Last month the Coffee County Compensation and Personnel Committee brought up an issue concerning a policy about nepotism. Members discussed the possibility of doing away with the policy.
During the most recent meeting of the committee, they voted to keep the nepotism policy but add a section of a wavier in certain situations.
Member and County Commissioner Joey Hobbs said that he wanted to keep the policy, but he thought the county should add a section to the employee manual that would allow for an exemption to the nepotism policy for an individual with unique skills and qualifications. That suggestion was approved.
Current employees that have already disclosed relationships that could potentially create a conflict of interest and have received prior approval to work will not be affected by the change.

Special Agents with the Drug Investigation Division of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation were part of a multi-agency arrest round-up in Franklin County this week that resulted in the arrest of 12 people on a variety of drug-related charges.
On January 7th, the Franklin County Grand Jury returned indictments charging multiple people with a variety of charges stemming from incidents from 2017 through 2018. This week, TBI Agents joined law enforcement officers with the Middle Tennessee Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, the Winchester Police Department and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department in locating and arresting twelve of those people.
Among the individuals who were arrested and charged as a result of the indictments:
• Brandon Joe Padget (DOB 02/21/1996), Winchester
• Jason Ray Clark (DOB 04/10/1981), Winchester
• Steve Wayne Francis (DOB 09/09/1957), Decherd
• Jason R. Hunt (DOB 12/27/1982), Decherd
• Justin Ray George (DOB 06/28/1984), Decherd
• Mary Jane Yates (DOB 11/09/1990), Estill Springs
• Timothy Campbell (DOB 04/13/1989), Winchester
• Ruth A. Crain (DOB 11/21/1960), Winchester
• Chadwick Michael Baker (DOB 07/26/1983), Belvidere
• Adam Gifford (DOB 10/10/1991), Belvidere
• Matthew Christopher Roden (DOB 07/31/1979), Estill Springs
• Laquisha Reshawn Calleja (DOB 11/05/1981), Tullahoma

The Tennessee man federal prosecutors say was the ringleader in a conspiracy to burglarize nearly 70 pharmacies across 11 states over a five-year period, including two in Corbin, Kentucky, and several in Tennessee, was sentenced to seven years in prison on Tuesday.
Robert Nunley, of Tracy City pleaded guilty in March to two counts of burglary of a pharmacy and one count of conspiracy to distribute Schedule II controlled substances, to include oxycodone.
Based on the results of the investigation, which took into account multiple factors including his criminal history, and the nature and circumstances of the offense, the federal sentencing guidelines set a sentencing range of 78 to 98 months for Nunley.
The federal judge noted that while Nunley had no extended criminal history and no history of violence, the nature of the crime and its effect reached far beyond the business owners.
Nunley received credit for the time he has served while awaiting the outcome of the case.

Experience the spectacular celestial event of a Super Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse and take a midnight hike through the ancient Native American ceremonial mounds located at Old Stone Fort in Manchester. This will be the first and only lunar eclipse of 2019 and the last one to grace the skies of the US until 2022. Join the park to learn about the occurrence and science of lunar eclipses and how the Native Americans who once inhabited this area may have interpreted this event. You’ll hike along the 1.25 mile Enclosure Trail stopping from time to time to examine the progress of the moon as it becomes eclipsed by Earth’s shadow. As the hike continues participants are asked to come prepared by wearing clothing appropriate for the weather, closed toed shoes and to bring a flashlight. Please feel free to arrive early to witness the eclipse in its entirety.
Ranger Leigh Gardner tells us more:

Cost is $10 and children six and under are free.
Penumbral eclipse begins Sunday January 20th at 8:40pm, Partial eclipse begins 9:30pm, Full eclipse begins 10:40pm.

Congratulations to Student of the Week -Hayden Garr!!! Hayden, the son of Darryl Collins and Allison Collins is an eighth grader at Coffee County Middle School. Hayden’s favorite subject his social studies, because he loves history. Hayden is quite the athlete. He plays basketball for CCMS as a forward. Hayden is 3rd baseman for the CCMS baseball team and has already received college offers for baseball. Hayden hopes to one day have a Major League Baseball contract.
Rosalyn Partin, owner of the Manchester H&R Block, has been inspired to recognize great kids in our community all through hockey season. What does hockey season have to do with our local students? Well, H&R Block gives each Student of the Week a set of Nashville Predators Hockey tickets, a commemorative plaque, as well as a special letter of recognition.
Pictured with Hayden is Rosalyn Partin of H & R Block and Coffee County Middle School Vice Principal, Eric Keith.