Jeffrey Smithson

The murder trial of a Manchester man gets underway this week in Coffee County Circuit Court. Jeffrey Smithson is accused of murdering his 81-year-old aunt Virginia White in her Ingram Place Apartment in Manchester. Her body was discovered in August of last year after neighbors reported not seeing her. She was found with panty hose wrapped around her neck, blood on her face and she had what turned out to be a blow to the back of her head. Smithson has been held in the Coffee County Jail under a $1 million bond since his arrest last year.

The area saw an increase in sales tax collection this past October as compared to last year, according to the latest figures from the Tennessee Department of Revenue. Collections in the rural part of the county saw an increase of 51,525.66 this year over last. The total collection was $227,131.94. Tullahoma saw an increase of $9,166.12 over last year. The total collection this year was $779,980.78. Manchester was the only one to see a decrease in collections this year as compared to last year. The collections this year were $28,578.36 less than last October.

A pair of guilty pleas have been made in cases involving numerous charges with wild hogs in Moore and Lewis counties in Middle Tennessee. Dr. Stacy Smith, of Lynchburg, pled guilty to 16 counts of illegal possession of wildlife. He also pled guilty to failure to use an approved source, failure to maintain records for a preserve, violation of a quarantine order, and criminal conspiracy. The veterinarian received a total of $4,944 in fines and court costs. Timothy Chapman, of Mt. Pleasant pled guilty to seven counts of illegal possession of wildlife. He received fines and courts costs totaling $1,654 and loss of his hunting and trapping privileges for one year. The cases involved a joint effort from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency special investigation unit, wildlife officers from TWRA Region II & III, Moore County District Attorney, Lewis County District Attorney, and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. The Smith case was settled Aug. 7, while the Chapman plea agreement was made Sept. 17. The announcement comes as a reward program has now been established for information leading to a conviction of persons dealing in the sale, illegal transportation and/or stocking of wild hogs. A reward of $3,500 is now in effect and made possible by contributions from TWRA, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, and the Tennessee Ornithological Society. Wild hogs cause extensive damage to farm crops, wildlife habitat, contribute to extreme erosion and stream pollution, and carry diseases harmful to livestock or other animals as well as humans. A primary reason for wild hogs rapid spread is illegal movement by those who wish to establish hog populations for hunting in areas that may have little or no wild hog populations. Illegal transport and release is the leading contributing factor in the spread of wild hogs. The TWRA is among the more than 20 entities from both private sector organizations and state government agencies that have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreeing to work cooperatively in regard to wild hogs.

Congressman Scott DesJariais

The Tennessee Department of Health has acknowledged opening a “complaint file” against Republican U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais. But the file wasn’t mentioned this week as the state Board of Medical Examiners met for the first time since controversy hit the physician-turned-4th-District-congressman in October. A board member said that isn’t unusual. “It takes a long time, sometimes a year or two, for a complaint to get to us,” said Nina Yeiser, a citizen member and 12-year veteran of the Board of Medical Examiners. “[Complaints] have to be investigated internally, and I think that’s probably going on now.”

Current Tullahoma Director of Schools Dan Lawson

Tullahoma Director of Schools Dr. Dan Lawson has made the finalist list in the Oak Ridge Schools search for a new superintendent. Lawson said he is pleased to make the finalists list at Oak Ridge. Lawson said that the Oak Ridge school system, like Tullahoma, has a great reputation. Lawson said Tullahoma has provided a great personal career opportunity, and he treasures the 16 years he’s worked with the system. He said in the News Sentinel story the headhunting firm helping in the search, Ray and Associates of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, will now contact the finalists and ask if they’re willing to return for extended interviews and community visits. Meanwhile, the Tullahoma school board has been conducting its search to replace Lawson with plans to have a new director in place beginning May 1, 2013, — nearly two months before Lawson’s contract expires.

Crash kills one and sends one man to jail

A Flintville man has been charged with vehicular homicide following a single vehicle crash Saturday. According to report by Tennessee Highway Patrolman Curtis Stuart, Scottie Wayne Pickett, 41, of Lexie Beans Creek Road Flintville is being held in the Franklin County Jail under a bond of $500,000 following the crash. He is also charged with violation of order of protection for having a loaded weapon in the car at the time of the crash. According to the trooper, around 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon Pickett along with his three passengers were traveling along Post Oak Road in southeastern Franklin County when he apparently lost control of his vehicle and left the roadway. The car overturned and ejected passenger Larry Ingle Jr., 35, of Cowan from his passenger seat. As the car was overturning it rolled over on top of Ingle, killing him. Passengers Brandon Pickett, 22, of Shelbyville was flown to Vanderbilt Medical Center by Lifeflight helicopter for treatment of his injuries. Passenger Tyler Tawwater, 18, also of Shelbville was treated at the scene by paramedics and was released. The driver was treated at the scene also by paramedics and then transported to the Franklin County Jail. Trooper Stuart was assisted in the investigation by Sgt. Larry Fraley and Investigator Scott Dixson of the THP Criminal Investigation Division.