Stories from Friday, September 19, 2014

By Ivory Riner Staff Writer To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, students from Delphine Hockett's fifth grade social studies class visited Lairdland Farms, located between Cornersville and Pulaski. The land of Lairdland Farms was purchased by John Laird after the state of North Carolina gave him a 5,000-acre land grant in appreciation for his service in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. ...

By Karen Hall and Ivory Riner Staff Writers After just half a day of court proceedings, a mistrial was declared for Stephen D. Smith, 53, who is facing multiple charges of rape and sexual exploitation of a minor. Fourteen jurors were selected Monday, but on Wednesday morning there were only 13 in the jury box. ...

By Karen Hall Editor A man whom many remember as Cooter Davenport in "The Dukes of Hazzard," Ben Jones, was in Franklin last weekend at the Sons of Confederate Veterans Heritage Rally. Jones is the new SCV Chief of Heritage Operations, and has written an editorial in the September/October issue of Confederate Veteran called "Forward The Colors," with the subhead, "Together, solidly together, we can do extraordinary things." In it, he talks about the way people from other parts of the country demonize the South and the Confederacy. ...

Henry Horton State Park is hosting the 11th Annual Step Back in Time Festival today and tomorrow, Sept. 19 and 20. It features two days of music, food, storytellers, re-enactors and demonstrations. "We are very excited about this year's Step Back in Time Festival, including the lineup of very talented artisans and entertainers," Tennessee State Parks Chief Ranger Shane Petty said. "This is a fun, family-friendly festival and we encourage everyone to come out and join us."...

Patsy Marie Blackwell, 67, of Lewisburg, died Tuesday, September 16, 2014 at her residence. Ms. Blackwell was a native of Marshall County, and daughter of the late Clarence Blackwell Jr. and Mrs. Mildred Cheatham Blackwell who survives. She was a homemaker and member of the First Presbyterian Church...

James Houston Stewmon, 74, of Lewisburg, died Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014, in NHC Lewisburg. Mr. Stewmon was a native of Marshall County, and son of the late Joe Wilson and Martha Lucille Glasscock Stewmon. He was a machinist and member of the Church of Christ...

On Monday, the Marshall County Tigerettes (2-6) suffered their third straight loss when they were defeated 3-2 by the Middle Tennessee Crusaders at Cook Soccer Park in Columbia. Marshall County held a 1-0 lead late in the the first half, but the Crusaders seized control of the game by tallying three goals in a span of seven minutes to take a 3-1 advantage into the break. Middle Tennessee then staved off a late second half rally by the Tigerettes to hold on for the one goal victory.

The Forrest girls found out on Monday at the Region 5A-AA Tournament at Champions Run Golf Course in Rockvale that the deeper you advance in the post-season, the stiffer the competition becomes as they saw their season come to end. "The competition was very good, the winning girls shot lower than usual," said Forrest coach Jeremy Jean. "I am proud of the way our girls played, they didn't get down and quit, they just plugging away."

Despite showing marked improvement from last year's performance, the Marshall County Tigers golf team was eliminated from the playoffs on Monday when they finished tied for fourth in the Region 6-A-AA tournament at Montgomery Bell State Park. The Tigers struggled mightily on Montgomery Bell's challenging 18-hole layout in last season's Region tournament, but shaved 31 strokes off their score on Monday and finished with a 339 after taking the top four rounds from five golfers.

The Forrest Lady Rockets came out on a mission Tuesday night in Chapel Hill, blitzing the Sycamore Lady War Eagles 8-2 to remain unbeaten on the season at 7-0. "We didn't come out and strike hard last Thursday at Community, so we didn't want that to happen again," said Forrest coach Natalie Dennis. "I'm just so proud of these girls right now." Forrest sits atop District 5A-AA with a crucial matchup Thursday night in Chapel Hill versus a Harpeth squad that knocked the Lady Rockets out of the district tournament last season.