Portrait of a Champion

AS THE door closes behind you, a personal welcome replaces the drone of traffic. Layers of conversation from every corner of the room meet in the middle, sliding over you like your favorite old...

IN 1934, the air in Earl C. Kincaid’s radio repair shop at his New Herman home vibrated with the warm hum of radios, each a portal to distant voices and captivating stories. Years later, Earl moved...

GATHER AROUND the Gordon family dinner table and ask how things are going at school, but be prepared to stay awhile. Former and present teachers fill the seats. Spanning from the use of chalkboards...

ATIDAL WAVE of chatter washes over the cafeteria as students surge through the doors, their minds more on who they’ll sit by than what’s on their plate. They pass through quickly, barely looking up...

IN THE delicate threads that weave through the fabric of our history, the roots of fiber arts run deep, connecting generations and cultures in a rich tapestry of creativity. Fiber arts are an...

IN A world where most teens her age are busy navigating college decisions and figuring out life in general, KerriAnn Brewer seized an opportunity when it presented itself, proving that age is just a...

SOME BELIEVE it doesn’t exist; others think it might but believe they’ll never experience it. Some believe it exists only in Hallmark movies and chick-lit novels. You know how it goes. Curled up on...

LIFE WITHOUT someone who’s always been there is not just hard. “It’s just weird. That’s the only word I can say when people ask me about it. It’s just the strangest thing,” said Mary Pitner. This...

IT WAS just another day at the office. As Brian Riddle remembers it, nothing was out of the ordinary. To the staff at Dennis Young Insurance, where Brian is an agent, it definitely wasn’t just...

IN THE heart of Shelbyville, the Community Clinic of Shelbyville and Bedford County is a priceless resource for those often overlooked by the healthcare system. It’s a place where the fragrance of...

NESTLED AT at the edge of a tiny shopping strip is Revaira, hands down the finest dining restaurant Shelbyville has ever had. Don’t let the outside appearance fool you. Inside are dishes once only...

NATIONAL LAMPOON’S Christmas Vacation’s Clark Griswald loved a fun, old-fashioned Christmas, and a scrawny, dead, over-priced tree with no special meaning from a tree lot was a disgrace to him. If...

AS THE early evening chill chases you to the front porch, slow down a moment before you rush inside. Pause at the bottom of the steps and take in the warm white glow of twinkle lights lining the...

FOR OVER 20 years, the children of Bedford County have benefited from the work of the Shelbyville Fire Department, not just by the lifesaving work they do every day but by their annual Christmas toy...

WE HAVE no problem imagining heroes as someone rushing into dangerous, life-threatening situations and saving lives and property. Our heroes come in many shapes and sizes, wearing different uniforms...

“Bedford County 911, what is the address of your emergency?” are the first words that mean help is coming. The calm voice stays with you until someone arrives on the scene. But the work of the 911...

AS DUST sparkled like diamonds in the beam of sunshine, the farmhouse attic’s treasures invited the brothers to sneak away from their play on their grandparents’ farm, trading outdoor exploring for...

STORMS DEMAND our attention. They’re no big deal to some and stir crippling anxiety in others. Between those opposites is everyone else. Despite these differences, one thing unites us: our desire...

SEPTEMBER’S NOONDAY sun showed no mercy as the field hands repeatedly ripped the corn from its stalk, dropping it into long burlap sacks draped across their bodies. Clothes and bulging harvest bags...

AS THE DIVERSITY of the population of Shelbyville and Bedford County evolves, so does the congregation of St. William of Montevergine Catholic Church. The church celebrated the first anniversary of...

WHAT DOESN’T resemble a sleigh or make a rooftop landing but delivers Christmas toys? It’s the Highway 41 Toy Convoy and Show topping the hill on Highway 64, entering Wartrace on the first Sunday in...

GROWTH IS stunted in the shadows. A healthy balance of sun and shade, light and dark, warmth and cool all produce the best in life. While Brooke Smith Sanders is her father’s daughter, walking side...

E ACH SEASON brings its traditions, but few compare to one annual kick off to fall and holiday shopping. Unphased by weather fluctuations, only thunderstorms send shoppers scattering to shelter....

THE SUN shone brightly over Jekyll Island as Andrew Reeves, a sophomore at The Webb School (TWS), swung his golf club, striking the white ball with a hard thud. A surge of joy filtered through him...

BEFORE THE Webb School closed its 153rd year, which saw the largest enrollment in school history and the most diverse student body with students from five continents, 22 countries, and 12 states,...

BRANDI SMITH said she was an unusually talkative and wild child who teetered somewhere between Scout from "To Kill a Mockingbird" and Idgie Threadgoode from "Fried Green Tomatoes." "I talked too...

