Billy Joe Nelson

31-year-old Billy Joe Nelson of old Tullahoma/Manchester Highway, Tullahoma, was arrested yesterday afternoon by Manchester Police Chief Investigator Billy Butler on charges of carjacking. The charges follow an extensive investigation of a kidnapping of a Tullahoma woman New Year’s Day morning from an out of business gas station on the Hillsboro Blvd. in Manchester. Police say Nelson assaulted the woman after kidnapping her. Tullahoma Police say that Nelson robbed the victim of jewelry and other valuables. Investigator Butler noted that police are continuing their investigation into the abduction/kidnapping and additional charges are possible. Nelson is being held under a $250,000 bond in the Coffee County jail. Billy Joe Nelson’s court date will be set later.

A public hearing has been scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8, at the Coffee County Administrative Plaza to discuss zoning issues that would allow a second rock quarry to open in Hillsboro. The Coffee County Commission will meet at 6 p.m. with an agenda that includes a resolution to change the zoning of property owned by Wright Paving Contractors LLC to a high-impact industrial zoning so that the company can begin operations. A second resolution on the agenda would increase the price for reclamation bonding of all new mining operations from $2,500 per acre, not to exceed $95,000 per project, to $4,000 per acre, not to exceed $200,000. The hearing and commission meeting will be held at the Coffee County Administrative Plaza at 1329 McArthur St. in Manchester.

Tracy Carmen Thacker... Photo by Barry West

A trial date of Feb. 19 has been set in Coffee County Circuit Court for Beech Grove resident Tracy Carmon-Thacker. She is accused locking her mentally challenged sister in a shed adjacent to her residence. The sister had no running water in the shed. Thacker was charged with willful abuse, neglect or exploitation of adults and two counts of aggravated kidnapping. Winchester attorney Floyd Don Davis represents Carmon Thacker. Jeff Ridner will be prosecuting the case.

About 7% of Tennesseans previously receiving jobless benefits have been dropped for failing to verify that they were searching for work. That’s according to an audit by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development reported in the Chattanooga Times Free Press. New rules that went into effect on Sept. 1 require Tennesseans receiving jobless benefits to document at least three job searches a week. State Sen. Jack Johnson was a sponsor of the bill. The Franklin Republican said the requirements already have saved the state. Tennessee pays a maximum of $275 a week for those who lost a job through no fault of their own.

Doctors who treat TennCare patients are getting a New Year’s pay raise. The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports practitioners in family medicine, general internal medicine, pediatrics or a related subspecialty will start to be reimbursed at Medicare rates. On average, that is more than 25 percent above what they are paid now. TennCare officials say that the boost will give qualifying Tennessee doctors an extra $55 million over the next two years. Providing doctors an incentive to treat TennCare patients is important, because health experts expect the rolls to expand a lot next year. That’s when the requirement that everyone have health insurance kicks in. The state must submit a plan for the reimbursement boost for federal approval. The increases will be retroactive to Jan. 1.