Shelbyville Times-Gazette: News : Weather and Environment

Weather and Environment

Flowers already (02/02/12)
The trees may still be bare and the skies grey, but the unseasonably warm weather this January has fooled some of the vegetation into thinking that it's already March. Clumps of the first sign of Spring have been peeking out of the ground in various places around Bedford County, including in this pasture in Raus. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely)

Quake drill is critical (01/19/12)
Tennessee Emergency Management Agency is encouraging schools, families and businesses to participate in an earthquake drill next month. Registration is open for the second annual Great Central U. S. ShakeOut earthquake drill, scheduled for Feb. 7 at 10:15 a.m.. Last April, more than 3 million people in 11 states, including 250,000 Tennesseans, took part...

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

Eyes of the storm: Radars upgraded (01/17/12)
NASHVILLE -- National Weather Service forecaster Ryan Husted looked at his radar display and saw something he had never seen before -- snow and rain. Where Husted had previously seen only a radar reflection of precipitation, on that recent day he saw that it was raining in Memphis, but snowing a few miles north in Millington...

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

Creativity flows from students' minds (12/21/11)
In October, fifth grade students in Bedford County took part in what has become an annual tradition. RiverFest, hosted by the Duck River Watershed Education Committee, fulfills part of the Life Science curriculum for the year for the 650 students who visit...

Open or closed? (12/08/11)
With 4,278 miles to be driven each day, and nearly as many students riding the buses, the weight of a decision to close schools doesn't come lightly to those who make it. In the case of snow and ice -- and sometimes flooding -- Jimmy Williams, supervisor of the student placement and safety office for Bedford County schools, is often up late watching a variety of local weather reports...

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

Overflowing (11/17/11)
An abundance of rain on Wednesday resulted in flooded ditches, full retention ponds and overflowing manholes, which eventually tapered off as the wet stuff ended. According to Bedford County observers reporting to the National Weather Service, Shelbyville received up to one and a half inches of precipitation yesterday. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely)

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

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

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

RiverFest: Serious fun (10/19/11)
Fair skies prevailed Tuesday morning as Bedford County fifth graders from eight different schools made their way through exhibits at RiverFest on the Duck River Greenway at River Bottom Park. Now in its seventh year, the Duck River Watershed Education Committee hosts the event which allows students to investigate how living things interact with each other and with nonliving elements of their environment...

Severe weather hits midstate in the fall, too (10/19/11)
Today is Tennessee Fall Severe Weather Awareness Day, as declared by the National Weather Service. "Although severe weather and tornadoes are more common across Tennessee during the spring, a secondary peak of severe weather occurs during the fall and winter seasons -- especially during the month of November," according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). ...

Equinox arrives: North America falls into autumn (09/23/11)
The autumnal equinox, the beginning of fall by the astronomical calendar, took place at 4:04 a.m. local time today. According to the web site timeanddate.com, the equinox is the point in the year when the sun is directly over the equator at solar noon for any given location...

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

Taking a dip in the Duck (09/07/11)
The triple-digit heat last week had people in Shelbyville looking for any way possible to cool off, including this gentleman reading while taking a dip in the Duck River near the greenway at midday Friday. (Photo by Angel Vaughn)

One stormy night: Trail of damage left across city (08/04/11)
Ferocious winds left a trail of damage throughout northern Shelbyville late Wednesday, with most concentrated in an area between North Main Street and Green Lane eastward to the H.V. Griffin Park area. The hardest-hit area was at Olympus Fitness, Northside Business Park Drive, and the adjacent Northside Professional Center, North Main Street...

Wilting in the heat (07/29/11)
It was almost too hot to play at Celebration Station Thursday afternoon, but Juan Jos� Guzman managed to get a little swinging in. (T-G Photo by Mary Reeves)

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

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

Fiery heat sears county (07/19/11)
Think you can beat the heat? Think again. According to the National Weather Service, heat is the number one weather-related killer in the United States -- not tornados. Not Hurricanes. Not floods, lightning or blizzards. "Based on the 10-year average from 1994 to 2003, excessive heat claimed 237 lives each year," stated the NWS web site. "By contrast, floods killed 84; tornadoes, 58; lightning, 63; and hurricanes, 18."...

Nearly 200 participants make Duck River Cleanup a success (06/26/11)
The weather cooperated for the 14th annual Duck River Cleanup event on Saturday by providing overcast skies and cool breezes. Calling it "our best day," co-chair Wayne Bomar reported almost 200 volunteers, with more participants signing up this year than any other...

Cleanup in honor of Moulder (06/22/11)
This year's Duck River Cleanup is dedicated to the memory of Lee Anne Moulder, who passed away at age 23 last July. Her family earmarked memorial contributions to the Chamber of Commerce Beautification Committee, Duck River Clean Up Project. Known for her love of water and sporting, Lee Anne was a member of the Shelbyville swim team for six years and won many blue ribbons...

Cleaning the Duck (06/22/11)
When National Geographic looked for places to capture cubes of the planet's ecosystem, their quest took them to exotic places like a coral reef in French Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean, Table Mountain in South Africa and a cloud forest in Costa Rica. And to the Duck River...

Haskins manure charges retired (06/21/11)
A Bedford County farmer who was indicted last month for the alleged dumping of hog manure in 2008 had his case dismissed on Monday. In May, Charles E. Haskins was indicted on two counts of causing pollution, but on Monday, the case was retired, with Haskins to only pay court costs totalling between $500 and $600...

Storm's winds blow roof from home (06/17/11)
Steve Locke may have narrowly escaped injury as roaring winds struck his Hart Road home late Wednesday afternoon. "I had been sitting on my front porch and just as I got up and went inside I could hear the roof pop," Locke said. Part of the roof blew off, landing in Locke's front yard and leaving a mass of torn tin, wooden beams and exposed nails...

