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

Utilities, roads and Infrastructure

Developers claim fraud (03/11/10)
Developers of a local subdivision are claiming that the Bedford County Utility District (BCUD) and an engineering firm conspired to commit fraud in order to require them to upgrade a water line. Mark and Mike Clanton filed a lawsuit in Bedford County Circuit Court last week against BCUD, the utility's general manager, Martin Davis, the engineering firm Highers, Koonce & Associates, Inc. ...

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

City must change attorneys in lawsuit (03/07/10)
A potential conflict of interest will require Shelbyville's city council to secure an attorney to collect damages from the city's utility for the repair of the city's underground storm water flume last year. Since last year, council members have spoken about getting reimbursement from Shelbyville Power, Water and Sewer for the cost of the collapsed underground flume following the release last July of an engineer's report that identified the cause of its failure, with fingers pointed at work done by a contractor employed by the utility.. ...

Charter seeks business tax exemption (03/07/10)
Cable TV providers have filed a lawsuit in Maryville asking Blount County Chancery Court to void business taxes levied on them by counties and cities across Tennessee, including Shelbyville. The Daily Times of Maryville reported the lawsuit was filed Monday on behalf of Charter Communications and seven other communications groups...

Water connection completed (03/04/10)

Pool level change (03/02/10)
What's the best way to prepare for future water supply issues for the Duck River watershed? The public will get a chance to see four possible ideas at an upcoming open house to be held at Henry Horton Park (see related story). Four of the ideas are considered "cornerstone" plans while others are either labeled backup plans or ideas that are "highly unlikely."...

CORRECTED: Area's future water supply to be focus of open houses (03/02/10)
Where are we going to get our water in the future? That important question is to be discussed at two open houses set for later this month to let the public know about long term planning with regards to the area's water supply. The Duck River Agency, in conjunction with other organizations such as area utilities and environmental groups, has been holding workshops since last year to work out alternatives to their Comprehensive Regional Water Supply Plan...

Wait's nearly over for Wartrace water connection (02/26/10)
It's been a long and expensive April Fool's joke for the town of Wartrace, but as of Tuesday, the end is in sight. The town issued a statement Thursday morning that the long-awaited conversion to the Tullahoma Utility Board for its new water supply will take place Tuesday...

Potholes cover area; workers striking back (02/25/10)
Like other communities throughout the state, Shelbyville and Bedford County have a pothole problem. Winter weather, snow and ice seep into cracks in the pavement. Ice expands as it freezes, and it can have enough force to loosen chunks of pavement. Rough winter weather in January and February has created potholes across the state...

Wartrace water move scheduled next week (02/25/10)
Weather permitting, Wartrace's long-awaited conversion to the Tullahoma Utilities Board for water should take place early next week. The project, almost two years in the making, has had its final phase postponed repeatedly this winter due to freezing or wet weather...

Many power boards offer insurance (02/21/10)
Shelbyville's power, water and sewer board is the only appointed city board that receives any compensation, but according to the general manager of the utility, getting health insurance is not a unique situation for them. Councilman Thomas Landers raised the controversial issue two weeks ago when he stated that many members of the public did not realize there were no term limits for power board members, but they also did not know that the power system pays for their health insurance as well...

Paint recycling facility to open in spring (02/17/10)
Residents of Bedford County will be able to start recycling their latex paint later this spring, when a facility will be opened to the public. Solid Waste Coordinator Gay Ervin told the Solid Waste Authority Thursday that everything has been worked out with Shelbyville public works director Mark Clanton, who highway superintendant Stanley Smotherman said went "above and beyond to help the county."...

Light snow slickens area roads (02/16/10)
Start-and-stop snow showers Monday and Tuesday closed local schools, delayed Monday night basketball tournament games, and created the possibility of slippery streets in some parts of the county. Volunteer observers for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (cocorahs.org) reported total snowfall amounts ranging from half an inch to two inches, with the latter figure along the Bedford/Moore county line...

Two seats on Road Board are filled (02/11/10)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners appointed Andrew Robertson on Tuesday night to a vacant Eighth District seat and Ronnie Sudberry to a vacant Ninth District seat on Bedford County Road Board, but no one has yet been found to take the vacant Sixth District seat...

Former homeowner's unpaid bill costs purchaser $1,500 to reconnect (02/10/10)
Dwayne Hodges got a rude shock when he purchased a new home in Bell Buckle. After paying his earnest money and signing the contract, he discovered that there was no water. Due to unpaid utility bills, the tap had been repossessed from the previous owner and it was going to cost Hodges $2,500 to reconnect...

Wartrace water change still delayed by weather (02/09/10)
Freezing temperatures and wet weather have again delayed Wartrace's conversion to the Tullahoma Utilities Board water supply, "We have to have a couple of days over 40 degrees and dry," said Mayor Don Gallagher at the Monday night meeting of the Wartrace Board of Mayor and Aldermen. "We're looking five days out on the forecast and it doesn't look good."...

Snow coats chilly county (01/31/10)
Bedford County citizens have become used to predictions of heavy snowfall that don't pan out, perhaps hitting Nashville but missing the southern portion of Middle Tennessee. This was not one of them. As the widely-predicted snow began to fall on Friday, local residents stared out their windows. Some headed home as many offices closed early, and many began making snow cream and building snowmen...

Wartrace water to flow faster if weather permits (01/31/10)
It went from a bad April Fool's joke to an expensive nightmare, but for the town of Wartrace, it's almost over. During the week of Feb. 9, the town's water system conversion should be complete, connecting it with the Tullahoma Utilities Board. Should be....

Caution signs taken from road work site (01/29/10)
Five caution signs marking construction of the new Shelbyville bypass at Fairfield Pike were stolen over the weekend, police were told Wednesday. Two "road work ahead" signs, two "road closed to thru traffic" signs and a "end of road work" sign were taken from the north end of the construction area between Saturday afternoon and Monday morning, an representative of Wright Paving said...

Uncertainty reigns as officials prepare for snow, ice and sleet (01/28/10)
A winter storm continues to bear down on Tennessee, and forecasters are scrambling to figure out what form of precipitation is likely to fall where. A statement from the National Weather Service office in Memphis early Thursday said icing of up to a half inch was possible along the Interstate 40 corridor from Memphis to Jackson. Forecasters cautioned that it wasn't clear what form the precipitation would take...

Stimulus money to fund road upgrade (01/27/10)
The long-awaited realignment of the Unionville-Deason Road / U.S. 41-A intersection is now waiting for environmental studies, as a result of the state deciding to use stimulus funds to pay for it, according to discussion Tuesday night by Bedford County Financial Management Committee...

Dam releases water (01/27/10)

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

Bell Buckle makes sign rules clearer (01/14/10)
Those wanting to put up signs in Bell Buckle, whether it's a business sign or a yard sign for their favorite politician, need to check with the Town Hall first. Bell Buckle Board of Mayor and Aldermen, meeting Tuesday night, approved an ordinance that will let sign owners know what is acceptable where...

Change to Tullahoma water reset for February (01/13/10)
Holiday breaks and unexpected cold temperatures have postponed the final connection between the Wartrace and Tullahoma Utility Board water lines. "The weather really hurt us bad," said Brian Smith of the Wartrace Water Department at the Monday night meeting of the water board. "The contractors on the (Philippi Road) bypass project couldn't even get their equipment to work at all last week. One sewer pump froze."...

Citywide water main breaks keep utility crews busy (01/12/10)
Shelbyville Power, Water and Sewerage System has all but two water leaks repaired after a wild week of winter weather that resulted in 15 water line breaks and the replacement of 60 water meters due to freezing. One of the two leaks still being tracked down is in a 14-inch water main right beside the power system offices on South Main Street, according to General Manager David Crowell. The other is a two-inch water line on Hickory Drive...

Slipping, sliding (01/08/10)
Thursday's snowfall may have been lighter than was predicted earlier in the week, but combined with the bitterly-cold temperatures it can still pose problems. Bedford County Schools remained closed for a second day on Friday. Bedford County Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman said that sometimes a half inch of snow can cause more problems for drivers than a six-inch snowfall. ...

Precautions can be life-saving (01/07/10)
Bedford County isn't the Deep South, but it is the South, and only sees extremely low temperatures once in a blue moon. On New Year's Eve, there was a blue moon, and ever since, we've been struggling to get out of the teens after sunrise. Bitterly cold weather marched in and brought all of its complications -- higher heating bills, threats of snow, and health and safety hazards for humans and animals alike...

