelift, but unlike most gracious Southern ladies, it has no problem telling the world all about it. "We've listened to thousands of our readers and we know that the Southern woman is changing," said Eleanor Griffin, editor in chief of Southern Living and the first female editor in the brand's 43-year history. ...
Dog agility championships continue through Sunday (09/23/09)
Calsonic Arena is going to the dogs. The vendors were setting up on the mezzanine Tuesday morning, and it was what you might expect -- blankets and bedding, special foods and fencing exhibits. But there weren't any saddles or bridles on display -- just a lot of leashes...
Celebration Pet Day benefits local humane work (09/23/09)
Come Saturday, there will be a lot of four-legged athletes strutting their stuff in front of judges at a celebration. No, it's not the Celebration, and it won't be horses taking the spotlight at the Bedford County Agricultural Center. The fifth annual Celebration Pet Day kicks off at 10:30 a.m. ...
Bell Buckle artist sculpts statue for governor's mansion (09/20/09)
Sherri Warner Hunter of Bell Buckle has recently completed a large statue for the Tennessee governor's mansion titled "In the Presence of Presents." "The piece features the slate from the roof of the governor's mansion," she said. "The first lady wouldn't allow them to throw it away. She knew it could be used for something else."...
Junior 'wireman' keeps grandfather's legacy alive (09/06/09)
Rod Cleveland watched his idol do it for years, but he never thought he could come close to creating the same intricate art his grandfather created, no matter how closely he watched. "I watched him for 30 years and one day he stopped making pieces for me and told me I could do it myself," Cleveland, 41, said. "I was amazed by his work."...
Now showing at the Capri: renovation (09/04/09)
Who would have thought cozy rocking chairs being hauled off to the dump would mean that Mr. Economy is actually treating some people well? No, truckloads of old chairs being hauled away from the 61-year-old Capri Theater on Depot Street do not mean the theater is going out of business...
For these visitors, the Celebration is a time to get together (09/04/09)
While Tennessee walking horses may be what brings thousands and thousands of visitors to the Celebration, they aren't all the event has to offer. For many of the horse lovers, their and friends and their families, it's all about getting together. "We aren't showing any," said Jim Atchinson, a retired banker, Thursday night. ...
Trade fair continues through Saturday (09/03/09)
Okay, everybody's tired of hearing about how bad the economy is -- so keep reading. Although big-ticket items, such as designer outfits and life-sized horse statues, aren't exactly leaping off the floor at the Celebration's trade show, the smaller items, from jalapeńo jelly to jewelry to T-shirts, are moving right along...
Coach, Rowdy take Stalion Classes (08/30/09)
Out of the 33 stallions signed up to show in the Aged Stalliona 1.2 and over classes -- qualifying classes for the World Grand Championship next Saturday night -- only 12 horses made it to the ring. There were seven in the first class, won by The Coach and John Allan Callaway, and only five in the second, which went to Rowdy Rev and Bill Bobo for the second time in two years...
Church celebrates centennial with a great work of art (08/30/09)
Anniversaries are special, especially 100th anniversaries, whether it's a church or a business, and most people recognize them with some sort of celebration. At the Wartrace Church of Christ, it's been a year-long celebration, and it's not over yet. Besides the special singing and ice cream social planned for this Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. and the homecoming and fellowship dinner on Sept. 27, the church has celebrated its centennial by doubling its size...
Local author's new book is an answer to prayer (08/23/09)
On April 16, 1980, Barbara Williams' life was changed. Williams, a local author, had never enjoyed reading, until she asked for prayers that she would. "One Wednesday night I asked my church to pray that I learn to enjoy reading. I thought it was a deterrent to my spiritual growth," Williams said...
Serendipity on the Square (08/20/09)
State official says library grant available (08/16/09)
Tennessee's Secretary of State said he wants to help the Argie Cooper Memorial Library grow with a substantial state grant. Tre Hargett paid a visit to the library Wednesday, taking a brief tour of the facility with local leaders and hearing about expansion plans...
Faxon gets commission to create McWherter sculpture (08/09/09)
Anyone who has driven by Russ Faxon's studio in Bell Buckle can tell an artist lives there. The twin bronze Tree People towering over the doorway kind of gives that away. But when you walk into his real studio -- not the gallery where the finished pieces are displayed -- you realize Faxon takes that leap from artist to genius. ...
'Little Shop of Horrors' begins at The Fly (07/31/09)
Little Shop of Horrors," the teen and youth production at the Fly Cultural Arts Center, opens tonight at 7. The show continues Saturday and Aug. 6 and 7 at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Janice Cole is the director with Colleen Embry as musical director...
It's (my) Official Read This Column Day (07/29/09)
July 31 is Go Commando Day -- and it has nothing to do with the armed forces. For those of you with the good luck and grace to grow up in a household totally different from mine, "going commando" means going without, um ... undergarments. Of the brief and boxer kind. Normally, I wouldn't stoop low enough to put this in a column, even if it is good for a giggle, but when I read the article about it, it reminded me of something the boys said last year...
Application deadline announced for art grants (07/29/09)
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, a charitable organization benefiting nonprofits serving worthy causes in Bedford and other Middle Tennessee counties, has announced the application deadline for Arts Build Communities (ABC) grants. The deadline is Aug. 29 at 4:30 p.m. To download a grant application, view guidelines or get more information, visit www.cfmt.org/grants...
Farm fun in the city attracts fair crowds (07/22/09)
Bedford County Commissioner Jimmy Patterson reminded everyone at the Tuesday evening meeting of the Rules Committee that the Bedford County Fair had opened Monday and would be going all week. "We had real good attendance last night and you all should go," he said...
Supper, auction raise funds in Wartrace (07/17/09)
Wartrace Park and Recreation Committee's annual hamburger supper and auction was held Saturday night at Wartrace Community Center. The event was a fundraising hit, according to committee chair Jean Gallagher. "So many people have come and donated things.... We have well over 70 items to auction off," Gallagher said...
'Fairest of the Fair' Saturday, Fair begins Monday (07/17/09)
If you feel the need to admire the beauty of Bedford County Saturday night, you don't have to go far to do it. Head down to Shelbyville Central High School for the 2009 Bedford County Fairest of the Fair pageant. "There's about 30 more girls in it this year than last year," said Jerri Lynn Smith, who chairs the event for the Bedford County Fair. "It's really increased. I'm glad to see more getting in it."...
It would be a tragedy to miss this (07/15/09)
I'd forgotten how much the play "Romeo & Juliet" annoyed me until I saw the Tennessee Shakespeare Festival's version Friday night in Bell Buckle. Oh, don't get me wrong -- I loved it and plan on going back for more this weekend! But as a mom, I just want to toss a bucket of cold water over these over-reacting, hormone-ridden teenagers and avoid the tragedy altogether. I also wanted to jerk a knot in the good Friar Lawrence's belt for being such an enabler...
Crape myrtles beautify Shelbyville's landscape (07/15/09)
Tennessee walking horses, pencils and basketball are all part of Bedford County's identity. But there's another marker, a little more subtle, that adds charm as well as beauty to this small Southern city and county. Crape myrtles, shrubs or small trees chiefly famous for their colorful and long-lasting flowers, are prevalent in Shelbyville, thanks to a project that began almost 15 years ago...
Business, music mix in Wartrace (07/15/09)
The Chamber of Commerce coffees in Wartrace have been offering something unusual lately -- live music. "At the chamber meeting before last, we had talked about the last mixer at Wet Your Whistle, and at that time Duffy (Jackson) and I played, just some background music," said Joe Peters...
Banker wary of stock market (07/15/09)
The Shelbyville Woman's Club gathered for its July meeting Wednesday at the Riverbend Country Club. Following a light and refreshing summer lunch, Mike Rittenberry, president of Peoples Bank in Shelbyville, gave a brief explanation about the nation's current economy and answered questions from members...
Chili cookoff, cars highlight city fair (07/12/09)
People from all across the country came to Shelbyville for the Historic Uptown City Fair Saturday. The Tennessee State Chili Cook-Off Championship brought couples from Mississippi and California to Shelbyville to sweat it out for the state chili cook-off title...
Shaking up Romeo in Bell Buckle (07/10/09)
Things have taken a tragic turn at the Tennessee Shakespeare Festival being held in Bell Buckle. No, there's no bad news -- in fact, things have gone very well with this year's first production, "A Midsummer Night's Dream." "We've had some great crowds," said Joey Waldrop, the 7-foot actor who had audiences in stitches with his gentle, albeit slow, character "Snout." "They've been very responsive, lots of laughter."...
Uptown City Fair promises a good time (07/08/09)
The Shelbyville square will be the place to be Saturday as the Uptown City Fair will be in full swing. People can enter the square from North Main Street with limited parking on the west side. Parking will also be available at the Fly Building and along Depot Street...
Garden club, VFW team up to beautify post (07/08/09)
A local garden club looking to serve found a perfect outlet in the local chapter of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). Post Commander Wayne Cook wanted to spruce up his local post. At the same time, Weed'em & Reap, which was formed last year by Steve Mills, wanted to partake in a community service project...
Crowd gathers to celebrate Fourth (07/07/09)
Hundreds of people were making their way to H.V. Griffin Park Saturday afternoon, even before the Fourth of July celebration officially kicked off at 3 p.m. Old, young, white, African-American, Hispanic, Asian, rich, poor, or "simply gettin' by," they wandered past vendors, games and musical entertainment to celebrate the day together -- celebrating the freedom to assemble...
Shelbyville, Bell Buckle mark Independence Day (07/05/09)
In many ways, the celebration of the Fourth of July is more than just getting together a bunch of people to admire the latest in pyrotechnics. In small towns, Independence Day exemplifies America at its best, from community spirit and volunteerism to entrepreneurship and the pursuit of happiness...
Seniors are still on the ball (07/05/09)
Coach Beth Allen has a bunch of babies, teenyboppers and dinosaurs under her watch this summer. Since September, Allen has been coaching 21 women, all at least 50 years old, twice a week in preparation for the state Senior Olympic finals to be held July 17-23 in Franklin...
Cops to be out in force on the Fourth (07/02/09)
The Fourth of July brings certain things every year, such as fireworks, picnics, ants, games, fun -- and increased law enforcement. Whether you're going to the events in Bell Buckle's city park or H.V. Griffin Park in Shelbyville, keep in mind that area and state law enforcement will be out, looking for drunk drivers...
Ward enjoys reign as 'Fairest of the Fair' (07/02/09)
Devon Ward only has one regret about being 2008's Miss Bedford County, crowned at last year's Fairest of the Fair pageant. "They didn't have a scholarship then!" she said, laughing. "I could use it!" This year, the winner of the Miss Bedford County category, young ladies between 16 and 21, will take home a $500 scholarship, as well as a crown...
Phillips honored at NANBPW Founder's Day Luncheon (07/02/09)
The Shelbyville & Vicinity NANBPW Club 18th annual Founder's Day Luncheon was held Saturday at the Blue Ribbon Circle. Martha Works King, governor of the Southeast District, was the guest speaker at the luncheon. "[President] Obama, [Martin Luther] King and [Rosa] Parks all had one characteristic in common -- they all wanted a better America for us and they had the courage to make that vision a reality," she said...
Flowers to grace The Fly at club's annual show (07/01/09)
The Volunteer Garden Club is hosting a standard flower show from 1 to 5 p.m. July 23 at the Fly Arts Center, 204 South Main St. The show is free and open to the public. This year's theme is "From These Roots." "To be a federated garden club you have to have a show every two years," said Pat Hastings, club member. "Each time we have the show at different places and have different themes."...
