Shelbyville Times-Gazette: News : State government

State government

Emergency communications exercise held at fire academy (03/11/10)
Emergency communications units from local, state and federal agencies operating in Middle Tennessee gathered this week at the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy for an exercise designed to improve inter-agency communications in the case of a major disaster or other emergency...

Bypass subcontractor to be replaced (03/09/10)
A grading subcontractor on the Shelbyville bypass, State Route 437, has gone out of business, but a new contractor should be lined up soon and state transportation officials say the change will have no impact on the completion date for the bypass. Callers to the Times-Gazette reported that work on the bypass, which connects U.S. ...

Wartrace liquor awaits signature of governor (03/04/10)
Gov. Phil Bredesen's signature is the last thing standing between liquor by the drink and the Walking Horse Hotel. Well, that, and a half a dozen other things, such as permits, time and money. The special exception to serve liquor by the drink requested by the Town of Wartrace has passed both House and Senate votes, said the owner, Joe Peters, who said the governor's signature is the only step left on that end of the deal...

Late firefighter trained many local volunteers (03/04/10)
Local firefighters say that Lewis H. Baker, 81, of Murfreesboro, who died Sunday, was instrumental in fire service training, including many of Bedford County's volunteers. Bedford County Fire Chief Mark Thomas said that Baker had been one of three men hired by the state in the late 1950s -- one for each Grand Division -- to train firefighters...

Legislators take shots (03/03/10)
Several Tennessee legislators faced bitter cold -- and some criticism -- to visit the shooting range at Arnold Air Force base Tuesday afternoon. The visit, an annual event coordinated by Rep. Judd Matheny (R-Tullahoma), gives the lawmakers a chance to see the purpose of the range and hear about its implications, as well as tour and learn more about the University of Tennessee Space Institute. They get to try out some the weapons, shooting at targets in the field, or in the simulator...

Democratic gubernatorial hopeful visits Shelbyville square (03/03/10)
Gubernatorial candidate Kim McMillan brought her campaign to Shelbyville on Tuesday, stopping at the county courthouse and at a business on the square to meet and greet potential voters. McMillan, a Democrat from Clarksville, is a former state house majority leader and a former senior advisor to Gov. ...

County can't immediately send felons to state (03/02/10)
Bedford County Sheriff Randall Boyce said Monday that the county is at the mercy of the state when transferring felons to the Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC), despite what a county commissioner and an attorney general's opinion have indicated...

Just a drill: Hazardous materials response tested (02/24/10)
It was just practice ... and that's a good thing. Because had the men in the weird looking suits with the fancy equipment been here for real, it would mean that Shelbyville had suffered either a chemical or biological incident. Four members of the Air Force National Guard and 18 members of the Army National Guard were using Calsonic Arena for a training exercise on Tuesday to prepare for exactly that type of nightmare...

Marsh asks full term as state representative (02/21/10)
State Rep. Pat Marsh has announced his candidacy for re-election to his 62nd District state House of Representatives seat in the Aug. 5 Republican primary. Marsh was elected to the seat in a special election last year following the resignation of State Rep. Curt Cobb. Marsh serves on the House Commerce Committee and the House Transporation Committee...

A college town now: MTEC holds ribbon-cutting, open house (02/19/10)
Middle Tennessee Education Center, a joint venture of Middle Tennessee State University and Motlow State Community College, held an open house and ribbon-cutting Thursday morning, and MTSU President Dr. Sidney McPhee announced two full degree programs which MTSU will offer at the facility...

TennCare cuts could hit hospitals (02/09/10)
Gov. Phil Bredesen's proposed cuts to the state's expanded Medicaid program would cost state hospitals hundreds of millions of dollars and may force some of them to shut down, health care officials say. TennCare is the name for Tennessee's program using federal Medicaid dollars....

Bredesen: Use reserves to take edge off cuts (02/02/10)
NASHVILLE -- Gov. Phil Bredesen said Monday night that he plans to use the state's reserves to spare some state jobs and key services but he stressed that painful cuts will be unavoidable and hundreds of state employees may be laid off. The Democratic governor detailed his plans during his eighth and final State of the State address...

Bypass work blocks roads (01/24/10)
Progress is continuing on the Shelbyville bypass, State Route 437, but a spokesperson from Tennessee Department of Transportation says that a second road closure is planned. TDOT Community Relations Officer B.J. Doughty told the Times-Gazette that Fairfield Pike will remain closed for the next few months as material hauling along that route continues...

Falling tax revenues impact Shelbyville (01/21/10)
City departments are continuing to keep expenses down, but a continuing drop in revenue is also still plaguing Shelbyville, according to the city's treasurer. Gary Cantrell says that while it is nice to be able to go to a large retailer that is not crowded, Shelbyville needs to keep parking lots full to keep tax dollars flowing...

Lawmakers take up higher ed proposal (01/19/10)
NASHVILLE (AP) -- Lawmakers and education officials say Gov. Phil Bredesen's proposed changes in higher education will benefit the state longterm despite challenges to some colleges and universities. The changes are part of a special session the governor called to also make changes in K-12 education policy, which he said was needed to strengthen the state's application for $485 million worth of federal "Race to the Top" money. Lawmakers approved those changes last week before the Jan. 19 deadline...

Deason signal gains support (01/13/10)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to endorse the idea of placing a traffic signal at the intersection of U.S. 231 and State Route 82, the site of a fatal traffic accident last month. State officials say only that they will study the situation by reviewing the past three years of accident reports and are committed to making the intersection safer...

Census counts, officials say; funding is based on numbers (01/07/10)
Each person who lives in a community results in costs to local government -- perhaps for schools, roads, police protection, street lights, fire protection, administration. It costs more to run a government for a community of 100,000 than it does for a community of 10,000...

Inspection scores rise for local restaurants (01/05/10)
Follow-up health inspections for four Shelbyville restaurants shows improvement, according to the man who does the checking. Last week, the Times-Gazette published health inspection scores for Bedford County eatries, some of which had been graded only days ago...

County's eateries score well in state exams (12/31/09)
State health inspectors have been busy during the last month of the year in Bedford County checking restaurants and as a result, only four eating establishments were given a score below an "80." Tennessee's Department of Health is responsible for regulation of food service establishments and the law requires that restaurants have an unannounced inspection at least once every six months to determine if they are in compliance...

CORRECTED: State won't identify alleged business tax violators (12/22/09)
Although state officials say they've already identified thousands of businesses which don't appear to be paying business tax, they won't give a county-by-county breakdown of potential offenders or release any individual offender names. The state is in the process of taking over business tax collection from local governments, and the state's argument for doing so is that by cross-checking various types of tax records, particularly sales tax records, the state can identify businesses which should be paying business tax but aren't.. ...

Warning lights ahead for 231 North (12/22/09)
Flashing warning lights will be posted at the intersection of U.S. 231 North and State Route 82 (Webb Road), State Sen. Jim Tracy announced on Monday. The intersection was the site of a traffic accident on Friday which killed a Cascade High School senior, but Tracy said he'd been talking to state officials about the intersection long prior to the accident. He said that the lights have now been ordered, and that the timing of the project was not related to the accident...

County nets over $28M in stimulus funding (12/15/09)
As of Sept. 30, Bedford County had received nearly $28.4 million in federal stimulus funds, according to figures compiled by the investigative journalism web site ProPublica. ProPublica's figures don't count nearly $3.2 million in stimulus funds given to the local school system, as reported by the official recovery.gov web site...

McWherter pays campaign visit (11/22/09)
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike McWherter, the son of former Gov. Ned McWherter, visited Shelbyville on Friday, saying his experience as a businessman makes him a good choice to manage the state. "I am a small businessman," he said. "Small business is the backbone of the economy of this state."...

Fire Academy holds graduation (11/22/09)
Pete Souphom of Shelbyville Fire Department was one of 22 graduates of the 22nd graduating class at Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy on Friday. The academy, operated by Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, is located on Unionville-Deason Road...

Tracy may challenge Gordon (11/19/09)
State Rep. Jim Tracy of Shelbyville told the Times-Gazette on Wednesday he has been "humbled and honored" at the number of people locally and in Washington who have urged him to run for the Sixth District U.S. House seat in 2010. Tracy said Wednesday he is exploring his options but has no timetable yet for making or announcing a decision about running...

Marsh: Nashville office up and running (11/19/09)
NASHVILLE -- State Rep. Pat Marsh has now settled into an office in Nashville, and has hired staff to handle constituent services. Marsh was sworn into office last month after winning the District 62 special election in early October. "I have now been assigned an office, phone number, and E-mail address. ...

Fairfield Pike closed until summer (11/18/09)
Fairfield Pike will not reopen to through traffic until late summer of next year, according to the project supervisor for the Shelbyville Bypass. While many local motorists use the road to travel to Cascade School, Bell Buckle and other parts of the county, they will have to find another way to their destination, according to Melissa Cannon, Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) project supervisor for the State Route 437 project...

Detour required for bypass work (11/12/09)

Wartrace liquor proposal sent to state legislature (11/11/09)
Whether or not customers at the Walking Horse Hotel in Wartrace can be served liquor by the drink is now up to the state legislature. The town's Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted 3-2 Tuesday night in favor of petitioning the state for a special exception...

Cobb completes state leadership program (11/08/09)
Bedford County Clerk and Master Curt Cobb is one of 16 local government leaders who successfully completed the 17th annual Local Government Leadership Program last month at the Jimmy Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership, part of the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service...

County schools earn Cs and Ds (11/04/09)
Tennessee Department of Education released the annual report cards Tuesday for schools, school systems and the state as a whole, although state officials say a recalibration of the guidelines makes it impossible to compare this year's letter grades with previous years. The letter grades apply to schools with students in fourth through eighth grades and are meant to describe the success of a school or school system in providing value added....

Bredesen says state layoffs are likely (11/04/09)
NASHVILLE (AP) -- Tennessee's budget woes will likely make layoffs of state employees unavoidable, Gov. Phil Bredesen said Tuesday. "This will be my toughest budget year," said the Democratic governor whose term ends in January 2011. "I hate to go out that way, but that's the way it is."...

