By Master Sgt. Robin Olsen Special to the Tribune NASHVILLE -- "Several hours after Haley was born, the doctor came to talk to us and said something was wrong. They were going to call Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt to send Angel One to transport her," said Tina Chasse, wife of Sgt. Ryan Chasse, training non-commissioned officer for the Tennessee Army National Guard's Joint Force Headquarters in Nashville... more

Arrested on warrants for prescription drug fraud Vickie Lynn Schrom, 50, Haskins Chapel Road. Bond: $10,000; court date: March 3. Arrested and charged with driving under the influence Lacey L. Russell, 30, Fayetteville Highway. Bond: $2,500; court date: March 3. Also charged with violation of the implied consent law and driving on a suspended license. This is Russell's second DUI... more

By Ivory Riner Staff Writer As a kid, we all dreamed of living to be 100. As we get older, we learn to accept that we won't live forever and that He will take us when it's time. For Ruby Wheeler, her childhood dream came true. Ruby Pearle Watson Wheeler, known to everyone as "Granny Wheeler," was born on Feb. ... more

By Karen Hall Editor Belfast Lions Club may give their property back to the county and cease to exist as a club, members of Marshall County's Land, Price and Sale committee were told this week. They heard the same thing at their December meeting, but asked for time to think about it and also to get County Attorney Bill Haywood consider the proposal... more

By Karen Hall Editor The jury returned a not guilty verdict for Scotty W. Blackwell, 34, on the charge of attempted first-degree murder and the lesser included charge of attempted second-degree murder. Six men and six women deliberated for about three hours Tuesday evening, and all of Wednesday morning before bringing their verdict to Judge Lee Russell about 2 p.m. Wednesday... more

By Rochelle Alexander Special to the Tribune First Baptist Church was established in the 1900s and was located in Needmore near Raymond Purdom's Grocery. After acquiring a parcel of land on Fifth Avenue, the members marched from Needmore to the new location where the one-room building housed the members and the Rev. Miller every other Sunday. The building used coal and wood as its heating source, and there was also a small steeple that held a bell used to indicate the beginning of Sunday School... more

Marshall County High School gridiron star Chris Walker had several scholarship offers, including the Naval and Air Force Academies, but instead chose the Big Red of Cornell and an opportunity to earn a coveted Ivy League education. "This is very exciting, I went up there and I really enjoyed myself up there and liked the coaches," said Walker. "I also visited Navy this past weekend, but I just didn't think Navy was my choice." more

By Ivory Riner Staff Writer "Patriots win!" thousands shouted as Marshall County High School graduate Dont'a Hightower helped his team to victory during Sunday's Super Bowl XLIX game. Just hours before the game, nearly 2,000 miles away, as Hightower was gearing up for the game of his life, in Glendale, Ariz., about 200 of his fans filled the bleachers of the Dottie Kelso Gymnasium at Marshall County High School for a pep rally... more

By Karen Hall Editor Residents of Lewisburg's Ward 5 will have to wait a little longer to find out who will represent them on the City Council. A special, called meeting of the mayor and council was held Monday in order to choose a councilman from the three who applied for the job and were interviewed last week. The candidates are Dave Kennedy, David Orr and Nicholas Tipper... more

By Ivory Riner Staff Writer The Industrial Development Board wants to look into building developing professional housing for those who might move to Marshall County. The housing will be for those upper-income families looking to fill positions Lewisburg has available, but find two things aren't here: amenities and housing... more

The following burglaries have been linked to Edward F. Webster IV, 21, of Lewisburg, who is now in custody Between 5 p.m. Jan. 27 and 3:45 a.m. Jan. 28, a hole was cut in the metal bay door at the back of Southern Carton, Higgs Road, and a hole was also cut through an interior wall to get into the break room, where $30 was taken from two vending machines, damaging them severely. Cost of repairing the holes in the door and wall and replacing the vending machines was estimated at $5,500... more

From Staff Reports Veteran journalist Larry Taft has joined the Marshall County Tribune and Marshall County Shopper staff as general manager following the retirements of Jim and Glenda Ward. Taft is taking over the position held by Jim Ward for the past seven and a half years. Also joining the staff, filling Glenda's role as advertising sales account representative, is Marshall County native Misty Cruz... more

By Ivory Riner Staff Writer The Smiley-Fagan Farm in Chapel Hill has been designated a Tennessee Century Farm. Today the farm is owned by Carl and Ginny Fagan and is located nine minutes from downtown Chapel Hill. Carlton Baxter Fagan, son of Samuel Baxter Fagan and Julia Williams Smiley Fagan, met, Marilyn Virginia "Ginny" Ridge, while attending Tennessee Technology University. Ginny is the daughter of Martin Silvester Ridge and Anna Kate White Ridge... more

