Sylvester Norman nephew of Manchester Mayor Lonnie Norman who passed away last week was laid to rest on Monday. The 51 year-old Norman was recently elected as Seat 1 Constable in Coffee County. He also served as a crossing guard for the City of Manchester, was a captain on the Coffee County Rescue Squad and a former city fireman.
Services were held at the Chapel of Central Funeral Home in Manchester. Burial was held at Cypress Gardens Cemetery in Manchester
Firemen, policemen, rescue squad members and residents lined the streets as the funeral procession made its way through Manchester Monday afternoon.

Because of continuing budget issues in Coffee County government the Coffee County Emergency Medical Service (EMS) has decided to stop taking non-emergency ambulance transports outside the county.
EMS director Michael Bonner said at a recent Budget and Finance Committee meeting he still did not have enough crews and vehicles to service both the emergency and non-emergency operations, especially outside of Coffee County. Coffee County EMS has 5 full-time ambulances and one part-time.
Bonner told the Budget and Finance Committee that the call volume has jumped from roughly 700 per month to 800 in recent months, and that the calls requiring a trip to Nashville had shot up from roughly 14 per month to roughly 80 per month. (Some information provided by the Tullahoma News)

A Silver Street resident was arrested early Friday May 30 on charges of child abuse.
According to a report by Tullahoma Officer Holly Sparkman, the charges were filed against Randy Dewayne Wilkerson after an alleged incident involving his son.
The officer’s report states that nurses in the emergency room of Harton Regional Medical Center notified police after a minor appeared in the ER with a black eye.
The child told the officer that his father had given him the black eye.
Officer Sparkman went to the Silver Street residence and spoke to the man, who allegedly admitted to “punching the boy after an argument concerning curfew and the boy’s previous bad behavior.”
Wilkerson is free on a $5,000 bond and is to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court June 5.

In a follow-up to a story we brought you late last week, A Manchester couple is now recovering at home after being injured in an automobile accident on Thursday in Wilson County.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tony Clayborne, 51, of Manchester was driving a Ford F-150 in the southbound lane of State Route 109 when the crash occurred. The report alleges that as Clayborne approached an intersection he swerved to the left to avoid stopped traffic.
According to the THP, Clayborne’s truck collided with a 1999 Chevrolet truck operated by Joseph Deathridge, 56, of Gallatin, head on. Deathridge was traveling in the northbound land of State Route 109.
Clayborne was transported by helicopter to Vanderbilt. His wife, Gail Clayborne, 50, of Manchester was transported to Vanderbilt by ambulance. Deathridge, and a passenger, Owen Deathridge, 86, were also transported to the hospital by ambulance.
An update on the Clayborne’s; Gail came home Thursday night with fractured sternum and a broken rib. Tony was kept overnight for observation after receiving stiches for cuts and suffered some bruising. He was released Friday afternoon.

Last week Franklin County Sheriff’s Office personnel conducted a search warrant at a residence in the Pleasant Grove area of Franklin County. As a result of the search, authorities discovered approximately 3 ½ pounds of what is believed to be marijuana with a street value of approximately $4,000. Sheriff’s Office personnel also confiscated 1 gallon of untaxed liquor and $900 in cash. There is an ongoing investigation concerning this matter and charges in the near future are anticipated.

The downward trend on teen birth rates in the U.S. took another step last year, falling by 10 percent to a historic low.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with the most recent drop, the teen birth rate is now down nearly 60 percent since hitting its peak in 1991.
Stephen Emmert, chief operating officer at Planned Parenthood of Middle and East Tennessee, calls the progress amazing.
“Particularly when you compare that with 1991, I think that it shows that once again, we need to provide our young people with information and when we do, they make better decisions,” he adds.
While the teen birth rate has dropped significantly in all 50 states over the past 20-plus years, state-specific 2013 numbers for Tennessee are not yet available.
The analysis also shows progress among younger and older teens, and among all racial and ethnic groups.
Emmert says he expects that will continue as more people gain health coverage.
“One of the things we’ll see is we’ll continue to increase access to health care and information and those will help keep this number in a downward trend,” he says. “But we as a community, as a country, need to make sure that we are doing everything we can to increase that access.”
The birth rate for women in their early 20s also declined last year to a historic low, while the rates for those in their 30s and 40s increased as more women are delaying motherhood.

A car wash fundraiser to benefit the Tullahoma Animal Shelter is scheduled for Saturday, June 7, 9am – Noon at Applebee’s on North Jackson St.
All funds raised will go to the Shelter. Pets are welcome, but they must be leashed.
Help raise much needed medical funds and get your car washed for a donation to the shelter.
They also need volunteers to help. Please call Teresa Holt at 454-1768 if you would like to be a Tullahoma Animal Shelter Volunteer.

The Manchester Police Department congratulates Major Bill Sipe, who was selected to attend the Southeastern Command and Leadership Academy (SECLA) by the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police (TACP). They selected one officer from the state of Tennessee after an application and selection process. The Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police will pay for Major Sipe’s tuition in its entirety.
The Southeastern Command and Leadership Academy is a dynamic seven week law enforcement leadership and management program designed for progressive and innovative police managers. Southeastern Command and Leadership Academy prepares mid and upper level supervisory personnel for the increased responsibility of administrative command positions by providing them with the knowledge and skills necessary for successful leadership in their agency and community.