Halls Mill celebrates its heritage (06/28/09)
The Halls Mill Heritage Days annual fundraiser took place Friday and Saturday at the Halls Mill Triangle Community Club. Friday night was Family Night and included a talent show, an ice cream supper, kids' games, and a lawn tractor pull. "We had quite a few people last night because it was Family Night. ...
Shakespeare on a summer night (06/28/09)
They gather in small groups across the field at Webb School. Some sit at picnic tables, some combined quilts for softer seating, and some just flop down on the grass. They eat fried chicken or ribs, sip on sweet tea or wine -- and they wait eagerly for the play to begin...
You are so Shelbyville if ... you take part in this contest (06/26/09)
"You are so Shelbyville if ... you know J.R. didn't come from Dallas." "You are so Shelbyville if ... you are trying to change the world from a place most people have never heard of." "You are so Shelbyville if ... you think a traffic jam is having to wait through two lights at Colloredo and North Main."...
A 'hairy' fairy tale (06/25/09)
Rapunzel is stuck in the tower again, and this time, she's got plenty of company on stage -- including a king, a queen, a prince, a princess, a wolf, a witch, an evil queen, a fairy godmother and Paprika, the Lost Spice Girl. This fairy tale flotsam and jetsam are the characters in "A Hairy Tale," the children's play that will be at the Fly Cultural Arts Center this weekend. It is cast with local children -- 23 of them -- from kindergarten through seventh grade...
NANBPW Founder's Day luncheon to be held (06/25/09)
The 18th Annual NANBPW Founder's Day Luncheon will take place on Saturday, June 27 at 11:30 a.m. at the Blue Ribbon Circle. The luncheon is sponsored by the Shelbyville and Vicinity Club. The idea of the National Association of Negro Business & Professional Women's Clubs was conceived 72 years ago, by Emma Odessa Young, a realtor from New York city. Mrs. Young was a member of the New York Club of Business and Professional Women in 1934...
Community theatre to present two plays (06/24/09)
Making the switch from actor to director in the world of theater can be downright terrifying for some people, but for Dalton Reeves, directing gives him the opportunity to express his own views on the storyline and details of a play. "Many directors try to get the picture, but I have to get on the stage and look at things from the actor's point of view," said Reeves...
A midsummer night's scream in Bell Buckle (06/23/09)
In the theater world, it's called "hell week" -- those last few days before opening night, when you wonder if the set is ever going to come together, if that one actor will ever get his lines straight, and when Murphy, and his innumerable laws of what can go wrong, will show up, because you know he's going to...
Cunningham, busy actor, dies at 47 (06/23/09)
T. Scott Cunningham, 47, a Shelbyville Central High School graduate who had a busy career as an actor in stage, television and film, died Saturday at New York University Medical Center in New York City from complications due to pneumonia and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, according to Sam Rudy, a spokesperson for The Vineyard Theatre...
Moon Pie time again in Bell Buckle (06/19/09)
They are having a ball in Bell Buckle -- and on Saturday, everyone is welcome to join in the fun at ht RC-Moon Pie Festival. This year's Synchronized Wading performance -- often referred to as "dry humor on a wet stage" -- is called "The Ball's in Your Court," and the town's first lady, Carla Webb, has outdone herself again...
'Fyestock' to benefit SCHS cheerleaders (06/18/09)
What combines summer weather, a lot of musical bands with differing styles playing in an outdoor venue, and fun times? Well, since there aren't any billionaire musicians headlining the night, you can tell it isn't Bonnaroo. But "Fyestock" has plenty to offer. ...
Tractor pull, tug of war are fair traditions (06/18/09)
The Bedford County Fair Truck and Smoker Tractor Pull is more than a chance for motorheads to flex their gears and show off their chassis. It's just one facet of the entire fair experience -- keeping rural Bedford County alive and well in the minds of this generation and the generations to come...
Halls Mill Heritage Days to return (06/18/09)
The Halls Mill Triangle Heritage Club, which recently celebrated its 51st anniversary, will hold its second annual Heritage Days fundraiser Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27, at the clubhouse. The purpose of the Halls Mill Heritage days fundraiser is to raise money for the upkeep of the club's building and to provide a family-fun event for the community. Last year, the club used the money raised from this event to repair its heating and cooling systems and to paint its club house...
Man found dead in Bonnaroo tent (06/17/09)
Bonnaroo was officially over in the early hours Monday, but the aftermath lingers. A man's body was found in a one-man tent in one of the campgrounds Tuesday afternoon, according to Coffee County Sheriff Steve Graves. "All we know is that he was alive yesterday (Monday) at 3 p.m.," said Graves...
Surviving Bonaroo, flat on my back (06/17/09)
Well, I survived Bonnaroo, and despite my fears of middle-agedom, I had a great time. In fact, I'm considering dumping my family and my job and taking on a full-time career as a rock 'n' roll photographer. I've gotten to meet, interview and shoot famous people before, from the time I mugged comedian Bruce Vilanch at MGM Studios or interviewed the late Tiny Tim outside a seedy circus, standing in the sleet and rain while he answered questions through a cracked car window...
Bonnaroo called 'best yet' (06/16/09)
A few downpours, a couple of thousand sunburns, a landfill's worth of garbage, and it's all over. The estimated 75,000 Bonnaroo visitors are all on their way home, exhausted, muddy, but largely satisfied. "Best yet," said Linnea Peters, who made the trip from Colorado for the third year in a row...
Rescheduled Motorcycle Day draws healthy crowd (06/16/09)
Middle Tennessee had more than its fair share of out-of-state visitors this past weekend, but they weren't here just for the CMA Awards or Bonnaroo. Thousands of visitors found their way to Bell Buckle Saturday for the sixth annual Motorcycle Day. "It went great," said Rodney Simmons, who organized the event with Mark Felices. "We had people coming in all day. There's no way to count the bikes, but we certainly had thousands."...
Despite stereotypes, Bonnaroo was 'Boss' (06/16/09)
Last week, a lady to whom I had just been introduced seemed incredulous when she found out I was possibly going to Bonnaroo. From what I could gather from her remarks, she seemed to have the stereotypical belief that anyone who goes to Bonnaroo is considered to be an "undesirable" by polite society...
Unity Day observed at H.V. Griffin Park (06/14/09)
Ruth Wendling was singing, and Kati O'Grady was accompanying her on the banjo while folks around them ate fried chicken and tamales, played horseshoes and bocce. The song Ruth was singing summed it all up. "V-A-R-I-E-T-Y spices up our day. When we get together...
'Roo in the rain: no problem (06/14/09)
MANCHESTER -- Rain doesn't seem to dampen the Bonnaroo spirit. If anything, it is expected, welcomed, and even applauded. On Thursday, as the four-day mega-music festival opened its gates on the 700-acre Coffee County farm, the rain kept up steadily, ranging from drizzle to downpour, until mid-afternoon, when the clouds made way for blue skies...
Museum intern wants to bring history to life (06/15/09)
For Camey Buck of Monteagle, getting lost on the Shelbyville square turned out to be a lucky venture. Buck is a rising senior at Tusculum College in Greeneville and is a double major in history and museum studies. She was intrigued when she saw the sign for the Fly Arts Center and Museum...
The play's the thing for these interns (06/12/09)
It's a dream job for a young actor -- a Midsummer Night's Dream job, that is. On Sunday, two dormitories at Webb School opened their doors, and the actors, technicians, gophers, carpenters and general flunkies for the Tennessee Shakespeare Festival started moving in, ready to begin work on both "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "Romeo and Juliet."...
Bradley entertains with Civil War lore (06/12/09)
The Shelbyville Woman's Club had a humorous and historically-minded speaker at its June meeting Wednesday. Michael Bradley, a professor at Motlow State Community College since 1970 and an author of several books about the Civil War, was the guest presenter. He displayed not only his sense of humor but his knowledge about the war and some of its local heroes...
Postponed Motorcycle Days returns Saturday (06/12/09)
Bell Buckle Motorcycle Days is scheduled to get revved up Saturday. The event was originally scheduled in May, but was rained out. There is no better destination for a motorcycle and its rider than the meandering roads and gently rolling countryside of Historic Bell Buckle, according to the town's chamber of commerce...
Bonnaroo fans pose traffic challenges (06/10/09)
For the eighth year in a row, neighboring Manchester is gearing up to receive nearly 80,000 visitors from across the country as music lovers flock to one of the premiere summer music festivals, Bonnaroo. That means more people will be on local roads, and as a result, the Tennessee Department of Transportation and Tennessee Highway Patrol are once again partnering again to ensure smooth traffic flow during the event...
Outdoor movies begin second season (06/04/09)
The City of Shelbyville Parks and Recreation Center has begun its second year of the Starlite Cinema, a family-friendly movie event that takes place at H.V. Griffin Park behind the small shelter at H.V. Griffin Park in Shelbyville. WALL-E was the premiere movie and it was shown on Friday, May 22...
Class to focus on cooking basics (06/04/09)
For the past two years, Whitney Danhof and Gay Ervin have taught gourmet cooking classes at the University of Tennessee Extension Office in Shelbyville. Beginning this summer, they'll be shifting their focus from more seasoned cook to the beginner cook with their new series of classes, called "School of Everyday Meals."...
Burchett reflects on Eagle Scout journey (06/03/09)
If it were easy to become an Eagle Scout, it wouldn't make the front page of the newspaper. Fewer than 5 percent of Scouts ever achieve the highest ranking, which requires hours of community service, dedication, sweat, blisters, and just plain work...
Designer adds touch to annual garden tour (06/02/09)
Local artist and interior designer Jean Hill will add an extra touch to this year's garden tour, sponsored by the Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber of Commerce's Beautification Committee. Hill will give garden design lectures at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Lunch will also be served at Hill's place, which is one of nine stops on the self-guided tour, to be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 6. A rain date has been scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m. June 7...
Cherryholmes brings an edge to MusicFest (06/02/09)
Cherryholmes closed out this year's Wartrace MusicFest in style Saturday night, earning two standing ovations from the crowd following a highly energetic performance. It was the second year in a row for the family band, which headlined Friday night at last year's event...
Cool breeze blows for Wartrace MusicFest (05/31/09)
The Wartrace MusicFest kicked off Friday night to almost-clear skies and a cool breeze -- a nice change from last year's event. "We played here last year," said Roger Huffman of The Creek, one of the featured bands. "We almost got blown off the stage."...
Organizers hope fans, weather play MusicFest tune (05/29/09)
So far, this weekend is the first one this month to have no rain in the forecast. That's good news for Wartrace Mayor Don Gallagher and the rest of the folks in town, because this weekend is also the annual Wartrace MusicFest. "It looks like we're going to be blessed with beautiful weather," he said...
Locals experience Renaissance Festival in Triune (05/27/09)
The year is 1592 and the Renaissance period is in full swing ... Okay, maybe it's not the 16th century, but history has come alive every summer for the past 24 years in Triune, Tennessee. "I really love the whole idea of the Renaissance era," said Community High School senior Chelsea Buckingham of her Saturday visit to the 24th Annual Tennessee Renaissance Festival at Castle Gwynn...
Geocachers throng to Bell Buckle this weekend (05/21/09)
If you're the type who loves to "collect" car tags, noting the ones from far away, this weekend should provide the mother lode. Not only will the Celebration's Spring Fun Show bring in hundreds of out-of-state visitors, but the geocaching international convention in Bell Buckle, GeoWoodstock VII, will be bringing in thousands more -- including some from out of the country...
