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Coffee Middle Sweeps Tullahoma’s East Middle
Coffee Middle School basketball player Andrew Mahaffey… Photos by Dennis Weaver
Coffee Middle School basketball player Abby Morgan.
Coffee Middle will welcome West Tullahoma to town on Thursday night. The girl’s game will tip off at 6.
Man Charged With Setting Fire To a Summitville Home
Thomas Lawrence “TJ” Vandusen of Manchester has been charged in connection with a house fire in the Forrest Mill area.
The 22 year-old Vandusen was arrested, charged with the fire as well as vandalism over $1,000 and booked in at the Coffee County Jail.
The fire was a mobile home at 330 Volunteer Avenue in Summitville and according to a report by Coffee County Sheriff’s Investigator James Sherrill, Vandusen admitted to setting the fire.
He allegedly told officers that he poured gas throughout the mobile home and lit a match and set the fire. The mobile home was destroyed by the fire on November 10.
Former Corrections Officer In Court This Week Facing Charges
James M. Mayes intake photo
According to warrants obtained by Sheriff’s Investigator Sgt. Danny Ferrell, Mayes took $100 from an inmate to allow him to keep a quarter pound of tobacco the inmate had in his possession in the tobacco-free jail. According to the warrants, he had told the inmate to pay up after catching him with the tobacco.
Ferrell alleges that Mayes, then threatened to “lock the inmate down” and restrict his privileges if the money was not paid.
Ferrell alleges that the inmate was told that for another $150 he could bring anything he wanted into the jail.
After the $100 was allegedly paid, Ferrell took possession of the money. “I had recorded the serial numbers and the serial number on the money seized was the same,” Ferrell said.
According to the investigator, the sheriff’s department had been investigating Mayes for the last six months after the allegations arose.
Mayes is being held in the Franklin County Jail under a $65,000 bond.
Construction Accident Takes The Life Of a Shelbyville Man
A Shelbyville man was killed in a construction accident in Brentwood Tuesday morning.
It happened around 11 a.m. at a home in the 1800 block of Windstone Boulevard.
Police told News 2 Greg Rigney, 45, was unloading concrete blocks and sand from a flatbed truck when the forklift he was operating flipped over, pinning him underneath.
Rigney, an employee of Sequatchie Concrete Company, was working alone at the time of the accident.
Number of Uninsured People in Tennessee Hits 10-Year Low
A new University of Tennessee report says the number of uninsured people in Tennessee has hit a 10-year low.
Media cited the study in reporting that the number of people without health insurance shrunk about 25 percent in the first year of the health insurance marketplace, which was implemented under the federal Affordable Care Act. There is still an estimated 472,008 people without insurance in the state, or about 7.2 percent of the population.
The doctor who co-authored the report, says the decline was “significant … but not necessarily unexpected” due to the start of the Affordable Care Act.
Slight Setback in Tennessee as Premature Births Rise
The preterm birth rate in Tennessee rose slightly in 2013, ending six straight years of declines in the number of babies being born too soon. Photo credit: Heather/Flickr.
“It used to be pretty common for women, who were just tired of being pregnant, and they would go and ask the doctor at 36, 37-weeks if they could go ahead and induce,” says Toothman. “A lot of times, the doctors would say that it’s okay. So we’ve pretty much put a stop to that in Tennessee.”
The March of Dimes is leading the campaign to reduce the nation’s preterm birth rate, with a goal of 9.6 percent or less by 2020.
Premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death. Babies who survive often face the risk of serious and sometimes lifelong health issues. Toothman says that’s why every extra day in the womb is important.
“There’s a lot of lung, heart and brain development that happens between 34 and 39 weeks that people just don’t know about,” he says. “So it’s very important and we’re really proud of the campaign and we are making progress in Tennessee.”
