Shelbyville Times-Gazette: News : Utilities, roads and Infrastructure

Utilities, roads and Infrastructure

State grants $52K for airport work (02/03/12)
Tennessee Department of Transportation on Thursday announced a grant of $52,200 towards $58,000 in engineering services to study taxiway repairs at Shelbyville Municipal Airport. City government will have to furnish only 10 percent of the budget, or $5,800...

Critical condition: Trains block access in Wartrace (02/01/12)
Officials with CSX railroad say they will work with Wartrace to reduce how long a train halts in the middle of town -- blocking traffic and keeping emergency responders from their calls. It's been an issue that has plagued the small town for more than a decade, not only causing an inconvenience for motorists, but also a safety hazard when help is needed...

Truck smashes bridge (01/27/12)
Leaking gasoline threatened a creek which feeds into nearby Duck River, and a just-repaired bridge on U.S. 41A North was severely damaged this morning when struck by an out-of-control tractor-trailer. "I hit a little bit of a lip on the side of the road ... just barely hit the lip and lost it," truck driver Daniel Teachey said, referring to thin grooves cut into the paved shoulder of the highway. "With the slick roads there was nothing else I could do."...

Bell Buckle water projects start soon (01/27/12)
New water lines and meters are no longer a pipe dream for Bell Buckle. A Community Development Block Grant and a state-granted revolving fund loan will fund rehabilitation of the town's water and sewage system. The CDBG project will be the first phase, and will replace 250 older meters...

Water line upgrades ahead for Wartrace (01/26/12)
Bids have been officially awarded to a Wartrace company to replace lines in order to improve the town's water quality. Hawkins & Price was awarded the bids of $159,920 to replace water lines on High Street and Spring Street in Wartrace, with the project set to start in the springtime...

Waste group membership moves closer (01/17/12)
Bedford County is "closer" to joining the Interlocal Solid Waste Authority (ISWA), the county mayor informed the local waste board. The county has been working towards joining the ISWA since the first of last year, after the Cedar Ridge Landfill in Marshall County was closed in January, leaving the county no place to haul its garbage...

Roads safe for schools: Officials (01/13/12)
While many surrounding counties closed school this morning, according to Jimmy Williams, Supervisor of Student Placement and Safety, road conditions simply didn't warrant a closing in Bedford County. "We rode the roads this morning and just did not find enough slick spots to close," Williams said...

Another step forward for hospital light (01/13/12)
Shelbyville's city council accepted bids Thursday night for a long-awaited traffic signal to be placed in front of Heritage Medical Center. Low bidder was Stansell Electric Co. of Nashville at a price of $58,498, which was under engineers' estimates of $79,000...

Wartrace may revise water system policies (01/13/12)
Changes in the rules for the Wartrace water system will be before that town's board of mayor and aldermen next week. Water Board Chairman Ron Stacy, who is also the town's mayor, introduced a resolution during this week's meeting that revises the rules and regulations booklet for the Wartrace Waterworks and Sewer System, which will now be titled "Standard Practices and Procedures."...

Local, state road officials say they're ready for winter weather (01/04/12)
Bedford County Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman and Shelbyville Public Works Director Mark Clanton each say their departments are in good shape as the likelihood of severe winter weather approaches. Last winter, December snow caught Shelbyville before its salt delivery had arrived, and a heavy winter season had state and local officials worried by late January that their supplies would run out...

Bypass, sheriff's woes among Top 10 stories (12/29/11)
The opening of a long-awaited, long-requested bypass around Shelbyville was cause for celebration in August but soon became cause for concern. That bypass, and the legal troubles of Bedford County Sheriff Randall Boyce, are the next two entries in a countdown of the year's top local stories as determined by a poll of the Times-Gazette staff...

Manager, garbage occupy city leaders (12/27/11)
Shelbyville city government occupies both the seventh and eighth places on the Times-Gazette's annual countdown of the year's top stories, as determined by a poll of the newspaper staff. First, a recap of the stories already revealed: 10) Bedford Cheese (29 points)...

Decision delayed on bridge name request (12/22/11)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee deferred action Tuesday night on a request to name a bridge on State Route 64 West (Lewisburg Highway) in honor of Pfc. Larry W. Neill, who was killed in action in Vietnam in 1969...

Road Superintendent to run for re-election (12/14/11)
Stanley Smotherman has announced his candidacy for re-election as Bedford County Road Superintendent in the March 6, 2012, Democratic primary. A Bedford County native, Smotherman has worked for Bedford County Highway Department for the past 33 years and has served as road superintendent since 2000. He currently serves as secretary/treasurer of Tennessee County Highway Officials Association...

Studies start on city work (12/04/11)
Environmental studies have already begun for two surface transportation projects inside Shelbyville. City manager Jay Johnson briefed the council on the progress of the endeavors, which will involve a traffic signal at the intersection of Learning Way and Tremont Drive, as well as paving on Blue Ribbon Parkway from Evans Street to Horse Mountain Road, East Lane Street from Madison Street to Eaton Drive and Stanley Boulevard from Madison Street to Railroad Avenue...

Trash trucks to use traditional system (12/04/11)
The city council will be voting on bids next week for two new garbage trucks, but will not be going to an automated "one-arm" system to collect trash anytime soon. Shelbyville's bid committee received seven submissions from three vendors for the rear loading refuse body and chassis, with the committee recommending the bid from Municipal Equipment, Inc. of Knoxville for two 2010 International 7400 models with a 20 cubic yard capacity at a cost of $140,975 each, for a total of $281,950...

State studies bypass safety (12/04/11)
Brian Hurst, manager of the Tennessee Department of Transportation's Safety Office, points out to State Rep. Pat Marsh, lef and Shelbyville Assistant Police Chief Mike Rogers where safety-related improvements could be made to the intersection of Fairfield Pike and the new Bypass (State Route 437). Possible solutions include rumble strips, signs on the bypass warning of upcoming intersections, flashing warning signs and other methods, with bid to be let by spring. Eight crashes have occurred at Fairfield Pike and Railroad Avenue, with one fatality and four with incapacitating injuries, TDOT said. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely)

City offered free electric car chargers (11/30/11)
The city council will decide next week whether to sign off on a municipal license agreement to bring two charging stations to Shelbyville for electric vehicles. The best part of the deal is that it won't cost the city a penny. Last September, the council agreed to sign a letter of intent with ECOtality North America to participate in the EV Project, which has been touted as "the largest deployment of electric vehicles and charge infrastructure in history."...

Rapids overwhelm Bugscuffle Road (11/29/11)
Steady rain that fell over the weekend meant a closed Bugscuffle Road and more clean up work for county highway crews. Flood warnings were issued for Garrison Fork near Wartrace on Sunday evening and into Monday after it rose over two feet past its flood stage of eight feet. Garrison Fork is always the first to rise over its banks whenever wet weather soaks the county. Since Sunday, Shelbyville has seen more than 2 1/2 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely)

Offices, agencies take holiday vacations (11/22/11)
A number of businesses and organizations will close this weekend to observe the Thanksgiving holiday. Here are some holiday schedules of broad interest: l Shelbyville Power, Water and Sewerage System l Argie Cooper Public Library l U.S. Post Offices...

Group drives 41A widening to highest priority (11/20/11)
Area leaders agree that completing the widening of U.S. 41A to Tullahoma is one of the most important ongoing transportation programs in the area. The South Central East Rural Planning Organization, which does transportation planning for an eight-county region, met this past week to set priorities for a number of projects they will recommend to the state...

State safety study ahead for bypass (11/18/11)
The state's transportation department will conduct a safety audit of the Shelbyville bypass following concerns expressed from local officials. Shelbyville city manager Jay Johnson said he and State Sen. Jim Tracy have spoken to TDOT, and the state has agreed to conduct the audit for the bypass, also known as State Route 437...

Wartrace water rates, system to be reviewed (11/16/11)
Due to the recent water rate increase for Wartrace customers, a review of the town's water will be conducted by the University of Tennessee's Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS). A number of complaints have been received from customers about a rate hike which took effect in July, and the board of mayor and alderman have asked MTAS to do a rate study...

Tight squeezes at courthouse lot will end soon (11/16/11)
After months of discussion, Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee is finally ready to limit oversize vehicles from parking in the interior lot at the courthouse. A straight line will be painted across the ends of the existing parking spaces. Vehicles that fit within that line, without pulling up onto the curb or the concrete island which surrounds the lot, will be allowed. Others will be subject to a $25 fine...

Students recycle (11/15/11)
Local schools have been busy all month working on some very trashy projects. As a way to bring awareness to the importance of recycling, students at various Bedford County Schools have made more than 500 trash monsters. Today is America Recycles Day, and state agencies such as the Tennessee Department of Transportation, the Tennessee Department of Environmental Conservation and Tennessee Wildlife and Resources Agency are promoting a number of projects throughout the state ranging from charitable drives to recycling opportunities.. ...

$1.2M loaned to Bell Buckle (11/13/11)
The water and sewer problems which have plagued the Town of Bell Buckle may soon be eased, with help from a pair of low-interest loans awarded by the state's Revolving Fund Loan program. The award was a highlight of Tuesday's meeting of the board of mayor and alderman...

Central recycling location proposed (11/13/11)
Bedford County's solid waste authority wants to ask the city of Shelbyville about a possible central location for recycling. Highway Superintendant Stanley Smotherman told the authority that the amount of garbage going to the Middle Point landfill in Rutherford County was lower than normal, which he attributed to more residents participating in recycling...