'Fairest of the Fair' pageant offers scholarship (05/19/09)
The winner of the Miss Bedford County contest in this year's Fairest of the Fair pageant on July 18 will win much more than bragging rights. She will also take home a scholarship to continue her education. "This year, it has a $500 scholarship for the entrant who wins Miss Bedford County, that's the 16-21 category," said Jeri Lynn Smith, chair of the competition. ...
Got milk? Davis named Dairy Month chairman (05/17/09)
Joseph Davis' love and dedication for 4-H and "anything agriculture" paid off when he was named the 2009 Dairy Month Chairman for Bedford County. Dairy Month kicks off in June, and Joseph, 16, will serve as the county's ambassador, promoting dairy and educating locals on the importance of consuming proper amounts of dairy products...
Memories go for a ride on restored bike (05/17/09)
On his 60th birthday last week, Troy "Testial" Taylor went for a ride on his bicycle. It's the same thing he did on another birthday -- exactly 50 years ago. On exactly the same bike. "At least, I think it was my 10th birthday," he said, laughing. "My brother says it was later than that."...
Motorcycle Day postponed until June 13 (05/15/09)
If you hear thunder rumbling through the streets of Bell Buckle this week -- that's all it is. Just thunder. The annual Motorcycle Day, originally scheduled for Saturday, has been postponed until June 13. "We went from a zero percent chance of rain to a 70 percent chance," said Jenny Hunt, with the Chamber of Commerce. "Bikers like to plan things in advance and even if it doesn't rain, they probably wouldn't show up."...
Gardens star in annual tour (05/13/09)
Springtime is upon us and, in addition to grilling out, playing outside and working on the yard, that means one thing: garden tours. The Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber of Commerce's Beautification Committee has scheduled its annual garden tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 6...
Support sought to save dam, powerhouse (05/12/09)
The Tennessee Preservation Trust has listed the power house and the Duck River dam in Shelbyville as one of the top ten endangered historic sites in the state. Each year since 2001, the trust has issued its annual "Ten in Tennessee" list based on nominations from the public. Officials say the list "highlights urban and rural sites across the state to elicit public support for saving threatened historic resources."...
Senior Citizens' choir performs ageless songs (05/12/09)
For more than 20 years, a group of dedicated senior citizens have been traveling to area nursing homes to sing gospel songs to residents. "We call ourselves the 'Senior Citizen Singers'," said Ike Farrar, who serves as the group's MC. The singers started with Sarah Sanders, who was the music teacher at the old Pleasant Grove School. After her death, B.C. Boyce took over...
A musical salute: Symphony marks 20 years, Cinco de Mayo, McDonald (05/06/09)
The Nashville Symphony celebrated the 20th anniversary of its first Shelbyville visit with a "Symphony at the Celebration" concert in Calsonic Arena, featuring the Shelbyville Central High School Band. The symphony, under the direction of the always-animated resident conductor Albert-George Schram, performed selections whose formal titles sometimes hid their familiar melodies: "American Salute" included the melody to "When Johnny Comes Marching Home"; "San Luis Samba" was a Latin-influenced arrangement of "St. ...
Fair will have an Elvis theme (05/05/09)
The Bedford County fair is offering a hunka-hunka burning fun this year. "We're going to do Elvis night on the Thursday and have an Elvis impersonator, Chuck Baril," said Judy Gambill, president of the fair board. "We're going to ask people to dress up in clothes for the Elvis era and we'll have a few contests."...
SCHS band announces program for symphony concert (05/01/09)
The Shelbyville Central High School band, under the direction of Kayne Gilliland, will perform "American Folk Rhapsody" by Clare Grundham and "Simple Gifts" by Fran Ticheli during its solo portion of the annual "Symphony at the Celebration" concert Tuesday at Calsonic Arena...
'The Birds That Stay' a look back at the 1960s (04/30/09)
The summer of 1969 was a time of change, discovery and chaos in a world that was seemingly coming apart at the seams. "The Vietnam War is raging; Dorothy Gale of Kansas (Judy Garland) dies of a drug overdose; three men walk across the face of the moon; Charles Manson and followers go on a 'Helter Skelter' killing spree; and the hippies dance naked at Woodstock," said Marla Jennings, director of Shelbyville Central High School's play...
Bible takes center stage in Victory play (04/29/09)
Spring brings high school plays out in droves -- and audiences come out in droves to see them -- and Victory Baptist Academy is no exception. It won't be surprising to most people that, rather than the millionth rendition of "Guys and Dolls" or "Oklahoma," the private Christian school affiliated with Victory Baptist Church is doing a Bible-based play. What may surprise people is how that came about...
Smokestack Theater holds festival (04/28/09)
The Smokestack Theater group of Community High School held its 7th annual Theater Festival Saturday. This year, students from Cascade School and Forrest School came out to participate in the festivities. Those who attended experienced a day of theater related workshops as well as musical acts and dramatic skits put on by several Community High students...
Young actor, mother unite in 'Twilight, Alaska' (04/24/09)
It's hard to find a parent who isn't shuttling a child from one event to another, from soccer practice to school, from school to church ... Stacie Barrett takes that limousine service a step further. For weeks now, she's been driving her 14-year-old son Cain up to Monteagle, where he has a role in Bear Hollow Dinner Theater's production "Twilight, Alaska."...
'Ms. Ritt' named Professional Woman of the Year (04/23/09)
Ardis Rittenberry was named Professional Woman of the Year at the 16th annual Professional Women's Luncheon Thursday. Wayne Hix presented the award to the long-time geometry teacher and National Honor Society sponsor at Shelbyville Central High School, known affectionately to her students as "Ms. Ritt."...
Shakespeare returns to Webb (04/23/09)
It's official -- the Tennessee Shakespeare Festival will be returning to Bell Buckle -- but you don't have to wait until June to get a taste of the Bard. Webb School students are putting on "Twelfth Night" tonight, Friday and Saturday in the chapel on campus...
Board games get new life in tight times (04/21/09)
In tough economic times, some luxuries -- such as a night out at the movies with dinner before or after -- get put on hold. "My kids took me to see a movie for my birthday last year -- it cost about $75," said Michael Bell of Shelbyville. "In these times people can't afford to go out and do things like that."...
Conductor promises 'the best stuff' for symphony concert (04/21/09)
Albert-George Schram, resident conductor of the Nashville Symphony, looks forward to his second visit to Calsonic Arena when the symphony will perform its annual Shelbyville concert on May 5. "I like the arena," said Schram, during a recent radio interview on WLIJ-AM. "I think it's just a real fun venue ... The orchestra sounds good, and the audience can see well, so I think it's all fun."...
Venue change boosts Hee Haw & Howdy (04/10/09)
Moving back into a school auditorium made a big difference in the turnout for Hee Haw & Howdy, a longtime town favorite and fundraiser for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life of Bedford County. The difference was a good one as the production, which is filled with lots of dancing, singing, and laughter, brought in nearly full houses during its four performances March 27 and 28 and April 3 and 4...
Woman's Club actresses keep crowd laughing (04/09/09)
If you were driving by Riverbend Country Club Wednesday around lunch and heard wild laughter and applause, it's because the ladies of the Shelbyville Woman's Club were at it again. Seven members, directed by Billie Crowell, performed the one act play "The Revenge of the Red Feather Ladies" by Maxine Holmgren...
Once a teacher, always a teacher (04/08/09)
It's never too late to learn something new -- especially for someone who has been teaching new things to young students for decades. "I started painting about 10 years before I retired," said Myra Philpott, whose work is now on display at The Fly. The Arts Council will honor her Monday, April 13, at the monthly meeting, a potluck dinner at 6 p.m. to which everyone is invited. The Woman's Club will perform a play as part of the program...
Re-enter the Bard: Camp returns to Bell Buckle (04/07/09)
If you send your child to Webb School for camp, don't worry about her coming home with a handful of braided plastic lanyards, wobbly hand-thrown pots, or a wicked case of poison ivy. She may, however, come home saying things such as "Methinks" and "Odds Bodkins!" and with paint on her jeans and splinters in her fingers...
Shakespeare returns to Bell Buckle this year (04/05/09)
"Unfortunately, I've lost my Wall." No, actor-director-producer Lane Davies isn't homeless --he's just Wall-less. Joey Waldrop, the 7-foot-tall gentle giant who played "Snout" and "Wall" in last summer's production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," won't be coming back...
Shakespeare returns to Bell Buckle this year (04/05/09)
"Unfortunately, I've lost my Wall." No, actor-director-producer Lane Davies isn't homeless --he's just Wall-less. Joey Waldrop, the 7-foot-tall gentle giant who played "Snout" and "Wall" in last summer's production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," won't be coming back...
Webb speaker tells thrilling tale of art recovery (04/03/09)
Forget Carnarvon and Tut's tomb. Never mind the men who found the Aztecs' golden masks or the ones who bring up doubloons and jewels from the long-dead ships of pirates and privateers. The greatest treasure hunt in recorded history began more than 60 years ago -- and hardly anyone knows about it...
Tickets for symphony concert on sale Monday (04/03/09)
Tickets go on sale Monday for the "Symphony at the Celebration" concert, featuring the Nashville Symphony, May 5 at Calsonic Arena. This concert marks the 20-year anniversary of the orchestra's Shelbyville visits and will include a tribute to the late Scott McDonald, who guided the transformation from a basic concert into a sort of community arts festival including guest performers and a visual arts exhibit on the arena concourse...
Just can't escape the theater's pull (04/02/09)
I was active in drama all four years of high school, but never pursued it while I was in college. A few years after college, in the late 1980s, I found myself trying out for a community theater production in Tullahoma, a mystery farce called "Let's Murder Marsha."...
Cornpone fun for a good cause (03/31/09)
Cast members as well as attendees put on their dancing shoes for the 32nd Annual Hee Haw N Howdy production of Bedford County held Friday and Saturday nights. "It was great to see the audience get into it as well," said director Wendy Stacy. The show is scheduled to be performed again at 7 p.m. this Friday and Saturday at Harris Middle School...
The pig collector (03/29/09)
Jean Sharp of Unionville confesses she may have gone a little hog wild when it comes to her collection. Or perhaps the expression should be "pig wild." "I guess I have more than 5,000 pigs," she said. "I don't know exactly how many." Refrigerator magnets, cookie jars, stuffed animals and figurines, pigs of all shapes and sizes line the walls, the shelves, the back of the couch, the windowsill, the hallway, the bathroom, the sidewalk, the kitchen counter ... ...
State championship chili cookoff to be held in Shelbyville (03/27/09)
Knoxville's loss is Shelbyville's gain. When a group applied for and qualified to hold the Tennessee State Chili Cookoff Championship in UT Town, it never got around to actually holding the event. This year, needless to say, the same group did not get a second chance. The major event, sanctioned by the International Chili Society, will be held here instead...
'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' opens at The Fly (03/26/09)
The play opening Friday night at The Fly isn't what you'd expect. "People like it when we do comedies," said David Langborn, the director -- and star -- of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," a drama based in an insane asylum. Based on Ken Keasey's novel, the play, which premiered with Kirk Douglas, then featured Jack Nicholson in the movie role, is the story of McMurphy, a man trying to dodge military prison by claiming to be insane. ...
