Shelbyville-Bedford Co-op: From farming to fashion

Shelbyville-Bedford Co-op: From farming to fashion

WHETHER YOU dream of owning your own micro-farm or raising cattle on hundreds of acres, the Shelbyville-Bedford Co-op near the Duck River on South Cannon Boulevard has exactly what you’re looking for. Since it first opened in 1956, it has been the one-stop shop for...
Shawna Barrier: Soaring from inmate to inspiration

Shawna Barrier: Soaring from inmate to inspiration

“I SAW MYSELF as a teacher, in a bank, as a doctor — never prisoner number 00660725 at the Bedford County Correctional Complex,” wrote Shawna Barrier. “My pathway to becoming a habitual offender began after a major car accident. I began abusing prescription...
Mary Sadler: Still going strong at 90

Mary Sadler: Still going strong at 90

NINETY-YEAR-OLD MARY Sadler’s eyes twinkle as she studies the eager faces around the kindergarten classroom at Cascade Elementary School. Every morning, she lovingly delivers the bags of hot breakfast items to the students, and it’s the highlight of her day. With each...
Polly Woodard: Nourishing hunger and lives

Polly Woodard: Nourishing hunger and lives

POLLY WOODARD drank in the scent of sliced oranges. She scooped them into her gloved hand and filled the row of lunch trays. She smiled in quiet anticipation. Soon, the first group of hungry students would begin lining up, and the opportunity for her to be a bright...
Billie Jo Juarez: The wheels of kindness

Billie Jo Juarez: The wheels of kindness

COMMUNITIES ACROSS the nation are grappling with a severe shortage of school bus drivers — a crisis that has deepened in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here in Tennessee, the situation is no different, and Gov. Bill Lee and state officials are working to find...