Chill causes water main break (01/06/10)

Loss of funding won't halt bypass work (12/29/09)
Future state road projects in Bedford County might be delayed after federal highway funds were rescinded, but work on the Shelbyville bypass will continue, a spokesperson with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) said. A report published this past weekend by The Tennessean and The Associated Press claimed that about $250 million earmarked for road work from the federal stimulus act passed earlier this year, also known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, had been rescinded.. ...

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

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

Bell Buckle employees will receive Christmas bonuses (12/10/09)
The five employees of the town of Bell Buckle will be having a merrier Christmas than they might have hoped. Although they were warned by Mayor Dennis Webb during the budget process earlier this year not to count on Christmas bonuses in light of the current economy, they will be getting them after all...

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

Area of Wartrace hit hard by erosion (11/18/09)
The town of Wartrace wants to give the alley known to many as High Street to the Mt. Zion Baptist Church -- and the church doesn't want it. At least, they don't want it the way it is now. "Y'all are going to give it to us in the condition it's in -- it's wore down. ...

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

TVA eyes nuclear power (11/06/09)
Ron Owens, vice president for customer service of Tennessee Valley Authority, told the Rotary Club of Shelbyville on Thursday that TVA wants to increase the percentage of power it gets from sources like nuclear power plants in order to reduce its carbon emissions...

55 MPH speed limit discussed for 231 inside city limits (11/05/09)
Lowering the speed limit on U.S. 231 North to 55 mph inside the city limits will be considered next Thursday by the Shelbyville City Council. Mayor Wallace Cartwright said Tuesday he would like to see the speed lowered due to the location of Heritage Medical Center and other establishments on the state highway...

Clanton honored for flume work (11/04/09)

BCUD given funding to extend water lines (11/03/09)
A $360,000 Community Development Block Grant announced by the state last week will fund Bedford County Utility District water line extensions serving 38 families. "I think all the commissioners are very pleased with it," said BCUD general manager Marty Davis...

Seven years' effort pays off: Bell Buckle awarded water grant (11/03/09)
Between old and overloaded pipelines, changing suppliers, and flooding, Bell Buckle has had several years of bad news when it comes to water. Last week, the town finally got some good news -- it has been awarded a $294,000 Community Development Block Grant to assist in infrastructure improvements. Specifically, the grant will be used to rehabilitate the existing water system...

Full commission to review proposed rules changes (10/22/09)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee has completed a long-delayed review of the commission's rules, and voted Tuesday night to send a revised draft to the full commission for consideration next month. The draft brings the rules up to date with various commission actions over the years as well as with new state laws. ...

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

Bridge dedication honors long-time commissioner, former POW Helton (10/13/09)
Friends, family, and a host of county commissoners and other elected officials gathered on a bridge on U.S. 231 North near Deason on a wet, windy Monday morning to talk about the late John C. "Junior" Helton. It wasn't an odd place to reminisce at all -- the spot was less than a mile from the home which he loved for more than 50 years, as well as the garage he owned and operated for more than 40 years. ...

Duck River demand may outstrip supply (10/08/09)
A recent TVA study expects that the future demand for water on the Duck River between Shelbyville and Columbia could exceed the current supply. However, a needs assessment study to be released next month by the Duck River Agency may help to address water supply issues that may occur in the future...

City cleanup planned (10/06/09)
Have you got junk piling up around the house, garage or shop and need to get rid of it? If so, you should set aside some time and get that stuff to the street for Shelbyville's fall clean-up, scheduled for Oct. 19-22. Trucks will be coming by on your regular garbage pick-up day to haul off just about anything you'd like to dispose of, with the exception of household hazardous waste...

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

Heavy rains pound the county (09/18/09)
A day-long drenching brought frustration, flood and fire to Bedford County Thursday. Although few public roads were covered, such as parts of Bugscuffle Road near Wartrace, private and access lanes were impassable and yards and fields were turned into ponds...

Road, bridge naming guidelines proposed (09/18/09)
Who deserves to have a road or bridge named after them? That's the question still being studied by Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee, which on Tuesday deferred action on a draft of guidelines for naming roads and bridges...

Committee members challenged to give up compensation (09/17/09)
A member of the county's solid waste authority is once again challenging other committees to forgo the monthly payments they receive for attending meetings. Several months ago, member Bill Lewis made the suggestion that the authority stop accepting the $50 per month they receive for attending meetings to help out the county with its tight financial situation...

Water shortage plan being prepared by DRA (09/11/09)
During the peak of the region's recent drought, Doug Murphy, the head of the Duck River Agency (DRA), said that half of the area's water supply was gone. Nearly two years later, Murphy says he wants to be better prepared when such a situation arises again...

Lawyer for hog farmer asks for DNA results (09/10/09)
LEWISBURG -- The attorney for a Bedford County hog farmer, who's charged with polluting four water wells, is asking the state for results of chemical tests, according to court records filed Wednesday. "I'm told that there was DNA testing and that it was inconclusive," Fayetteville-based attorney Ray Fraley said on behalf of his client, Charles Edward "Charlie" Haskins, 61, of Haskins Chapel Road near Sutton Creek...

Hog farmer accused of polluting Marshall County water (09/02/09)
A Bedford County hog farmer has been charged with polluting the water sources of four Marshall County homes with hundreds of thousands of gallons of manure. Charles Edward "Charlie" Haskins, 61, of Haskins Chapel Road was recently charged in Marshall County with four counts of causing pollution, five vandalism counts and six counts of reckless endangerment...

East Depot is two-way again (08/25/09)
East Depot Street is back to normal as of this week -- converted back to a two-way thoroughfare after months of wrangling by the city council. However, the street won't be open to regular traffic until Wednesday. Public works department employees were busy Monday morning putting the finishing touches on the two-block section, which had been converted to one-way in early March...

DREMC to get $47.5M in federal loans (08/20/09)
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Wednesday that Shelbyville-based Duck River Electric Membership Corp. will receive $47.5 million in federal loans to build and repair its distribution and transmission lines...

Garbage plan trashed by city council (08/14/09)
Shelbyville's city council voted Thursday night against a motion to adopt a new solid waste collection program that would include a monthly fee. The council meeting attracted about 30 citizens attended the council meeting, which frequently has no visitors...

Garbage plan could save city, cost residents (08/06/09)
Shelbyville's city council will vote up or down next Thursday whether to implement a garbage collection fee to pay for a new collection system. The proposal, explained to the city council in June, could save Shelbyville as much as $700,000 a year -- but residents would also see an additional $9 tacked onto their monthly electric bills...

Flume damage to cost city less than expected (07/14/09)
Costs for the repair of Shelbyville's underground storm water flume were lower than anticipated, according to the final figures from the city. Meanwhile, officials are still waiting for an engineering report that could point to the cause of the underground collapse...

SWA demands $10K payment from scrap recycler (07/12/09)
A scrap metal recycler has until July 15 to pay the Solid Waste Authority about $10,000 he owes or the agency has threatened to take legal action and look for another firm with which to do business. Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman, who manages waste disposal for the authority, told the board that South East Recovery Group was still some $10,000 behind in payments for scrap metal recycling...

City accepts deed for flume area (07/10/09)
Shelbyville City Council voted Thursday to accept a quitclaim deed from Shelbyville Housing Authority for the city's underground flume, including the basin, levy and the pumps. Hershel Thrasher, executive director of the authority, told the council last week that it recently came to SHA's attention that the flume, also known as pressure tubes A, B and C, was still legally titled to the Housing Authority...

Council to vote on correcting 1959 mistake (07/02/09)
Fifty years after signing an agreement with the city, the Shelbyville Housing Authority wants to give back property which contains Shelbyville's underground flume system. Hershel Thrasher, executive director, told the council that it recently came to SHA's attention that the flume, also known as pressure tubes A, B and C, was still legally titled to the Housing Authority...

North Main could re-open Thursday (07/01/09)
Engineers said it would take three months or more to finish it. But five weeks after digging began to repair Shelbyville's underground storm water flume, the work has been completed, and city officials hope to have traffic flowing by Thursday night...

North Main could be re-opened in 2-3 weeks (06/24/09)
If work with Shelbyville's flume proceeds as planned and there are no snags, North Main Street could reopen within two to three weeks. That's the word from public works director Mark Clanton at the construction site Tuesday, but he cautioned against a firm estimate of when the work will be finished...