Farm comes to city (06/01/11)
Farmers may be early risers, but consumers often take a different view. The 2011 Bedford County Farmers Market will open tomorrow at a new time -- 3:30 p.m. -- at the pavilion on Celebration Drive just off Madison Street. "The market day and time is new," said Bedford County extension agent John Teague. "The original market was open on the weekend in the early morning hours, but the new day and time is more customer-friendly. Folks can run by after work and shop."...

Musicfest crew storms into action (06/01/11)
It's been less than a week since high winds ripped the roof off the Musicfest stage in Wartrace, and it's only two days before Musicfest is slated to begin, but fans, fear not. Thanks to a cooperative insurance company and the Belfor construction crew out of Nashville, which Musicfest organizers hired, the show will go on -- with a stage...

Songs in the wind (05/27/11)
Come high winds or high water -- the show will go on. That's the message from Wartrace Mayor Ron Stacy who woke up Thursday morning to find a little glitch in his plans for the Wartrace Musicfest scheduled for next weekend at the horse show grounds...

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

VIDEO: Winds damage Wartrace Music Fest stage (05/26/11)

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

Recovered memories (05/20/11)
Torn, muddied and ripped but still carrying lifetimes of memories, they landed across the landscape of southern and eastern Bedford County. Photos blown over 200 miles from homes in northwestern Alabama and east central Mississippi during the massive April 27 tornado outbreak fell from the sky several hours later over southeastern Middle Tennessee...

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

Farm waste allegedly pollutes water supply (05/17/11)
A Bedford County farmer was the subject of a direct indictment Monday stemming from the alleged dumping of hog manure in 2008, which is the topic of an upcoming trial in Marshall County. Charles E. Haskins was indicted on two counts of causing pollution and appeared briefly before Circuit Court Judge Robert Crigler Monday afternoon...

Cicada invasion (05/12/11)
Bedford County residents are reporting plenty of the 13-year cicadas. "My yard is full!" wrote Julie Keys on the Times-Gazette's Facebook page. "I have one tree with a few hundred on it!" "My house is crawling with them," wrote T-G web site user craftin_mom, "as is the telephone pole, all trees, and there are a quite a few greasy spots in the road where they are getting run over. They haven't started making noise, yet, though."...

School calendar extended to make up for flood days (05/06/11)
During Thursday's special called meeting, the board voted to extend the school year by two days to make up for two days schools were closed last week due to flooding. School will now be in full-day session on Wednesday and Thursday, May 25 and 26. An administrative day will take place Friday, May 27, and report cards will be given out on an abbreviated school day Saturday, May 28. Normal school buses will run on that Saturday but special education buses will not...

T-G storm photo collection gains notice (05/05/11)
The Times-Gazette's project of collecting photos which have fallen across Bedford County following the April 27 Alabama and Mississippi tornadoes was featured on two Nashville television newscasts Wednesday night. Cindy Cox and Sheree Floyd, who found photos at their Bedford County residences, were featured along with several Times-Gazette staff members on WKRN (Channel 2) and WTVF (Channel 5). Floyd said her husband, who mows yards, is finding more photos while working...

Tornado relief update (05/05/11)
Here are updates to the list published Wednesday of local and regional tornado relief efforts. Please notify the Times-Gazette at 684-1200 or tgnews@t-g.com if we can assist in publicizing other efforts, and be sure to provide complete details: n McNabb Automotive Group is spearheading a collection of items needed by Alabama storm victims. ...

Tornado did strike (05/05/11)
Additional surveys conducted by the National Weather Service revealed that Bedford County didn't escape last week's storms unscathed after all. An EF1 tornado with maximum winds of 90 to 100 MPH struck in the extreme southeast area of the county, with damage centered along Magnolia Lane and Winding Way Road. The damage path ran approximately one mile through both Bedford and Coffee Counties, and the maximum path width was 75 yards, according to the NWS....

Local tornado relief efforts (05/04/11)
Here are some local efforts to respond to recent tornadoes and severe storms. Please notify the Times-Gazette at 684-1200 or tgnews@t-g.com if we can assist in publicizing other efforts. n Bob Parks Realty, 605 Delray Street, is accepting items for tornado relief in the Birmingham, Ala., area. Taylor Northern, a former student of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, is a staff member at the real estate firm's Murfreesboro office and is coordinating the effort...

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

Nursing students lend helping hands (05/03/11)
Nursing students from Shelbyville will be heading to storm-ravaged Alabama on Friday and are asking for donations. The 31 students from Tennessee Technology Center at Shelbyville, led by instructor Vicky Aman, will provide first aid, help storm cleanup efforts and deliver emergency supplies to victims of last week's tornados...

Lost memories survive (05/03/11)
Photos which have fallen from the sky over southern and eastern portions of Bedford County are being identified as from the devastated areas of Hackleburg and Phil Campbell, Ala. And the path in which the photos fell indicates the storm cell which hit those towns may have travelled through Bedford County...

Storm debris falls in Bedford (04/29/11)
A number of Bedford County residents notified the Times-Gazette on Thursday that they had debris in their yards from Alabama or Georgia as a result of Wednesday night's tornadoes. Judy Moore of Wartrace found photos and a cancelled check in her yard. The check bore a Decatur, Ala., address...

Starting to fall (04/29/11)
The flood-swollen Duck River is receding after nearly reaching its 25-foot flood level on Thursday. The intense storms that pelted the South on Wednesday resulted in the river reaching 24.37 feet on Thursday before it began to slowly fall below its banks, but not before the waters inundated Fisherman's Park.