Often, the specific cause of premature birth isn’t clear, but factors that may increase the risk include smoking, some infections and some chronic conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
Honoring First Responders
At Thunder Radio we want to thank and honor our brave men and women who serve in and around Coffee County as First Responders! Help us honor the First Responders in your life on Thunder Radio by sending us a picture and some information about your First Responder to Thunder Radio’s Facebook Page. We will post these dedications on Thunder TV and our Facebook page and read them on the radio the whole week of Thanksgiving!! Let’s show our FIRST RESPONDERS THAT WE APPRECIATE ALL THEY DO TO KEEP US SAFE!!!! DEADLINE IS NOV 20TH!!
Longtime Coffee County Public Defender Campbell Smoot Found Deceased
B. Campbell Smoot… Photo provided
B. Campbell Smoot of Tullahoma, public defender for the 14th Judicial District, which serves Coffee County died Tuesday morning at his Moore County home. A co-worker discovered his body after he failed to show up for work early Tuesday.
Although no foul play was immediately suspected, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation was called to the scene.
Smoot, who served in the position for 25 years, was re-elected in the most recent election.
According to state law Gov. Bill Haslam will appointment someone to replace Smoot as public defender for the 14th Judicial District until the next election.
11/21/14 —— Ernest L. Abbott
Ernest L. Abbott passed this life on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 at his residence at the age of 94.
Mr. Abbott was born in Franklin Co., TN in 1919 to the late Junue D.T. Abbott and Dessie Mae Shasteen Abbott.
During his life he served four years in the Army Air Corp during World War II. He learned the building business from his father and trained as a finish carpenter. His building business eventually expanded to home building in several locations in Tullahoma, a paving company, a hardware store and parternership in Don-A-Rose apartments in Tullahoma. He enjoyed boating, hunting, golf and playing pool at senior citizens in Tullahoma and was proficient enough to earn trophies in some of these sports. He was also a member of Cedar Lane church of Christ.
In addition to his parents he is also preceded in death by his son, Terry L. Abbott, great grand daughter, Samantha Abbott, brothers William and Charles Abbott, sisters, Ruth Tipps and Edna Mitchell.
He is survived by his loving wife of 73 years, Wilma Abbott, sister, Mabel Bohannon of Winchester Springs, TN, daughter, Gail (Buddy) Krench of Franklin, TN, grandson, Robert L “Bob” (Dwyne) Abbott of Chapel Hill, TN, granddaughter, Terri (Tim) Hathaway of Knoxville, TN, great grandchildren, Ellis L. Abbott, Joseph Hathaway and Iris Hathaway and several Nieces and Nephews.
Funeral Services will be conducted at 11:00 AM, Friday, November 21, 2014 at Cedar Lane church of Christ with Bro. Pat Allison and Bro. John Payne officiating.
Graveside services will be conducted at 1:00 PM, Friday at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens.
Visitation with the family will be held from 9:00 till 11:00 AM Friday morning at Cedar Lane church of Christ.
Tullahoma Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mr. Ernest Abbott.
11/22/14 —- William Shakespeare Powell
William Shakespeare Powell, age 81 of Tullahoma passed away Tuesday, November 18, 2014 at Harton Regional Medical Center.
Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2014 at 1 PM at Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 11 AM until the service time.
A native of Helena, Arkansas, he was the son of the late Virgil Oscar and Mary Eleanor Stuart Powell.
He was a U S Navy veteran and a retired United Airlines Pilot. Mr. Powell enjoyed working on his computer and maintained a data base for retired and active United Airlines Pilots. He enjoyed spending time with family and helping other people.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, William S. Powell Jr. and one sister, Janet Bernice Powell.
Mr. Powell is survived by his wife, Brenda Russell Powell of Tullahoma; one son, Virgil Wilson Powell and his wife, Denise of Lenoir City, TN ; one brother, John N. Powell and his wife, Marti of Cleveland, TN; two sisters, Mary Ann Rhodes of Brentwood, TN and Margaret Elizabeth Powell of Loudon, TN; one granddaughter, Katherine Gail Powell of Warrington, PA; one step son, Charles Lemay and his wife, Judy of Nashville and one step daughter, Cynthia Lemay Thom and her husband Scott of Hendersonville.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial donations be made to Coffee County Lannom Memorial Public Library, 312 N. Collins Street, Tullahoma, TN. 37388.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.