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04/26/14

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Fire In Manchester Damages Two Apartments

Fire damages 2-story apartment building

Fire damages 2-story apartment building

At approximately 10:00am Monday morning, Manchester Fire and Rescue responded to reported structure fire on Woodbury Highway, near the Manchester Recreation Center. The initial call reported the fire was in the second floor apartment. When crews arrived on scene, they found heavy smoke and fire on the second floor, with occupants outside. Firemen attacked the blaze as crews searched the apartments for other occupants and fire extension.

No one was injured in the Monday morning fire

No one was injured in the Monday morning fire

The fire was contained to the 2nd floor apartment, the ground floor apartment suffered water and smoke damage.
Personnel from 1-800-BOARDUP, the Red Cross as well as Manchester Police Department, Coffee County EMS, Duck River Electric and ERPUD assisted. Tullahoma Fire Department responded with an air truck to refill breathing apparatuses.
Investigators are working to determine a cause of the fire. See video below.

Update On Possible Murder

Bridgette Haley

Bridgette Haley

Bridgette Haley of Woodbury was found dead in a car early Sunday morning in Estill Springs. According to an autopsy by the State Medical Examiner she died of blunt force trauma to the head and upper body.
The 46 year-old Haley, was found Sunday morning around 1 a.m. after law enforcement stopped the car her body was found in on Chase Bend Road in Estill Springs following a pursuit that started outside of Decherd, traveled the back roads to the outer Tullahoma City limits and back to Estill Springs.
Robert Troy Whipple

Robert Troy Whipple

Robert Troy Whipple, 46, homeless of Woodbury who was thought to be driving under the influence turned into a subdivision and ran into some rocks and came to a stop. He allegedly got out of his car and started to run toward some woods but turned back around with a knife and got into a scuffle with Franklin County Sheriff’s Sgt. Milton Binkley and cut him on his hand. Binkley and State Trooper Larry Fraley then subdued Whipple and he was arrested. “Milton (Binkley) was treated at Southern Tennessee Hospital for the knife wounds to the hand,” Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller stated. “He is going to be okay but his hand is swollen.”
Whipple was transported to the hospital as well for treatment of his injuries that he sustained during the scuffle.
According to the sheriff, investigators found the body of Haley in the passenger seat of the car. Her body was transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Nashville where the autopsy was performed.
According to Fuller, Whipple has been charged with manufacture/sell/delivery of schedule II (cocaine), possession of drug paraphernalia, habitual motor vehicle offender, felony evading arrest, DUI, resisting arrest and aggravated assault. He is being held in the Franklin County Jail under a bond of $1 million.
Meanwhile, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating the incident and the murder. Since Binkley was involved the TBI will be investigating the incident and they will be handling the murder charge.
(Thanks to Wayne Thomas with the Tullahoma News for his assistance with this story)

Decision Looms On Bill Targeting Pregnant Drug Users

PHOTO: Gov. Bill Haslam has until Tuesday to decide whether to sign legislation that allows a pregnant woman to be charged with a crime for drug use if it harms her baby. Photo credit: Daniel Lobo/Flickr

PHOTO: Gov. Bill Haslam has until Tuesday to decide whether to sign legislation that allows a pregnant woman to be charged with a crime for drug use if it harms her baby. Photo credit: Daniel Lobo/Flickr