UPDATED: Fortunate escape (04/28/11)
The Duck River was beginning to fall this morning after several days of heavy rain pushed the waterway toward flood stage. Bedford County got a soaking on Wednesday but managed to avoid any serious damage from the high winds and tornados that lashed several states...

Tornadoes devastate South (04/28/11)
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- The death toll from severe storms that punished five Southern U.S. states jumped to a staggering 193 Thursday after Alabama canvassed its hard-hit counties for a new tally of lives lost. Alabama's state emergency management agency said it had confirmed 128 deaths, up from at least 61 earlier...

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

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

Spring's red robin (04/13/11)
Now that the trees are blooming and making all our cars a greenish yellow, these little fellows are getting braver and setting down close enough for someone to get a good picture. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely)

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

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

Scout to place nesting boxes (04/07/11)

Shelter from the storm (04/05/11)
While a squall line was rolling toward Bedford County Monday afternoon, volunteers were rolling in to the Bedford County storm shelters. "Inside the city, the fire department sends someone to come in and open the shelter up," said firefighter Blane Crump...

Weather damage reported (04/05/11)

Storm watches expired; flood warning at Wartrace (04/04/11)
The tornado watch and severe thunderstorm warning for Bedford County have expired, but there is a flood warning for Wartrace Creek and Garrison Fork near Wartrace.....

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

No damage reported from raging storm (03/24/11)
A tornado warning was issued for southern Bedford County, including the Shelbyville area, early Thursday night but no damage was reported, officials said. "The National Weather Service advised us their radar indicated at one point tornado type rotation south-southwest of Shelbyville," Scott Johnson, Bedford County Emergency Management Agency director, said today...

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

Governor visits hard-hit area (03/03/11)
FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Gov. Bill Haslam got a first-hand look at the damage done by an EF-2 tornado that ripped through a rural area south of Tullahoma, killing an elderly man. Haslam spent some private time speaking with the family of 78-year-old Melvin Hambrick, who died of injuries he sustained when the trailer he lived in was struck by the twister, which packed winds of up to 120 mph...

Stormy Monday (03/01/11)
The storm which ravaged portions of southern Middle Tennessee on Monday may have narrowly brushed southern Bedford County. A tornado warning issued at 11:56 a.m. by the National Weather Service office in Huntsville, Ala., for Lincoln County listed the Chestnut Ridge area, which includes Bedford County...

Storm causes little damage (02/25/11)
Scott Johnson of Bedford County Emergency Management Agency said the county experienced "sporadic power outages, downed trees and some temporary flash flooding" as the result of Thursday night's severe weather. "As the strong squall line moved into Marshall County from west to east about 10 p.m., it had some indications of potential tornado activity," wrote Johnson in an e-mail to the Times-Gazette. ...

LED traffic lights installed (02/23/11)

Fishing time (02/20/11)

Storms spring up; be prepared (02/16/11)
In order to survive severe weather, you need to do two things: know, and act. You must know when there is a danger of severe weather. The most-recommended tool for that is a NOAA weather radio receiver, widely available at a variety of local stores...

Neese expects La Ni�a's warmth to stick around (02/16/11)
Last year, the presence of La Ni�a, a cool current in the equatorial regions of the Pacific Ocean, led forecasters to predict that the winter of 2010-2011 would be a mild one, according to meteorologist Charlie Neese of WTVF-TV, who spoke in Shelbyville on Tuesday...

Schools to open one hour late Friday (02/10/11)
Bedford County Schools will open one hour late on Friday after having been closed on Thursday, School Superintendent Ed Gray announced just after 3:30 p.m. today. Gray said there are still wet spots on some county roads which could be treacherously icy overnight, but temperatures tomorrow should warm enough to make driving safe with the one-hour delay...

'A solid sheet of ice,' says highway superintendent (02/10/11)
Bedford County roads are "a solid sheet of ice," Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman said at 8:40 this morning. "I would encourage everyone who doesn't have to get out to stay home," he said. Bedford County Schools closed today due to snow, School Superintendent Ed Gray announced just after 9 p.m. Wednesday....

Schools dismiss two hours early (02/09/11)
Bedford County Schools dismissed two hours early today, announced School Superintendent Ed Gray at about 10:45 a.m. Elementary schools dismissed at 12:30 p.m., with middle and high schools dismissing at 1 p.m.... The morning briefing of area emergency management officials by the National Weather Service indicates that snow is expected to arrive between 2 and 5 p.m. today in Bedford County....

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

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

Shovel ready (01/13/11)

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

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

UPDATED: Snow blankets Bedford; Stay home if you can (01/10/11)
"If folks can stay home, they need to stay home." That was the word this morning from Bedford County Emergency Management Agency director Scott Johnson....

WEB: Vanderbilt physicians urge caution as kids go sledding (01/10/11)
As schools throughout the area remain closed today, Vanderbilt physicians urge caution as children go sledding. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, thousands of children are treated at emergency rooms, doctors' offices and clinics as a result of sledding, snow tubing and tobogganing-related injuries...

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

Seen or not, eclipse is rare (12/21/10)
For residents of Bedford County, clouds may have obscured the total lunar eclipse that occurred early this morning. But that does not obscure the rarity of a full lunar eclipse occurring during the official beginning of winter known as the winter solstice...

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

Exams influence school decision (12/17/10)
School Superintendent Ed Gray told Bedford County Board of Education on Thursday night that safety is the prime factor in making decisions about whether to close the schools for inclement weather, but the decision to have schools open on Tuesday was influenced by the fact of final semester exams...

Cold hits heating help hard (12/16/10)
This may be the year you want coal in your stocking -- you might need it for heat. Snow, ice, record lows and lengthy cold spells are going to send utility bills skyrocketing over the next few months. There are many in Bedford County who won't be able to pay their doubled or even tripled fuel bills when the time comes, and the financial assistance that has been there for them in the past simply isn't there for them anymore...

