Author's posts
Former Tullahoma High Assistant Band Director to be sentenced on Child Porn Charge
Martin Drew McFarlane jail intake photo.
Martin McFarlane was indicted on Aug. 22 for transportation of child pornography after allegations against him were presented to a federal grand jury in Chattanooga. The indictments came after agents from the FBI and investigators from the Tullahoma Police Department found what was described as child pornography on his computer at his residence. The federal agents received information that McFarlane was in possession of the child pornography. They seized his computer and other electronic devices.
While searching for the pornographic material police found what was described as a small amount of marijuana. He was arrested on state charges in connection with the marijuana. He appeared in Coffee County General Sessions Court and was found guilty. He was given a suspended 11-month 29-day sentence.
On Dec. 14 McFarlane appeared before U.S. Magistrate Christopher Steger and entered a plea of guilty to one of two counts of transportation of child pornography through the internet. The magistrate accepted the guilty plea and set March 26 as the sentencing date on the charge.
As part of McFarlane’s plea agreement, he was ordered to forfeit a Samsung Galaxy S6, Dell 8600 computer, Hewlett Packard Pavilion, Motorola Droid Razr and a ASUS transformer Prime Tablet. The federal prosecutors gave notice to the court that they intend to “dispose of the forfeited items.”
McFarlane is free on bond until his sentencing date.
U.S. Assistant Attorney James Brooks is prosecuting the case while Myrlene Marsa represents McFarlane.
Retired Lieutenant Colonel from Estill Springs heads to Federal Prison
On January 3, 2018, Mark Carlton Bryant, 66, of Estill Springs, Tennessee, was sentenced by the Honorable Judge Curtis L. Collier, Senior U.S. District Court Judge, to serve 51 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography. Additionally, Bryant was ordered to pay a $25,000 fine, $5,000 in restitution, and forfeit electronic equipment used in the commission of his crimes. Upon his release from prison, U.S. Probation will supervise him for five years.
Bryant, a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Air Force, previously pleaded guilty to a one-count information charging him with possession of child pornography.
U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Overbey said, “This case is a good example of local and federal agencies working together to protect children, our most vulnerable victims. The U.S. Attorney’s office will continue to prosecute aggressively individuals who choose to possess and distribute child pornography.”
Agencies involved in this investigation included the Winchester Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney James. T. Brooks represented the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Public Hearing on Love’s Travel Stop set for Tuesday
A public hearing will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday (Jan. 9, 2018) concerning a proposed zoning change to facilitate the construction of a Love’s Travel Stop and Country Store in Coffee County off I-24 near Exit 117.
The Coffee County Commission will vote on the zoning change during its regular meeting set for 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
The public hearing and meeting will be held at the Coffee County Administrative Plaza, 1329 McArthur St., Manchester.
Canadians Love Manchester
Expedia Canada Travel Blog recently surveyed one thousand Canadians and asked them which city they’d recommend their fellow travelers visit in the new year.
Using these answers as a baseline, Expedia Canada Travel Blog announced the 18 cities you need to visit in 2018, as chosen by Canadians.
#1 was Cape Breton, Nova Scotia in Canada, Hawaii was 5th and 7th was Tokyo Japan. Surprising even the survey takers Manchester, TN was 9th. Why? One word: Bonnaroo. Jamaica was 10th and a place many of us have visited, Gulf Shores, Al was 14th. In 18th was Toronto in Canada. For a complete list go to https://www.expedia.ca/travelblog/canadians-choose-top-18-cities-visit-2018/
Mayor Proposes Tullahoma Sports Council
The latest community initiative proposed by Tullahoma Mayor Lane Curlee and endorsed by the aldermen is the Tullahoma Sports Council. Mayor Curlee has asked long-time resident, small business owner and local sports booster Jim Bratcher to chair this effort. Bratcher has called a meeting of all interested persons for Tuesday, January 9 at 5:30 at D.W. Wilson Community Center.
Jim Bratcher has been a participant, patron and promoter of Tullahoma sports for many years. Alderman Jerry Mathis will serve as the alderman liaison to the council.
Bratcher will propose a slate of nine Tullahoma citizens to serve as inaugural Tullahoma Sports Council members. It is anticipated the Board of Mayor and Aldermen will formally nominate and select the council members at their January 22nd board meeting. Those selected will serve staggered 2, 3, or 4 year terms.
All interested persons wishing to propose ideas or learn more about serving on the council are invited and encouraged to attend the January 9 meeting.
Contact the Tullahoma Sports Council at Tullahomasportscouncil@gmail.com.
CHS Basketball Claws to a Friday Sweep over Lincoln County
Jacey Vaughn of CHS basketball
The Coffee County Raider and Lady Raider basketball teams returned to district play on Friday night at the Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gym. Coffee County welcomed Lincoln County to Manchester as both Raider teams looked to remain perfect in District 8AAA play. A big 2nd half lifted the Lady Raiders to a 47 to 31 win. The Red Raiders got a last second shot by Garrett Booth to claim a thrilling 55 to 53 win.
