Coffee County Sheriff’s Department is investigating an incident that occurred on Tuesday. A 3-year-old boy somehow got a hold of a gun at an A Street home in Hillsboro and the weapon discharged shooting his little 18-month-old brother behind his ear.
The infant was shot with a .25 caliber handgun and transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center as a precaution, but officials said he was awake and alert when first responders arrived on the scene.
Neither of the boys’ identities were released by the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department.

A resident of South Collins Street in Tullahoma was transported Sunday morning to Harton Regional Medical Center after being injured in a two vehicle crash at the intersection of South Jackson and Highway 130.
According to a report by Officer Rocky Ruehling, Matthew Grenier, 27, was injured when a vehicle operated by Shawn Creighton Stewart, 39, of Chestnut Ridge Road, Winchester collided with his.
According to the police report, Stewart was traveling westbound on State Highway 130 when Grenier proceeded on to the highway and crashed. He according to the police report, told the officer that he failed to see the approach of the Stewart vehicle. Grenier was extricated from the vehicle by the Tullahoma Fire Department and transported to the hospital.
Witnesses told the officer that Grenier appeared to swerve in the roadway before the crash. He told the officer that he was not intoxicated but was legally blind.

Cattle taken in the theft… Photo from the Bedford County Sheriff’s Department

Recently investigators with the Bedford County Sheriff’s office arrested three people in connection with cattle theft in Bedford County. A Bedford County dairy farmer reported three incidents of cattle theft at his farm in January and February. Detective John Sweeney of the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office and Detective Shane Taylor of the Moore County Sheriff’s Office were able to locate and recover the stolen calves in Moore County. The value of the calves is approximately $1,800. The individuals charged in the theft are Jamie Vaughn of Moore County, Floyd Vaughn of Moore County, and Billy Batten of Moore County. The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Moore County Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee Agricultural Crime Unit in assisting in the investigation.

Rafael Morales

On Tuesday (March 3rd, 2015), investigators with the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office obtained an arrest warrant on a Bedford County Correctional Officer, Rafael Morales. Morales, 62, was charged with Sexual Contact with Inmates.
The investigation started after female inmates filed complainants with the Bedford County Jail Administrator.
Morales was booked into the Bedford County Jail and is under a $30,000 bond. Morales’ initial court appearance is schedule for March 25th, 2015.

Some Tennessee organizations, restaurants and educational institutions are working to increase access to healthier foods and programs in an effort to end childhood obesity. Photo credit: Sam Billings/Flickr.

Tennessee has the fourth-highest adult obesity rate in the country. While experts acknowledge accessing nutritious foods is a challenge for many Tennessee families, they say the problem is the single most significant contributor to the obesity epidemic. Fortunately, businesses in the food industry and various organizations around the Volunteer State are stepping up to help make the healthy choice the easy choice. Drew Nannis, chief marketing officer with Partnership for a Healthier America, says some Tennessee restaurants, food suppliers, community groups, and colleges are among those increasing access to healthy food. “We want to make sure it’s as easy as possible getting rid of the barriers such as time, cost and other issues that may prevent people from making the healthier option,” says Nannis. “We believe people know what the healthier option is, we just need to make it as readily available as possible.” Changes include increasing affordability, adding vegetables and fruits to restaurant menus, and adopting programs promoting nutrition and physical activity. Walgreens and Walmart are among the businesses involved in the program. More than 20 percent of children age 10 to 17 are obese in Tennessee, according to the most recent State of Obesity report released by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Nannis says recent signs suggest a leveling off of what was a long-escalating rate of obesity. The partnership’s goal is to bring the obesity rate down to five percent. Nannis says childhood obesity leads to a multitude of health problems. “It’s everything from an economic issue where people are having to take sick days and productivity drops, to a national security issue,” he says. “A quarter of the people volunteering for our armed services today are actually too heavy to serve. This is a wide-reaching epidemic.” At the Building a Healthier Future Summit in Washington, D.C. last week, national health experts, policymakers and business and industry leaders brainstormed new strategies to help end childhood obesity.

Wayne Limbaugh standing beside garbage that has been picked up… Photo provided

Tullahoma Director of Public Works, Wayne Limbaugh admits that keeping the litter picked-up is one of his top priorities. His department has been working for the last month making a concerted effort to spring clean the roadways. Public Works ask residents to keep garbage with them and dispose of in a lawful manner.
“In one month, we’ve removed two large piles of garbage from the roadways in Tullahoma,” said Director of Public Works, Wayne Limbaugh.
“In most cases, the act of littering is a conscious decision, and officers are instructed to issue citations,” said Police Chief Paul Blackwell. “The tossing of cigarette butts, throwing out fast food bags, tossing beer bottles from a vehicle is a common occurrence, subject to a $165 fine. You decide.”
“Public Works has picked up over 200 bags of litter in two weeks.  Unfortunately, some of these same roadways are being trashed again.  I just don’t understand the mindset of some people.  It is very disappointing,” said Mayor Lane Curlee. “If you see people littering, please call 1-877-8LITTER and report. I am convinced 99.5% of residents want to live in a clean and attractive community.”