County fires convenience center operator (07/14/08) A verbal altercation with a county resident and a deputy's written report about the incident has resulted in the firing of a convenience center operator. Ethel Gardella was terminated from her position at the Highway 64 West Convenience Center Thursday evening, according to Stanley Smotherman, after Gardella repeatedly called Tammy Cunningham and her 14-year-old son "ignorant."...

Commission postpones budget vote (07/09/08) A state law requiring basic budget numbers to be published in a newspaper prevented the Bedford County Board of Commissioners from voting on the 2008-09 proposed budget Tuesday night as originally planned. The law requires budgetary comparison numbers for general, highway/public works, general purpose school, and debt service funds to be published in the newspaper, as an advertisement, at least 10 days prior to the vote...

County budget matters complicated (07/07/08) ANALYSIS A story published in the Times-Gazette last week about the county budget listed various county funds and how they were projected in the new fiscal year compared to the 2007-08 fiscal year. The story discussed the county's tight financial situation, and how the finance committee has requested cuts from county departments. Yet some of the expenditure funds showed increases, raising comments and questions...

Cuts fuel budget proposal (07/01/08) Bedford County Financial Management Committee recommended a budget Monday evening that will be considered by the Bedford County Board of Commissioners at its regular monthly meeting July 8. The county's tax rate would remain at its current rate of $2.27 per $100 of assessed value if the finance committee's recommendation is adopted...

Nursing home admissions suspended (06/27/08) Tennessee Commissioner of Health Susan Cooper on Wednesday suspended new admissions to Bedford County Nursing Home and fined the nursing home $3,000 following the death last month of a resident. The resident had been taken in for a bath on May 25. The technician did not have her properly restrained, according to BCNH Director Wayne Schumann, and she fell out of her lift chair onto a tile floor and hit her head. ...

Deputies tempted by higher-paying jobs (06/27/08) Holding the line on salary increases sounds like a cost-saving measure, but for the Bedford County Sheriff's Department, it can be a costly proposition, according to administrator Larry Lowman. For example, one officer recently left the local department for a job with the Rutherford County Sheriff's Department that paid $8,000 more...

No tax increase, committee says (06/25/08) Bedford County Financial Management Committee has recommended budgets that would keep from increasing property tax rates. "It's no time for a tax raise," County Mayor Eugene Ray said after the meeting. The finance committee approved a school system budget, and tentatively approved a county general fund budget, pending resolution of an issue about depreciation for Volunteer Fire Services Inc. Those budgets will now go to the county commission for final approval...

Zoning exceptions granted (06/23/08) Bedford County Board of Zoning Appeals granted special exceptions for a dry marina and a guest house on Thursday, but denied an appeal of fines assessed to a senior citizen in poor health. County Commissioner and Bedford County Planning Commission member Linda Yockey appeared before the zoning appeals board on behalf of her constituent, Bert Cathey, whom she said could not attend due to his wife's poor health. ...

County mayor studies options for new jail (06/20/08) County Mayor Eugene Ray told Bedford County Board of Commissioners' law enforcement and workhouse committee on Thursday that he has been to see the new jail in Franklin County, and that Franklin County plans to add a justice center to the facility as well...

CROSS proposes North Main homeless shelter (06/19/08) A house and lot at 262 North Main St., jointly owned by the city and county, may become a volunteer-run homeless shelter and child care center, using surplus Federal Emergency Management Agency trailers which have been cleared following a recent formaldehyde scare...

Committee discusses old hospital site (06/19/08) Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee on Tuesday discussed issues related to the closure of Bedford County Medical Center. The hospital, which was sold by the county several years ago, will move out this summer, leaving its current, county-owned building vacant. Community Health Systems, which owns the hospital, is working with the county on a checklist for securing the building...

Bedford EMA commended on bird flu plan (06/18/08) A bird flu pandemic could create disastrous consequences, not only in the potential loss of life but in the devastating economic impact, according to Carl Bailey of Bedford County Emergency Management Agency. Bailey spoke to Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee Tuesday night; the committee asked that he make a presentation to the full commission in the near future...

Money added for Community project (06/12/08) In a 15-0 vote, Bedford County Board of Commissioners passed a $700,000 addition to the $4 million outlay note to cover the higher-than-expected cost of building a new Community High School. The money will come from the school budget and will be repaid from funds that will be received from the state for increased student enrollment...

School Board expects tight budget year (06/10/08) Bedford County Board of Education reviewed preliminary budget figures Monday evening, and the school system -- like other government agencies -- is bracing for a drop in sales tax revenue and sharply higher energy costs in the new fiscal year. "It's a pinch," said member Ron Adcock...

Governor signs voting record law (06/09/08) Gov. Phil Bredesen has signed into law a measure to require a paper record for voters' ballots in Tennessee. It's not clear yet what financial effect the measure will have on Bedford County, said Bedford County Supervisor of Elections Summer Leverette...

'Kitten season' snarls local animal shelters (06/09/08) An influx of stray cats and kittens this spring has filled Bedford County Animal Control and other agencies to capacity. "This is kitten season," said Michael Gregory of BCAC. "This last month we've had so many cats come in that have since had litters. We have about 15 to 17 cats that are adaptable and more who are feral. We are full."...

State says lot change would hurt county zoning (06/06/08) According to state planners, Bedford County's rules allowing additional houses on farm lots are already more permissive than other counties', and weakening them further -- as suggested by some county commissioners -- would cripple the county's zoning resolution...

Planners hear Nestledown road issue (06/05/08) Residents of Nestledown Crossing appeared Tuesday before Bedford County Planning Commission to discuss road problems in their subdivision, but planners say the dispute is between the homeowners and developer Marvin Parker Jr., not the county. In many large subdivisions, the developer intentionally waits to complete street paving until about 80 percent of the homes have been built. ...

County considers fire tax district (06/05/08) The unusually tight county budget year may cause a renewed push to shift more of the funding burden for Volunteer Fire Services Inc. onto rural taxpayers by creating a fire tax district. The subject was raised Wednesday during a study session of Bedford County Financial Management Committee. Commissioner Joe Tillett said he would favor enacting a fire tax district right away, for the 2008-09 fiscal year, while Commissioner J.D. "Bo" Wilson said that was too sudden...

County may change quarry zoning rules (06/04/08) A proposed change to the county zoning resolution might make it easier to locate quarries in rural areas -- but one neighbor of a proposed quarry on Kellertown Road, being developed by the son of a planning commission member, opposed having the project in her neighborhood...

Finance panel bypasses local agent (05/28/08) Faced with what looks to be a tight budget year ahead, Bedford County Financial Management Committee voted Tuesday night to recommend a bid for liability and worker's compensation insurance directly from Tennessee Risk Management Pool, bypassing a local insurance agent...

Animal rule proposals gain support (05/21/08) Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee, meeting Tuesday evening, added its endorsement to some proposed additions to the county's animal control rules. The proposed rules require that dogs or cats kept as pets must be adequately sheltered and kept in disease-free conditions...

Old Harris, hospital properties attract interest (05/21/08) Bedford County Mayor Eugene Ray reported to the county commission's courthouse and property committee Tuesday night that there has been some interest from potential bidders for the vacant Harris Middle School and the soon-to-be-vacant Bedford County Medical Center...

Commission approves one rezoning, not the other (05/15/08) Bedford County Board of Commissoners approved one rezoning request Tuesday night but, after hearing complaints from neighbors, denied another. Approved was a rezoning request from Nancy Barton, who wanted property on Huffman Road rezoned from R-1 (residential) to A-1 (agriculture)...

