Wayne Dillingham, retired from a long career in the military and then in education, made his first solo flight as a pilot fifty years ago, at age 16, in 1969. He celebrated the official anniversary -- March 15 -- with a flight, courtesy of his friend, corporate pilot David Robinson of Murfreesboro...

United Lutheran Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota was a large and imposing building for a little fellow to handle alone on a Sunday morning. Thankfully I wasn't alone for long as I entered the foyer of the education wing of the church. My mother walked me into the lobby and then she turned right and went into the sanctuary for worship, and I was left standing there alone waiting for my friend...

Some of the best photographs I have ever taken were those where I chose to hand the camera to someone else. My hands aren't very steady and the digital developments in cameras in the past 15 or so years really have me confounded. Cell phones have allowed us to record the present in both video and still photography. ...

'Tis the season ... of school events. This week alone I have been to a few school-related events, whether it be a game, banquet or showcase night. Some have been for Dani; others, I've attended in support of my friends' children or in a work capacity...

Author Harlan Ellison once dropped me a postcard remarking that my mind "works like a demented cuckoo clock." In tribute to Ellison (who passed away last June) and in response to a relentless deadline, I have cannibalized some random thoughts I was saving for a book project...

United Way of Bedford County will hold its third annual Shrimp and Crawfish Boil 5-9 p.m. Friday at the Blue Ribbon Circle on the Celebration grounds. Shrimp, crawfish and chicken will be available. There will be a silent auction, and the NCAA men's basketball tournament will be shown on big-screen TVs...

In college basketball there is the "Sweet 16". In the National Hockey League there is the "Original Six". In the world of Hot Wheels cars, the first 16 models made available to the public by the Mattel Corporation in 1968 are referred to as either the "Sweet 16" or the "Original 16"...

Donald and Mary Carpenter celebrated 60 years of marriage at a small gathering of family at their home in Shelbyville on Saturday, March 9. The couple was married on March 7, 1959. (Submitted photo)

Liberty FCE Club met March 18. Sara Kelly called the meeting to order. Bonnye Cartron read the call to order. Debbie Parker gave the donation. Roll was called with eight members present. Minutes were read and approved. The sunshine report included Dorris Turrentine's birthday. Items were brought for First Choice Pregnancy Center. The center's fish fry will be 3 p.m. May 11. Sara Kelly gave the educational lesson, "Barista Basics," a discussion of different types of coffee...

• Heart of the Home FCE Club met February 4 at the UT/TSU Extension Office in Shelbyville with President Ruth Owens presiding. Owens read the cleaning task for the month. The call to order and the devotion were given by Marie Spence. Mignon Spence presented the educational lesson, titled “Barista Basics.”...

Four Corners met Feb. 25 at the UT/TSU Extension Office with Vavial Jamison as hostess. President Connie Smith called the meeting to order. The call to order, "A Valentine Poem," was read by Naomi Luna, and a devotion was given by Diana Lee. Roll call was answered with club members' favorite piece of chocolate in the box. ...

The University of Montevallo, in Montevallo, Alabama, has recognized 356 students named to the Dean’s List for the 2018 fall semester. To make the Dean’s List, a student must earn at least a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and be a full-time student at the University...

Bill and Miriam Pietkiewicz of Shelbyville announce the engagement of their daughter, Micky, to Matt Coker of Nashville The bride-elect is the granddaughter of the late Rev. John Kelly, the late Lucille Kelly, and the late Helen Dean PIetkiewicz. She is a 2013 summa cum laude graduate of the University of Memphis and is employed as a digital account manager at Zeta Global in Nashville...

Tony and Erin Mercer of Bell Buckle announce the birth of a girl, Molly Tate Mercer, Feb. 4 in Murfreesboro. She weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces, and is a sister to Holt, 10, and Hap, 6. Grandparents are Mitzi Raney of Shelbyville, Allen Hale of Chattanooga, Jim and Cathy Mercer of Bell Buckle. Great-grandparents are Ronnie and Linda Hale of Chattanooga...

High Point Analytics has opened Madison Self Storage at 1115 Madison St. The facility includes 40,000 square feet of rentable storage space in 326 units. Madison Self Storage will provide advanced security and exclusively offer climate-controlled storage...

Danny Finchum, second from left, was honored recently by Big G Express for 20 years of service. From left are Big G president Randy Vernon; Finchum; executive vice president Greg Thompson; and VP for operations Gary Shelton. (Submitted photo)

First Community Bank is a Platinum sponsor for United Way of Bedford County events this year through a monetary donation, n in-kind donation and an employee campaign. From left are Linda Nichols, Vickie Hull, UWBC executive director Mark McGee, Della Nelson, Kayla Hilliard and Brent Canady. Hull and Hilliard are also UWBC board members....

LYNCHBURG -- March is Social Work Month, a time to celebrate all those in the profession. Lynchburg Nursing Center's licensed social worker, Stephen Felts, is one of these dedicated individuals. He has been director of social work at the skilled nursing and rehab center since 2010...

Dwight’s Place Barber and Beauty Shop, 409 Thompson St., held a Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting. Owner and master barber Anthony Allison and Chase Pilkington held the ceremonial scissors, and Chamber CEO Allen Pitner presented the first dollar of clear profit plaque. (Submitted photo)

Newton Nissan South has been honored by Nissan for having the highest customer loyalty in Tennessee for the period November 2017 through October 2018. Customer loyalty is measured as a percentage of previous customers who bought a new car from Newton Nissan South within the last 10 years, who then purchased another new vehicle from the same dealership...

Dollar General's newest store at 1420 Highway 64 W in Bedford is now open. Dollar General will celebrate the store's official grand opening on Saturday, March 9, at 8 a.m. with free prizes and special deals. Additionally, the first 50 adult shoppers at the store will receive a $10 Dollar General gift card and the first 200 shoppers will receive a Dollar General tote bag with complimentary product samples, among other giveaways...

Six Bedford County students recently had the chance to become mock school board members during the annual Student Congress on Policies in Education (SCOPE) conference at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. The event is sponsored each year by the Tennessee School Board Association (TSBA). The purpose of the day-long event is to discuss current topics in education, have mock school board meetings with the students and group discussions...

With the new Cascade High School almost complete, Bedford County Board of Education members questioned architects Tuesday night about any hidden costs which could drain the remaining construction budget. "We don't have any surprise expenses," noted board member Michael Cook. " ... Anything unforeseen coming up?"...

Spring Break commences next week for Bedford County students, which means the kids who normally receive essential BackPacks will not have that opportunity. First Presbyterian and Edgemont Baptist members, along with Shelbyville Lions Club, gathered last Sunday to pack 130 boxes for school social workers to hand out to those students. Organizers note this was a community effort with donations from all over the county. (Submitted photos by Richard Smith)

Honor roll and perfect attendance students for the most recent quarter were announced by Victory Baptist Academy. (Submitted photos)

Bedford County School Board held its monthly meeting Tuesday night amidst snow cones and other activities as host Thomas Magnet School conducted its "Family Night." "Our parental support is beyond belief," Principal Tracy Watson said. Watson was a guest presenter at the school board meeting, held in the school's STEM classroom. She said this was a first for her to host the school board and welcomed them to the excitement...

Tennessee Highway Patrol will offer youths who have an interest in pursuing a career in law enforcement the opportunity to attend THP's Youth and Junior Academy this summer. The Junior Academy, designed for middle school students in grades 5-8, will take place June 24-28. The Youth Academy, designed for high school students in grades 9-12, will take place July 7-12...