Schools to close at 1 p.m. (12/15/10)
Bedford County Schools will close at 1 p.m. today due to winter weather, School Superintendent Ed Gray announced this morning.

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

Cold weather can be a killer (12/15/10)
The severe cold has already claimed lives in Tennessee this week, tragedies that could have been prevented. One woman in Columbia froze to death as she tried to get to her grandson's house, but the freezing air isn't the only hazard out there. "One of the biggest dangers is when the power goes out, people start up generators, wood fires, space heaters," said Scott Johnson, director of the Bedford County Emergency Management Agency. ...

Snow scenes (12/14/10)

Schools to open one hour late Tuesday (12/13/10)
Bedford County Schools will open one hour late on Tuesday after having been closed Monday, School Superintendent Ed Gray announced late Monday afternoon. Bus drivers will use their own discretion about questionable roads, Gray said, and children whose parents do not believe it safe for them to travel will be granted excused absences...

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

Snow ices roads, schools closed (12/12/10)
Roads were becoming extremely slick by late Sunday afternoon across Shelbyville and Bedford County -- with little relief in sight in many areas. Only state-maintained roads are expected to be salted overnight, Shelbyville police were told. The city of Shelbyville has little if any salt available since its winter delivery isn't expected for several more days, according to police...

Light snow predicted tonight but more during the day Sunday (12/11/10)
The National Weather Service is now saying tonight's snowfall accumulations will be light, but more snowfall is expected through the day Sunday....

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

Fortunate escape: car flooded as man attempts to rescue dog (12/01/10)
Bedford County wasn't under a flood warning or advisory at 9 a.m. Tuesday, but that didn't mean there wasn't flooding. The one-lane concrete bridge on Bugscuffle Road near Wartrace, almost always the first casualty to high water, was completely covered Tuesday morning, with a massive pile of driftwood creating a logjam on the upstream side...

Heat leads to disaster declaration (11/30/10)
Gov. Phil Bredesen is requesting additional federal disaster assistance for farmers in Bedford and 27 other Tennessee counties as a result of drought and excessive heat during the growing season. University of Tennessee Extension agent John Teague said Bedford County farmers were hit hard by the summer heat and lack of rainfall...

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

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

National Weather Service thanked by Celebration (11/04/10)
At the Celebration, the horse show goes on, weather or not ... but it always helps to know just what weather that's going to be. That's where the NWS comes in. "The National Weather Service is a critical resource and partner for local emergency management agencies and other officials," said Scott Johnson, director of the Bedford County Emergency Management Agency. ...

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

Tornado forecast creates 'a momentary scare' (10/26/10)
Bedford County Emergency Management Agency director Scott Johnson said that local officials had "a momentary scare" when the county seemed likely to fall victim to a tornado. "We did have a momentary scare this afternoon from the storms," stated Johnson in an e-mail to the Times-Gazette....

Storms hit, more expected (10/26/10)
The high winds and heavy rain that dumped as many as 2 to 4 inches on Bedford County Sunday night left behind little damage. "We got over 2 inches of rain and some wind," said Janet Robinson, town recorder for Bell Buckle. She said Volunteer Fire Chief Ronnie Lokey turned the warning siren on to alert people to the potential for dangerous weather,...

No tornado touchdowns reported in county (10/24/10)

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

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

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

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

Finally! Fall is here and the change in weather proves it (09/29/10)
On the first day of fall, I was sitting in the park and listening to the Canada geese honk as they flew overhead and I had to wonder, in the 95 degree heat, if they were flying farther south for more warmth, or heading back to Canada for some blessedly cold arctic air. It certainly didn't feel like the first day of fall...

Operation clean sweep (09/26/10)

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

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

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

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

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

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

So far, Bedford beats the heat (08/06/10)
Local officials have reported no tragic consequences so far from this week's oppressive heat. Tennesssee Technology Center at Shelbyville now has a weather station which can be accessed through the Web site Weather Underground ( http://snipurl.com/1094xl ). The station reported Thursday's high temperature at 101 degrees, following a high of 105 on Wednesday...

Water, rest, indoor time help prevent problems (08/06/10)
When it comes to heat stroke or heat exhaustion, the best defense is prevention. Here are some prevention tips: n Drink more fluids (nonalcoholic), regardless of your activity level. Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink. Warning: If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, ask him how much you should drink while the weather is hot...

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

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

Duck River Cleanup brings community together (06/27/10)
Volunteers from all over Bedford County turned out Saturday morning to clean the banks of Duck River. "This is really a community effort," said Helen Garner of the 2010 Duck River Clean-Up, organized by the Chamber of Commerce Beautification Committee. "People bring their boats and canoes and ride up the river picking up any litter they see ... we also clean streamside, under bridges, overpasses, and access points."...

Signs of relief: Newell Rubbermaid helps with flood benefit (06/24/10)
The all-star "Nashville Rising" flood relief concert Tuesday night at Bridgestone Arena had a Shelbyville connection: a giant autograph wall, set up by Shelbyville-based employees of Newell Rubbermaid, which makes the popular Sharpie line of markers. Celebrities participating in the concert signed the autograph wall during rehearsals and setups, and then fans were given the chance to sign it as well on the night of the concert...

Duck River Cleanup nears (06/17/10)
The annual Duck River Cleanup will be held Saturday, June 26, according to co-chair Helen Garner, and as always volunteers are being sought. Boat owners are particularly needed but anyone is welcome, said Garner. The event begins with registration and breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Work begins in earnest at 8 a.m. and continues until noon; volunteers are served lunch afterward. The headquarters for the event is Riverwalk Park behind Shelbyville Power, Water and Sewerage System on South Main Street...