Commission seeks bids on hospital, school buildings (05/14/08) Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to put out a request for proposals from parties interested in buying the old Harris Middle School building and from those interested in buying the soon-to-be-vacant Bedford County Medical Center...

New ambulance station may go unstaffed (05/13/08) The alternative austerity budget proposals being asked for by county officials, if adopted, could mean that a brand new BCEMS station now under construction in Airport Industrial Park, behind the new Heritage Medical Center, would go unstaffed. BCEMS board member Whitney Neeley, at the board's regular monthly meeting Monday night, said that the budget would be a step backwards from BCEMS's efforts to reduce response time in rapidly-growing or heavily-populated rural areas...

Proposed SWA budgets would have shortfalls (05/12/08) With county departments asked to tighten their belts, the Solid Waste Authority voted to submit two different budget requests to the county's Financial Management Committee. Budget "A" covers what the county's sanitation department will need, while Budget "B" contained a five percent cut. The request to submit two different budgets came from the finance committee last month, and applies to all county agencies...

Committees consider county buildings' futures (05/02/08) Members of the county's finance and courthouse and property committees met Thursday night to discuss future plans for county buildings, as well as financial issues with Heritage Medical Center as the hospital nears its opening date. "We have been in negotiations with Heritage to where this transition will be smooth," said County Mayor Eugene Ray....

New EMS hall rises near new hospital (04/28/08) Walls have risen at the new Bedford County Emergency Medical Services station in Airport Industrial Park. The station, built on land donated by Wal-Mart Distribution Center, will become the new headquarters and administrative offices of BCEMS, a short distance away from the new Heritage Medical Center which opens this summer. BCEMS's existing headquarters on Union Street will remain open as an ambulance station...

Utility plan for BCNH will cut costs (04/24/08) Bedford County Nursing Home presented a plan Tuesday night to the county's Financial Management Committee which will allow it to separate its utility services from the Bedford County Medical Center building. Earlier this year, some county officials, hearing that it would cost up to $50,000 per month to operate the boiler which serves both buildings, were concerned that the nursing home would become a drain on county finances once the hospital moves to a new location this summer. ...

County wants austerity budgets (04/24/08) Bedford County Financial Management Committee is asking each county agency to submit two budgets for the 2008-09 fiscal year -- one based on what the agency's management thinks it needs, and another based on a 5 percent reduction from what the agency received in 2007-08...

Rising gas costs impact schools budget (04/19/08) The rising cost of gasoline has already had an impact in Bedford County Schools. "We've used 100 percent of the gas (funds budgeted)," said Robert Daniel, chief financial officer for Bedford County. "But we budgeted for an increase, so we aren't as bad off as some other counties."...

SWA struggles with fuel costs (04/14/08) Rising fuel prices are causing the Solid Waste Authority to shift funds within its budget to compensate for the extra costs. Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman, who manages waste disposal for SWA, briefed the board about the situation, saying that no additional funds would be needed yet to pay for the diesel fuel that drives their trucks...

Commission considers budget issues (04/11/08) Bedford County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday passed amendments to the current year's budget, including $45,000 for increased food costs at Bedford County Jail and money for a new vehicle for the county probation office. They also unanimously approved a spending freeze to prohibit new hiring or additional spending except in cases of emergency...

One-structure-per-lot rule discussed (04/10/08) Bedford County Board of Commissioners cast a meaningless vote Tuesday night on preserving an existing provision of the zoning resolution before deciding to send the issue back to Bedford County Planning Commission. Ever since county zoning was first put into place, it has included a "one principal structure per lot" rule, which is more or less standard for zoning resolutions anywhere...

Commissioners call nursing home survey too hasty (04/09/08) Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night against a public opinion survey to determine the fate of Bedford County Nursing Home, saying it is premature until the county has more facts about the situation. The county Financial Management Committee had recommended the survey after an unscientific Times-Gazette web poll showed a majority of participants in favor of selling the nursing home. ...

Parker seeks re-election (04/09/08) Dixie Parker has announced that she will run for re-election to the Bedford County School Board in District 1. Parker, a Bedford County native, has lived in Bell Buckle all her life. She is a 1963 graduate of Bell Buckle High School, completed LPN training through the Bedford County school system in 1967 and later attended Middle Tennessee State University...

County deals with hard times (04/05/08) Smart business sense is what will be needed to get the county through times of a tight budget, according to Bedford County Mayor Eugene Ray. Ray spoke Thursday at the Rotary Club of Shelbyville about the state of the county and said that rising expenses and lower revenue will present some challenges during the coming year...

Finance committee recommends spending freeze (04/04/08) Bedford County Financial Management Committee voted Tuesday night to recommend a freeze on new hiring and new un-budgeted spending by county department, except in cases of emergency. County tax collections are lagging, presumably due to the economy. ...

County panel wants survey on nursing home issue (04/02/08) Inspired in part by the results of an unscientific Times-Gazette web poll, Bedford County Financial Management Committee said Tuesday night it would like to conduct a more scientific poll of local attitudes towards selling Bedford County Nursing Home...

Poll respondents split on selling nursing home (03/25/08) Participants in a non-scientific poll on the Times-Gazette web site are divided on the issue of whether the county should sell Bedford County Nursing Home, but a majority support the idea. The question was worded simply: "Should Bedford County sell Bedford County Nursing Home?"...

Cost control emphasized to county officials (03/21/08) Cost control and record-keeping were stressed during a meeting Thursday of the county's department heads. The quarterly luncheon meeting was held Thursday at the Bedford County Emergency Management Agency building on Railroad Avenue. It included the presentation of bonus checks to the staff of Bedford County Zoning Office for their cost-saving measures...

MTSU satellite discussions continue (03/21/08) During a meeting Thursday of county employees, County Mayor Eugene Ray said discussions are continuing with Middle Tennessee State University over the possibility of MTSU holding satellite classes in the old Central High School / Harris Middle School building on Elm Street...

E-911 board can't be reorganized for four years (03/20/08) Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee heard Tuesday night that the county can't reorganize the Emergency Communications District (E-911) board for four years, due to a contractual agreement between the district and the county...

Interest shown in nursing home (03/19/08) A representative of a company which might be interested in buying Bedford County Nursing Home appeared Tuesday night before Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee. County commissioners are deeply divided on the issue of selling the home. ...

Vannatta resigns as SWA chair (03/14/08) Bobby Vannatta stepped down as chairman of the Bedford County Solid Waste Authority Thursday night, citing health and other reasons. Vannatta said he was stepping down for "the betterment of the board and for me personally." He also stated he could not remember exactly how long he had served as chairman...

Hardin suspended from judicial commissioner post (03/13/08) The Bedford County judicial commissioner accused of soliciting sex while on duty has been removed from his position pending outcome of the case. Billy Hardin, 59, of Shelbyville has been suspended without pay, General Sessions Judge Charles Rich said Wednesday...

Increasing costs hit county budget hard (03/13/08) This year's Bedford County general fund budget was originally projected to spend $2 million more than the county brings in -- and with food and gasoline costs rising, the deficit may turn out to be even greater. That was the report from finance director Robert Daniel during Tuesday night's meeting of Bedford County Board of Commissioners. The deficit will continue next year unless spending is brought under control or additional tax revenue is brought in...

