Authorities issued a statewide Amber Alert last week for two children missing since their Bedford County home was destroyed by an intense fire last week. The TBI sent out the alert after investigators spent 5 days trying to determine if there were any remains of the children in the fire debris. TBI said fire experts had come up empty. The children are identified as 9-year old Chloie Leverette and 7-year old Gage Daniel. TBI said the children were living with their grandparents. Two bodies tentatively identified as 72-year-old Leon “Bubba” McClaran and his wife, 70-year-old Molli McClaran, were recovered Monday and have been sent to the Nashville medical examiner’s office for autopsy. She was the children’s maternal grandmother, he their step-grandfather. TBI spokesperson Kristen Helm said the TBI does not have any direct evidence that the children are victims of foul play. She said there are no persons of interest in the case and that investigators are following all leads, but would not elaborate.

The Endangered Child Alert continues; Chloie is described as a white female, approximately 4’8″ and 75 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. Gage is described as a white male, approximately 4′ and 75 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes.
If you have any information concerning the current whereabouts of Chloie and Gage, please contact the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

As we reported last week, a possible suspect in the murder of Megan Sharpton was arrested Thursday evening on unrelated gun charges. 37-year-old Donnie Jones of Bel Aire Drive, Tullahoma, was arrested after Franklin County deputies and Tullahoma Police investigators found a gun during a search of his residence. Since he is a convicted felon, he was charged with being in possession of a firearm. He was booked into the Coffee County Jail and remains in the jail under a $500,000 bond.

Tennesseans who rely on what used to be called food stamps will have to wait longer than usual for their benefits this month. The change came at the request of grocery stores. In all, more than 1-point-3 million individuals now get those benefits, and all of that money is made available in the first 10 days of the month. Grocery stores say they get hit with too much business in too few days. They asked the state to stretch out its schedule, by staggering the benefit payouts over a period of time that’s twice as long. Starting this month, the stores will get their way, but what’s good news for grocery stores will mean a difficult month for most people who get that assistance. The reworking of the schedule means that more than two-thirds will have to wait anywhere from 4 days to a week and a half longer than they’re used to.

Although Board of Aldermen members say Tullahoma’s economic development direction is on the right track, they would like to see emphasis placed on recruiting retail operations. That came up during a special meeting between the city board and the Tullahoma Area Economic Development Corp. Mayor Lane Curlee said key contacts have been made with retailers that may choose Tullahoma, and he predicted a once-thriving Northgate Mall should soon be full within a year. The mayor said that the city needs to work on having a quick access database about what retail and other property is immediately available, so companies looking at Tullahoma will know first-hand the city is serious about accommodating their retail potential.

The Board of Education is beginning its search for a replacement for Tullahoma City Schools’ outgoing director Dr. Dan Lawson and has slated a special meeting to receive information from the public as to what skills and qualifications that new director should have. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Tullahoma High School Thoma Lecture Hall. Dr. Tammy Grissom, Tennessee School Boards Association executive director, will lead groups in discussion designed to determine their views about the issues and challenges facing the school system and the director’s position. Lawson announced earlier this year that he would not be asking an extension to his contract which expires June 30, 2013. The board has agreed to have a replacement in place before then with a May 1, 2013, deadline.