I was one of the final subscribers to Mad magazine. About a year and a half ago, I happened to get a subscription offer for Mad online, through a third-party magazine broker. Like most American men my age, I had fond memories of Mad from my childhood. I hadn’t picked up a copy in years, but the subscription deal was one of those dirt-cheap teaser rates, so I gave it a whirl...

I feared that the upcoming 50th anniversary of the first manned moon landing might get eclipsed by other celebrations (the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, the 10th anniversary of financier Jeffrey Epstein's latest girlfriend learning to tie her shoes, etc.), but apparently the sky is the limit for Apollo 11 remembrances...

A treasured friend of mine, who has now passed on, always declared that the human stomach had separate compartments for different parts of the meal. Thus, his meat and vegetable compartments might be full at the end of dinner, but there was almost always room for dessert. The gentleman was also a respected attorney, so I am always comfortable arguing his conclusions on this subject when I need a decadent dessert...

​Sweet corn ushers in the summer season along with vine ripe summer tomatoes. The farmers market gets into full swing this month and brings in the corn vendors. While frozen and canned corn have their place, there is nothing like the sweet, milky, bursting flavor of fresh corn, on or off the cob...

I turned on the news this morning and one of the first headlines I saw was about a new drink being offered at Starbucks. Prior to turning the news on I had already checked my email, and I had a promotional message about the same drink in my inbox, so I knew it must be big news!...

A popular way to comment on a post on Facebook that someone finds humorous is to simply comment: LOL or Lol, which if you are not familiar with it means Laughing Out Loud. Very seldom do I ever find a post on Facebook that actually made me laugh out loud. Maybe just a few times, so I don’t use that acronym very often...

Bob Sanders, now 79, has made several different cross-country bicycle rides, including one in 2014 to raise money for a veterans group in his hometown of Bend, Oregon. After one of them, REI, a major manufacturer of activewear, including cycling wear, asked him to teach a class. After the class, he was approached by a representative of the American Cancer Society...

June: Friends and Family FCE met June 11 with 5 members and Extension agent Whitney Danhof present. President Bonnie Hill opened the meeting by reading a cleaning task for the month to wash or dry clean all bed linens. The call to order, "June," was read by Kathy Lamb. ...

The Fairview FCE Club met June 19 at the UT/TSU Extension Office on Midland road. President Pat Hastings opened the meeting and asked Debbie Pinkston to read the Call to Order. The devotion was given by Ann Canady. Eleven members were present, along with one guest, Barbara Troxler of the Butler's Creek club. The minutes were approved as read by Secretary Betty Brown. Linda Lovell gave the treasurer's report, and Susie Armstrong gave the sunshine report...

Priscilla Prather of Bell Buckle and David Alan Jacobs of Shelbyville were married May 11 at Southside Baptist Church in Shelbyville. Rick Sears of Waters Edge Church in Murfreesboro conducted the double-ring afternoon ceremony before a large company of guests...

Brandi Michelle Ferrell of Shelbyville and Caleb Jean Parsons of Springhill, Florida, have announced their engagement. The bride-elect is the daughter of Jason and Kim Ferrell and Paula Landers, all of Shelbyville, and the granddaughter of Walter and Patricia Hill of Shelbyville, the late Novella and Ricky "Slim" Adcock. ...

Amanda Beth Cook of Shelbyville and Dustin James Stluka of Readyville were married May 11 at Fairlane Church of Christ. Albert Cook officiated the double-ring afternoon ceremony before a large company of guests. The bride is the daughter of Gary and Mary Tim Cook of Shelbyville and the granddaughter of the late Evelyn McHaffie and the late Harold and Nell Cook. ...

Megan Harris of Shelbyville announces the birth of a son, Harrison Joseph Harris-Keith, May 22 in Murfreesboro. He weighed 8 pounds, 7 ounces and is a brother to Izzy, 5, and Ben, 3. Grandparents are Allan and Karen Harris. Great-grandparents are Janie Molder of Shelbyville and Linda Harris of Bell Buckle...

Bedford FCE County Council met April 5 at the University of Tennessee/Tennessee State University Extension office. The meeting opened wth a devotion, roll call of clubs, approval of minutes, and the treasurer's report. Reports were made on the achievement night in May. Various programs for FCE members were discussed. Ideass for scholarship fundraising were discussed...

United Way of Bedford County has recognized FirstBank in Shelbyville for 100 percent employee participation in the bank’s United Way campaign. Kelly Collier, left, financial services representative, and president Daryl O’Neal, right, were presented a plaque of appreciation by United Way executive director Mark McGee.