Commission gets update on new hospital (03/13/08) Dan Buckner, CEO of Bedford County Medical Center and its replacement hospital, Heritage Medical Center, briefed Bedford County Board of Commissioners on the progress being made towards opening the new hospital on July 12. Commissioners voted several years ago to sell the county-owned hospital to Brentwood-based Community Health Systems, with one of the conditions being that a new facility, considered essential for the hospital's survival, be constructed. ...

Normandy flow limit urged by commission (03/12/08) Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution Tuesday night calling on Tennessee Valley Authority to "limit the flow of water from Normandy Lake with emphasis on human consumption." The original document read "...emphasis on human consumption rather than aquatic life," but Doug Murphy of the Shelbyville-based Tennessee Duck River Agency told commissioners that the two are not necessarily at odds, and that it might be counterproductive to antagonize environmental groups...

Judicial commissioner faces charges (03/11/08) A Bedford County judicial commissioner faces charges including official misconduct after allegedly requesting sex from a person seeking a warrant last weekend. Billy Hardin, 59, of Shelbyville is also charged with solicitation of prostitution and sexual battery...

Water tops commission agenda (03/10/08) Presentations on the county's water supply and on the new Heritage Medical Center will highlight Tuesday night's meeting of Bedford County Board of Commissioners. Commissioners will also consider the possibility of refinancing some of the county's bonds if they can get a more favorable interest rate. ...

Nursing home loss explained (02/28/08) Bedford County Nursing Home had an operating loss in the 2006-2007 fiscal year which ended last June, but non-operating income made up the difference and kept taxpayers from having to foot the bill. That was the report during discussion of the nursing home's 2006-2007 audit at Tuesday night's meeting of Bedford County Financial Management Committee...

County could save on medications (02/28/08) Bedford County may consider participating in a new program which would let county agencies like the jail and EMS buy medications at a greatly reduced cost -- but the county must find a local pharmacist who is willing to serve as a contact point. The program was discussed Tuesday evening by Bedford County Financial Management Committee...

300 vehicles is too many, says Wilson (02/27/08) Bedford County Commissioner J.D. "Bo" Wilson said that the county owns too many cars, presenting his department-by-department breakdown of more than 300 vehicles during a meeting Tuesday night of Bedford County Financial Management Committee. The committee deferred action on a request from the county probation department for a new vehicle, even though the department has enough money to buy the vehicle from its own fee income, because of Wilson's remarks. ...

Plastic recycling to become available (02/22/08) Starting March 1, plastic recycling will be available in Bedford County thanks to the Solid Waste Authority accepting an offer from a local company. The authority agreed to work with the Shelbyville Recycled Fiber Company Division of RockTenn on Cedar King Road, which will begin to accept plastic from the public at the site at the first of the month...

Verdict's still out on space crunch (02/20/08) Local court officials are still considering their space problems, and haven't yet made a request to the county about how to solve them. County Mayor Eugene Ray told the county commission's courthouse and property committee Tuesday night that the court system will probably propose both a temporary and a long-term solution to the problem. ...

County alters zoning rules (02/14/08) Bedford County Board of Commissioners, meeting Tuesday night, approved a change to county zoning resolutions which will allow accessory buildings to be located in front of the main building in cases where the buildings are a great distance from the road...

1997 deal covers CDC maintenance (01/26/08) A 1997 agreement between the Child Development Center / Community Development Center, Bedford County and the City of Shelbyville does make the city and county responsible for exterior maintenance at CDC's site on Eaglette Way, according to director Sarah Hunt...

Committee defers action on CDC work (01/23/08) Bedford County Financial Management Committee deferred action Tuesday night on paying for exterior maintenance costs at the Community Development Center on Eaglette Way. The site is jointly owned by the city and county. CDC failed to budget for or to get advance approval for sealing its parking lot, pressure washing its sidewalks, and mowing its lawn, and is now asking the city and county to cover those costs. The total cost is $7,162, which would be $3,581 each from the city and county...

Mathis says dispatch meetings have been positive (01/17/08) Bedford County Communications Center officials said Wednesday night that recent meetings with local emergency departments to discuss dispatch procedures have been productive, but that the center needs additional dispatchers to function more effectively...

City, county could sell unused house (01/16/08) A local real estate agent has expressed interest in an unused building on North Main Street jointly owned by the city and county, according to discussion Tuesday night by Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and property committee. The house, which at one time was used as a secure and private site for interviewing victims of alleged child sexual abuse, is currently unused, and Wayne Neese of Wayne Neese Realty & Auction Co. ...

Committee appointments considered (01/16/08) Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee, meeting Tuesday night, placed several committee appointments on the full commission's February agenda. In all of the cases, County Mayor Eugene Ray will make appointments, which the full commission will have to either confirm or decline...

County growth plans presented to public (01/15/08) "Is this the right direction?" That was the question posed to interested citizens during the first of three public meetings dealing with Bedford County's revised master growth plan. With large graphics of the different proposed plans displayed, Charles Goforth of the design firm Barge, Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon (BWSC) explained to the crowd of about 50 where the county should plan for its growth over the next 20 years...

SWA to take scrap metal bids (01/11/08) Bedford County Solid Waste Authority will open sealed bids at its next meeting for a scrap metal recycling contract. The authority had formed a committee last month to examine the bids, which will require that the scrap be sold by the ton and that the bidder have a $1,000 security bond...

Commissioners hear report on radio system (01/10/08) Bedford County Board of Commissioners, meeting Tuesday night, heard quarterly reports from various county departments. Here are some of the highlights: Eugene Nichols of Bedford County Emergency Management Agency noted that the county's new emergency radio system was scheduled to go online last June but has been delayed by three different lightning strikes. He said proper lightning protection is in place and the system is finally ready to go live next week...

Zoning relaxed for 'guest houses' (01/09/08) Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved a change Tuesday night which was designed to loosen the zoning regulations slightly, to make it easier for families to have a guest house on their property. But some commissioners want the county to study completely eliminating the rule that was being loosened...

Community note gets commission approval (01/09/08) Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted 17-0 Tuesday night to approve a capital outlay note of up to $4 million, to be added to money already approved for the construction of a new Community High School. The county school system will repay the county from its capital outlay line item...

Commission will consider building program money (01/07/08) Bedford County Board of Commissioners will meet 7 p.m. Tuesday, following a zoning public hearing, in the second floor courtroom at the county courthouse. Here are some items on the agenda: School building program: Commissioners will consider a capital outlay note of up to $4 million to make sure the school system can pay for a new Community High School. The school system will reimburse the county to repay the bond from its capital outlay line item...

Most counties haven't adopted tax break (01/04/08) Only seven of Tennessee's 95 counties have enacted a property tax freeze for elderly homeowners that was authorized by voters last year -- and Bedford is not one of them. A constitutional amendment to allow the freeze was easily approved at the polls last year and the Legislature crafted guidelines for the tax break last session. But only Blount, Bradley, Davidson, Hamblen, Knox, Roane and Wilson counties have approved the freeze...

Caller, employee may share blame for dispatch (12/26/07) The director of Bedford County Communications Center stated that the discrepancy over the location of a fire in Unionville Friday was due to confusion over the name of a road, both by a 911 caller and a dispatcher. Firefighters were called to the blaze, allegedly caused by arson, Friday morning. Outraged neighbors told the T-G at the scene that the home could have been saved if personnel were sent to the correct location...