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

Flume repair is on schedule so far (06/17/09)
Work on Shelbyville's storm water flume is right on schedule, with the massive steel pipe in the ground and ready for a concrete base. Despite the threat of wet weather over the past two weeks, work has been running smoothly off of North Main Street, where crews have been busy piecing together the 200 feet of steel that make up the segment replaced after underground flooding apparently caused the flume to collapse in April...

City will help repair duck pond (06/16/09)
Shelbyville's public works department will be contributing equipment and labor to repair a leak in a dam at the "duck pond" on Fairfield Pike after the city council approved lending the landowners a hand. But some are afraid that giving this assistance may set a precedent and open up a legal can of worms for the city...

City to try different direction on Depot Street (06/14/09)
With the mayor breaking a tie vote, Depot Street will soon be running the other way -- towards the public square -- for a 60 trial period, after a discussion between Shelbyville city council members Thursday. However, the switchover is likely several weeks away as the public works department focuses on repairing Shelbyville's underground storm water flume first...

Bell Buckle approves tax increase (06/11/09)
The Bell Buckle Board of Mayor and Aldermen passed the second readings of the amended 2008-09 budget, the 2009-10 anticipated budget, and a property tax hike at the monthly meeting Tuesday night, with only alderwoman, Annie Rooney, voting against the rate increase...

Bonnaroo fans pose traffic challenges (06/10/09)
For the eighth year in a row, neighboring Manchester is gearing up to receive nearly 80,000 visitors from across the country as music lovers flock to one of the premiere summer music festivals, Bonnaroo. That means more people will be on local roads, and as a result, the Tennessee Department of Transportation and Tennessee Highway Patrol are once again partnering again to ensure smooth traffic flow during the event...

New theory on flume collapse; work to last 30 days (06/09/09)
An underground discovery made last Friday could possibly point to the cause behind the collapse of part of the city's stormwater drainage "flume," as digging continues at the site. Meanwhile, new sections of the flume are scheduled to be put in the ground this week...

Who pays for duck pond cleanup? (06/09/09)
Remains of a smelly, mucky mess fill a Shelbyville pond where, until recently, ducks swam and children played on its banks. Repairs, of a sort, are underway at what's known as the "duck pond" on Fairfield Pike at Hickory Drive. But behind the scene lurks the battle of who foots the bill...

New direction ahead for Depot Street? (06/03/09)
Shelbyville City Council, after hearing from merchants in the affected area, may try keeping the segment of Depot Street closest to the square as one-way but making it westbound rather than eastbound. The issue was discussed at a study session Tuesday night...

Flume work underway as businesses cope (05/29/09)
Workers started cutting into sections of North Main Street and Cannon Boulevard this morning to replace about 200 feet of the city's underground stormwater flume that collapsed -- for the second time in its history -- last month. Meanwhile, businesses in the impacted area are having to cope with the loss of traffic to their storefronts, and downtown Shelbyville traffic remains backed up along side roads...

City digs into causes of flume collapse (05/21/09)
Digging could begin today on North Main Street to begin repairs to Shelbyville's underground storm water flume, and while the results of core drilling won't be known for a week or more, it may shed light into the reasons behind the collapse. Public Works director Mark Clanton said Wednesday that drill was finished Tuesday -- but the method will only enable them to tell what happened underground around the flume, not directly pinpoint the cause...

History repeats itself: flume problems are memories for engineer (05/17/09)
"These photos really bring back memories." If you think that dealing with 200 feet of a collapsed storm water flume is a problem, try coping with what engineer Rex Northcutt faced in 1963 -- 2,300 feet of ruined steel lying underground. Today, Shelbyville officials are dealing with a repeat of exactly what happened 47 years ago -- a damaged flume and a lot of questions surrounding the cause...

Animal control needs livestock shelter (05/14/09)
Bedford County Animal Control has reported an increase in problems with large animals, such as horses and livestock, which leaves the agency in a bind when it comes to transportation and housing. BCAC Director Michael Gregory made his quarterly report during Tuesday night's meeting of Bedford County Board of Commissioners. He said BCAC has no livestock trailer and no place to house livestock that can't be identified...

Flume deal signed (05/13/09)
Core samples will soon be taken from North Main Street as soon as Friday to determine the cause and extent of the damage that has resulted from the collapse of one of Shelbyville's massive underground storm water flumes. On Tuesday, the city council met in an emergency meeting and approved entering into an agreement with Contech Construction Products, Inc., and Clanton Excavation to repair the damaged flume...

Wartrace bumps to slow speeders (05/13/09)
Speeders on West Bridge Street in Wartrace, consider this fair warning. The town is about to install speed bumps. "There's a 'Children at Play' sign there, but people are ignoring it," said Wartrace resident Kelly Thompson, who approached the board of mayor and aldermen at the May meeting Monday night...

Fast action expected on flume (05/12/09)
Shelbyville's city council is meeting this afternoon in an emergency session to approve starting work to repair damage to the city's underground stormwater flume system before it gets any worse. Meanwhile, speculation is mounting over the cause of the collapse and some fingers are being pointed at recent work done for Shelbyville Power, Water and Sewerage System...

Support sought to save dam, powerhouse (05/12/09)
The Tennessee Preservation Trust has listed the power house and the Duck River dam in Shelbyville as one of the top ten endangered historic sites in the state. Each year since 2001, the trust has issued its annual "Ten in Tennessee" list based on nominations from the public. Officials say the list "highlights urban and rural sites across the state to elicit public support for saving threatened historic resources."...

City council calls emergency meeting (05/11/09)
Shelbyville City Council will meet 3 p.m. Tuesday in the courtroom at the City Council Annex (Police Department headquarters) to consider hiring firms to repair the damage to the city's flood control flume system.

Depot Street traffic concerns merchants (05/07/09)
Merchants from both on and off the public square told Shelbyville's city council Tuesday they would like take another look at traffic and parking patterns on East Depot Street. The street is now 60 days into a 90-day trial period to test the street as a one-way, outbound road from the public square...

Funds sought to repair flume (05/06/09)
Today's heavy rain will likely keep city officials from going beneath Shelbyville to learn how much damage there is in the area of an underground collapse this past weekend that could impact a massive flume. City officials are already calling on state and national representatives about acquiring federal stimulus money to pay for the needed repairs...

Deluge on the Duck: Wet weather causes problems (05/05/09)
High waters, closed roads and schools, not to mention a collapsing street, were just some of the difficulties that a weekend of wet weather brought to Bedford County. The Duck River was more than a half a foot above its flood stage of 25 feet as of Monday afternoon, at which time TVA officials had expected the waterway to crest...

Normandy Lake reaches normal summer level (04/23/09)
In December 2007, the man who watches over the area's water source said that half of it was gone. But as of 7 a.m. Tuesday, it's all back. And Doug Murphy, director of the Duck River Agency, wants to keep it that way. For the first time in nearly three years, Normandy Lake has reached its summer pool of 875 feet above sea level, but as soon as that level was reached, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) began to release water from the dam. ...

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

County finds new outlet for recyclables (04/15/09)
Bedford County's recycling problem appears to be over, as a local company has stepped up to keep the material from going into local landfills. The best thing about the new arrangement is that people will not have drive to a different location to get rid of their recyclables, because the new place is right next to the old one...

Paint recycling approved for city transfer station (04/15/09)
Not only has the county's recycling problem been solved, (see related story) but cooperation between Shelbyville and Bedford County Solid Waste Authority has now resulted in locating a place to recycle paint. On Thursday, Shelbyville's city council approved placing items used for the recycling process at the city's transfer station...

County to take over Nestledown road work (04/15/09)
Bedford County will be taking care of roads at Nestledown Crossing Subdivision following the signing of an agreed order between a homeowners association and the county. In February, the county commission authorized the county attorney, Ginger Shofner, to negotiate a settlement in the lawsuit filed by attorney Jeff Seckler, his wife, Gina, and the Nestledown Crossing Homeowners Association...

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: AT&T confirms outage (04/08/09)
AT&T confirmed just after press time this morning that a cable cut by a third party contractor resulted in telephone and DSL service outages for a number of AT&T customers in the northern part of Shelbyville. AT&T spokeswoman Cathy Lewandowski could not immediately supply the number of customers affected or give a definite time by which all customers will be back online...

Bell Buckle to take closer look at 'The Hill' (04/03/09)
Rumors of a developer interested in "The Hill" prompted Bell Buckle Planning Commission Chairman Rodney Simmons to suggest annexing the area. The same rumor was why Mayor Dennis Webb asked the commission to wait. "It's something that needs to be looked at but now is not the time," said Webb. "I think an attempt to annex now would smack of political correctness. I would like to find out what's going on out there."...