After struggling mightily in the first half, the Lady Raiders got a pair of 3 point baskets in the final 2 minutes of the 2nd quarter to take a 18 to 17 lead into the halftime break. In the second half, Coffee County opened up on a 13 to 3 run to seize control for the win.
Jacey Vaughn had 3 three point baskets and finished with 19 points to lead the Lady Raiders in scoring. Vaughn was also 9 of 10 at the free throw line in the second half to earn the Crazy Daisies Player of the Game award. Bella Vinson finished with 18 points while Ashley Starks chipped in 6. The win improves Coffee County to 15 and 1 on the year and 3 and 0 in District 8AAA.
Garrett Booth of CHS basketball[Photo by Demarco Moore – Manchester Times]
Coffee County was 4 of 11 at the free throw line in the 4th quarter as the visiting Falcons came close to pulling off the upset. Booth finished with a team high 16 points as he was named the Crazy Daisies Player of the Game. Grey Riddle had 11 points and DeAaron Rozier and Darius Rozier each netted 9 for the Raiders who improved to 10 and 4 overall and 3 and 0 in District 8AAA.
Coffee County will be back at home on Tuesday night when they welcome old rival Tullahoma to The Patch. The girls’ game will get underway at 6 PM and Thunder Radio will bring you all the action beginning with the Char-El Apartments and Home Rental Pregame Show at 5:50 PM.
Download the game broadcasts at: http://www.thunder1320.com/downloads/
CHS Wrestlers Battle in Saturday Invitational Tournament
The Coffee County CHS wrestling team traveled to Smyrna on Saturday to compete in the Red Hawk Rampage. The tournament, hosted by Stewarts Creek, was an individual format as each wrestler could earn team points. Coffee County finished 14th in the team standings on the day out of a field of 17 teams and did not have an individual medalist.
Individual Results (with weight class):
Hunter Massey(106) – Record of 1 win and 2 losses – 3 team points
Mary Wolfrum(113) – Record of 1 win and 2 losses – 6 team points
Mary Anne Walker(120) – Record of 0 win and 2 losses – 0 team points
Braeden Massicote(132) – Record of 0 win and 2 losses – 0 team points
Evan Jaynes(138) – Record of 1 win and 2 losses – 4 team points
Noah O’Shields(160) – Record of 0 win and 2 losses – 0 team points
Andrew Lawson(170) – Record of 1 win and 2 losses – 2 team points
Reynaldo Reyes(182) – Record of 1 win and 2 losses – 3 team points
Nicolas Martinez(195) – Record of 0 win and 2 losses – 0 team points
Christopher Speegle(220) – Record of 2 wins and 2 losses – 4 team points
Tyler Loren(285) – Record of 0 win and 2 losses – 0 team points
The Raider grapplers return to the Raider Academy on Tuesday night home a tri-match. Coffee County will welcome Blackman and Lawrence County to “The Dojo” with the matches getting underway at 6 PM.
Titans Rally to Beat Chiefs 22-21 in Playoffs
by Jim Wyatt – TitansOnline.com
OK, it was no Music City Miracle.
But after Saturday’s emotional comeback win over the Chiefs, the Titans at least partied like it was 1999.
“This is probably the happiest I’ve been,” Titans tight end Delanie Walker said after the team’s 22-21 win. “It’s us against the world here – no one believes in us, and they always count us out. They didn’t think we could get the job done, and look what happened.
“Don’t count the Titans out, man. We have been grinding all year. This just shows we can play anybody.”
It was a heck of an ending on Saturday for the Titans, who rallied for an improbable victory here against the Chiefs in the AFC Wild Card round.
The Titans scored 19 straight points to end it, shocking fans at Arrowhead Stadium. And, perhaps, across the NFL.
It was the franchise’s first playoff win since the 2003 season – a January 2004 win at Baltimore.
“This is the biggest game my NFL career, winning a playoff game being down 18 with the season on the line,” linebacker Brian Orakpo said. “It’s unbelievable. I don’t know about magic and all that other stuff, but we just don’t quit. We have a lot of grit.
“We are a bunch of underrated savages.”
Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota completed 19-of-31 passes for 205 yards in the contest, with two touchdowns and an interception. He made a key block, and he even caught a touchdown.
Yes, he caught a touchdown – but more on that later.
“I just said that he can pass, he can run, and he can block. He can do it all,” Titans running back Derrick Henry said. “He caught the ball, too. It was a great job by him and I appreciate him. The whole offense is clicking. Everybody being where they’re supposed to be, everybody just doing extra stuff like Marcus making that block to seal the game. I just wanted to get a first down so we could get out of here with a win.”
Henry, of course, had a huge day himself. He ran for 156 yards on 23 carries, and he scored a big fourth quarter touchdown.
And on this day, the defense stiffened up with the game on the line, even when things didn’t look good early.
“Guys didn’t blink an eye,” Mariota said. “I think through this entire season, the ups, the downs, the energy it doesn’t change. You have to give a lot of credit to the guys. Got to give a lot of credit to the locker room for just continuing to believe. These situations are going to continue to prepare us for what’s ahead and again, it’s a fun locker room and a special place to play.”
