The Marshall County Board of Education voted Wednesday to accept a recommendation to narrow its search for the position of schools director from 16 down to five. The recommendations came from the Tennessee School Boards Association, which had conducted a nationwide search to fill the position at the request of the local school board... more

There are five and a half days left for early voting in Tennessee's part of the Feb. 5 Super Tuesday primary for Democrats and Republicans to select their nominees for president in the national election in November. The Marshall County Election Commission office is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for early voting today and Monday through Thursday next week. Early voting hours tomorrow are from 8 a.m. until noon, election officials said... more

A consensus on merit pay raises for Lewisburg city employees was reached among a majority of City Council members on Wednesday when they agreed to, in effect, "split the baby." Instead of issuing merit pay bonus checks only, the council has agreed to also provide city employees a base pay hike to compensate workers for increased costs, according to council discussion during a non-voting workshop... more

CORNERSVILLE -- As chief of police of this bucolic Marshall County community, Todd Bone has grown accustomed to people making snide comparisons with Sheriff Andy Taylor and his hapless deputy, Barney Fife. "The Mayberry thing still comes up from time to time," shrugs Bone, whose close-cropped hair, polished jump boots and erect posture give him a decidedly military bearing. "It used to bother me. It doesn't anymore."... more

Marshall County teachers and school administrators will be getting more pay and better benefits following a vote by the board of education. "We gave a $750 across the board raise to all professional employees because they had not had a raise in several years from the local," said Nancy Aldridge, interim director of schools here. "They had a raise from the state portion."... more

Marshall County sold one of its old ambulances last year to a North Carolina man who's now in jail here awaiting grand jury action on charges of theft, fraud and passing a worthless check. Grand jurors meet today. While bounced checks are nothing new in Marshall County, this case has had a larger effect. It prompted a change in county officials' policy on what they will accept from people who are buying surplus property over the Internet... more

Lewisburg has been approved to receive a $25,000 grant to assist with the purchase of carts for its planned recycling program scheduled to begin trial operations in late March or early April. The city will match the grant with an additional $10,700, according to City Manager Eddie Fuller. The money will be used to purchase carts for residents to place their recycling materials in and for a cart tipper to be placed on the city's solid waste trucks that will pick up the carts... more

Company is park's first tenant more

CHAPEL HILL -- A police cruiser received by this north Marshall County town from Brentwood in Williamson County is being donated to Cornersville following a vote by the town board here on Monday. "It'll be a welcome supplement to our fleet," Cornersville Town Administrator Taylor Brandon said Tuesday. "With four patrol cars, we're about to sell one, we will still have four cars for our four officers."... more

Panel delays decision on annexation more

Lewisburg's City Council annexed 15 acres Tuesday and about 55 new homes are planned there with an adjoining 15-acre tract along Yell Road south of Ellington Parkway. "It will take a year to prepare the land to cut roads in," developer Jeff Poarch said Monday. "We'll have to get the engineers to draw plans and then go before the city planning commission... more

Cornersville's proposed changes to its urban growth boundary came another step closer to reality Wednesday evening. City Administrator Taylor Brandon presented a series of maps detailing the boundary which were studied and discussed by the Marshall County Commission's Liaison Committee... more

The Forrest Rockets played a great first half against Van Buren Tuesday but went ice cold in the pivotal third quarter and fell 68-58 to the Eagles, who remain undefeated (16-4, 6-0) in District 9A play. Van Buren essentially has a two a two-game lead over Eagleville (11-6, 5-1) because of their 65-42 win over the Eagles last Friday. ... more

It is Elvis Day at Merihil. Patients are laughing. Staff members are singing to "Jail House Rock." Occupational therapist Terese Hooks and nursing tech Cathey Nelson are starting the final round in the Hula Hoop contest. But perhaps the most unusual thing of all is what's happening here isn't all that unusual. ... more

CHAPEL HILL -- The Board of Mayor and Aldermen here finalized its vote Monday to ban brown bagging but didn't vote for or against permitting beer service with meals at restaurants. The brown bag ban was predictable, given a Dec. 10 vote against self-serve drinks and wine, but comments at the board meeting Monday indicate beer service won't be allowed because restaurants are so close to schools, day cares and churches... more

There is a sign on the courthouse lawn for United Givers Fund of Marshall County Inc. with a thermometer-style graph showing that contributions are almost halfway to the goal of $60,000. Alas, says Executive Director Tammy Thompson, that goal is never going to be reached. In fact, Thompson says she's got to get the sign removed because the UGF is shutting down... more

And then there were eight. Lewisburg's Police Advisory Board has whittled its list for the job of police chief from nearly 30 to just eight. Interviews are being scheduled by City Manager Eddie Fuller, who started calling the eight men on Friday. One of the eight will be Lewisburg's next police chief, according to Board Chairwoman Lina Horner... more

A Lewisburg policeman is asking to be reinstated as a sergeant since his demotion after an inconclusive state investigation into what was suspected as obstruction of justice. Officer Jackie Robertson made his request known to the Police Advisory Board on Thursday, explaining over the weekend that he had already sought reinstatement and was told to ask the board... more