Time is running out for Gov. Bill Haslam to make his decision on a bill that would allow Tennessee women to be charged with a crime for drug use during pregnancy if it harms the baby. It is an idea that has raised concern among medical professionals, including physician Pamela Gonzalez, who serves on the committee on substance abuse for the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Gonzalez said she fears that the threat of criminal charges would drive women away from getting treatment and prenatal care.
“The most important thing for any woman, whether she’s got a substance abuse problem or not, is for that woman to present for prenatal care,” Gonzalez said. “One of the biggest damaging things that is a potential outcome of having legislation like this, is going back to a place where women go ‘underground.'”
Supporters of the bill said it is needed to address the growing number of babies born addicted to drugs in Tennessee, and pointed out that it allows for women to avoid prosecution by seeking treatment.
Another concern is that the criminalization could have a disproportionate impact on the state’s most vulnerable women, according to Cherisse Scott, CEO, SisterReach of Memphis.
“What we recognize is that low-income women, especially those from communities of color, really have the fewest resources to navigate the courts,” Scott said. “So, what we understand with this legislation is that families with the least amount of support are going to be torn apart, not strengthened.”
Scott said addiction is a medical issue and that women struggling with substance abuse need support in seeking treatment, rather than punishment. That’s why she’s among those calling for a veto.
Also urging Haslam to reject the legislation is the ACLU of Tennessee, said Executive Director Hedy Weinberg.
“This legislation is very problematic, not only because it raises serious Constitutional concerns about equal treatment under the law, but also because it jeopardizes the health and well-being of women in Tennessee,” Weinberg warned.
The focus should instead be on increasing the options for pregnant women to get help when they are struggling with substance abuse issues, Weinberg added. Currently, only two out of the nearly 180 addiction treatment facilities statewide provide prenatal care onsite.
The governor has until Tuesday to decide whether to veto the bill, sign it or let it become law without his signature.
Details of the bill are available at http://1.usa.gov. Tennessee statistics on “Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome” are at http://health.state.tn.us/.

Graduation rate Up In Tennessee

tennessee flagA new report shows Tennessee is on pace to meet a goal of a 90 percent high school graduation rate by the Class of 2020.
The report released Monday by the education advocacy group America’s Promise Alliance shows the state increased its graduation rate 17 percentage points from 2003 to 2010, and has continued to make progress with a graduation rate of 87 percent in 2012.
American’s Promise set the 90 percent goal for the nation in 2010.
The report also highlights Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam’s free tuition plan at two-year colleges, saying other states should note Tennessee’s efforts to increase access to college- and career programs and consider similar legislation.
Under Haslam’s plan that passed during the recent legislative session, any high school graduate will be able to attend a two-year college free of tuition.

Record Set At Tullahoma Airport

skydivers2A number of area residents turned out at the Tullahoma Regional Airport Saturday to watch members of the Tennessee Skydiver’s club attempt to break an unofficial record. 33 skydivers jumped from two planes at a height of 14,500 feet and then joined hands to create a formation over the airport. The unofficial state record was set in the 1990s at the Tullahoma airport.
People with lawn chairs and cameras showed up for the various jumps that took place throughout the day, with the first one at 9:15 a.m. Everyone who watched the skydivers float to the ground were impressed with the proficiency of the jumpers as they cruised in to the landing site.

Local Runners Finish Marathon

See the story below the picture

Back row: Cale Ridner, Mason Land, Austin Dockrey, Audrey Barton, Lindsey Landrum, Angela Ridner Front: Taylor Anthony, Makayla Thorneberry, Clay Ridner, Sedona Mills, Bailey Kitts, Cenyan Rawn, Brendan Mills, Kadee Perry

Back row: Cale Ridner, Mason Land, Austin Dockrey, Audrey Barton, Lindsey Landrum, Angela Ridner
Front: Taylor Anthony, Makayla Thorneberry, Clay Ridner, Sedona Mills, Bailey Kitts, Cenyan Rawn, Brendan Mills, Kadee Perry

Some of the student’s from Coffee County’s Hickerson Elementary School participated in the Country Music Kids Rock Marathon Sunday in Nashville.
They have been training for weeks with their school nurse Angela Ridner for the event.  The student running club organized by Nurse Ridner is known as the Hickerson Health Hawks. They ran each week after school and clocked their miles. Sunday they traveled to Nashville and completed the last mile of the marathon.

4/26/14 — Patricia Ann Jones

Mrs. Patricia Ann Jones, age 69, of Readyville, TN, passed away Saturday night, April 26, 2014, at Southern Tennessee Medical Center in Winchester, TN.