Pat Marsh sworn in to state House (10/27/09)
Pat Marsh was sworn in Monday as 62nd District state representative and was appointed to the House commerce and transportation committees, giving the Republican party majorities on both. Marsh is a co-founder of Big G Express, a Shelbyville-based trucking company...

'A whole new world' as Marsh awaits swearing-in ceremony (10/25/09)
Pat Marsh, who will be sworn in Monday morning as 62nd District State Representative, visited the State Capitol on Thursday to turn in some paperwork and take a tour. "I'm excited," said Marsh about the swearing-in ceremony. "It's a huge event." He said he expects about 30 family members and friends to attend the 10 a.m. ...

Local agencies get highway safety grants (10/16/09)
Three Bedford County agencies have been awarded highway safety grants totaling $60,260, state officials announced this week. Agencies receiving the grants are: Funding for the Governor's Highway Safety Office grants were provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Sen. Jim Tracy worked to secure these funds for Bedford County...

State Democratic leader undeterred by 62nd District loss (10/15/09)
NASHVILLE (AP) -- Democratic House candidate Ty Cobb had an abundance of campaign cash, a coveted endorsement from a prominent anti-abortion rights organization and a family history that includes his father and brother perviously holding the seat he sought. He still lost by 15 percentage points...

Marsh wins 62nd District House seat (10/14/09)
Republican nominee Pat Marsh won the special election Tuesday to fill the vacant 62nd District seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Marsh, with an unofficial total of 4,931 votes district-wide (56 percent), defeated Democratic nominee Ty Cobb, with 3,663 votes (41 percent), and Constitution Party candidate Chris Brown, with 255 (3 percent). In Bedford County, it was Marsh with 3,215 votes to Cobb with 2,508 votes and Brown with 183....

Polls remain open until 7 p.m. in special election (10/13/09)
Polls remain open until 7 p.m. today at normal precinct locations for the special election to fill the 62nd District state House seat. The seat became vacant when Democratic incumbent Curt Cobb resigned June 30 to accept a position as Bedford County Clerk and Master. The district includes all of Bedford County, half of Lincoln County and the Eagleville area of Rutherford County...

House candidates can't agree on debate (10/09/09)
With less than a week to go before electing a new representative for the 62nd District, the three candidates have yet to meet in debate at the same time. Despite efforts from several sources, from Webb School to the Times-Gazette, no date was ever approved and agreed upon together by Chris Brown, running as an independent but with the Constitution Party's endorsement, Democrat Ty Cobb or Republican Pat Marsh. ...

Pledge becomes issue at Webb candidate forum (10/08/09)
Webb School's Town Hall meeting, a debate featuring two of the three candidates for the 62nd district seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives, almost became a debate featuring one of the candidates. Democratic candidate Ty Cobb was already a no-show, and when moderator Hannah Little introduced the candidates, Republican Pat Marsh first, then Chris Brown, Brown addressed the crowd...

WEB EXTRA: Early voting ends tomorrow (10/07/09)
Early voting in the 62nd District State House race ends on Thursday. Election day is Oct. 13. As of 10:30 this morning, 2,190 voters had cast early or absentee ballots, according to deputy administrator of elections Andrew Robertson. Two of the three candidates -- Republican nominee Pat Marsh and Chris Brown, endorsed by the Constitution Party -- participated in a candidate forum Tuesday night at The Webb School in Bell Buckle. ...

Bredesen makes second visit on behalf of Cobb (10/06/09)
Gov. Phil Bredesen made his second Shelbyville appearance on behalf of 62nd District state representative candidate Ty Cobb on Saturday, at a fish fry on Cobb's behalf. The apron-clad governor personally served fish to many of those in line, stepping away for a while in order to participate in public remarks...

State officials involved in 62nd District House race (10/02/09)
The special election race to fill the vacancy in the 62nd District State House of Representatives seat has attracted the attention and involvement of party officials at the state level. Democratic nominee Ty Cobb, Republican nominee Pat Marsh and Chris Brown, endorsed by the Constitution Party but listed on the ballot as an independent, are seeking the seat, which was made vacant when Ty Cobb's brother, Curt Cobb, resigned in late June. ...

Early voting running ahead of primary total (09/30/09)
Early voting in the Oct. 13 special election to fill the vacant 62nd District State House of Representatives seat got off to a strong start, according to deputy administrator of elections Andrew Robertson. As of 3 p.m. Tuesday, 1,123 voters had already voted by early vote or by paper absentee ballot. ...

At long last, bypass work begins (09/29/09)
The blue "stimulus" signs are up on U.S. 41-A South, signaling that work is now ongoing on the long-awaited construction of State Route 437 (Shelbyville bypass). Completion is estimated by July 31, 2011, according to B.J. Doughty, community relations officer for the Tennessee Department of Transportation...

Early voting begins in special House election (09/23/09)
Early voting began today in the Oct. 13 special election to fill the vacant 62nd District State House of Representatives seat. Democratic nominee Ty Cobb II, Republican nominee Pat Marsh and Chris Brown, endorsed by the Constitution Party but listed on the ballot as an independent, are seeking the seat, which was made vacant when Ty Cobb II's brother Curt Cobb resigned in late June...

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."...

Bredesen visits to bolster Cobb campaign (09/18/09)
More than a hundred people -- including Gov. Phil Bredesen -- showed up at the Fly Cultural Arts Center Thursday night to meet and hear from Ty Cobb, a candidate for state representative, Cobb is the brother of Curt Cobb, who held the seat until July when he resigned to take a court clerk position in Bedford County...

Debate fuss continues to churn (09/17/09)
The debate over the debate continues. Candidates in the special election to fill the vacant 62nd District state House of Representative seat continue to fling accusations over who is and isn't interested in a debate. The campaign of Republican candidate Pat Marsh issued a news release criticizing Democratic candidate Ty Cobb II for his campaign's initial response to the Times-Gazette that he didn't have time for a debate...

Brown schedules forum, wants place at debate (09/15/09)
Constitution Party candidate Chris Brown refuses to be ignored in the 62nd District state house race. Saying he has received no response from the Republican and Democratic candidates in the special election about being included in debates, Brown has announced that he will hold a question and answer forum Monday night from 6 to 7 p.m. at Bedford County Agriculture and Education Center...

Firefighter memorial opened, dedicated (09/13/09)
Two events took place Friday on the grounds of the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy on Unionville-Deason Road. The first, a ribbon-cutting, was an upbeat story of goals achieved. The second was more somber. A crowd of 600 firefighters and family members from across the state gathered to open Phase I of the Tennessee Fallen Firefighter Memorial. ...

Marsh to Cobb: Let's talk issues (09/10/09)
Republican nominee Pat Marsh has challenged his Democratic opponent Ty Cobb II to a series of town hall debates prior to the Oct. 13 special election to fill the 62nd District state House seat. "I believe that the people of Bedford, Lincoln and Rutherford counties have a right to know where the candidates stand on the issues. ...

Firefighter memorial to be dedicated Friday (09/10/09)
Firefighters and dignitaries from across Tennessee will attend the long ribbon cutting ceremony and dedication Friday afternoon for the Tennessee Fallen Firefighter Memorial on the grounds at the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy on Unionville-Deason Road. The memorial will honor the many men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities and neighbors...

State appeals court rules for Horse Hub (09/02/09)
NASHVILLE -- The Tennessee Court of Appeals last week upheld a trial court's decision for the woman who runs The Horse Hub in Wheel just east of the Marshall County line. Horse Hub proprietor Bonnie Cady was fined $17,000 in March 2005 by the state Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners for practicing veterinary medicine, including artificial insemination and ultrasound exams...

Guns in parks law affects Wartrace, but not Shelbyville or Bell Buckle (09/01/09)
A new state law which takes effect today allows handguns to be carried in public parks, unless a municipality prohibits it. Shelbyville and Bell Buckle chose to ban guns in parks, while Wartrace has allowed the new law to take effect. The only park operated by Bedford County outside city limits is a small river access point, and the county has not considered the gun ban issue at its public meetings. ...

Cobb loses out on campaign "buckets of cash" (09/01/09)
NASHVILLE -- Buckets of cash collected for Ty Cobb's campaign for vacated House District 62 during a major fundraising dinner put the Tennessee Democratic Party on the wrong side of state campaign finance regulations. Party officials decided to donate all the cash to charity after The Associated Press raised questions about their failure to gather the names of the people who put the money in the buckets...

Marsh wins GOP primary in state House race (08/28/09)
Pat Marsh of Shelbyville won Thursday's Republican primary for the vacant 62nd District Tennessee House of Representatives seat. Unofficial vote totals have him drawing more votes than his three opponents combined. District-wide, Marsh drew 1,826 votes to Bobby Scott's 397, Casey Walters' 348 and Joseph Byrd's 48....

Polls open until 7 p.m. (08/27/09)

Judge Rich reprimanded for delay in child custody case (08/26/09)
Bedford County General Sessions Judge Charles Rich was reprimanded this week by Tennessee Court of the Judiciary over an eight month-delay in a child custody case. But Rich says that the serious nature of the case and the interests of the child were the reasons behind the delay...

891 early votes cast in House primary (08/25/09)
A total of 891 early votes were cast for Thursday's special called primary election, leading to an October general election which will fill the vacant 62nd District seat in Tennessee House of Representatives. According to Bedford County Administrator of Elections Summer Leverette, there were 718 early votes in the Republican primary, in which candidates Joseph Byrd, Pat Marsh, Bobby Scott and Casey Walters are competing, and 173 early votes in the Democratic primary, which has only one candidate, Ty Cobb II. ...

Debate over primary voting continues (08/20/09)
Tennessee 62nd District House candidate Casey Walters has continued to criticize opponent Pat Marsh for having voted in the Democratic primary 10 times over the years, saying that Marsh's explanation for having done so does not fit all of the occasions...