School's cost to be cut $400K (12/22/07) American Constructors, the construction management firm for the planned new elementary school on Learning Way, proposed a guaranteed maximum price higher than local officials were willing to pay, so the school will be redesigned to cut costs. In addition, the School Board and the county's Financial Management Committee have approved a plan by which the school system can put money into the building program to fund a capital outlay note of up to $4 million towards the current building program, in part because it looks like a new Community High School will also cost more than originally planned.. ...

Crimestoppers needs funding (12/21/07) The Crimestoppers program has been the key to solving a number of criminal cases thanks to tips from people in Shelbyville and Bedford County, say law enforcement officials. But now funding is urgently needed to keep the program going and crooks off the streets...

City may lease old Harris gymnasium from county (12/19/07) Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee voted Tuesday night to recommend leasing the old Harris Middle School gymnasium to the City of Shelbyville for $1 per year, with the city to be responsible for maintaining it...

Rules change would allow outbuildings in front of homes (12/19/07) Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee added its recommendation Tuesday night to two proposed changes to the county zoning resolution. One of the changes would allow accessory buildings (such as a garage or shed) to be placed in front of a home in the A-1(agriculture) zone, provided the home is more than three times the required minimum setback from the highway. ...

SWA bids out scrap metal contract (12/14/07) The county's solid waste authority will soon advertise to bid out its scrap metal recycling contract. The authority also formed a committee to examine the bids, which will be made available at the first of February and opened on the 14th of that month...

County employee insurance will be funded (12/12/07) Bedford County departments have managed to tighten their belts by the $61,000 needed to fund an increase in individual health insurance premiums for the second half of the county's fiscal year. Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved a plan Tuesday night to allow $61,779 from existing department budgets to be used to cover the increase, which will cost $61,380...

Hearings set on growth plan (12/05/07) Bedford County's Joint Economic Development Board [JEDB] will hold a series of public hearings next month on the topic of the comprehensive master plan to be used as an update to the county's growth plan. The series of public hearings are tentatively scheduled to be held Jan. 14 at Duck River Electric Membership Corporation, Jan. 15 at Cascade School and Jan. 17 at Community School. All of the meetings will start at 6 p.m...

'Fashion show' leads to jail firings (12/01/07) Three jailers have been dismissed and one suspended following a mock "fashion show," including a bikini made from a sweatshirt, put on by women in Bedford County Jail. The trusties involved have had their privileges revoked. "Obviously, they exercised very poor judgment," District Attorney Chuck Crawford said Friday night, but he referred further questions about the matter to Sheriff Randall Boyce and his department administrator, Larry Lowman. ...

Zoning Appeals grants exception for cabinet shop (11/30/07) After hearing conflicting reports from neighbors, Bedford County Board of Zoning Appeals decided Thursday night to approve a special exception for a cabinet shop at 164 Big Springs Road. Ken Remfert has an existing cabinet shop but wanted to move it to a building he has purchased nearby. ...

County offices warned of tough times ahead (11/28/07) Bedford County Financial Management Committee warned representatives of county departments that lean times may be coming for the county, and finance committee member Joe Tillett said the county needs to cure itself of deficit spending, which could mean cutbacks in spending or tax increases...

Permanent yard sales to be halted (11/24/07) Rather than adopt a new regulation on yard sales, Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee recommended Tuesday night using existing business license requirements to catch those who have crossed the line from occasional yard sale to full-time flea market...

Committee hears about judicial space needs (11/23/07) If you thought it was easy to be an elected official, think again. Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee is beset on all sides: The problem was highlighted Tuesday night as the committee continued its discussion of space needs. ...

Clanton seeks re-election (11/23/07) Ronda Helton Clanton of Shelbyville has announced her candidacy for re-election as Assessor of Property beginning with the Feb. 5, 2008, Democratic primary. Clanton, a graduate of Cascade High School, has lived in Bedford County for the past 33 years. She was a teaching assistant at Cascade School for seven years and also worked in the credit department of Bedford County Medical Center. She is married to Randy Clanton. They have four children: Ryan and Randy Helton and Casey and Drew Clanton...

County recalculates tax revenue for schools (11/15/07) Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved a number of minor housekeeping issues during their meeting on Tuesday night: The state requires that a county spend at least as much on schools each year as it spent the year before, in order to prevent counties from using increases in state funding as an excuse to drop their local funding. ...

Simons did report promptly after all (11/14/07) Miscommunication was apparently the culprit behind the county's solid waste authority not being aware that information describing the source of sludge brought into the county had already been submitted. Last month, the authority heard from Wayne Simons of Simons Farm Trucking, LLC about material he is injecting into fields in various parts of the county...

County to retain nursing home for now (11/14/07) Bedford County Board of Commissioners, in a narrow 8-9 vote, chose Tuesday night not to seek proposals from companies interested in buying the county-owned Bedford County Nursing Home. The commissioners who supported the measure said it was just a first step which would have given the county an idea of what the nursing home is worth, and that it is only financially prudent for the county to explore its options considering existing debt and capital expenses looming in the future...

Flag placed in jury room (11/12/07) The jury room at the Bedford County Courthouse has a new historic decoration -- a flag flown during World War II. On Friday, members of Bedford County Bar Association presented a flag flown during that conflict on the USS LCI (G) 458, commanded by Chancellor John D. Templeton, to County Mayor Eugene Ray...

Waste info sought by SWA members (11/09/07) Bedford County Solid Waste Authority continues to request information on the types of waste that are brought into the county. Last month, the authority heard from Wayne Simons of Simons Farms about material he is injecting into fields in various parts of the county. Concerns had been brought to SWA's attention by citizens about sludge dumping in various parts of the county...

Grants address courthouse security concerns (11/06/07) Courthouse security grants announced Monday by Tennessee's Administrative Office of the Courts renew the debate in Bedford County over whether the judicial system should be relocated away from the county courthouse. Marshall County is to receive up to $26,000, and Bedford County is to get up to $6,000 as their parts of a $2 million appropriation from the Tennessee General Assembly to the state court system's budget for this fiscal year, according to Elizabeth Sykes, administrative director of the courts.. ...

Utilities baffled by state info (11/03/07) Transportation, water and wastewater are two of the top infrastructure needs of Bedford County, according to a report released by the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR). But while TACIR corrected figures for Bedford County schools, other amounts remain unchanged. Local officials are still scratching their heads, wondering where TACIR got its data...

Courts could move from courthouse (10/31/07) During a study session Tuesday night, members of Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee discussed the idea of moving courts and judicial offices out of the county courthouse -- and moving the non-judicial fee offices back in...

Road superintendent seeks re-election (10/31/07) Stanley Smotherman has announced his candidacy for re-election as Bedford County Road Superintendent as a candidate in the Feb. 5, 2008, Democratic primary. A Bedford County native, Smotherman is a 29-year employee of Bedford County Highway Department and has served as superintendent since 2000. He is vice-president of Tennessee County Highway Officials Association...

Employee insurance taxes county budget (10/24/07) The cost of health insurance is rising â€" but some members of the county’s Financial Management Committee told representatives of county employees Tuesday night that departments need to find a way to pay for it if they want the county to cover an increase in premiums effective January 1, 2008...

School work, planning advance (10/20/07) The expansion and renovation of Central High School is still on schedule, Tom Grott of American Constructors told Bedford County Board of Education Thursday night. The next landmark for the project will be the opening of the newly-expanded gym lobby and restrooms in time for basketball season, and Grott said that portion of the project is in “very good” shape...

