Josh Peterson

The Tennessee Region of the American Red Cross is pleased to announce that Laura Vaughn has been named development director with the Fund Development Department of the American Red Cross of the Tennessee Region. The Tennessee Region serves 95 counties in Tennessee along with Crittenden County in Arkansas and Desoto and Tunica counties in Mississippi. 

Vaughn, the most recent executive director for the Mid-South Chapter of the Red Cross, has made numerous and significant accomplishments during her tenure as a director. In early 2013, Vaughn was charged with finding a new location and building a new chapter office in Memphis. She received her largest commitment of $1 million for the facility in May of 2014 and continued to fund and complete the current Madison Avenue facility.

During her tenure, she secured two new national partners for the Red Cross, created the “Join the 1,000” campaign, consistently achieved all goals and increased local visibility of the mission for the organization.

Laura also has been part of nine disaster recovery operations locally and within the Southeast and Caribbean Division while earning a master’s degree in Public Administration and Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Memphis.

“We are thrilled to have Laura continue her career with the Red Cross in this senior leadership roll in Tennessee,” said Joel Sullivan, Regional Executive for the Tennessee Region. “Her drive for service has transformed the organization and we are always impressed with her leadership skills. We are looking forward to more success for Laura as she continues in her new career.”

Vaughn will be taking an active role in bringing on a new executive director for the Mid-South chapter and will retain an office in the Memphis office. “We are so grateful for her leadership and vision and we look forward to watching her bring the passion she has always shown for the Red Cross lines of service to her new role,” said Greg King, Chief Operations Officer for the Tennessee Region.  

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

Lambda Legal, Tennessee Equality Project and Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center of Rutherford County, on Tuesday  filed a formal complaint with the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility, calling for the investigation and disbarment of Coffee County District Attorney Craig Northcott following Northcott’s public statements that he does not file domestic assault charges if the violence occurred between same-sex spouses, does not recognize “homosexual marriage,” and would not prosecute Tennessee county clerks who deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.

“Coffee County DA Craig Northcott has denied the validity of same-sex marriages and the equal protection of the law to LGBT people. Such conduct violates ethics rules protecting citizens from bias and has no place within the very office designated to enforce the law of the land. Keeping DA Northcott in office will have a chilling effect on the willingness of LGBT people to seek justice and protection.” said Ethan Rice, senior attorney for the Fair Courts Project at Lambda Legal. “District Attorney Northcott’s public comments revealed not only a bias against LGBT people but that he has made discriminatory charging decisions against an entire class of people and intends to continue to do so.”

“LGBTQ people experiencing domestic violence are among the most vulnerable populations in Tennessee. Prosecutors have a duty to treat their cases with the same gravity as all other cases. Discrimination in prosecution endangers our community and erodes the public trust in the criminal justice system.  We join Lambda Legal’s complaint out of a solemn obligation to the LGBTQ community in Coffee County and a hope for equal protection of the laws.” said Christopher K. Sanders, executive director of Tennessee Equality Project and Tennessee Equality Project Foundation.

Thunder Radio News reached out to Northcott for comment on this story, but he said that he cannot comment at this time.

DA Northcott’s comments may deter LGBT people from reporting domestic assault, hate crimes, or other violence against them and create a substantial obstacle to accessing the criminal legal system. In Tennessee, this is of grave concern, as the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations (TBI) reported that in 2018 it had received 1,424 reports of domestic violence occurring within same-sex relationships. In addition, according to TBI’s 2018 Tennessee Hate Crime Report, 21.9% of all hate crimes last year were motivated by sexual bias, which includes crimes against LGBT and gender nonconforming people. Tennessee is home to approximately 130,000 LGBT adults according to a report from the Williams Institute, nearly 25% of whom are people of color.

The complaint filed today arises from public statements Northcott made on March 13, 2018 at the Chafer Theological Seminary Bible Conference during a presentation titled “The Local Church’s Role in Government.” During the presentation, Northcott stated that he charges defendants with simple assault when a domestic violence incident occurs within the marriage of a same-sex couple, rather than the charge of domestic assault that he files when the incident occurs in the marriage of a different-sex couple. Simple assault is a lesser charge with reduced punishment implications, so Northcott, with his actions, is stripping LGBT domestic assault victims of the protections afforded under the elevated charge of domestic assault. He justified his reasoning by arguing that domestic violence charges are to recognize and protect the “sanctity of marriage” but “there’s no marriage to protect” when it comes to same-sex marriages. In Tennessee, marriage is only one of the many relationship types that can qualify an assault as a domestic assault.

