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Tennessee Medical Marijuana Bill Fails
A Tennessee lawmaker says his bill that would legalize medical marijuana is dead for this year’s legislative session.
Republican Rep. Jeremy Faison says there’s currently not enough support in the Senate for the change.
Faison’s bill would have let people use prescribed marijuana to treat a variety of ailments, from cancer to post-traumatic stress disorder.
It also would have allowed 50 grow operations in Tennessee, with the first 15 in distressed areas.
On Tuesday, the Cosby lawmaker helped kill a separate resolution that he says would’ve pigeonholed Tennessee into waiting for additional U.S. Food and Drug Administration action.
Faison said some lawmakers feared their constituents would vote against them for supporting medical marijuana. He contended there will be a greater consequence for opponents because of positive polling for medical marijuana.
House Education Subcommittee passes bill Opposed by the Tennessee Education Association
A bill that would allow school systems to deduct up to 10 percent of teachers’ unions dues from payroll has passed in a House education subcommittee.
The proposal is opposed by the Tennessee Education Association, the state’s largest teacher union.
Rep. Bill Dunn, a Knoxville Republican who sponsored the proposal, said the measure is designed so that all groups who represent teachers would be treated equally. He told fellow lawmakers that some school systems were refusing to deduct dues for some teacher organizations other than TEA.
Some lawmakers expressed concern that school districts could punish teacher unions for speaking out by threatening to increase a bigger percentage from the dues deducted from payroll.
Dunn said he would amend the bill to cut the percentage of dues taken by using procedures.
All Night Stage will run at this year’s Bonnaroo
Music fans will have more options to dance the night away at the 16th annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, which is unveiling an all-night stage focusing on dance, electronic and hip-hop artists.
The Other stage will run all night at this year’s festival, scheduled June 8-11 in Manchester.
This year’s lineup includes U2, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Weeknd and hundreds of others.
3/24/17 — Wyona “Kippy” Benedict
Funeral services for Mrs. Wyona “Kippy” Benedict, age 78, of Manchester,
TN, will be conducted at 1:00 PM on Friday, March 24, 2017 at Coffee
County Funeral Chapel. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Memorial Gardens.
Visitation with the family will be from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM on
Thursday evening at the funeral home. Kippy passed away on Tuesday,
March 21, 2017 at Bailey Manor in Manchester, TN.
Wyona was born in Warren, OH, the daughter of the late Harold R. and
Elizabeth Berry Jones. She was a 1956 graduate of Manchester Central
High School, graduated from MTSU and was a self-employed music teacher,
after having taught music for the elementary schools in the Coffee County
School system, as well as playing the piano and organ for many churches.
She was a member of St. Mathews Episcopal Church in McMinnville, TN.
Kippy was a member of Beta Sigma Phi, Order of the Eastern Star, American
Guild of Organist, and Duck River Players Theatrical Group. She was on
the Board of Directors for Arrowhead to Aerospace Museum, a longtime
secretary of the Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce, and an Avon
representative, earning the David H. McConnell Award.
In addition to her parents, Kippy was also preceded in death by her
husband, James Benedict. She is survived by one son, Rusty (Christy)
Tensfield of Manchester, TN; one daughter, Robin Tensfield Bell of
Daytona Beach Shores, FL; one brother, Rodger (Wanda) Jones; six
grandchildren, Lance Tensfield, Beth Reece, Jacquie Bennett, Rebeka Bell,
Rachel Bell, and Lena Marie Bell; and five great grandchildren, Torey
Johnson, TyLer Bennett, Jada Adams, Jacob Reece, and Maddox Parker.
Coffee County Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the Benedict family.
Richard Hill
Richard Hill passed this life on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 at the Waters of
Winchester at the age of 73 years. No services are scheduled.
A native of Franklin County, TN, he was the son of the late Epherim and
Martha O’Dear Hill. He enjoyed fishing and watching his game shows on TV.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Anita
Hill; son, Allen Hill; three brothers, Epherim Hill Jr., Joe Frank Hill and
James Robert Hill and three sisters, Hilda Brinkley, Norma Jean Hill and
Annester Hill.
Richard is survived by three sisters, Rosa Haddon of Tullahoma, Mary
Francess Stevens of Manchester and Hilda Brinkley of Hillsboro.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Storms Roar through Coffee County
Dugout damage at soccer field behind Raider Academy
Severe thunderstorms caused power outages and damage in Middle Tennessee on Tuesday afternoon and evening.
Electric crews responded in power outages throughout the Duck River Electric Membership Corporation and Tullahoma Utilities coverage areas. Several thousand people in Coffee County lost power at some point during the evening, with Manchester being one of the stronger hit areas.