Former Bedford resident has new book, ministry (03/26/09)
Former Bedford County resident Phil Baker, now of Arab, Ala., has recently completed a book called "Lessons in the Rearview Mirror," a collection of his past writings. "They are broken into topical categories," he said. "They are stories I recall while I was growing up. As an adult, I found Biblical principles in them that I didn't recognize at the time."...
'Good grief!' Cascade offers popular musical (03/25/09)
Cascade High School in Wartrace will hold its first-ever musical, "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," this weekend. The production features a young, energetic cast as the lovable Peanuts gang. Not only is this the first musical for Cascade, this is also the first time the theater department will be under the direction of Christina Fox, a new teacher at the school...
Kinkade's art touches emotions for Unionville family (03/22/09)
Mike and Rosie Byrd of Unionville stood in front of the Thomas Kinkade print called "Heading Home," picturing a soldier, walking away, his head down. "We have that one. We got it just before our son passed away," said Rosie. Their son, Daniel, was also a soldier, and died of brain cancer while still in the service...
A beautiful Daffodil Day, for a change (03/22/09)
There was something unusual about this year's Daffodil Day in Bell Buckle. It was warm and dry. "I think this is the first time ever," laughed Alderwoman Jenny Hunt. "Maybe seven or eight years ago ... we usually have it on the third Saturday in March, and that year we got the date wrong and had it on the fourth. It was beautiful. Maybe we should always have it on the fourth Saturday."...
Hee Haw & Howdy: a tradition of charity and fun (03/22/09)
The cast of Hee Haw and Howdy got together Thursday night for dress rehearsal in preparation for the group's opening performance Friday night. The show is scheduled to be performed at 7 p.m. this Friday and Saturday, and next Friday and Saturday, April 3-4, at Harris Middle School...
Officer to take Taser shot at performance (03/22/09)
School Resource Officer Tim Fox has decided to suck up the pain and do a Taser demonstration at Cascade High School during the strong man performance he is organizing by Mike "The Machine" Bruce. The performance also includes a motivational speech. "I've been asking the students at Cascade for a while, 'If I got shot with a Taser and the money went to charity, would you come?'," he said. "The answer is always yes, so I've kind of backed myself into a corner here."...
A taste of tuba (03/20/09)
Brandon Compton, a Community High School senior tuba player, sits at the back of the band, the low tones of his instrument blending with the sounds of the other instruments to create a melodious composition. Brandon doesn't mind the location, because he knows not many take the time to learn what he considers man's "noblest instrument."...
Daffodil Day: picture-perfect (03/19/09)
Are you having trouble seeing the forest for the trees? Don't sweat it -- sometimes the trees are worth looking at. From this Friday until April 3, a special photography gallery will be on display at the Bell Buckle Town Hall called "The Notable Tree Exhibit."...
Popular artist Thomas Kinkade to visit Shelbyville Saturday (03/18/09)
Thomas Kinkade, America's most collected living artist, will make a stop in Shelbyville on his Share the Light Tour from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Blue Ribbon Circle. The event is being hosted by the New Covenant Christian Bookstore, which is a Kinkade Signature Gallery. "This means we can sell all of the levels of his art including his master's editions," said Andrea Lovvorn, who owns the store along with her husband, Dennis...
'Steel Magnolias' on stage in Unionville (03/18/09)
The Community High School Smokestack Theatre Group is soon to give its performances of "Steel Magnolias," a dramatic comedy set in 1980s Louisiana. This is the second time "Steel Magnolias" has been featured at Community High School under the direction of Anthony Davis. While the new cast holds undeniable talent, Davis still holds a place in his heart for the original cast members...
'Wheelbillies' dress up for cancer fundraiser (03/17/09)
Cindi Lauper once sang, "Girls just want to have fu-un ..." Well, a few local men and boys were no exception as they donned high heels and lipstick to raise money for a good cause Saturday night. The Wheelbilly's of Bedford County Miss Wheelbilly Pageant, held at Liberty School, raised funds for the Relay For Life Cancer Walk of Bedford County...
Scrapbooking workshop set for Saturday (03/13/09)
When the students in the Family Career and Community Leaders of America club at Cascade High School wanted a sure-fire way to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House, they looked at a hobby many in this country have started doing -- scrapbooking. The club will hold a "Crop 'til You Drop" event Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., in the Cascade High School cafeteria. The cost is $10 for the entire day...
Local show caters to brides (03/12/09)
Here come the brides -- and the mothers of the brides, the caterers to the brides, the bakers for the brides. Almost every type of business you can imagine related to weddings, from chauffeurs to dry cleaners, will be gathering at the Lane Street Inn for a bridal show Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m...
SCHS, Motlow bands to play with Nashville Symphony (03/10/09)
The Central High School band and the Motlow College Jazz Ensemble have been confirmed as guest artists for the annual "Symphony at the Celebration" concert, featuring the Nashville Symphony, which will be held May 5 at Calsonic Arena on the Celebration grounds...
Students express thoughts about King's dream (03/10/09)
Three local students read essays Saturday night focusing on whether Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream had been realized. The readings were part of the first Bedford County Black History Month Awards Banquet, which took place at The People's Church. Twenty-one essays were submitted, with a grand prize of $500 awarded to the winner...
Normandy Music Night a joy to the ears (03/08/09)
A tiny little church in Normandy was the scene of a performance by two Grammy-winning songwriters Friday night. Sound impossible? It might be, if not for the work of Mary Crossno, who helped create Normandy Music Night 15 or 16 years ago. Andy Gay, who was then pastor of the church, started it as a venue for local artists to play. When he moved to another church, he approached Mary about taking it over...
Educators walk through Gilliland history (03/06/09)
A little more than a decade ago, the rundown house at 803 Lipscomb St. was nothing more than, well, a rundown house. But the man who once lived in that house, the late James Gilliland, a self-taught stone mason, would no doubt be proud to see what's become of his former home...
Cuddly alpacas return to Shelbyville (03/05/09)
The alpacas are coming. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, these sleepy-eyed South American animals with their Mona Lisa smiles will be taking over Calsonic Arena for the eighth annual Southern Select Alpaca Show. "We have folks come from all over," said Kay Kemp of Stoney Ridge Farm, located on the edge of Bedford County near Petersburg. ...
Cancer benefit is anything but a 'drag' (03/04/09)
What do all these men -- truckers, farmers, businessmen, sons, fathers and husbands -- have in common? They look divine in Dior. Okay, maybe "divine" is stretching it a bit, almost as much as the Dior gets stretched. What these men, contestants in the Wheelbillys Relay For Life Womanless Pageant, have in common is they aren't afraid to sacrifice their dignity for a good cause -- and a lot of laughs. ...
'The Standards' to perform student and public concerts (03/03/09)
The musical group The Standards will perform at Thomas Intermediate School gym on Thursday, March 12. The group will perform twice: at 1 p.m. there will be a school performance and at 6 p.m. there will be an evening performance for the public. Admission to the event is free...
Reading the library's future (02/26/09)
About a dozen persons gathered Tuesday evening at Argie Cooper Public Library for a strategic planning meeting. The meeting focused on whether the library should move forward with its plans to build a new facility and on how to meet the needs of Bedford County's growing community through the current library...
Local songwriter's creation up for Dove Award (02/25/09)
You'd think with everything that's happened in her life, Shelbyville's Deborah Bailey would be writing country music. She's had to move many times, from Illinois to Texas, from Louisiana to Colorado, and finally here. She lost her retirement fund when her employer -- Enron -- went belly-up. And if that wasn't enough, in 1987, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis...
Trainers score high in WHTA fundraiser (02/23/09)
The Walking Horse Trainers' Association knows how to put the "fun" in "fundraiser." At Friday night's "February Madness" basketball games, they filled the gym at Shelbyville Recreation Center with the sounds of hoops and gym shoes, laughter, and lots and lots of people...
Public's thoughts about library's future sought (02/22/09)
A second strategic planning meeting regarding the future of the Argie Cooper Public Library will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Feb. 24 at the library. This meeting will serve as a follow-up to the first planning meeting, which was held earlier this month...
Power of faith shines in Rayson's songs (02/20/09)
When Australian missionary and musician Mike Rayson comes to the Bell Buckle United Methodist Church Saturday night, he'll be bringing more than a few songs and stories. He'll be bringing living proof of the power faith plays in surviving tragedy. His oldest son, Sam, was killed in 2007 when he was kicked by a horse, and his other son was almost mauled to death by dogs...
Forget the horses; WHTA has hoops (02/19/09)
Here are the four H's of the walking horse world: horses, halters, hay, and hoops. Hoops? Hoops -- as in basketball. At 6 p.m. Friday, four teams of walking horse trainers, members of the Walking Horse Trainers Association, will be battling for bragging rights that have nothing to do with blue ribbons, Celebrations or, well, horses...
'Paws for a Cause' 5K run approaches (02/18/09)
The Paws For A Cause 5K run and 1 mile fun walk, which benefits the local Spay Neuter Committee, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Spay Day USA. It will start and end at the Bedford County Courthouse. Pre-registration ended today. However, runners and walkers may register from 8 to 9:45 a.m. race day. Registration is $20...
Habitat ball raises over $40,000 (02/17/09)
When you think about building a Habitat for Humanity home, you usually think about hammers and nails, drywall mud and sweat equity. But for one night, at least, the "builders" were wearing evening gowns and tuxedos and the supplies were good food and good music. It takes more than hammers, nails, drywall and hard labor to make affordable homes for the working underprivileged -- it also takes money...
SCHS to rock out with 'Eaglepalooza' (02/16/09)
Shelbyville Central High School's new auditorium will become a venue for rock fans Friday night as the Golden Eagle soccer team will sponsor a spin-off of the popular video game "Rock Band." The Eaglepalooza Music Extravaganza and Rock Band Contest will be formatted similar to the "American Idol" television show...
Ward prints of old First Baptist building to benefit missions (02/05/09)
A few years ago, Warren Landers commissioned artist Jerry Ward to paint a picture of the former First Baptist Church building as a way to pay tribute to the church and its members. Now, prints are being sold of that painting, and proceeds will benefit the church's mission projects, both locally and worldwide...
Ward's works inducted into state museum (02/04/09)
Renowned local artist Jerry Ward has prepared to say goodbye to three of his most prized works. Their new owner: The Tennessee State Museum. Ward received word last month that three of his works, a portrait of Elizabeth Taylor from 1963, and two others painted within the last six years, have been inducted into the museum...
Springsteen to headline this year's Bonnaroo (02/03/09)
The Boss is coming to Bonnaroo. Fresh from his appearance at this year's Super Bowl, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will be the headlining act at the eighth annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival to be held in Manchester June 11-14. Officials with the giant music and arts festival, now in its eighth year in Manchester, announced the initial 2009 lineup this morning. Additional artists will be added soon, festival organizers said...
Ketchum concert delights crowd (01/19/09)
"Somebody asked me once why I don't write happier songs," Hal Ketchum told an audience Saturday night at Calsonic Arena. "And I said, 'These are the happy ones.'" Ketchum's soulful, bluesy songwriting would have been played on pop radio in the mid-70s, alongside Jim Croce, Gordon Lightfoot, B.W. ...
Ward donates portrait, brightens Habitat outlook (01/18/09)
Renowned local artist Jerry Ward gave Habitat Ball Committee members something to smile about Thursday morning when he unveiled "A Tranquil Habitat," a work he painted with Habitat for Humanity specifically in mind. Ward has donated the painting to the Habitat Ball live auction; the minimum bid has been set at $2,000 -- a third of the painting's retail value, Ward said...