Wartrace awarded grant for water line (11/11/11)
Wartrace has been awarded a $169,750 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) that is to be used for a water line extension. The grant was announced this week by Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty to assist in infrastructure improvements in the small community. It was one of 32 CDBG grants distributed throughout western and middle Tennessee, and only one of six dealing with water line extentions...

City will ask for help in airport repair (11/11/11)
Shelbyville's city council approved a request Thursday night for financial help to repair the taxiway at the city's airport. A motion was passed that would authorize Mayor Wallace Cartwright to write a letter asking for $150,000 in assistance from the State Department of Transportation for an engineering consultant to give information on how best to repair the parallel taxiway...

Darker side of bright fall leaves: Where they go (11/10/11)
Those bright colors that everyone loves to see in the trees are starting to hit the ground, meaning that it's time to break out the lawn tools. But getting rid of all of that foliage falls to the public works department, which is trying to find better and cheaper ways of getting rid of Shelbyville's leaves...

Safer bypass sought (11/08/11)
Local officials are asking for help from the state to make the new Shelbyville Bypass safer for motorists following a number of accidents, including one fatality. Last week, State Sen. Jim Tracy, who is chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, expressed his concerns to city manager Jay Johnson about the safety of intersections crossing the newly opened State Route 437...

New bypass needs immediate changes (11/06/11)
It was only a matter of time before a fatal accident occurred at one of two poorly-engineered intersections on the new Shelbyville bypass. Driver error is cited as a major factor in the Oct. 22 wreck at State Route 487's (the official designation of the bypass) intersection with Railroad Road east of Shelbyville. Regardless, this intersection and the northern end of the bypass at U.S. 231 North have already become traffic trouble spots...

Right of way marked for North Main widening project (11/04/11)
Brighly colored stakes in the ground along the east side of North Main Street show where the right-of-way is to be for widening anticipated to begin sometime during fiscal year 2013-2014. The right-of-way consists of 8 to 10 feet of property and impacts 48 tracts. A center turn lane will be added from Madison Street to north of Rolling Road at Lowe's, where an existing turn lane begins. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely)

Airport upgrades in city's future (11/04/11)
Shelbyville's airport could be seeing a number of state transportation projects in the future to help maintain the busy facility. Two years ago, the city received notice from the state there was enough funding to resurface the taxiway at Shelbyville Municipal Airport...

County receives $50K in traffic funding (10/26/11)
Two county law enforcement agencies have received more than $50,000 in highway state grants. The Bedford County Sheriff's Department received $52,924.22 for alcohol and traffic enforcement, while the Bell Buckle Police Department took in a total of $5,005 to be used for high visibility law enforcement campaigns...

Broadband use increases across county (10/16/11)
The availability of high-speed Internet is spreading throughout the state, with 64 percent of all adults now having access to broadband service at home. Meanwhile, the use of broadband by Bedford County residents has more than doubled over the past four years...

Recycling savings, revenue help cover disposal costs (10/16/11)
Savings and revenue from three months of recycling is enough to pay for a single month of waste disposal for the county, the solid waste authority was told Thursday. Highway Superintendant Stanley Smotherman made the observation while making his quarterly report on the county's recycling efforts...

County expects to join area waste authority soon (10/16/11)
Bedford County could be joining the Interlocal Solid Waste Authority by next month if all goes according to plan. County mayor Eugene Ray told the local solid waste authority on Thursday that work is continuing to get the county into ISWA, saying "it's closer and might be in November, but they are really close."...

Fall clean-up time across Shelbyville (10/11/11)
Winter is coming, and that means it's time to put on your work gloves and haul off all the junk that's been piling up during next week's annual Fall Clean-up. From Oct. 17 to 20 -- on your regular garbage day -- Shelbyville's public works department will be giving you a hand to help you get rid of all that stuff that's accumulated over the summer months...

City adds nearly $70K of rail work (10/06/11)
The city got "very good news" in regards to an ongoing rail spur project, resulting in nearly $70,000 worth of additional needed work at no cost to Shelbyville. Last February, the council applied for a grant from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development for funding a part of the costs of the construction of a rail spur line to the former DESA Industries building on Eagle Boulevard, which is now occupied by Gold River Feed...

Council to study utility bond deal (10/04/11)
Shelbyville's city council will examine a lot of numbers tonight as they consider refinancing $3.2 million in revenue bonds for the city's power, water and sewer system. City manager Jay Johnson explained that while the utility is an independent subsidiary of Shelbyville, the bonds are structured so that the city pledges its full faith and credit if the utility is unable to pay its debt with system revenues...

Preliminary work for Unionville road project (09/29/11)
Utility technicians relocate power and communications lines along U.S. 41A in Unionville Wednesday to make way for a new realigned intersection of the highway and Deason Road. The bid for the project was let for long-awaited improvements to 41A in the area of Community Elementary School and Community Middle School, including a turn lane in front of the schools and a reconfiguration of the intersection between 41A and Unionville-Deason Road. (T-G Photo by Kent Flanagan)

Power flickers out briefly for many (09/15/11)
Shelbyville residents experienced a very brief city-wide power outage Wednesday morning, or "flicker" as one utility employee described it, after a power pole near Deery Eakin Elementary School was knocked into a tree by a bush-hogging tractor. One transformer was knocked out, causing a longer outage for customers in the area of Lee Lane and Mead Drive. Utility workers were busy for most of the day replacing the pole. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely)

Bid let on upcoming 41-A work (09/15/11)
County Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman, making his quarterly report Tuesday night to Bedford County Board of Commissioners, gave updates on several state highway projects of local interest. The bid has finally been let for long-awaited improvements to U.S. 41A in the area of Community Elementary School and Community Middle School, including a turn lane in front of the schools and a reconfiguration of the intersection between 41A and Unionville-Deason Road...

Water rates fall for some Bell Buckle residents (09/14/11)
Bell Buckle area residents using 500 gallons or less of water per month will pay less for usage following a vote by the town's Board of Mayor and Aldermen on Tuesday night. The new lower rate for inside the town limits will be $33.15 and the new lower rate for outside the town limits will be $36.46 for those using 500 gallons or less, according to town recorder Janet Robinson...

County awaits entry into ISWA (09/13/11)
Progress is moving forward on getting Bedford County into the Interlocal Solid Waste Authority, with other counties looking to join the organization, the county's waste authority was told. Highway superintendant Stanley Smotherman and county mayor Eugene Ray recently traveled to Columbia to meet with Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation officials, as well as commissioners from several regional counties...

231N light design plan gains funds (09/09/11)
Shelbyville's council gave the go-ahead Thursday evening to have an engineering firm design flashing warning lights to be installed in front of Heritage Medical Center. The hospital had placed $97,780 in escrow with the city's planning office for a full-fledged traffic signal in 2007, but the Tennessee Department of Transportation told the city in May that the area did not meet the requirements for the signal...

North Main work gets council nod (09/06/11)
The widening of North Main Street will move one step closer to reality Thursday as the city council is slated to approve a set of plans for the project. Plans showing the right-of-way and construction details of the project were recently received by the city and have been placed on the agenda for the council's approval...

New traffic plan works well so far (08/31/11)
Reduced departure time after the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration's busier nights is already noticeable, emergency officials say, but changes in traffic patterns are still a work in progress. "It appears to be emptying out fairly quickly," Scott Johnson, director of Bedford County Emergency Management Agency, said Tuesday. "The real time to tell will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday -- the big nights."...

City looks closely at bypass future (08/31/11)
Now that the new Shelbyville bypass is completed, will the city annex it? City manager Jay Johnson told the city council Tuesday night many have asked what kind of development the city will see in that area now that State Highway 437 is completed. Opened to the public two weeks ago, the new highway runs from the overpass at U.S. 231 North to U.S. 41A South toward Tullahoma...

Sewer tests up in smoke (08/24/11)
Shelbyville Power, Water and Sewerage System has begun the process of smoke testing sewer lines -- a normal and necessary process, but one which can sometimes result in the alarming sight of smoke rising from homes in your neighborhood. "It can be a scary thing," said Bill Morrow of SPWSS...

Bypass opens to traffic (08/18/11)
A ribbon-cutting was held Wednesday afternoon for the new Shelbyville bypass, State Route 437, which is now open for use. "We know this is an important part of your growth in this community," said Tennessee Commissioner of Transportation John Schroer, who spoke to a crowd of attendees at the ceremony...

Long-awaited bypass to open Wednesday (08/14/11)
After a wait of over 20 years, ribbons will be cut Wednesday to mark the official opening of the Shelbyville bypass. Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner John Schroer will be on hand with local officials at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of the bypass, also known as State Route 437, with U.S. 231 North...

Signs of progress for the bypass (08/03/11)
About two weeks of paving are left to be done on the long-awaited State Highway 437 (Shelbyville Bypass), according to B.J. Doughty, Public Information Manager for TDOT. Doughty estimates that work may be completed by Aug. 15. She told the T-G that as large projects such as this go down to the wire, it's difficult to give the exact dates for opening. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely)

Main squeeze: Repairs slow N. Main traffic to crawl (08/02/11)
Traffic on North Main Street was backed up for a good part of the day Monday as crews from Shelbyville Power, Water and Sewer worked to fill a hole caused by a broken water main. But while repairs were well underway, it will be later in the week before the busy thoroughfare returns to normal...

