Stories from Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Forrest claims 2A playoff opener It wasn't pretty, but it doesn't have to be this time of year. Forrest (10-1) is the lone Region 4 team to advance to the second round of the Class 2A Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association's playoffs after a 28-13 victory against Bledsoe County Thursday night at Murrey E. Holton Field.

Jets grounded quickly after early flight Despite a stormy forecast, a standing-room-only crowd was on hand at Preston Hopkins Field Friday night to see Marshall County roll into the second round of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association Class 4A playoffs with a 54-7 rout of Cumberland County. The fourth-ranked Tigers (10-1) gained 294 yards on the ground, led by Kamron Liggett with 185 all-purpose yards, to advance to the second round for the first time in five years.

Anyone who knows the rigors of running 5k races is aware that one year's worth of steady training can make a huge difference in course experience, stamina, confidence and strength for a cross country runner. Marshall County High School sophomore Leah Hollingsworth improved on all four categories in the past year and her hard work paid off with a huge leap up the leaderboard on Saturday at the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association's State Cross Country Championship, finishing 22nd in a field of 184 in Class A-AA.

Forrest Middle School's basketball squads continued their torrid pace, winning three cstraight games in a week, including a sweep of Cascade Monday night at Chapel Hill. The Lady Rockets (9-2), coming off big wins at Cornersville and Huntland, blasted Cascade 41-23 behind 16 points by Laura Ann Mealer and 14 from Ally Blanton.

The Lady Bulldogs of Cornersville Middle School played host to long-time rival Richland on Monday in Cornersville, and except for a brief third-quarter run by the Raiders, the Lady Bulldogs dominated for a 46-30 victory. "It starts with our defense," CMS coach Peyton Newton stressed. "We know we have a hard time scoring. We're not great shooters right now. If our defense is good, we get some steals then we can get some easy transition baskets. Tonight. our defense was as good as it's been, so you put those together and that's how we got the outcome we did."

Mrs. Beulah Mae McCollum, age 74, of Petersburg, Tennessee, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015 at home in Petersburg. Mrs. McCollum was the daughter of the late Rubin Washington Stinnett and Susan Ada Russell Stinnett. She also was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Boyd McCollum, who passed away in February 2015 and one son, Johnny Grubbs. She was a homemaker and was of the Baptist faith...

Jerry Wayne Lynch of Fairview, Tennessee, formerly of Marshall County, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2015, in Nashville. Mr. Lynch was a native of Marshall County, the son of the late J.R. Lynch and Alta Beatrice Haynes Lynch. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Jean Lynch Blalock and a brother, Larry (PeeWee) Lynch. Jerry worked at Genesco, Heil Quaker and Durango Boot as factory supervisor and was of the Baptist faith...

Joyce Barnes, age 54 of Cornersville, Tennessee, died Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015 at her residence. Ms. Barnes was a native of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and daughter of the late Robert Carl Drenkhahn and Ms. Gladys Drenkhahn of Chapel Hill, Tennessee. She was a self-employed caregiver and member of LifeSong Family Church...