Edwards: 'Stitching is my life' (01/16/09)
Shelbyville Woman's Club had a very special guest speaker at its monthly meeting Wednesday -- and the club didn't have to go far to find her. Frederica Edwards, a Woman's Club member and master craftsman in crewel embroidery, presented the program, much to the amazement of her fellow members, who left the meeting with a new appreciation for embroidery -- and Edwards' talent...
Be seeing you, Number Six (01/15/09)
Last spring, in quick succession, I found two boxed DVD sets at deep-discount prices, and bought both of them (in one case, I used a gift certificate I had gotten as a birthday present). Both of them have become prize possessions. Both of the boxed sets were of British TV series from the late 1960s/early 1970s. But that's about the only thing they had in common...
Ketchum if you can (01/15/09)
Grand Ole Opry star Hal Ketchum will headline a United Way benefit concert Saturday evening at the Calsonic Arena, along with two area artists selected as opening acts. Ketchum, who released his new album, 'Father Time,' in September, is enthusiastic about doing the concert for United Way of the Highland Rim, in association with United Way...
Fiddling around: Wood, orchestra chase musical dreams (01/08/09)
The Tennessee Fiddle Orchestra, contra dances at the Flat Creek Community Center, and the Jim and Inge Wood School of Music: All of these are plans that five-time Tennessee State Fiddle Champion Jim Wood are putting into action to make Flat Creek the fiddle capital of the world...
Christmas Parade video (12/08/08)
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Arts group plans for Festival of Trees (11/03/08)
The Fly Arts Council is gearing up for its annual Festival of Trees, which begins Nov. 22, the same day as the Main Street Committee's open house. "Festival of Trees began 15 years ago," said Nancy June Brandon, arts council member. "It has been our longest running function since we found the wonderful building (The Fly) that serves this entire community, and other communities."...
A hot time for chili on the square (10/28/08)
Despite the wide variety of activities available last Saturday, from the Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue in Lynchburg to the United Way Child Safety Day at H.V. Griffin Park, Calvin Cannon is pleased with the turnout at the "Splendors of Autumn" celebration held by Main Street Shelbyville, a proposed Tennessee Main Street Community...
'High School Musical' diplomas sourced from Jostens (10/24/08)
In the third installment of Disney's "High School Musical" franchise, opening today in theaters, the main characters are high school seniors -- and the diplomas they receive in the movie's graduation scene were produced at the Jostens plant in Shelbyville...
Space problems limit library's growth (10/13/08)
EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the second of a three-part series about the challenges facing Argie Cooper Public Library. Today's story focuses on the library's present situation. Tuesday's story will focus on plans for the library's future. In 1965, Bedford County's library consisted of 6,300 books stuffed into a space of just 350 square feet in the basement of the courthouse. ...
Webb School, Bell Buckle to hold art festival (10/06/08)
As autumn approaches, the historic town of Bell Buckle, with its tree-lined streets and yesteryear charm, begins preparations for its 32nd Annual Webb School Art & Craft Show to be held on the Webb School campus on Maple Street Oct. 18-19. The hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday...
Horses, cars and music (07/30/08)
Weekend activities for 7/31-8/1
Ward exhibits poise as Miss Bedford Fair (07/25/08)
Some people, no matter what, never feel comfortable being in the spotlight. For others, however, poise, personality and charisma come naturally. Or, at least that's the way Devon Ward makes it look. "I have been doing this all my life," said the 16-year-old Shelbyville Central High School student. "I wasn't nervous to compete, just very excited."...
Fair weathers storms, heat well (07/25/08)
Thunderstorms? Excessive heat and humidity? The weather may have put a little dent in the numbers at this year's Bedford County Fair -- but not much. "Attendance is up," said Judy Gambill, president of the Fair Association. "The gate's been higher than it was last year."...
A 'genuine' good time at fair carnival (07/22/08)
If anyone knows fairs, it's Geren Carnival owners Jerry and Joanna Geren. And according to them, so do Bedford Countians. "We do a lot of fairs," said Joanna. "And this fair is a genuine fair. Nowadays, you can't get people to participate in the exhibits ... all it is a carnival behind a fence. I truly enjoy coming here because it's like (a fair) is supposed to be. The townspeople really participate."...
Park to hold music, skateboard event (07/18/08)
The Skateboard Bash & Thrash competition will be held Saturday at 4 p.m. at H.V. Griffin Park, followed by the "Drop In & Rock Out" tour at 7 p.m. The concert will consist of performances by three bands -- High Flight Society, Our Heart's Hero, and Philmont...
Century Farms in county fair spotlight (07/16/08)
The roots of the county fair are roots indeed -- resting deep in the agricultural history of Bedford County. When the fair opens Monday at the Bedford County Agriculture and Education Center, you'll get to see just how deep those roots can run. "This year at the fair, we're honoring our Century Farms," said Judy Gambill, the president for this year's fair. ...
Cascade to be on the big screen -- again (07/15/08)
Jon Russell Cring can make a movie in record time -- but even he has to bow to the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association. Cring and his Extra/Ordinary production crew were at Cascade High School Saturday night to film scenes for his latest indie venture, "Four on the Floor." He has used Bell Buckle and Cascade before, for his political thriller "The Drive." This time, however, he hit a snag early...
Uptown City Fair brings back memories (07/13/08)
As the businesses opened their doors Saturday morning in uptown Shelbyville, it was, for some Shelbyville natives, like taking a step back in time. "It's just bringing back some old memories," said James Brown, of Shelbyville. "When we was kids we were running around all over downtown."...
Happy hunting at Uptown City Fair (07/11/08)
Can you find a good bargain? Can you hunt down a deal? Can you sniff out clues and find unusual things in unusual places? Then you need to come to the Uptown City Fair Saturday. Besides the deals you'll find at the sidewalk sales and craft booths, and the tasty treats at the food vendors, you can participate in a scavenger hunt that will prove just how good those sleuthing skills are...
Past, future to mix at City Fair (07/08/08)
Main Street Shelbyville is offering everyone a chance to celebrate the old and the new Saturday at the Uptown City Fair. Not only will the Capri Theater be recognized and honored as one of the area's oldest businesses, the 50s & Fiddles Old Time Ice Cream and Soda Shop will open its doors for the very first time...
Rhodes' country critters to visit City Fair (06/30/08)
When most people think of moving to the country onto their own little mini-farm, they mean a little farm, perhaps 5 to 10 acres. Kim and Rob Rhodes did that -- a few comfortable acres on Highway 130, headed toward Petersburg. But for them, "Mini" has a whole other connotation...
Teacher makes Shakespeare come alive (06/26/08)
Ruth Cordell just radiates passion. Whether it's for teaching, acting, Shakespeare, or even her prize-winning American saddlebred horses, the passion is an almost tangible aura around her. She is transferring that passion to her students this summer. ...
Local man produces webcast for boomers (06/25/08)
Don't expect these grandparents to sit and whittle on a front porch. The baby boomer generation is rapidly leaving the workforce and joining the ranks of the retired, but television and webcast producer Sam Dalton doesn't see them creeping off to the Golden Acres retirement villages for shuffleboard tournaments just yet...
RC-Moon Pie crowds swarm Bell Buckle (06/22/08)
The 14th Annual RC-Moon Pie Festival drew a healthy crowd to Bell Buckle on Saturday for sugar-laden mirth. Jenny Hunt of Bell Buckle Chamber of Commerce said she was delighted at the turnout and noted that the festival itself was a free attraction in a time when people are trying to save money. ...
Wacky waders rehearse Bell Buckle fun (06/17/08)
"Something's rotten in Denmark, But it's worse in Bell Buck-ellll..." So go the lyrics to one of the songs in Bell Buckle's latest creation. There's something rotten in Bell Buckle, all right, but it's not the 13th annual Synchronized Wading planned for the upcoming RC-Moon Pie Festival. ...
Get ready for Bonnaroo traffic (06/10/08)
It's that time of year again, when neighboring Manchester temporarily becoming Tennessee's sixth most populated city. The 2008 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival kicks off this weekend and, with nearly 80,000 people coming to the Coffee County area, the Tennessee Department of Transportation and Tennessee Highway Patrol are getting ready...
Race Unity Day held (06/09/08)
Seniors return to basketball action (06/06/08)
Move over, Shelbyville Golden Eaglettes, here comes Emily Campbell ... and her team of 10 who will be running the court at the Senior Olympics next month in Franklin. Many of the ladies going to the Senior Olympics' State Basketball Championships July 22 formerly starred as Eaglettes in the 1960s and 70s. While many of the ladies haven't played on a team in 30 years or more, their love for the game has never wavered...
Garden tour set for Saturday (06/05/08)
If you're interested in seeing some of the Bedford County community's most beautiful gardens, it's not too late to purchase tickets. The 2008 Garden Tour, sponsored by the Bedford County Chamber of Commerce Beautification Committee, will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m...
Restored DC-3 on display in Shelbyville (06/04/08)
The Flagship Detroit, a restored DC-3 aircraft, is in Shelbyville for a fly-in breakfast this weekend. Local pilot George Dennis is the founder of the non-profit group which controls the aircraft.
Wartrace MusicFest called a success (06/02/08)
Despite people coming in Saturday afternoon a little slower than expected, attendance soared at the Wartrace MusicFest in comparison to last year, with many in the crowd anticipating festival headliner Marty Stuart's performance. "It took the crowd a long time to get there, but people were rolling in all day," said Laura Gentry, Wartrace city recorder. "I think the rain might have had something to do with that ... but Marty drew in a good crowd...
Shofner's Chapel observes bicentennial (06/02/08)
More than 300 friends and family gathered around Shofner's Chapel this weekend to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the church. The first Sunday in June has traditionally been a homecoming day for members of the Shofner and Jenkins families, as well as others who have worshiped at the chapel and their families...
Wartrace MusicFest generates buzz (05/30/08)
Wartrace mayor and Gallagher Guitar Co. proprietor Don Gallagher is excited about the buzz for this weekend's Wartrace MusicFest. "It looks like we're getting good responses," said Gallagher, crediting headliners Marty Stuart and the band Cherryholmes for building interest in the festival...
Shofner's Chapel celebrates bicentennial (05/30/08)
On almost every Sunday of the year, the little church on Thompson's Creek stands empty -- but love resonates in the old clapboard building. Love of God, love of family, love of community, love of history. When the first German immigrants first gathered in the home of Martin Shofner to worship exactly 200 years ago, they laid the foundation of love that will be celebrated this weekend at Shofner's Lutheran Chapel...
'You are so Shelbyville if ....' (05/29/08)
"You are so Shelbyville if ... you think horsepower means you get the best seats at The Celebration ... "You are so Shelbyville if ... your banks only take checks written in pencil because they want to support the local industries ... "You are so Shelbyville if ... you think Mike Tyson is the new mascot for fried chicken ..."...
Father's Day Advice (05/28/08)
What's the best advice you can give to a new father? Please let us know about it and you might see it published in our upcoming Father's Day supplement!
Life Path class challenges 20-somethings' faith (05/24/08)
"Twenty-somethings are searching for truth," said the Rev. Trevin Wax, associate pastor at First Baptist Church. "They want to know why Christianity is true, why it matters, and whether it's really good." Wax believes that church should be a place where people can ask questions. Since he started his twenty-somethings Life Path Class in February 2007 he's tried to answer life questions for the folks to which he ministers...