McDonald still feels the spark (07/26/11)
Even on the week of his retirement, Charles McDonald talks excitedly about future projects and initiatives at Duck River Electric Membership Corporation, his employer for the past 37 years. McDonald, director of member services for the Shelbyville-based, multi-county electric cooperative, which serves 2,500 square miles of Middle Tennessee, will retire on Friday...

Storm hits hard: Tree falls through roof of residence (07/22/11)
The residents of a Depot Street home were surprised when a large tree fell through the roof during a severe thunderstorm Thursday afternoon. "My husband (Charles Evans) saw a big ball of fire and heard a 'boom'", his wife, Gladys Evans, said. "He went out on the porch, saw nothing out of the ordinary then saw a tree on the house."...

Power fails on hot night (07/19/11)
A major overnight power outage affected most of Bedford County early this morning. Just after 1 a.m. one of two feeder transmission lines at Tennessee Valley Authority's substation in Wartrace went out, affecting all of Shelbyville Power, Water and Sewerage System's 9,500 customers, according to general manager David Crowell...

Stop signs being posted on State Route 64 (07/18/11)
Stop signs are being erected today, Monday, on State Route 64 (Wartrace Pike) where it intersects the soon-to-open Shelbyville bypass, State Route 437. Portable electronic message signs are also being placed to alert motorists to the newly-posted stop signs...

No buildings planned yet for North Main building site (07/15/11)
With the economy in its current state there are not a lot of construction projects going on in Shelbyville so when one starts up, people take notice. Crews have been busy cutting a road and doing grading work off North Main Street just past Walmart for a mixed use project that's been in the works for the past three years...

Slower ride: Motorists adapt to speed limit change (07/14/11)
Motorists are beginning to adjust to the new, slower speed limit on U.S. 231 in northern Shelbyville, says a motorcycle officer who patrols the area daily. "It seems like it's getting a little harder to stop a speeder," Sgt. Mike Davis of the Shelbyville Police Department said. "People are catching on to the 50 mph limit."...

Utility theft suspect puts blame on friend (07/14/11)
A Carlisle Avenue resident has been accused of stealing utility service from Shelbyville Power Co. Electric and water services to the home of Karrie Danielle Wisdom were disconnected May 28, a SPC official told Shelbyville police. A meter reader discovered on Tuesday that the services were reconnected without authorization...

Bell Buckle water users complain about rates (07/13/11)
Several Bell Buckle water customers attended the Tuesday night meeting of the board of mayor and aldermen to express their concerns about the recent hike in water rates. "You're seeing a jump of $200,000," said Rhonda Bissonnette, who owns property on Happy Valley Road. ...

Wartrace water cutoffs may become costly (07/12/11)
Wartrace water customers who are habitually getting cut off due to late payments may soon find themselves paying more than the $25 reconnect fee. At the Monday night meeting of the Wartrace Water Board, members recommended a policy change for the board of mayor and aldermen that will tack an extra $10 fee on the second time their water is disconnected. And an additional $10 the third time, and another $10 the fourth...

Rubbermaid road project free to city (07/12/11)
The city is signing on the dotted line this week with the Tennessee Department of Transportation to begin the second phase of expanding an industrial access road serving Newell-Rubbermaid. And the best part is that Shelbyville won't have to shell out a cent of the estimated $770,400 to build it...

Bypass is almost ready (07/07/11)
There should be minimal impacts to traffic as the finishing touches are being applied to the long-awaited Shelbyville bypass, according to a Tennessee Department of Transportation spokesperson. Meanwhile, work on U.S. 41A in southern Bedford County is on schedule to be finished by fall of next year...

Signs of the times (06/26/11)
Tennessee's senators have drafted legislation in an attempt to stop a federal "unfunded mandate" requiring local governments to replace road signs to provide better visibility. But Shelbyville has been replacing them since 2008 at a cost of $65,000, and the city's public works director wonders if they can recoup the funds already spent...

Wartrace, Bell Buckle water is now safe (06/23/11)
The boil water notice issued by the town of Wartrace Tuesday has been lifted, according to a release from Ron Stacy, the town's mayor. After extensive flushing, water samples tested free of the E. coli and fecal material that prompted the warning earlier this week...

Boil water notice lifted (06/22/11)
The boil water notice issued by the town of Wartrace Tuesday has been lifted, according to a release from Ron Stay, the town's mayor.

Wartrace water contains E. coli (06/22/11)
Wartrace water customers should be getting a special notice in the mail today -- and it isn't good news. "We had a leak on Bugscuffle Road and I took a sample to Tullahoma," said Wartrace Mayor Ron Stacy at the Tuesday night board meeting. "It was bad."...

Area road work rolls along smoothly (06/17/11)
Despite delays from Mother Nature earlier this year, work on the Shelbyville bypass is drawing closer to completion and may be ready for traffic fairly close to its projected opening date next month. Work on the bypass, officially called State Route 437, began in fall 2009 and has been plagued with stops and starts...

City tax hike proposed (06/08/11)
With members calling it the simplest and smoothest budget meeting they ever had, Shelbyville city council was presented with the first draft of a budget containing a 26-cent property tax increase. But the actual amount of the hike won't be known until later this month, after a new certified tax rate is determined. The new rate will help fund a $12.4 million budget...

Bell Buckle water rates to rise 27% (06/08/11)
In its May 24 meeting the Bell Buckle Board of Mayor and Alderman voted to increase water rates 20 percent, with a 3 percent increase made automatically every year thereafter. It was a necessary increase, said Mayor Dennis Webb, to stabilize the town's water department financially because of increased rates from water providers and infrastructure improvements and replacements...

Heavy Bonnaroo traffic invades Bedford County through weekend (06/07/11)
Just because Bonnaroo is on the other side of a neighboring county, don't think it won't affect you. According to a suggested route from the Tennessee Department of Transportation, many of the drivers wanting to avoid the traffic backup on Interstate 24 outside of Manchester are being redirected -- through Bedford County...

Powerful impact: texting driver causes outage (06/02/11)
An accident caused by an allegedly-intoxicated driver attempting to send a text message left residents in much of eastern and southern Shelbyville sweltering in the dark for almost an hour Wednesday night. "I was texting while driving," Cara Elizabeth Countzler, 30, Tremont Drive, told Shelbyville police after she lost control of her Chevrolet Impala on Birch Street near her home shortly before 9 p.m. Countzler was charged with DUI, officer Chris Vest said...

ONLINE EXTRA: 100 DREMC outages remain in Bedford County (05/27/11)
Significant outages swept across Duck River Electric Membership Corp. service territories throughout the early morning hours on Thursday. DREMC is based in Shelbyville and serves a multi-county area. At the peak, slightly more than 10,000 members were without power, but that number has been reduced to 500. ...

Wild, windy blast hits Bedford County (05/26/11)
A squall line packing high winds left downed trees in its wake after blasting across Bedford County early today. The storm, which struck around midnight, dropped large hail in some areas. Law enforcement and rescue workers were clearing trees off roads across the city and county this morning...

Bell Buckle water rates to increase (05/25/11)
Water customers both in and out of Bell Buckle city limits will be facing a rate increase of 20 percent in the next fiscal year and an automatic 3 percent increase per year after that. Mayor Dennis Webb said the increase was not only recommended by the state Municipal Technical Advisory Service, but was necessary to stabilize the water department financially. ...

Drainage draws complaints (05/18/11)
Several residents of Wildwood Drive in Unionville say the construction of the new Community High School has created flooding problems in their yards which pose a safety issue for neighborhood children, and that they're tired of waiting for the county to do something about it...

'Duck pond' intersection to receive upgrades (05/17/11)
Shelbyville City Council has executed a contract with Tennessee Department of Transportation for safety improvements for the "duck pond" intersection at Fairfield Pike and Hickory Drive. TDOT will install a number of safety improvements to the intersection at Fairfield and nearby Tulip Tree Drive, including doing away with the northern fork of Hickory Drive, which runs between the two duck ponds at the site...

City may ask state for Railroad Avenue funding (05/10/11)
Shelbyville's city council may be asking the Tennessee Department of Transportation for assistance later this week in completing an industrial access highway for Newell Rubbermaid. City manager Michael Dill said that he attended a recent meeting with TDOT, Bedford Railroad Authority, State Sen. Jim Tracy and Jim Cunningham of Newell Rubbermaid at TDOT headquarters in Nashville to discuss improvements to Railroad Avenue from the plant to the new bypass scheduled for completion in July...

'Duck pond' work nears (05/06/11)
The city is one step closer to the start of work at a intersection that's been considered dangerous. Shelbyville's city council will vote next Thursday to sign a contract with Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) to install a number of safety improvements to the intersection at Fairfield Pike and Tulip Tree Drive...

Bypass paving awaits sunshine (05/04/11)
A children's rhyme has become Tommy Wright's personal motto as he struggles to complete work on the Shelbyville bypass. "All I can say is, 'Rain, rain, go away,'" said Wright, whose company, Wright Paving Co., is the primary contractor on the bypass, officially State Route 437...

Wider N. Main, new 130 bridge in state's plans (04/29/11)
Shelbyville motorists will be able to say goodbye to traffic headaches after TDOT announced the widening of North Main Street is scheduled to start during fiscal year 2013-2014. TDOT released the state's three-year transportation program on Thursday, which also included the replacement of the Duck River bridge on State Route 130 (Old Tullahoma Highway) in the upcoming 2011-2012 fiscal year...

SWA ready to talk recycling with council (04/19/11)
The county's solid waste authority says they will be happy to discuss recycling with Shelbyville, following comments by city council members about the topic. In two recent study sessions, members of the Shelbyville city council have spoken about becoming more efficient at reducing costs by utilizing recycling...