CORRECTED: House hopefuls square off at forum (08/20/09)
Five of the six candidates for the vacant 62nd District State House of Representatives seat faced each other in a candidate forum Tuesday night at Central High School, sponsored by the Bedford County Republican Women. Republican primary candidates Joseph Byrd, Pat Marsh, Bobby Scott and Casey Walters, and independent candidate Chris Brown, who identifies himself as a member of the Constitution Party, participated in the debate, while unopposed Democratic primary candidate Ty Cobb did not, citing a schedule conflict.. ...

Reminder: House debate is tonight (08/18/09)
Bedford County Republican Women will sponsor a debate among the candidates for the empty seat in the 62nd District state House of Representatives race tonight at 6 in the Shelbyville Central High School auditorium. All four Republican candidates and the lone independent candidate are scheduled to attend; the lone Democratic candidate declined, citing a schedule conflict...

Brown enters House race as independent (08/18/09)
Chris Brown has announced his candidacy for the 62nd District State House of Representatives in the Oct. 13 general election. Brown will be listed on the ballot as an independent but identifies himself as a member of the Constitution Party. "We have to run as an Independent because in Tennessee, ballot access for all political candidates who do not fall into the category of 'Republican' or 'Democrat' is difficult," stated Brown in a news release. ...

Energy grants will light Cascade, Central (08/13/09)
Cascade High School will receive an $86,900 grant and Central High School an $83,625 grant from the Energy Efficient Schools Council Fund, announced State Rep. Les Winningham (D-Huntsville), who chairs the council. The $170,525 received by the two Bedford County schools is part of $1,376,625 awarded statewide. ...

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. ...

Candidate debate set (08/06/09)
Voters will have a chance to get to know the candidates for the empty seat in the 62nd District state House of Representatives race on Aug. 18, when a debate is scheduled. Bedford County Republican Women are sponsoring the debate to be held in the auditorium at Shelbyville Central High School starting at 6 p.m...

Walters joins race for state House seat (07/19/09)
Casey Walters of Fayetteville has announced his candidacy for the 62nd District Tennessee House of Representatives seat in the Aug. 27 Republican primary. Walters, a resident of Lincoln County since 1999, was raised in Memphis, where he worked as a deputy court clerk for the Criminal Court clerk's office in Shelby County...

No last-minute candidates in state House race (07/17/09)
Thursday was the deadline for candidates to file qualifying papers for the special called Aug. 27 primary and Oct. 13 general election to fill a vacancy in the 62nd District state House of Representatives seat representing all of Bedford, parts of Lincoln and Rutherford counties...

CORRECTED: GOP primary field expands for House seat; Brown to run as independent (07/14/09)
Casey Walters of Fayetteville and Joseph Byrd of Unionville have filed papers to run in the Republican primary for the 62nd District Tennessee House of Representatives seat. Chris Brown of Shelbyville, after picking up qualifying papers for both party primaries and for the general election as an independent, has decided on the latter option, and will run as an independent...

Marsh announces candidacy (07/10/09)
Pat Marsh has announced his candidacy for the 62nd District Tennessee House of Representatives seat in the Aug. 27 Republican primary. Marsh, a Lincoln County native and Bedford County resident, is founder and chairman of Big G Express, a family-owned trucking company...

Local schools to benefit from fresh veggie grant (07/10/09)
Four Bedford County schools have received funds from a federal grant to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to students throughout the school year, said Amanda Maynord Anderson, deputy director of communications for the Tennessee Department of Education...

Bedford, three other counties declared farm disaster areas (07/10/09)
Gov. Phil Bredesen on Thursday announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved his request for federal farm assistance for Bedford and three other Middle Tennessee counties due to heavy rains and extensive flooding that occurred in May. Counties designated a natural disaster for agriculture include Bedford, Hickman, Moore and Perry...

Scott enters race; Brown picks up petitions (07/07/09)
At least one other Republican candidate has entered the special election for the 62nd District State House race created by the sudden resignation last week of Rep. Curt Cobb to take a position in the Bedford County court system. Bobby Scott informed the Times-Gazette in an e-mail Sunday that he intends to seek the seat as well. ...

Hopefuls mull run for state House seat (07/05/09)
Gov. Phil Bredesen issued a writ of election Thursday to fill the vacancy in the 62nd District State House of Representatives seat created by the resignation this week of State Rep. Curt Cobb of Shelbyville. Party primaries for the seat will be held on Aug. 27, with the general election to be Oct. 13. Three potential candidates said Thursday they were considering this weekend whether to run, and one of them made that a definite "yes" by Saturday morning...

City may opt out of guns-in-parks law (07/02/09)
Shelbyville's city council will vote next week on whether to opt out of a new state law that allows those with carry permits to lawfully possess handguns in city parks. The newly passed Public Chapter No. 428 would authorize citizens in Tennessee with handgun carry permits to be able to lawfully possess a firearm in federal, state or local parks...

UPDATED: Cobb resigns to take Chancery Court post (07/01/09)
State Rep. Curt Cobb has been named Bedford County Clerk and Master by 17th Judicial District Chancellor J.B. Cox and has resigned from his House seat. Cobb began his new position today; he said this morning that he submitted his letter of resignation from the General Assembly on Tuesday...

Habitat receives THDA grant (06/23/09)
Bedford Builds Habitat for Humanity received almost $17,000 from the state to go toward the building of a Habitat home this year. The Tennessee Housing Development Agency awarded 20 affiliates with the grant funds. "This is the first time we've received the THDA grant in Bedford County," said Pam Birtcil, director of Bedford Builds Habitat for Humanity. Birtcil said the $16,725 will go directly toward the completion of a local Habitat home...

Measure to close gun records fails in Senate (06/19/09)
Opponents of a measure to close access to the names of people who hold state-issued permits to carry loaded handguns say its failure Wednesday night is a victory for those who support open government. The proposal sponsored by Republican Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris of Collierville was defeated 14-13 in the Senate when it failed to get a majority vote. Norris didn't say whether he would try to revive the proposal, which passed the House 83-12 last month...

Bypass bid awarded; work to begin this summer (06/19/09)
Wright Paving Contractors Inc. has been awarded the bid for construction of the Shelbyville bypass, State Route 437, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announced. The Fayetteville firm had a low bid of $14,283,873, according to information released by TDOT. The estimate TDOT gave for the project was $16,164,696...

Tracy bill would prohibit 'sanctuary cities' (06/10/09)
The state legislature has passed a bill, sponsored by State Sen. Jim Tracy of Shelbyville, preventing any city in Tennessee from becoming a "sanctuary city" for illegal aliens. Specifically, the bill requires local law enforcement officials to report to federal immigration authorities when someone they have probable cause to believe someone they arrest is not a legal resident...

Proposal targeting underage drinkers passes Senate (06/05/09)
State Sen. Jim Tracy says legislation he sponsored will close a loophole by making it a misdemeanor for adults to allow 18-to-20-year-olds to drink in their presence. The bill was approved 27-0 by the Senate on Wednesday. Tracy said he was asked to sponsor the bill in the Senate by State Rep. ...

Middle Tennessee Education Center moves towards fall classes (05/28/09)
Middle Tennessee Education Center, the new Middle Tennessee State University/Motlow State Community College joint venture in Shelbyville, is continuing to move toward offering classes this fall. The facility is located in the Medical Arts Building on Dover Street, behind the old Bedford County Medical Center. Offices are already open, and the plan is to have classrooms set up and ready for use by September...

Four Shelbyville firefighters graduate (05/26/09)
Friday's graduation ceremonies at the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy had several Shelbyville connections. Not only did four Shelbyville Fire Department firefighters graduate from the 10-week Recruit/Firefighter I program, but the ceremony was opened with presentation of colors by a SFD color guard, and Shelbyville & Bedford County Chamber of Commerce presented the fire academy's first ever "challenge coins" to the entire graduating class...

Tracy texting bill becomes law (05/15/09)
Gov. Phil Bredesen has signed a bill into law that will ban reading or sending cellular phone text messages while driving. The measure sponsored by Republicans Rep. Jon Lundberg of Bristol and Sen. Jim Tracy of Shelbyville imposes a $50 fine for reading or writing text messages while driving...

Tracy: Tax bill won't fly (05/01/09)
State Sen. Jim Tracy says that a bill moving through the House of Representatives that would cause gasoline taxes to increase automatically, based on the rate of inflation, will not come up this year in the Senate Transportation Committee, which he chairs...

Tracy bill would create automatic gas tax increases (04/30/09)
NASHVILLE (AP) -- Legislation that would set up a new system to adjust Tennessee gasoline taxes annually based on the consumer price index is advancing in the House. The measure sponsored by Democratic House Transportation Chairman Bill Harmon of Dunlap was approved Tuesday on a voice vote in the House Rural Roads Subcommittee...

Preparing for swine flu (04/28/09)
State epidemiologist Tim Jones said Monday that the swine flu, for most sufferers, may be no more serious than the regular seasonal flu strains that are felt every year -- but the problem is that there's no vaccine for this new strain yet, and that means people who are already at a health risk -- the very old, for example -- can't be protected from the disease...

MTSU, Motlow announce Shelbyville project (04/28/09)
The long-anticipated Middle Tennessee State University satellite campus in Shelbyville announced on Monday that it is now scheduling appointments with potential students -- and it is now being presented as a joint venture of MTSU and Motlow State Community College. The facility, located in the Medical Arts Building on Dover Street, is called Middle Tennessee Education Center, not "MTSU South," the informal name (with matching web site address) which had been used during planning stages. It will include classrooms as well as administrative and advising offices for both MTSU and Motlow....

Local schools to gain $37,000 for technology (04/26/09)
Bedford County Schools is scheduled to receive $37,341 in Title II-D technology funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), an economic stimulus package. Gov. Phil Bredesen and Commissioner of Education Dr. Timothy Webb announced statewide grants this week, saying they represent funding that will be available for districts to effectively integrate technology into the classroom...

Pulmonologist speaks at TTCS meeting (04/24/09)
Tennessee Technology Center at Shelbyville held its General and Craft Advisory Council meetings Thursday night, with recognition of those involved in renovating the TTCS lobby, presentation of the distinguished alumnus award, and a guest speaker, Dr. Frederic Seifer, who discussed taking a proactive approach to health care...