Weekend activities (05/22/08)
Travel Channel gets a taste of Bell Buckle (05/19/08)
The Travel Channel's "Taste of America with Mark DeCarlo" will feature Bell Buckle and the Tennessee's RC-Moon Pie Festival on an episode airing 10 p.m. Wednesday. While filming the festival in 2007, the crew highlighted both the festival, the small town charm of Bell Buckle, and the southern tradition of an RC and a Moon Pie...
Bluegrass for the spirit (05/17/08)
Shelbyville Bluegrass Gospel Festival, which organizers plan to make an annual event, took place Friday and Saturday at H.V. Griffin Park, drawing bluegrass gospel performers from as far away as Florida and Michigan. The event was hosted by the CrossPoint String Band from Shelbyville, which had hosted a similar festival in Lewisburg the past two years before deciding to move it here. ...
Weekend events (05/15/08)
Bikers blast into Bell Buckle (05/15/08)
Be sure to keep a sharp eye on Bedford County rural roadways on Saturday as hundreds of bikes will be taking to the open highway, heading for Bell Buckle. This weekend is when riders will gather from across the state for the fourth annual Bell Buckle Motorcycle Days, which promises to be the biggest event yet...
Antique seminar focuses on selling (05/13/08)
The uncertainty in the American economy is turning up in unexpected places -- such as antique stores. "People are going into their attics, looking for items to sell," said J.T. Thompson, a professional antiques appraiser from Franklin. "It's a buyer's market."...
Last-minute shopper? Don't forget Mother's Day (05/09/08)
For those who haven't been near a newspaper, television, radio or billboard in the past few weeks, here's a news flash: Sunday is Mother's Day. Don't panic! Even if you have waited until the last minute to get that special mother a special gift, there's still time. The wide variety of shopping choices available in Shelbyville also means a wide variety of unique items, tailor-made for Mom, even if they were purchased with moments to spare...
Musical fund-raiser set for Cataldos (05/05/08)
Several bands will gather Friday to help raise funds to offset medical expenses for local family Benjamin and Irene Cataldo and their new son Arthur. The event will take place at Wartrace Park and will cost $5 for adults and free for children 12 and under...
Stuart to headline Wartrace MusicFest (05/01/08)
The sounds of guitars and voices will fill the air at the end of May in Bedford County, with country and bluegrass artists converging once again for the Wartrace MusicFest. The event is set for the weekend of May 30-31 and is funded in part by the Tennessee Arts Commission and the Tennessee Department of Tourism. The festival begins at 2 p.m. that Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday...
VIDEO: Rehearsal for the big concert (04/28/08)
Kelly Corcoran, assistant conductor of the Nashville Symphony, visited Cascade High School on Monday afternoon to rehearse with the Cascade band. The band will join the symphony for Tuesday night's Symphony at the Celebration concert at Calsonic Arena. Tickets ($5 for adult general admission, free for children and students) will be available at the door...
Red Hatters help salute moms (04/21/08)
If all of the women wandering the square Saturday in their red and pink hats and purple and lavender outfits don't remind you Mother's Day is coming up, then one of the non-profit booths will. The Next Step Home will have a booth at Red Hat Day on the square, which marks the 10th anniversary celebration of The Red Hat Society. ...
Horse country delights tour group (04/17/08)
A Vermont-based tour company made a stop in the land of walking horses Tuesday as part of an Elderhostel Tour that included tourists from all over the country. Elderhostel is a non-profit organization that offers in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning experiences and adventures in all 50 states for folks over 60. ...
Shakespeare Festival names artistic director (04/16/08)
The new Tennessee Shakespeare Festival, taking place in Bell Buckle this summer, has named a stage and television actor as artistic director. The board of directors has named actor-director Lane Davies to the post. Davies is best known for his TV roles, appearing recently on "Scrubs" as the character Dr. Simon Reid...
Korean GSE team arrives in Shelbyville (04/10/08)
Five young professional men and women from South Korea arrived in Shelbyville Tuesday afternoon for a group study cultural exchange program sponsored by The Rotary Foundation. The group is in Tennessee touring Rotary District 6780, which includes Shelbyville and parts of Middle and East Tennessee, to share their Korean culture with Tennesseans...
Tickets now on sale for Nashville Symphony concert (04/05/08)
Tickets are on sale now for "Symphony at the Celebration," the annual concert by the Grammy-award-winning Nashville Symphony at Calsonic Arena in Shelbyville. This year's concert will be April 29. As always, it will be casual and family-friendly, with children and students admitted free of charge. ...
Garden tour coming June 7 (04/02/08)
The 2008 Garden Tour, sponsored by Bedford County Beautification Committee, will be held June 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ten gardens in Bedford County have been selected by the committee. They will be in full bloom for the many visitors expected to view them on the first Saturday in June...
Pickin' and grinnin' for a cause (03/27/08)
Rotarians ask for whom the bell tolls (03/25/08)
The 86-year-old bell and gavel belonging to the Shelbyville Rotary Club are missing. Noon Rotary President Barbara Blanton filed a complaint with the police department that the historic bell had been taken from its home at the American Legion building somewhere between Feb. 28 and March 13...
Bike show roars back to Calsonic Arena (03/25/08)
Spring may mean that it's time for all the green and flowers to appear, but it also means the bikes will be rumbling into town once again. The 6th Annual Spring Thaw Bike Show and Swap Meet is set for this Saturday at Calsonic Arena, and this year's event is looking to be even bigger than the last...
Red Hat wearers to parade in April (03/24/08)
If you like red or pink hats, Shelbyville's square will be a feast for your eyes April 26. The Main Street Program has announced Red Hat Day, with a special parade in honor of The Red Hat Society's 10th anniversary. Red and pink hatters are wanted for the parade, said Cindy Stephenson, who is coordinating the event along with other members of the Main Street program. ...
UPDATED: Fisher 'Deal' won't air tonight (03/20/08)
Planning continues for April 29 symphony concert (03/15/08)
Planning continues for the annual "Symphony at the Celebration" concert, featuring the Nashville Symphony, April 29 at Calsonic Arena on the Celebration grounds. The Cascade High School Band will also perform, both on its own and in tandem with the symphony. Motlow College Jazz Band will again provide pre-concert and intermission entertainment, and local National Guard members will provide a color guard during the National Anthem at the beginning of the concert...
Photo may be used in documentary (03/03/08)
An image of Christian Golczynski, published here nearly a year ago, may be used in a documentary and music video to illustrate psychological impacts of war on Americans. The photograph, by now-retired Times-Gazette editor Kay Rose, portrays the son of slain Staff Sgt. Marc Golczynski, who grew up in Lewisburg. Her photo shows an 8-year-old boy receiving the American flag that had been draped across his father's coffin at Wheel Cemetery...
'To Kill A Mockingbird' will be presented (03/01/08)
The Bedford County Arts Council will present "To Kill a Mockingbird," based on the novel by Harper Lee, for five nights in March. The Arts Council chose this play to honor Black History month, which was in February. "We couldn't get the dates worked out in February so we decided to do it in March," said Janice Cole, director of The Fly and producer of the play...
Cornerstone opened from historic school (02/25/08)
Various publications, course catalogs and even a blank check were found in a 1914 cornerstone from Turner College, which was opened Sunday in observance of Black History Month. Margaret Stewart, who led the service at Woodfork Chapel AME Church on Lipscomb Street, called the cornerstone opening "a once-in-a-lifetime occasion."...
Faxon wins national award (02/25/08)
Bell Buckle-based sculptor Russ Faxon's bronze casting "The Signing" was among 15 award-winning statues selected last week by judges of the 75th Annual Exhibition of the National Sculpture Society in New York City. In an e-mail to friends on Thursday, Faxon reacted with his typical reserved and understated comment: "EeHaaaa! How about that?"...
Cheerleading director to speak at luncheon (02/19/08)
Stacie Kinder, director of cheerleading for the Tennessee Titans, will be the speaker for the 15th Annual Professional Woman's Luncheon, April 23 at Blue Ribbon Circle on the Celebration Grounds. The event, which also includes presentation of awards to four outstanding local women, is organized and presented each year by WLIJ-AM (1580) and WZNG-AM (1400). Nominations are now being solicited for the awards:...
Journal gives a glimpse into Civil War days (02/19/08)
Attention all history buffs! Anyone who's interested in Civil War history, reading or simply Middle Tennessee heritage will find something entertaining in L. Virginia French's War Journal, published by Jerry Smith of the Blockade Runner sutlery in Wartrace...
Faxon's work on display in New York (02/18/08)
Russ Faxon, the Bell Buckle sculptor whose best-known work in Bedford County may be the veterans monument on Shelbyville's public square, has been selected by the National Sculpture Society to have one of his bronze castings on display for the society's 75th anniversary exhibition in New York and South Carolina...
Civil War re-enactment planned here (02/16/08)
There will be a thunderous noise heard in middle Tennessee during the second week of June, but it won't be the Bonnaroo Music Festival. Instead, men dressed in the colors of blue and gray will gather during this time in Bedford County to commemorate the 145-year anniversary of the Tullahoma Campaign of the Civil War, which took place along the banks of the Duck River...
Looking for, and finding, goodwill (02/16/08)
Several years ago, a single panel cartoon in a magazine showed a young boy looking at their TV set along with his father. The boy asked: "Has there ever been any good news?" That's what Pat Price, who was born with spina bifida, and his father Scott, both of Nashville, hit the open road to find out...
Top 20, for the 20th time (02/16/08)
The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration has been named a Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism Society. It marks the 20th time in the last 21 years that The Celebration has been listed as a Top 20 Event. "We appreciate this honor very much," said Celebration Interim CEO Virgil Johnson. "We were put on the list for the very first time in 1988 and it has been our goal to continue to work extremely hard to earn that honor again each and every year."...
Plans underway for Daffodil Day (02/14/08)
If you are one of those who are getting tired of the cold weather, here's a bit of news to brighten your day: Daffodil Day in Bell Buckle is coming! The annual event is scehduled for March 15 and is sponsored by Bell Buckle Chamber of Commerce and the Bell Buckle Tree Board...
TWH museum posts big numbers in 2007 (02/13/08)
The Tennessee Walking Horse Museum in Lynchburg posted strong attendance numbers for 2007, with 12,180 visitors stopping by. A joint venture of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors Association and the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, the museum is open year round and chronicles the history of the breed and its world championship show...
Black History Month events scheduled (02/07/08)
A play, a gospel singing extravaganza, an essay contest, a quiz bowl, and a banquet are all scheduled during February and March as part of a Black History Month celebration sponsored by the Black Awareness Community Coalition. According to Coalition President Coleman March Sr. of Lynchburg, all proceeds from these events will go toward financial awards to selected college students in the coalition's membership area...
Young thespian takes the stage ... as a poodle (01/30/08)
She wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up, but Alexandria Bradford will settle on acting for now; the stage is what seems to be occupying this 5-year-old's time lately. Murfreesboro Little Theater recently cast Alexandria in the upcoming play, "101 Dalmatians," and production is set for late February...
Red Hat queens visit Shelbyville (01/26/08)
They're not organized and there's really no major philanthropic purpose to the group of ladies in red. Basically, there are only two requirements to be part of their group. But those two requirements are no laughing matter to these ladies of royalty...
Lone Star Rodeo returns Feb. 2 (01/22/08)
Lone Star World Championship Rodeo, a perennial favorite at Calsonic Arena, will make its annual Shelbyville stop 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2, with show time at 7:30 p.m. Billed as "the largest one-day rodeo in Tennessee," the event will include sanctioned competition in bareback bronc riding, calf roping, breakaway roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, cowgirls' barrel racing, team roping and brahma bull riding...
