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Update–19-Year-Old Charged With Sex Crimes
Robert Lee Conner
A 19-year-old Manchester man has been charged with sex crimes involving a 12-year-old girl. Robert Lee Conner of Hillsboro Boulevard, Manchester, has been charged with solicitation of rape of a child and sexual exploitation of a minor with a bond of $200,000. Conner was arrested after a Manchester woman reported to Manchester Police Investigator Stuart Colwell that the man had been sending sexually oriented text messages to her 12-year-old daughter. The report alleges that the two met at a game room in Manchester. After the girl provided her cell phone number to Conner, he allegedly started to send the sexual text comments to the girl. He also allegedly sent pictures of himself naked to the girl and asked her for nude pictures. He allegedly told the girl that he wanted to have sex with her. After Colwell started his investigation into the allegations, he learned that Conner was possibly in the Dayton, Ohio area, so he notified authorities there and notified them that he was wanted in Franklin County for violation of probation there. Ohio authorities located the man and held him for Tennessee authorities. After he was booked into the Franklin County Jail, Colwell and Investigator Jackie Matheny traveled there and read Conner the warrants on the sex charges. Conner has a $200,000 bond on the charges.
County School Board Buys More Land
Duplex at Holmes Property... Photos by Barry West
The Coffee County School board announced this week they have purchased land near the property where the new middle school will be built. The land known as the “Holmes property” was bought for $77,000. The board says this is being done so they can add New Union Elementary School to the new sewer line and to straighten the entrance to the new middle school. The board voted 7-0 to declare the duplex located on the property as surplus and will soon put a bid out to have it sold and removed from the property.
Site of Holmes land and duplex
Nissan Adding Jobs
Nissan Leaf... From Nissan website
Nissan announced Wednesday the opening of its new battery plant in Smyrna, potentially creating up to 1,000 new jobs in the coming years. The facility, located adjacent to Nissan’s existing vehicle assembly plant, is currently making battery components for the ramp-up of production of the all-electric Nissan LEAF early next year. The Smyrna assembly plant was recently retooled to accommodate production of the Nissan LEAF. Company officials say that 90 jobs will be added to the Decherd Nissan engine plant. As demand for the LEAF increases, the battery plant is capable of expanding to produce up to 200,000 batteries a year and that could add up to 1,000 jobs, Nissan said. Since December 2010, Nissan has delivered more than 18,000 LEAFs to U.S. customers alone. Adding production of the Nissan LEAF and the battery plant has resulted in the creation of more than 300 U.S. manufacturing jobs to date in Smyrna.
Late Payment Plan Set Up At Tullahoma Airport
Tullahoma Airport
Those who lease airplane hangars at the Tullahoma Regional Airport will be seeing a change in the policy on lease payments. All leases will now be due on the first of each month, with a ten-day grace period. If the payment is received after the tenth it will be considered late and there will be a late fee added. The reason for the change is that the airport has changed to a new accounting system that is handled by city hall. Airport Manager Jon Glass stated that there has “always been a 10 percent late fee,” but that it has not been carried month to month until the late payment is paid. The problem came to light after personnel at city hall determined that one hangar lessee owed $160 due to the late fees accruing. Alderman Mike Norris, who is the city board’s liaison to the airport authority and who has extensive experience in the financial world, noted that the delinquent fees “are considered delinquent until they are paid.”
Plane Crash In Murfreesboro
Plane crash scene at the Murfreesboro Airport... Photo by WGNS Radio
A pilot of a single engine plane crashed at the Murfreesboro Airport on Thursday and was seriously injured. The plane ran off the runway and ran into a ditch. The pilot, 49-year old Randall Ray, became trapped in the cabin of the plane and had to be extricated. The pilot was taken to Vanderbilt Medical Center VIA LifeFlight Helicopter. The crash occurred around 8, Thursday morning. The plane was a Cessna 172 registered to Skylark Flight Training LLC out of Broad Brook, Connecticut. An official explained that aircraft are often registered to companies or multiple individuals, but rented to pilots by organizations. In this case, the 1981 Cessna 172P was listed as a part of Murfreesboro Aviation. The airport was temporarily shut-down Thursday morning, so that the crash investigation could be completed.
Toys For Tots Needs Money For Gifts
The Tullahoma Fire Department is continuing to collect funds for their annual Toys for Tots drive for the needy children of Tullahoma. Fire Chief Richard Shasteen stated that firefighters have enough toys for the 7-year-olds and some others, but we need money to buy some gifts for 13-year-olds and 2-year-olds. The fire chief noted that several individuals “came forward” with donations that helped boost much-needed funds for the annual drive, but they have not reached the $20,000 goal but they have received money to help buy gifts for the needy children. The chief noted that firefighters were busy yesterday purchasing toys at area businesses for the drive. Anyone wanting to make a financial donation to the department may take it by Tullahoma Fire Hall #1 located on South Jackson Street. The firefighters will distribute the toys on Friday Dec. 21 at 9 a.m. at the old Dillard’s building located in Northgate Mall. The chief reminds parents that they will have to have the registration card for each child that was issued to them during signups.
12/15/12 — Cornelia Mae Rooker
Cornelia Mae Rooker, age 92, of Murfreesboro died Wednesday, December 12, 2012. She was a native of Coffee County and the daughter of the late Joshua Bell and Lula Pearl McCullough Fletcher.
She was also preceded in death by her husband, Darrell Rooker and daughter, Marilyn Kaye Rooker and stepson, Oley Eldon Rooker, brothers, J.B. Fletcher, Jr. and Johnson Fletcher.