You vs. the heat (06/16/10)
With temperatures scheduled to be in the 90s all week, and with outdoor activities like the RC Cola / Moon Pie festival coming up this Saturday in Bell Buckle, it's a good time to review common heat safety tips. Heat-related conditions can range from sunburn to heat stroke...

Hot weather is hard on pets (06/16/10)
Humans aren't the only ones at risk from the heat. The Humane Society of the United States web site offers these tips for keeping your pet safe as well: n Never leave your pet in the car: During warm weather, the inside of your car can reach 120 degrees in a matter of minutes, even if you're parked in the shade. This can mean real trouble for animals left in the car...

Take a Kid Fishing Day (06/13/10)

Mankind has only one Planet Earth (06/13/10)
Protecting the environment is, no doubt, a complicated issue. I have no doubt that there are political solutions that go too far or that are motivated by selfish concerns. My purpose here isn't to express any opinion whatsoever on the latest treaty or law or what have you. You're free to debate the relative merits of those in some other forum...

SWA defers letter on Quail Hollow issues (06/13/10)
The county's solid waste authority has voted to defer sending a letter to the state's environmental office so that changes can be reviewed. Last month, Solid Waste Authority voted to draft a letter to be sent to state officials expressing concerns about Quail Hollow Landfill near Raus being reopened if the Cedar Ridge Landfill in Marshall County is closed...

Oil stains Florida shore (06/08/10)
PENSACOLA BEACH, Fla. -- Brown balls of tar settled on the white shores of Pensacola Beach on Friday morning, keeping tourists out of the surf and away from coastal hotels and restaurants. But the feeling of dread had been hovering over the tourist-dependant community long before the gooey mess washed ashore late last week...

Threatening clouds (06/03/10)

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

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

Garden tour participants will help Tree City project (05/27/10)
The spring flowers are all almost gone, but the summer gardens are flush with beauty around Bedford County. Saturday, June 5, you can tour some of the prettier homes and businesses in the county and see what wonders the local horticultural artists have wrought...

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

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

Bedford County workers help in rescue operations (05/07/10)
Bedford County rescuers are helping with flood relief efforts in Cheatham County west of Nashville. "Assistant EMA Director Jessica Doak has been helping run the county Emergency Operations Center there since Monday," Bedford County Emergency Management Agency Director Scott Johnson said in an e-mail Thursday. "She has also participated in water evacuation operations."...

A flood of relief (05/07/10)
If there is a silver lining in crisis times it is that traumatic events tend to make everyone work together for the common good. This has been the case with the recent flooding in Nashville and other areas across the state. By the thousands, people are asking, "How can we help?"...

Water-related incidents keep Tech Team busy (05/05/10)
Two water-related incidents which raised fears of possible drownings kept the Bedford County Technical and Rescue Team, along with county firefighters and deputies, busy Tuesday. But no drownings -- or injuries -- occurred in an SUV found in a river near Wartrace or a watercraft incident near Haley...

WEB EXTRA: Landtroop planned to be a teacher (05/04/10)
A Community High School graduate drowned in the Nashville flood last weekend while walking home from his job near Hickory Hollow Mall. Joshua Heath Landtroop, 21, passed away Saturday in Antioch. A native of Torrejon, Spain, he was the son of Brian Heath Landtroop of Spring Hill and Lynn Webster of Taft, Tenn...

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

Duck River level now dropping (05/03/10)
Duck River crested in late afternoon, with identical readings of 21.69 feet at 4:30 and 5 p.m., and has been dropping since that time, according to official measurements. The official forecast now calls for the river to continue to fall overnight....

Exercise generates electricity and idea (04/29/10)
It's voting time again and you know what the old time politicians will tell you. "Vote early -- and vote often!" Of course, in a real election that's not exactly legal, but when it comes to the Pepsi "Refresh" contest, people are allowed --and encouraged -- to vote early and vote often. Recently, Calvin Cannon of Shelbyville won a $5,000 grant through the Pepsi promotion with his idea, "Clothe the N.A.K.E.D. Prom Date," a scholarship providing tuxedos for young men in local high schools...

Weather threat upgraded (04/24/10)
The National Weather Service hs upgraded the weather cndition in Bedford County from "Severe Storms" to high risk and has placed the area under a tornado watch until 9 p.m. Residents are advised to keep alert for the warning sirens. When a tornado warning is issued,the sirens sound for one minute every 15 minutes as long as the warning is in effect...

Stormy Saturday expected (04/23/10)
If the weather forecasters are right, this could be a wild weekend in Middle Tennessee. According to the National Weather Service, the "potential for severe weather looks increasingly likely in Middle Tennessee on Saturday." The advisory said a strong upper-level storm system will move out of the southern plains today and bring a chance for showers and thunderstorms to the mid-state as early as tonight...

Shelbyville lights up over energy grant (04/22/10)
Shelbyville has received a $100,000 grant that will go toward lighting retrofits at the city's recreation center, as well as street light and traffic signal replacement. An announcement by Gov. Phil Bredesen and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber stated that more than $9.2 million in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants was being awarded to 100 Tennessee cities and counties...

Reduce, reuse and recycle (04/22/10)
Cleaning up your yard can take a few hours. Cleaning up the world is going to take a lot longer, but that doesn't keep people like Kathy Harwell from doing their best. The wife of Tim Harwell, principal of Thomas Magnet School, and the mother of three girls, Alix, 10th grade, Arin, seventh grade, and Andi, third grade, Kathy has turned recycling into a family project. Her own parents didn't necessarily recycle, but they did practice the first two Rs faithfully -- reuse and reduce...

