Toby loved going out on canoe rides... Photo provided

A Coffee County Animal Control worker is in hot water for allegedly shooting and killing a dog without following proper procedure.
According to Bryan Pennington, who was the dog’s owner, his black 16-year-old Labrador retriever, “Toby,” was picked up by Coffee County Animal Control Monday afternoon and was apparently shot in the head by worker Charlie Brown.
Pennington told us that his dog had arthritis in his legs and was blind in one eye.
According to County Resolution 95-41, Section 7, paragraph G, if a dog impounded for any reason is not wearing a tag or a name collar and is not claimed by the owner within three days of its impoundment, the dog may be claimed and redeemed by any responsible person without any liability to the owners, or the dog may be destroyed by the county. Pennington said his dog did not wear a collar because of a skin irritation.
According to Pennington, Toby was at his new neighbors home when they called animal control.
According to a distraught Pennington, the animal was lying on the sidewalk, and they thought something was wrong with him so they called animal control. That’s when the dog was picked up by animal control and later killed.
Bryan Pennington picked the deceased dog up from Coffee County Animal Control Tuesday morning and took it to his vet – Tom Harbin. He said everything checked out fine. He was just an older dog.
The Coffee County Animal Control falls under the county government’s Health and Welfare Department and is funded by the county. A committee will meet on this issue Monday (June 18) at 5pm.

From left to right: Administrator Vernita Davis, members Max Lamont, Barbara Arp, Frances Powers and Larry McIntosh

The Election Commission met Monday afternoon to determine if two non-city residents who own property in Manchester were eligible to be placed on the ballot in the upcoming city election. After hearing discussion on both sides, the commission voted four to zero in favor of the motion to put them on the ballot. The motion was made by Max Lamont and seconded by Larry McIntosh. The two in question were Brent Bates and Danny Davis.
Prior to this motion another motion was passed to approve Michelle Simmons and Gary Trail who both live inside the city limits.
Manchester voters will be allowed to vote for up to 5 candidates. The top three candidates will receive 4-year terms. The next two will serve 2 years and 5th highest gets to serve out the final 2 years of Lonnie Norman’s term.  Norman must give up his remaining term in order to be on the mayoral ballot.  Other candidates for alderman include Donnie Thomas, Harlan Gene Holmes, Ryan French and Roxanne Patton. Other candidates qualifying are J. Sam Miller, Mark Messick, Tim Pauley, Cheryl Swan, Russell Bryan and Joshua Jackson Moore.
Mayoral candidates are Betty Superstein, Lonnie Norman, Claude Morse and Stella McWhorter.
Election Day is August 2.

Indiana Bat

The Jail Review Committee met Monday afternoon to discuss the bat situation. Steve Maloney, of Griggs & Maloney Engineering & Environmental Consultants, proposed going into mediation with TWRA to resolve the problem about endangered bats on county land. The endangered Indiana Bat could be on the same property that the county wants to use for the new jail on the Hillsboro Highway.
The Committee made and passed a motion to allow Maloney to proceed forward if the cost was not to exceed $5,000. The TWRA determined that there were 70 trees on the property that could be homes to the Indiana Bat.
Since June is the birthing season and the young bats need at least 30 days to fly, the TWRA probably would not allow removal of trees before July 15 under any circumstances.

Tennessee revenue collections continued an upward growth trend in May with a net positive growth of 3.40% over collections made in the same month last year. The Finance and Administration Commissioner reports that overall May revenues were $871.1 million, which is $15.6 million more than the state budgeted. The commission explained that May marks the tenth consecutive month this year in which total collections have exceeded the budgeted estimates. The commissioner said that the state has seen growth in sales tax collections for the past 26 consecutive months, the growth has slowed – and corporate tax collections for May were below the budgeted estimate.

A 95-year-old World War II veteran woke up to find his home had been broken into in Tracy City. Among the many belongings taken were his wallet, shotgun and nearly brand new car.
Hershel Curtis says it all happened while he was sleeping Saturday night in his Tracy City home. Now he says worse than being out thousands of dollars worth of items, is the fear it’s put in him.
Tire tracks in the grass show where someone drove away in his 2011 Ford Focus full of electronics, tools, weapons, and Hershel’s wallet full of checks, credit cards and personal documents, like his social security card.
Grundy County investigators did find Hershel’s hunting license on the side of the road in Coalmont.
You’re asked to call the sheriff’s office if you spot Hershel’s 2011 red Ford Focus with Tennessee tags: 3DD2080.