New policy on cell phone use in schools (10/19/07) On the one hand, cell phones are a way for teens and pre-teens to keep in touch with their parents. For example, students and parents can call each other if there’s a change in after-school plans. On the other hand, they can be disruptive if used during school hours, and can even be used to cheat on exams, with one student text-messaging answers to another on the sly...

Draft school attire policy issued (10/19/07) Bedford County Board of Education has taken the first steps towards adopting Standardized School Attire, by releasing a draft policy which will serve as a basis of debate and discussion between now and February, when the board hopes to adopt a final policy...

Committee downplays limits on board service (10/17/07) Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee, meeting Tuesday night, recommended against a rule which would have limited the number of outside boards on which county commissioners could serve, saying there's no problem with the existing system...

'Operation Payback' puts inmates to work (10/13/07) When a person is sentenced to do time at the Bedford County Jail, the popular misconception is that he or she wastes the days away sitting around watching television. But some of those who have ended up as long term guests of the county have talents and skills which Sheriff Randall Boyce and his staff are putting to good use...

Sludge dumping is legal, waste board told (10/12/07) Members of Bedford County Solid Waste Authority board of directors were told Thursday night that the sludge dumping reported to them last month was perfectly legal. The authority heard from Wayne Simons of Simons Farm about material he is injecting into fields in various parts of the county. ...

Commission approves rezoning, tables com center lease (10/11/07) Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved a re-zoning request from Ralph Whitfield for property at 2134 State Route 64 West from A-1 (agriculture) to C-1 (commercial). The site already has a convenience store; Whitfield asked for the rezoning so that he can add mini-warehouse space behind the market. Bedford County Planning Commission recommended the change...

Emergencies, football keep EMS busy (10/09/07) Bedford County Emergency Medical Services, after a record month of 509 calls in August, had another busy month in September with 27 calls for service in one day, Sept. 27, and 26 calls on Sept. 29. The BCEMS board met Monday evening. Assistant Director Michael Clements reported that BCEMS will soon need to add a fifth ambulance crew during peak hours. ...

Shelter pets waiting for adoption (10/04/07) With October designated as National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, Bedford County Animal Control director Michael Gregory and his staff are hoping people around the county will find it in their heart to adopt one of the many dogs they have in their care...

Funds could be holdup on immigration enforcement (10/02/07) While one of Bedford County's chief law officers says that the county "desperately" needs a federal database sharing program used to identify and deport illegal immigrants, getting it funded locally will be the biggest roadblock. The program in question is called 287(g), named after a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) passed in 1996, which permits the Department of Homeland Security [DHS] to enter into agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies to allow them full federal authority to enforce immigration laws.. ...

Com center buys new dispatch equipment (09/22/07) Bedford County Emergency Communications District board voted Wednesday night to purchase new radio, telephone and computer-aided dispatch equipment. The new system brings state-of-the-art improvements and should also remedy some telephone system problems experienced by the com center...

School plans revised to save money (09/21/07) Bedford County school officials have made changes in the plans for two upcoming schools in hopes of saving money. The changes were discussed Thursday night at the monthly meeting of Bedford County Board of Education. The new elementary school planned for Learning Way has been reduced by eight classrooms, which would reduce its capacity from 750 students to 550. ...

Prank calls plague E-911 centers (09/20/07) Communications centers across the country continue to be plagued by prank calls from decommissioned cell phones, according to discussion at Wednesday night's meeting of the Bedford County Emergency Communications District (E-911) board. Com center director Cathey Mathis said that the local center had a recent problem with a young child who had three such phones and was making numerous prank calls, calling up to 30 times at a sitting, giving false information, and using foul language. ...

Committees favor grouping helipad with com center (09/19/07) The helipad at Bedford County Medical Center is important and should be preserved even after the hospital relocates, said two county committees meeting Tuesday night. At issue was whether or not the helipad should be added to the county's lease agreement with Bedford County Emergency Communications District (E-911). ...

Where should county offices be? (09/19/07) Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee continues to look at what to do about county offices, and Tuesday night it had two visitors with an interest in that decision: Cindy Drake and Janet Cavna of the local Main Street organization, which is now in the process of organizing...

SWA studies recycling, hears dumping complaint (09/14/07) Recycling in neighboring Coffee County and a complaint about sludge dumping were the topics of discussion for the county's Solid Waste Authority Thursday afternoon. Last month, Chairman Bobby Vannatta asked recycling coordinator Gay Ervin and Stanley Smotherman contact the Coffee County Recycling Center to see how it is done after receiving calls and letters from citizens concerned about the lack of plastic recycling in the county...

Samuel David Riddle (09/13/07) Masonic services for Samuel David Riddle, 49, of Shelbyville, who died Tuesday at Bedford County Medical Center, will be 7 p.m. Friday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel. Per his request, his remains were cremated. Visitation with the family will be 6 p.m. Friday until service time...

Ray re-elected commission chairman (09/13/07) County Mayor Eugene Ray was re-elected by acclamation Tuesday night as chair of Bedford County Board of Commissioners, with Commissioner Roger Brothers re-elected by acclamation as chairman pro-tem. Ray held the chairman's post for years while he was a county commissioner, and kept it last year after being elected county mayor. State law permits a county mayor to either chair the county commission or have veto power over the commission's actions, but not both...

Utilities to give water to those with dry wells (09/05/07) County Mayor Eugene Ray signed a proclamation on Tuesday declaring Bedford County "drought-ridden" and authorizing local water plants to make water available to those who don't have "city water" and whose wells or springs have gone dry as a result of the recent hot, dry weather...

Melson reports on building projects (08/29/07) Bedford County Financial Management Committee heard its first report Tuesday night from Bud Melson, who has been hired as a consultant to represent the county's interests on building projects. Melson has hit the ground running. He met with Bedford County Emergency Medical Services officials to discuss the bids on their new headquarters in Airport Industrial Park and a new station in the Cascade School area. ...

Assistance available for heat wave (08/24/07) County Mayor Eugene Ray said Thursday that assistance is available for those who need, but cannot afford, fans or air conditioners to cope with the ongoing heat wave. Ray said the assistance is available through Tennessee Department of Health and Environment and that persons who need help can call his office, 684-7944, or Melissa Staley at the Health Department office in Columbia, (931) 490-8348, for more information...

County rule suspensions draw criticism (08/22/07) Commissioner P.T. "Biff" Farrar told Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee on Tuesday that the full commission is too frequently using suspension of rules to consider items at the last minute without putting them through the normal committee process...

Committee considers county's office needs (08/22/07) Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee continued to discuss the county's space needs Tuesday night, including such ideas as building a new jail behind the old Bedford County Medical Center and turning the existing hospital building or the Medical Arts Building into a judicial building with offices and courthouses...

Land deal will change Unionville intersection (08/16/07) The intersection of U.S. 41-A with Unionville-Deason Road will be altered as a result of a deal approved Tuesday night by Bedford County Board of Commissioners. Currently, the roads do not meet at a 90-degree angle; right angle intersections are considered the safest from a traffic standpoint. The heavily-traveled intersection is right next to the Community School property, and a new high school will soon be built nearby...

County will lease houses to The Next Step Home (08/16/07) Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted in principle Tuesday night to lease two vacant homes on Union Street to The Next Step Home, a transitional program for women who have been incarcerated or in substance abuse rehabilitation. County Mayor Eugene Ray and County Attorney John T. Bobo were directed to negotiate a lease agreement and bring it back to the commission for final approval...

