Concert opens to visitors... By Barry West

Bonnaroo kicked off with only minor problems. Wednesday night a man who was allergic to bee stings had to be flown to a Nashville hospital for treatment. Yesterday a man suffered an apparent heart attack. He was flown to Vanderbilt. Sheriff Steve Graves stated that these were just two problems encountered on the first full day of activity. Meanwhile, deputies have issued citations to several individuals for possession of marijuana. Manchester Mayor Betty Superstein said people who live in the area stay home for the duration of the event. She said she has the sales tax receipts to prove it. Superstein said, “you know, they aren’t going out to eat. They aren’t going out shopping, so many of the restaurants tell us, ‘We might as well close for the week of Bonnaroo'”. She said they hoped to draw more residents out to local businesses. She said that the ones who do benefit are charitable organizations and ball teams. She is very pleased about that.

Police search vehicle before entering Bonnaroo… By Barry West

Tullahoma Police continue to investigate the burglaries of several churches in the area. The latest was at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints located on the Old Shelbyville Hwy. According to a report by Daryn Gadeken, thieves entered the building by breaking out a window to gain entry to the building. Once inside they broke open all of the file cabinets and ransacked the office. They then pried open the Bishops office and took a small coin/medallion. They also went the items in that office. Tullahoma Police Chief Paul Blackwell suggests that churches pay attention to their buildings. The chief explained that this is an important time for churches to set the alarm system. Be sure to lock all doors and insure any exterior lighting is turned on.

Indiana Bat

The Coffee County Jail Review Committee continues to have bat problems as far as environmental restrictions imposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service involving the protection of an endangered species of bats on the site of the new jail on a 44-acre site on Hillsboro Highway. The issue came up when the committee was trying to obtain a low interest U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development loan to build the jail. However, environmental restrictions apply whenever federal financing programs are used for construction projects, and the committee learned that this is the mating and birthing season for the endangered Indiana bat. According to environmentalist if the bats aren’t found to be present, the county should be able to move forward with construction and remove the trees as planned. Some commissioners felt they could resolve their problem by contributing $25,000 to the conservation fund.

A North Carolina man is being held in the Franklin County Jail without bond after leading law enforcement on a trip around the northern area of the county. According to authorities, AEDC Police pursued a vehicle for speeding, but the speeder took off and led police onto UTSI Road into the Estill Springs area. While on that road he reportedly struck a couple of vehicles and then turned around and fled. Randy Scott Copeland of Mooresville, North Carolina, was later found hiding behind a tree near the VFW on Highway 127 by Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy Cpl. Chuck Stines. He was arrested and charged with 7 crimes…including leaving the scene of an accident, failure to give immediate notice of an accident, DUI, violation of implied consent, failure to stop, reckless endangerment and evading arrest. He is due to appear in general session court Aug. 6.

Tullahoma Police are investigating the theft of $12,765 worth of items from a downtown business. According to a report by Tullahoma Police Officer George Marsh, police were sent to Memories Antiques on West Lincoln Street around 11:15 p.m. Wednesday night after the activation of a the burglar alarm. When officers arrived they found the rear door had been kicked open and a large amount of glass broken from a case in the store. After Leonard Goad, who is with the store, surveyed the store a number of items had been taken.

The first reading of Tullahoma’s budget for the coming year was approved this week by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, but it does not include additional funding the school system has requested for a $1 million-plus high school roof and system-wide pay raises totaling about $575,000. School board officials say that the high school roof has been leaking, and it’s questionable how long it will last. They say that they hope the city can refinance some of its debt and find additional bond money that might be able to go toward fixing Tullahoma High School’s roof. The city’s budget must be fully approved on three ordinance readings by the Board of Aldermen.