Texting-while-driving bills passes State Senate (04/24/09)
The full state Senate voted 22-6 on Thursday to approve legislation that would ban texting while driving. The bill, SB 393, was sponsored by Republican State Sen. Jim Tracy, of Shelbyville. It prohibits sending or reading text messages on public roads and highways while the driver is operating a motor vehicle in motion...

Bypass, Belmont bridge on governor's budget list (04/15/09)
The northeast bypass around Shelbyville (State Route 437), continued widening of U.S. 41-A between Shelbyville and Tullahoma, and replacement of the Duck River bridge on Belmont Avenue (State Route 130) are all in a list of transportation projects requested Wednesday by Gov. Phil Bredesen...

Change to unemployment laws could mean long-term costs (03/27/09)
Tennessee and 13 other states are weighing whether to change their rules governing unemployment benefits in order to take advantage of additional funding offered under the federal stimulus plan. Changing the laws would enable workers to qualify for 13 to 20 weeks of extended benefits after they've exhausted their state and emergency federal benefits, according to the National Employment Law Project...

Bill would darken state vending machines (03/25/09)
In hard times, state government will take savings anywhere it can find them ... even from a vending machine. A bill sponsored by State Sen. Jim Tracy, R-Shelbyville, would force vendors to either use energy-efficient lights for the front panels of vending machines on state property, or else just leave the machines unlit...

Sides square off over nursing home bill (03/12/09)
State Sen. Jim Tracy says a bill he is co-sponsoring would help improve patient care by lowering liability insurance costs for nursing homes. Critics, however, say the bill would make it harder to hold nursing homes accountable for error and is backed by nursing home operators who made campaign contributions to its sponsors...

State funds help Wartrace park (03/12/09)
The Wartrace Parks and Recreation committee has plans in store for the town park and now, thanks to a grant from the state, those plans will be a little easier to fulfill. A public hearing was held prior to the Monday night meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to discuss potential uses for the money, $10,000 from the state that will be met by $10,000 that has been raised by the department with special events and fundraisers...

Cell phone texting bill passes committee (03/11/09)
State Sen. Jim Tracy says he's pleased that his bill to prohibit cell phone text messaging while driving was passed by the Senate Transportation Committee, which he chairs, and he predicted the bill will see strong support in the General Assembly. "It's all about safety," Tracy told the Times-Gazette on Tuesday afternoon...

Bill would let county upgrade Three-Star staus (03/03/09)
Last year, the county's interest in qualifying for a higher level of the Governor's Three-Star Award program -- which could save money in grant-matching funds -- clashed with the Town of Normandy's wish to avoid adopting a zoning plan. But a new bill could create a loophole to satisfy both sides...

McPhee says MTSU will proceed with Shelbyville project (02/20/09)
Middle Tennessee State University president Sidney McPhee, speaking at the annual Shelbyville & Bedford County Chamber of Commerce banquet on Thursday, said Tennessee Board of Regents has given its approval for MTSU to begin offering classes in Shelbyville, working in partnership with Tennessee Technology Center at Shelbyville and with Motlow State Community College...

Frist to chair education initiative (02/19/09)
Former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said on Wednesday that Tennessee has a reputation as a "backwater" in terms of its education system, and yet there are individual schools and school systems that are doing a great job. Frist said the idea of the Tennessee State Collaborative on Reforming Education, or Tennessee SCORE, is to promote dialogue about how to improve education in Tennessee, and to help school systems share "best practices" that might be applicable statewide.. ...

No local Household Hazardous Waste event this year (02/16/09)
Bedford County will not have a household hazardous waste collection event this year, the county's solid waste authority learned Thursday. Instead, residents will have to travel to Marshall or Coffee counties in April to dispose of household chemicals and products considered inappropriate for regular landfill disposal...

Press honors Bredesen for open administration (02/06/09)
NASHVILLE -- Gov. Phil Bredesen hoisted his Open Government Award over his head Thursday night after receiving it from Tennessee Press Association President Tom Griscom at the TPA Winter Convention. "I've taken great pride in overseeing open, honest and ethical administrations, both as mayor here in Nashville and as governor," Bredesen said. ...

Rep. Cobb moves to Health Committee (01/23/09)
Under assignments announced this week by new Tennessee House Speaker Kent Williams, State Rep. Curt Cobb of Shelbyville will move from the House Transportation Committee to the Health and Human Resources Committee. Cobb will continue as a member of the House Commerce Committee, although his subcommittee chairmanship will change slightly in scope. ...

Groundbreaking at Tennessee Fallen Firefighter Memorial (01/06/09)
Groundbreaking ceremonies were held Monday afternoon for the Tennessee Fallen Firefighter Memorial on the grounds of Clarence "Pete" Phillips Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy on Unionville-Deason Road....

Bypass 'ready to go' if funds approved (12/24/08)
The planned Shelbyville bypass is one of 246 so-called "ready to go" projects on which Tennessee Department of Transportation hopes to spend federal economic stimulus money if president-elect Barack Obama's relief package is approved. The bypass, which would wrap around the city's northeastern quadrant from U.S. 231 north of Shelbyville to U.S. 41-A east of Shelbyville, is the only Bedford County project on the "ready to go" list as published at Tennessee Department of Transportation's web site...

Bedford giving out more food stamps than others (12/03/08)
NASHVILLE -- About one in six Tennesseans received food stamp assistance in the latest monthly reporting period, an increase of more than 75,000 people since the start of the year. In Bedford County, 8,596 individuals -- representing 19.8 percent of the population -- in 3,918 households received food stamps at a cost of more than $1 million during that time frame, according to figures from the Tennessee Department of Human Services and the U.S. Census Bureau...

Tracy, Cobb retain state legislative seats (11/05/08)
Both of Bedford County's incumbent state legislators were re-elected Tuesday night, receiving support both locally and district-wide. State Sen. Jim Tracy, a Republican from Shelbyville, defeated Democratic challenger Jean Anne Rogers of Murfreesboro by a margin of 48,064 to 31,727 to retain his 16th district seat representing Bedford and Moore counties and part of Rutherford County. Tracy carried all three of the counties...

More tests on tap for students (10/28/08)
Bedford County students took their first assessment tests this month under the Discovery Education Assessment test format, Schools Superintendent Ed Gray said Monday. "This is a formative assessment test that gives more specific feedback," Gray said. The system failed to make state performance goals last year under the federal No Child Left Behind law. Additionally, two schools -- Harris Middle and Central High -- were placed on the state's high priority list...

Six county bridges rated 'deficient' (08/05/08)
A total of six bridges in Bedford County, five that are locally maintained and one maintained by the state, have been classified as "structurally deficient" by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. But according to the county's Highway Superintendent, there is only one bridge that would cause any concern...

Wartrace receives $43K grant, Bredesen visit (07/27/08)
Gov. Phil Bredesen visited Wartrace on Friday to announce a $43,440 grant for revitalization of the town, including victorian street lights, benches, trash receptacles and sidewalk repair. "This is precisely the kind of place people think of when you say Tennessee," said Bredesen, during a ceremony held in the shadow of the town's iconic wellhouse. "People are always looking for ways to connect to the past."...

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...

Report: Poverty among issues for Bedford youth (05/31/08)
An annual report on Tennessee's youth reveals that poverty, with its impact on health and learning, is still a problem in Bedford County and across the Volunteer State. The report, Kids Count: State of the Child, was recently released by The Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth...

Tracy pleased at school funding bill passage (05/27/08)
State Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) said last week that he was pleased that money was included in the newly-passed lottery excess fund implementation plan to address capital improvement needs for K-12 schools. The bill sends $90 to $100 million in the excess funds for an Energy Efficient Schools Program that will allow for capital improvements that benefit energy efficiency...

Election administrator skeptical about bill (05/14/08)
A proposal that would require a paper record for voters' ballots in Tennessee has passed the state House, but Bedford County election administrator Summer Leverette is skeptical. The measure sponsored by Rep. Gary Moore, a Joelton Democrat, was approved 88-6 on Tuesday. The companion bill, sponsored by Sen. Joe Haynes, D-Goodlettsville, is scheduled for a full Senate vote on Thursday...

Cobb bill sets requirements on mortgage lenders (05/12/08)
A bill sponsored by State Rep. Curt Cobb that was signed into law last week will create new requirements for individuals engaged or seeking to operate in the mortgage industry in Tennessee, including background checks. Last week, Gov. Phil Bredesen signed SB 4160, which was designed to establish educational requirements and a method for criminal background checks on individuals working in the mortgage industry who must be licensed or registered with the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions.. ...

Drivers who ignore flood warning signs could be charged (05/07/08)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Drivers who ignore flood warning signs or barricades could be charged with reckless driving under a bill headed to the governor for his consideration. The House voted unanimously on Tuesday to approve the measure sponsored by Rep. Curt Cobb, a Shelbyville Democrat...

Ethics bill defeat perplexes Tracy (05/06/08)
If a state legislator, or the governor, is convicted of crimes involving their office, should they still be eligible for state health insurance? State Sen. Jim Tracy said Monday he is disappointed with action in the House of Representatives last week that killed a bill he sponsored that would have ended the health insurance benefits of a member of the General Assembly or governor upon conviction for felonies involving their office...

Fire Academy to hold graduation Friday (05/05/08)
Recruits from Shelbyville Fire Department will be standing tall Friday as they officially complete their training at the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy on Unionville-Deason Road. State Fire Marshal and Commerce and Insurance Commissioner Leslie A. Newman will deliver the commencement address to the recruit firefighter class at the Academy at 9 a.m....

A big bang at the Fire Academy (04/25/08)
If you think you hear explosions around Bedford County next week, there isn't anything to be worried about. "Post blast training" is to be conducted at the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy (TFACA) on Unionville-Deason Road by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) next week for the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) in preparation for possible deployment...

Big trucks moved off the square (04/25/08)
The traffic situation on Shelbyville's public square will soon see some relief as 18-wheeled vehicles will be directed away from the crowded area. City manager Ed Craig said that Mayor Wallace Cartwright had requested that the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) reroute state highways off of the square. The city received word from TDOT Tuesday that the request was approved...

