41A Shooter Arrested Update: The Road Rage shooter of teen girl has been arrested and is in Bedford County Jail on 250,000 bond. William Brown, 42, Joe Hart Road, has been charged with 4 counts of aggravated assault and other charges are pending.The victim is recovering.more 6/28/24 |
City receives Municipal League Award CITY RECEIVES MUNICIPAL LEAGUE AWARDKNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Downtowns often serve as the beating heart of a community, and officials in Shelbyville have made dedicated efforts to ensure their downtown continues to not just survive but thrive.more 6/26/24 |
A Better Bedford seeks to support Visionary Leaders Today marks the official launch of A Better Bedford, a new bi-partisan political action committee dedicated to championing policies rooted in sensibility.more Submitted by David Coffey|6/21/24 |
Keith Davis: Sworn in as a BC Commissioner Keith Davis was sworn in Tuesday evening as the commissioner for the 7th District. He will replace Julie Sanders, who resigned, effective June 7. She has relocated out of state.more 6/13/24 |
Bell Buckle 29th Annual RC-Moon Pie Festival ™ We can’t help falling in love with all things Bell Buckle and RC and MoonPie the 3rd Saturday in June. And this year, oh do we have some fun planned like you’ve never seen before!more 6/7/24 |
Another homicide Shelbyville records yet another homicide. Nicole Burk has been arrested and charged with criminal homicide. Two have been arrested for a shooting behind the carnival on Madison Street this week.more Staff Report|6/7/24 |
Courthouse Tour Summer Learning students from East Side Elementary School toured the historic courthouse on Thursday, May 30.more 6/7/24 |
Local resident Mary T. Cook receives honor from Boy Scouts Mary Tim Cook, a retired local educator, has been honored by the Boy Scouts of America. Read about her much-deserved honor in the June 6 edition of the Times-Gazette.more 5/30/24 |
Elijah Bobo 'walks by faith' Elijah Bobo had a serious truck accident in March. But he bravely walked with cane to the podium and received his graduation diploma last Friday night at Cascade High School. Read more about Elijah's story in Thursday's Times-Gazette. which can be found at many locations in Shelbyville or is available by print and or online subscription by calling Renee at 931-684-1200.more 5/30/24 |
Local Memorial Day Program United Veterans Council of Bedford County held a Memorial Day program today on the historic square. Col. Joe Miller, retired, was guest speaker.more By DAWN HANKINS|5/27/24 |
The County celebrates broadband grant The County celebrates broadband grants with reception.more 5/26/24 |
Julie Sanders resigns from Commission After 10 years of service to the community, Julie Sanders has resigned from Bedford County Board of Commissioners, effective June 7.“If you’re not proactive, there’s no way the County can handle the growth that’s coming.”more By DAWN HANKINS|5/24/24 |
Poplin Memorial History Awards Presented Bedford County Historical Society recently presented its Poplin Memorial History Award at each of the county’s three public high schools in memory of the late Richard Poplin, long-time county historian, writer for the Shelbyville Times-Gazette, and charter member of the Historical Society.more 5/23/24 |
Raymond Antonio Smith guilty of murder Raymond A. Smith of Shelbyville awaits his murder sentence after a jury found him guilty last week of first-degree murder of Sarah Angelina Johnson.more Staff Report|4/25/24 |
Teacher Gun-Carry Bill Passed in TN House and Senate After a week on hold, followed by 2 hours of discussion, a teacher gun-carry in public schools proposal has passed the Tennessee House of Representatives. After a week on hold, followed by two hours of discussion, a teacher gun-carry in public schools proposal has passed the Tennessee House of Representatives. The measure was substituted for the Senate companion version of the bill on Tuesday when it carried the House by a vote of 68 in favor and 28 against. Two representatives, Clay Doggett (R-70) of Pulaski and Kirk Haston (R-72) of Lobelville, opted to be recorded as “present, but not voting” on the bill. Both representatives cast a vote against every Democratic-proposed amendment to the legislation prior to the final vote.Senate Bill 1325 passed the Senate Chamber on its third and final consideration April 9. The Senate version was sponsored by Sen. Paul Bailey (R-15) of Sparta. Tennessee Senate District 15 comprises Cumberland, Jackson, Putnam, Smith, Van Buren and White counties.Sen. Shane Reeves (R-14), who represents Bedford, Cannon, Moore and Rutherford counties, supported the measure.Locally, State Rep. Pat Marsh (R-62) of Shelbyville and representing Bedford, Moore and part of Lincoln counties, voted in favor of the bill Tuesday. HB 1202 sponsor, Rep. Ryan Williams (R-42) of Cookeville, requested to hold the proposal on the clerk’s desk last week citing an effort of bipartisanship to allow for more time to discuss the measure. Under the legislation, a faculty or staff member of a school is allowed to carry a concealed weapon on school grounds as long as it does not violate Federal laws, the staff member obtains an enhanced handgun carry permit and completes 40 hours of POST training annually. Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) is the state standard in police trainingThe hands-on POST training was an additional requirement of the Senate version, according to Williams. The bill also requires the staff member who wants to carry adhere to a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation background check, as well as a mental health background check.In addition, information pertaining to employees of a school district who do carry a concealed weapon on school grounds is confidential.Williams explained to his colleagues that the language of the bill allows counties and Local Education Agencies (school districts) to opt out of the measure. Apparently the costs for liability insurance for those who wish to carry are covered through that individual’s insurance policy as an enhanced concealed-carry permit holder.During floor discussion, Williams reminded House members that a similar bill was passed by the Tennessee legislature in 2016 allowing teachers to conceal carry handguns at schools in the 13 counties considered economically distressed in the state. In 2017, Williams said, the Tennessee General Assembly passed a bill allowing faculty and staff members in higher education to conceal carry handguns. Williams claimed crime on Tennessee campuses was reduced by 20 percent, according to a TBI report. He said 3.133 percent of faculty and staff carry handguns on university campuses.He noted that 32 other states, “red, blue and purple,” already have similar legislation pertaining to teacher gun carry. Williams said he has worked for many years on the legislation, with the idea of protecting those who are trapped and creating a deterrent for school shootings.The legislation mandates a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between a school’s principal, local law enforcement in that jurisdiction and the director of schools to allow teachers and staff to conceal carry.Prior to the final vote in the Tennessee House, several representatives spoke out in favor of the measure and against the measure, all falling in line with their respective political parties, with the majority of Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed to the bill.Rep. Caleb Hemmer (D-59) of Nashville announced polling of 1,000 people, 49 percent who were firearm owners, by Vanderbilt showed only 37 percent felt their children would be safer with teachers carrying guns on campus.Rep. Bo Mitchell (D-50) of Nashville quoted his colleague from Knox County, who stated in a previous session, “The teacher who wants a gun in the classroom is exactly the one I don’t want to have a gun in the classroom.” Mitchell reminded House members that this was the first piece of legislation surrounding firearms since the Covenant School shooting last year in Nashville. On March 27, 2023, a shooter entered the elementary school and killed six people, three of whom were students. He argued throwing guns at schools was not going to keep students safe.Rep. Brock Martin (R-79) of Huntingdon spoke in favor of the legislation, noting that he trusted his LEO and school districts.“If they think it will help with safety, I will support this,” Martin said.Under the measure, teachers and other staff members who are approved to conceal carry are not allowed to bring their weapon into gymnasiums, auditoriums or stadiums during school-sponsored events. Williams said as they must carry the weapon on them, they would not be allowed to attend events such as school-wide pep rallies under the legislation.The bill was sent to Gov. Bill Lee for his signature. Lee has 10 days, with the exception of Sundays, to sign or veto the measure. He has not vetoed any legislation during the 113th Tennessee General Assembly session. If he takes no action on the bill, it becomes law without his signature.Sabrina Bates, sabrina@richardsonmediagroup.netmore By Sabrina Bates|4/25/24 |
Shop at Home A lot of expansions and renovations are going on around the historic square in Shelbyville. Please continue to support your local businesses.more 4/11/24 |
County By-Pass Resolution heads to State Growth is here and coming full speed.Discussions at the Bedford County Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday night all came back full circle to the growth of Bedford County.more By DAWN HANKINS|4/11/24 |
TN Flight Training Academy officially open! A ribbon cutting was held recently for Tennessee Flight Training Academy at Shelbyville Municipal Airport.more 3/29/24 |
Enjoying a spring day Warmth and exercisemore 3/21/24 |
Burned, abandoned but not forgotten Friends of the Historic Bell Buckle School (FHBBS) are on a mission to restore the remaining structure and turn it into a community center/recreational facility for the local town.more Dawn Hankins|3/14/24 |
Currently viewing stories posted within the past 2 years.
For all older stories, please use our advanced search.