Tire fees rise (04/17/11)
Starting May 1, a disposal fee of $2 per tire will be charged to offset rising costs at the county's tire disposal facility, the county's solid waste authority decided Thursday. Jason McGee, office manager for the facility, reported to the authority that the highway department had spent $40,866.89 in excess of the $28,400 state tire grant they received in fiscal year 2009-2010...

City agrees to 1 ISWA region seat (04/15/11)
The council passed a resolution to allow a person selected by the county mayor to jointly represent both the city and county on the newly reconfigured Municipal Solid Waste Planning Region Board. On Wednesday night, the county commission approved resolutions to enter the Interlocal Solid Waste Authority...

Area agency will oversee county waste (04/14/11)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved resolutions Tuesday night for the county to enter the Interlocal Solid Waste Authority. If ISWA, as expected, approves Bedford County for membership, and the state approves the change, Bedford County Solid Waste Authority will cease to exist and ISWA will have authority over the county's waste disposal and recycling programs...

Cleaner city to spring forth (04/13/11)
With the frigid weather mostly behind us, it's time to get rid of all the junk that has been piling up over the last few months. Shelbyville's public works department is getting ready to help you in that regard with its Spring Clean-up, set for next week, April 18 - 21...

Wartrace offers deal on Bell Buckle water (04/12/11)
And the issue trickles on ... The ongoing saga of getting clean, healthy water to Bell Buckle has taken yet another turn at the Monday night board of mayor and aldermen meeting -- in Wartrace. "Bell Buckle has been switching back and forth," said Wartrace Mayor Ron Stacy...

Recycling urged for city trash (04/07/11)
While the subject of trash may have been put on the back burner for the city council, recycling is an idea that has stuck around. Councilman Jamie Williams said Tuesday he would like to set up a committee of private individuals to look at recycling and make recommendations to the council...

County expected to name ISWA member (04/06/11)
Shelbyville's city council was asked Tuesday to allow the county to appoint a single representative to the Interlocal Solid Waste Authority's Regional Planning Board by giving up their seat. Lynn Wampler spoke to the council about the complicated issues involved with the ISWA and said it was vital that Shelbyville allow the county to represent the city on the regional planning board...

Dealing with drought (03/30/11)
Progress is continuing on a regional plan focusing on how to cope with another drought that could impact residents that use the Duck River. Last November, the Duck River Development Agency board of directors voted to approve the recommendation of O'Brien & Gere Engineers, Inc. to adopt and implement a Comprehensive Regional Water Supply Plan for Bedford, Coffee, Marshall, Maury, and southern Williamson counties...

State backs slower 231 (03/20/11)
The state has given Shelbyville approval to lower the speed limit on a section of U.S. 231 North, but the city is still awaiting word about a traffic light at Heritage Medical Center. According to a letter from the Tennessee Department of Transportation, they have performed a speed limit study in the area of 231 and Airport Business Park Drive, and are recommending that it be lowered to 55 mph through a nearly four-mile section of road that includes Shelbyville Municipal Airport and Heritage Medical Center.. ...

County allowed 1 seat on waste board (03/18/11)
Bedford County will have only one seat on the Interlocal Solid Waste Authority board, even though the counties which founded ISWA have two seats apiece, according to resolutions recommended Tuesday night by Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee...

Grease is main enemy for sewer systems (03/15/11)
How many times have you heard about how fats -- the bad fats -- can clog your arteries and lead to system failure in your body? The same holds true for the sewer system, only there are no good fats here. "Grease is a sewer killer," said Bryan Smith, supervisor of the Wartrace water and sewer departments. "At least 95 percent of our problems are due to grease."...

Sewage solutions: Down the drain, and then... (03/13/11)
The old expression "Out of sight, out of mind," is never truer than when it is applied to wastewater. Once the kitchen drain is opened or the commode flushed, most people don't give a second thought to what just got washed away. "Everybody thinks about drinking water," said Jenny Hunt, the chairwoman of Bell Buckle's Water Department. She would know, since the town has been suffering outbreaks of brown water since its changeover to BCUD, then back to Wartrace for its drinking water...

Bell Buckle to accept credit cards for bills (03/10/11)
Bell Buckle residents will soon have a new option when it comes to paying their water or tax bills. The board of mayor and aldermen voted Tuesday night to purchase software that will allow them to use debit or credit cards to make payments. "We've had a lot of requests to accept credit cards," said town record Janet Robinson...

Recycling may help trash woes (03/06/11)
A newly elected city councilman made several suggestions Tuesday on how Shelbyville could deal with its trash problem and become more efficient at saving money, one of which involves more recycling. However, one local man who is already in the business said the last thing he needed was competition from the city...

Trash pickup stays, city taxes may rise (03/02/11)
In another about-face, Shelbyville's city council is now considering a property tax hike instead of doing away with garbage service. But how much that tax hike would be will not be known until the budget is drawn up in June. The ordinance to eliminate garbage pickup was scheduled for second reading next Thursday, but it has now been scrapped...

Waste haulers offer to handle city trash (02/25/11)
City council members heard from two private waste hauling firms Thursday about the types of services they could offer residents. The meeting was for information purposes only, and the council held no discussion on the matter but will likely bring it up during next Tuesday's study session...

Blasts, delays and progress (02/24/11)
Motorists travelling down West Jackson Street in Shelbyville can expect slight delays as blasting and digging work for the city's new $18 million sewer plant continues. Work began in December, according to Shelbyville Power, Water and Sewerage system manager David Crowell, and workers with contractor Judy Construction have a lot of work ahead of them, with the plant not expected to be ready for operation until 2013...

Going green saves green (02/23/11)
Harris Middle School, the only county school with geothermal heating and cooling, had by far the lowest per-square-foot energy costs of any school in the county during the 2009-2010 school year, according to a presentation Thursday night by Daniel Kleindienst, who oversees the school system's maintenance, to Bedford County Board of Education...

LED traffic lights installed (02/23/11)

Letters to the Editor, Feb. 20 (02/20/11)
To the Editor: I attended last night's (Thursday, Feb.17) City Council meeting. After speaking and listening, I would like to suggest a plan I feel would work. Pass the monthly fee temporariy along with a tax hike. Once a budget is passed and tax money available, remove monthly fee. That way people could deduct taxes on income tax. If the spring/fall clean-up costs so much, do away with it...

Garbage standoff (02/18/11)
Answering no questions but getting an earful, Shelbyville's city council heard from residents upset over the possible elimination of garbage service. The two dozen speakers included two former council members defeated in last November's election, one of which who admitted to a possible Sunshine Law violation...

City council won't meet commission (02/13/11)
Shelbyville's city council is refusing to hold a meeting with the county commission because members are afraid the topic of trash may come up, the county mayor said Thursday. City officials say the council is not yet prepared to meet on the issue at this time...

Trash bid reaches 1st base (02/11/11)
With one member calling it "the lesser of three evils," Shelbyville's city council passed the first reading of the ordinance that would do away with trash pickup in the city. Citizens will get to express their opinions about the topic next Thursday at a public hearing in the courtroom of the city's police department beginning at 6 p.m...

First vote on trash cut tonight (02/10/11)
What will the council do tonight? That might be the question on many citizens' minds as Shelbyville's leaders will consider the first reading of an ordinance to do away with municipal garbage service. The meeting is set to begin at 6 p.m. in the courtroom at the city's police department...

Cracking to pieces: Winter leaves its mark on city streets (02/09/11)
It's been a rough winter for Shelbyville's roads, as ice, salt and constant scraping have turned some streets into pothole-filled obstacle courses. But the city's public works director said Tuesday that a temporary shortage of patching material is the culprit and that all the gaps should be fixed next week...

Sludge makes major impact on Wartrace sewage system (02/08/11)
The town of Wartrace, which recently got a $1 million dollar Tennessee Municipal League loan to help cover expenses in renewing and rehabilitating its water system, may soon be facing another hefty bill -- rehabilitating its sewer treatment system as well...

Bypass work on schedule despite snow (02/04/11)
Winter weather is expected to slow down road construction projects, and that's accounted for when a project is scheduled. That's why the unusually-snowy winter of 2010-2011 hasn't yet put work on the Shelbyville bypass behind schedule, said Tommy Wright of Fayetteville-based Wright Paving Co., the primary contractor on the bypass...

Council wavers on trash cut (02/02/11)
Claiming they have been "misled," members of the Shelbyville City Council asked Tuesday at a study session to reexamine the details of options presented previously on how to deal with paying for garbage pick-up. But the first reading of an ordinance to do away with sanitation services is still set to be on the council's agenda for next week's meeting...

First reading of trash decree delayed a week (02/01/11)
The first reading of an ordinance which would do away with the city's sanitation services has been delayed for another week. The council had initially planned to hold the first reading during tonight's study session, however city recorder Betty Lamb told the T-G Monday that the document needed to be reviewed by Shelbyville's attorney, Ginger Shofner, and is now scheduled for a first reading on Thursday, Feb. 10...

No-contact order lifted, no-drink order still in effect at AEDC (01/31/11)
The commander of Arnold Air Force Base has lifted the no contact order for the base water supply after glycol levels dropped below one part per million throughout the base effective mid-day Sunday, according to a news release at the base web site. The base is home to Arnold Engineering Development Center...