Blackburn rallies local GOP (04/21/08)
U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn stressed energy, the economy and national security during a speech Saturday night at the annual Bedford County Republican Party banquet. The banquet was held at the Blue Ribbon Circle on the Celebration grounds. Blackburn said the party's losses in 2006 were the result of a loss of focus on key messages...

VIDEO: Tracy discusses North Main widening (04/18/08)
State Sen. Jim Tracy discusses the importance of widening North Main Street during a public hearing Thursday night. See the story here....

A year later, Odom's license revoked (04/17/08)
Over a year after a Bedford County paramedic was sentenced to 35 years in prison after nearly 200 sex crimes charges, Tennessee's Board of Emergency Medical Services finally revoked his license. Edward Raven Odom, 31, accepted a negotiated sentence of 35 years in February after he was charged in April 2006 with child rape, rape and statutory rape over a period of several years...

Local woman convicted of TennCare fraud (04/17/08)
A Bedford County woman has been convicted on TennCare fraud charges, state officials reported Tuesday. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) said Deborah Ann Jewell, 51, of Shelbyville, pleaded guilty to one count of TennCare fraud and was ordered to repay TennCare $4,686...

Shelbyville bypass gets funding (04/15/08)
State Senate Transportation Chairman Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) and State Rep. Curt Cobb (D-Shelbyville) have announced that the Tennessee Department of Transportation has included the Shelbyville bypass in its list of highway projects for the 2008-09 budget year...

Sales taxes take a holiday April 25-27 (04/15/08)
There may have been some pain today as your taxes came due, but Tennesseeans will have a holiday to celebrate their temporary absence soon. That special, one-time sales tax holiday begins Friday, April 25 at 12:01 a.m. and ends Sunday, April 27 at 11:59 p.m...

Water summit planned at Horton Park (04/02/08)
A brainstorming session is scheduled Thursday evening at Henry Horton State Park in Marshall County to reach consensus on how to deal with drought in the Duck River watershed, according to State Sen. Bill Ketron. Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) represents the 13th Senate District, including Maury and Marshall counties along the Duck River. He also represents Lincoln County and western Rutherford County...

Tracy bill promotes health insurance (03/31/08)
The Tennessee State Senate has given final approval to legislation to let more small business owners join together to negotiate lower health insurance rates. Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) is one of the sponsors of the bill, SB 4014, which is designed to encourage more small employers to purchase health insurance, and give them predictability and stability in health-insurance rates...

County unemployment shows slight rise (03/29/08)
Bedford County's unemployment rate rose 0.3 percent in February to 5.7 percent, according to figures released by Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The county reportedly had a labor force of 22,990, with 21,680 working and a total of 1,310 out of work. The rate was 1.4 percent higher than this time last year, when the unemployment rate was 4.3 percent...

Bredesen pushes long-term care plan (03/28/08)
Gov. Phil Bredesen said that his own mother, last year, was in a position where she was too sick to be home alone and yet not disabled enough to be in a nursing home. Fortunately, she had "a son who knows a little bit about the system," in the governor's words, and he was able to arrange for her needs to be met...

VFSI receives enhancement grant (03/25/08)

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...

Funding cuts could threaten bypass project (03/21/08)
It's too early to tell whether a rescission of $66.3 million in federal funding to the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) would impact Bedford County, according to Sen. Jim Tracy. But Tracy stated that he would "work like crazy" to keep projects like the Shelbyville bypass from dropping off TDOT's list of priority projects...

Vets may get lottery-funded scholarships (03/21/08)
Tennessee General Assembly's lottery subcommittee looking at proposals for disbursing excess lottery funds, chaired by Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville), has recommended several bills for passage to the full committee. According to Tracy, there is $460 million in the lottery reserve account, of which $50 million must be kept in savings under current law...

House, Senate hopefuls file for primaries (03/18/08)
Several petitions have been turned in to Bedford County Election Commission for the State Senate and House seats up for election this year. Party primaries will be held in August with the general election in November. Republican State Sen. Jim Tracy has turned in his petition to run for re-election, and Murfreesboro Democrat Dee Butler has also filed for the 16th District seat, according to Election Commission officials...

Dates of sales tax holiday changed (03/17/08)
The Tennessee Department of Revenue announced the change of the special spring Sales Tax Holiday dates to Friday, April 25 through Sunday, April 27. This one-time holiday will offer three full days of tax savings to shoppers on clothing, school and art supplies and computers...

State honors World Grand Champion (03/17/08)
State Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens recently honored 2007 Tennessee Walking Horse World Grand Champion owners Lee Wall and Mike McGartland and trainer Jimmy McConnell. Givens recognized Wall, McGarland and McConnell during a luncheon of industry leaders and supporters at the Ellington Agricultural Center. Givens represented Gov. Phil Bredesen at the event, which has become a tradition to recognize the contributions of the Walking Horse industry to the state...

Public meetings provisions unlikely to change this year (03/17/08)
NASHVILLE (AP) -- Nearly three years after the Tennessee Waltz corruption scandal led to demands for stronger open government laws, the Legislature is poised to approve a measure to improve access to public records. But efforts to strengthen laws requiring local governments to conduct their business in open meetings have been jettisoned for at least another year...

Bell Buckle awaits sewer nod (03/14/08)
Bell Buckle is still waiting to hear from Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) about lifting a Director's Order against the town that prevents it from installing any new sewer taps. The topic came up after the town board turned down a request from Alderman Frank Reagor, who was not present for the meeting, for a sewer tap at 104 Hinkle Hill Road...

New Motlow library to be dedicated (03/12/08)

Tracy bill gives retired teachers more voice (03/12/08)
State Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) gained the approval of the state Senate this week for legislation he sponsored to give retired teachers more power on the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) Board of Trustees. The bill designates the retired teacher member as a voting member of the board. Currently, there is a retired teacher who serves on the Board, but that position is not a voting member...

Tracy pushes MTSU building project (03/08/08)
The Senate Education Committee has unanimously adopted a motion by State Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) that would set seven capital building projects listed by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission as a priority of that committee. Actually building the projects depends on state funds becoming available; the projects would be considered in the order of which is most in need of improvements. ...

More work added to North Main project (03/05/08)
The city of Shelbyville will vote next week on an addition of Northside Park Drive to the plans for the widening of North Main Street. The city asked the design firm Gresham, Smith and Partners to add the redesign of Northside Park Drive to the project, which would widen North Main from its current four lanes to five, beginning at Madison Street and ending at Palmer Drive, for a distance of 1.2 miles...

Bid awarded for improving busy intersection (03/04/08)
A local paving company was recently awarded the bid for work that will begin the long-anticipated widening of North Main Street. Wright Paving Contractors, Inc. was awarded the contract for work to be done at the intersection of Colloredo Boulevard and Fairfield Pike with a low bid of $260,626...

DHS clarifies comments on food stamp program (03/04/08)
Tennessee Department of Human Services claims that figures given by a field supervisor concering food stamp distribution in Bedford County are inaccurate. DHS Field Supervisor Lisa Cowell stated during a town hall meeting Friday with State Sen. Jim Tracy that that 9,000 families in Bedford County were on food stamps at an annual cost of $8 million...

Tracy hears public concerns (03/03/08)
Constituents had a wide variety of questions and complaints for State Sen. Jim Tracy as he held a series of town hall meetings around the 16th District on Friday. A group of about 30 citizens and several local officials attended a meeting at the Shelbyville/Bedford County Chamber of Commerce where Tracy fielded questions for over an hour before traveling down the road for another meeting in Lynchburg...

Tracy: Water, budget occupy legislature (03/01/08)
Concerns about the state budget and local water issues are just some of the items that Tennessee legislators are to examine during this session of the General Assembly, State Sen. Jim Tracy said Friday. He spoke at a town meeting held in the Shelbyvlle Bedford County Chamber of Commerce auditorium, part of a series of meetings held throughout the 16th District...

Constitutional protections for hunting considered (02/29/08)
NASHVILLE (AP) -- A proposal to create constitutional protections for hunting in Tennessee is headed back to the House after the Senate passed a slightly changed version. The Senate voted unanimously Thursday for a version that added protections for so-called traditional hunting methods as long as they target non-threatened species...

Motlow reports record spring enrollment (02/18/08)
Enrollment at Motlow College, which was named one of the fastest-growing colleges in the U.S. by Community College Week, continues its upward path and this spring surpassed 4,000 students for the first time in the college's history, according to Dr. MaryLou Apple, president of the college...

Bell Buckle seeks lift of state sewer sanction (02/15/08)
Bell Buckle will be contacting the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) soon about lifting a director's order against the town in regards to their sewer system. Water manager Ronnie Lokey reported to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen Tuesday that work was basically completed on the town's new equalization basin, which was required for the city to comply with a Director's Order issued by TDEC...

City bypass tops regional highway list (02/11/08)
CHAPEL HILL -- While construction of Shelbyville's eastern bypass remains the priority among regional transportation organizers who met here Thursday, a state official suggested they break a plan to four-lane Lewisburg Highway (State Route 64) into smaller projects...

Academy is site for fire loss seminar (02/11/08)
Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy (TFACA) on Unionville-Deason Road will host a national web based seminar regarding fire loss and prevention issues on Wednesday. Titled "Vision 20/20", the web based seminar is actually a forum discussion where participants will receive a presentation on the nation's fire problem -- and what is expected in the future. ...

Tracy nursing home bill draws fire from consumer group (02/06/08)
A consumer watchdog organization is slamming State Sen. Jim Tracy of Shelbyville for his introduction of a bill that that critics claim would restrict the rights of nursing home victims and their families. However, Tracy and proponents of the bill say that a large number of nursing home lawsuits and their verdicts have driven the liability cost per bed here in the Volunteer State to second highest in the nation...

Tracy bill would ban health care for convicted lawmakers (02/05/08)
A bill sponsored by State Sen. Jim Tracy that would keep former members of the General Assembly from receiving healthcare benefits if they are convicted of a felony for misuse of their office has been approved by the Senate State and Local Government Committee...