“We understand ‘domestic’ is not confined to marital status and feel it is important to advocate for all victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking regardless of race, color, national origin, religion (including religious belief), sex, gender identity (including gender expression/gender identity), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status or socio economic status.” said Karen Lampert, executive director of Tennessee-based organization Domestic Violence Program & Sexual Assault Services. “Denying, limiting or disbelieving a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking further empowers an abuser, increases danger of lethality and perpetuates a societal crime that can be prevented.” Lampert added.

Additionally, Northcott stated as part of his presentation that he would decline to prosecute county clerks who deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Northcott stated his “advice” to the clerk would be to not “succumb” to the rule of law, and to “stand on God’s truth,” explaining that a clerk should deny the couple a marriage license regardless of the potential repercussions or professional reprimand. Furthermore, he implied that he would encourage such clerks to neglect their professional duties stating that he would “pat [the clerk] on the back, give [the clerk] hugs” instead of holding them accountable to the law.

The complaint filed today argues that Northcott violated Rule 8.4(d) of the Tennessee Rules of Professional Responsibility by engaging in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice, as well Rule 3.8 Comment [1] regarding the special responsibility of prosecutors to seek justice and make charging decisions free from discrimination or bias.

Read the formal complaint filed today with the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility: https://www.lambdalegal.org/in-court/legal-docs/tn_northcott_20190827_letter-of-complaint

A group called backgroundchecks.org has released its rankings for safest cities to live in Tennessee. 

The group says it uses FBI crime statistics to create state rankings, filtering out cities with populations of less than 1,000, and also calculated in violent crime rates and property crime rates by diving the crime numbers by the population. The group also calculated the ratio of law enforcement workers per 1,000. 

In Tennessee, the group scored Germantown Tennessee as the safest city for 2019. Collierville ranked second, Brentwood third. 

In the more immediate area, McMinnville ranked 27th, Murfreesboro 30th, Tullahoma 33rd, Shelbyville 39th and Manchester 40th. Larger cities ranked near the bottom, with Memphis scored as the most unsafe city in the state. Chattanooga ranked 50th. 

There were only 53 cities listed in the scoring system. See the full report by clicking here. 

The Tennessee Department of Transportation will halt all lane closure activity on interstates and state highways for the Labor Day holiday travel period.  Construction crews will stop all lane closure activity beginning at noon on Friday, August 30 through 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 3.  This will provide maximum roadway capacity for motorists traveling during the busy Labor Day holiday.

“The labor day holiday is a busy travel time,” said TDOT Commissioner Clay Bright. “We want to ensure that the thousands of travelers using Tennessee’s roadways during this period arrive at their destinations quickly and safely without being impeded by road construction delays.”

While lane closure activity will be stopped, workers will still be on site in many construction zones, and drivers are urged to obey posted speed limits.  Drivers convicted of speeding in work zones where workers are present face a fine of $250 to $500, plus court fees and possible increased insurance premiums.

The new “Hands Free Tennessee” law, which requires drivers to put down their phones and focus on the road, includes a $200 fine if the violation occurs in a work zone while workers are present.

If you are interested in becoming a substitute teacher in the Coffee County School System, there will be orientation from 8:30 until 11:30 a.m. this Friday, August 30th. Pay is $75 per day for certified teachers and $60 per day for non-certified. Orientation is at the Coffee County Board of Education at 1343 McArthur St. Fill out an application online at www.coffeecountyschools.com

The Tennessee Department of Commerce is alerting consumers about a national insurance scam targeting consumers shopping for privately funded loans, likely for real estate. Consumers in multiple states (including Tennessee) have been victimized by this scam.

The perpetrators allegedly contact consumers who have inquired online about securing a loan, using the name Val Taylor/Val Taylor Investments (this person is also a victim).
The perpetrators then tell the consumer they can arrange the loan, but the borrower must first purchase a “Loan Payment Protection Insurance” policy that will pay the loan, in the event the borrower is unable to make payments and avoid default.

