The Coffee County Budget and Finance Committee members and school directors say greed and lobbying in the state Legislature are why Coffee County is being mandated to purchase new school buses instead of getting more life out of its old ones. Schools director Kenny Casteel reiterated last week the need for an additional $390,000 for three new school buses and increased fuel costs. The director stated that the school system will be retiring eight buses at the end of next spring, plus six more the following year, because they will reach the 200,000-mile limit imposed by the state legislature. Casteel said that the transportation director was doing his best to get by with only three new buses to replace the eight being retired.

A Tullahoma man died at Vanderbilt Medical Center from injuries he received in a two-vehicle accident Saturday afternoon. According to a report by Tullahoma Police Officer Rocky Ruehling, around 4:15 p.m. Saturday afternoon Anthony Wayne Holman, 54, of West Lincoln Street was attempting to turn into his driveway when his 1990 Toyota was struck by a 1994 Ford Explorer operated by Travis Langley Williams, 24, of Coffee Creek, Lynchburg. According to the officer’s report, Williams was traveling west on West Lincoln Street and attempted to pass Holman’s vehicle on a double yellow line. Travis told the officer that he had his hazard lights on as he was attempting to get to his mother’s residence to transport her to the hospital. Holman was transported to Harton Regional Medical Center and then flown to Vanderbilt by helicopter where died. Travis was charged with reckless driving and the investigation is continuing.

The continued sale of so-called plant food or bath salts has officials increasing their undercover stings. Just recently, Governor Haslam signed legislation making the substance illegal, but the makers of the product keep changing the chemical contents in order to bypass the law. Convenience stores caught with the synthetic drugs will be held to the highest penalty. The consumption of bath salts is most recently suspected in an incident in Florida where a man mauled a homeless man, chewing off parts of his face. Police are still awaiting toxicology tests to confirm those suspicions. With Bonnaroo in Manchester this week, police are warning people about the dangers of the drugs.  According to Sheriff Steve Graves, there have been reports of teenagers becoming very sick. The sheriff says that he has had reports of teenagers staying up for two or three days after using the product. Police are warning people about the use of Molly’s Plant Food, Rave on Bath Salts, and synthetic marijuana. The use of the products could make you extremely sick or may cause death. Using bath salts is known to cause violent outbursts, hallucinations, paranoia, and kidney failure.

Bonnaroo traffic in 2011

The city of Manchester is hosting the annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival this week. Over 80,000 music lovers are expected to attend this year’s festival, which kicks off Thursday night and continues through Sunday night. As Manchester prepares to welcome a multitude of visitors, the Tennessee Department of Transportation and Tennessee Highway Patrol are gearing up for the extra traffic expected in the area. TDOT and the THP are working with the Manchester Police Department, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department, and festival promoters to keep traffic moving on I-24 while also getting Bonnaroo attendees to their destinations. Area residents are urged to pay attention to those who aren’t use to driving here and be helpful as they help the local economy. During Bonnaroo 2011, troopers logged nearly 5,800 man-hours, worked 20 traffic crashes (6 injury, and 14 property damage crashes), and wrote 182 citations and 42 warnings. Officials are expecting over 100,000 people on the Bonnaroo site. Also, for the first time, the speed limit on I-24 in the festival area will be reduced to 55 mph for the duration of the festival. The speed reduction will be in effect between mile marker 104.6 (just west of Exit 105) and mile marker 129.4, where the speed limit currently drops to 55 mph to go over Monteagle Mountain. After the festival is over, the speed limit will be restored to its normal level. There will be TDOT HELP trucks on-site beginning June 6 through June 11. This year’s event features entertainment from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Beach Boys, Phish, and legendary music icon Kenny Rogers.

The burglaries of four Tullahoma churches are under investigation by Tullahoma Police. Thieves entered and vandalized Kings Cross Church located on Turkey Creek Road, Trinity Lutheran Church and Faith Lutheran (both located on Wilson Avenue), and Westside Nazarene Church. Thieves recently broke into three other church buildings in Tullahoma and two in the rural area of the county.