AEDC water contaminated; employees should bring drinking water (01/29/11)
The commander of Arnold Engineering Development Center has directed employees not to use the potable water on base because of contaminants found Friday. The workforce was alerted late yesterday after ethylene glycol was found in one building's water supply, according to an AEDC news release on Saturday...

Added city trash to hit county hard (01/27/11)
If the City of Shelbyville drops residential garbage pickup as expected, it could have a $700,000 impact on Bedford County's waste disposal costs the first year, Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman told the county's Financial Management Committee on Tuesday night...

Snow strikes again (01/26/11)
Bedford County School Superintendent Ed Gray originally announced that schools would open two hours late this morning due to an overnight snowfall. But, after daylight, Gray and other school officials continued to inspect local roads, and Gray announced just before 8 a.m. that schools would close entirely...

People's voices will be heard before final city garbage cut (01/25/11)
Action to do away with the city's sanitation department will move forward quickly in February, with citizens being given a chance to express their feelings at an upcoming public hearing. Meanwhile, private trash collectors have already been making inquiries about setting up business in town to fill the void after the service is done away with...

Slippery problem faces officials as state salt supply runs short (01/23/11)
An unusually-early winter season, and a limited supply of ice-melting salt, has state, county and city governments across Tennessee changing their strategies to try to do more with less. "Everybody's in the same boat," said Bedford County Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman...

Light snowfall leaves a big mess (01/21/11)
Snow left its mark across Bedford County early Thursday night, with much less accumulation than last week but arguably icier roads. Approximately an inch fell between approximately 5-8:30 p.m. Several reports of vehicles running off roads and tractor-trailer rigs jackknifing were reported this morning as ice and a light snow coating froze overnight...

Preparing for more snow (01/20/11)

Bell Buckle, BCUD extend water contract (01/19/11)
The water issue in Bell Buckle is still in limbo. At the Tuesday night meeting of the board of mayor and aldermen, Mayor Dennis Webb told board members he, Water Board Chair Jenny Hunt and Water Department Supervisor Ronnie Lokey had met with Bedford County Utility District...

Gallagher exits, Stacy enters as mayor of Wartrace (01/18/11)
There were mixed feelings at the Wartrace Board of Mayor an Aldermen meeting Jan. 10. Despite deep snows and icy weather, the elected officials met for the regular meeting, which was conducted by not one, but two different mayors. Outgoing Mayor Don Gallagher conducted the first part of the meeting, and in the mayor's report, thanked everyone for the support he had been shown throughout his time in office...

City to end trash pickup (01/14/11)
In an unexpected about-face, Shelbyville's city council voted Thursday to have the city recorder to draw up an ordinance to discontinue trash pickup for residents. Last week, the council voted in a study session to fast track an ordinance imposing a $11 monthly trash fee, plus an unspecified hike in the city's property tax...

Shovel ready (01/13/11)

Schools to close Wednesday (01/11/11)
Bedford County Schools will remain closed on Wednesday, Superintendent Ed Gray announced this afternoon. Bedford County Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman said state highways and many main county roads are clear, and some are even beginning to dry. But shady and less-traveled roads are still covered with snow, and even a road that seems safe may have an icy patch lurking due to shade, an overpass or standing water, causing trouble for motorists....

Snow ices area (01/11/11)
Seven inches of snow Sunday night and Monday morning closed schools and businesses and kept many Bedford County residents, young and old, home on Monday, and continued cold weather may hinder the process of clearing country roads and side streets. "We've still got a whole lot of work to do," said Bedford County Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman late Monday afternoon...

WEB: The mail must go on (01/10/11)
An inscription on the wall of a New York City post office states, "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds." For Bedford County's postal workers, this morning's six-inch snow is an inconvenience, but that informal creed holds true...

Trash fee goes on fast track (01/06/11)
City council members could be passing the first reading of an ordinance imposing an $11 monthly trash fee as soon as next week if all goes according to plan. Shelbyville's city council decided Tuesday in a special study session to move ahead with a plan to implement the fee, plus a property tax increase that has yet to be determined in an effort to balance the city's books...

Tax hike may join trash fee (01/05/11)
According to discussion at a study session Tuesday night, Shelbyville's city council is ready to implement an $11 monthly trash fee as well as a property tax increase to balance the city's books. A number of special called study sessions, which have yet to be set, will take place so that the council can pore over the details, such as how much the property tax hike might be...

Adoption draws world's gaze (01/02/11)
An international adoption gone bad, which brought world media attention to Shelbyville, has been voted the top story of 2010 by a poll of Times-Gazette staff members. Coming in at number two was an ongoing dispute about how to pay for city garbage collection...

Report lists county's needs (12/30/10)
Bedford County has been ranked as the 9th fastest growing county in Tennessee, according to a new report that says the county also has some $190 million in infrastructure needs. The report was released Tuesday by the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations and was based on information provided by state and local officials...

Bypass paving continues (12/30/10)

Water woes among year's top issues (12/29/10)
Water was a problem in 2010 between Wartrace and Bell Buckle -- both in the literal and figurative senses of the word "between." The towns' water woes and a verdict in a murder trial are the next two entries on the Times-Gazette's annual countdown of the biggest news stories of 2010 as selected by a vote of staff members...

Bell Buckle faces major choice on water source (12/29/10)
Bell Buckle water customers, there may -- or may not -- be more dirty water headed your way. At the special called meeting Tuesday night, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen discussed the water quality issues that have plagued Bell Buckle water customers since early July...

Town to seek $750K for aging system (12/29/10)
The Bell Buckle Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted Tuesday night in a 2 1/2 hour special called meeting to begin the process of applying for $750,000 in loans -- all for the town's water and sewer system. "We inherited this problem when we came into office," said Mayor Dennis Webb. "It is an antiquated system."...

Car strikes train in Bell Buckle (12/28/10)

Speedier, slower travel remain in news during 2010 (12/28/10)
Two highway-related stories occupy the eighth and seventh positions on the Times-Gazette's annual countdown of the biggest news stories of 2010. One is about a long-awaited project becoming a reality; the other involves questions about how to make an existing highway safer...

Animal carcass removal costs expected to fall (12/23/10)
County Mayor Eugene Ray told Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee Tuesday night that the cost of livestock carcass removal through Appertain Corp. would likely be reduced once a new contract is in place. However, the University of Tennessee and Middle Tennessee State University still haven't found a long-term alternative to landfill disposal...

Trash fee going to council (12/17/10)
The trash fee will be on Shelbyville's city council agenda when the council meets for the first time in 2011. And while the council heard Thursday about how city departments are saving money by making cuts and by possibly merging duties of some workers, some members want to talk about raising revenue...

Road commemorates Fort (12/17/10)
Cold, wet weather didn't keep more than dozen friends, family members and neighbors of the late Mary Pepper Wells Fort from gathering on the side of a road near Wartrace Thursday morning. They were there for the unveiling of the street sign that now designates that stretch of Knob Creek Road the Mary Pepper Wells Fort Memorial Highway...

Waste destination found (12/15/10)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' vote Tuesday night to join the Interlocal Solid Waste Authority was prompted by a looming deadline and few options, but officials say it may turn out to be a good decision for the county. Cedar Ridge Landfill in Marshall County, where Bedford County Solid Waste Authority had been taking its trash, is closing at the end of the year, and the options for replacing it were few and expensive...

Road salt's ready to go (12/15/10)
Shelbyville now has all the salt it needs to cope with any other winter weather that comes our way this season. Motorists faced a mess Monday morning after a shortage of road salt forced the public works department to limit the distribution of the material to main thoroughfares only, leaving side streets and subdivision to cope with the slick stuff...

City "good to go" after salt delivery (12/14/10)
The city "should be good to go" now that two loads of salt were delivered early this morning to help keep Shelbyville streets clear. A shortage of road salt had the city's public works director urging everyone to stay off the roads on Monday....

Council reaches agreement on sewer plant work (12/10/10)
Work can begin soon on Shelbyville's new waste water facility now that the City Council has executed an agreement with the power system. Construction on the $18 million sewer plant was halted before it even began after concerns were raised about workers excavating part of the same underground storm water flume system that collapsed last year...

Waste plant kickoff awaits final approval (12/03/10)
Work on the city's new waste water facility could get underway soon after Shelbyville's city council signs off on an agreement with the power system. The $18 million sewer plant project was halted before it even began after concerns were raised about workers excavating part of the same underground storm water flume system that collapsed last year...

State agency says water service can't be cut over trash fee (12/02/10)
Another legal opinion from the state's Municipal Technical Advisory Service states that Shelbyville residents who refuse to pay a proposed $11 monthly trash fee would not have their water service cut off after all. And this news has caused city council members to ask for "all the facts" before presenting the topic to the public again...

City may let county use transfer station (12/02/10)
Shelbyville and Bedford County may be joining forces soon to combat the problem of where to dump rural trash. The county learned last week that Cedar Ridge Landfill in neighboring Marshall County is closing temporarily due to a delay in its appeal to the state for permission to expand, but also because space is running out for more garbage at the site...

Make sure holiday mail arrives on time (11/25/10)
Want it delivered by Dec. 25? Here are the last dates you can get your holiday cards, and packages out through the United States Postal Service and still get them there on time. Domestic Mail First Class Mail - Dec.. 20 Priority Mail - Dec.. 21...

Wartrace water rates up 20% (11/23/10)
Wartrace water customers will be seeing a rate increase starting with their December bills. The 20 percent increase -- about $6 more a month, was approved in a resolution at the special called meeting Friday night of the board of mayor and alderman to pass the town's budget...

