Billy Joe Nelson

Tullahoma resident Billy Joe Nelson, 31, of 1209 East Lauderdale Street, has been charged with carjacking in connection with the abduction of a Tullahoma female. Authorities are continuing to work on the case and say they expect additional charges to be filed. Nelson had a court appearance Thursday, but he did not have to appear as attorney Eric Burch informed General Sessions Judge Jere Ledsinger that he had been retained to represent Nelson. Nelson is being held in the Coffee County Jail under $250,000 bond. Eric Burch is representing Nelson and Assistant District Attorney Jason Ponder is prosecuting the case. According to a report by Tullahoma Officer Sam Campbell, police were advised by the Coffee County Communications Center that the woman had made a 911 call from South Washington Street in Tullahoma on Jan 1. After searching the area, police were notified by the communications center that a second call had been received from the woman who stated that she had gotten away from her abductor in the vicinity of Dossett Apartments. The man allegedly took the victim’s jewelry, cash, gift cards, driver’s license and credit cards.

People with unpaid Coffee County real property taxes who appear on the sale list have until 4:30 p.m. Jan. 11, 2013, to pay their taxes and prevent their property from being sold, according to Chancery Court Clerk and Master Charlotte Broyles. The properties will be auctioned on Saturday, Jan. 12, in the first floor courtroom at the Justice Center on Hillsboro Blvd. in Manchester, beginning at 10:01 a.m. According to Broyles, people wanting to bid on property should arrive early. She stated that as of December 31, 2012, there were 25 parcels remaining to be auctioned in the delinquent property tax sale. Property owners have until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, January 11, to pay the overdue amounts. Coffee County wants to sell property for delinquent taxes. In addition to the base amount of taxes owed, interest, attorney fees, sale and court costs have been added and will have to be paid to avoid the property sale. The bidding will start with a minimum price including taxes, interest, penalties, fees and costs. Once the sale is over, the high bidders are to pay for the property. Anyone wanting more information or wanting to pay delinquent property taxes should contact the office of Clerk and Master, 300 Hillsboro Blvd. in Manchester or call 723-5132.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation will begin displaying fatality messages on overhead interstate signs on a weekly basis instead of daily. TDOT first began displaying the fatality numbers on the overhead signs in April after an increase in fatal accidents in the first quarter of 2012. Commissioner John Schroer said, “We feel the fatality messages have been extremely successful in increasing awareness about highway deaths across the state this year, and may have helped us stop the dramatic increase we saw early in 2012″. He continued, “We have also heard from drivers who say the messages have caused them to make positive changes in their driving behavior.” TDOT officials added in addition to posting fatalities on Fridays, they will also continue to run safety messages targeted at specific issues such as texting while driving and driving under the influence on the signs. In 2012, 1,013 deaths occurred on Tennessee roadways compared to 937 in 2011.

Tennessee is working to renew efforts to curb drug abuse throughout the state in 2013. According to the latest statistics, Tennessee ranks second in the nation for over-utilization of prescription pain medications. Adults 18 to 25 have the highest rate of prescription drug abuse. For the last two years, unintentional drug overdose is the number one cause of death in Tennessee over motor vehicle accidents, homicides or suicides. In 2011, more than 1,000 people died from drug overdoses in Tennessee. A new state database, which is now a requirement for all pharmacies to use, reveals which Tennesseans have prescriptions for painkillers such as hydrocodone and oxycodone. With the new changes all doctors will have to check the database before prescribing drugs like pain killers and valium. Pharmacists will also have to step up the frequency they update their database. The state says if a doctor or pharmacist finds that a patient has been abusing the system it will have to be determined if that person has a drug problem. They likely will be referred to some type of counseling.

Picture from Bewley Cabinets website

Area fire departments were summoned early Thursday morning to a fire on Highway 130 in Franklin County, just outside of the Tullahoma city limits. When the North Franklin County firefighters arrived at the Bewley Cabinet Company they found a workshop of the business fully engulfed with flames. The firefighters then requested assistance from the Tullahoma, Estill Springs, Winchester and Broadview Fire Departments with the fire. Because of the wood and chemicals stored in the workshop, firefighters were kept busy for some four hours before being able to contain the blaze. According to firefighters the fire was contained to the workshop, the office and showroom of the business were saved.