A Rutherford County man was transported to Vanderbilt Medical Center Sunday night after an altercation in Lakewood Park area. According to a report by Coffee County Deputy David Reed, William Thomas Pendergrast, 36, was stabbed 13 times with a pocket knife after allegedly having an argument with another man over a woman. Pendergrast told the deputy that he went to the woman’s residence in Lakewood Park to ask her if she wanted to be with him or another man. He alleged that the other man then came out with a baseball bat and the two men started to wrestle. As they two wrestled Pendergrast’s cousin Michael Anthony Manor allegedly took the ball bat away from the man. The man, according to the report, then pulled out a pocketknife and stabbed Pendergrast in the leg. Pendergrast and Manor then got into their truck and drove to the Southern Star Restaurant and called 911. After placing Pendergrast in an ambulance and transported to a Manchester hospital. He was later transferred to a hospital in Murfreesboro for treatment but was then transported to Vanderbilt. Deputies returned to where the alleged stabbing occurred and found blood in the driveway. Investigator Billy Marcom is investigating the incident.

A Lavergne man had to be treated for injuries from an assault in the parking lot of a Tullahoma business. Alfredo Rodriguez reported to Tullahoma Police Officer Chase Sons that he was attacked late Saturday night early Sunday morning as he was getting into his car that was parked at the Starlite Lounge on South Anderson Street. Rodriguez told the officer that he did not know who grabbed him from behind and assaulted him, however, there were at least seven of the attackers. After the alleged attack, Rodriguez stated that another unknown individual drove him to Winchester and dropped him off at Walmart. He was then transported by ambulance to Southern Tennessee Medical Center where he was treated for his injuries. Tullahoma Detective Tyler Hatfield is investigating the incident.

Dr Wilburn George

Saint Thomas Heart is pleased to announce the expansion of Dr. Wilburn George’s cardiology practice and the opening of a new cardiac clinic in partnership with United Regional Medical Center in Manchester.

Wilburn George, MD, FACC, is a board certified interventional cardiologist and has been seeing patients at Saint Thomas Heart in Tullahoma for more than 22 years. Dr. George holds certification from the American Board of Internal Medicine, with additional certification in Cardiovascular Diseases. He specializes in diagnostic catheterization, peripheral vascular interventional procedures, cardiac interventional procedures and cardiac imaging.

“We are thrilled that Dr. George is expanding his practice to the Manchester community,” said United Regional Medical Center CEO Martha McCormick Logan. “Our goal is to offer the highest quality, comprehensive heart care to patients in Middle Tennessee. Dr. George’s affiliation with Saint Thomas Heart and his partnership with United Regional Medical Center will not only provide this community with increased access to exceptional care, but will also further expand our mission.”

Dr. George received his medical degree from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis, Tenn. and completed both his residency and fellowship in the Department of Cardiology at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.

Dr. George will begin seeing patients on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Saint Thomas Heart office in Manchester effective January 22, 2013. Additionally, the office includes a comprehensive diagnostic center that provides a host of cardiac diagnostic services, including echocardiography, treadmill stress testing, stress echo, and nuclear stress testing (perfusion imaging). Dr. George will continue to see patients at the Tullahoma location on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Saint Thomas Heart in Manchester is located at 1000 McArthur Street, Tullahoma Highway. To make an appointment with Dr. George, please call 931-728-2056.

Flu is more widespread across the nation, but the number of hard-hit states has declined, health officials said Friday. Officials at Harton Regional Medical Center stated Friday afternoon that the emergency room has “seen a large number” of cases of the flu so far this year. Nationally, 20 children have died from the flu. According to officials at Harton, there have been more cases seen in the emergency room of the flu involving children than adults so far. Most people with flu have a mild illness. But people with severe symptoms should see a doctor. They may be given antiviral drugs or other medications to ease symptoms. It’s not too late to get vaccinated. Many county health clinics are even offering the vaccine for free.

Last year Coffee County recorded fewer traffic deaths than the previous year. But that was not the case in neighboring Franklin County. The number of traffic fatalities in Franklin county set high marks in 2012 that will trigger increased state and local enforcement there and across the region. Franklin County, where fatalities jumped in one year from two to 12, Sheriff Tim Fuller says he believes impaired drivers remain at the heart of the problem. The sheriff said that eight or nine of the fatalities were alcohol related. A total of 1,018 people died on Tennessee roads in 2012, compared with 937 in 2011, records show. State figures show statewide traffic deaths increased in 47 of the state’s 95 counties, stayed even in 12 counties and decreased in 36 counties. In 2012 Coffee County recorded 12 fatalities as compared to 16 in 2011.

In an effort to promote electric vehicle use, the City of Tullahoma is on its way to partnering with a project to have two charging stations at C.D. Stamps Community Center. City Administrator Jody Baltz said the Board of Mayor and Aldermen is considering an agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy and ECOtality North America Inc. Baltz said the only other charging facility in the immediate area is at the Cracker Barrel restaurant in Manchester. Since re-charging takes at least 30 minutes, Baltz said it will give those who are charging their cars a chance to use the community center’s recreational facilities.