WHILE THE years have flown by too quickly, and Amanda Shelton has begged for time to pause and let her catch her breath, she’s never stopped being in awe of her daughters, Alyvia and Alyssa Smith....

IT’S THE flavor of hospitality — a meal you hate to end because the food transcends words and fellowship found more in family gatherings than with new friends. A meal catered by Kadillac Que is not...

SUMMER’S HEAT presses down on the long line forming at the food truck. Nearby, others wait their turn at cooling stations of plastic wading pools and misting fans. It’s not a summer music festival,...

THE CROWD lined up long before the meal was to be served, and little food, if any, remained as a late child asked for a to-go plate. They were gone, consumed by those struggling to make ends meet at...

GLASSES OF sweet tea and empty stomachs are refilled as plates are delivered to waiting tables. Some enjoy their food quietly while other tables burst into laughter from time to time. Some build...

L IFE IS noisy. Something or someone constantly competes for our attention, leaving little space for quiet and contemplation. At home in Los Angeles, Ruslan Kushnir’s mind was saturated with...

IT WAS just a red Jeep, but it was a vehicle for healing and processing grief for two Shelbyville families. It was a symbol of celebration of a well-lived life, and for Carson Brandon, it was a...

IN THE ‘50s, Gene Williams and his parents watched helplessly as flood waters rose in and around their Shelbyville Big Springs home. Williams remembers clearly the relief and feelings of hope that...

NOVEMBER 16, 2022. Countless viewers watched as the Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft stood at attention with an eye beyond the sky and waited patiently for the final countdown to lift off. As the...

AT 15, a cake decorating course for her birthday started it all. Through it, Morgan Bargers discovered a natural talent for baked creations too pretty to eat. Buttercream icing, fondant, and cupcake...

AN OLD ledger-turned-scrapbook testifies to the tenacious and adventurous spirit of a woman ahead of her time. Glued to the aged pages is a series of encouraging quotes, more roadmap than sentiment...

IT’S A life of song. Spend 15 minutes with Billie Crowell, and tell me you don’t walk away with a song in your heart, a smile on your face, and a pep in your step. She says music is God’s gift to...

SUMMER’S NOT just for outdoors! Fellowship with friends and family while experiencing our area’s best arts and entertainment, indoors and out. Don’t forget the fireworks, but there’s more than...

DRIVING THE gentle, rolling hills of southwest Bedford County, nature will stop you in your tracks if your spirit is open to its invitation to slow down. Nestled within these hills is the old red...

WE TAKE it for granted. A hot shower or a long bath at home, endless choices for snacks and meals in the pantry and fridge, a closet filled with clothes, a warm coat — so many everyday provisions...

TODAY, YOU can buy a new home from the comfort of your old one. The internet has transformed how we conduct most business, but at Craig & Wheeler Realty & Auction, one thing has remained...

THE COMMUNITY had seen very few Hispanic families in Shelbyville in 1993. The schools had no translators, and our curriculum had no English as a second language (ESL) courses. Leo Solis was a...

LYNNA MILLER’S students are a part of her life forever, each becoming one of her kiddos. But some put the “special” in education — a field Miller has been actively involved in for more than 30...

DID YOU feel like an outsider at some point in high school? Do you remember the invisible boundaries between you and those in sports or clubs? Were your grades or wardrobe always short of measuring...

IT’S BECOME a Bedford County tradition — graduating seniors returning to their elementary schools to walk the halls of their childhood memories. When the last days of high school are marked off the...

WATCHING YOUR baby grow, develop, and toddle is something you never forget. You soak in as much as time allows, even though it is a naturally stressful time. Milestones come and go, and growth...

TO SAY “the sky’s the limit” is to aim low in the world of Shelbyville native Billy Hix. While the concept of the internet did not exist when Hix was a fifth grader, he’d have had no problem...

THEY’VE ALWAYS been a part of Judy Gambill’s life—agriculture and faith. Her commitment to serving her community is rooted in them. Gambill grew up in Franklin County and spent her childhood on the...

One night a year, the stars shine brighter in Bedford County than any other evening. The glow from the venue, honoring our community’s special citizens, could power the area for months. Extra...

FAITH AND art have filled Marie Lane Madeiros’ heart for as long as she can remember, inseparable like muscle and marrow. Not one season of her life is without them. Her earliest art memories trace...

IMAGINE A life with no hope for your child – no hope for education, to learn to read or write; no hope for growing into their dreams; no hope for what we would call a normal life. Imagine that...

While walls define the space occupied by a class, the environment within empowers the learning inside. At Shelbyville Central High School (SCHS), teacher Tiffany Church makes sure her room’s...