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

Got junk? Shelbyville Clean Up Week is time to send it packing (04/09/10)
With the cold, wet weather now behind us and warmer days ahead, it's time for Shelbyville's Clean Up Week. From April 19-22, city residents will be able to have all their assorted junk hauled off by the public works department. Public Works director Mark Clanton explained that if folks will move their stuff out to the street on their regular garbage day during that week, the city will take it away...

Armstrong raises awareness of clean water (03/31/10)
Greg Armstrong completed his 120-mile run along U.S. 231, from the Alabama border to the Kentucky border, in less than the planned 24 hours on Saturday, and is reported to be pleased with the response. The run was to raise awareness and funds for clean water around the world. Armstrong, a teacher at Friendship Christian School in Wilson County, and his students have been involved with bringing clean water to Third World countries...

Twice the rainbow (03/26/10)

Border-to-border run promotes awareness of water (03/24/10)
Greg Armstrong, who teaches science at Friendship Christian School in Wilson County, has two passions: running, and bringing clean water to the world. He will bring the two together on Saturday by running north across Tennessee, from the Alabama border to the Kentucky border, along U.S. ...

Go fly a kite! (03/23/10)

First sign of spring? It's Hubby digging out the camping gear (03/10/10)
The weirdest thing happened last Friday. The sky turned blue and there were no clouds in it at all. Then, on Sunday, the outdoor thermometer rose above the little blue line that denotes the "Yes, it's too stinking cold to wear flip-flops to school" cut-off point...

Spring is near (03/09/10)

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...

March snow (03/02/10)

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...

Severe weather season nears (02/25/10)
This is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Tennessee, and Bedford County Emergency Management Agency director Scott Johnson says that every family, every business, and every church or non-profit organization should have a plan for coping with severe weather...

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...

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

Washing (and wishing) winter away (02/21/10)

It's no secret. The novelty of snow has definitely worn off (02/21/10)
Enough with the snow already. My brother tells a tale of his trip to Europe. He and the other motley students who were backpacking across the continent took a boat ride down the Rhine. As they rounded a bend, they gasped in unison and shouted, "Look! A castle!'...

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...

What's the forecast? Ask Marty Harris - or see his blog (02/14/10)
Everybody complains about the weather and nobody does anything about the weather -- but there is somebody who studies the weather. And he does it just for fun. Marty Harris has been an amateur meteorologist since he was a young boy, learning how to read the sky and gauge cloud activity under his grandmother's guidance more than 40 years ago...

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."...

Icy aftermath (02/02/10)

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...

Duck River featured in 'National Geographic' (01/31/10)
A feature in the current issue of National Geographic magazine highlights "four of the most biologically-rich places in the world," and one of them is the Duck River. The magazined assigned photographer David Liittschwager to document places where a variety of life forms could be found in a single cubic foot...

UPDATED: Winter storm arrives (01/29/10)
Bedford County Schools were closed today in anticipation of winter weather, part of a storm system that has swept across the southern half of the nation. Roads were dry this morning, but snow began arriving at midday, resulting in the closure of Bedford County Courthouse and other facilities....

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...

Wartrace considers cost of storm siren (01/27/10)
Has anyone seen a tornado siren lying around Wartrace anywhere? There used to be one on top of the well house, said Mayor Don Gallagher, but after it was taken down, it seems to have disappeared. The matter came up at the January meeting of the Wartrace Board of Mayor and Aldermen Monday night, when Alderman Ed Simpson made a motion to get a new warning siren...

Dam releases water (01/27/10)

Winter sunrise (01/26/10)

Storms hit midstate, but disaster averted (01/22/10)
Shelbyville's tornado siren was activated and emergency shelters were opened during a severe storm Thursday night. While hail was reported in some areas of the county, particularly northwest of Shelbyville, the Times-Gazette had no reports of major storm damage as of press time this morning, and The Associated Press had no reports of serious injuries or major property damage anywhere in Middle Tennessee...

Scrap dealer must pay county $12.4K (01/19/10)
Bedford County's solid waste authority has been awarded judgment against a scrap metal dealer that owed money. A letter from attorney M. Wyatt Burk informed the authority that judgment was received against Southeast Recovery Group and Robert Madeo in an amount of $12,479.64, plus $150 in court costs...

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)

Chill drives more homeless to local shelter (01/06/10)
CROSS (Community Religious Outreach Social Services), the local homeless shelter which opened in December 2008, reports an uptick in clients due to this week's bitterly-cold weather, according to Carl Bailey, the organization's founder. "We are filling daily," he said. "And we're preparing for even more." The current shelter has a licensed capacity of 28; Bailey said on Tuesday he wasn't certain what that day's occupancy was but that the number changed from day to day...

Woman loses life on ice-slick road (12/08/09)
A Shelbyville woman was killed and another driver seriously injured in a head-on crash on ice-coated Fairfield Pike Saturday morning, officials say. Anmarielines Rodriquez Taylor, 26, of Bell Buckle died in a LifeFlight helicopter while being transported from the scene to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, officials say...

Snow makes brief appearance (12/06/09)

Crash on icy Fairfield Pike (12/06/09)

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. ...

Storms damage local property (10/13/09)

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...

Students learn about Duck River's importance (10/07/09)
Despite dreary skies and threat of rain Tuesday, fifth graders from across the county paid a visit to the Duck River to learn its importance. Duck River Watershed Education Committee kicked off its fourth annual Duck RiverFest at the Greenway behind the Shelbyville power plant with various displays and activities...

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...

Letters to the Editor, Sept. 27 (09/27/09)
To the Editor: I have had a very upsetting situation to happen recently. My great granddaughter, Rylei Hale, was put into developmental kindergarten at Community School by her mother, Amber Hale. She put her in Community School as we keep her during the week while her parents are at work at irregular hours and we live in the Community School district with the bus coming right by our house...

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...

Water rises; schools to close early (09/17/09)

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...

