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County Unemployment Rate Down in Coffee County
County unemployment rates for the month of December show the rates decreased in 77 counties, increased in 7 counties and stayed the same in 11 counties.
Coffee County had one of the best months in its history as we dropped from 3.3 in November to 3.0 percent in December. Franklin County reported the same numbers as Coffee County. Moore County fell form 2.7 percent to 2.5. Warren County’s December unemployment rate was 3.2 percent, down from the November rate of 3.5. Grundy County went from 4.6 to 4.3 percent. Cannon County went from 3.1 to 2.8 percent.
Williamson County had the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 2.2 percent for December, while Rhea County had the highest at 5.6 percent.
TBI Investigating Officer-Involved Shooting in Murfreesboro
TBI Special Agents are investigating the circumstances of an officer-involved shooting late Sunday morning in Murfreesboro.
Preliminary information indicates several law enforcement agencies in Rutherford and Bedford counties were involved in efforts to arrest 23 year-old Jesse Caldwell on warrants charging him in connection to several crimes over the past week. On Sunday, after spotting a vehicle authorities suspect Caldwell stole in Bedford County, officers from the Murfreesboro Police Department pursued Caldwell to a location in the 500 block of Twin Oak Drive. There, an officer exited his vehicle, identified Caldwell, and shot into the vehicle. Caldwell was not shot but sustained minor injuries from broken glass. No law enforcement officers were injured in the incident.
After being examined and treated at a local hospital, authorities booked Caldwell in to the Rutherford County Jail.
Encounter Life Church to host “Night to Shine” event in Manchester for Teens with Special Needs
For the last 3 years, Encounter Life Church has hosted the Tim Tebow Foundation’s Night to Shine event in Manchester. Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God’s love, for people over the age of 14 with special needs. On one night, February 9th, 2018, more than 540 churches from around the world will come together to serve approximately 90,000 honored guests through the support of more than 175,000 volunteers. Locally, all of the festivities will happen in the gymnasium at First Baptist Church, located at 1006 Hillsboro Blvd. in Manchester, from 6-9pm.
Adam Cutshaw, Pastor at Encounter Life said this, “It’s a beautiful thing to see so many volunteers from our church and others come together to demonstrate God’s love in a real and practical way. As people who have experienced God’s love toward us, through Jesus, it only makes sense for us to extend that love to those in our community. It’s a joy and an honor to celebrate with all of our honored guests. It really is an unforgettable night.” Events for the night include a limo ride for participants, food, music and more.
Registration is now open for the event for both guests and volunteers. If you or someone you know is interested in attending the event as a guest, there’s a registration link at encounterlifechurch.org. Similarly, if you’re interested in volunteering for this year’s event, you will also find a link on the site. For more information, you can visit encounterlifechurch.org or https://www.facebook.com/events/565975510415864/.
2/1/18 — Timothy James McMillan
Timothy James McMillan of Tullahoma, passed this life on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at the age of 30 years. Memorial Services are scheduled for Thursday, February 1, 1018 at 5 PM at Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home. The family will receive visitors beginning at 4 PM.
Mr. McMillan, a native of St. Petersburg, FL, he was the son of the late Scott McMillan and Carrie Steedley McMillan of St. Petersburg, FL. He enjoyed playing video games, hiking and rebuilding model airplanes. He was a good friend and would help anyone.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by grandmother, Karen Zukosky of Tullahoma; great grandmother, Daisy Robinette of Tullahoma; sisters, Chrystal McMillan of Tullahoma and Pamela Holt and her husband, David of Tullahoma; nieces, Sophie, Sherry and Abby; nephew, Joe; “father figure”, Robert “PopPop” Alexander of Normandy and many close relatives and good friends.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
2/3/18 — Judith “Jude” E. Perham
Judith “Jude” E Perham of Tullahoma, passed this life on Saturday, January 27, 2018 at her residence at the age of 77 years. Memorial Services are scheduled for Saturday, February 3, 2018 at 2 PM at the Life Change Church, 414 Wilson Avenue, Tullahoma, TN. 37388.
Mrs. Perham, a native of Grand Rapids, MI was the daughter of the late Richard Eugene and Dorothy Moore Wilson. She was an Administrative Assistant with Bissell Home Care Products. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Tullahoma where she sang in the choir. Mrs. Perham was a very crafty person who enjoyed painting, decorating cakes and building birdhouses. She also enjoyed writing and had an article published while living in Michigan concerning the building of her grandfather’s cabin. She also enjoyed gardening.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one daughter, Marijohn Elizabeth Perham and one sister, Susan Wilson.
Mrs. Perham is survived by her husband, John Perham of Tullahoma; two sons, Richard Sutterfield and his wife, Tracey of Otsego, MI and Vince Smith and his wife, LouAnn of Bell Buckle; one daughter, Kim McCaleb and her husband, Scott of Winfield, AL; eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
New Information for Parents of Children in Coffee County
The Coffee County Sheriff’s Department is continuing to tirelessly investigate a person(s) that is contacting several young children in the area. The person is sending very crude sexual and threating messages through various social media and online gaming sites. The person(s) has also sent lewd photos.
Parents please be aware that this has occurred to students at various schools in Coffee County.