Time for a holiday break (11/23/10)
A variety of local offices and facilities will close for the Thanksgiving holiday. Here are some closings of broad interest: Bedford County Courthouse, Bedford County Courthouse Annex and Bedford County Office Complex will close Thursday, Friday and (where applicable) Saturday...

New council will take on old issues (11/21/10)
When the two newest members of Shelbyville's city council take their seats next month, they will be facing the same problems that has dominated their discussions over the past year -- the budget. The general election earlier this month saw council incumbents Lee Roy Cunningham and Al Stephenson defeated by James "Jamie" Williams and Sam Meek...

City trash fee delayed (11/18/10)
The controversial ordinance that would enact a monthly $11 trash fee for Shelbyville residents will have to be completely rewritten and would likely not be passed until next spring. Meanwhile, the city is trying to save money by not filling vacant job positions throughout Shelbyville's various departments...

Wartrace water rates may rise (11/16/10)
The water customers of Wartrace could be facing a 20 percent increase in their rates next month if the board of mayor and aldermen pass the second reading of the FY 2011 budget at a special called meeting this Friday. A public hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m., followed by the called meeting...

Sewer work awaits city OK (11/12/10)
A special called meeting of the city council may have to be held so that work can begin on a new waste water treatment plant. Work on the project was halted before it even began after concerns were raised about workers excavating part of the same underground storm water flume system that collapsed last year...

Council approves N. Main land buys (11/11/10)
Shelbyville's city council gave its approval to state right-of-way acquisition for the widening of North Main Street. The city was informed last week that the Tennessee Department of Transportation was ready to begin the taking of property and needed council approval to do so...

Drainage problems damage access road (11/11/10)
More drainage issues flowed into the Wartrace water board meeting Monday night, with area residents George and Gayle Embry attending to express their concerns. "They use the access road where we put the water storage tank at Jakes Branch Road," said Mayor Don Gallagher. "The Embrys got permission to use it. It keeps washing out."...

Ignore trash fee, lose city water (11/09/10)
A legal opinion from the state's Municipal Technical Advisory Service says that residents who refuse to pay a proposed $11 monthly trash fee could have their water service cut off. Shelbyville's city council put off the third and final reading of the controversial fee last week after they were told there were "too many unanswered questions" about the ordinance...

State plans N. Main land buys (11/07/10)
Shelbyville's city council will vote Tuesday on whether to give the OK to the final step in widening North Main Street -- namely right-of-way acquisition for the project. But according to a state spokesperson, the project is not yet funded for construction...

'Duck Pond' intersection to be rebuilt (11/07/10)
The intersection at Fairfield Pike and Tulip Tree Drive in Shelbyville will become safer once a state road project is completed, which will also close a street that has been deemed hazardous. Shelbyville public works director Mark Clanton told the city council that the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has done a study on accidents that have occurred at the popular intersection near H.V. ...

Storm water projects ahead for 2 streets (11/07/10)
Two storm water projects will be undertaken by Shelbyville's public works department to prevent a road collapse and help with potential flooding issues. Shelbyville's public works director Mark Clanton told council members during Monday's study session that his department has been doing storm water inventory at several sites around town and pointed out the curve on Amos Smith Road "was falling in."...

City sewer work hits legal snag (11/04/10)
Construction on the city's new sewer plant will be delayed until Shelbyville's council receives assurances that the city will be legally protected after they discovered that workers will be digging under part of a storm water flume. Public works director Mark Clanton briefed the council Monday about discussions late last week he had with utility members about the new facility, where work was scheduled to begin Nov. 8...

Trash fee delayed (11/02/10)
"Too many unanswered questions" has delayed the final reading and public hearing for the city's controversial $11 monthly trash fee that was set for next Tuesday. City recorder Betty Lamb told the city council during last night's study session that Shelbyville's new sanitation ordinance was "not ready to be adopted at all."...

Water supply plan gains DRA approval (11/02/10)
The Duck River Development Agency will be bringing experts to the table to help implement a water supply plan for the region that was approved last Thursday. DRA's board of directors voted to approve the recommendation of O'Brien & Gere Engineers, Inc. to adopt and implement a Comprehensive Regional Water Supply Plan for Bedford, Coffee, Marshall, Maury, and southern Williamson counties...

Fairfield Pike open (10/27/10)
Law enforcement scanner traffic this morning indicated that Fairfield Pike has, as projected, re-opened to through traffic. The road had been closed for months at its intersection with the new Shelbyville bypass, which is still under construction.

DREMC announces power outages to upgrade service (10/25/10)
Duck River Electric Membership Corporation customers in the Haskins Chapel area of Bedford County will experience a planned outage Tuesday morning. A voltage conversion to upgrade service is necessary to improved the reliability of service for affected members, according to a DREMC news release...

Go! Fairfield Pike to reopen this week (10/24/10)
The section of Fairfield Pike closed since November 2009 due to bypass construction should reopen later this week, according to Tommy Wright of Wright Paving Co., the primary contractor on the bypass. When Fairfield Pike re-opens, its intersection with the bypass will have stop signs, even though there's no cross traffic yet. That's so that drivers on Fairfield Pike can get used to stopping at the intersection, said Wright...

Normandy capacity could be increased (10/22/10)
The Duck River Agency board will be voting at the end of the month on water saving measures that may include increasing the capacity of Normandy Reservoir. The meeting is set for Thursday, Oct. 28, 6:45 p.m. at Henry Horton Park in Marshall County in Conference Room A and B, according to DRA executive director Doug Murphy...

41A resurfacing continues; traffic affected (10/22/10)

City given $450K for sewer work (10/21/10)
A Community Development Block Grant of $450,000 has been approved to help with the rehabilitation of the city's sewer system. The awarding of the grant was announced Wednesday afternoon by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development...

Quail Hollow to close soon (10/17/10)
The Quail Hollow landfill in southern Bedford County, inactive for years, should be officially closed by mid-December, members of the Solid Waste Authority were told Thursday. Member Bill Lewis said that the site is to be covered with clay, dirt and then sodded with grass. ...

Hazard mitigation plan given official approval (10/15/10)
Bedford County's updated hazard mitigation plan has been formally approved, County Mayor Eugene Ray announced last week. Approval of the plan is a prerequisite to certain types of grant funding for projects for helping to prepare for major disasters...

Yard filled with junk? It's Fall Clean-Up time (10/13/10)
It's fall once again, and that means it's time to get rid of all the junk that's been piling up around your property and garage. Next week, the city's public works department will be lending a hand to help you haul away all that stuff when they hold their annual Fall Clean-up...

DREMC upgrade requires power outage (10/10/10)
Duck River Electric will interrupt electric service Tuesday for some customers served by the Shelbyville substation while it undergoes a voltage conversion to upgrade service. DREMC says customers can expect power to be interrupted from 8 a.m. until noon for customers in the following areas:...

Celebration plea for waste pickup denied by council (10/07/10)
Shelbyville's city council said Tuesday they would be opening a can of worms if they began providing Dumpster service at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. Public works director Mark Clanton told the council that The Celebration contacted him several weeks ago asking if the city could provide garbage pickup since they had withdrawn from their contract with the firm Waste Management...

Expect delays as overpass work continues (10/06/10)

Developer asks city for street (10/06/10)
The city of Shelbyville will draft a letter of intent in the hopes of attracting a new business. Chamber of Commerce director Walt Wood told the council Tuesday that a prospect is looking at bringing a "major commercial investment" to the city that could bring as many as 70 new jobs...

Wartrace water woes irk users (10/05/10)
The water problems that began for Wartrace and its water customers April 1, 2008, continue to plague the town in many ways. Some are expected -- aging lines leaking under the increased water pressure from the Tullahoma Utilities Board, Wartrace's new water supplier...

Floodgate work for cleaner water (10/05/10)

231 traffic study approved (09/23/10)
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) told the city Wednesday they will conduct a traffic study at the intersection of U.S. 231 North and Airport Business Park Drive. Two weeks ago, Shelbyville's city council voted to lower the speed limit on U.S. 231 to 45 mph near Heritage Medical Center so a traffic signal can be installed if the state chooses to do so...

Road's 'name' to honor volunteer (09/22/10)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee gave its endorsement on Tuesday to a proposal that Knob Creek Road near Wartrace be designated the Mary Pepper Wells Fort Memorial Road. The actual name of the road would not change, nor would the mailing addresses of those living on the road...

Appertain denies service cutback claim (09/21/10)
Appertain Corp., which is currently handing removal of livestock carcasses in Bedford and other nearby counties, said it has tried to expand its service and denied a claim by County Mayor Eugene Ray last week that the company tried to back out of its contract...

Cattle disposal plan remains for 3 months (09/17/10)
Dead cattle will still be disposed of as usual for the next three months, the county's solid waste authority learned Thursday, although there had been some recent snags with where to put them. County Mayor Eugene Ray told authority members that Appertain Corp. of Pulaski had tried to back out of the agreement they had with the county to dispose of cattle carcasses because they had no place to take the remains...

Bell Buckle cleans up its acts by codifying town ordinances (09/16/10)
It's been close to three years now that the Board of Mayor and Aldermen in Bell Buckle got started on some "housekeeping." In this case, it wasn't the closets that needed cleaning out or the living room that needed straightening up, but the ordinances that govern everyday life in the town...

