News

Within two days of publishing a story, backed up with a photo, about what one worker described as unsafe working conditions at the Tyson Foods chicken processing plant in Shelbyville, the Times-Gazette received over 40 comments from Tyson employees throughout middle America...

(Editor’s note: The Times-Gazette contacted Tyson Foods spokesman Worth Sparkman on Tuesday. We asked him to address the concerns raised by some Tyson employees. The employees wrote to us saying that Tyson was not adopting practices to protect workers from the spread of coronavirus. We are reprinting Sparkman’s comments verbatim.)...

When your grandma is a retired math teacher don’t expect to get time off from your education just because school is closed due to a pandemic. Caden and Leah Landers are enrolled in “Mimi’s school” with their grandma, Connie Landers (they call her Mimi). Monday, after classes, Connie assigned a math-related art project for Caden and Leah — Easter-themed chalk art on the street in front of Mimi’s home on Greenbriar Avenue in Shelbyville. Being a math teacher, however, Connie’s assignment had rules: the shapes had to be geometric: parallelograms, trapezoids, rectangles and triangles. Another rule: the colors in each shape could not touch other shapes with the same color. To layout the work, they first tried masking tape but masking tape doesn’t stick to the blacktop. As any red-blooded American male could have told them, what did work was duct tape. Caden and Leah, with Mimi’s supervision, worked on the project from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with some time out for a picnic lunch. In the photo with Connie is her husband, Burt.

dmelson@t-g.com More employees at the National Pen plant in Shelbyville have been laid off in what management says is a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “In response to ongoing shifts in demand, we have implemented an additional 55 temporary furloughs,” Sarah Garvey, National Pen Global Communications Manager, said Wednesday...

Some businesses must continue to deliver consumer goods — through rain, sleet or lately, the coronavirus (COVID-19). Those include local transport trucks. “Our company has been extremely busy, especially over the last several weeks,” said Phillip Edwards, president of Titan Transfer Inc. “It is almost like a peak Christmas season.”...

Normandy’s newly acquired police car has been sitting around town awaiting a police officer/chief to start. The town’s first choice Jason Freeman, due to job conflicts, was not able to take the job but recently the town selected Michael Henry to be the part-time police chief. Henry has been a certified police officer since 2003, serving for a while with the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office.

You have a choice to make when it comes to the coronavirus pandemic. Do you treat this time as an insurmountable threat that pits you against everyone else? This option entails making decisions based solely on protecting yourself and your loved ones: stockpiling supplies regardless of what that leaves for others; continuing to host small gatherings because you’re personally at lower risk; or taking no precautions because the effort seems futile...

Multiple assault charges were filed against a suspect who allegedly threatened and pointed a gun at a man during an argument at a Moulder Road home Tuesday, according to the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office. Joshua Cain Cook, 30, of Horse Mountain Road allegedly broke windows of the victim’s vehicle, then refused to follow arriving officers’ orders and physically resisted Deputies Chase Bledsoe, Savannah Martin and Sgt, Trey Green while being arrested. ...

Bedford County’s COVID-19 case count rose from five Friday to eight Saturday then remained steady Sunday and Monday, according to date released by the Tennessee Department of Health. As of Monday, 153 Bedford County residents had tested negative, TDH said...

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee issued an “Executive Order” March 31 that was a request, urging Tennesseans to cooperate in the effort to slow down the spread of COVID-19. The order stated that “all persons in Tennessee are ‘urged’ to stay at home, except for when engaging in Essential Activity or Essential Services as defined by this Order.” Two days later, Lee amended his order, saying that “all persons in Tennessee are required to stay at home except for when engaging in Essential Activity or Essential Services….”. ...

Most households have, or should have, a rainy day fund set aside for emergencies, especially now that the coronavirus pandemic is at their front door. The City of Shelbyville has its own plans to set aside certain budget dollars to cover unplanned expenses resulting from COVID-19...

Do you currently feel during the coronavirus pandemic like the walls in your home are closing in on you? Are family issues coming from the next room causing you to question your mental stability? Possibly worse, Gov. Bill Lee cited his concerns during a press conference Tuesday over eight suicides in Knox County in one day. So concerned with the mental affects of the COVID-19 pandemic, he referred to Executive Order 20, which expanded what is known as tele-health capabilities for providers...

Shelbyville police officers used CPR and three doses of Narcan to revive a man who allegedly passed out behind the wheel of his truck while pulling into a South Cannon Boulevard parking lot Sunday afternoon. Officers David Dye and Ronnie Blankenship performed CPR and administered Narcan after James “Will” Warner began “struggling to breathe” and they couldn’t feel a pulse, according to a report filed by Dye...

The annual Wartrace High School reunion, held each fourth Saturday in April, will not be held this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Alumni Association president John Bramblett said. The Alumni Association was begun in 1946 and the first alumni banquet was held that year in the home economics area of the old Wartrace High building. Home Ec students prepared and served the meal to 160 guests. This year would have been the 75th annual event,...