To appear legitimate, the scammers provide a certificate of insurance that appears to be issued by the California Department of Insurance, includes the Great Seal of the State of CA and bears the name of the borrower. (We’ve attached a copy to this post.) The certificate is FRAUDULENT. The California Department of Insurance is a state regulatory agency and DOES NOT issue insurance certificates, but rather regulates the insurance industry.

If you have been contacted by anyone offering to loan you money and require you to purchase a loan guarantee policy DO NOT SEND THEM MONEY OR PROVIDE ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION. If you suspect you are the victim of these scammers, please contact the California Department of Insurance Consumer Services Division toll-free at 800-927-4357 or contact the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance at (800) 863-9117.

Gas prices continue to fall across the state and average prices in Coffee County also continue to fall. 

The average price across Tennessee for a gallon of regular unleaded gas is $2.29, 30 cents below the national average of $2.59. More importantly to local consumers, that average in Tennessee is 19 cents lower than it was this time just last month, and 30 cents cheaper than a year ago. As of midday Monday, the lowest price reported in Coffee County was 2.17 per gallon, which is 12 cents better than the state average, and 42 cents lower than the national average.

Unemployment numbers in Coffee County remain low, but are up slightly from the prior month. 

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development released county by county unemployment numbers last week. Those statistics show that unemployment in Coffee County is 4.1 for July of 2019. Those numbers are slightly higher than the 3.8 in June of this year. Out of Tennessee’s 95 counties, 44 counties have unemployment rates below 5 percent. The lowest rates across the state for July were in Williamson and Davidson County, each at 3.2 percent. Sevier County, Cheatham County and Rutherford County rounded out the top 5, all with rates of 3.4 percent or better. The highest unemployment in Tennessee is in Hancock County, at 8.2 percent. 

The Manchester Parks and Recreation Department held a ceremony Thursday afternoon to bring awareness to human trafficking. It is estimated that 36 million people are victims of human trafficking across the globe. After a brief speech from parks director Bonnie Gamble and Coffee County Sheriff Chad Partin, those in attendance spread cups of red sand through cracks in the sidewalk outside of the complex, symbolizing to not let victims of human trafficking fall through the cracks.

Duane Conklin spreads red sand in the sidewalk cracks outside of the Manchester Parks & Recreation Center Thursday, Aug. 22. The sand is a symbol to not allow victims of human trafficking to fall through the cracks.

According to the TBI, in the United States, a child is bought or sold for sex every two minutes. The average age of a child sold for sex is 13 years old and human trafficking is the second fastest growing criminal industry, just behind drug trafficking. If you suspect someone is a victim of human trafficking, call the Tennessee Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-855-55-tnhtn.

Below is a survivor story of human trafficking provided by the TBI. Be aware that some of those details may be disturbing. 

Survivor Stories: Carrie

NOTE: This survivor’s story is featured in a 2011 TBI research study, detailing the nature of human trafficking in Tennessee. The stories are frank and may feature descriptions and language some may find offensive. Still, they’re included in the research studies to describe scenarios occurring across our state. Read more about this research project online: http://tn.gov/assets/entities/tbi/attachments/2011%20Tennessee%20Human%20Sex%20Trafficking%20and%20its%20Impact%20on%20Children%20and%20Youth.pdf.

Carrie was born one of eight siblings to a single mother in a county in southern Middle Tennessee. Her name and exact hometown have been obscured to protect her privacy. Carrie told her story brokenly and with frequent tears, even though her life and story began decades ago.

Carrie’s mother was an alcoholic and very violent. Carrie described severe physical, mental and emotional abuse at the hands of her mother beginning at the age of four. All of her siblings had different fathers, so some were treated better than others. Carrie described her younger siblings getting new shoes every few months, but she did not. Her father was absent and she said her mother hated her grandmother, and she (Carrie) looked just like her. She blamed the absence of her father and her resemblance to her grandmother for the abuse. She was reluctant to blame her mother; instead, she blamed circumstances and the disease of alcoholism.

Carrie said one night when she was thirteen years old, her mother beat her severely and came after her with a butcher knife, cutting her on the arm. She left that night with a girlfriend and they “hitched” a ride with a truck driver to Nashville. Carrie said she and her girlfriend stayed in a house in North Nashville with a number of men and her first sexual experiences were in that house. When asked to describe this, she replied, “…they pulled trains on us.” It was what was expected for her room and board. Carrie said her girlfriend didn’t stay long, calling her family to come get her. Carrie stayed for more than a week before calling her brother to come and get her.

