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Manchester woman charged with child, animal abuse after ‘deplorable’ living conditions found
A Manchester woman is behind bars and facing multiple charges that include abuse of children, animals and a vulnerable adult.
Grundy County Sheriff’s Department states that Sara Ann Montgomery, age 43, of Manchester, was arrested after she allegedly abandoned a 21-year old man with “physical and mental vulnerabilities.”
Deputies were called to the Palmer library where the man had allegedly been dropped.
Deputies then visited the home where Montgomery had been renting and found what they describe to be deplorable living conditions with neglected and abused animals.
Further investigation found that Montgomery also had three other children living in these conditions.
She has been charged with three counts of child abuse neglect, abuse of a vulnerable adult and 16 counts of animal cruelty.
The children have been put into protective custody. The animals have been taken for treatment and rehoming.
TN Committee advances bill that identifies convicted human traffickers
Republican legislation that would make it easier for law enforcement to identify individuals convicted of human trafficking advanced out of the Tennessee House Transportation Committee last week.
House Bill 2573 would require a person convicted of human trafficking to obtain a driver’s license or photo identification license that includes a designation on it that would enable authorities to identify their conviction.
State Rep. Clay Doggett, R-Pulaski, told members of the subcommittee on Tuesday that the bill gives law enforcement the opportunity to ask additional questions and further investigate in situations such as traffic stops.
Tennessee laws define human trafficking as the sale of an adult for the purposes of commercial sex by means of force, fraud or coercion, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s (TBI) ITHasToStop outreach campaign. Any commercial sex act involving the sale of a child for the purposes of commercial sex is also considered human trafficking, regardless of the use of force, fraud or coercion.
Additional human trafficking information:
- Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing criminal industries in the world, just behind drug trafficking.
- There are an estimated 27 million people worldwide currently enslaved by traffickers.
- Every year, more than 1.2 million children are trafficked for the purpose of being sold for sex.
- In Tennessee, an average of 85 minors are trafficked every month.
- The average age of entry into sex trafficking is 15 years old.
- Anyone who believes they may have witnessed trafficking or encountered a victim of trafficking should contact the Tennessee Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-855-55-TNHTH.
House Bill 2573 now moves on to the House Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee for consideration. More information about the legislation can be found here.
Tennessee State Parks gear up for spring hikes
Tennessee State Parks have scheduled guided Spring Hikes throughout the state for park visitors who want to put winter behind and enjoy the outdoors. Most of the hikes are scheduled Saturday, March 19.
Old Stone Fort park ranger Eric Collins will host a spring hike. Those wishing to go can meet at the top of the museum. The hike will be from 3-4:30 p.m. For questions, contact Collins at eric.l.collins@tn.gov.
Tims Ford State Park will also have a spring hike with ranger Mark Matzkiw from 9-11 a.m. For more information, contact Matzkiw at mark.matzkiw@tn.gov.
A full schedule of the hikes at specific parks is available at this link<https://tnstateparks.com/about/special-events/spring-hikes/>.
“We know how eager our parks visitors may be to explore the parks when the weather gets warm, and these popular hikes are a great option,” Jim Bryson, deputy commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, said. “We have outstanding guides for each hike. Everyone will have a great experience.”
The hikes range from short trail walks to more adventurous all-day excursions. Guides will speak along the way to the natural, cultural and historical aspects of the surroundings.
The hikes offer a variety of choices. Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park, for example, features a hike along the historic Ocoee River. Big Ridge State Park will take hikers on the Ghost House Trail, where haunting tales of former residents are told, appropriate for ages 8 and above. Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park will hold a Spring Water Hike, where the group departs by kayak from Eva Beach, and kayaks will be provided. At Fort Pillow State Historic Park, park staff will guide a stroll along the Blue Trail atop the first Chickasaw Bluff, with discussions of Fort Pillow and the bluff during the Civil War.
Hikers are encouraged to wear appropriate footwear, dress for the weather and bring water.
The Spring Hikes are the second of the parks’ annual Signature Hikes, which began with the First Day Hike on Jan. 1, and will be followed by National Trails Day Hikes on June 4 and After-Thanksgiving Hikes on Nov. 25.
Park visitors are also invited to donate or volunteer at a park to help provide quality programs and services, such as new trails, care for birds of prey, and playground equipment. Donations are accepted online at this link<https://reserve.tnstateparks.com/donate>.
RED RAIDERS ARE STATE BOUND!
Hollywood scrips are rarely written better.
The last time Coffee County Central basketball went to the TSSAA state basketball tournament was in 1965 – Allan Taylor played on that team.
Now Taylor’s son – Red Raider head coach Andrew Taylor – has led the Raiders back to another one.
Coffee County jumped in front of Stewarts Creek 6-0 early and led wire to wire in front of a packed Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gymnasium Monday night in Manchester, going on to a 57-50 win in the TSSAA State Sectional.
Coffee County now advances to next week’s TSSAA State Boys Tournament in Murfreesboro – down to the elite 8 in Tennessee.
“These guys have earned this,” said Coffee County head coach Andrew Taylor.