Chamber dinner set for Feb. 11 (01/30/08)
Tickets for the annual Chamber of Commerce dinner and awards banquet, Feb. 11 at the Blue Ribbon Circle on the Celebration grounds, must be purchased by Tuesday at the Chamber offices on South Cannon Boulevard, 684-3482. Tennessee Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development James G. Neeley will be the guest speaker, and the Chamber will present its four annual awards:...

Grant announced during sponsors' party (01/29/08)
State Sen. Jim Tracy put smiles on the faces of 14 very appreciative ladies Saturday evening when he surprised them with $5,000 in grant funds to Habitat For Humanity. The Habitat For Humanity Ball Committee had no idea Tracy planned to present the check to them at Saturday evening's sponsors' and patrons' party, which was held at the Shelbyville home of Mary Ann and John Davis...

Travel easier to Nashville, new mall (01/29/08)
Bedford County residents who use Interstate 24 frequently may notice lighter traffic with the addition of a new exit and completion of a widening project which was opened to the public Monday. The new exit (Exit 80) is located on New Salem Highway (State Route 99) and motorists will now be able to use four travel lanes in each direction on I-24 from State Route 96 to U.S. 231 North...

Open Government bills go to legislature (01/28/08)
NASHVILLE (AP) -- The chairman of a study committee that proposed changes to state laws on open government has introduced two bills in the Legislature. One has the panel's official recommendations and one removes provisions he disagrees with. Sen. Randy McNally, a Republican from Oak Ridge, said he favors a "scaled-down version" of the changes recommended by the Open Government Study Committee...

Motlow is fast-growing, says magazine (01/25/08)
Motlow College is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the nation for its size, according to a recent report by Community College Week. Motlow ranks 13th among the publication's list of the top 50 colleges with enrollments from 2,500 to 4,999 students...

Bypass construction could begin in October (01/21/08)
Construction on the long-discussed, long-awaited northeast bypass around Shelbyville could begin as soon as October, State Rep. Curt Cobb said on Saturday. "We're pretty excited," Cobb told the Times-Gazette. Cobb also said bids on the first phase of widening North Main Street will be opened Feb. 15; a request for bids was issued on Friday...

Fayetteville Career Center closing (01/19/08)
Shelbyville's Career Center will be seeing more job seekers due to the closing of the state's Fayetteville office. The Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development announced Friday it is closing the Fayetteville Career Center effective Jan. 25...

Committee turns down audit of mansion project (01/15/08)
NASHVILLE (AP) -- Tennessee lawmakers on Monday rejected an audit of an $18 million project to renovate the governor's mansion that includes construction of a controversial underground hall. Finance Commissioner Dave Goetz and state Architect Mike Fitts briefed the state Legislature's Fiscal Review Committee on the restoration initiative and invited an audit of the project...

Tracy likes governor's new stance on lottery funds (01/14/08)
State Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) said in a news release Friday that he is pleased that Gov. Phil Bredesen is moving toward a more direct method of distributing lottery excess funds for K-12 school construction and capital outlay. Tracy was the prime sponsor of legislation in the Senate last year creating a system of grants for schools for K-12 construction from excess lottery funds. ...

Local woman charged with TennCare fraud (01/14/08)
A Bedford County woman is accused of TennCare fraud for trying to use benefits to pay for an altered prescription for the addictive painkiller Hydrocodone, a state spokeswoman said Friday. Christine A. Sullenger, 28, of Shelbyville is being prosecuted by Coffee County District Attorney Mickey Layne, according to the state Office of Inspector General. Sullenger's arrest was a result of joint efforts by the Bedford and Coffee counties' sheriff's departments...

Legislature prepares for new session (01/07/08)
NASHVILLE (AP) -- The General Assembly returns to session Tuesday with a few fresh issues and several leftovers from last year on lawmakers' plates. They can count on it being warmed up by the heat of election year politics. Political maneuvering and hot-button issues are almost certain, not least because tight budget projections mean lawmakers likely won't be distracted by spending any windfalls...

State schools touted as "bargain" (01/05/08)
METRO MOORE COUNTY -- Tennessee's colleges, universities and technology centers are "still the best bargain" in higher education, said Fran Marcum of the Tennessee Board of Regents, and yet Tennessee is still "one of the most under-educated states."...

CFD loses 10 percent of funding (01/04/08)
Cuts in federal funding have resulted in the Center for Family Development losing 10 percent of its operating funds for the next year. As a result, the Center, which already has a fundraiser slated for next Saturday, is in dire need of financial help...

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...

New laws now in effect (01/03/08)
Jan. 1 not only brought us a new year, but new laws as well for the citizens of Tennessee. A new law cracks down on the hiring of illegal immigrants in Tennessee. House Bill 729 prohibits persons from knowingly employing an illegal alien, recruiting or referring one for employment for a fee. It is punishable by business license suspension for one year after a second violation...

North Main widening study continues (01/02/08)
A preliminary field review of the widening of North Main Street in Shelbyville has been set by the Tennessee Department of Transportation [TDOT]. The review will be held Jan. 16 starting at 9 a.m. at the Region 3 office building in the Survey and Design Conference Room on the second floor at 6601 Centennial Boulevard in Nashville...

Sales tax on food drops -- barely -- in 2008 (12/31/07)
At midnight tonight, it will get a little bit cheaper to buy food, as the state sales tax rate on food drops by half of a percent. Currently, the state sales tax rate is 6 percent for grocery food items and 7 percent on other items. The local sales tax in Bedford County, city plus county, is 2.75 percent, making the total tax 8.75 percent for grocery food items and 9.75 percent for non-food items. ...

Bill to change Sunshine Law may lack sponsor (12/20/07)
NASHVILLE (AP) -- State Sen. Randy McNally has not decided whether he will sponsor legislation proposing changes to Tennessee's open government laws. The Oak Ridge Republican chaired the study committee that recommended the changes, but said he has some concerns about a proposal that would allow government officials to meet privately...

Bredesen: BEP funding may be slowed by economy (12/10/07)
NASHVILLE (AP) -- Gov. Phil Bredesen says full implementation of the state's retooled education funding formula may take longer than expected because of a tightening economy, but he still plans to put new funds into it. The governor said he initially intended for improvements to the Basic Education Program to be in place within three years. A key provision of the overhaul changes how the state calculates local governments' ability to fund their share of the formula...

County awarded water grant (12/07/07)
Gov. Phil Bredesen and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matthew Kisber have announced the approved a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant to assist a water line extension project that will serve 56 homes in three target areas in Bedford County...

Local resident charged with TennCare fraud (11/29/07)
A resident of Bedford County has been charged with a felony count of TennCare fraud. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) Monday announced the arrest of Deborah Ann Jewell, 51, of Bedford County. Jewell is accused of fraudulently obtaining benefits she was not entitled to and theft of TennCare services less than $10,000. ...

Governor proclaims 'Bedford County Day' Dec. 3 (11/27/07)
Gov. Phil Bredesen has signed a proclamation declaring Dec. 3, the county's 200th birthday, as "Bedford County Day" in Tennessee. State Sen. Jim Tracy and officials of Bedford County Historical Society presented a copy of the proclamation to County Mayor Eugene Ray on Monday, so that it can be read and referred to during the official bicentennial celebration Dec. 3 at the Blue Ribbon Circle on the Celebration grounds...

Grant will keep area clean (11/26/07)
Bedford County has been awarded with a $34,221 litter grant as part of the effort to StopLitter� in Tenlnessee. Litter grant funds totaling $3 million are distributed annually by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) to all 95 counties. According to TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely, the funds for the grants are obtained through the collection of a specialty tax on the malt beverage and soft drink industry through the Litter Grant Bill enacted by the General Assembly in 1981...

City gets $24M loan for sewer plant (11/21/07)
Shelbyville has received a $24.8 million loan through the State Revolving Fund Loan Program to upgrade and expand the city's wastewater treatment plant. Shelbyville Power, Water and Sewerage system manager David Crowell said he is very pleased with the announcement and is looking forward to progressing with the project...

Cable / phone fight heats up again (11/16/07)
The cable television industry is gearing up for another fight in the Tennessee State Legislature against AT&T, which is planning to promote a bill next year that the cable industry claims would hurt consumers by dismantling the local franchise law. However, AT&T claims that a handful of cable companies continue to enjoy a monopoly on video service and that the current method of obtaining local cable franchises is "a lengthy, expensive process that just doesn't make sense."�...

State main street chief to speak in Shelbyville (11/10/07)
The Shelbyville Main Street Program will host an informational meeting Wednesday at 10:30 at the Shelbyville & Bedford County Chamber of Commerce, 100 North Cannon Blvd. Kimberly Nyberg, Main Street director for Tennessee, will provide a presentation followed by a question and answer forum...

Veterans' education bill backed by Cobb (11/09/07)
Citing the inability of the G.I. Bill to meet the rising costs of a college education, the Tennessee House and Senate Democratic Caucus on Monday introduced the "Helping Heroes Act of 2008," a scholarship funded by lottery proceeds that will provide a maximum of $8,000 in higher education assistance to Tennessee veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan...

Slow progress on 41-A widening (11/07/07)
The right of way process for the future widening of U.S. 41-A to Tullahoma to four lanes is underway, but it will be until sometime in 2009 before that phase is completed, Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) officials say. But the acquisition of land is only one part of the process, with no set date for the start of construction...

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.. ...

Tracy records 4:47 in Marine Corps Marathon (11/05/07)
State Sen. Jim Tracy recorded a time of 4:47 in the Marine Corps Marathon Oct. 28 in Washington. "I definitely wanted to go under five [hours], and I did that," Tracy said this morning. This was the third marathon for the 51-year-old insurance agent from Shelbyville, but his first time to compete in the Marine Corps Marathon...

Some want later start for schools (11/05/07)
MEMPHIS (AP) -- Some parents are building support for legislation that would ban Tennessee public schools from opening earlier than the week before Labor Day after a summer of sweltering classrooms and heat-exhausted athletes. But they face opposition from most of the statewide education organizations, which want to retain flexibility for local school boards to set their own school calendars...