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) launched a special hotline this month to help make it easier for families with children to check on their application for emergency cash assistance. Applicants can call 833-496-0661 to learn the status of their application, including approval or denial and how much money the approved family can expect to receive...

Morning mist softens a pastoral scene on Liberty Pike Monday.

As the sun rises on a misty Monday morning the shadowed areas change color from blue to yellow.

Tyson Foods Inc., is currently listed as a Fortune 100 company due to its profits from being the world’s largest producer of chicken, pork and beef products. Despite Bedford County now having six confirmed cases of the coronavirus, the plant continues to produce as an “essential” state workplace amidst the COVID-19 pandemic...

Learning Way teachers found a way to stay in touch with their students — drive by greetings.

By Wednesday afternoon, 81 people had been tested for COVID-19 in Bedford County. Four people (almost 5 percent) tested positive. (By Thursday afternoon the number of positive tests was up to 6, a 50 percent increase overnight.) The first positive test was reported in Bedford County on March 25...

Wartrace aldermen were bound and determined to award the town’s mowing contract to Robert’s Lawn and Landscaping Service and so they did, despite the fact that the company was not the lowest bidder. Alderwoman Patsy Gregory was even willing to visit the sins of the father upon the son, Chas Floyd, who was the low bidder...

A suspect’s alleged reactions toward being told to stop walking away led to him being taken to the ground by a Shelbyville police officer Thursday. Officer Ramon Castillo ordered James Eric Lynch, 40, and Kayla Cathy, 28, of separate addresses at King Arthur Trailer Court, to halt as they walked across a field on Davis Lane. Lynch allegedly ran, refused several orders to hit the ground, clenched his fists and stepped toward Castillo...

The weekend is shaping up pretty good with high temperatures in the low 70s, we could see a pop-up shower Saturday night or Sunday, around 30 percent. Next week we will be in a typical springtime weather pattern with highs in the mid to upper 70s and a 40 to 50 percent chance of a shower or thundershower on most days...

This cabin in Bell Buckle would make a perfect quarantine retreat.

Grandmother Janice Womble is claiming some major bragging rights; her twin grandchildren, Addison and Ashton Riddle, have been sewing face masks recently for health workers in her Shelbyville home. The 10-year-old twins say they’re on a mission during the coronavirus pandemic. They encourage others to make the masks which have become so vital for those working in hospitals and at test stations since Tennessee became a part of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic...

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee issued an “Executive Order” March 31 that is a request, asking Tennesseans to cooperate in the effort to slow down the spread of COVID-19. The order states that “all persons in Tennessee are ‘urged’ to stay at home, except for when engaging in Essential Activity or Essential Services as defined by this Order.” The order took effect at Midnight Tuesday (March 31). It will remain in effect for 14 days, until midnight April 14...

Most employees of the National Pen Corporation plant in Shelbyville were notified Tuesday they were permanently laid off effective immediately. Management had not responded to a request for comment by the Times-Gazette on Wednesday. According to the Shelbyville - Bedford County Chamber of Commerce, National Pen is the 4th largest local employer. The company employs 500 people...

Motorists coming into Bell Buckle on Highway 269 (Liberty Pike) are getting a reminder of how fast they’re going. The speed limit is 25 mph and this motorist was traveling well under the limit Wednesday morning.

The Times-Gazette is in business to write news for and about the people who live here in Bedford County and to provide merchants with a place to advertise their goods and services. Coronavirus (or COVID-19 if you prefer) has abruptly changed everything...

Deer in Bell Buckle enjoy the sunshine Wednesday morning.

Bedford County School System is continuing its free breakfast and lunch program at six school sites. This is spring break, but many school officials are continuing to dedicate their time to make sure children do not go hungry during the time schools are closed...

“With the spread of COVID-19, breaking news and announcements have been coming at us at an accelerated rate,” Duck River Electric Membership Corporation (DREMC) President and CEO Scott Spence said. “Life as we know it has been altered, and our sense of normalcy has been disrupted...

The Bedford County Convenience Center on Unionville-Deason Road in Deason was apparently struck by a “large vehicle” Tuesday, a Bedford County Sheriff’s Office report said. An arriving employee Wednesday morning discovered the office building had been moved approximately 2 feet, a trash compactor wasn’t functioning and items were knocked off a desk...

Fawn Weaver, co-founder and chief executive officer of Uncle Nearest Whiskey of Shelbyville, is featured in the April/May edition of “Garden & Gun” magazine. Weaver is among the magazine's featured 30 “Southern Heroes” honored for their ecological, culinary and artistic traditions. Daughter of Motown Records songwriter and producer Frank Wilson, Weaver and husband, Keith, married in 2003. In addition to discussing how she serves the South as an author and historian, the article also reveals how Weaver, by way of her family heritage, opened the local whiskey distillery last September at the former Sand Creek Farm horse facility on Highway 231-North. Just as philanthropic, Weaver provides scholarships for every direct descendant of Nearest Green. “Garden & Gun” is known for its high-quality photos, which celebrate “the modern South” and features stories relating to food, style, travel, music, art, literature, and sporting culture.