The Raiders improve to 24-9 on the season with the win over Stewarts Creek Tuesday. They will draw Dobyns Bennett (30-6 overall) in the opening round of the state tournament. That game will be played at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 16 at MTSU’s Murphy Center. The tournament is single elimination.
Stewarts Creek is eliminated from the postseason with the loss.
Monday night in Manchester, Coffee County controlled the game from the tip. The Raiders smothered the Red Hawks with defense, taking an 18-12 lead into the locker room.
Coffee County flirted with blowing Stewarts Creek out in the third quarter, pulling ahead 35-18. But the Red Hawks hit an 8-0 run to close the quarter and keep things interesting.
Big shots in big situations closed the win for the Raiders.
Junior Raider Dayne Crosslin buried a 3 with 1:30 to play after the Red Hawks had cut the deficit to 7. Connor Shemwell all but iced the game with 56 seconds left on a hook shot in the paint to push the CHS back up to 10. Shemwell led all scorers with 19 points and was named Stone Fort Mortgage Player of the game. He also turned in 8 rebounds – nearing a double-double.
Crosslin had 11 and Aidan Abellana with 9 big points, including a 3 pointer.
Senior Phineas Rollman led all players with 9 rebounds and had 6 assists to go along with 3 points.
Andrew Taylor 
Jaxon Vaughn 
Dayne Crosslin 
John Dobson 
Connor Shemwell 
Phineas Rollman
Birthdays- March 7
Birthdays:
Chad Dyer- Pizza Winner!
Anniversaries:
Roy & Barbara Treammell
Birthdays- March 6
Allison Chumley
Mike Niederhauser- Pizza Winner!
Birthdays- March 5
Birthdays:
Joe Roybal- 63- Pizza Winner!
Dennis Womeck- 61
Anniversaries:
Josh & Kim Schuster
Brenda Jo Riddle
Ms. Brenda Jo Riddle, age 76 years, 11 months, and 1 day, was born on March
30, 1945, in Manchester, TN, to the late Joe Dillard “J.D” and Jo Nell
Crawford Riddle. She was the owner/operator of Interstate Liquors in
Manchester. Brenda enjoyed playing cards, taking trips with family and
friends, cooking for her family, and her flowers, especially her tulips.
In addition to her parents, Brenda is preceded in death by her brother,
Rodney N. Riddle, and brother-in-law, Mark Lundquist. She is survived by
her son, Jeffery D. Ridner; daughter, Tammy Harrington and her husband,
Richard; grandson, Nolan Ridner and his mother, Lindsay; brother, James D.
Riddle and his wife, Pam; sisters Janice Riddle, and Lee Ann Riddle
Lundquist; sister-in-law, Pam Riddle; special grand-dogs, Shelby and Bella;
several cousins, nieces, nephews, and extended family members, and a host
of friends.
*A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 12, 2022, at
Manchester Funeral Home from 1 – 4 PM.*
Brenda’s family would like to extend a special thanks to the nurses and
staff of Alive Hospice for the excellent care they gave to their mother.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to: Alive Hospice & St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in memory of Brenda.
Manchester Funeral Home is honored to serve the Riddle family.
Online condolences and memories can be shared at www.manchesterfuneralhome.com
Paul Daniel Dotson
Mr. Paul Daniel Dotson, age 78, of Manchester, TN,
passed from this life on Thursday, March 3, 2022, in Manchester, TN.
Mr. Dotson was born in Nashville, TN to his late parents Leslie James
Dotson and Mary Margaret Stratton Dotson. He was a veteran of the United
States Army. In addition to his parents, we was preceded in death by wife,
Nina Dotson and brothers, James Dotson and William Dotson.
Mr. Dotson is survived by siblings, Eugene Dotson, Shirley McCoy, Bobby
Dotson, Wilma Perry and Wanda Holland, all residents of Tennessee.
A graveside service with military honors will be held on Wednesday, March
9, 2022, at 1:00pm at the Chattanooga National Cemetery in Chattanooga, TN.
Interment will follow military honors.
Central Funeral Home is honored to serve the family, 931-723-7774,
centralfuneralhome.com
Two killed in Sunday evening crash in Coffee County
Two people were killed in a three-vehicle crash on Wattendorf Memorial Highway near Grady Finney Rd in Coffee County Sunday evening.
According to a report from Tennessee Highway Patrol provided to Thunder Radio, at approximately 6:45 p.m. Sunday, March 6, 2022, James Shaw was driving a 2016 Dodge Ram pickup truck northbound on AEDC Rd. when his vehicle struck the rear of a 2009 Honda Odyssey, driven by James Pha of Murfreesboro. At this time, Shaw’s Dodge truck swerved into the opposite lane and struck a 2011 Chevrolet HHR, operated by Dorothy Scott, head on.
Shaw, age 62 of Estill Springs, and Scott, 68 of Hillsboro, were both pronounced deceased. A passenger in Shaw’s truck – Jheri Taylor, age 36 of Hillsboro – was injured in the crash.
Pha, age 56, of Murfreesboro, reported no injuries according to THP.