Kristy Byford was honored for 15 years of service to Big G Express. Byford, left, the firm’s accounting manger, is congratulated by VP of Accounting & Finances Stephen Voorhees. (Submitted photo)

State Farm Agent Deb Insell pledged money to Bedford Cancer Foundation for each dunk by Keon Johnson of The Webb School, who won his second-straight Division II Class A Mr. Basketball award in March. Johnson made 62 dunks over the course of the season, so Insell’s donation was $310. From left are Insell, Johnson, and Bedford Cancer Foundation president Connie Allen. (Submitted photo)

First Community Mortgage (FCM) recently announced Samantha Meyer, chief risk officer, has been elected to its board of directors. With 16 years of mortgage industry experience and 14 years service at FCM, Meyer, according to company officials, has worked in or managed almost every operational department. She is credited with being at the forefront of the company's growth, watching the employee hires increase from approximately 25 to nearly 250...

Allstate agency owner Amanda McDonald O’Neal of the O’Neal Insurance Group has been recognized as one of the “best of the best” and designated an Allstate Premier Agency for 2019. The Allstate Premier Agency designation is bestowed upon 36 percent of Allstate’s nearly 11,000 agency owners across the country. The Premier Agency designation is awarded to Allstate agency owners based on a variety of factors – including the demonstration of excellence in delivering an accessible, knowledgeable and personal customer experience while achieving outstanding business results. The O’Neal Insurance Group Agency is located at 635 N. Main Street in Shelbyville and can be reached at 931-684-3230 or facebook.com/AllstateAgencyAmandaONeal. (Submitted photo)

Mark McGee, executive director of United Way of Bedford County, thanks Kerry DeVaney, general manager of Compass Self Storage, for the company’s $1,000 gold sponsorship of United Way of Bedford County. (Submitted photo)

A tour group organized by Celebration Travel just returned from an escorted visit to Italy. The group visited Venice, Rome, Florence, Pisa, Pompeii, and Sorrento. They are seen here on the Isle of Capri just off the Amalfi Coast overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Participants included Nakai & Tom Waynick, Shannon Marsh, Michelle Haislip, Kim Baker, Connie Smith, Suzanne Bowman, Aaron Milestone, Amy Beech, Connie Serena, Cathy Serena, Jeffery Haislip, Steve Barber, Stephanie Barber, Kim Vernon, Stephen Jones, Paige Jones, Bill Farrar, Cooper Jones, Robbie Grissom, Deborah Donegan, Kimberly Stoltz, Patricia Schroeder, Kay Rose, Lawrence Campbell, Rita Campbell, Sharon Lowery, Billy Lowery, Pat Robinson, Mike Grissom, Tracey Donegan, Joseph Stoltz. (Submitted photo)

Carina Vazquez Nunez, a recent Motlow State graduate from Shelbyville, sees the world differently from most Motlow students. She is the daughter of immigrant parents from Mexico. “I have been blessed to view life through the lens of a minority immigrant family,” said Nunez. ...

Bedford County Board of Education is expected to address several school issues when it meets in regular session 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Central Office. Though East Side cafeteria is quiet at this time, it will only be a few weeks before students are again filling the lunch line. Student meals remain free this year to Bedford County students.

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) has named Dr. Michael Torrence, president of Motlow State Community College, to its Presidential Advisory Board. Torrence joins 38 other college presidents from across the nation on the board and will provide input into the organization’s strategic plan, priorities, and direction. ...

Now that Gov. Bill Lee has signed into law a bill requiring high school graduates pass a civics exit exam, Tennessee should have greater assurance its students will be able to answer historically significant questions -- like, "Who wrote the U.S. Declaration of Independence?...

While allowing students to bring personal cell phones and other electronic devices to school currently remains a privilege, Bedford County Board of Education recently attached a stronger usage policy. The same policy, which in previous years has required a couple of pages, was condensed into one, as approved by BCBE at its May meeting. The document was a complete re-write, said superintendent Don Embry...

Anna Brown of Cascade High School and Kera Reynolds of Community High School joined more than 185 students, teachers and co-op chaperones for a week-long trip to our nation's capital. The annual event, sponsored by the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association and the state's 23 electric co-ops, provides young leaders with an opportunity to explore the nation's capital, learn about government and cooperatives and develop their leadership skills. ...

School won't start for another month, but the time to Stuff The School Bus has arrived. United Way of Bedford County is placing collection boxes at various local businesses and organizations this week for its annual Stuff The School Bus campaign. Either school supplies or money are accepted. Money can be used to buy backpacks, a more-expensive item which isn't donated very often and which United Way, due to its status as a non-profit, can purchase more cheaply than individual consumers...