Leverette selected as election administrator (08/16/07) Deputy Administrator of Elections Summer Leverette was chosen Wednesday by Bedford County Election Commission to succeed Administrator of Elections Anna Clanton when Clanton retires at the end of September. Leverette is a seven-year employee of the county election office...

Growth plan revision work continues (08/16/07) County and city officials will have choices to make as it applies to planning for future growth, according to a consultant hired to assist in updating the county urban growth plan. Members of the Bedford County Planning Commission recently heard a presentation from Charles Goforth of the Nashville planning and engineering firm Barge Waggoner Sumner and Cannon...

County property tax unchanged (08/15/07) Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved a 2007-2008 budget and property tax rates on Tuesday, staying within the same property tax rate as in 2006-2007. Not everyone was happy with the process. Commissioners P.T. "Biff" Farrar and Linda Yockey wanted a separate vote on a portion of the budget which gives 40 percent raises to county commissioners; Farrar said that since the measure changes the commission's pay, it should have gone before the rules and legislative committee, especially since the resolution as originally proposed gave the rules committee responsibility for enforcing commissioner attendance.. ...

Clanton to retire from election post (08/14/07) Bedford County Election Registrar Anna Clanton has decided to retire effective Sept. 30, after 27 1/2 years in office. Bedford County Election Commission discussed the vacancy last week and will meet again 5:15 p.m. Wednesday at the courthouse to discuss filling the position...

Poll responders support consolidating VFSI (08/13/07) The largest single group of respondents to a non-scientific poll on the Times-Gazette web site support leaving Volunteer Fire Services Inc. as is. However, if you add those who favor combining VFSI with the county ambulance service and those who support combining it with the Shelbyville Fire Department, you would find a majority of respondents in favor of some sort of change...

Solid Waste Authority explores plastic recycling (08/10/07) The county's Solid Waste Authority will be looking into the idea of opening a location where plastic could be dropped off to be recycled. Chairman Bobby Vannatta asked recycling coordinator Gay Ervin and Stanley Smotherman contact the Coffee County Recycling Center to see how it is done...

Ray outlines county progress (08/09/07) "Bedford County is moving." That was the message County Mayor Eugene Ray gave the Exchange Club of Bedford County Wednesday. "We're the fifth fastest growing county in the state," Ray said, which is why the city of Shelbyville and the county are working together with a long term growth plan. He invited the public to participate in the process, which will determine the course taken over the next 15 to 20 years...

Six local bridges structurally deficient (08/07/07) A total of six bridges in Bedford County have been classified as "structurally deficient" by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. (TDOT) TDOT states that while they track deficiencies in state bridges, the list released "by no means indicates a safety issue with the bridges."...

Mayor for a Day (08/04/07) Savannah DaCosta was "Mayor for a Day" at the offices of County Mayor Eugene Ray Thursday. The 10-year-old is a fifth grader at Liberty School and the child of Amanda DaCosta and the grandchild of Allan and Dolores DaCosta, who said that Savannah had "a wonderful time" at her temporary job. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely)...

Smotherman says local bridges are safe (08/03/07) With collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis on Wednesday, residents may have concerns about the safety of Bedford County bridges. Divers continue to check submerged cars in the Mississippi River following the collapse. Five people are confirmed dead, though authorities lowered the number of missing, once feared as many as 30, to eight...

Finance panel OKs school budget (08/01/07) Bedford County Financial Management Committee recommended passage of the county school budget and the Bedford County Nursing Home budget Tuesday night, meaning that all of the county's budgets and tax rates are ready for final approval Aug. 14 by Bedford County Board of Commissioners...

American Constructors hired for new school projects (07/28/07) Bedford County Board of Education has awarded American Constructors the contract to serve as construction manager for a new Community High School and for the new elementary school which will be located on Learning Way. The new elementary school has no official name yet, although it is frequently referred to as "Central Elementary" for the sake of convenience...

School budget stays within same tax rate (07/28/07) Bedford County Board of Education approved a $42.6 million general purpose school system budget Thursday night within the current county property tax rate. The school budget will go to the County Financial Management Committee on Tuesday night and then to the full county commission in August. Combined with the budgets and tax rates approved so far, the school budget would not require any increase in the overall county property tax rate for 2007-2008...

County tax rate likely to remain steady (07/25/07) Bedford County Financial Management Committee voted to recommend the county general fund, highway department and debt service budgets and property tax rates Tuesday night, along with several smaller budgets which aren't funded by property tax. That leaves the school budget and property tax rate, which will be considered by Bedford County Board of Education Thursday night, and the Bedford County Nursing Home budget, which requires no property tax revenue. ...

Courthouse sewage problem could be expensive (07/18/07) Bedford County Mayor Eugene Ray said Tuesday night he is using emergency purchase powers to repair drainage problems which caused sewage to back up into the basement of the courthouse several times in the past two weeks. Ray warned the county commission's courthouse and county property committee that the project could be "quite expensive" and that he doesn't yet have an idea how much it will cost...

Yard sale restrictions proposed (07/18/07) Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee deferred action for a month on a proposal to limit the number of yard sales a rural resident can hold each year. The City of Shelbyville already has such a rule in place. It's designed to prevent someone in a residential zone from having a permanent, year-round yard sale, while still allowing the occasional clean-out-your-garage sale...

Funding plea becomes issue at SWA meeting (07/14/07) Heated words arose between the county mayor and a Bedford County Solid Waste Authority member over a funding request that didn't pass the county finance committee. At the end of Thursday's meeting, authority member Bill Lewis questioned why the recommendation he made for $15,000 to go to the Cedar Ridge Landfill in case something occurred, such as a leak reported in 2003, did not make it to the full commission...

Questions delay com center lease (07/11/07) A lease agreement between the county's communication center and the county was deferred Tuesday evening after questions were raised about the length of the lease. The request had been made by chairman Charles McDonald of the communications center for the lease so that the current facilities used by the center would still be available should the county eventually sell the current Bedford County Medical Center property...

Legal opinion sought on sheriff's pay (06/28/07) Bedford County Financial Management Committee is asking for a legal opinion due to two conflicting passages of state law governing the salaries for county sheriffs. The committee, meeting Tuesday evening, heard that one passage of state law (Tennessee Code Annotated 8-8-102) specified sheriff's salaries depending on whether or not the sheriff is a certified law enforcement officer. ...

County makes end-of-year budget adjustments (06/27/07) Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved end-of-year budget amendments Tuesday night, along with a "continuing resolution" which will allow county departments to continue to operate at 2006-2007 spending levels until a 2007-2008 budget has been passed...

Teacher salaries could require tax hike (06/27/07) Unless money were saved elsewhere in the county's budget, it would take an increase of four cents per $100 assessed value on the county property tax rate to fund the proposed school system budget, which includes money for higher teacher salaries. A proposed draft budget was handed out to school board members during a called meeting Tuesday at the school system central offices on Madison Street. ...

Officials say higher teacher salaries needed (06/22/07) Bedford County school officials will ask for an increase in teacher salaries and insurance benefits for the 2007-2008 fiscal year, but that won't close the gap between Bedford County and some of the neighbors to whom it is losing experienced teachers...

Familiar bidders compete for school construction (06/22/07) Bedford County Board of Education has two bids for construction management services for a new elementary school on Learning Way in Shelbyville and a replacement building for Community High School in Unionville. Both bids are from companies which are already working for the school system:...

