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Haslam Speaks on IMPROVE Act
Gov. Bill Haslam
The purpose of the event, was to provide a forum on a plan focusing exclusively on increasing much-needed funding to repair and maintain safe highways and bridges throughout Tennessee. Haslam has also proposed that sales tax be reduced on food products.
Haslam’s agenda includes the IMPROVE Act, which stands for “Improving Manufacturing, Public Roads and Opportunities for a Vibrant Economy.”
The IMPROVE Act, besides increasing the road user fee by 7 cents for a gallon of gas and 12 cents for a gallon of diesel, also increases car registration fees by $5 for the average passenger vehicle.
It places an annual road user fee on electric vehicles and increases charges on vehicles using alternative fuels.
The proposal also includes a 3 percent charge on rental cars and changes the state’s open container law to allow the Tennessee Department of Transportation flexibility to use $18 million in existing federal dollars on roads.
Under the IMPROVE Act, the state sales tax on groceries will fall to 4.5 percent – for a total one percent reduction under this administration since 2011.
State “Operation SOS” Begins
The Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Tennessee Department of Transportation are working together to make drivers aware of the state’s Move Over law.
The new campaign is called “Operation SOS”, Safety on the Smart Ways, and came about after 3 TDOT workers were killed within 12 months.
Drivers are to move over to give space for workers on and along the highways.
Last week, troopers followed TDOT help trucks throughout Nashville and pulled over drivers who violated the move over law.
Between 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., troopers issued 41 move over citations, one texting and driving citation, and arrested one person for DUI.
Tenn. Mental-Health Care Availability Could Be at Risk
Experts fear repealing the Affordable Care Act could reduce access to mental health care for those who need and depend on it. (Ryan Melaugh/Flickr)
Jeff Fladen with the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Tennessee said reducing accessibility for folks who need mental health services also greatly affects their ability to remain self-sufficient.
“They’re getting insurance now through the exchanges and if a lot of people lose insurance because there’s no subsidy, then they won’t have insurance coverage for treatment,” Fladen said. “And that can make the difference between keeping the job and advancing and not.”
Experts say it can take up to 10 years to establish a successful treatment plan for people in need of mental health care, and a disruption in treatment can instigate behavior that makes it almost impossible for some people to function in society.
Fladen said if the state and federal governments don’t support regular mental health care for those who need it, it ultimately will cost more down the line – from law enforcement to social services.
“We have a lot of low income people who would depend on things like Medicaid through block grants and Medicaid expansion,” Fladen said. “And reduction in care will hit that group even more, which will cost all of us more – in hospitals and jails and homelessness – even above and beyond the impact on the individual and their family.”
Despite the progress made in the availability of care, he said millions of people still live in areas with a shortage of mental health service providers – particularly in rural and economically disadvantaged communities.
2/20/17 — Ester Yvonne Qualls
Ester Yvonne Qualls, age 75 of Altamont, Tennessee passed away into Eternal Rest on February 17, 2017 at the Harton Tennova Healthcare in Tullahoma.
Mrs. Qualls was a dedicated homemaker who loved to cook and provide wonderful home cooked meals for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and anyone that happened to drop by. She also was a devoted christian that read her Bible. Yvonne could quote scripture after scripture without even reaching for her Bible for reference. She was a member of the Church of God.
Yvonne will be fondly remembered as one who loved her family and friends. She was a kind, caring, loving lady that definitely loved to talk and visit with everyone. She was a people person, with a sweet smile always on her face.
Mrs. Qualls was preceded in death by her parents, the late Ores E. Stephens and Bessie Mae Stephens and an infant son, Scott Alan Qualls, four brothers; Lonnie Stephens, Athel Stephens, Danny Stephens, and Eddy Stephens.
