Author's posts

Inmate Who Walked Away From Work Detail Is Caught

Mark Andrew Cope

A Coffee County jail inmate who escaped last week was arrested after crashing a stolen car during a police chase.
DeKalb County investigators arrested Mark Cope Saturday afternoon.
Cope had walked away from a work detail in Manchester on Thursday but was spotted Saturday in Warren County.
He led investigators on a high-speed chase across the county line towards Smithville, where he ran off the road and hit an embankment. He tried to run away but was caught by authorities.

Man Banned For Life By Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration

Celebration Arena in Shelbyville

A Tennessee man who pleaded guilty to horse soring has been banned for life from the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration.
The Tennessee Walking Show Horse Celebration issued the ban Saturday after discovering that 38-year-old Barney Davis of Lewisburg was in attendance at a gathering in Shelbyville. Earlier this year Davis received a one year prison term and was fined $4,000. At his sentencing he described mechanical devices and chemical irritants used to sore horses to force them to show an exaggerated gait in the show ring.
The ban comes as the Tennessee Walking Show Horse Organization called on the multiple groups to join industry leaders at a “Horse Protection Summit” in Shelbyville before the end of the year.
“Soring” is an illegal practice where items like bolts are driven into horse’s hoofs, foreign objects are attached to the legs of the animals, or chemicals are used to produce pain and sensitivity to alter the gait of a horse. The altered gait is valued at horse competitions.

Candidate Questioned About Taxes

Eric Stewart

Fourth Congressional District Democratic hopeful Eric Stewart from Winchester was slapped with federal tax liens totaling $24,678.81 in 2002 and 2011 for not paying his federal personal and business taxes on time, records show.
According to the Chattanooga Times Free-Press Stewart resolved a 2002 IRS lien of $9,541.09 on his 2000 and 2001 personal taxes on March 21, 2003, according to an IRS release filed with the Franklin County Register of Deeds.
But the 2011 IRS lien remains on the books, records show. It involves $15,227.72 owed by Stewart and the insurance agency he owned on a matter involving payroll taxes for various quarters in tax years 2001-2003 and 2006.
Stewart, a state senator from Winchester elected in 2008, said in an interview Friday that he reached a settlement with the IRS and is making payments to satisfy his obligations.

Expect More Motorist On The Road Labor Day Weekend

Motorists apparently are not going to let rising gas prices keep them from traveling during the Labor Day weekend.
AAA says 2.9 percent more people will travel at least 50 miles from home this holiday compared to last year.
The Labor Day weekend runs from Thursday, August 30th to Monday, September 3rd.
AAA estimates 33 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home this weekend, up from 32.1 million over the same time last year.
That could be the highest travel volume since 2008, when Labor Day travel dropped because of the recession.

Bonnaroo Donates Money

The Bonnaroo Works Fund (BWF), the charitable arm of Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, acknowledged the good work of nine notable organizations across the state with donations totaling $82,000. In addition to the grants made this week, Bonnaroo officials have tallied this year’s fundraising totals and report that local organizations earned more than $200,000 in commissions while assisting with festival concession booths. According to Ashley Capps, owner of AC Entertainment and festival partner, Bonnaroo organizers created the Bonnaroo Works Fund to help make impactful contributions to the community they call home. Among the recipients this year are Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee; the Coffee County/Manchester Public Library which received $2,500; and the Land Trust for Tennessee, which will use the funds to protect and preserve the unique character of natural and historic landscapes in Manchester and Coffee County. The Manchester Arts Center will use its grant from the Bonnaroo Works Fund to initiate a project in honor of a long-time community leader. The Center will work to place art in public places throughout the community.

More Information About West Nile

Tennessee’s Department of Health and Department of Agriculture are urging Tennesseans, including horse owners and veterinarians, to be on the alert for the re-emergence of viruses transmitted by mosquitoes. As many states are experiencing one of the largest outbreaks of West Nile virus in recent years, Tennessee is beginning to see cases in humans and horses. In Tennessee, most human WNV cases occur in August and September, and so far this summer, there have been six human cases reported in the state. Most human WNV infections cause no noticeable symptoms. However, about 20 percent of infections result in symptoms that may include fever, headache and body aches. Occasionally more severe symptoms occur, and in less than one percent of human cases, WNV may cause a life-threatening infection of the brain. Certain populations are at higher risk including the elderly, persons who abuse alcohol and those with chronic health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, renal disease and cardiovascular disease. Tullahoma city officials say they are checking city property that has swampy and low lying areas. If there is a potential for a problem they spray it with a specially designed insecticide.