JENNIFER COOK’S family began investing early in her teaching career. It wasn’t the type of investment overseen by financial advisors, but it added up over the years and paid off for Cook and her...

THE SKY’S the limit for future pilots, and Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and the Shelbyville Municipal Airport will play a vital role in the takeoff of their careers. Statista.com...

Did you know that right in our backyard is one of the most biologically diverse rivers in North America? Over 50 species of freshwater mussels, and 151 fish species reside in this precious water...

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“FREEDOM” enters the chatroom, and immediately it’s all, barbecued meat and who’s got the biggest bang of a firework show. While Independence Day is our nation’s designated time to pause and...

SHAKESPEARE WROTE, “All that glitters is not gold,” and several pastors proved this at the Second Annual Homes of Hope (HOH) Pastor’s Pageant held at the Shelbyville Central High School, in April....

HER HANDS were full, and her life was overwhelming. Jane Wagnar Feist and her four young children carried on as best they could while her husband, Herbert Feist, served in the United States Marine...

“I AM. I can. I will......I am. I can. I will,” she repeated silently, studying the judges’ faces and feeling hopeful about her chances. The top five had been called to the stage, and each...

WHILE WE envision lives filled with companionship and cuddles, the reality of homeless dogs and cats is much more problematic than we imagine. Significant progress has been made locally, due to the...

You're invited to a day, two if you choose, of indulgence. Escape life's stresses and treat yourself to rest and renewal. Bell Buckle's Kingdom Acres is holding your spot. What ails you? Joints and...

THE SHELBYVILLE Sharks swim team coach is making waves! In late 2020, the recreational swim team’s parent board reached out to Lauren Ball, asking if she was interested in being their head coach....

THE PANDEMIC has magnified seniors’ loneliness and isolation, especially those unable to drive. MyRide Bedford and its drivers are lifting spirits and developing friendships while supplying a...

A VOLUNTEER IN all of life’s seasons, Shelbyville’s Kay Bartley has lived a life of service. From her early days of marriage to the present, Bartley has covered a lot of ground. She has sown many...

BEFORE THE door closes behind you, the greetings near the counter meet you. And if you’re a regular, your table’s already set with your drink order. Only once will lifelong Bedford County resident...

THERE ARE moments in life when you take a step back and ask, “How did we get here? How did this come to be? How did we get in this state or condition?” Similar to the aging of the skin, most things...

ONE OF Shelbyville's most trusted lawn care services, Adam's Lawn Service, has been around since 1989. The business started in a bit of an unusual way. Kris Adams, the current owner of the business,...

UNFORTUNATELY,SOMETIMES in life, it takes a tragic accident to unveil a place of great need. This is what happened on a freezing-cold winter night in 1978 when many of the animals at the city pound...

ONCE UPON a time, there was a cozy cottage on a hill. Isn’t that how all the best stories begin? The story of Shelbyville local Vicky Black and her whimsical Hilltop Bed and Breakfast is no...

NESTLED BEHIND Shelbyville’s historical public square and the former public library is an inconspicuous building housing inspiration, entertainment, and education. In the early 90s, The Bedford...

AROSE IS a rose is a rose – except at Leanne’s Flowers where her red roses are the most beautiful she’s seen in her 28 years in the florist industry. Owner Leanne Moore is equally excited about the...

SHELBYVILLE IS giving a fresh start to local dogs with the help of New Destiny Dog Rescue, an animal rescue organization that helps reduce the population of unwanted and neglected dogs in Bedford...

EVERY TOWN and county is filled with the history of those who came before them. Whether that be old cars, historical documents, or even retired fire trucks. Garland King was an avid collector of all...

JEANNIE CAMPBELL knows from personal experience that there is a lot to deal with when a person with an addiction decides to get clean. It’s not only the body that detoxes, it is a process of...

THE COSTS of prescription drugs drain household budgets. Navigating insurance, manufacturer coupon programs, and the barrage of information from mailings and the internet is overwhelming. United Way...

HALLOWEEN IS Leland Blessing’s favorite holiday, when all his friends can get into the costumes of their favorite heroes and villains. They get to visit with friends and go knock on doors for candy...

THE DREAMS of one individual can shape the heart of an entire community. We can all look around and see the change we wish to see in the world. Many situations may seem too big; however, all it...

TO SHOW appreciation to their teachers, kids used to bring a shiny apple to leave sitting on their educator’s desk. They would run back to their chair and wait for the teacher to come in and see the...

IN JULY of 1996, Detective Joyce McConnell was called out to a scene she will never forget. Detective McConnell was heartbroken at what she saw. Years after this event, Joyce founded Junior’s House,...