Investigators are urging parents to suspend your child’s use of social media and online gaming sites until this problem is resolved. They are also asking parents to pay close attention to your child’s cellular phone especially text messages.
If you find anything that is questionable, please contact Coffee County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Kelly Smith at 931-570-4425 or email ksmith@coffeecountytn.org. Due to overwhelming responses by the public, please give Investigator Smith or another investigator time to respond. They will get back to you as quickly as possible.
Man that was Shot by a Tullahoma Officer Now Arrested for Attempted Murder and More
William Moon… Photo provided by the CCSD.
William Moon, 44, of East Moore Street, is being held in the Coffee County Jail under a bond of $1.1 million.
On Dec. 17 Tullahoma Police Cpl. Michael Wilder went to the 800 block of East Moore Street, near College Street, to serve an aggravated assault arrest warrant on Moon. Warrants allege that Moon “became combative” and produced a Taurus 9 mm handgun, pointing it directly at Wilder.
The two men scuffled, and shots were fired.
Moon was flown to Huntsville Hospital in Huntsville, Alabama for treatment of bullet wounds. He underwent surgery at the hospital. He was recently released from the hospital and was held in the Madison County Jail in Huntsville and then transported to the Coffee County Jail.
At the request of Coffee County District Attorney Craig Northcott, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation conducted an investigation of the incident, which found no wrongdoing by the officer.
Moon made a preliminary appearance in Coffee County General Sessions Court on Jan. 25
Tullahoma man facing Multiple Charges
A Tullahoma man had multiple charges filed against him after he was involved in a traffic accident and left the scene.
According to a report by Tullahoma Police Officer Michael Wilder, on Jan. 23 Houston Kane Smith of Jean Drive Tullahoma was charged with possession of schedule IV, schedule VI, leaving the scene of an accident, evading arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia and manufacture/sell/delivery of a controlled substance.
According to the officer’s report, an accident was reported at 131 Silver Street. Callers said that a vehicle struck a utility pole and left the scene. The vehicle was described as being a silver van was located at an apartment building on Silver Street. When the officer arrived, the apartment manager informed him which apartment the driver entered. He went to the apartment and the resident said that he was in the apartment. Smith was found in the bathroom with the shower curtain wrapped around him.
Wilder’s report states that he saw in plain view a Xanax bar on the bathroom sink along with marijuana. Also, there were lines on the sink where Smith allegedly admitted to crushing up the pills and “snorting.”
As Wilder was escorting Smith out he asked if there was a weapon in the apartment, because he had seen several bullets in the bedroom. Smith allegedly pointed to a rifle in a corner of the living room.
Wilder asked for permission to search the apartment, but the resident refused, so he contacted the investigators for help in obtaining a search warrant. He transferred Smith the Coffee County Jail. Investigator Lt. Jason Ferrell and Investigator Tyler Hatfield obtained a search warrant and the apartment was searched.
Officers allegedly found marijuana inside the tank of the toilet during the search. They also found digital scales that allegedly had marijuana residue on it.
He is being held in the Coffee County Jail under a bond of $31,500 and is set to appear in Coffee County General Session Court March 1.
Woman Files Federal Suit against Moore County and Former Jail Correctional Officer
A federal lawsuit contends a Tennessee jail guard impregnated an inmate after repeatedly raping her.
The Tennessean reports the lawsuit filed Wednesday accuses former Moore County Jail correctional officer Caleb Shane Hopkins of forcing Jessica Fowler to engage in nonconsensual sex for four months in 2017.
Fowler, who is still in jail and has given birth, is suing Hopkins for $1 million and the county for $300,000.
Fowler’s attorney Ben Raybin says Hopkins pleaded guilty last November to two counts each of sexual contact with an inmate by a law enforcement officer and official misconduct.
Raybin questions why the assaults happened so often in a supposedly monitored environment.
Hopkin’s attorney Mark Stewart says Hopkins was unaware of the lawsuit and declined to comment.
The child is with Fowler’s parents.
CCMS Lady Raiders Claim Conference Title on Saturday Night
CTC champion Lady Raiders of Coffee County Middle School. [Photo by Angela Payne – Manchester Times]
The Lady Raiders jumped out to a 16 to 4 lead in the 1st quarter to effectively take North out of contention early. The Lady Raider defense was able to force the Lady Gators into turnovers as they built the lead to 13 at the half and 16 entering the 4th quarter. The Lady Raiders were 13 of 16 at the free throw line to hold off a late charge by North to run their record to 19 and 3 on the year.
Marley Perry poured in 33 points on the night in perhaps the most incredible performance of her career. Kiya Ferrell added 9 points while Aly Harris finished with 5 points and Alyssa McClanahan and Alivia Reel each chipped in 4 points. Following the tournament, Perry, Ferrell, Harris and McClanahan were named to the All-Conference team. For the Red Raiders, Connor Shemwell and Aiden Abellana also were selected for the All-Conference team.
Both Raider teams will now advance to the sub-sectional on Monday night. The Lady Raiders will host Whitworth-Buchanan at 5 PM. The Red Raiders travel to LaVergne Middle for a 5 PM game. Monday night’s winners will advance to the TMSAA state sectional tournament to be held in Shelbyville later this week.