Backpack Food Program: ‘It takes a village.’
“JOHNNY, CAN you come to my desk, please?” At the sound of his name being called, Johnny jumped from his seat. He tried not to look too eager as he dashed across the bright red, blue, and yellow...
The Fly Arts Center: Lights, camera, action… and ART?
THE FLY Arts Center is abuzz with activity. Community potlucks, professionally catered dinner theatre shows, fundraisers for nonprofits, a quarterly “Maker Market,” plus exhibitions by local artists...
All Seasons Pet Crematory: Where memories are protected
All Seasons Pet Crematory has served with compassion for families in Shelbyville and across Middle Tennessee. This locally owned and operated facility understands that pets are cherished family...
Phillip and Shelley Jones: Breathing easier starts indoors
In recent years, the focus on healthy homes has shifted from a luxury to a fundamental necessity. At Jones Heating & Cooling in Shelbyville, Phillip and Shelley Jones operate with the conviction...
Letter From the Editor
LOVE IS one of those things we recognize instantly, even when we struggle to explain it. We feel it before we understand it. We see it in the quiet moments that never make headlines, and in our...
Billy Joe and Kerri Calvert: Living on love
On Nov. 21, 2026, Billy Joe and Kerri Calvert will celebrate their 28th wedding anniversary. These high school sweethearts have a love that has stood the test of time. Their commitment to each...
Brian and Erica Cox: A love that serves
MONITORS BEEP. Patients are wheeled into sick bays. Codes are called. Through the bedlam of a busy emergency room (ER), Brian and Erica Cox found themselves growing from co-workers to friends, and...
Mike and Frieda Bone: A love of adventure
THE YEAR was 1959. Elvis Presley and Frankie Avalon records were selling off the shelves, and the Ed Sullivan Show entertained families across America. It was here, in the era of soda shops and...
Lane and Rachel Stacey: Love built on faith
LANE AND RACHEL Stacey’s love story began back in 2019 at their mutual friend’s house during the Tennessee Titans playoff game. Although Lane recognized Rachel from seeing her on social media,...
Craig and Mindy Campbell: Making beautiful music together
COUNTRY MUSIC artist Craig Campbell was playing piano at a Nashville bar decades ago when he spotted Mindy across the room. Campbell’s bass player, Todd, was dating Mindy’s roommate, so he...
‘Steel Magnolias’: Laughter, tears, and a packed house
BIG HAIR bands, leg warmers, neon spandex, mullets, perms, and ultra-teased bangs, bright geometric shapes, and colorful wind suits — each of these reminds us of the 1980s. But this era, with its...
Phillip and Shelley Jones: Integrity over upselling
In the competitive HVAC industry, consumers often approach service with an understandable wariness, fearing they'll be steered toward costly, premature equipment replacement. This very concern is...
All Seasons Pet Crematory: Serving Shelbyville with compassion
Located in the heart of Shelbyville, All Seasons Pet Crematory is a locally owned and operated cornerstone of the community. When facing the loss of a beloved companion, local pet owners deserve a...
A Bedford County Christmas: Fireworks, festivities, and fun
THE SHELBYVILLEBEDFORD County Chamber of Commerce hosted A Bedford County Christmas on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. This second annual event included lighting the Christmas tree on the lawn of the historic...
Letter From the Editor
A WAITING ROOM chair creaks as someone shifts their weight. A cup of water sweats onto the lobby’s tile floor. Somewhere down the hall, a name is called. Life pauses in places like this. It always...
Esther McConkey: From Wartrace to wellness
AN EXTENDED hospital stay; an injury on the job, at home, or in an accident; post-surgery; or the need to increase mobility following a stroke, age-related decline, or to improve flexibility,...
Virginia Freeman: All who knew her were blessed
NO MATTER where you live in Bedford County, mention the name Virginia Freeman and faces light up. “The mold was thrown away after God made her,” and “God has blessed her, and everyone who knew her...
Catherine Smith: Balancing motherhood and medicine
ACROSS THE aisle of the grocery store, 8-year-old Catherine Smith watched as a white-haired lady stretched her trembling hand toward a package of toilet paper before several rolls tumbled from the...
Amanda Lankford: From front desk clerk to regional director
OVER THE past 10 years, Amanda Lankford’s career in home health has evolved from scheduling appointments at the front desk to working in human resources and managing the weekly payroll. Her...
Beth Meerdink: ‘Tent-making’ here and abroad
BETH MEERDINK tenderly cradled her treasured copy of “The Lady With the Lamp: The story of Florence Nightingale” and audibly repeated Nightingale’s call to action: “I will change all this, if it...
Nikia Elliott: Experience rooted in service
Nikia Elliott, a lifelong resident of Bedford County, is campaigning for the office of sheriff with a platform built on 25 years of experience and a deep commitment to conservative values. Currently...
Jones Heating & Cooling: Keeping families warm this winter
As the cold of winter settles over Shelbyville, local families don’t expect their heating system to fail, but someone’s will fail every year. Families deserve peace of mind knowing that if it does...
All Seasons Pet Crematory: One-at-a-time policy eases final goodbyes
In the heart of Shelbyville, All Seasons Pet Crematory is a sanctuary for local pet owners navigating the quiet ache of loss. At the core of their service is a simple promise: "One at a time." The...
DREMC: Eight miles, one mission
GROWING UP, most of us played outside long after the streetlights in our neighborhood buzzed to life high above our bicycles. Electricity has hummed through our lives like a silent servant — so...
Officer Letisia Diaz: Never off the clock
FOR MOST working mothers, 6 p.m. is a time for reheating a pot of soup on the stove or warming bread in the oven for dinner. It’s a time when our modern conveniences, such as washing machines,...
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