Volleyball Team Now 4-0

The Lady Raiders improved to 4-0 in volleyball last night as they traveled to Lincoln County and beat the Lady Falcons 3 sets to 1. 25-15, 26-28, 25-23 and 25-16.
The Gateway Tire and Service Player of the Game was Haley Banks, who had 11 kills and 4 aces. Hollie Moore added 29 assists.
Coffee Co. plays host to Warren Co. Tuesday night starting at 6pm at Joe Frank Patch Gym.

Golf Teams Fall In Sparta

Kyle Johnson hits a shot at Sparta Country Club

Yesterday (Aug. 27, 2012) the Coffee Co. golf teams took on White County in Sparta. The Warriors were too tough on their home course winning the boys match 143-156. Andy Stout led Coffee County with an even par 35. Others scores: Matt Johnson 39, Kyle Johnson 40 and Justin Mooneyham with a 42.
In girls action White County defeated the Lady Raiders 78-93. Hollee Sadler led Coffee County with a 46 followed by Devin Green with a 47.
The boy’s team will host the Red Raider Inv. on Wednesday.

Girls’ Sports On The Rise

According to the Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association’s (TSSAA) Matthew Gillespie, the Volunteer State saw another increase in the number of students participating in sports. This trend appears to be nationwide.

Boosted by continued growth in several girl’s sports, participation in high school sports increased for the 23rd consecutive year in 2011-12, according to the annual High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

Based on figures from the 51 NFHS-member state high school athletic/activity associations, which includes the District of Columbia, sports participation for the 2011-12 school year reached an all-time high of 7,692,520 participants – an increase of 24,565 from the previous year.

An additional 33,984 girls participated in high school sports last year, making the all-time record total 3,207,533. This also marks the 23rd consecutive year for an increase in the number of female participants with Outdoor track and field leading the way with 468,747.

While girls participation continued to climb, boys participation figures dipped for the first time since the 1992-93 school year, down 9,419 from last year’s number of 4,494,406 to 4,484,987. Seven of the top 10 boys sports registered drops in participation, with 11-player football leading the way with 1,095,993 boys playing.

8/31/12 — Betty Levonne Rodenberg Taylor

Betty  Levonne Rodenberg Taylor passed away on Aug 26, 2012 at McArthur Manor in Manchester,  TN.

She was born on August 31, 1926 in Randolph County, Illinois to her parents,  George Washington Rodenberg and Mauda Louima Ningler Rodenberg who predecease  her. In addition to her parents, Betty is predeceased by her husband John Fowler  Taylor.

She is survived by her daughter Beverly Allison Taylor Vetter and  son-in-law Norman Kolbe Vetter of Manchester, TN as well as her three  granddaughters Brooksany Vettergreen of Haverhill, MA; Holly Vetter of Las  Vegas, NV; and Autumn Vetter of Nashville, TN.

Betty graduated from Jewish  Hospital School of Nursing in St. Louis, MO in 1947, having attended as part of  the U.S. government’s Cadet Nurse Program, which trained nurses for wartime  service. Her great love was public health, especially the areas of women’s  health and childhood immunizations. She worked for the Coffee County Health  Department as a Public Health nurse for 24 years.

Betty was skilled in sewing,  and particularly enjoyed making clothing and apparel for her family and friends.  She was also a very talented cook, and was especially drawn to international  cuisine from areas where her husband’s military travel had taken her family.  Betty was active in the American Legion Auxiliary and served locally as an  officer and also as Fifth District Auxiliary President.

Betty was a long time  member of Manchester First United Methodist Church and enjoyed singing in the  adult choir for many years. She also taught children’s Sunday school and served  on various church committees.

For the last two years, Betty was a resident of  McArthur Manor assisted living facility in Manchester and truly felt love for  her extended “family” of friends and caretakers there.

Visitation with the  family will be on Thursday evening, August 30, 2012 from 5:00 p.m.until 8:00  p.m. at Central Funeral Home.

A Graveside Service will be conducted on Friday,  August 31, 2012 at the Rose Hill Memorial Gardens with Reverend Neal Glass  officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to  St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. For information please visit: http://www.stjude.org/waystohelp.

Arrangements with CENTRAL FUNERAL HOME of Manchester, TN.