Storms pound state but little damage locally (04/03/09)
Bedford County escaped severe damage from the strong storms which moved across Middle Tennessee Thursday afternoon, producing heavy rain, flight delays and reports of a tornado. Bedford County Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman said this morning that three roads had to be closed last night due to flooding -- Zion Hill, Bugscuffle and Mullins Mill. ...

Final costs expected soon on Depot Street project (04/02/09)
Final figures on the total costs of last year's demolition of buildings on East Depot Street should be ready next month so that the city will able to seek recovery costs through litigation. The building at 113 E. Depot was damaged last year during the demolition of 109 E. Depot, which was considered a dangerous structure, and contractors and engineers said at the time it would cost over $200,000 to repair it and bring up to code, so the council voted to tear it down as well...

Rainwater recedes prior to serious flooding (03/26/09)
The National Weather Service in Nashville issued a flood warning this morning for the Garrison Fork near Wartrace, but as of 8 a.m. only two roads were closed and Bedford County Highway Department expected the water levels to go down quickly once this morning's rain ended...

Stimulus money to pave way for AEDC improvements (03/26/09)
The U.S. Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Center in Coffee and Franklin counties will receive more than $7.7 million in federal stimulus money for improvements. The funding comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and will be used to inspect bridges, for the repair, improvement, and paving of several roads and parking lots, and upgrades to Wattendorf Highway...

DWRA exec, fianc� die in crash (03/24/09)
A Marshall County couple who were engaged to be married died as a result of a one-car crash early Saturday morning at Interstate 65 Exit 37, State Route 50 between Lewisburg and Columbia, according to police reports. Lloyd L. Copeland II, 28, of Lewisburg, was driving the 2006 Mazda owned by his fianc�e, Jillian Garrett, 29, of Chapel Hill, onto the northbound off-ramp at 1:58 a.m. when he apparently lost control while driving around a curve, Highway Patrol dispatcher Jennifer Goodwin said...

Bell Buckle water rates rise (03/22/09)
The proposed water rate change in Bell Buckle is now in effect. A resolution raising the rates 5 percent across the board passed on its second reading at the Tuesday night meeting of the board of mayor and aldermen, following a public hearing on the matter. The rate change will take effect immediately and show up on the customers' next build...

Talk of Bell Buckle water comes to a boil (03/19/09)
Bell Buckle Mayor Dennis Webb's proposal to discontinue a resolution governing water and sewer service to out-of-city customers was deferred at the Tuesday night meeting of the board of mayor and aldermen -- at his request -- but the deferral did not eliminate strong discussion...

Fox calls for traffic light on 231 (03/18/09)
Bobby Fox says a traffic signal at the intersection of U.S. 231 and State Route 82 (Webb Road) south of Deason would save lives, and wants his fellow members of Bedford County Board of Commissioners to pass a resolution asking the state for one. But commissioners were evenly divided in January over the issue of lowering the speed limit on U.S. 231, and it's not clear whether they'd approve a traffic light request by the needed two-thirds majority...

Wartrace stays in touch with text-messaging program (03/11/09)
April 1 will mark the first anniversary of the day Wartrace got the bad news about its unacceptable water quality, and the town's elected officials have learned a lot since then. One facet of the "boil" emergency was disturbing to Mayor Don Gallagher...

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

Broadband survey planned (03/08/09)
Community leaders want to distribute a survey about broadband Internet access in local power bills, in hopes that the results can be used to convince providers to extend the reach of high-speed connections in Bedford County. A meeting convened by County Mayor Eugene Ray to discuss broadband issues was held Friday at the Shelbyville & Bedford County Chamber of Commerce. ...

Lake is up, but officials can't relax yet (03/08/09)
An abundance of rainfall during the early part of winter has resulted in Normandy Reservoir meeting its operating guide for the first time in two years. But the region isn't out of the woods yet when it comes to the dry weather, with the National Weather Service saying the area is still experiencing a drought...

Depot Street segment is now one way (03/06/09)
Shelbyville's city council chose to test the concept of one-way traffic on East Depot Street for 90 days, despite hearing about some criticism of the idea from two local merchants. While he did not appear Tuesday night to address the council on the topic, city manager Ed Craig said that merchant Wayne Hix had objected to making East Depot Street one-way...

Southside water update in progress (03/05/09)
A lack of water pressure on Colonial Avenue, along with other problems, has led to a water line being replaced with drilling on the Southside School property. "Every time the weather changes, we have a problem with breaks in the line," said David Crowell, with Shelbyville Power, Water and Sewerage System. "Residents have also had problems with not having enough water pressure to take a shower."...

Winter's last chill? (03/03/09)
With temperatures supposed to be in the 70s this weekend, Sunday's snowstorm may well have been winter's last hurrah. Most areas in Bedford County received about 4 inches of the white stuff, although some reports said snow was as deep as 9 inches in certain spots...

T-G readers are using fluorescent lights (03/02/09)
Two-thirds of the respondents to a non-scientific Times-Gazette web site poll say they have replaced some or all of the incandescent light bulbs in their homes with compact fluorescent lights, or CFLs. CFLs, which are basically fluorescent bulbs twisted into a spiral so that they can occupy the same fixtures as a normal light bulb, cost more to purchase than traditional incandescent bulbs but use up to 75 percent less electricity and last far longer...

DREMC opens new administrative building (02/23/09)
Duck River Electric Membership Corp. moved administrative offices into its new $2 million headquarters this weekend, but local DREMC customers will continue to pay bills, start or end service, or take care of other business at the main building on Madison Street...

Naming policy will be considered (02/18/09)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee, meeting Tuesday night, discussed possible guidelines for naming roads and bridges, and will ask the full commission to consider them next month. Rules committee chairman P.T. "Biff" Farrar presented some proposed rules arising from conversations he's had with Phillip Gentry, of Wartrace, who had been requesting that two bridges in the area be named for Civil War figures...

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

Wartrace may beat water repair deadline (02/05/09)
Wartrace could have a new water supply months before the deadline levied last year by the state. "A week from Thursday at 10 a.m. we have a pre-construction conference with Tullahoma," said the town engineer, Robert Stigall. "We should start work about two weeks after that."...

Residents shocked by utility bills (01/11/09)
Everyone gets a little bit of sticker shock after the holidays. Credit card bills, grocery bills, travel expenses -- all take big hits from November to December. But many people in Bedford County got an additional shock when their electric bills showed up -- anywhere from $40 to $200 higher than normal...

Wartrace water plans approved; sewer work ahead (01/07/09)
It was good news and bad news at the Wartrace Water Board meeting Monday night. The good news? The plans to improve the lines on Haley and Lee roads were approved by the state and the bid was officially awarded to Clanton Paving of Shelbyville to begin the work. ...

Washed-out road is safe, says official (UPDATED VIDEO) (01/06/09)
A county road that appears to be washed out is safe, according to Bedford County Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman. A section of Ben Williams Road, 0.2 miles from Halls Mill Road, was covered with a 30-foot wide body of moving water about two feet deep Friday, and there were no warning signs to advise drivers of the road's condition...

County edges back towards drought (12/09/08)
While the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) agrees that the region needs a drought management plan, the state agency says a reduction of flow from Normandy Dam can't take place without an environmental review. Meanwhile, Bedford County is classified as being in a moderate drought, according to data released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) last week...

Train, train, go away - at least, from Wartrace crossing (11/09/08)
Sitting in front of the Wartrace railroad crossing for 10, 15, 30 or 45 minutes can be irritating, frustrating, costly-- and deadly. That was the message Wartrace citizens tried to get across to CSX Transportation Thursday morning in a special meeting at the town's community center. State Sen. Jim Tracy, State Rep. Curt Cobb and Sean Gilliland, a representative from U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon's office, attended along with Wartrace elected officials, area first responders and concerned citizens...

Locals flock to pumps ahead of Ike (09/12/08)
As Hurricane Ike bears down on Texas, Bedford County residents have been hitting the gasoline pumps in force, leading at least one chain to ask customers to limit purchases to 10 gallons. Fuel prices jumped to unprecedented levels in the wholesale markets Thursday as Ike tore across the Gulf of Mexico...