The Titans trailed 21-3 at halftime before rallying.
The Tians cut the lead to 21-10 midway through the third quarter on a bizarre play – a six-yard touchdown pass from Mariota, to Mariota. It came on third-and-goal, when Mariota, rolling to his left, threw a ball that was batted back in his direction by Chiefs cornerback Darrelle Revis. Mariota caught the pass, and then dove into the end zone for a touchdown.
After Titans return man Adoree’ Jackson muffed a punt, Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker missed a 48-yard field goal, and the game remained 21-10 with 2:25 left in the third quarter.
The Titans trimmed the lead to 21-16 on the 35-yard touchdown run by Henry, who took a handoff from Mariota and busted up the middle and raced into the end zone with 14:08 left. The ensuing two-point try failed, however.
The Titans then took 22-21 the lead on a 22-yard touchdown pass from Mariota to receiver Eric Decker with 6:06 left.
In the end, the defense got a stop on a big fourth down break up by safety Johnathan Cyprien, and the Titans were able to run out the clock with Henry, who picked up a crucial block from Mariota on third-and-10 in the final minutes. The play went for 22 yards, and the celebration began.
“That is the team we have. That does not surprise me and I don’t think you guys believe me when I say that they come in the locker room and there is a look that we are going to come back and win the game,” Titans coach Mike Mularkey said. “But there is. It is on the sideline and it has been. It always has. It is this team. I wish you guys would give them a little credit for it. They stick together and they got each other’s backs and they always have and came through today when we really needed it.”
The Titans will face either the Patriots or the Steelers next week.
There’s work to be done in the playoffs, of course, but these Titans have turned things up a few notches.
“After this weekend, to be one of eight teams left,” tackle Taylor Lewan said. “Four years ago in my rookie year we were 2-14, and after that we were 3-13. It is pretty awesome.”
Austin Watson’s 2 Goals Key Predators’ 4-3 Win over LA Kings
Austin Watson scored two goals, P.K. Subban added two assists and the Nashville Predators sent the Los Angeles Kings to their first regulation loss at home since mid-November, 4-3 Saturday night.
Roman Josi and Scott Hartnell scored early goals and Pekka Rinne made 26 saves for the Predators, who wrapped up a three-game West Coast road trip with their first win.
Adrian Kempe, Trevor Lewis and Tyler Toffoli scored for the Kings, who lost their second straight. Los Angeles is 5-5-2 over the last month, falling out of first place in the Pacific Division.
Watson beat Jonathan Quick late in the second period for his first goal since Nov. 28, and he followed it up with the eventual game-winner early in the third.
The grinding forward recorded his first multi-goal game since last May in the Western Conference finals clincher against Anaheim. Watson has already matched his career high for a season with five goals in 39 games — the same number that he scored in 77 games last season.
Quick stopped 16 shots.
Nashville scored four goals in a game for the first time since Dec. 19. The defending Western Conference champions played their third straight game without leading scorer Filip Forsberg, who could be out for six weeks with an upper-body injury.
Subban produced his latest strong game while playing more than 26 minutes. He has 13 points in the Predators’ last 12 games.
Los Angeles hadn’t lost in regulation at home since Nov. 22 against Winnipeg, the day before Thanksgiving. The Kings produced a strong third period and repeatedly threatened Rinne, but failed to score after Toffoli’s power-play goal with 11:36 to play.
NOTES: One night earlier, Subban attended the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against Charlotte at Staples Center as a guest of Lakers owner Jeanie Buss. … Before the game, Los Angeles activated D Christian Folin from injured reserve and put D Jake Muzzin on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 4. Folin played for the first time since Dec. 18. … Nashville’s Ryan Johansen won nine of his 12 faceoffs.
UP NEXT
Predators: Host the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday.
Pete Weber’s Post Game Report
1/9/18 — Jerry Leon Allison
Mr. Jerry Leon Allison, 75, passed away, Friday January 5,
2018 at the Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro. He was born
in Manchester, Tennessee on June 17, 1942.
He was retired from Batesville Casket Company.
He was preceded in death by his mother and step father, Cordelia Sain
Ramsey and Elbert Ramsey; father and step-mother, Harley B. and Marion
Allison; sister, Elizabeth Davis.
He is survived by his daughter, Sherry Ann (L.V.) Shockley, Morrison, TN;
son, Craig (Ann) Allison, McMinnville, TN; step-brothers, Ron (Fay) Gilmer,
Franklin, TN and Jimmy Gilmer of Mississipi; mother of his children, Dot
Allison, Manchester, Tennessee; grandchildren, Jennifer Shockley, Miranda
Allison, Stephanie Lowrey and Harleigh Allison; 6 great grandchildren;
several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 1:00 PM Tuesday in the funeral home chapel with
Minister Tony Ferrell officiating with burial to follow in the Asbury
Methodist Cemetery. Visitation: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM Monday at Central
Funeral
Home, Manchester, Tennessee. www.centralfuneralhome.com