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...

CORRECTED: State school report cards released (11/02/07)
The State of Tennessee released its annual report cards on every school and school system in the state at 8 a.m. today; the cards can be accessed at www.state.tn.us/education/reportcard. The state had already reported back in August the names of some schools in need of improvement. ...

State toughens Three-Star requirements (11/02/07)
The state has raised the bar for local governments' participation in a program that's provided more than $100,000 in help to Bedford County and similar amounts in other counties. The Governor's Three-Star Award program recognizes communities for being prepared for economic development. ...

TACIR revises school needs figure (11/02/07)
Revised figures from a state agency regarding infrastructure state that Bedford County schools have a need of $78.9 million, nearly half the amount reported earlier this week. The Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) corrected the numbers Thursday after inquiries from the T-G revealed that the state agency had released data that was in error...

Lotto jackpot claimed by Fayetteville man (11/02/07)
Delbert Jones of Fayetteville has been identified as the winner of the $90,419 Lotto 5 jackpot from a ticket sold last month in Shelbyville. Jones claimed his prize on Monday, 10 days after the original drawing, according to lottery spokeswoman Rachel Petrie. ...

Local officials puzzled by inaccurate state figures (11/01/07)
Bedford County officials say they were mystified by figures released this week by a state agency regarding local infrastructure. That's because the numbers, released Monday by the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR), were found to be in error when the T-G began asking local officials about them...

Local unemployment office may close (10/31/07)
Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner James Neeley visited Bedford County Monday. Bedford County Mayor Eugene Ray requested the meeting after hearing that federal cutbacks could cause the unemployment office here to be consolidated. The mayor stressed his desire to keep the office open, but Neeley said because of the cutbacks it is probable that services for Bedford County residents will be provided in either Lincoln or Coffee County...

Tracy, TDOT praised for quick work on road (10/29/07)
Traffic and safety problems in front of Cascade School should be drastically reduced due to the addition of a new lane leading onto the grounds. And Bedford County School Superintendent Ed Gray says it's all thanks to the efforts of State Sen. Jim Tracy and officials with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), who rushed the project through...

Lottery money still unclaimed (10/26/07)
The $90,419 Lotto 5 ticket sold in Shelbyville last week had still not been redeemed as of Thursday morning, according to Tennessee Lottery spokeswoman Rachel Petrie. Lotto 5 requires a player to select any five numbers between 1 and 39. Drawings are broadcast Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights at 10:34 p.m. on WKRN-TV (Channel 2)...

Tracy honored by Heart Association (10/26/07)
State Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) was recently named "Tennessee Advocate of the Year" by the American Heart Association for his efforts to help limit the harmful effects of second hand smoke in Tennessee. "Because of Senator Tracy's leadership, Tennessee had a new dawn on Oct. 1," said Nathan James, Advocacy Director for the American Heart Association. Tennessee became the first ‘tobacco state' to put the health of its citizens first."...

$90K Lotto ticket sold in Shelbyville (10/22/07)
A winning Lotto 5 ticket worth $90,419 in Friday night’s drawing was sold in Shelbyville; the winner had not claimed his or her prize by press time, and so no name or further information was available, according to Tennessee Lottery officials. The numbers were 8, 9, 16, 25 and 39. ...

Sidewalks at Harris to be funded by state grant (10/19/07)
Harris Middle School has been awarded $150,500 in Safe Routes to School funds. The funds will be used to construct approximately 4,000 linear feet of sidewalk in the vicinity of the school. Funds will also be used to provide an educational program focused on bicycle and pedestrian safety and promotional activities to encourage walking and biking as a safe and healthy initiative...

State hopes for Hispanic tourism (10/15/07)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tennessee's tourism department began advertising in Spanish-language newspapers for the first time this year and plans to roll out a Spanish version of its Web site by the end of the month. "The idea is to be all inclusive," said Phyllis Qualls-Brooks, a spokeswoman for the department. "We have multiple cultures -- the census tells us that -- and we know (Hispanic) culture is part of our potential market."...

Cobb participates in educational program (10/15/07)
State Rep. Curt Cobb recently participated in the America's Legislators Back to School Program, which is designed to educate students about the legislative process and build links between the schools and the legislatures. "Last year the Tennessee Legislature passed a budget which included nearly $185 million in funding for school systems in Bedford, Lincoln, and Rutherford Counties. ...

Motlow names new library (10/06/07)
The new library at Motlow State Community College will be named after university supporter Jim Clayton and former president Dr. A. Frank Glass, according to current Motlow president Dr. MaryLou Apple. Tennessee Board of Regents, which oversees Motlow, approved the name at its September meeting, and a ceremony to christen the library is in the planning stages...

Judge rules against Knox County in Sunshine Law case (10/02/07)
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A Knox County jury has ruled unanimously that the county commission violated the state's open meetings law by privately discussing appointments for vacant positions. The jury began deliberating Tuesday morning and took about 4 1/2 hours to reach verdicts on 29 separate questions they were required to answer...

Tracy will compete in Marine Corps Marathon (10/02/07)
State Sen. Jim Tracy is running again, and he's heading to Washington. But neither of those things has to do with politics. Yes, Tracy is a Republican from Shelbyville representing Bedford, Moore and parts of Rutherford counties in the State Senate. But the running he's planning on doing in Washington isn't running for office: it's running in the literal sense of the word, as a competitor in the annual Marine Corps Marathon on Oct. 28...

TDOT studying turn lanes (10/01/07)
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has begun a feasibility study to see if turn lanes can be constructed at Cascade Elementary. Parents and area residents expressed concern last week to the Times-Gazette about the traffic situation in front of the school, which they say becomes dangerous with vehicles parked on both sides of State Highway 269, also known as Wartrace / Bell Buckle Road...

School traffic causes problems at Cascade (09/26/07)
"It's chaotic!" That's how one parent describes the traffic situation at Cascade Elementary, where cars are parked on both sides of the narrow two-lane state highway every afternoon. But until the Bedford County School System gets help from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), there isn't much they can do about it...

State hopes smoking ban is a motivator (09/26/07)
Tennessee Commissioner of Health Susan R. Cooper said the statewide ban on smoking in public places which takes effect Monday may be just the impetus some people need to kick the tobacco habit. Cooper spoke by telephone with the Times-Gazette on Tuesday afternoon from her office in Nashville...

Imagination Library recognized this week (09/17/07)
Reading opens windows of opportunity for children and this week, Tennesseans celebrate that chance to travel around the world through books as the second Imagination Library Week begins. Gov. Phil Bredesen dedicated this week as Imagination Library Week, kicking off a celebration of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.The week will be packed with events aimed at bolstering enrollment of the program as well as fund-raising activities in nearly all 95 counties including reading events at the Argie Cooper Library where guest readers will share stories with children of all ages.. ...

County presented with Three-Star Award (09/15/07)
It was smiles all around as Bedford County once again was formally re-certified as a Level III community Thursday during the Governor's Three-Star Award program in Nashville. The presentation took place at the two-day Governor's Conference on Economic and Community Development, which was attended by a variety of county and city leaders from Bedford County and across the state...

Holton executed (09/12/07)
NASHVILLE -- The execution of Daryl Holton ended with the pronouncement of his death at 1:25 this morning at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution, where the Shelbyville man's last words were a play on words. After a microphone check, Warden Ricky Bell asked, "Do you have any last words?" And the man who's all along accepted execution as the consequence for shooting his three sons and their half sister to death replied, "Yes. Two words. I do."...

Holton scheduled to die Wednesday (09/10/07)
A Shelbyville man who's been incarcerated for nearly 10 years since he killed his three sons and their half-sister is scheduled to die Wednesday morning in the electric chair at Riverbend Maximum Security Prison in Nashville. Daryl Holton, 45, has selected electrocution for his death...

Emergency response volunteer meeting planned (09/08/07)
Tennessee Department of Health's South Central Regional Office is conducting emergency response volunteer meetings throughout the region during September. The purpose is to train or retrain persons who have volunteered to assist in the seven Points of Dispensing (mass clinics or PODs) that will be put into operation if an emergency situation occurs to make that action necessary...

Smith to aid Books From Birth Foundation (09/08/07)
Tamra Smith of Shelbyville knows first-hand the importance of reading and the art's influence on impressive young lives. Now, through the Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS), Smith, an attorney and Disability Claims Director with DHS, will have an opportunity to put that experience to work as she teams with the Governor's Books from Birth Foundation (GBBF) to expand the libraries of more than 2,400 child care agencies serving low income infants, toddlers and preschoolers across the state.. ...

It's TUFF challenge time again (09/08/07)
The dangerous task of fighting fires isn't just about making sure the water gets to the right place -- there's a lot of back-breaking work that goes into it as well. There are tasks such as climbing, busting through doors and walls, ventilation and the rescue of victims, which puts great physical demands on a firefighter...

Governor's conference to emphasize rural ECD (09/07/07)
Gov. Phil Bredesen, in a telephone interview Thursday with the Times-Gazette, said this year's Governor's Conference on Economic and Community Development will have a special focus on rural communities, some of which haven't shared completely in the state's recent economic success...

Motlow enrollment leads TBR system in growth (09/05/07)
Fall enrollment at Motlow State Community College is up 7.10 percent on the fifth day of classes and represents the highest enrollment increase among Tennessee Board of Regents colleges and universities, according to Dr. MaryLou Apple, president of the college. Final fall enrollment numbers will be released by TBR next week...

Kimbro honored for service to Motlow (08/29/07)
Kay Kimbro of Normandy, who was hired as Motlow State Community College's second employee, marked 35 years with the college this year and was recognized during an award ceremony on the Moore County campus. Kimbro was hired in 1969 second only to Motlow's first president, Dr. ...

No water restrictions here ... yet (08/28/07)
While Gov. Phil Bredesen is asking everyone in the state to conserve water, local utilities say that Bedford County has enough of the wet stuff ... at least for the present. Bob Finney of Shelbyville Power, Water and Sewerage System said Monday that water restrictions may be coming in the future, but not now. It all depends on the rain...

