School board members disagreed sharply over decisions made by director of schools Stan Curtis that came to light at the monthly board meeting last Thursday. Misty Reese, who has taught in Marshall County schools since 2001, received notification that she would not be rehired for the 2009-2010 school year. ... more

A young Lewisburg man pleaded guilty to criminal responsibility for rape, after a jury found the man who committed the rape guilty earlier this month. Daniel Martin Ewing, 20, is alleged to have held the victim down while David C. Bates, 32, raped her... more

Marshall County's Board of Public Utilities has told its attorney and engineer to decide when to use the government's authority to install a water main on private property without the owner's approval. The unanimous decision was reached last week during a board discussion focused on one woman's refusal to grant a utility easement. Without the easement, several other households would not be able to get water service... more

The civil law suit filed against Petersburg - alleging constitutional violations over the removal of an alderman - mentions the district attorney's office twice and the prosecutor is approaching those issues very carefully. "I'm not going to get into who said what about what," District Attorney Chuck Crawford said after being asked about a reference to Assistant District Attorney Ann Filer, a former judge in Nashville... more

Lewisburg Police have been investigating a shooting at an apartment complex Saturday night when the gunman called 911 and the victim apparently died in the Marshall Medical Center emergency room. An autopsy was to be performed Sunday on Michael Jett, 53, of Pear Tree Apartments on Nashville Highway, Police Detective Sgt. Jimmy Oliver said Sunday evening. Jett was allegedly shot by Jeff Sturgill, 51, who also lives at the apartment house... more

The first-ever Marshall County Technology Fair - held last Thursday at the Lewisburg campus of Columbia State - was pronounced a success by organizers, vendors and attendees. Putting on the fair was one of the goals of the Three-Star Technology Committee. Its objective was to inform citizens, businesses, industries, parents and teachers about the advances in technology, products available, and how technology continues to enrich our lives... more

According to the state's department of finance and administration, a Marshall County woman has been indicted for TennCare fraud involving "doctor shopping," a crime which involves using TennCare benefits to go to multiple doctors in a short time period to obtain controlled substances... more

CRIME Round Up By Karen Hall Staff Writer A new fraud has appeared in Marshall County, according to a report by Officer Steve Sanders Jr. on file at the Lewisburg Police Department. "I made contact with representatives from Wal-Mart regarding possible check fraud," wrote Sanders on May 13. ... more

A Marshall County Jury convicted a Lewisburg man on rape and other charges after a three-day trial that ended Friday. In shackles, David C. Bates, 32, cursed the court system as he was taken back to the county jail where he awaits sentencing June 24... more

When it comes to superlatives, Marshall County is near the top of a not-so-wonderful list. The county was rated as the fifth most economically stressed county in Tennessee, according to an Associated Press study released earlier this week. The county's 16.9 percent unemployment, 0.99 percent foreclosure rate and 1.77 percent bankruptcy rate give the county a stress level of 19.17, meaning almost 1 in 5 residents have been immediately affected by the recession... more

PETERSBURG -- The alderman who was removed from office by the town board in December has filed a complaint in federal court alleging it was a violation of his constitutional rights. When asked on Monday for their side of the story, Aldermen John Cowden and Kenneth Boles said their Tennessee Municipal League attorney advised against commenting until he had enough information... more

The proposed budget for Lewisburg's Police Department in the fiscal year starting July 1 is about $4,000 less than last year, "not counting personnel costs," the police chief reported last week. Personnel, however, is almost always the largest part of any budget, Chief Chuck Forbis agreed during a Friday interview. He presented a similar report to the Police Advisory Board during its monthly meeting on Thursday... more

A Lewisburg woman -- awakened early Wednesday morning by a man who entered through her window and put a knife to her neck -- bit his finger so hard that he fled. "She saved herself because she fought," Lewisburg Police Detective Sgt. Jimmy Oliver said of the woman and her struggle that prevented rape and provided evidence to identify the suspect... more

No changes to the supplements paid to coaches and club sponsors were decided at the budget committee's meeting Tuesday. Chairwoman Kristen Gold announced that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss supplements and see if the group wanted to come up with a different proposal on supplements for the committee that negotiates the contract between the board of education and the teachers... more

Several Marshall County residents were among students who received degrees from the University of Tennessee at Martin during the recent spring commencement held in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center on the UT Martin campus. The students receiving undergraduate degrees were: Chapel Hill -- Rebecca Louise Moses, Julie Elizabeth Jones, Vanessa Nicole Hitchcock, Amanda L. ... more

HOHENWALD - State and federal law enforcement agencies raided a big cockfight at the Shiloh Game Club in Lewis County on Saturday and the Humane Society says it shows Tennessee's Legislature should pass stronger laws against cockfighting. The Humane Society of the U.S. ... more

Selected officers of the Lewisburg Police Department are trying out a computer installed in their patrol car. Chief Chuck Forbis hopes to have computers installed in all seven patrol cars by the end of the year. Forbis explained that they are currently testing one model of "ruggedized," laptop-size computer, and then they will switch and test another one. ... more

A safe and attractive community is a priority for Cornersville leaders, according to discussion at last week's monthly meeting of the board of mayor and aldermen. They decided to make a resolution that a resident's property extends to the centerline of the street in front, thus making the resident responsible for any trees growing near the street. If a tree has to be removed, alderwoman Lezlie Calahan stipulated, this must be done in a safe and responsible manner... more

"It's a sure thing." So says Anthony Romero, head of the ACLU, about a nationwide legalization of gay marriage. He cites recent legislative votes in Maine and New Hampshire legalizing gay marriage. But not so fast, Anthony. To date, the legalization of gay marriage has come only from state legislatures and radical court rulings. ... more

The National Governor's Association developed the American Diploma Project in conjunction with Achieve, a not-for-profit organization that helps states raise academic standards. The goal of the American Diploma Project is to prepare all young people for postsecondary education, work and citizenship... more