Funeral service will be 11:00am Saturday at Franklin Road Baptist Church. Dr. Mike Norris will officiate. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.
She is survived by her daughter, Wanda Whitesell, sister and brother-in-law, Naomi and Kelso Simmons of Manchester, granddaughter, Courtney Davis of Manchester, and great grandchildren, McKenzie, Josie, and Samuel Watson.
Mrs. Rooker was a member of Franklin Road Baptist Church and a Supervisor at the Alvin C. York VA Medical Center until her retirement.
Memorials may be made to Franklin Road Baptist Church in her memory.
Visitation will be from 4:00 until 8:00pm Friday at Franklin Road Baptist Church.
Woodfin Memorial Chapel in charge of arrangements.
12/15/12 — Bradford Phillip “Brad” Walden
Funeral services for Bradford Phillip “Brad” Walden, age 25, of Tullahoma will be conducted Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 11:00 AM at Coffee County Funeral Chapel with Brother William Pritchett officiating.
Burial will follow at Ragsdale Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Friday from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM at the funeral home.
Brad passed away Wednesday morning at Harton Regional Medical Center in Tullahoma.
He was born August 13, 1987 in Coffee County, TN the son of Edgar Levoyd Walden and Tracie Topinka Walden Davis. He graduated from Coffee County Central High School in 2005 and then attended and graduated from The Police Academy in Cleveland, TN in 2006. Brad enjoyed target practice with his guns as well as collecting knives. He also enjoyed watching T.V. and spending time with his many friends. He attended the Church of God of Prophecy in Tullahoma.
Brad is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Phillip and Pearl Walden; his maternal grandfather, Bob Topinka and his step-grandmother, Ellen Davis.
Survivors include his father, Edgar Walden and wife, Eve of Manchester; mother, Tracie Davis and husband, Thomas of Tullahoma; sister, Michelle Davis of Tullahoma; step-sister, Michelle DeVries of Michigan City, IN; maternal grandmother, Charlynn McCullough and special friend, Homer Davila of Hillsboro; and step-grandfather, Tommy Davis of Manchester; a special friend, Kourtney Marie Bryant of Bluffton, IN and numerous special aunts, uncles, cousins and loving friends.
Coffee County Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the family of Brad Walden.
12/15/12 — Mary Bertram Motlow
Mary Bertram Motlow, age 62 of Lynchburg, Tennessee died on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville.
She was born April 29, 1950 in Nashville; the daughter of the late Cliff Conner and Roselind Handley (Slater) Motlow.
Mary Motlow was Vice-President and Chief Operations Officer for Cumberland Spring Land Co. Inc., a family owned forest and agricultural company engaged in sustainable forestry practices and agri-business and wildlife management. She was a member of the Alabama Forestry Association, a legislative committee member of the Tennessee Forestry Association, Forest Landowners Association, National Wild Turkey Federation and Quality Deer Management Association. She also served as past Secretary/Treasurer of Sustainable Forestry Initiative Board of the (FFI Inc.), an international forest certification program, and was vice-president of the Franklin County Forestry Association and a member of the Elk Valley Forestry Association and the American Forest Landowners’ Association. She was a state certified tree farmer and master logger and was also involved in real estate in Franklin and Grundy counties. She lived on her farm in Lynchburg.
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Lemuel Oscar and Ophelia (Evans) Motlow, maternal grandparents, Ed Bertram and Addie (Bowen) Slater, as well as her partner, Morris Edward Parker. Mr. Parker’s visitation will be 4-9 PM Friday, December 14, 2012 at the Woodbury Funeral Home.
She was a loving mother to her surviving daughters, Margaret Walker Armour and Mary Alexandra Motlow Richman, both of Lynchburg, TN; and sisters, Catherine Powell, Elizabeth Motlow and Melinda Killcreas.
The family will receive friends from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Saturday, December 15, 2012, at Jennings Moore-Cortner Funeral Home, 181 Majors Blvd., Lynchburg, Tennessee.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, 1100 Kermit Drive, Suite 022, Nashville, TN 37217; The American Liver Foundation, 39 Broadway, Suite 2700, New York, NY 10006; or the charity of your choice.
Moore-Cortner Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
12/14/12 —- Willovyne Limbaugh
Willovyne Limbaugh, of Lynchburg, passed this life on Wednesday, December 12th, 2012, at Harton Regional Medical Center, at the age of 80.
Mrs. Limbaugh was born in Franklin County, TN to the late Vaughn and Lucille Sanders Silvertooth.
During her life she worked at Tullahoma Utilities Board and Sears.
In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by two brothers, Wayne and Morris Silvertooth.
Mrs. Limbaugh is survived by her husband Brown Limbaugh of Lynchburg; one daughter, Lisa Baker of Lynchburg; two sons, Ronald Sanders of Lynchburg, David Limbaugh and wife Angie of Winchester; nine grandchildren, Kelly Baker, Ashley Spain, James Limbaugh, Lexie Limbaugh, Regina McGriff, Denise Gravely, Destiny Sanders, Dallas Hice and Dusty Ashley; and six great-grandchildren, Easton, Ellie, Kaden, Elijah, Macey, and Kylie.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 13th, 2012 from 5:00-8:00pm at Kilgore Funeral Home.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, December 14th, 2012 at 2:00pm in the Kilgore Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jack Hice officiating.
Burial will follow at Lynchburg City Cemetery.
Kilgore Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.