City envisions Depot Street revitalization (09/03/08)
Turning East Depot Street into a one-way thoroughfare is one idea that is part of a revitalization project envisioned for a two block area off the public square, the Shelbyville City Council was told Tuesday. City manager Ed Craig said he had been approached by several merchants on E. Depot about making the street one way due to concerns over safety for the businesses there...

NEW: Atmos reports outage (08/12/08)
Atmos Energy Corp. reported system problems in Shelbyville on Tuesday which resulted in a disruption in natural gas service for about 35 meters. The company had to turn off the service to those meters while inspecting them. "Any time we experience pressure fluctuations, Atmos immediately double-checks our system lines and equipment," said Operations Supervisor David Roberts. "A safe and reliable system is, and will always be, our number one concern."...

River agency selects Crowell as chairman (07/25/08)
CHAPEL HILL -- A former general manager of the Shelbyville Power, Water and Sewerage System was elected chairman of the Duck River Development Agency during its quarterly board meeting Thursday night. Gene Crowell started working for his city's utilities in 1957 and remembers working in downtown Shelbyville when power service trucks were replaced with "boats to pull meters because of the flooding" of the Duck River, he said...

Gordon visits new substation (06/17/08)
Duck River Electric Membership Corp. gave U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon and other dignitaries a tour Monday of the new $2 million electric substation near Wartrace. The new substation went online in March, but Monday was its official dedication. "It's an important part of our service to Bedford County," said DREMC general manager Jim Allison...

'Tough year' ahead for Solid Waste Authority (06/16/08)
Next year's budget for Bedford County Solid Waste Authority will be tight, according to officials, with an eventual shortfall expected despite a projected surplus to begin the fiscal year. Last month, the authority voted to submit two different budget requests to the county's Financial Management Committee. Budget "A" covers what board members believe the county's sanitation department will need, while Budget "B" contained a five-percent cut...

DRA plans water supply study (06/14/08)
Even though the region's drought classification continues to drop, local officials are looking at a comprehensive study to find the best way to continue to provide water to the area. TVA reported at the Duck River Agency's last board meeting that expanding the capacity of Normandy Lake would cost an estimated $21 million, which doesn't include a feasibility study...

Sewer taps allowed again in Bell Buckle (06/11/08)
The day Bell Buckle has been awaiting for more than three years has finally arrived -- the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has lifted a sewer moratorium on the small town. As a result, Bell Buckle will be allowed to install sewer taps now that problems with its waste water system have been corrected...

Get ready for Bonnaroo traffic (06/10/08)
It's that time of year again, when neighboring Manchester temporarily becoming Tennessee's sixth most populated city. The 2008 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival kicks off this weekend and, with nearly 80,000 people coming to the Coffee County area, the Tennessee Department of Transportation and Tennessee Highway Patrol are getting ready...

City to look at power board appointment options (06/04/08)
Shelbyville's city council will receive several alternative suggestions on how to appoint members to the Power, Water and Sewer Board after several years of confusion over the proper method. Councilman Randy Vernon made the suggestion following controversy over the election of members during the past year...

Shelbyville is not alone in sewage problems (06/02/08)
Aging sewage systems statewide are causing water quality problems, and the problem hits home in Bedford County. Shelbyville is one of 68 municipally-owned sewer systems in Tennessee that are under some type of order to bring their systems up to standards, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports, based on data from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation...

Wartrace plans water line upgrades (05/23/08)
Work will begin this summer north of Wartrace on water lines that should improve pressure for those rural residents, that town's board learned Tuesday. Mayor Don Gallagher explained that county mayor Eugene Ray has applied for a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant for water line extensions in Flat Creek...

Stormwater discussed by city planners (05/23/08)
A public meeting will be held next month, probably June 19, to explain the City of Shelbyville's stormwater regulations, which were adopted in 2003 as a result of state and federal Municipal Separate Stormwater Sewer System (MS4) requirements. City Manager Ed Craig announced the meeting during Thursday night's meeting of Shelbyville Municipal Planning Commission...

The numbers are up: traffic lights get signage (05/22/08)
Shelbyville has a lot of visitors, and sooner or later, they all have one thing in common. They get "turned around" or just plain lost. This week, the city's public works department is doing something about that by numbering the traffic lights on Shelbyville's main arteries: Madison Street and North Main Street...

Wartrace seals water deal with Tullahoma (05/21/08)
It's a done deal. Wartrace agreed Tuesday night to connect to Tullahoma's water system, a move that will save the town money and provide more pressure to rural water customers. The deal was nearly approved earlier this month, but concerns about the water supplied to the George Dickel Distillery were a sticking point...

Gordon committee looks at water supply issues (05/20/08)
On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon chaired a House Science and Technology Committee hearing focusing on the challenges facing the United States' water supply. "In Tennessee, the first eight months of 2007 were the driest in the last 118 years," said Gordon in a news release. ...

Rain lessens drought pressure (05/16/08)
A steady amount of rain over the region has resulted in the northwestern half of Bedford County being downgraded to a "moderate" drought status, a drastic change from the rank of "exceptional" that plagued the state last year. However, data released Thursday by the U.S. Drought Monitor for Tennessee shows that the southeastern part of the county still remains in the "severe" drought category...

Cascade water still fit for Dickel (05/14/08)
When George A. Dickel began making his world famous whisky back in 1870, he used the fresh, clean water that bubbled from Cascade Spring. Nearly 140 years later, the tradition is still very important to the brand name, and should be able to continue, even though the rest of the region may be getting its water from a different source...

Bell Buckle board raises tap fees (05/14/08)
Water and sewer tap fees will be going up in Bell Buckle this summer. That town's board voted Tuesday night to raise the rates inside the city from $1,000 to $2,000 and from $1,500 to $2,500 for taps outside the town's limits. Mayor Dennis Webb said the costs would be incurred by new customers, not existing ones, and will assist with higher costs for running the water system. The new rates will be implemented July 1...

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

Sudberry, Nelson elected to power board (05/09/08)
Despite a complicated process, the Shelbyville City Council voted in two Power Board members Thursday evening. Rayburn Sudberry was elected to replace Clarence Lamb and Clara Nelson was returned to her seat. Lamb and Nelson had filed applications to serve, as did Sudberry, Thomas Landers, Ashley Heard, James Darden, Robert Crowell, Lizzie Peoples and Jason "Rusty" Reed...

Spring rains help, but lake still low (05/08/08)
With Normandy Reservoir just four feet away from reaching its summer pool level, area officials realize that the current level is as high as the lake will reach this year. But plans are in the works to deal with the situation that the region faced last summer due to the extreme drought...

Wartrace must work with Dickel before new water deal can be approved (05/05/08)
Wartrace had hoped to approve a deal to buy water from Tullahoma Monday night, but a few details still have to be sorted out before that can take place -- namely concerning George Dickel Distillery. Mayor Don Gallagher called the proposed deal between the Tullahoma Utilities Board (TUB) and Wartrace "a great win-win deal," but signing off on the plan was side-tracked until issues concerning the water supplied to the Coffee County distillery could be addressed....

Wartrace to discuss water supply options (05/01/08)
Wartrace will hold a special called meeting Monday to consider a contract with the Tullahoma Utilties Board (TUB) to furnish water to the town's customers. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the town hall and will be held in conjunction with the meeting of the Wartrace Water Board...

Wartrace cleanup is this week (04/29/08)
Shelbyville did it last week; now, it's Wartrace's turn. It's time for the town's residents to put on their work gloves and get rid of all that junk laying around for the annual Wartrace Beautification Week. During the event, Wartrace residents are being encouraged to take the time to spruce up their property...

TUB connection could help pressure in Wartrace, Bell Buckle (04/29/08)
A frequent complaint heard from water customers living in the Wartrace and Bell Buckle area is the lack of pressure in the system. But if Wartrace decides to hook up to the city of Tullahoma's water system, that problem could become a thing of the past...

$21 million is possible cost of Normandy project (04/26/08)
With one eye on the current drought and the other eye on future flooding, the Tennessee Duck River Development Agency will soon be requesting feasibility studies for solutions -- one of which could be raising the pool level at Normandy Dam 5 feet -- which would mean construction work to raise the actual dam and replace the spillway gates...

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

Pipeline, higher dam among water supply ideas (04/22/08)
Alternatives on how to avoid water shortages due to drought are to be explored at Henry Horton State Park on Thursday when the Duck River Agency Board of Directors convenes for its quarterly meeting. One of the ideas is to have a pipe to transfer water from Tims Ford Lake, which is fed by the Elk River, to the Duck River below the Normandy Lake dam to maintain river flow through Shelbyville as well as water reserves for the utility serving Tullahoma and Manchester, according to the river agency's executive director and chairman of the board.. ...