From Staff Reports Edward F. Webster, 21, of Ostella Road, Cornersville, was arrested Jan. 28 and charged with multiple burglaries, as well as other serious charges. The arrest resulted from a joint operation by Lewisburg Police Department Detective James Johnson and Marshall County Sheriff's Detective Tony Nichols, assisted by Probation and Parole Officers Crystal Gray and James King, reported Detective Sgt. David L. Henley... more

By Ivory Riner and Poppy Hall Staff Writers A Lewisburg man is finally on trial this week, almost a year and a half after being accused of leaving another man for dead, bleeding from multiple stab wounds. Scotty W. Blackwell, 34, formerly of Bivins Road, is charged with the attempted murder of Michael R. Bass of Saint Anne Street at about 1:30 a.m. Aug. 25, 2013... more

Hightower primed for Super Bowl challenge Dont'a Hightower is a Bill Belichick kind of guy. No-nonsense, hardworking, and wired with a will to win. Hightower's rise to excellence started at a young age, carrying him to a storied gridiron career at Marshall County High School, two times a national champion at Alabama with Nick Saban, and an NFL first-round draft choice by the New England Patriots in 2012. The man in the gray hoodie knew what he was doing, Hightower's commitment to excellence was perfect for the New England brand of football Belichick has sculpted into six-time Super Bowl participants and three-time NFL champions. "It's everybody doing their job and everybody being dedicated and buying into what everybody believes in here, typical do your job has kinda been what we have lived on," said Hightower at the Patriots Super Bowl Media Day on Wednesday. "Everybody has done their job, so that's why we have had so much success this year." Hightower started as a rookie, playing in 42 regular season games and six playoff games in three seasons for the Pats, and now the all-time great Tiger linebacker that roamed Preston Hopkins Field in Lewisburg will go eye-to-eye with the beast, the Seattle Seahawk's Marshawn Lynch. In the dessert, in what could be the most viewed TV event in the world, in the Super Bowl! "It' like a dream come true, I've been dreaming about this moment ever since I played football, everybody wants to play in the Super Bowl," said Hightower. "I am finally getting the opportunity to go showcase my abilities, so I am looking forward to it." It's no surprise Hightower is in the middle of it all, calling the signals from his linebacker spot for the Patriots defense that has its hands full in Super Bowl XLIX, containing Lynch, probably the hardest running back to tackle in the NFL. Lynch rushed for 1,306 yards in the regular season, averaging 4.7 yards per carry, while scoring 13 touchdowns. "You don't really see a lot of guys with the running style the way that he has and to be as big as he is and move the way he does," said Hightower. "He has great feet, good balance, great vision, he is just a unique back." In two playoff games this season, Lynch has 216 yards on 25 carries and one touchdown. The Seahawks offense also has one of the best young quarterbacks in Russell Wilson, who has a 10-0 career record versus Super Bowl quarterbacks as a third-year starter. Wilson is a prolific passer and just as dangerous in the open field as a runner out of the read option. "I have so much respect for him, he is one of the biggest competitors you can see, especially in the NFC championship, in the end how he competed, how he started out and how he finished you could tell how big of a competitor he is," said Hightower. The Patriots are looking for their fourth Lombardi trophy Sunday at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona and Hightower and his defensive cohorts will be ready. "I know my job and I'm very confident that all the 10 other guys up there know their job as well, so will just have to handle and see what comes up on Sunday," said Hightower. Asked about a prediction for the game, Hightower said, "I'm predicting the Patriots win, it doesn't matter the score, the Patriots win." more

By Karen Hall Editor Lewisburg Jewelry, 564 E. Commerce St., remained closed as the Tribune went to press Tuesday. A car crashed into the store's front wall Monday morning, starting an electrical fire and causing structural damage as well. "We will re-open," said owner Tony Kirby. "It's a little bit of a mess here right now... more

By Ivory Riner Staff Writer Members of the 2015 Gattis Leadership group got a taste of Marshall County as they spent Thursday afternoon and evening learning about historical buildings around Lewisburg's square, touring the Dixie Theatre, and painting with local artist Tina Lilly... more

By Karen Hall Editor County commissioners denied Rogers Group's request to re-zone 95 acres they own near Chapel Hill in order to extend their rock-quarrying operations. The vote Monday came after a 30-minute public hearing when at least 10 people who live in the area voiced their concern. The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously gave a favorable recommendation to the Rogers Group request, but none of the affected residents attended their meeting, reported Zoning Director Don Nelson... more

Thefts and vandalism reported Just after 2 a.m. Jan. 23, an alarm went off at Metro Door on Industrial Drive. When police arrived, they found someone entered by making a hole in the metal wall of the building. Once inside, they pried open three vending machines and took the change (about $50). ... more