Abbygail Kidder: Swine the stepping stone to bovine?
THIS LITTLE piggy went to market. This little piggy stayed home. And this little piggy was a Bedford County 4-H project? Founded more than a century ago, 4-H began with a mission of teaching rural...
Donna Clanton & New Destiny Dog Rescue: Best friends to ‘man’s best friend’
HIS SIZE and gentle demeanor were those of a Labrador retriever, but the shape of his muzzle resembled a hound’s. Like most of the dogs at New Destiny Dog Rescue (NDDR), he was a mystery. His coat...
Webb School Art & Craft Show: Award-winning artisan features horsehair pottery
ON OCT. 18 and 19, Bell Buckle welcomed thousands of visitors to the annual Webb School Art & Craft Show. The salty-sweet aroma of kettle corn, funnel cakes dusted with powdered sugar, and...
Letter From the Editor
THE CREAK of an old wooden floor, the worn edges of a brick building, the way a nameplate on a storefront shines a little softer with age. These are not just small details from the past. They are...
Jason Barber: Bucket list before blindness
WE HAVE understood the term “kick the bucket” for centuries. But it wasn’t until 2007 that screenwriter Justin Zackham coined the phrase “bucket list,” following the release of his film, which...
Shelbyville-Bedford County Library: Rooted and relevant
THE SHELBYVILLE-BEDFORD County Public Library at 220 S. Jefferson St. is topsy-turvy. Staff completed a much-needed reset, replacing the adult book section with the children’s and youth books...
Episcopal Church of the Redeemer: Oldest structure in Shelbyville
WHEN WORD reached Clement Cannon that commissioners sought land along the Duck River to establish the county seat of Shelbyville, it is said that he stuffed $1,000 worth of silver into his pockets,...
Raus community: Built on values, restored with love
WOOD SMOKE teases your nostrils. Buttery yellow, bright orange, and cranberry leaves rain down from the mature trees overhead. Rays of golden sunlight dance on Thompson Creek, beckoning you to spend...
Tracy Vannatta: The Red River Special
A SMATTERING OF sepia-toned photographs lies on the coffee table in Tracy Vannatta’s den. The pictures feature an old piece of farming equipment dating back to the 1920s. The Red River Special, a...
Celebration City Car Club: Four decades celebrating cars and community
THE CELEBRATION City Car Club began in March 1982 with a group of car enthusiasts, led by Garland King, who wanted to share their passion for classic cars, bring the community together, and...
Clara Grace Sanders: From cookies to cockpits
WE’VE ALL heard, “The sky’s the limit,” but for Clara Grace Sanders, the sky isn’t the limit — it’s home! From a young age, she attended several Girls in Aviation events with her Girl Scout troop,...
Bedford County Fair: Blue ribbons and big smiles
THE BEDFORD County Fair, July 14-19, 2025, brought a blend of lighthearted, down-home entertainment and beloved traditions, reminding us why this yearly event buzzes with anticipation. This year,...
Letter From the Editor
“FRANKENSTEIN,” PUBLISHED in 1818, is considered the first science fiction novel. The Gothic story cracked open an entire genre of literature that has endless new entries today. It inspired...
Melonie Valleroy: From janitor to pharmacist
WHEN MELONIE Valleroy entered second grade, her mom started a job as a pharmacy technician at Middle Tennessee Pharmacy Services (MTPS), so Valleroy often spent time there after school and during...
Michaela Stone: From shy nurse to standout leader
ALTHOUGH FELLOW nurses refer to Michaela Stone as a “baby nurse,” Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital recently awarded her the Rosamond Gabrielson Staff Nurse of the Year award. This prestigious award...
Lance Paschal: Tools, talent, and tenacity
THE TENNESSEE College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Higher Education Center at 2905 Highway 231 N. should be completed before the end of the year. The state financed this $45.4 million project...
Isiah Washington: Leading a new wave of professionals
SUCCESS IS often found in who you know and those you meet along the way. For those who own a business or dream of launching one, networking opportunities provide a space to dig deeper roots within...
Julie Graham and Aimee Campbell: ‘Watch it unfold’
HURRICANE HELENE dumped an astonishing 30 inches of rain on portions of Tennessee and Western North Carolina, triggering deadly landslides. Scenes unfolding across social media showed utter...
Tiffany Woosley: The drive to lead
TIFFANY WOOSLEY transferred from Moore County and started her freshman year at Shelbyville Central High School (SCHS). This decision proved to be a game-changer for Woosley. She rose from an...
Chris Fritz: Countywide mentor
WHILE HIS mother earned a nursing degree from Motlow State Community College and worked full time to support her family, Chris Fritz watched with silent admiration. “I’ll never forget waking up at...
Mickey and Dru McCormick: Mane Motion Stables
AFTER DRU McCormick graduated from Louisiana State University with a psychology degree, she traded tantalizing French beignets, Cajun and Creole cuisine, and the cypress-lined bayous of “Fisherman’s...
Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration
SADDLE UP your Tennessee walking horses, slip on your favorite pair of boots, and bring your excitement and appetite to the largest event facility in Tennessee for the 87th annual Tennessee Walking...
Rural 1st continues their long-standing support of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration
For nearly 86 years, the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration has been deeply woven into the fabric of the Shelbyville, Tennessee community. To Bedford County and surrounding areas, this...
Letter From the Editor
THE SCENT of warm butter-covered popcorn and the huge roar of the crowd… does anything bring you back faster than a Friday night under the stadium lights? For me, it’s a flood of memories: the...
Tim Smith and Cavender: Riding Irish luck to victory
EVERY EYE was on the center ring. The floodlights overhead, which had previously illuminated the arena for dozens of Tennessee walking horses (TWH) and their riders, switched off. A subtle hush fell...
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