Half of Shelbyville without water for 12 hours (04/21/08)
So far, 2008 has been an eventful year for Bedford County's water utilities. About 4,500 customers -- a little more than half -- of Shelbyville Power, Water and Sewerage System were without water for 12 hours Saturday night and Sunday morning, after a water main break in a field near SPWSS headquarters...

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

Citywide cleanup is coming (04/18/08)
If you've had enough of looking at that musty old couch or need to finally get rid of that antiquated refrigerator, get ready to haul it out to the street. April 21-25 is Spring Cleanup Week in Shelbyville, which gives residents the opportunity to get rid of all that junk that's been pilling up...

Video: turbidity explained in Wartrace (04/15/08)
David Money of Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation explains turbidity to Wartrace Board of Mayor and Aldermen, and Mayor Don Gallagher discusses the town's actions: ...

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

Wartrace seeks Tullahoma water deal (04/15/08)
Wartrace Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted Monday to begin the process of pursuing a contract with Tullahoma Utilities Board (TUB) to provide water to Wartrace customers after area residents were forced to boil their water supply for nearly two weeks...

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

Wartrace lifts boil order (04/12/08)
The boil water order for Wartrace was lifted Saturday morning as the town looks to buy water from Tullahoma to prevent a repeat of the problem. Mayor Don Gallagher said he will be sending a letter out to water customers as soon as the town's Board of Mayor and Aldermen decide on a course of action in regards to the water situation...

Grant funds industrial spec building (04/11/08)
On the same week that one Shelbyville industry announced its closure, U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon announced that Duck River Electric Membership Corp. has been given a $300,000 grant to help build a spec building to attract a similar-sized industry to Airport Business Park...

Bell Buckle discusses water woes (04/11/08)
With leaks in their system and their residents forced to boil their drinking water last week, the wet stuff was once again a major topic of discussion for Bell Buckle Board of Mayor and Aldermen Tuesday. A drinking water warning was issued for the Wartrace water system last week as a precaution due to high turbidity levels and the potential of contaminated water. ...

Wartrace waits for test results (04/11/08)
Wartrace officials were waiting on test results and looking at the skies Friday as residents continue to endure a boil water advisory that is headed into a second week. A drinking water warning was issued for the system early last week as a precaution due to high turbidity levels and the potential of contaminated water. Residents have been instructed to boil tap water before consuming it...

Wartrace boil order still in effect (04/10/08)
While Wartrace residents are being asked to boil their water for another day, Mayor Don Gallagher says he is optimistic about the situation. A drinking water warning was issued for the system last week as a precaution due to high turbidity levels and the potential of contaminated water...

Wartrace still under boil order (04/09/08)
Wartrace water customers will have to boil their water for another day. A drinking water warning was issued for the system last week due to high turbidity levels and the potential of contaminated water. Mayor Don Gallagher said Wednesday that workers have finished flushing all the water lines in the system and that bacteria samples have been sent to Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation for testing. ...

Wartrace water testing continues (04/08/08)
Testing of the water system continues in Wartrace today as officials say that the turbidity level at Cascade Spring is dropping. A drinking water warning was issued for the system last Tuesday due to high turbidity levels and the potential of contaminated water. Mayor Don Gallagher said that the testing today involves the water line...

Utilities discuss supply at water summit (04/08/08)
Several solutions are needed to avoid a repeat of last summer's drought scare, and they may include adjusting the Duck River Agency's charter, according to a consensus officials heard during a water utilities summit last week. State Sen. Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro), who represents Marshall and Maury counties, hosted a brainstorming session at Henry Horton State Park on Thursday with dozens of leaders from water utilities attending with county mayors and other officials...

Normandy Lake up six feet in a week (04/07/08)
Heavy rains on Friday, combined with a steady amount in the days beforehand, have brought the level of Normandy Reservoir over six feet higher than the same time last week. Also, the drought has now been lowered to a more-favorable classification of "severe" for some parts of Bedford County, according to data provided by the United States Drought Monitor...

Water conditions improving, say Wartrace officials (04/07/08)
"It's getting better, but we're not there yet." That was the word this morning from Wartrace Town Hall about the condition of their water system, the customers of which have been under an advisory to boil water since last week. A drinking water warning was issued for the system last Tuesday due to high turbidity levels and the potential of contaminated water. Mayor Don Gallagher said Monday that the turbidity level was at 3.9, with the acceptable limit set at 1.0...

Advisory lifted for Bell Buckle; Wartrace still impacted (04/04/08)
The Town of Bell Buckle announced Friday afternoon that the order to boil water for that community has been officially lifted by David Money of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). However the order for Wartrace is still in effect and may not be lifted until the later part of next week, according to Wartrace Mayor Don Gallagher....

Wartrace advisory stays in effect (04/04/08)
Even though samples have not shown the presence of any bacteria, customers of the Wartrace Water System continue to be under an advisory to boil their water before drinking it. Mayor Don Gallagher said this morning that the situation with the water supply was "still over the limit" and that he had no idea when the advisory would be lifted, but guessed that it would continue over the weekend...

Household hazardous waste event scheduled (04/04/08)
For many, spring means it's time to work on the yard and the flower garden, but it is also a good time to get rid of all that dangerous junk in the garage. With that in mind, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) will be holding its annual household hazardous waste collection event April 12 at Big Springs Shopping Center from 8 a.m. until noon...

Wartrace boil order continues (04/03/08)
Customers of Wartrace Water System are still being advised to boil their water on Thursday as workers continue to observe the condition of the water. A drinking water warning was issued for the system Tuesday due to high turbidity levels and the potential of contaminated water...

Drought now 'extreme,' improved from 'exceptional' (04/03/08)
Bedford County is no longer "exceptional" -- and that's a good thing. The National Drought Mitigation Center has lifted the "exceptional" drought category for Coffee, Franklin, Bedford and Warren Counties, with the region now listed in the second-worst rating of "extreme" drought...

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

UPDATED: Wartrace issues water warning (04/02/08)
A drinking water warning has been issued for the Wartrace Water System due to high turbidity levels and potentially contaminated water. The Town of Wartrace issued the warning Tuesday morning and is telling customers to boil their water before using it until further notice....

Rain continues, but still not much impact (03/31/08)
Rain many have fallen for most of the weekend, but it wasn't enough to have much impact on the level of a drought stricken Normandy Reservoir. From Friday until midnight Sunday, a total of 0.54 inches of rain fell at Normandy, bringing the level of the lake up to 862.18 feet above sea level...

Tyson says it has corrected sewage issue (03/27/08)
Problems with Tyson Foods' sewage treatment facility at its chicken processing plant in Shelbyville have been corrected, according to company officials. Last Feburary, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) issued a notice of violation to Tyson Foods' environmental office in Shelbyville, stating that the plant's sewage treatment facility discharged effluent into the Duck River with levels of ammonia greater than allowed by the plant's permit...

Normandy water level rises more than a foot (03/17/08)
While just under an inch of rain fell Friday and Saturday at Normandy Reservoir, the level of the lake is up nearly a foot and a half from the same time last week. According to figures reported by the Tennessee Valley Authority's web site today at 6 a.m., Normandy was at an elevation of 860.15 feet above sea level, with water flowing out of the lake at a rate of 42 cubic feet per second (cfs)...

Plastic recycling now available locally (03/15/08)
If you are the type who's into saving the Earth and reusing things, you will likely be making a trip to 106 Cedar King Road in Shelbyville a frequent occurrence. That's where Shelbyville Recycled Fiber Company, a division of RockTenn, is accepting plastics for recycling, answering requests from many in the county to begin the practice...

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

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

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

Lake level is up, but still far below normal (03/10/08)
TVA's gauge that measures the level of Normandy Reservoir is back in operation, but the numbers still show that the amount of water in the lake is far below normal. According to figures reported by the Tennessee Valley Authority's web site this morning at 6 a.m., Normandy was at an elevation of 858.66 feet above sea level, with water flowing out of the lake at a rate of 42 cubic feet per second (cfs)...

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

Several streams polluted (02/25/08)
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has released a draft list of waterways that do not support the public's use of them, due to contamination from either waste water systems or pasture runoff. A number of streams in the Duck River watershed are on the list, including some in Bedford County. The Duck River watershed consists of Bedford, Coffee, Marshall, Maury, Rutherford and Williamson counties...