E-911 pays off debts but may borrow again soon (06/21/07) Bedford County Emergency Communications District (E-911) board of directors, thanks to increases in state funding, voted Wednesday evening to pay off more than $130,000 in leases and debts -- but Bedford County Communications Center's debt-free status will be short-lived...

Courthouse smoking ban considered (06/20/07) Smoking is already prohibited inside Bedford County Courthouse, which is why the courthouse steps and exterior balconies can sometimes be clogged with smokers. On at least five recent occasions, said County Mayor Eugene Ray, smokers in those locations have set mulch around the courthouse on fire. Courthouse maintenance personnel put out four such fires, but in one case a city fire truck had to be called...

Alternative school gains committee backing (06/20/07) Bedford County School System has repeated its request to use the old Harris Middle School annex as an alternative school, and the county commission's courthouse and county property committee has recommended that the request be granted. School Superintendent Ed Gray told the committee on Tuesday that there are state funds available for at-risk education. Currently, the alternative school operates out of four portable classrooms on the campus of Central High School...

Discussions proceed on MTSU project (06/19/07) The first preliminary meeting about the possibility of Middle Tennessee State University opening an extension campus in the old Harris Middle School building on Elm Street was a positive one, according to County Mayor Eugene Ray. Ray said he is pleased with the response of MTSU officials to the project so far...

Commission prepares for end of fiscal year (06/14/07) Bedford County Board of Commissioners passed several budget amendments Tuesday night and set a special called meeting for June 26 to handle further end-of-fiscal-year business. The new fiscal year starts July 1, but the county never has a budget in place by that time. The budget process has been delayed even further this year by uncertainty about the state's education funding, which has now been resolved, and by the process of switching to the county's new financial management system...

Rezoning request denied for business (06/13/07) Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to deny a rezoning at 2506 U.S. 231 North which had been requested by Celebration 2000, an office supply business now located on Madison Street in Shelbyville. Grady Cunningham, who owns the business, had wanted to move from its current leased space to a site that he would own outright. He was asking the county to rezone the site from R-1 (residential) to C-2 (commercial)...

Unionville station helps EMS response time (06/12/07) Bedford County Emergency Medical Service is already seeing some benefit from its new Unionville station, reducing emergency response time in the fast-growing Unionville area. BCEMS Director Chad Graham told the service's board on Monday night that in May, the first full month of operation for the new station, response time within the Unionville area averaged six minutes. That is within the American Heart Association's recommended 4-6 minute response guideline for cardiac emergencies...

Sheriff's Department needs more money, officers (05/23/07) Bedford County Sheriff's Department officials say the county must hire new officers to keep up with rapid growth; members of the county Financial Management Committee didn't argue the point but said the sheriff's department may have to convince taxpayers...

E-911 may create advisory council (05/17/07) When Bedford County first started a 9-1-1 dispatch center in the 1980s, the two boards that controlled it were composed primarily of the heads of the local emergency departments which rely on the center. Some of those department heads were more active in attending board meetings than others, which led to problems when the boards didn't have the quorum they needed to conduct business. ...

Rezoning will be considered (05/16/07) Bedford County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing and then consider a controversial rezoning request on U.S. 231 North during their June meeting. The commission's rules and legislative committee voted Tuesday night to place the item on the commission's June 12 agenda without any recommendation...

Courthouse sidewalks may match square (05/16/07) Deteriorating curbs around the county courthouse led to a committee discussion Tuesday night of whether to re-do the courthouse sidewalks completely, perhaps in brick with granite curbs to match the city sidewalks on the square. Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee heard a report from County Mayor Eugene Ray that the concrete curbs around the courthouse are starting to deteriorate and need to be repaired or replaced. ...

EMS seeks agreement with TennCare MCOs (05/15/07) Bedford County Emergency Medical Service (BCEMS) officials believe new county standards for non-emergency ambulance service passed earlier this month will force the insurance companies that manage TennCare to negotiate a contract with BCEMS and help eliminate long waits for non-emergency ambulance transfers...

Animal control rules adopted (05/10/07) Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved animal control regulations on Tuesday which keep enforcement of stray animal laws on a complaint-driven basis except in cases where public safety is at risk. Commissioner Roger Brothers tried to amend the motion to also allow animal control to enforce state animal regulations, but other commissioners said that was already implied by the resolutions as written...

County borrows $44M over 30 years (05/09/07) Bedford County Financial Management Committee voted Tuesday night to use a fixed-rate 30-year bond issue to borrow the $44 million in school construction funds approved last month by Bedford County Board of Commissioners. The money will fund renovation and expansion of Central High School, which is already underway, as well as construction of a new elementary school on Learning Way in Shelbyville and a new building for Community High School which will allow Community's middle school and elementary grades to expand into the current high school facility.. ...

Strategic plan helps keep Three-Star status (05/01/07) It was only a few weeks ago, in late March, that Gov. Phil Bredesen formally recognized Bedford County for being re-certified under the Governor's Three-Star Award program. That's because circumstances last fall prevented the Governor from presenting the award at the usual time of year...

BREAKING: County Clerk's office closed (04/27/07) Due to unexpected problems with a computer upgrade, the office of County Clerk Kathy Prater closed at noon today (Friday) and was to remain closed on Saturday. The office will re-open Monday morning.

Ray suggests old school building for MTSU branch (04/25/07) County Mayor Eugene Ray has suggested to Middle Tennessee State University that the former Harris Middle School building on Elm Street be used as an extension campus, and MTSU President Sidney McPhee is interested enough to discuss the proposal further, according to Ray...

Celebration makes massive financial impact (04/20/07) Like an old family friend, the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration (TWHNC) has been with Shelbyville since 1939, so long that many can't remember there being a time when there wasn't a horse show. The longevity of the show makes it difficult to determine the exact tax impact that the annual event has on this community, according to Shelbyville Mayor Geneva Smith...

Home Health won't move (04/19/07) The new Bedford County Medical Center will apparently not include space for Bedford Home Health, members of the county commission's courthouse and county property learned Tuesday night. County Mayor Eugene Ray discussed details of the meeting with the Times-Gazette on Wednesday...

Industries dragging feet on recycling report (04/13/07) The county's report on recycling to the state will not be as robust as in previous years, according to Gay Ervin, who handles the county's recycling program. Last month, Ervin noted that only about half of the county's industries had responded to her request for recycling numbers to turn into the state. She told the Solid Waste Authority Thursday that not all industries had reported in with recycling numbers as they had in previous years...

County will give $25K to Celebration (04/12/07) Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted 17-1 Tuesday night to give $25,000 to the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration as a show of support for the walking horse industry. The county's contribution follows a $25,000 contribution by the City of Shelbyville to the Walking Horse Trainers Association for its annual spring show...

Daniel hired as county budget director (04/11/07) Robert Daniel, who has been the business manager for the county school system, was approved by Bedford County Board of Commissioners Tuesday night to be the county's new budget director. Daniel will officially change jobs on April 15 -- but for the time being, he and his staff will continue to work out of the school system central offices on Madison Street. ...

County will borrow $44M for schools (04/11/07) Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted 16-1-1 Tuesday night to approve borrowing $44 million toward renovation and expansion of Central High School, construction of a new elementary school on Learning Way south of Harris Middle School, and construction of a new building for Community High School...