Traffic signal dollars can't be diverted -- Cantrell (09/15/10)
Shelbyville's treasurer says that money which was placed in escrow for a traffic signal on U.S. 231 North can not be used for any other purpose. Treasurer Gary Cantrell told the T-G he wished to respond to statements made by a blogger and readers on this newspaper's website about nearly $100,000 in funds from Heritage Medical Center that were placed in escrow for a red light they desired...

Lower 231 limit awaits state's okay (09/14/10)
The city is awaiting advice from the state before posting the new 45 mph speed limit on U.S. 231 North, Shelbyville officials say. Shelbyville had initially planned to erect the new signs on Monday, after the council voted last Thursday to lower the speed on the highway inside the city limits to 45 mph between Harts Chapel Road and Frank Martin Road...

Trash fee passes 1st hurdle (09/12/10)
With no comment, Shelbyville City Council on Thursday night approved the first reading of an ordinance setting up the rules for an $11 monthly garbage fee. The council passed the ordinance by a vote of 4-2, with Lee Roy Cunningham and Al Stephenson voting no...

Shelbyville joins charge toward electric cars (09/12/10)
Shelbyville has approved joining other communities around the state in bringing charging stations to town for electric vehicles. The city council gave its approval Thursday for Mayor Wallace Cartwright to sign a letter of intent with the company ECOtality North America to participate in the EV Project, touted as the largest deployment of electric vehicles and charge infrastructure in history...

Council lowers Hwy. 231 speed limit (09/10/10)
Shelbyville's city council voted Thursday to lower the speed limit on U.S. 231 to 45 mph near Heritage Medical Center so that a traffic signal can be installed. However, it will be up to the state whether or not a light will be installed or not....

Bypass work continues (09/08/10)

Hospital signal needed, readers say (09/08/10)
Times-Gazette readers have plenty of opinions about whether a traffic signal should be installed in front of Heritage Medical Center. The hospital has asked the city of Shelbyville for either progress on installing a light in front of the facility, or a refund of nearly $100,000 in escrow that was set aside for that purpose in 2007...

Hunters' shots caused extensive Charter outage (09/08/10)
Errant shots by dove hunters near Wartrace during the late afternoon of Labor Day knocked out Charter Communications services in Bedford County, cable officials and a Bedford County Sheriff's Department report said Tuesday....

Hospital wants light or refund (09/02/10)
Heritage Medical Center is asking Shelbyville about constructing a traffic signal on U.S. 231 North, requesting a refund of nearly $100,000 in escrow if the city does not proceed with the project. However, the city council would need to lower the speed limit on the state highway before any signal could be installed...

Cost estimate doubles for Bell Buckle water fix (09/01/10)
The Bell Buckle water problem is hurting more than the customers' appliances and taste buds -- it's hitting the budget as well. A recent contract issued to reroute a water line around an unreachable, leaking section under the road between Bell Buckle and Wartrace had to be amended at a special called meeting Tuesday night...

Shelbyville powers up for electric car project (08/31/10)
There are plenty of places to fill up your vehicle in Shelbyville, and at some point in the near future, you'll have a spot to plug it in as well. Shelbyville is one of several communities in Tennessee that has been selected to be a part of the EV Project: the largest deployment of electric vehicles and charge infrastructure in history...

Annual anti-litter grant given to county (08/26/10)
Bedford County has received $34,221 in grant money as part of an effort to stop litter across Tennessee. The funding is part of $3,862,515 in litter grant funds that was given to all 95 counties, according to a press release from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT)...

City power will handle garbage fee (08/25/10)
In an unanimous vote, Shelbyville's power board voted to collect an $11 monthly trash pickup fee for the city. The matter now goes back to the city council as an ordinance that will go through three readings and a public hearing before it is enacted...

City trash fee gets a 'yes' (08/24/10)
Shelbyville's city council chose Monday to proceed with filling a $770,000 budget shortfall by collecting a monthly fee for trash pickup instead of raising property taxes. The next step is for the city's power board to discuss the matter when they meet tonight at 5 p.m. at the utility offices on South Main St....

Grow with the flow: DRA hopes to keep water supplies adequate (08/15/10)
Recommendations to increase the capacity of Normandy Reservoir, along with other water saving ideas, are to be presented to the public next month by the Duck River Development Agency (DRA). On Wednesday, DRA held its final workshop to work out a Comprehensive Regional Water Supply Plan for Bedford, Coffee, Marshall, Maury, and southern Williamson counties...

Water critics flood Bell Buckle (08/11/10)
More than 20 customers of the Bell Buckle water system attended the town's Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting Tuesday night where they got the chance to express their frustration with the recent water problems. "We appreciate your patience," said Mayor Dennis Webb. "These have been trying times."...

Water plans will flow (08/10/10)
Regional utility managers and others will gather for a final workshop on Wednesday at Henry Horton State Park to plan for the area's future water supply needs. Since June 2009, the Duck River Agency, along with area utilities and environmental groups, has been holding workshops to work out alternatives to a Comprehensive Regional Water Supply Plan for Bedford, Coffee, Marshall, Maury, and southern Williamson counties...

October reopening planned for Fairfield Pike (08/08/10)
Fairfield Pike will reopen to Bedford County motorists sometime in October, according to state officials. The popular rural route was closed last November for work on the Shelbyville bypass and a late summer reopening had been anticipated. However, work was halted earlier this year after Thomas & Associates, a subcontractor for primary contractor Wright Paving Contractors Inc. of Fayetteville, went out of business...

Discolored water's origin uncertain (08/05/10)
"Water, water every where nor any drop to drink ..." The lines from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" have seemed uncomfortably appropriate for many Bell Buckle water customers in the last month, as rusty, yellowish-red water spouted from their faucets instead of the clear, clean water they were used to...

Water users boiling over smell, dirt (08/03/10)
According to the tests, the discolored water between Wartrace and Bell Buckle, below Cascade School, is safe to drink -- but neither the residents nor the town recommend it. Cooking, brushing teeth and washing dishes or clothes in it are also not recommended...

Dirty water keeps on flowing (07/30/10)
The dirty water pouring out of faucets from the Bell Buckle lines has customers annoyed and the water department mystified. "Ronnie is in the field and he's got everybody and his little brother working on it day and night," said Bell Buckle Mayor Dennis Webb, referring to Water Department Supervisor Ronnie Lokey...

Relentless sun will scorch electric bills (07/30/10)
Duck River Electric Membership Corp. officials are warning members to be prepared when the electric bill comes in August. Electric consumers who tried to beat the recent heat indices in the triple digits by staying indoors more will see the effects of running those air conditioners...

Widening work continues (07/30/10)

Bridge dedicated (07/29/10)
Bedford County Mayor Eugene Ray dedicated a bridge to a former community leader, the late Sydney C. "Bud" McGrew, Wednesday morning. A crowd of about 40 gathered on Route 130 (Belmont Avenue) just beyond the intersection of Belmont and Coney Island Road and Cliffside Avenue for the 10 a.m. ceremony...

State law says trash fee legal (07/29/10)
Despite the claims of critics of Shelbyville's new controversial trash fee, a state law does exist which requires that the fees be paid, according to the city treasurer. However, Gary Cantrell stated that state finance officials have been giving out "conflicting information" that could account for some of the confusion surrounding the issue...

Power board holds off, asks details (07/29/10)
Shelbyville's power board voted Tuesday evening to table any discussion over collecting a controversial trash fee from residents until they get more details from city officials. The city council passed the $11 monthly fee at the end of June by a vote of 4-2 as part of the 2010-2011 budget to help deal with a $770,000 budget shortfall, and one of the possibilities for collection could involve the power system...

Livestock collection continues (07/11/10)
Farmers won't have to worry about a two-week gap in the collection of dead livestock, the county's solid waste authority learned Thursday evening. County Mayor Eugene Ray told the authority that everything "will be as usual" for the next six months after Appertain Corp. of Pulaski said they could begin transporting the carcasses to a Rutherford County landfill...

City, utility system to sue firm involved in flume collapse (07/09/10)
Following an attorney client meeting Thursday, the city council voted to join with Shelbyville's utility to take legal action against a Chattanooga company deemed responsible for damage to the city's underground flume system in 2009. The council voted to approve an agreement that the city and Shelbyville Power, Water and Sewerage System will jointly pursue a claim against Mayse Construction Company, the contractor that had uncovered the area where the damage occurred...

Water change causes rusty Bell Buckle flow (07/08/10)
Drinking water is hardly a new topic of conversation in the Bell Buckle-Wartrace area, but in the last few weeks, there's been even more to talk about. Like quality. A Bell Buckle customer brought in a clear plastic bottle of water from her tap that was anything but clear. The water was tinged the color of rust -- and with good reason...

Legal questions surround drainage decision (07/06/10)
Following a long discussion, the city of Shelbyville will install pieces of large rock in a ditch on Rolling Road to solve a homeowner's drainage issue. But the council still had a lot of questions about whether it is proper or legal for the city to be doing the work...

Water system divides towns it once joined (07/04/10)
Wartrace and Bell Buckle are at odds over water -- who supplies it and how much it costs. This was evident Thursday night at a special called water board hearing in Wartrace where both Wartrace Mayor Don Gallagher and Bell Buckle Mayor Dennis Webb explained their recent actions and reactions...

Courthouse gets new energy with $100K state grant (07/04/10)
The state announced Thursday that Bedford County will receive nearly $100,000 in grant funds to improve energy efficiency at the county courthouse. Gov. Phil Bredesen and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber announced a total of $3.8 million in grants to 42 communities statewide; an additional $9.2 million had been awarded a few months earlier. ...