DREMC to construct new office annex (02/23/08)
Duck River Electric Membership Cooperative (DREMC) is planning to build a $2 million, 10,580-square foot annex office building near their present facility. The facility will be located at the corner of Eagle Boulevard and Learning Way, according to drawings submitted to the Shelbyville Municipal Planning Commission...

TVA reduces Normandy Dam flow (02/23/08)
Following an environmental assessment, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has agreed to lower the flow of water from Normandy Reservoir to 40 cubic feet per second (cfs) until May 31. The federal utility released a "Finding of No Significant Impact" which means that lowering the flow would not impact water quality and aquatic life near the dam...

Chapel Hill seeks money for stormwater damage (02/20/08)
CHAPEL HILL -- Federal funding is being sought by the town's Board of Mayor and Aldermen to deal with stormwater drainage. A $366,160 project is contemplated, according to consulting engineer Will Owen of the Murfreesboro-based engineering firm Griggs & Maloney Inc...

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

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

Rains raise Normandy level by two feet (02/08/08)
Rain that has fallen on the region over the past week has brought the level of Normandy Reservoir up over two feet, according to measurements taken by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). As of 6 a.m. Friday, the level at the lake had risen to 855.35 feet. Measurements taken last Friday placed the elevation at 852.12 feet...

Rain is welcome, but much more is needed (02/05/08)
While the wet stuff from the sky has paid the area a rare visit over the past week, the head of the Duck River Agency says a lot more will be needed over the next few months to build up Normandy Lake's water supply. Executive Director Doug Murphy said that between 10 to 15 more inches of precipitation over the next three months is needed to make "a significant impact" to the level of the lake...

Normandy flow decision may come soon (01/30/08)
The decision to reduce the flow of water from Normandy Reservoir to conserve the area's dwindling water supply could come as early as this week. However, further federal environmental studies would have to be made before any change would occur. Doug Murphy, executive director of the Duck River Agency, said Tuesday that there is "a lot of activity going on right now" with state and federal agencies discussing discharge reductions, and possibly by the end of this week they will release their plan...

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

Bedford lags behind state in broadband (01/28/08)
A new study by a non-profit group has revealed that Bedford County residents have lower broadband Internet speeds and that fewer use high speed service compared to the state average. Connected Tennessee released a county-by-county reading of average Internet speeds across Tennessee. The maps are intended to give broadband providers and state policy makers information on which communities need higher quality Internet service...

Duck River Agency wants lower flow from Normandy Dam (01/25/08)
CHAPEL HILL -- With concerns that this area is in a five-year drought, Duck River Agency directors called for economic impact statements and updated river flow projections Thursday night as their executive anticipated another water release reduction at Normandy Dam...

Spring Hill joins DRA (01/24/08)
SPRING HILL -- Like water customers in Shelbyville and much of Bedford County have done for years, residents of this north Maury County city will soon be paying five cents per 1,000 gallons of water purchased to fund Duck River Agency activities. That's because the Spring Hill Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted 6-2 on Tuesday night to join the state-chartered agency. The agency is charged with the responsibility of protecting the river's water quality and quantity...

Normandy water reading uncertain (01/22/08)
What is the gauge at Normandy Dam really reading? That's a good question, after figures supplied by the Tennessee Valley Authority's web site stated Monday morning that the flow from the reservoir had stopped for about five hours early Monday. But TVA says that web site figure was inaccurate. Instead, the flow was at 114 cubic feet per second (cfs), a TVA spokesman told the T-G Monday morning...

Small steps can mean big water conservation (01/22/08)
With the level of Normandy Reservoir still dropping and no wet weather in the forecast, Stage 2 mandatory water restriction could be implemented for the region within a matter of months or even weeks. But there are already ways to cut back on water use now that won't put too much of a crimp on your family's lifestyle. Plus there's the added bonus of lower utility bills...

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

Utility officials brace for the worst (01/19/08)
What if the water runs out? That's the dreaded question that area utility officials are looking at as skies bring little relief to the drought-stricken Duck River basin. Actions include the beginning stages of emergency planning and a plea to Gov. Phil Bredesen for immediate action...

Watershed 'watchdogs' hold second meeting (01/18/08)
Brainstorming, organization and getting citizens involved was the focus of the second meeting of the Duck River Watershed Association [DRWA] Thursday evening. Group members, who consider themselves "watchdogs for the watershed," are concerned about the future of the Duck River and the impact the extreme drought has had. They debated solutions to the shortage of water...

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

Watershed group wants closer look at Tullahoma (01/16/08)
The Duck River Watershed Association should further examine the transfer of water from Normandy Lake and the Duck River watershed into to the Elk River. That suggestion comes from Sherry Beard, the executive director of the recently-organized citizens group that's meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday at Bedford County Emergency Management Agency, 1304 Railroad Ave...

Braker: Shelbyville sewer plant affects water supply (01/12/08)
Calling the area's ongoing drought "a real crisis," the head of the Duck River Utility Commission (DRUC) believes the release of water from Normandy Dam should be cut further. Randall Braker of DRUC also took issue with the idea that Tullahoma's waste water flowing into the Elk River watershed is a "major leak" in the Duck River's water supply, as a former engineer for Shelbyville claimed last week...

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

Duck River Watershed group will meet next week (01/10/08)
A new citizen based organization will be holding an informational meeting next week involving issues related to the Duck River and Normandy Dam. The Duck River Watershed Association (DRWA) will meet at the Bedford County Emergency Management Center, 1304 Railroad Ave., on Thursday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m...

Bell Buckle may allow brown-bagging (01/09/08)
Bell Buckle's board passed the first reading of an ordinance that would make "brown bagging" legal again. "Brown bagging" is the practice of a customer bringing his own bottle of wine or liquor to a restaurant to consume with a meal. The repeal was introduced by Alderman Mark Felices, who stated that he did not want to "change the character of the town," but that it was a bad law because there was no way to enforce it...

Water from Duck River being disposed of in Elk River (01/08/08)
"Tullahoma, send us your sewage!" That's what a former engineer for the City of Shelbyville says should happen, due to the fact that the neighboring city is taking water from Normandy Reservoir and then pumping its treated water into the Elk River watershed instead of back into the Duck River watershed...

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

'Half of our water is gone' (12/19/07)
Normandy Reservoir is now at only half of its capacity and area officials are looking at drawing up an emergency plan to cope with the dwindling supply. While several rare rain events have graced the area over the past few weeks, the much welcomed perception has only slowed the gradual reduction of water in Normandy Reservoir...

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

Bell Buckle absorbs water rate hike (12/13/07)
Bell Buckle hopes to keep water bills low for its customers despite a dramatic rate hike from Bedford County Utility District (BCUD). The town's Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted Tuesday to accept the latest contract from BCUD with the new rate of $4 per 1,000 gallons, an increase of 51 percent over the current rate of $2.65 per 1,000 gallons...

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

Drought continues to concern officials (12/05/07)
A weather system dubbed La Ni�a, Spanish for "the girl," is partly responsible for drought conditions that a weather service hydrologist says will continue through winter. It's a weather system born of different temperatures in the Pacific Ocean that set up broad patterns of moisture, or the lack of it that can lead to drought or wet weather. Other factors apply, but La Ni�a is a chief factor...

North Main work to cause closure (11/29/07)
A section of North Main Street will be closed tonight so the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) can finish uncompleted work on part of the roadway. According to Shelbyville City Manager Ed Craig, the section between North Cannon Boulevard and Rite Aid will be closed and graded...

Water cutbacks may be needed soon (11/27/07)
If no more rain falls on the region over the next eight weeks, Bedford and other counties served by Normandy Reservoir could be seeing mandatory water restrictions put into place. That's what Executive Director Doug Murphy of the Duck River Agency said Monday after it was discovered that the lake was two feet lower than was previously reported...

Normandy Lake two feet lower than thought (11/21/07)
Normandy Lake is actually two feet lower than previously thought, because a broken gauge was reporting the wrong figures. The T-G had last checked the lake's elevation on the Tennessee Valley Authority web site Wednesday, when the level was reported at 856.29 feet above sea level. However, the level on the site Tuesday morning read at 854.15...

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

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

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

Bell Buckle water users asked to conserve (11/14/07)
Water was once again the main topic for Bell Buckle's Board of Mayor and Aldermen, with officials looking at a drought management plan and asking their water customers to cut back on usage. The board voted to ask residents to voluntarily reduce normal consumption of essential and domestic use by 10 percent and non-essential use by 15 percent, which are the Stage 1 restrictions being implemented in Bedford and surrounding counties...

