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4/27/12 — Kathryn Elizabeth Garner Riddell
Kathryn Elizabeth Garner Riddell, age 86 of Cowan, passed away at her home Saturday April 19, 2012.
A native of Chattanooga, she lived in Nashville for 9 years and later in Silver Spring Maryland where she worked as a private duty nurse for 20 years. Following retirement 30 years ago, she made her home in Cowan to be closer to her family. She was an artist in many forms and an avid lover of animals and people. As a loving, caring and devoted mother of 6, she will be remembered for the outstanding example of integrity and grace that she set for her children.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Franklin Delano Riddell; daughters, Jewell Jean Garner, Jo Leona Hintermyer and Trudy Theresa White; sisters, Peggy Sue Crunk, Nancy Theresa Welch; brother, Robert Lee Garner; granddaughter, Jennifer Jo Fijardo; mother, Lillie Leona Henley and father William Edward Garner.
She is survived by her daughters, Carolyn (Jeff) Fajardo of Bethany Beach, DE, Connie Sue (Joe) McDaniel of Spring Hill, FL; son Hamilton Hugh (Judy) Riddell if Sykesville, MD; sisters, Henrietta Blackburn of Monteagle and Norma Jean Garner of Tullahoma; brother, Bobby Joe Garner also of Tullahoma; grandchildren, Alex Hintermyer, Celeste McDaniel, Jason Fajardo, Ryan Riddell, Jessica Riddell and Scarlet Campbell; great-grandchildren, Christan Morgan McDaniel, Jonathan Campbell, Neeley Campbell Thomas, Carly Jo Fajardo, and Luanna Beau Fajardo.
A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p m Friday April 27, 2012 from the chapel of at St. Mary’s Convent in Sewanee with Rev. Steve Davis officiating.
Burial will follow at O’Dear Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions to the Franklin County Animal Shelter.
Watson-North Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.
4/25/12 — Emily F. Degnan Johnson
Emily F. Degnan Johnson, age 78 of Winchester, passed away April 22, 2012 at Middle Tennessee Medical Center.
A native of Chattanooga, she had made her home in Franklin County for more than 60 years and was a 1951 graduate of Franklin County High School.
She is preceded in death by her husband, James W. Johnson; sister, Mary Carson; brothers, Arthur Degnan, Pete Degnan and James Degnan.
She is survived by he brothers, William R. Degnan and Marion Rex Degnan, both of Arizona; niece, Sandra (David) DeLeeuw of Collierville, TN; nephew, Mark (Lisa) Carson of Winchester; several other nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday April 25, 2012 at Good Shepherd Church in Decherd.
Interment will follow at Franklin Memorial Gardens. Friends and family members will serve as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday evening.
In Lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to American Heart Association 1818 Patterson Street, Nashville, TN 37203.
Watson-North Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Man Charged On Meth Possession
Deputy James Sherrill, Dale Robertson and Chief Investigator Doug Richardson received information that Boyce Brown who lives in 16th Model community had been seen with items used to produce meth. After checking with the Tennessee Meth Task Force they learned that the man had made several purchases of items used in the production of the drug in Coffee and Rutherford Counties.
When the officers arrived at Brown’s address they met him at a barn behind the residence. Police informed him that he was wanted by Cannon County for probation violation, they found that he had a bag of white powdery substance thought to be meth in a pocket.
He informed the officer that there were 2 individuals inside his residence, so Richardson and Sherrill entered the house and made sure that those individuals did not destroy anything while the obtained a search warrant.
While talking with the 2 Sherrill noticed the man (who has not been named as charges are pending) put something in his pocket which turned out to be a white powdery substance. Charges against that man and a female also in the house are pending.
The deputies searched the house and found numerous items used in the production of meth.
They also found 3 shake and bake labs in a freezer of the residence.
Local Company Buys Extra Land
Ravago Manufacturing Americas has purchased 16-acres behind its current facility located in the Coffee County Interstate Industrial Park for future expansion. According to Industrial Board of Coffee County Executive Director, Ted Hackney, the company is expected to purchase additional equipment this fall as well as adding a few new jobs. The company currently employs 130 at the plant.
Police Looking For Man With Strawberries Trying To Lure Children
Local law enforcement continues on alert for a man accused of attempting to lure children into his red pickup truck Friday in Wartrace.
“We’ve been looking all over the county and haven’t found him yet,” Sheriff Randall Boyce said.
The man approached two groups of children near the intersection of Hill and Vine Streets, Boyce was told.
“A guy pulled up in an old, red pickup truck and offered them some strawberries,” Boyce said.
“There were two groups (of children). One was a kind of young group,. He tried to get them to get in the truck and they wouldn’t. He went over to the older group and they wouldn’t get in either.”
The children gave a somewhat vague description to officers.
Boyce said, “They said it was just a red pickup truck driven by an older gray-headed guy. –Shelbyville Times-Gazette-
Smithsonian Exhibit In Cowan

AEDC 1st Lt. Charmeeka Scroggins talks to students about the way work was done at AEDC in the 1950s and 1960s during the Smithsonian Exhibition at the Cowan Railroad museum
But many things regarding the way AEDC employees worked have changed, and some of them are being shown off during an exhibit at the Cowan Center for the Arts.
As part of the Smithsonian Exhibit “The Way We Worked,” which wrapped up a visit to Cowan recently, AEDC set up a booth with photos, historic information and instruments that were commonly used during the 1950s and 1960s.