She is survived by her loving husband, Albert Devander (A.D.) Qualls of Altamont, Tennessee; a daughter, Sonja R. Qualls of Altamont, Tennessee; three grandchildren, Heather Killian of Beersheba Springs, Tennessee, Jordan Qualls of McMinnville, Tennessee, and Brianna Qualls of Manchester, Tennessee, three great-grandchildren, Alex Killian, Kadan Killian, and Axton Qualls, a brother, Denzil Stephens, and several nieces, nephews, and friends.
VISITATION: Monday, February 20, 2017, 11 – 1:00 P.M. at the Central Funeral Home, 2812 Hillsboro Highway, Manchester, Tennessee
FUNERAL: Monday, February 20, 1:00 P.M. at Central Funeral Home
BURIAL: Wesley Chapel Cemetery
CENTRAL FUNERAL HOME IS IN CHARGE OF THE ARRANGEMENTS.
2/21/17 — Beulah Lee Crocker
Funeral services for Ms. Beulah Lee Crocker, age 93 of Manchester, will be
held Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at 11 AM at Manchester Funeral Home with
Pastor Ben Day officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Memorial
Gardens. Visitation with the family will be held Monday, February 20, 2017
from 5 PM until 8 PM.
Ms. Crocker passed away Saturday, February 18, 2017, at Manchester Health
Care.
Ms. Beulah was born on August 18, 1923, to the late Mitch and Mary Bell
Floyd in Coffee County. She was a member of the Goosepond Methodist Church.
She received her 10 year pin at Edens Industries and her 5 year pin at the
shirt factory.
In addition to her parents, Ms. Beulah was also preceded in death by her
husband of 63 years, Amos Crocker; by her daughter, Mary Lee Eaton; and by
her son, David Crocker. She is survived by her son, Elvin (Bonnie) Crocker
of Pleasant View; daughter, Joe Ann (Vert) Hartman of Manchester; brother,
Buford (Lexie) Floyd of Manchester; sister, Lorene Bratcher of Manchester;
daughter-in-law, Nancy Crocker of Manchester; 8 grandchildren, Nicole
(Rodney) Brinkley, Nathan (Abby) Crocker, Rhonda (Scott) Murray, Jamie
(Kevin) Raney, Heather (Tim) Halbeck, Mitchell (Dawn) Crocker, Sherry
Crocker, and Kathy (Michael) Warren;14 great grandchildren and a host of
friends.
Manchester Funeral Home is honored to serve the Crocker family.
Coffee County Authorities Arrest Fugitive from Justice
Stacy Sibley Stewart photo provided by the CCSD.
Watkins had received information that Stewart was in possession of a large amount of meth. So they asked him if they could search and he gave permission to do so. Deputy Brandon Reed allegedly found approximately a gram of methamphetamine in a bedroom.
Stewart was charged with being a fugitive from justice, violation of probation and possession of schedule II in Coffee County and faces other charges in the other counties.
Stewart was booked into the Coffee County Jail under a bond of $103,500. He is scheduled to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court March 6.
Shelbyville Man Arrested for Allegedly Stealing items from a Tullahoma Business
Intake photo of Gary Wayne Dodson provided by the CCSD.
Gary Wayne Dodson, 37, of Tate Avenue, Shelbyville was arrested by Tullahoma Police last week on charges of theft over a $1,000 in connection with the theft from the business.
He was arrested by Tullahoma Police Investigator Johnny Gore after he allegedly took on five different occasions, a total $921 from the money bag from Express Lube and Car Wash located on North Jackson Street.
He is also accused of taking $200 worth of oil and four oil filters from the business as well as other merchandise valued at $600.
The oil was recovered after Dodson allegedly was involved in an accident in Shelbyville and left the scene but the oil was found in the vehicle.
Dodson was allegedly in possession of a Hydrocodone pill at the time of his arrest. In addition to the theft charge, he is charged with possession of schedule IV and unlawful drug paraphernalia. He was booked into the Coffee County Jail under a bond of $17,000 and is to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court this Thursday, Feb. 23.