Local teacher wins national learning grant (09/17/09)
The National Environmental Education Foundation, in partnership with The Weather Channel, has awarded local teacher Emily Wilson, along with 18 other high school teachers nationwide, with a grant designed to bring environmental awareness into the classroom, according to a press release issued by NEEF...

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...

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...

Energy-efficient lighting approved for two schools, discussed for others (08/25/09)
Bedford County Schools recently received grant funding for energy-efficient lighting at Central and Cascade high schools, but may consider installing such lighting at all county-wide schools, which a company says would pay for itself in less than five years...

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...

Proposed 'bottle bill' backed by commission (08/12/09)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners gave its endorsement Tuesday night to a state "bottle bill" which would add a 5-cent deposit to the cost of all soft drink, beer, energy drink or water cans and bottles, redeemable when the containers were turned in for recycling...

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...

Letter to the Editor, July 12 (07/12/09)
To the editor: My sincere thanks to the Shelbyville Times-Gazette, John Philleo, Mary Reeves and Sadie Fowler for the great coverage of the 12th Annual Duck River Clean-up on June 27, 2009. The informative article and daily reminders and the editorial prior to the clean-up were invaluable in helping publicize this important environmental project. We also are very appreciative of your excellent coverage of the actual event...

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

Grass, hay fires aided by summer heat (06/30/09)
The summer dry season has arrived right on schedule, and with it comes the usual round of grass and hay fires. A trailer loaded with hay, owned by Venson Hawkins, of Wartrace, caught fire at the intersection of Highway 64 East and Lee Road on Saturday afternoon, Volunteer Fire Services Inc. reported...

Duck River cleanup sees progress over time (06/28/09)
When the Duck River Clean-Up project first began 12 years ago, Wayne Bomar said he couldn't travel 200 feet on his river boat without seeing trash that needed to be cleaned up. On Saturday, Bomar covered a two-mile stretch of the Duck River without seeing trash...

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...

Sludge tank to be removed (06/12/09)
A dispute over a storage tank that was built to store agricultural sludge on U.S. 41-A South was resolved after an agreement was made to purchase the land and dismantle the structure. During Tuesday's Bedford County Board of Commissioners meeting, a group of citizens that were concerned about the tank owned by Wayne Simons were directed to the Solid Waste Authority board to express their views...

Concerned citizens referred to SWA (06/11/09)
At the end of the Bedford County Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday night, County Mayor Eugene Ray acknowledged the presence of citizens in the crowd wishing to address the commission. But the issue was not on the agenda, and Ray announced that it would take 10 commissioners to vote for a rules suspension to discuss any new issue...

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...

Flood may leave lingering effect on farm land (05/05/09)
The heavy rains mean more than washed out roads and closed schools to area farmers. After years of drought, the floods present yet another challenge to a productive season. "Last summer, they'd have been praying for a rain like this," said John Teague, extension agent...

'Super' effort leaves Shelbyville much cleaner (05/03/09)
"Super" is how Shelbyville's public works director described last week's city-wide spring clean-up, with some residents beating workers to the curbside to pick up items they wanted. Director Mark Clanton said that in the four days the city held the clean-up, 133 loads of material were hauled away, as opposed to 86 loads during last year's event...

Schools closed today; pavement collapses (05/04/09)
Bedford County Schools are closed today due to high water, and a segment of pavement on North Main Street has collapsed, apparently due to flooding. "The river flood stage prediction by TVA has changed since yesterday," wrote Bedford County Emergency Management Agency director Scott Johnson in an e-mail. "The river was supposed to crest and start going down today. It will probably not crest until tomorrow and will continue to rise...."

Neese: Shelbyville narrowly missed two tornadoes (05/01/09)
Tennessee has had more tornado deaths in the past two years than any other state in the nation, according to WTVF (Channel 5) meteorologist Charlie Neese, and Shelbyville narrowly missed disaster on April 10, when a tornado struck Murfreesboro. Neese said two strongly-rotating storms passed right over Shelbyville, either of which could have resulted in damage if it had touched down...

SBA will offer disaster assistance to Bedford (04/26/09)
NASHVILLE -- Gov. Phil Bredesen Friday announced the Small Business Administration has issued a Disaster Declaration for Rutherford County and the seven adjacent counties -- Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, Davidson, Marshall, Williamson and Wilson -- for tornadoes that struck on April 10. An SBA disaster declaration makes homeowners and businesses affected by the disaster eligible for low-interest loans...

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. ...

Businesses observe Earth Day too (04/21/09)
Back in 1970, when the first Earth Day was organized, it seemed as though "Big Business" and industry were the enemies of environmentalists everywhere. They dumped toxins into the water; they loaded landfills with garbage that break down slowly, if at all, and they pumped pollutants into the air...

Church advises congregants on ways to go green (04/21/09)
The United Methodist Church designates one Sunday each year, preferably the Sunday closest to Earth Day, which is Wednesday, as a Festival of God's Creation. This past Sunday, The Rev. Lloyd Doyle of First United Methodist Church of Shelbyville gave a sermon on being good stewards in recognition of the festival...

City readies for spring cleanup (04/17/09)
If you've been wondering what to do with that piece of junk taking up space in your garage, shed or back yard, next week Shelbyville residents will be able to do something about it. The city's Spring Clean-up kicks off Monday and lasts until Thursday. During that week, residents can get rid of all that stuff that's been lying around...

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...

Red Cross Murfreesboro relief update (04/13/09)
Red Cross continues providing relief to local tornado victims following Friday's devastating tornado that carved a path through Murfreesboro. Volunteers are continually traveling through all affected communities to distribute water, meals, snacks, comfort kits and clean-up kits to tornado victims who working to pick up the pieces left of their homes. ...