Burning restrictions in place (08/28/07)
Due to extremely high wildfire danger caused by the drought, record high temperatures and low humidity, state Forestry officials announced the implementation of burning restrictions usually reserved for official wildfire season. Effective Monday, citizens are required to obtain a burning permit from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry before conducting any outdoor, open burning of debris within 500 feet of woodlands, grasslands or forest lands...

Know symptoms of heat stress (08/27/07)
As the heat wave continues, state Health Commissioner Susan R. Cooper encourages Tennesseans to stay cautious; meanwhile, Bedford County Emergency Medical Services reported only one heat-related complaint during the first night of the Celebration on Thursday...

State health officials urge caution (08/24/07)
As the heat wave continues, state Health Commissioner Susan R. Cooper encourages Tennesseans to stay cautious; meanwhile, Bedford County Emergency Medical Services reported only one heat-related complaint during the first night of the Celebration on Thursday...

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...

Local unemployment falls in July (08/24/07)
Bedford County's unemployment rate fell to 4.9 percent in July, according to figures released by the Department of Labor & Workforce Development. The county had a workforce of 22,540, with 21,450 employed and 1,100 reported as unemployed. The rate fell 0.3 percent from 5.2 percent in July...

THP does not solicit funds (08/20/07)
The Tennessee Highway Patrol does not ask for charitable donations and is warning residents about reports of recent phone solicitations, according to a news release. This month, several residents in East Tennessee have reported receiving phone calls from a person allegedly representing himself as a state trooper. In at least one report, the caller claimed to be raising money to buy bullet resistant vests for members of the Highway Patrol...

Kisber praises local efforts (08/17/07)
Tennessee Commissioner of Economic and Community Development Matthew Kisber told a Shelbyville audience on Thursday that Bedford County is one of the state's best examples of good economic development practices. Kisber also praised The Celebration for its role in working with diverse elements of the Tennessee Walking Horse industry to resolve the crisis over horse inspections which ended last year's show without a World Grand Champion...

Board hears HMS, SCHS issues (08/14/07)
It was announced last week that Harris Middle School is on the state's school improvement list after failing to meet its adequate yearly progress (AYP) goals for two years. But Bedford County School Superintendent Ed Gray, reporting to the Board of Education Monday night, also said that Central High School is on the state's target list after failing to meet its goals for one year, and that Thomas Intermediate School missed the target list by one student...

Proposed sewer plant gets favorable environmental report (08/08/07)
Shelbyville's new wastewater treatment plant has been given an environmental assessment and a "Finding of No Significant Impact" by the state Department of Environment and Conservation [TDEC]. Funding for the new plant, designed to handle 6.5 million gallons a day, was approved last month by the Shelbyville City Council. The project is estimated to cost around $25 million...

Harris is on school improvement list (08/07/07)
Harris Middle School has made the state's list of schools needing improvement, announced Monday, after failing to meet its adequate yearly progress (AYP) goals for two years. Harris Middle includes grades 6, 7 and 8. The school moved into a new facility on Learning Way in 2005. It was given a status of "School Improvement 1," which means it has failed to meet its AYP goals for two years. It must meet the goals for two years in order to come off School Improvement 1 status...

North Main widening date undecided (08/04/07)
There's no definitive date for work to begin on the widening of North Main Street, according to State Sen. Jim Tracy. Tracy has been in conversation with officials at the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) about the project, which the state senator termed as "a major safety issue."...

Warren fined over environmental violations (08/03/07)
A local developer has been fined $41,000 by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) over violations of the Water Quality Control Act. James R. Warren was issued a Director's Order and Assessment from Paul Davis, the Director of the Tennessee Division of Water Pollution Control, on July 9. The order concerns material that was discharged into a tributary of Little Hurricane Creek...

Agricultural disaster area declared in Tennessee (08/02/07)
All 95 counties in Tennessee have been declared an agricultural disaster, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA), it was announced Wednesday. The disaster designation makes Tennessee farmers affected by drought conditions eligible for low-interest emergency loans through the Farm Service Agency (FSA), helping farmers offset crop losses suffered this growing season...

Sales tax holiday this weekend (08/01/07)
With school opening soon, parents are going to be headed to the stores for this year's clothes and supplies. But the best time to do your shopping will be this weekend, when Tennesseans will have their second annual Sales Tax Holiday. It begins Friday at 12:01 a.m. and ends Sunday at 11:59 p.m...

House approves funding for MTSU programs (07/31/07)
The U.S. House of Representatives approved federal funding to help Middle Tennessee State University boost its science education and aerospace efforts by completing its new observatory and conducting research to better train air traffic controllers and pilots, announced U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon...

Not all local residents have broadband access (07/30/07)
Bedford County lags behind some of its neighbors to the north and east in access to broadband Internet, according to a map published by the Nashville-based non-profit Connected Tennessee. Broadband refers to high-speed Internet service, usually meaning either cable internet (provided by cable TV companies like Charter Communications) or DSL (provided by telephone companies like BellSouth / AT&T). ...

County schools will continue drug testing (07/27/07)
Bedford County Board of Education voted Thursday night to continue random drug testing for students engaged in extracurricular activities, only with minor changes to the permission form which parents and students sign at the beginning of the school year...

State sales tax holiday Aug. 3-5 (07/19/07)
With school days fast approaching, shoppers budgeting for the expense will rejoice over the expanded sales tax holiday approved by the General Assembly. The tax-free weekend will take place Aug. 3-5 for back-to-school shopping. The General Assembly expanded the sales tax holiday this past session to include art supplies such as clay and glazes; acrylic, tempera and oil paints; paintbrushes for artwork; sketch and drawing pads; and watercolors...

Bacteria too high in some county streams (07/17/07)
A recent water quality assessment by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) reveals that several Bedford County streams have unsafe levels of E. coli bacteria. Two sections of the Duck River reportedly is contaminated with Escherichia coli [E. coli] due to discharges from storm sewer systems and "collection system failure" according to the report...

State worker explains anti-discrimination fight (06/29/07)
Civil rights is not just justice for some, but for all, and there's a state agency whose job is to make sure it stays that way. Discrimination was the topic of discussion at Thursday's meeting of the Bedford/Moore County Workforce Outreach Committee, held by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development at Charleston On Main...

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. ...

Now, everyone must be carded (06/27/07)
No, you aren't looking younger these days and that clerk isn't paying you a compliment by suddenly asking for your ID. As of July 1, the Tennessee Responsible Vendor Act goes into effect, which makes our state the first in the nation to require the carding of anyone, without exception, who purchases beer for off-premises consumption...

Polluters to receive online infamy (06/26/07)
If someone in the area has been polluting Tennessee waters, by next week, you'll be seeing their names on the Internet. That's because the State Department of Environment and Conservation [TDEC] will begin listing companies and individuals violating the Clean Water Act starting Sunday ....

Hatchery helps supply streams and lakes (06/23/07)
With summer now in full bloom, for many Tennesseans the first thing they think of is time on the lake for some fishing. Some may not realize that wherever they dip a pole in the water around the state, there's a chance that the fish were raised here in Bedford County...

Tracy is pleased with restoration of gas funds (06/22/07)
State Sen. Jim Tracy told Rotary Club of Shelbyville members on Thursday that the new state budget restores gas tax funding to the state highway program, noting the importance of highways to economic development. Over the past several years, when Tennessee and many other states were in an economic pinch, some of the gas tax revenues which had always been dedicated to road programs were diverted and used for other state expenses. ...

Local woman among TennCare fraud suspects (06/21/07)
A Shelbyville woman is facing TennCare drug fraud charges along with five others following a Coffee County investigation. Sharane Vandergriff, 35, of Shelbyville has been charged with three counts of TennCare fraud and three counts of attempting to obtain a controlled substance by fraud...

Guard response procedures tested (06/21/07)
The Tennessee National Guard is trained, ready and well equipped to assist in the event of a state emergency, Maj. Gen. Gus Hargett, the state's Adjutant General, said today. "Although the Tennessee Guard has deployed more than 11,200 Soldiers and Airmen since 9/11, and left more than 250 million dollars worth of equipment in Iraq, the Department of Defense has a plan to replace that equipment and they are following through with that plan," he said. ...

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...

Legislators pleased with session (06/14/07)
Bedford County's state legislators both say they are pleased with the results of the 105th General Assembly, which wrapped up on Tuesday, especially the increases in funding for education. "Overall, I thought we had an excellent year," said State Sen. Jim Tracy, a Republican in the Republican-controlled Senate...

Health care providers get Safety Net grants (06/07/07)
Four Bedford County health care providers have been awarded a total of more than $346,000 in Safety Net funding to provide services for uninsured Tennesseans. State officials say the funding is part of Gov. Phil Bredesen's efforts to strengthen the state's health care Safety Net and make primary care services more accessible to uninsured and underinsured Tennesseans...

DCS creates advisory board (06/07/07)
The Tennessee Department of Children Services [DCS] is developing a new system for dealing with the horrid crime of child abuse that includes involvement from the local community. About 50 people involved with Bedford County's children participated in a community forum Wednesday at the Duck River Electric Membership Corporation auditorium. The effort is part of a system reform of DCS, which has faced criticism in recent years over children who slipped through the cracks...

New execution date set for Holton (05/24/07)
A September execution date has been set for Daryl Keith Holton, the Shelbyville man accused of killing his four children in 1997. Holton is now scheduled to die Sept. 12, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled Wednesday. The court initially set Holton's execution for Feb. 28 in a January ruling. Gov. Phil Bredesen delayed the execution Feb. 1, ordering a review of the state's execution methods and the development of new protocols and written procedures...

State expects strong summer tourism season (05/18/07)
An elderhostel group from Sugar Tours in West Dover, Vt., toured Waterfall Farms and the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration grounds on Thursday, on their way to downtown Lynchburg and a meal at Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House. Diane Murray of Tennessee's Backroads Heritage, a tourism group promoting this area, traveled with the group. Murray became director of Tennessee's Backroads this year after retiring from the state's tourism development program...