The Smithsonian exhibit explores the diversity of the American workforce and dramatic changes in work environments and conditions throughout the years. Cowan is one of six towns in Tennessee to feature the exhibit.
Cowan Railroad Museum board member Patricia Ann Underwood said after they learned the exhibit would be coming to town, they started looking for area businesses that could contribute to the exhibit. In addition to reaching out to Aerospace Testing Alliance (ATA), Arnold Engineering Development Center’s operating contractor, they were able to get displays for other area landmarks such as Falls Mill, the University of the South and Kokomo Grain Company. The museum board members also had to develop a companion exhibit about Cowan to go with the Smithsonian’s.
The goal of the Smithsonian exhibit was to help the Cowan Railroad Museum and to make it a better museum for people when they come through.
BBB New Warning
The Better Business Bureau of Middle Tennessee warns consumers and businesses of a new phishing email scam making the rounds within the last few days.
This emails appear to be coming from AT&T Wireless from an “AT&T Customer Care” address, stating that the recipient’s wireless bill is ready for viewing and encouraging them to click on links to view the alleged bill, pay online, and download a smart phone application to manage the wireless account. However, the links lead to a third party website that downloads a virus onto the recipient’s computer instead.
BBB contacted AT&T to confirm that the emails are not originating from their company.
The emails appear to have been totally random in who they are sent to. They have gone to businesses as well as individuals. There is no indication that BBB Accredited Businesses are being targeted.
The spammers’ goal is to get as many email recipients as possible to click on the link within the email which redirects to a website infected with malware. If you clicked on the link within these emails, your computer is likely to be infected. The criminals then use that malware to transfer money out of bank accounts or obtain additional email addresses.
The two things people can do right now to prevent being victimized by this scam or other phishing scams:
Install good anti-virus software on your computer(s) and get regular updates of virus definitions several times a day.
Never click on links in emails that have come to you unsolicited.
If you have clicked on a link in one of these emails, delete the email and your trash folder, and run a complete system scan of your computer or network.
CCMS Winners
The Subway card winners this week are:
6th grader – Roberto Crisanto
7th grader – Michael Partin
8th grader – Jeremy Varden
Staff member – Donna Robinson
All of this is made possible through the Fuel Up to Play 60 Grant. Helping kids make healthier food choices and be more physically active for a healthier life!
4/22/12 — Charles Phillip Copeland
Mama Lena’s favorite grandchild waved good-by on Sunday, April 22, 2012, surrounded by his family. Charles Phillip Copeland was born the third of six children to C. Ray and Ruby Copeland on July 6, 1952. Phil lived most of his 59 years in Tullahoma, Tennessee. He graduated from Tullahoma High School in 1970, and then attended UT Knoxville. He also graduated from the LSU School of Banking.
He began his banking career at Union Planters in Memphis, and then began working for Traders National Bank in 1975. He worked there for nearly 37 years until his retirement for his recent illness. He started as a Teller and ended as the Chief Financial Officer, as well as a member of the Board of Directors. Phil had a great fondness for his fellow employees and customers. He was well known for speaking in a verbal shorthand and giving his co-workers nicknames, like “Crazy”, “Chipper”, “Spot”, “Dirt”, and generally keeping everyone off guard with his quick, wry sense of humor.
For several years, Phil donned his fireproof coveralls and helped set off the Fourth of July fireworks. He was a long time member of the Highland Rim Kiwanis Club and a past President of the Lakewood Country Club. He was also lifelong President of the Tullahoma Telescope Club.
On a date arranged by her future sister-in-law, Kim, in 1997, Phil met his soul mate, Bettie Vaughan. They married on October 26, 2003. Together they built a beautiful home and enjoyed their shared passion for life, which included travel, cooking, wine, art, and family. Phil and Bettie also share several grandchildren who call them “Bill” and “Gobbie”.
In addition to his parents, Phil was predeceased by grandparents, James and Pearl (Waggoner) Copeland of Moore County, Charles and Lena Mae “Mama Lena” (Richards) Weddington of Tullahoma, special grandmother, Ann Lou Woodside Martin of Tullahoma, and a dear sister-in-law, Jennifer (Kyle) Copeland of Tullahoma.
He is survived by wife, Bettie, daughter Katy Copeland Harden (Tim), grandson and namesake Charlie, stepdaughter Rachel Pierce (Daryl McGee) of Tullahoma, and stepson Ted Pierce (Wendy) of Lynchburg, and step-grandchildren, Tony, Austin, Liza, Leyla, Isiah, McKenzie, Rayel and Colin.
Siblings who will miss their brother and cherish his memory are Claudia (Michael) Vaden of Franklin County, Tom (Karen) Copeland, Kyle Copeland, Kim (Clay) Uselton, and Scott Copeland, all of Tullahoma, Tennessee. He also leaves many dear nieces and nephews: Dylan, Annie, Rachel, Emma, Anna Claire, Stewart, Will, Jack, and Sam.
Phil’s sense of humor stayed with him to the very end. A few days ago one of the children made a video of him and he was waiving to the camera from his bed. Later on that night, everyone was gathered by his bedside, Phil was in good spirits, making everyone laugh, and Bettie mused: “What will we do without our “Bill”? Phil said: “Just rewind that camera and I’ll be waving at you”.
Memorial donations are suggested to the Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation.
Kilgore Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.