Free-form late night (01/16/08)
Who knew Conan O'Brien could sing? Probably the highlight of the return of the late-night talk shows this month, after two months of the writers' strike, has been the rockabilly performances by Conan O'Brien the past two Fridays on his NBC show "Late Night with Conan O'Brien." On Jan. 4, he did a rousing rendition of "Blue Moon of Kentucky," and last Friday he did "40 Days," and did a credible, entertaining job on both of them...
Hot chili in cool Bell Buckle (01/15/08)
"Next to music," said band leader and trumpet player Harry James, "there is nothing that lifts the spirits and strengthens the soul more than a good bowl of chili." Bell Buckle Fire Department is preparing for its second annual Chili Cook-off, which will be held Jan. 26 at the James Elkins Fire Hall in Bell Buckle...
Bell Buckle to be featured on RFD-TV show (01/14/08)
For Bell Buckle, one of the county's biggest tourist attractions, getting nationwide exposure is a must. That is what is due to happen over the next few months as the town is to be featured on one of the country's fastest-growing television networks...
'Flippo this House' to air (01/14/08)
Just add an "O." A Bell Buckle couple will be featured on a television show modeled after "Flip This House," next Tuesday. Cecelia and Steven Flippo will star in "Flippo This House," a one-hour show on local charter channel 22 that airs at 9 p.m. Tuesday...
The Bard in Bell Buckle (01/08/08)
"The play's the thing," said Hamlet, and Bell Buckle will be the choice location for fans of classic literature this summer as the first Tennessee Shakespeare Festival is slated to be held, with help from a daytime television star. The event is scheduled for June 27-29 and July 4-6 on the campus of The Webb School...
Local writer's book offers glimpses of Vietnam (12/27/07)
Bedford County resident, journalist, and Pulitzer Prize-nominated poet Veita Jo Hampton joined forces with California photographer Scott Clarkson, a former student at a school where she formerly taught, to create "Windows to Vietnam -- A Journey in Pictures and Verse."...
Planning begins for symphony concert (12/19/07)
Preliminary planning has begun for the 2008 "Symphony at the Celebration" concert featuring the Nashville Symphony at Calsonic Arena. The steering committee for the concert met on Tuesday at the Fly Arts Center. Dawn Holley was re-elected chair of the committee, which includes both local representatives and Nashville Symphony staff members...
'A Christmas Story' tops web site poll (12/13/07)
"A Christmas Story," the 1983 film based on the autobiographical stories of humorist Jean Shepherd in which a young boy longs for a BB gun for Christmas, was chosen as the favorite holiday TV viewing by respondents to an online poll at the Times-Gazette web site...
Stones River ornament on White House tree (12/05/07)
Stones River National Battlefield's ornament is prominently displayed on this year's official White House Christmas Tree. The tree is the centerpiece of elaborate decorations celebrating the theme of "Holiday in the National Parks." "It is an amazing honor for the National Park Service to be selected as the theme for the White House holiday decorations by the President and Mrs. ...
Wartrace music fest changed to May 30-31 (11/27/07)
Dates for the 2008 Wartrace MusicFest have been changed to May 30-31, according to MusicFest chairman Don Gallagher. "Due to a scheduling conflict, we've moved the festival ahead one week," said Gallagher, who is also mayor of Wartrace and an established guitar maker...
'Christmas in Lynchburg' planned (11/26/07)
Lynchburg will hold its annual Christmas celebration this Saturday, with a day full of holiday events: For more information, call the Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce, (931) 759-4111, or go to www.lynchburgtenn.com . For more information about the tour of homes, call (931) 993-1791 or e-mail tutoads@bellsouth.net...
A Celebration of Christmas Past (11/24/07)
Plans are being finalized for Bedford County Bicentennial Organizing Committee's "Celebration of Christmas Past," Dec. 1 on and around the Shelbyville square. The event is scheulded to run from 3-5 p.m. Activities will include: In addition, later that night the dinner theatre productin of "Exit the Body" will be presented at The Fly. Call 703-7613 for reservations...
Non-commercial FM applications received (11/23/07)
Two different applications have been filed with the Federal Communications Commission to start a non-commercial FM radio station for Shelbyville at 89.9 FM, while another has been received for that same frequency but proposing to serve Cornersville...
Celebration lights brighten holidays (11/20/07)
The lights will go on tonight, marking the renewal of a growing tradition in Shelbyville. "A Celebration Christmas" has begun and will run through the end of the year. "The holiday light show is our gift to the community for what they do for us all year," said Celebration CEO Ron Thomas. "They work so hard to help us make The Celebration such a terrific event, it seems right for us to add to their holiday season."...
It's all about the dressing, say T-G poll participants (11/20/07)
Grandma may slave for hours over the turkey -- but, according to a non-scientific Times-Gazette web site poll, stuffing or dressing is the favorite part of the meal for more than half of the people who will sit down to Thanksgiving dinner this week...
Two His Glory launch new album with local concert (11/17/07)
Two His Glory will release their third album, titled "Life Is Good With You, Lord," this week. Steven and Cecelia Flippo, husband and wife gospel artists from Bell Buckle, will follow up the CD release with a live performance Nov. 25 at 6 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church in Shelbyville...
You'll get a kick out of this holiday classic (11/17/07)
In 2002, as a result of a last-minute call from a Gaylord Entertainment press representative, I ended up going to the "Radio City Christmas Spectacular Starring The Rockettes" at the Grand Ole Opry House. I don't know what I was expecting -- it was nothing I had any interest in buying tickets for -- but I accepted the comp tickets, thinking I could take my niece. ...
'Ted' would love Grinch exhibit, widow proclaims (11/15/07)
NASHVILLE -- Audrey Geisel almost didn't make the trip. The 86-year-old businesswoman and philanthropist could easily have approved a tribute to her late husband's work without making the trip from La Jolla, Calif., to see it in person. But somehow, someone talked her into it, and she's awfully glad they did...
Dinner Theater production planned (11/15/07)
Rehearsals are now underway for "Exit The Body," which will be presented as a dinner theater production Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 7 and 8 at the Fly Arts Center on South Main Street. Tickets are now on sale; call 703-7613 for reservations. The mystery-comedy by Fred Carmichael takes place in New England in the 1960s. ...
Fisher heads to Hollywood for 'Deal' (11/14/07)
Mike "Fish" Fisher is packing his suitcase for a trip to California, but he doesn't need to take a briefcase. Where he's going, they already have 26 of them. Fisher, who ran for county mayor in 2006, has been selected as a contestant on the NBC game show "Deal or No Deal," in which contestants win money by choosing from among 26 briefcases containing prize amounts ranging from a penny to $1 million...
Vaughn will be honored in West Tennessee (11/08/07)
One of Bedford County's unique treasures, Tennessee Poet Laureate Margaret Britton "Maggi" Vaughn of Bell Buckle, will join luminaries including John Grisham, Shelby Foote and Eudora Welty when she is awarded with the Germantown Arts Alliance Medal for Literary Arts...
Parade contest could mean $50,000 prize (11/08/07)
Parade magazine's biennial "What America Eats" issue, which will be included in Sunday's Times-Gazette, reports that more men are picking up the slack in the grocery store and the kitchen than 20 yeas ago, when the magazine first conducted its survey...
Community presents 'The Crucible' (11/02/07)
Community High School's Smokestack Theatre Group will present its production of Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the school auditorium, and next Friday and Saturday, Nov. 9 and 10, at 7 p.m. "The Crucible" is a 1953 play by Arthur Miller describing events that occurred during the Salem witch trials. ...
Police will protect Halloween spooks (10/30/07)
Wednesday evening will bring the kids out in force for their yearly search for treats and that means the Shelbyville Police Department will have extra patrols on the move. Chief Austin Swing said the patrols will be keeping a close eye on schools and neighborhoods on Halloween night and officers will even be patrolling undercover...
Haunted evening ahead in Bell Buckle (10/25/07)
Thirteen is an appropriately-spooky number for a Halloween-themed event, and the town of Bell Buckle hopes for spooky fun Saturday as it hosts its 13th annual “Old Fashioned Haunted Evening.” The event, presented by Bell Buckle Chamber of Commerce, kicks off at 6 p.m. and continues until 9. Admission is $4, which includes a hot dog, chips, Moon Pie and drink...
Shrine Circus delights crowd (10/24/07)
The Al Menah Shrine Circus, presented by George Carden Circus International, delighted visitors to Calsonic Arena for two shows Tuesday night, and was so well-received that the circus has already booked the facility for a return appearance in October 2008. Attractions included tigers, monkeys, elephants, aerialists, and six motorcycles in the traditional "globe of death."...
Former owner's ghost haunts Wartrace hotel? (10/23/07)
When the Walking Horse Hotel in Wartrace reopens its doors later this fall, guests might want to keep an eye out for a lingering presence that supposedly walks the halls -- the ghost of a previous owner. According to the book “Haunted Hotels” by Robin Mead, now out of print, the spirit of Floyd Carothers, famous for training Strolling Jim, the first walking horse world champion, has haunted the historic building in years past. ...
Haunted House items recovered (10/18/07)
A group of grateful monsters -- that is, Shelbyville Jaycees -- have regained items stolen from their annual Halloween Haunted House after four persons were charged . "The Jaycees appreciate the A-1 job the Shelbyville police did," CEO Kevin Holton said Wednesday as Jaycees members picked up the items at police headquarters...
Books are here to stay, says luncheon speaker (10/17/07)
Humorist and novelist Bunkie Lynn told a Shelbyville audience on Tuesday that as a book lover, she hopes Shelbyville can break ground on a new library soon just as her own community, Hendersonville, recently did. Lynn was the keynote speaker at the Friends of Argie Cooper Public Library 2007 Author's Luncheon and donated half of her book sales at the luncheon to the Friends organization, which is trying to raise money for a new library...
Library observes 'Teen Read Week' (10/13/07)
A variety of Teen Read Week activities will be held next week at Argie Cooper Public Library on South Main Street: Pumpkin Carving Contest: Bring in carved pumpkins starting Monday and ending Oct. 19. They will be displayed, and first, second and third place winners will be announced at the Teen Book Club meeting on Oct. 20. This contest is for ages 13-18, although the library will also have a pre-teen pumpkin carving contest (for ages 9-12) running at the same time (see below)...
Edgemont hosts "CrossRoads" program (10/12/07)
For the past three years Edgemont Baptist Church has done something different in place of a fall revival meeting, and this year they'll do it again. The church will host "CrossRoads" all next week, a live event that will take its audience on a journey they won't soon forget...
Webb Art & Craft festival nears (10/08/07)
If arts and crafts are your passion, then the streets of the Webb School and Bell Buckle should be your destination in two weeks. The 31st Annual Webb School Arts and Crafts Festival takes place from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20 and from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 21...
Film with Wartrace scenes will be shown Oct. 18 (10/08/07)
An independent film that was partly shot in Wartrace is set to be screened later this month. Middle-Tennessee-based screenwriter Jonathan Richard Cring will be premiering his new movie, "The Drive," on Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Palace Theater in Gallatin...
Fate of donated instruments still in doubt (10/08/07)
NASHVILLE (AP) -- Bob McLean was once lauded as a guardian angel protecting American musical history -- buying and donating prized instruments played by some of the founders of country and bluegrass. But the fate of the artifacts is in doubt after the 60-year-old was found dead behind First Christian Church in Shelbyville Sept. 25 in an apparent suicide, months after investors accused him of fraud by collecting $40 million in an alleged Ponzi scheme...