United Way of Bedford County Executive Director Mark McGee, left, presents a plaque to Mike Rittenberry, president and chief executive officer of Peoples Bank, honoring the bank's 100 percent employee participation in the UWBC employee campaign for the ninth straight year.

Atmos Energy is taking steps to ensure safe and reliable natural gas service during the COVID-19 pandemic.  During these unprecedented times, Atmos wants to assure you the company’s focus remains the same: the safety of 4,800 employees, more than 3 million customers and the 1,400 communities the company serves...

Spring weather, coupled with the coronavirus pandemic, has grounded much of the air traffic at Shelbyville Municipal Airport, officials said. “Our traffic is low,” Paul Perry, airport director, said Monday. “We cannot say it is all due to the virus. Some is weather-related. Incoming pilots are stating a low number of aircraft wherever they go. Corporate traffic has almost stopped completely.”...

Damage across portions of northern Bedford County early Sunday is thought to have been caused by straight line winds, according to the National Weather Service and Bedford County Emergency Management Agency. “The NWS advised EMA that the storm appeared on their radar to be straight line winds,” an BCEMA statement Monday said. “On scene observation of the storm debris fields also appeared to indicate damage was caused by straight line winds.”...

Eli Moore was busy last week creating rainbows for the Shelbyville Rainbow Hunt. The social media page has drawn thousands, by invitation, to show off their rays of hope during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) continues to monitor the COVID-19 outbreak closely. At this time, State Driver Services Centers remain open and the department is currently taking precautions to protect the health and safety of employees and customers...

A man was charged with public intoxication after falling out of his kayak into Duck River near the Shelbyville water treatment plant late Friday night, police said. Police were called after a Tate Avenue resident heard Patrick Raines, 31, of Oak Street yelling for help. Officers found Raines behind a fence at the treatment plant. The report noted Raines smelled of alcohol...

Duck River Electric Membership Corporation stopped disconnections of electric service for non-payment on March 19 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  “These actions were taken in recognition of the financial hardships some members may face due to the coronavirus outbreak. We understand electricity is essential for the health and safety of you and your family during these difficult times.” said Duck River Electric Membership Corporation President & CEO Scott Spence...

NEW YORK (AP) — A nurse with asthma, a grandfather with cancer and a homeless man with no known family are wracked with coronavirus-induced fevers. They are struggling to breathe, and a ventilator could save their lives. But who gets one when there aren’t enough to go around?...

Bedford County Board of Education received Tennessee School Board Association’s “Board of Distinction” award Tuesday night from TSBA’s South Central Director Pat Welsh of Tullahoma during its business meeting at the Central Office. The honor, which Bedford County will maintain for two years, recognizes boards for meeting specified requirements in planning, policy, promotion and board development. Currently, only 32 school boards in Tennessee are designated out of the 141 state school districts. From left, front, board members Michael Cook, Welsh, and BCBE chair Glenn Forsee. Back, left to right, board members John Boutwell, Nicole Cashion, Diane Neeley, Brian Crews, Andrea Anderson, Dan Reed, Bedford County Schools Superintendent Don Embry and board member David Brown.

More than 700 sophomores from the Bedford County school system participate in the 45th annual Rotary Career Day on March 11 at Motlow State Community College. Students from Shelbyville Central, Cascade and Community high schools spent the morning listening to four career speakers of their choice, who gave them insight on both high school preparation and any college preparation to enter into an occupational field...

Abby Jennings and her grandpa, Billy Lokey, set out for a day of fishing on Normandy Lake, Thursday. The goal? Catch enough crappie for a Good Friday fish fry. Lokey is temporarily off work from his job with Nissan. Jennings, a senior at Cascade High School, is out of school until late April.

After a month in office, Wartrace Fire Chief Jim Gardner resigned Thursday, at 4:30 p.m. following a confrontation at the fire department with alderman Allan Tabit. Gardner’s resignation was effective immediately. Just a few days before, at the Board of Mayor and Aldermen’s meeting on March 23, Tabit had launched a vitorlic attack on Gardner and, the board voted, despite the fact that the issue was not on the agenda, to move forward with a proposal to change the town code, wresting the power to appoint a fire chief from the mayor. ...

On Thursday, local government officials extended for seven more days their respective States of Emergency due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Bedford County was notified of its first coronavirus case on Wednesday by Tennessee Health Department officials...

Two essentials during the coronavirus pandemic— two items certainly more crucial than toilet paper — are face masks and shields. Observing the need, seamstress Cindee Batey fashioned last weekend about 30 masks in her Manchester home; she said it takes only about 15 minutes of her time, per mask...