Evans Baird jail intake photo.

Evans Baird, age 79, of Manchester, who is out of jail because he agreed to the bond conditions, faced another battle in court this week in Coffee County.
Baird served as band director for 30 years at Westwood Junior High, now Westwood Middle School, in Manchester.  He has been charged with one count of aggravated sexual battery against a 12-year-old. That is a Class B felony in the state of Tennessee.
Coffee County District Attorney Craig Northcott says Baird broke his bond condition on December 9. According to a motion filed by the DA’s office, Baird was found to be present at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Tullahoma where one of his alleged minor victims was present. Further, the State says that Baird knew or should have known that one or more of his victims would be present at the church as they are regular attendees. In a separate incident on the same date, December 9, 2018, Baird attempted to contact one of the victims’ mother, and she reported the incident to Manchester Police.
In a hearing this week, the district attorney office presented several witnesses, and the defendant testified on his own behalf. After hearing the evidence, the court refused to revoke Baird’s bond. Instead, he was placed on a GPS monitor at Baird’s expense. Under this agreement, Baird cannot have any direct or indirect contact with any witness or other person associated with this case. He is not to be at any school, church or park. The condition that he have no contact with anyone under the age of 18 also continues. Judge Jere Ledsinger strongly warned Baird to comply with these conditions or be subject to the full penalty of law should they be violated.
Baird continues to be free because of the original bond and conditions.

Donald M. McCoy, 52, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, was arrested Friday by federal and state agents and charged with two counts of healthcare fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee.
According to the criminal complaint, McCoy is a licensed psychologist by the State of Tennessee and is an authorized TennCare provider who provides individual psychotherapy and family psychotherapy services to patients—usually minors—in the care of the Department of Children’s Services (“DCS”). The complaint alleges that between January 2014 and December 7, 2018, McCoy billed for more hours of services than can physically be provided in any given day and received over $2.16 million from TennCare based on those claims.
The complaint alleges that an investigative analysis conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation determined that on multiple occasions, McCoy submitted claims for psychotherapy services that totaled more than 24 hours per day, some even exceeding 48 hours and 72 hours per day.
If convicted, McCoy faces up to 20 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine on each count.

Road construction will not delay travelers during the Christmas and New Year holidays. The Tennessee Department of Transportation is once again halting all lane closure activity on interstates and state highways in anticipation of higher traffic volumes across the state. No temporary lane closures will be allowed for road construction in Tennessee beginning at 12 noon Friday, Dec. 21st until 6am Wednesday, Jan. 2nd, 2019.
Except for a few long-term closures which must remain in place for safety, all construction-related lane closures will be suspended during the holiday period.
AAA predicts over 2.5 million motorists are expected to travel by automobile in Tennessee between the Christmas and New Year holidays, an increase of 5.1 percent since 2017.

Motlow State Community College will administer the High School Equivalency (HiSET ™) test several times throughout 2019. The tests will be administered in Crouch Center Room 1046 on the College’s Moore County campus and will be available in both computer and paper-based formats.
As of April 1, 2016, the General Education Development (GED) Test is no longer an option for High School Equivalency Diploma for residents of Tennessee.
Applicants interested in completing the HiSET ™ must register online at Hiset.ets.org or by calling 1-855—MyHiSET (1-855-694-4739). The fee for the HiSET test is $15 per test or $75 for the entire test. Applicants should contact the Service Delivery Area (SDA), formerly the Adult Education Center, in their community for information on preparation classes for the tests and vouchers to take the test.
Applicants must complete the online registration form and bring a notarized copy of the Official Practice Test, present a government issued picture identification, confirmation letter, and an Eligibility for Enrollment Form, if applicable, to the test. For more information regarding the tests, visit the Motlow testing website at mscc.edu/testing.
A high school diploma remains the primary ticket to many entry-level jobs. It is also generally the prerequisite for advancement in employment, occupational training, and postsecondary education. The high school equivalency diploma provides adults with the opportunity to grow, whether it is through further education, enhanced employment, or stature within the community.
For additional information, please visit the Motlow State testing website mscc.edu/testing or call 931-393-1763 or 1-800-654-4877 ext. 1763.