Shrine Circus heading for Shelbyville (10/06/07)
The 2007 Al Menah Shrine Circus will be at Calsonic Arena in Shelbyville on Oct. 23 for two shows, at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. The Shrine Club of Shelbyville receives 50 percent of all advance ticket sales, according to members Thomas Smith and Ralph Allen. All of those local proceeds will benefit the Shrine Children's Home...
Ducks Unlimited banquet planned (10/04/07)
Ducks and wild geese are often the subject of artists' rendering, statues and even cartoons, but on Oct. 13 at the Blue Ribbon Circle, the annual Ducks Unlimited Banquet will take center stage with dinner, an auction and lots of information regarding the preservation of America's wetlands...
Humorist to speak at library luncheon (10/04/07)
Supporting local libraries is a passion for Nashville-based humorist and author Bunkie Lynn, who will share that and more with a Shelbyville audience at the upcoming Tennessee Box Luncheon held by the Friends of Argie Cooper Public Library. The event is to take place at Blue Ribbon Circle at noon on Oct. 16. Tickets are $15 and are available at the library or from this writer at the Times-Gazette offices...
Lifehouse returns for third year (10/03/07)
Fair Haven Baptist Church will present its third annual "Life House," a walk-through drama in 12 scenes which is meant to be an alternative to haunted houses in its depiction of the consequences of various lifestyle and spiritual choices, Oct. 23-25 and 27-30 at the church...
Marty Stuart, Cherryholmes to headline Wartrace fest (10/02/07)
Bluegrass and country headliner Marty Stuart and the 2005 International Bluegrass Music Association's Entertainers of the Year, Cherryholmes, will perform at the 2008 Wartrace MusicFest on June 6-7. Don Gallagher, Mayor of Wartrace and chairman of the town's MusicFest committee explains, "Our 4-year-old music and craft festival continues to grow, and by securing two nationally known headliners with a large fan base, we hope to put MusicFest, and Wartrace, on the summer festival map."...
Chesney wows fans at video shoot (09/28/07)
"Ready ... ready playback and ...." With lights, camera and a crew of 70, country music superstar Kenny Chesney was busy in Wartrace Thursday shooting a video for a yet to be released song. Secrecy has been air-tight surrounding the shoot for the past few weeks to prevent a huge crowd of fans from showing up or kids skipping school to see their idol. And for the first two hours of the shoot, that was the case...
Cedar Rock Fall Fest debuts next month (09/27/07)
Fall is finally here and traditionally, that means it's time to gather up the kids and head out to find a fall festival or a corn maze. However, after this year's freeze and extreme drought, there are few to be found in middle Tennessee. But a new event in Bedford County is promising to be lots of fun this year...
B.R.A.T. cyclists pass through Bell Buckle (09/18/07)
Be sure to keep a sharp eye out this week when you are on Tennessee's backroads, because you will likely encounter groups of brightly dressed bicyclists during your travels. A group of nearly 300 cyclists are taking the week off to participate in B.R.A.T., which stands for Bike Ride Across Tennessee. Bell Buckle was an early morning stop for the bikers Monday, who hale from all over the state and the nation...
Bell Buckle Art & Music Festival (09/14/07)
A new Bell Buckle festival is hitting town today and runs through Sunday as the Bell Buckle Art and Music Gallery festival is introduced to the community. As a part of the event there will be juried competitions in the fields of wood turning, ceramics, and glass where winning artists will earn prizes totaling $3,000 for the best in each class. The event is sponsored by the Bell Buckle Art Gallery and Bell Buckle Café...
Expensive guitar heads to Norway (09/12/07)
If Pete Townshend, the aging rocker with the reputation of smashing guitars to bits, ever shows up in Wartrace, craftsman Don Gallagher of the world famous Gallagher Guitars, may want to hide his unique creations. That's because Gallagher has just sold one of his handmade six-stringed instruments for $13,000 to a customer in Norway...
Nipper captures equine images (08/30/07)
Hailing from East Tennessee, artist Billie Nipper is the type of friend one instantly warms to, regardless of where you're heading or where you've been. Her warm personality and sweet sense of humor is a blessing to tired bodies in need of a quiet touch of humanity...
Gilliland log home will honor Fred Hendricks (08/30/07)
It was the dream of Fred "Pete" Hendricks to see the log home at the Gilliland Historical Resource Center used for educating young people, but Hendricks passed away before his dream could be realized...
Bell Buckle to host art, music festival (08/28/07)
Bell Buckle is known all over the South for their festivals and artists and in just a little over two weeks, they will be hosting a brand new event. The first Bell Buckle Art and Music Gallery festival is set for Friday through Sunday, Sept. 14-16, and will showcase juried artists of North American in the fields of wood turning, ceramics, and glass...
Drawing leads to success for Lutes (08/25/07)
Larry Lutes, II of Sikeston, Mo., never intended to spend his life as an artist. It just happened. However, he isn't regretting his talent. In fact, he's displaying it today at World Champion Horse Equipment for all to see. "I enjoyed roping and riding," the father of one said, looking back on his younger years. "I really enjoy horses but I had a terrible accident that prevents me from doing much of that now...
Lynchburg event features musical variety (08/09/07)
The final planning stages are underway for the Moore County Band Boosters-sponsored Concert in the Park to be held on Aug. 25 at the Wiseman Park in Lynchburg. Diane Crowell, booster club vice president, has played a fundamental role in organizing and routing the vendors and bands that will perform on the day...
Documentary explores state's scenic waters (07/31/07)
NASHVILLE -- The Duck River figures prominently in a new documentary about Tennessee's waterways which will be aired this weekend on Nashville Public Television (WNPT-TV Channel 8). "Beautiful Tennessee: Our Scenic Waterways" was screened for the media and other invited guests Monday night at the Belcourt Theatre in Nashville. ...
TWHNC included in book of must-see sights (07/17/07)
The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration is listed among the top 1,000 places to see in North America, according to a best-selling author and travel writer. Travel writer and author Patricia Schultz revolutionized the way we think about travel with her runaway New York Times bestseller 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. Now she turns her sharp eye to our own continent with 1,000 Places to See in the USA and Canada Before You Die...
Antiques can be a profitable investment (07/16/07)
Investments come in different sizes and shapes from land parcels to bank accounts, rare coin collections to movie memorabilia. The important thing, as continually reiterated by financial advisors and accountants alike, including those of governmental occupation, is to be prepared for retirement age, before retirement age...
'Our Very Own' hard to find in hometown (07/06/07)
While "Our Very Own" was released on DVD nationwide Tuesday, people that live in the town where it was filmed learned that there weren't any copies for sale. But the blame can't be placed on local stores -- instead corporate decisions with major retail chains have resulted in the movie made about Shelbyville not being available to its very own citizens...
Cunningham joins 'Mamma Mia!' cast (07/06/07)
T. Scott Cunningham, a Shelbyville native, has been selected to join the cast of Mamma Mia!, an award-winning Broadway musical that has been seen by over 30 million people worldwide. Cunningham will play the British banker Harry Bright in the Las Vegas production beginning July 30...
'Idol' competition returning to Fair (06/29/07)
Among the activities planned for 10th annual Bedford County Fair returns a favorite competition among the many on the agenda. Though no Simon Cowell will be present to rib the contestants, Bedford County participants will present their singing talents beginning on July 23 at the Bedford County Idol show...
Bicentennial plans for upcoming events (06/18/07)
Bedford County Bicentennial Organizing Committee has had a presence at recent events like the Spring Fun Show and the Wartrace Music Festival; the next stops will be the Duck River Cleanup this weekend and the Independence Day festivities July 4 at H.V. Griffin Park...
Horse whisperer will highlight county fair (06/11/07)
Shelbyville's Sam Powell is renown in horse circles around the world. Known by many as the Horse Whisperer, his abilities in working with the equine world will be demonstrated to audiences during this year's Bedford County Fair. As head of Sam Powell Equine Consulting Services, Powell daily introduces horse owners to his system of non-violent and effective training. ...
Bonnaroo will bring traffic through Shelbyville (06/11/07)
Motorists should expect to see more traffic moving through Shelbyville this week as music fans begin to gather for this weekend's Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester. With over 80,000 people are expected to attend this year's Bonnaroo, traffic will be much heavier in Manchester and surrounding areas during the festival period...
Travel Channel to visit RC / Moon Pie fest (06/09/07)
If you're going to be in Bell Buckle next weekend for the 13th Annual RC-Moon Pie Festival, be sure to smile because you might end up on television. A crew from The Travel Channel's "Taste of America with Mark DeCarlo" are to visit the tiny village next Saturday. The crew will be filming Linda Simmons of the Bell Buckle Country Store making homemade Moon Pies in the kitchen of Dennis and Carla Webb, Mayor and First Lady of Bell Buckle...
Return of the 'roo (06/06/07)
The 6th Annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival opens their gates next Thursday outside of Manchester and if past events are any indication, this year's could be one of the biggest and best yet. Bonnaroo not only means lots of music and traffic for the area, but cash too, according to a study conducted last year by Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)...
Almost Moon Pie time (06/05/07)
The 16th of this month may be known to most as the third Saturday in June, but to the folks of Bell Buckle, it only means one thing: RC Cola and Moon Pie time! This is the 13th year the two Southern traditions have been celebrated and with more than 15,000 people attending every year, it is one of the biggest summer events in the county...
Fairest of the Fair set for July 21 (06/05/07)
The Bedford County Fair Fairest of the Fair, an annual event in the community, will kick off the 2007 festivities on July 21 at 7 p.m. The pageant is open to girls of all ages from birth to 21 years old. Boys are also welcome to participate with age bracket ranging from birth to 5 years old...
July 4 observance will have Bicentennial flavor (06/01/07)
Erma Bombeck, noted newspaper humorist, said, "You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism."...
Sophomore's passion for music takes him far (05/30/07)
Brandon Compton says that playing tuba in the Community High School band is his passion, and that passion has helped him to excel in his music. Compton was named first chair tuba player for the All-State Wind Band this spring. "This is a high honor for Brandon," said Stephen Givens, Community band director. "And it's rare for a sophomore to become first chair. All-State Band is like an All-State sports team, it's the best of the best."...
Flute teacher gives local students joy of music (05/26/07)
Flutist and teacher Kerry Maree Shaffer says taking her students to a Nashville Symphony summer concert in Schermerhorn Symphony Center can help raise the standards for their art and motivate them to continue the hard work necessary for success. Shaffer lives in Williamson County but has a handful of Shelbyville students. ...
Music Fest will have Wartrace in tune (05/23/07)
Wartrace is famous for many things, beginning with its name. It is the birthplace of the Tennessee Walking Horse and the home of Gallagher Guitars. On June 1-2, it will roll out the red carpet at the Wartrace Horse Show grounds for a stage full of award-winning performers during Wartrace Music Fest...
Bicentennial fair called a success (05/21/07)
Bedford County Bicentennial Organizing Committee members said this morning that the feedback from this month's Bicentennial Fair on the Square has been overwhelmingly positive. "Everything that I heard about ... was absolutely awesome," said Dixie Parker, who chairs the committee...
Motorcycle Days doubles from last year (05/21/07)
More than 2,000 motorcyclists descended upon Bell Buckle for their third annual Motorcycle Days on Saturday. This year's event, which is the Official Tennessee State Bike Show Championship, was about twice as big as last year according to organizers, so much so that parking became an issue early on Saturday...