Damage occurred in many locations, but heavy damage took place at the Coffee County 9th Grade Academy in Manchester. The roof on the school had a section near the gym was damaged. One of the dugouts at the soccer field was torn apart and the new tennis courts received significant damage.
Tennis court damage
Coffee County High School Athletic Director Ryan Sulkowski told WMSR News about the roof at the school, saying the damage was contained to the gym area. He also said he had been told of minor damage at Powers Field and a tree down near the Terry Floyd softball field.
School officials will continue to assess the damage and repair will begin as soon as possible.
Beechgrove Man Arrested for Allegedly Dislocating his Mother’s Arm
Rondal Ray Teroy… Photo provided by the CCSD.
According to warrants obtained by Coffee County Sheriff’s Deputy Antonio Frost, Teroy assaulted the woman after opening some mail. He became irate and grabbed the woman’s arm and twisted after opening his mail and finding that the state had issued him a learner’s permit instead of a regular driver license.
The warrant alleges that the woman’s arm was twisted and dislocated.
Unity Hospital Xrays showed that her elbow was dislocated.
Teroy was booked into the Coffee County Jail under a $30,000 bond. He is to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court April 21.
Gas Prices down for now– Going up Later
Gas prices have declined 14 of the last 16 days. During that time, the national average price has declined 2 cents. Pump prices have drifted lower on increased inventories and declining oil prices.
AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said gas prices are falling now, but gulf coast refineries are moving into their peak maintenance season, causing them to reduce gasoline production at a time when demand is slowly rising. This seasonal trend could push gas prices 25-50 cents higher by June, unless oil prices do not recover as expected.
The national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $2.29, a half-cent lower than last week.
Tennessee’s average is $2.04, one cent lower than last week, two cents lower than a month ago and 22 cents higher than a year ago.
This week’s low price in Manchester is $1.93 and in Tullahoma the low price per gallon is $1.92.
Drug known as “Pink” Not meant for Humans causing Overdoses
A drug developed in the 1970s and never approved for human use by the FDA is emerging as a street-level drug now linked to multiple deadly overdoses across the country.
The drug, U-47700, also called “Pink” due to its color, is an opioid more potent than heroin.
“The drug was manufactured in the 1970s by Upjohn Company,” Dr. Donna Seger, Executive Director of the Tennessee Poison Center said. “It decreases your respiration, it decreases your heart rate and it causes you to become unconscious.”
Dr. Seger said the drug is manufactured and used in other countries and it is usually purchased by people in the United States via the internet.
The DEA added U-47700 to its Schedule I narcotic list in 2016 after multiple drug overdoses.
Pink can be combined with heroin or any number of drugs. It can be inhaled, injected or pressed into pills that are almost indistinguishable from traditional medications, according to the Tennessee Poison Center question of the week on March 9.
Like Fentanyl, use of Pink on the street often means the dosage is unknown and the person taking the drug does not have access to medical instruments to help with breathing and heart function.
Drugs like this are also called designer drugs, and they hit the streets faster than legislators can outlaw them.
Dr. Seger said the Tennessee Poison Center has received one call about Pink, but the drug has been linked to overdoses in Kentucky. (WKRN-TV)
Clean Up Day set for Tullahoma
The City Clean Up day is Saturday, April 1 from 8:00 am until Noon in Tullahoma. Volunteers are asked to report to Public Works for tools and assignments.
“Getting litter picked-up is critical to the vibrancy of our City,” said Director of Public Works, Wayne Limbaugh. “We ask residents to not litter. With your help, we can go a long way in keeping Tullahoma clean and beautiful. It is simple to keep the garbage with you and throw it away and recycle it at home or a gas station.”
“We want Tullahomans to care enough to help us keep our roadways free of litter,” said Director of Community Development, Winston Brooks. “
Concerned citizens can take action by reporting litter when you witness littering from vehicles on the state’s roadways to 1-877-8-LITTER. If you get the license plate, they’ll hear from the state. The letter will include information about how to contain their litter and inform them that litterers can be fined up to $1,500. Residents can also report hot spots to Public Works at 454-1768.
“I am convinced 99.5% of Tullahoma citizens want to live in a clean and attractive community,” said Mayor Lane Curlee. “I know 100% of the people want to invest in Tullahoma want to invest in a clean and attractive community.”
To report an area needing to be cleaned, call Public Works prior to the event.
“Organize your church group, business, or even family and join me in making a difference by helping to clean up Tullahoma. Although the official day is Saturday, April 1, if another day works better for you and your team, go for it,” said Mayor Curlee.
Please don’t make an excuse. Public works will supply the bags and grabbers to pick up the trash.
If you want to be officially counted for service hours, Volunteers should call Public Works at 931-454-1768 to sign up and then meet between 8:00-9:00 a.m. at the Tullahoma Public Works Department, 942 Maplewood Avenue for supplies and assignments the day of the event.