When Carrie got home, her mother beat her so badly, that she, “almost killed me.” Carrie immediately left again and hitched her way back to Nashville. She said the men in that house where she had been were tired of her, so she had to move on. Carrie said she went to the sister of a friend, where she stayed for several weeks. She went to nightclubs around Jo Johnston Avenue (North Nashville) at night and met a man named Johnny, with whom she would start a relationship.

Carrie said Johnny would take her out and very quickly moved them into a motel room, where she lived with him for a few weeks. She said he would buy her things, gave her alcohol, marijuana, and attention. She thought he loved her and she loved him. Carrie said this man was in his mid-20’s at the time. Carrie described a night where a woman came to the motel room door and told her that Johnny had been robbed and shot and she needed to come to the hospital. Carrie said that after he got out of the hospital, she, Johnny, and two other women left Nashville and drove to Washington D.C. It was there that Johnny told her that she would be expected to “work” for money to support him.

Carrie was required to make a minimum of $75 per day. She said she started on the corner of 14th street in D.C. Her first “trick” came at the hands of a woman. Carrie said an older woman approached her on the street and negotiated sex with a man for $40. She said the older woman took her to a residence where she was forced to have sex with both the woman and her husband. She said she was raped, “over and over and over” again for three days. Carrie said after three days, they gave her back her clothes and the woman took her and put her on a corner and told her that she worked for them now.

Carrie said that the woman negotiated a “trick” for her but insisted on accompanying her on the “date.” The “John” refused to allow the older woman to come. He turned out to be the police. Carrie said God was looking out for her that night. She said she was arrested and that Johnny came and picked her up. Carrie said the experience scared her so badly; she refused to go back to the street for a period of time. Johnny then introduced her to more hard core drugs, heroin, cocaine and others. Carrie said she could not tolerate the heroin, it just put her to sleep, and then she could not work. She said that she was probably too young for a drug like heroin. She was fourteen years old.

Carrie said she used drugs to medicate herself; she described being very afraid all the time. Johnny also became violent during this period. Carrie said he usually would heat metal hangers and burn her on the back with them. If a woman was lying on her back, you wouldn’t see the burns. They moved from D.C. to Norfolk Virginia, where she was expected to produce $200 per day. She said they also worked in Rhode Island, New York, Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington and other cities and states. Carrie described moving to another pimp once, but Johnny paid to get her back and then he beat her with butt of a shotgun and cracked her pelvis.

Carrie said sometimes she would get into a car or truck and she would cry to the John, tell them how young she was and that she didn’t want to do this. She said some would give her $20 and let her go. She said that there were two kinds: “flat backin’ hoes” and “thievin’ hoes.” She said one of the other women taught her how to be a “thievin’ hoe” by stealing or robbing her tricks. She said “thievin’” got her shot in the leg and thrown off of a bridge, but she survived.

By sixteen, she had her first child by Johnny. She left the child with family and went back on the road with him. By seventeen, she was so addicted to drugs that she said, “The dope man got all my money.” Carrie said by the age of eighteen, she was back in Nashville with no pimp and working on her own. She mostly worked the Dickerson Road and Trinity Lane area and gave all her money to drug dealers for cocaine and crack cocaine.

Carrie wanted people to know that she was raped dozens of times by police officers who would demand sex in exchange for not going to jail. Carrie said this happened in multiple cities during her years working the streets. She said she was as afraid of them as anybody else. Carrie said that many nights, she would have preferred to go to jail, she described being so tired. It was clear that despair was a frequent companion. It was also clear that Carrie received few if any offers for help along the way. She said, “Who wants to have sex with 15 or 20 men a day? It was a living fucking hell.”

The good news is Carrie found her way to Magdalene, a facility for women operated by women in Nashville. Carrie credits the help she got there with saving her life and changing her destiny. Carrie said when she started treatment for the last time, she was so angry. Carrie said she does not know how those women put up with her. She said they just kept hugging her and patting her back and they just nodded when she lashed out. “My destiny now is to have a positive life.” Despite several starts and stops, Carrie graduated from the two-year program two years ago. She said the more she talks about it, the more it loses its power over her and she hopes it helps somebody. When asked how and why, she said, “I just wanted any kind of attention… anywhere.”