EMS income cut feared (04/10/07) A change in the Managed Care Organization which handles TennCare claims threatens to cut the amount that county-owned Bedford County Emergency Medical Services is paid for transporting TennCare patients. Under the state's old MCO, TennCare Select, BCEMS was paid about $140 for a basic life support ambulance run, plus $4 per mile. ...

County may borrow $44M for school projects (03/28/07) Instead of borrowing $20.8 million for the expansion of Central High School, Bedford County may try to lock in current favorable interest rates by borrowing up to $44 million -- enough to fund the SCHS project plus a new Community High School and a new elementary school in Shelbyville....

Daniel recommended as budget director (03/28/07) Bedford County Financial Management Committee voted Tuesday night to recommend Robert Daniel as the county's first-ever budget director. Daniel currently serves as the school system's business manager. He was recommended to the financial management committee from among six applicants by a search committee. Former commissioner Virgil Johnson, who chaired the search committee, presented Daniel's name Tuesday night....

HealthSpring seeks contract with BCNH (03/26/07) Bedford County Nursing Home is one of three facilities in Tennessee approached by a company that hopes to succeed Medicare as the health care underwriter for residents at the home, officials have explained. Wayne Schumann, administrator of the county-owned medical residence on Union Street, advised the nursing home's trustees late last week that recently he'd been approached by a representative of HealthSpring...

Cancer-stricken family can live together (03/24/07) A Farmington-area family wracked with cancer received unanimous support from a Bedford County zoning panel on Thursday for another house trailer behind their modest home, allowing more relatives to be close for mutual support. "God bless you," George Mitchell said after permission was granted by the Board of Zoning Appeals for a "temporary dwelling unit in cases of medical emergency" so his mobile home can be towed from Chestnut Ridge to his father's six acres just east of the Marshall County line.. ...

Committee backs animal control rules (03/21/07) Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee, meeting Tuesday evening, endorsed passage of the latest draft of animal control regulations. Earlier this month, county commissioners passed one article of the regulations -- the one dealing with dangerous dogs -- but referred the rest of the document back for study...

Health Department needs space again (03/21/07) The State of Tennessee has required Bedford County Health Department, like other local health departments, to provide primary care services for the uninsured. The state provides funding for personnel and equipment, but not space, for this relatively new program. The state now wants to add two nurse-practitioners to the local department's staff, and that means that its offices on Dover Street -- which were expanded just a few years ago -- are once again bursting at the seams...

Board wants high school, not elementary, at Unionville (03/16/07) Bedford County Board of Education has revised its 10-year master plan to include a new high school, instead of a new elementary school, in the Unionville area. Unionville's current Community School complex includes connected buildings, built at various times, housing grades K through 12. ...

Family struggles used to justify land use request (03/15/07) Struggling with cancer, other maladies and disabilities, a Bedford County family has requested a second exception from strict enforcement of the zoning code for a third mobile home behind their modest frame house. County zoning regulations require permission from the Board of Zoning Appeals for a "temporary dwelling unit in cases of medical hardship," and the BZA is scheduled to meet on March 22 at 5:30 p.m. ...

Dogs to have day in court (03/15/07) Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to adopt Article X of the proposed animal control regulations -- the part dealing specifically with dangerous dogs -- but to defer action on the rest of the document pending further study and public input...

Commission approves SCHS expansion (03/14/07) Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved the $20.8 million expansion and renovation of Shelbyville Central High School on Tuesday night. The vote was unanimous among the 17 commissioners in attendance; commissioner Roger Brothers was unable to attend due to illness. ...

What will county look like in 2027? (03/12/07) Residents from all parts of Bedford County are invited to express their opinions on how they think their community should grow during the next 20 years. The public hearing scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on March 27 is in conjunction with discussions started this winter by an advisory panel with a consultant from a Nashville planning and engineering firm...

Open records aren't always seen by public (03/10/07) NASHVILLE (AP) -- If a local or state official in Tennessee refuses to release a public document, the only recourse is to file an expensive civil lawsuit. But there are some efforts to change that this year. Gov. Phil Bredesen has said he will put money in the budget to create an open records ombudsman, someone to help people who are refused access to public records...

Bid accepted for roll-off truck (03/10/07) Bedford County's Solid Waste Authority accepted a bid Thursday for a roll-off truck for the department. The bid from Cumberland International was accepted for a cost of $104,491, but is subject to availability. If the desired model is not available, then a similar model can be obtained for $2,000 more...

Committee backs SCHS expansion (03/07/07) Bedford County Financial Management Committee gave its recommendation Tuesday night to the $20.8 million expansion and renovation of Central High School. "I think we're behind now, and ... we've got to move on," said Commissioner J.D. "Bo" Wilson. But committee members said the project could mean a tight year or two for the county, and stressed that new revenue will be needed for future school building projects...

'False statement' leads to probation for Schumann (03/07/07) Bedford County Nursing Home's administrator has been placed on probation for this year by the Tennessee Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators. Wayne Schumann made a "false statement" in 2003 when he applied for a state license to be a nursing home administrator by not disclosing that he'd pleaded guilty to a charge of driving while impaired in 1994, according to the board's order...

Library asks city for $1 million (03/02/07) A request for funding for a new library was made to the Shelbyville City Council Tuesday, with representatives pointing out the shrinking space in the current facility. In December, the Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding setting conditions on when and how Argie Cooper Public Library can receive the $1 million contribution approved by commissioners back in April of 2006...

Finance committee will wait a week on SCHS bid (02/28/07) Members of Bedford County Financial Management Committee, meeting Tuesday night, decided they wanted another week to consider the request for $20.8 million for renovation and expansion of Shelbyville Central High School. The committee will hold a special called meeting next Tuesday at 5 p.m. ...

VFSI equipment benefits many agencies (02/23/07) Volunteer Fire Services Inc. has two recent additions to its equipment roster which have benefited not only VFSI but other agencies as well, according to Chief Mark Thomas. A Cub Cadet four-wheel-drive vehicle can be used in situations like grass fires. But it's also been used by the Shelbyville Police Department when trying to locate a fugitive robbery suspect...

Committee explains dog rules (02/23/07) Bedford County doesn't have the resources to have a dog catcher out on patrol, so officials at the county commission's Law Enforcement Committee agreed new regulations should be seen as "complaint-driven" enforcement. That, however, would not prevent an animal control officer from responding to a vicious dog situation if it's witnessed by the officer, Commissioner Bobby Fox conceded as he pressed for a program that he repeatedly called "complaint-driven."...

Fire, EMS may share Flat Creek hall (02/22/07) Flat Creek Volunteer Fire Department, which is outgrowing its current fire hall, wants to build on to the Bedford County Emergency Medical Services first responder hall in Flat Creek and share it with BCEMS. The proposal was considered Tuesday night by the BCEMS board, which approved an informal agreement and will send it to attorneys to draw up a more formal contract...

SCHS price tag is $20.8 million (02/21/07) An expanded and renovated Shelbyville Central High School will cost $20.8 million, according to figures revealed at Tuesday night's special called meeting of Bedford County Board of Education. American Constructors Inc. announced its guaranteed maximum price for the SCHS project, $20.1 million, during the meeting. ...

Big improvements, small cost (02/19/07) The Bedford County Sheriff's Department is getting surplus military equipment for practically nothing through a program explained last week to the county commission's Law Enforcement Committee. "To date, we have acquired approximately $40,000 worth of material at a total cost