County escapes most of storms' wrath (04/12/09)

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. ...

Weather alert (04/02/09)
Tornado warning issued.

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...

Judge reverses state ruling on farm pond (03/24/09)
A Bedford County judge has overturned a decision by the state's environmental agency that fined a local farmer nearly $10,000 for constructing a pond on his land. Chancellor J.B. Cox ruled on March 16 that the Tennessee Water Quality Control Board, a division of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), applied its own views instead of adhering to state law in a case against Bill Lancaster, formerly of State Highway 64 West...

A beautiful Daffodil Day, for a change (03/22/09)
There was something unusual about this year's Daffodil Day in Bell Buckle. It was warm and dry. "I think this is the first time ever," laughed Alderwoman Jenny Hunt. "Maybe seven or eight years ago ... we usually have it on the third Saturday in March, and that year we got the date wrong and had it on the fourth. It was beautiful. Maybe we should always have it on the fourth Saturday."...

Daffodil Day: picture-perfect (03/19/09)
Are you having trouble seeing the forest for the trees? Don't sweat it -- sometimes the trees are worth looking at. From this Friday until April 3, a special photography gallery will be on display at the Bell Buckle Town Hall called "The Notable Tree Exhibit."...

E. coli warning for Woods Reservoir (03/18/09)
Officials at the Air Force's Arnold Engineering Development Center have issued a warning restricting swimming, wading and water skiing on Woods Reservoir. The restriction was issued because of elevated levels of E. coli found in the water. The source of the high levels of E. coli is unknown at this time and has not been linked to a sewage spill in Monteagle...

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...

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...

Snow hits county; as much as 9" reported (03/02/09)
A weekend snowstorm blanketed the region, closing some churches Sunday morning and Bedford County schools today. Bedford County Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman said this morning that while Shelbyville got about four inches, some areas of the county, including Unionville and Wartrace, got as much as eight or nine inches...

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...

Winds hit home: Shelbyville family displaced (02/12/09)
A young family of five was left temporarily homeless Wednesday after high winds toppled an oak tree onto their Ranchero Drive mobile home. "They called us at work," said Faviola Castillo, who works at Tennessee Apparel in Tullahoma with her husband. Sergio. "The children were in school."...

Near-zero temperatures to chill Midstate tonight (01/15/09)
Baby, it's cold outside. And it's going to get colder, if the National Weather Service knows what it's talking about. According to a weather advisory, "Bitterly cold temperatures are headed for the mid state ... and cold weather safety will be a must."...

Quarry zoning change denied by commissioners (01/14/09)
A sharply-divided Bedford County Board of Commissioners, by an 8-8 vote with two members abstaining, failed to pass changes in the county zoning resolution that would have made it possible to develop quarries in rural parts of the county. The proposed rules changes had already been rejected once before by the county commission, but Bedford County Planning Commission asked for them to be reconsidered...

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...

Schools closed but weather causes few problems (12/12/08)
Bedford County Schools are closed today due to Thursday evening's wintry mix of rain and snow. Many local residents may have had their car doors frozen shut this morning, but the impact on local roads and traffic seems to be less than it might have been...

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...

Salt use unlikely as flurries fly (12/01/08)
Although snow showers are predicted today, no accumulation is expected, and Bedford County Highway Department probably won't need to break out its supply of road salt. Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman said the county hasn't bought salt in the past three years...

Kids learn to conserve at Duck RiverFest (10/08/08)
For the past four years, fifth graders from around Bedford County have made the trip to the edge of the region's water supply to learn what they can do to help preserve this precious resource. 2008 was no different, and even though dark clouds finally threatened to give the area some much needed rain, the kids turned out for the fourth annual Duck RiverFest...

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...

Area steps up Gustav relief (09/03/08)
Scott Johnson, of Bedford County Emergency Management Agency, assisted on Sunday in processing Hurricane Gustav evacuees at Berry Field/Nashville International Airport. "The evacuees came in on military transport aircraft such as C-130s and C-17s as well as commercial charter aircraft," wrote Johnson in an e-mail to the Times-Gazette. "Our operation was set up in an Air Force hangar at the airport. I believe our group at the airport processed approximately 1,300 evacuees...

Fay cuts drought, does little for reservoir (08/31/08)
Most of Bedford County has moved back into the "moderate" drought category as the remnants of Tropical Depression Fay finished drenching the region with rain this past week. But Fay did little to raise the level of Normandy Reservoir, with the water supply only increasing by a fraction before falling again...

Fay's deluge causes few local problems (08/26/08)
Steady rainfall from the remains of Hurricane Fay continued to soak a parched middle Tennessee Tuesday morning and local officials are reporting no problems. At the Celebration, attendance was down a little bit, according to Chip Walters, public relations director for the annual event...

Tuesday night Celebration will go on, says Meadows (08/26/08)
The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration plans to hold its Tuesday night performance as scheduled, at 7 p.m. While the Grounds have received a substantial amount of rainfall over the past 24 hours, the condition of the track has remained good for the continuation of the competition....

Garden tour set for Saturday (06/05/08)
If you're interested in seeing some of the Bedford County community's most beautiful gardens, it's not too late to purchase tickets. The 2008 Garden Tour, sponsored by the Bedford County Chamber of Commerce Beautification Committee, will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m...

Crops soak up rain -- for now (06/03/08)
Dry springs and summers, late freezes and cold nights -- the weather in Bedford County in recent years hasn't been the best local farmers have seen, but it has been getting better. At Valley Home Farm on Potts Road in Wartrace, the strawberry fields are irrigated, so it wasn't the drought causing problems as much as the temperatures. Owner Bobby Potts said the pick-your-own strawberry business suffered a little from the late freeze last year, but the cool nights this year have actually helped...

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...

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