River group will play watchdog role (11/13/07)
CHAPEL HILL -- As Duck River Watershed Association (DRWA) conducted its kickoff membership meeting at Henry Horton State Park last week, a member of another watershed group told what's done to protect a river near his home. "We find violators all the time and report them," said Michael Cain, watershed assessment and restoration coordinator for the Franklin-based Harpeth River Watershed Association (HRWA), who indicated similar steps could be taken for the Duck River...

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

Duck River watershed group organizing (11/07/07)
A steering committee of environmental activists is holding a "kick-off" meeting Friday morning at Room A of the Henry Horton State Park Inn, where they're inviting area residents to join them in the formation of the Duck River Watershed Association. "These are people who are concerned about the water allocation issues," says Sherry Beard, spokeswoman for the steering committee, which has received financial assistance from the Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association to cover costs including a charter...

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

DRA will make pitch to Spring Hill (11/03/07)
The Duck River Agency's executive director is scheduled to make a pitch to Spring Hill aldermen that, in the face of drought, it's logical to join with other governments in the watershed to protect water quality and supply. Doug Murphy, executive of the Shelbyville-based agency, says he'll advocate regional water supply planning at Spring Hill City Hall on Nov. 13, a date recommended by Mayor Danny Leverette...

DRA asks Spring Hill to join water conservation efforts (11/01/07)
To bring another city into their joint effort to conserve water in the face of continued drought, Duck River Agency officials were scheduled to meet with Spring Hill leaders this morning. It's a result of discussions at Henry Horton State Park last Thursday when directors of the Shelbyville-based five-county agency noted the fast-growing Maury County city isn't a member of the agency created to protect water quality and supply...

Normandy flow may be cut further: DRA (10/27/07)
CHAPEL HILL -- Steps are already being taken to be ready if another request is deemed necessary for further restrictions in the release of water through Normandy Dam because of continued drought. "This reduction may not get it," Duck River Agency Executive Director Doug Murphy told nearly 50 state and local officials from five counties on Thursday, shortly after a second phase of water conservation started at Normandy Lake...

Water supply helped little by downpours (10/24/07)
The skies finally opened up this week and gave the region some much needed rain, but one area official says the situation with our water supply is a long way from getting back to normal. Doug Murphy, executive director of the Duck River Agency, said that this week’s rainfall wouldn’t be enough “to get us out of the condition we’re in.”...

DRA, officials to discuss dam issues (10/24/07)
More than four dozen elected leaders from the five-county area of the Duck River watershed have been invited to Henry Horton State Park on Thursday night, when they’re to be advised of circumstances surrounding the reduction in water released by Normandy Dam...

Normandy flow reduced (10/19/07)
The flow of water from Normandy Reservoir has been reduced by the Tennessee Valley Authority, even as the area experienced a rare rainfall this week. But one area utility official says that the lake is at the lowest level he’s ever seen and much more precipitation is needed before the situation can improve...

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

Usage restrictions may be ahead (10/16/07)
A total of a quarter of a million people were asked last month to voluntarily cut back on their water usage. But without significant rainfall, mandatory restrictions could be coming our way by the end of the year. "This is a fairly historic drought," Randall Braker, general manager for the Duck River Utility Commission (DRUC) said Monday, possibly approaching the 100 year drought level, he said...

Mussel delays decisions on water (10/16/07)
Area utility officials received word Tuesday from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) that an agreement has been reached over the reduction of the flow of water from Normandy Reservoir. Officials had been waiting for issues between the federal utility and environmentalists to be ironed out before the reduction could occur...

BCUD customers asked to conserve (10/13/07)
Bedford County Utility District has adopted a water shortage management plan, due to the level of Normandy Lake, and has issued a call for voluntary water conservation by BCUD customers. Voluntary conservation is requested because Normandy Lake's level is lower than 864 feet above sea level, BCUD Commissioner Randy Head said Saturday, explaining how the system works. ...

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

Gordon seeks 9-1-1 protection for VOIP users (10/11/07)
U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon's legislation to improve public safety by ensuring the reliability of 9-1-1 calls made from Internet phone services is progressing through the U.S. House of Representatives. On Thursday, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet cleared Gordon's 9-1-1 Modernization and Public Safety Act, H.R. 3403, for full committee consideration...

Work starts soon on Bell Buckle sewer upgrade (10/10/07)
Work is progressing on an equalization basin for Bell Buckle's wastewater system, the town's board was told Tuesday. According to environmental engineer Jim Patterson, work on the basin should begin later this week or early next week. The basin is required to comply with a Director's Order issued by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) concerning problems with the sewer system in 2005...

Quality will be checked if Duck's flow is cut (10/06/07)
Duck River water quality will be closely monitored if the Tennessee Valley Authority grants a state request to combat drought conditions by releasing less water from Normandy Dam. Paul Sloan, deputy commissioner for Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, said as much on Friday in his request to Bridgette K. Ellis, TVA's senior vice president of environment and research...

BCUD, Shelbyville agree on water line transfer (10/04/07)
An agreement has been reached and signed for Shelbyville's municipal water system to acquire some of Bedford County Utility District's jurisdiction just outside city limits. The exchange grew from a property owner's request in early summer 2006 when Eddie Crowell of Jackson, son of W.J. Crowell of Shelbyville, sought city sewer service for 126 acres southwest of U.S. 41-A North...

Group wants dam release reduced (10/03/07)
Utility officials who met last week in Columbia expect that less water will be released through Normandy Dam this month due to drought conditions. Leaders of utilities in the Duck River watershed met Sept. 26 at the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation offices...

UPDATED: Water use restrictions implemented (09/21/07)
Local utility officials are implementing a voluntary Stage 1 water use reduction plan due to the dwindling amount available in Normandy Reservoir. However, mandatory restrictions would be imposed if the level of the reservoir continues to drop and the area could face a severe shortage of water by the end of the year if conditions do not improve....

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

Wartrace plans water system upgrade (09/13/07)
Improving Wartrace's water system while keeping their customer's rates low is something that town's council will be looking at in the future. Mayor Don Gallagher calls the idea "a work in progress" but the council hopes to make much needed upgrades to the system that not only supplies water to Wartrace, but also to Bell Buckle and to residents that live in that area of Bedford County...

Electrical outage closes Cascade (09/10/07)
An electrical outage, the cause of which is still unknown, cancelled classes at Cascade High School today, although Cascade Elementary School next door was unaffected and remains open on its normal schedule. Power was disrupted to the high school Sunday afternoon, according to School Superintendent Ed Gray, and the decision was made about 7 p.m. Sunday to cancel classes for today...

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

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

Backflow rules cause backlash (08/21/07)
State regulations now require water systems to guard against backflow -- the process by which water can be drawn from a customer's system back into the public water system. There's wide agreement on the need for backflow prevention, and understanding of the fact that it's a state requirement. But the devil is in the details, and the differences between the way that two local water systems are enforcing the rule has some rural pool owners seeing red...

Power rates going up (08/20/07)
Customers with Shelbyville Power, Water and Sewer and the Duck River Electric Membership Corporation [DREMC] will be seeing another rate hike beginning in October. Both David Crowell, general manager for Shelbyville Power, and DREMC Director of Member Service Charles McDonald confirmed Friday that they will be passing the latest fuel cost adjustment from the Tennessee Valley Authority [TVA] to their customers...

Normandy Lake keeps local water flowing (08/15/07)
"If wasn't for Normandy Reservoir, we'd be looking at water rationing." But thankfully, said Bedford County Utility District [BCUD] General Manager Marty Davis, we do have plenty of the wet stuff and they are pumping it to their customers at record levels during this summer's continuing drought...

BCUD considers transferring lines to city (08/13/07)
Bedford County Utility District (BCUD) commissioners are sending a contract to Shelbyville's utility board for the sale of some of the rural district's jurisdiction to the city as another step in more than a year of discussions. While the potential agreement affects a relatively small territory, the discussions between the utilities raise growth issues for both governments and the people they serve, largely because water and sewer are basic services...

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

Utilities keeping up with the heat (08/10/07)
With the air conditioners steadily humming as the area bakes under a stifling heat wave, utility companies in Bedford County are handling the power demands well, officials say. David Crowell, general manager for Shelbyville Power, Water and Sewer said Thursday that that they are able to handle the demand for the blue spark "just fine."...

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