HAVE YOU ever seen Edwin Holcombe walk a rabbit on a leash in downtown Shelbyville? You might think you’ve entered an episode of the Twilight Zone or expect to see Alice in Wonderland next but what...

HONEY AND Haley were ready on the starting line at a horse race in Kentucky. She was surrounded on her left and right by racers in her young adult age bracket. One racer after the other looked...

IF YOU are looking for delicious and authentic Mexican food in Shelbyville, La Rivera Mexican Cantina should come to mind. Not only is it a locally-owned business in Bedford County, but it’s also a...

CHERYL PIGGOTT, the founder of The Stars Foundation and World Orphans Day recently moved from Nashville to Shelbyville. In the years to follow, Piggott has laid out plans to hopefully begin to...

AS CUSTOMERS, we walk into businesses not always knowing the history or hard work that it takes to make a successful business. We often don’t know the first days when a business was just dreams and...

WHAT DO sushi and donuts have in common? The common link is Duk Parks, the new owner of I Love Donuts in Shelbyville. Originally opened in the late 1990s, Duk’s cousin, Jay Parks, owned and operated...

CIRCUMSTANCES CAN knock us off our feet and leave us feeling alone. We may believe that there are no resources, no hope, and no help. But it’s possible we’re surrounded by those very things and need...

 Do your favorite fall memories include the Webb School Art and Craft Festival in Bell Buckle? Are you a fan of dinner theater at the Fly Arts Center? Do you love to linger for hours in the vendor...

INSPIRATION FOR Josh Puckett comes from real-life examples of coaches who have influenced his life. As an adolescent, football was a place to excel and find acknowledgment for his skills. He made...

WHEN JAKE Tyre was a young man playing football at Cascade High School, he found a father figure in his coach, Kenny Parker. Coach Parker gave Jake advice and support, helping him think through...

SOMETHING ABOUT Basic Training felt familiar to Chris Grooms but he couldn’t put his finger on it until he was speaking to a fellow soldier about playing football. “Basic Training is like...

THERE IS a misconception according to Webb School’s head football coach, Kyle Turnbow, that football players at the private school don’t have difficulties to overcome. As a self-proclaimed recipient...

THE PANDEMIC forced many local shops and restaurants to cut down on staff in order to save money—or lose their business entirely. This reality has been one of the greatest casualties of COVID-19....

WATER, SUN, soil, and lots of love is all it takes to grow plants. It’s even better in a greenhouse, designed to foster the growth of flowers, herbs, succulents, and other green stems of life. For...

ACCORDING TO the nursery rhyme “Monday’s Child,” people born on a Tuesday grow up to be gracious, agreeable, refined, and polite in manner or behavior. It might apply to horses as well, or at least...

‘Am I completely gowned up? Do I have everything on correctly?’ Jarylin Bishop thought as she stood in front of the doorway to the patient’s room. On the other side of the door was her first...

January 1, 2021, was the first day in more than 250 days that Donya Neal got to take a day off as an Infection Control Practitioner at the Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital. Since mid-April 2020, she had...

“I’m not gonna lie,” Justin Bird said. “There have been plenty of nights when I’m laying in bed at night while I’m on duty at the station thinking ‘I’ve got the greatest job in the world.’” Justin...

Cathy Purcell is a certified nursing assistant, or CNA, in Shelbyville. She lives in Unionville, just a quick 17-minute drive up the road from the hospital. She lives on the same road as her mother,...

If you get the pleasure of walking by Rich- ard “Ricky” Donovan in the hallway of the hospital, he will speak to you. A simple hello, at the least, can brighten anyone’s day. Ricky is an...

“I heard a bad quote in mid-April of last year from a healthcare provider. It was not someone I knew directly,” Dr. Austin Mackens said. The bad quote he heard was “I did not sign up for this.” “My...

Dr. Troy Miller, the director of hospital medicine at Van- derbilt Bedford Hospital, researched through evidence from hospitals in cities that were already hit by the pan- demic. He knew it was...

Imagine walking into work and the first thing you have to do is develop an action plan to treat a patient who has been shot, another patient who has pneumonia from COVID-19, and another patient who...

In patient after patient, the COVID-19 virus attacks your lungs. You may have heard that it contributes to pneumonia or COVID pneumonia. The virus causes inflammation in the lungs. With inflamed...

For the Nash Family, the green, green grass of home is a 500-acre farm north of Shelbyville, Tennessee. Howev- er, it wasn’t always that way. The story of Nash Family Farms began over nine decades...

Sometimes it comes from a photograph or from traveling and seeing what someone else has done. Sometimes it comes from out of the blue. For Tanya Coffey, taking ideas and turning them into a reality...