According to the arrest warrant, Dodson is wanted in Bedford County on charges related to the accident.
Traffic Fatalities Down in Coffee County
The Tennessee Highway Patrol Chattanooga district announced this week that they were the only district out of eight to report less traffic fatalities in 2016 than in 2015.
Lt. John Harmon says that in the twelve county district (that includes Coffee County) there were sixteen less traffic fatalities. Coffee County went down from fourteen to twelve. In nearby counties, Franklin County went down from nine to six and Grundy County went up from zero to two.
Harmon added the THP success is due in part to the “Drive to Zero” campaign. Each trooper’s goal is to have zero fatalities during their shift.
Troopers make arrests of drivers driving under the influence and write citations for seatbelt violations to help save lives. According to statistics, troopers in Coffee County arrested 79 drivers for DUI and wrote 1,027 seatbelt violations.
Other statistics show that there were 126 injury crashes in Coffee County, 190 property damage accidents where no one was injured and the THP assisted 727 stranded motorists. 
Lt. Harmon said he would like to thank all sheriff’s deputies and city police officers for their outstanding work helping to keep Tennessee roadways safe.
He went onto say thank you to troopers that work in Coffee County; Lt. Tim Spicer, Sgt. Patrick Turner, Troopers Randall Williams, Lazaro Serna, Joseph Jones, Randy Euler, Timothy Johnson along with Interdiction Patrolmen Donnie Clark and Jason Boles.
McMinnville Man Charged with Criminal Homicide
Wesley Lex Leverett… Photo provided by the TBI.
A joint investigation by Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the McMinnville Police Department and the 31st Judicial District Attorney General’s Office has resulted in the arrest of a McMinnville man charged with a homicide that occurred earlier this month.
At the request of the DA, TBI Special Agents joined the McMinnville Police Department and investigators with the District Attorney’s Office in investigating the death of 55 year-old Barry Cole. His body was discovered inside an outbuilding at 100 Lind Street. During the course of the investigation, information was obtained that led law enforcement officers to Wesley Lex Leverett, an acquaintance of Mr. Cole’s, as the individual responsible for the homicide.
Early Saturday morning, Leverett, age 25 was arrested and charged with one count of Criminal Homicide. He was booked into the Warren County Jail and is being held on a $1,000,000 bond.
Lady Raider Basketball Drops District Semifinal on Saturday; to play Consolation Game on Monday
2017 District 8AAA Basketball Tournament – UPDATED on 18February
Cold shooting and turnovers spoiled a solid defensive effort by Coffee County on Saturday night as the Lady Raiders fell 48 to 33 in the District 8AAA semifinals. The loss drops Coffee County into the consolation game on Monday night as the Lady Raiders will attempt to knock off Franklin County to earn a 3rd place finish in the district.
Lawrence County jumped out to a 7 to 0 lead to open the game as they held Coffee County at bay with a zone defense in the first half. The Lady Raiders trailed by 8 at the half and held the heavily favored Lady Cats to 5 points in the 3rd quarter. Unfortunately, the Lady Raiders were held to a single 3 point basket by Jacey Vaughn. In the 4th quarter, Lawrence County found their scoring stroke as they poured in 19 points, including a pair of 3 pointers and a 7 of 9 performance at the free throw line.
The Lady Raiders were led in scoring by Alliyah Williams who finished with 13 points. Holli Smithson added 6 points while Jacey Vaughn and Bailey Morgan each added 4 points. For her solid play, Alliyah was named the Crazy Daisies player of the game. The loss dropped the Lady Raiders record to 20 and 7 on the season.
Coffee County will take on Franklin County in the tournament consolation game on Monday evening. That game is scheduled to tip off at 6 PM at Franklin County High School. Thunder Radio will be on hand to bring you all the action. We will begin with the Char-El Apartments & Home Rental pregame show at 5:50 PM.
DOWNLOAD THE BROADCAST AT: http://www.thunder1320.com/downloads/