Stories from Wednesday, December 10, 2008

From Staff Reports With two Christmas parades in Marshall County last weekend, area residents could easily say they'd celebrated the "Best Little Christmas Ever," especially since that was the title of the festival on the Courthouse Square. Even the prediction of snow came true Friday night as presented in a forecast published here by the City of Lewisburg's listing of events including Christmas at the Dixie Theater where two snow machines churned out real snow flakes on that cold night...

NASHVILLE - The cosmetics factory in Lewisburg has been awarded a $49,177 state grant to help pay for employee retraining because of new equipment and production of new products next year. Cosmolab's grant was one of 13 grants totaling $381,562 as announced by Gov. Phil Bredesen and Labor Commissioner James Neeley on Friday. Financial viability and payment of all state taxes are among the requirements for the grants...

CHAPEL HILL -- Town planners reviewed three new books on landscaping at their meeting last week when the rules might have been compared to the porridge Goldilocks tasted at the three bears' house. One was too long and complicated. One was too short and not very specific, and the third seemed to be just right, except the planners weren't sure, so they asked a state adviser to iron out wrinkles so they'd be comfortable with the new rules...

Circuit Court Judge Robert Crigler last week denied a new trial request for a man convicted of harassment during a phone call and scheduled him for trial on a similar charge in a different case. Ricky Eugene Scoville, 42, of McMinnville, was convicted Oct. 27 by a Marshall County jury on a charge that he telephoned a grocery store employee and made racially insulting remarks that had no legitimate purpose...

Another incumbent councilman has obtained a petition to run in Lewisburg's election. Meanwhile, a seated councilman has filed his petition to be named on the city ballot next spring. Odie Whitehead Jr., 62, of Second Avenue North, made it official last week. He's a candidate in the May 6 election. Whitehead was appointed on Oct. 28 to succeed Betsy Shelton, the second of two successors to former Councilman Elvin White who moved out of town...

The School Board's budget committee got their first look at the schools' lists of needs for next year at their meeting last Thursday. The whole list totals $2.5 million, but has not yet been prioritized. Some of the items on the list have already been included in this year's budget...

One of Lewisburg's biggest employers is helping to organize a Habitat for Humanity affiliate here with the executive director of Lewisburg's public housing authority. CKNA's Lewisburg plant manager, Vitto Raffo, last week explained his company's interest to the Three Star Housing Committee of the Joint Economic and Community Development Board chaired by Ronald Robinson, the housing authority's executive...

The Murfreesboro-based environmental engineer hired by Marshall County commissioners for development of a trash disposal plan is to meet with Cornersville- and Chapel Hill-area residents next month to get advice on what's to be done if and when Waste Management Inc. closes Cedar Ridge Landfill...

After dropping their two previous games, the Cornersville Lady Bulldogs (5-2) got back to their winning ways Friday night by whipping the Lighthouse Christian Lady Lions 62-23 at home. The Lady Bulldogs put the game out of reach in the first two quarters and built a 37-15 lead by halftime before outscoring Lighthouse Christian 25-8 over the final two periods to coast to the thirty-nine-point victory...

The Cornersville Bulldogs (3-3) moved back to the .500 mark Friday night when they thumped the Lighthouse Christian Lions 49-33 at home on the strength of a dominant first half performance. CHS had their way with the Lions during the first two quarters of play and forged a 31-10 lead by halftime before opening up a twenty-two-point advantage early in the fourth quarter en route to collecting their second straight win...

Coming off a disappointing 72-63 loss to East Literature, the Marshall County Tigers (5-2) bounced back with a strong performance Saturday night when they defeated the Cornersville Bulldogs 67-37 in the Night of Stars at Lewisburg. Marshall County seized control of the game early and built a 35-15 lead by halftime, before Cornersville (3-4) fought back and cut the deficit to thirteen late in the third. ...

It is World Tournament time, beginning tonight at Forrest Middle School and both Chapel Hill squads prepared for the annual event by sweeping Liberty Middle School on Thursday night. The Rockets improved to 13-1 on the season with a 41-24 win over the Patriots, while the Lady Rockets evened their record at 7-7, blasting the Lady Patriots 41-10...

The Forrest Lady Rockets did not have time to do some damage to their Christmas shopping lists over the weekend, spending the weekend doing damage to their opponents, beating Van Buren 65-55 in the district opener Friday night at home and then captured their sixth straight win with a blow-out 73-18 win at Culleoka on Saturday...

The Tigers/Tigerettes hosted the Lawrenceburg Wildcats on Thursday, Dec. 4. The Tigerettes went into the match without a loss but didn't emerge that way...they lost to the Lady Wildcats 20-7. The Tigers also lost 17-10. The Tigerettes split the first match 3-3, with Ashley Hunt (146), Lindsey Fagan (136) and Danielle Toseland (153) winning their points. ...

The Forrest Rockets, coming off two consecutive losses, opened up District 9A play Friday night with a 62-55 win over visiting Van Buren. On Saturday night, the Rockets were not so fortunate, losing 71-37 at Culleoka. The Rockets (3-4) began the Van Buren contest on a mission, jumping out to 16-0 lead before the Eagles got on the board at the 2:19 mark of the first quarter...