A native of Tullahoma, TN., she was the daughter of Mrs. Gladys Tawwater Burnette and the late Herman Jones and was of the Baptist faith.

She was a huge Elvis Presley fan and loved her family.

In addition to her father, she is also preceded in death by one brother Terry Jones. 


She is survived by her mother, sisters Diana (Wayne) Allen and Brenda Slotman, special nephew Jarrett Allen, four other nieces and two other nephews. 

No Services are planned at this time. 



Tullahoma Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mrs. Patricia Ann Jones. flower7

4/27/14 — Myles Morgan Vanhook

Mr. Myles Morgan Vanhook, age 53, of Tullahoma, TN, passed away Friday morning, April 25, 2014, at Huntsville Hospital in Huntsville, AL.

A native of Tullahoma, TN., he was the son of Mrs. Nolene Williams Vanhook and the late Billy W. Vanhook and was of the Church of Christ faith. In addition to his father, he is also preceded in death by one sister Marianne Vanhook Pickett, one brother Martin Allen Vanhook, and one niece Kara Pickett. 


He is survived by his wife, Connie Wilson Vanhook of Manchester, his mother Nolene Vanhook of Tullahoma, brothers Michael (Sue) Vanhook of Huntsville, AL., Mark Vanhook and Mitchell (Angie) Vanhook of Tullahoma, several nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. 


Visitation with the family will be Sunday, April 27, 2014, from 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM in the Tullahoma Funeral Home Chapel.

Funeral Services will begin at 2:00 PM in the Tullahoma Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Byron Lawrence and Brother Bob Salmon officiating.

Burial will follow in New Center Grove Cemetery in Franklin County, TN.



Tullahoma Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mr. Myles Morgan Vanhook. flower8

48th Mid-State Rotary/Rudy Hensel Invitational Track Meet

Karson Young competes in the High Jump.. Photo by Dennis Weaver

Karson Young competes in the High Jump.. Photo by Dennis Weaver

The 48th Mid-State Rotary/Rudy Hensel Invitational Track Meet was held on Saturday in Tullahoma and Coffee County competed along with 7 other area schools. In girls competition, Coffee County did well in the field events and finished 2nd overall. In boys action, a skeleton crew from the Coffee County roster competed strong finishing in 5th place.
Point winners for the Lady Raiders were:

Haley Banks – 1st place, 100M Hurdles; 1st place, shot put
Lexee Miller – 2nd place, discus throw; 4th place, shot put; 7th place, high jump
Karson Young – 2nd place, triple jump; 4th place, high jump
Taylor Deberry – 2nd place, 100M Hurdles; 5th place, 300M Hurdles
McKenzie Anderson – 3rd place, 300M Hurdles
Heather Fox – 4th place, 400M; 8th place, triple jump
Cameron Davis – 4th place, discus throw; 8th place, shot put
Sarah Hollis – 5th Place, 800M
Cursten Vaughn – 7th place, 200M; 8th place, long jump
Aerial Williams – 6th place, discus throw
In team relays:
4×400 – 1st place (Haley Banks, Heather Fox, Aerial Williams, Karson Young)
4×100 – 3rd place (Anna Miller, Caitlyn Moore, Cursten Vaughn & McKenzie Anderson)
4×200 – 3rd place (Anna Miller, Caitlyn Moore, Cursten Vaughn & Aerial Williams)

Point winners for the Raiders were:

Kani Johnson strides over the hurdles. Photo by Dennis Weaver

Kani Johnson strides over the hurdles. Photo by Dennis Weaver

Kani Johnson – 3rd place, 110M hurdles; 4th place, 200M
Andrew Rosson – 4th place, 1600M
David Keith – 6th place, high jump; 6th place, long jump;
Parker Smith – 6th place, shot put; 6th place, discus throw;

The Lady Raiders will compete in the sub sectional on Tuesday, May 6th and the Raiders sub sectional is scheduled for Thursday, May 8th. Both meets begin at 5:00 PM and both meets are held at Riverdale.