Trash fee leads to confusion (07/02/10)
Shelbyville officials say that the new $11 per month garbage fee approved Tuesday is required due to a federal accounting regulation. City manager Michael Dill says he has been receiving calls from citizens asking questions about the fee, which was approved 4-2 by the city council earlier this week...

Farmers face dead period for disposal of carcasses (07/01/10)
An on-again, off-again six-month interim solution to the problem of livestock carcass removal is apparently on -- but it will leave a two-week period in early July during which local farmers will have to worry about livestock disposal on their own. Local and state officials met Wednesday at the University of Tennessee Extension offices on Midland Road to brief farmers on the issue. County Mayor Eugene Ray chaired the meeting...

41A widening project begins (06/29/10)

Bell Buckle switches to BCUD water (06/27/10)
Bell Buckle Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted Thursday night at a special called meeting to sign a contract with Bedford County Utility District, making BCUD the town's primary water source. Wartrace had been the primary supplier, and Bell Buckle will now have to seek a contract with Wartrace as a secondary supplier...

Proposed waste fee on council agenda (06/25/10)
Shelbyville's city council will hold a special called meeting Tuesday evening to approve this year's budget and to look at possibly implementing a solid waste fee. A public hearing is set on the budget ordinance for the special called meeting, which begins at 5:30 p.m., and there are reportedly no plans to increase the tax rate...

Zoning appeals board backs codes decision (06/25/10)
Shelbyville's Board of Zoning Appeals upheld the decision of the codes department over an application for a proposed rock quarry. In what was mainly a legal proceeding, the board determined that planning director Ed Dodson acted properly by not forwarding Wright Paving's request to the BZA for a special exception for property on L. Fisher Road where the firm asked to operate a quarry and stone crusher five years ago...

Bypass work resumes (06/25/10)

Attorneys to decide who pays for flume (06/22/10)
The issue of who will pay for the damage to the city's underground flume system last year now appears to be in the hands of lawyers after both the city and Shelbyville's power company were informed that the statute of limitations has run out. In a one-sentence letter from the Tennessee Municipal League's Risk Management Pool, who handles insurance for both the city and its utility company, the statute of limitation on any claim against Shelbyville Power, Water and Sewer has now run out, meaning that either the city or the power company waited too long to report the damage to the insurance carrier.. ...

Garbage fees likely for Shelbyville residents (06/20/10)
An upcoming tight budget year and a state mandate may mean garbage fees for Shelbyville residents, the city council was told Thursday evening. While final budget numbers for the city have not been ironed out, city manager Michael Dill said the possibility of charging for trash pick-up is likely...

County line change gains support (06/16/10)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee, meeting Tuesday night, recommended redrawing the county line to move a parcel of land from Bedford County into Moore County. Last month, Kim Jolley appeared before the committee to request the change. ...

Drainage pipe request denied by city council (06/11/10)
Shelbyville's city council voted down a request to install a drainage pipe on private property after council members and the city attorney said they hadn't had a chance to examine the matter. A motion was added to the council's agenda that would have authorized the public works department to enter the property on Rolling Road to install the pipe, provided that easements can be obtained from adjoining property owners...

Bell Buckle water rates to increase (06/10/10)
Customers of Bell Buckle's water department will soon see an increase on their monthly bills. At the Tuesday night board meeting of the mayor and aldermen, the board voted to approve an increase in rates and fees. "The justification for that is the maintenance of the lines," said Mayor Dennis Webb, who added that those outside of town would have greater increases because the farther distance usually meant higher costs for maintenance...

North Main wreck downs utility pole (06/08/10)

Beautifying the square (06/04/10)

Sudden soaking (06/02/10)
A short-lived but intense thunderstorm left several Madison Street residents with several inches of water in their apartments Tuesday afternoon. "We were just sitting here and the next thing we knew it was coming through every door all the way down," Jennifer Swing said of the ground floor units at Madison Street Apartments...

City will hire lawyer to recover flume costs (06/02/10)
Shelbyville City Council, at a special called meeting Tuesday night, approved a motion to hire an attorney to represent the city in recovering costs related to flume repair, although council members are hopeful that can be done by means of a settlement...

Animal carcass disposal firm to end service soon (05/30/10)
In 2009, in Bedford County alone, farmers had to dispose of 585 tons of dead cattle, calves, horses and hogs. A great many of those animals were picked up from farms by Kentucky-based Griffin Industries, a service for which the county paid $30,000 in the current fiscal year. Griffin Industries rendered those carcasses into byproducts like animal feed...

Flooding threat discussed (05/30/10)
The chairman of the city's planning commission wants to take another look at drainage issues following the flooding earlier this month in Nashville. Chairman Morton Renegar stated that many of the homes that were impacted were in a 100-year flood plain, "and you can see under a heavy rain what that's worth."...

Suggestion of facility's reopening has concerned county officials (05/26/10)
Despite concerns about the possible reopening of the Quail Hollow Landfill, the company that owns the facility has informed the state's environmental agency of their intention to close it. Nearly two weeks ago, Bedford County's Solid Waste Committee voted to draft a letter that could be sent to state officials about concerns over the landfill near Raus being reopened if the Cedar Ridge Landfill in nearby Marshall County is closed...

Lawyer, council to discuss flume situation (05/26/10)
Shelbyville's city council will hold an attorney-client meeting this afternoon to discuss the continuing impasse with the city's utility over the collapse of the underground flume system last year. According to city recorder Betty Lamb, an attorney from Nashville will meet with the council at 4 p.m. today...

Brick work (05/18/10)

Closed landfill may tempt owners (05/16/10)
The county's solid waste authority voted Thursday to compose a letter to the state expressing concern about the possibility of the Quail Hollow Landfill near Raus being reopened. Last month, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) denied the proposed expansion of Cedar Ridge Landfill in neighboring Marshall County by Waste Management, Inc, which owns both Cedar Ridge and Quail Hollow...

Bell Buckle prepares for possible tax increases (05/13/10)
Bell Buckle residents may be looking at increases in both water rates and property taxes in the coming year. Mayor Dennis Webb told the Board of Mayor and Aldermen that he plans to call a special meeting soon to discuss the possible need for rate increases...

Thankful church salutes Wartrace for ditch repairs (05/12/10)
There were members of the Mr. Zion Baptist Church congregation at the Wartrace Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting Monday night. It wasn't their first trip there, but it was, they said, very satisfactory. They were on hand to thank the town for the work done on drainage ditches that cross the church property...

Wider road may lead to new jobs (05/07/10)
State Sen. Jim Tracy and State Rep. Pat Marsh on Thursday announced that Tennessee Department of Transportation has agreed to fund the first phase of improvements to Railroad Avenue in front of the Newell Rubbermaid packaging and distribution center, which officials say will improve safety at the site and is a first step towards any future expansion of the facility...

'Real, real lucky': Tragedy avoided (05/04/10)
"We were real, real lucky." One year after Shelbyville was hit with heavy rains that caused a half million dollars in damage to its drainage system, the public works director said that the city dodged a bullet this time. Shelbyville Public Works director Mark Clanton said that the city got around six inches of rain over the weekend, while parts of the county received as much as 10 inches. ...

Wartrace assures Bell Buckle water will flow (05/04/10)
Wartrace Mayor Don Gallagher told the town's water board Monday night that he had received a letter from the mayor of Bell Buckle about the water supply. "Mayor (Dennis) Webb sent me a letter expressing their concerns about our ability to supply them with all the water they need," he said...

DREMC tower lease approved by committee (04/23/10)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee voted Tuesday night to recommend allowing Duck River Electric Membership Corp. to lease space on a county radio tower at Rippy Ridge for $1,000 per year plus free electrical service to that tower, worth about another $1,000...

Compromise reached on traffic cams (04/20/10)
NASHVILLE -- If he had his way, state Sen. Tim Burchett would get rid of every traffic camera in Tennessee. "I'd like to just put them out of business," the Knoxville Republican said. Burchett is the Senate sponsor of legislation that would place greater restrictions on the process by which traffic cameras photograph motorists and send them tickets if they speed or run red lights. A less stringent compromise bill is moving in the House...

Power company asked to share in repair costs (04/15/10)
Shelbyville's utility company has yet to respond to a letter from the mayor that asks for the power company to pay for half of the damage costs to the city's underground flume system caused by flooding nearly a year ago. Mayor Wallace Cartwright sent the letter to Shelbyville Power, Water and Sewer manager David Crowell on March 31, which requested that it was the city's belief that sharing the repair costs for the flume should be the responsibility of the utility "or its agents and contractors.". ...

Bypass work will restart this month (04/14/10)
Tennessee Department of Transportation says work should resume on the Shelbyville bypass April 26 following the replacement of a grading subcontractor. B.J. Doughty of TDOT said the change should not have any impact on the bypass's planned completion date next year...

Bell Buckle faces water problems (04/14/10)
Wartrace is on trial. That's the word from the Bell Buckle board of mayor and aldermen, which has been less than pleased with the town's water situation since the changeover to the Tullahoma water source. "Our water rate from Wartrace has gone from $1.55 to $2.50 (per thousand gallons). That is substantial," said Mayor Dennis Webb at the Tuesday night meeting...

SWA urged to buy garbage truck (04/14/10)
The county's solid waste authority has been told that a new garbage truck will be needed soon. Highway superintendent Stanley Smotherman said Thursday that there are currently 500,000 miles on the 1994 model and that the county has no backup truck to replace it...

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