Author's posts
Skeletal remains found in July have been identified
The skeletal remains discovered in Beech Grove on July 16 have been identified as Tracey Young, pictured at right. Young had been reported missing since June 2.
You may remember that we reported to you about skeletal remains being discovered near the Cole Ridge Rd. Area back on July 16th. Now those remains have been identified as Tracey Young, age 50.
Young had previously been reported missing since June 2nd.
Coffee County District Attorney General Craig Northcott told Thunder Radio News that the remains were identified by “familial DNA match.”
Connie Ray
Connie Ray, age 61, was arrested July 16 in connection with the case and charged with false reporting, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence and accessory after the fact. She remains in the Coffee County Jail on a $600,000 bond.
Skeletal remains were discovered near the Cole Ridge Rd. area at approximately 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16 and a joint investigation involving the TBI and Manchester Police Department was launched. At the time, Northcott stated that the state medical examiner’s office forensic team would help identify the remains.
Simmons pleads guilty after 2016 chase that killed one
We have an update to a story from June of 2016. You may remember that Garieon Simmons, of Decherd, stole a vehicle from Coffee County Funeral Chapel in 2016 and fled police from Manchester to Rutherford County. He later crashed in Murfreesboro, killing 28-year old Jennifer Campos.
Garieon Simmons… Photo provided
At the time Simmons was charged with first degree murder, aggravated vehicular assault, vehicular homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, theft of property, criminal impersonation, evading arrest, reckless endandgerment, driving on a revoked license, violation of probation and being a habitual motor vehicle offender.
On July 24 Simmons pleaded guilty to three of those charges in Rutherford County, pleading guilty to vehicular homicide driver intoxication, aggravated vehicular assault and reckless endangerment involving a deadly weapon. He was sentenced to 20 years at 30% for vehicular homicide, 5 years at 45 percent for reckless endangerment involving a deadly weapon. He has been in jail since the crash for the past three years in Rutherford County.
Woodbury couple cited after dog found in car with inside temps as hot as 134 degrees
Murfreesboro police cited a Woodbury couple for animal cruelty after they found a dog inside of a hot car earlier this week.
A Woodbury couple allegedly left their dog in their car at the South Rutherford Blvd. Walmart with the outside temperature 92 degrees. The responding officer paged for the couple over the intercom, when they did not respond, the officer made entry into the vehicle with a lock-out kit and removed the dog from he vehicle. The dog was placed inside of an air conditioned patrol car where it drank two bottles of water. Temperature reading devices read between 124 and 134 degrees inside the vehicle where the dog was.
Felony charges dropped against Chattanooga woman whose premature twins died with drugs in system
All felony charges have been dropped, including a charge of first degree murder, against a 29-year old Chattanooga woman who delivered twins early in a hospital on July 21. Tiffany Marie Roberts prematurely delivered and was charged with first degree murder, viable fetus as victim and aggravated child abuse or neglect.
She gave birth at 23 weeks pregnant and the babies died at TC Thompson Children’s Hospital. Doctors said Roberts tested positive for ecstasy on the day she gave birth and admitted to using the drug. Roberts also tested positive for drugs in her system on three dates during her checkups, including cocaine, oxycodone, roxicodone, methamphetamine and benzodiazepine. Both infants tested positive for narcotics, including cocaine, at the time of their birth.
BREAKING NEWS — Police identify skeletal remains discovered July 16
The skeletal remains discovered in Beech Grove on July 16 have been identified as Tracy Young, right. Young had been reported missing since June 2.
The human remains discovered in the Beech Grove area of Coffee County on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 have been identified as Tracey Young, age 50.
Young had previously been reported missing since June 2.
Connie Ray
Coffee County District Attorney General Craig Northcott told Thunder Radio News that the remains were identified by “familial DNA match.”
Connie Ray, age 61, was arrested July 16 in connection with the case and charged with false reporting, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence and accessory after the fact. She remains in the Coffee County Jail on a $600,000 bond.
Skeletal remains were discovered near the Cole Ridge Rd. area at approximately 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16 and a joint investigation involving the TBI and Manchester Police Department was launched. At the time, Northcott stated that the state medical examiner’s office forensic team would help identify the remains.
East Coffee Elementary has new principal
Coffee County Schools has announced a new principal at East Coffee Elementary School to start off the new school year – Erin Phillips will take over as principal at that school for departing Kelvin Shores.
Erin Phillips
You may remember we reported to you last week that Shores was named deputy director of the school system and would be performing duties of deputy director and principal while a replacement was named.
New director of Schools Dr. Charles Lawson annonced the hiring of Phillips late Tuesday afternoon. Phillips was a frequent visitor to Coffee County during her time as a “Read to be Ready” consultant for the Tennessee Department of Education. She has previously served as a teacher, consultant and assistant principal.
Coffee County Student Expo serves over 800 students
This past Saturday was the fifth annual Coffee County Student expo at Coffee County High School.
This year’s event served a record-breaking number of over 800 students. Most students received a backpack filled with school supplies, vouchers for new shoes, haircuts, commuity resources, personal hygiene and household items and many left with buggies full of free groceries.
Coordinator of family resources Taylor Rayfied said: “we express our sincerest gratitude to the Coffee County community for rising to the occasion putting the needs of children first. This event would not take place without your support.”
Pictured are some of the helpers for the 2019 Coffee County Student Expo.
MPD chief Yother is VP of Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police
Manchester Police Department chief Mark Yother has been sworn in as the 2nd Vice President of the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police at the TACP annual conference in Chattanooga.
MPD said in a statement that this is a vital role for chief Yother and a testament to the dedication that MPD has to provide the citizens of Manchester with the best resources available throughout the state of Tennessee. The mission of TACP is to provide law enforcement agencies the opportunity to fulfill professinal training, ethical leadership, management development and legislative representation while promoting cooperation, communication and the exchange of information to better serve members.
Library needs new carpet, parking
The Coffee County – Manchester public library is in need of repairs that could be upward of $50,000.
The Manchester Times is reporting that the carpet in the library building is 30 years old and is presenting a safety hazard by bunching up and creating tripping hazards.
Bids to replace the carpet come in around $25,000, but removing all items from the building, storing them during replacement and then replacing all items would run the total to near $50,000. Library officials also say that the parking lot is in dire need of repair.
Thursday is Election Day for Tullahoma
Thursday, Aug. 1 is election day in Tullahoma for two aldermanic seats. Polls open at 8 a.m. Thursday and close at 7 p.m. Polling places open in Tullahoma include Grace Baptist Church, Lions Club, National Guard Armory, First Christian Church, CD Stamps Community Center, Wilson Avenue Church of Christ and the Coffee County Senior Citizens Center at N. Collins St. In total, 864 registered voters voted early in the election. Four candidates are vying for two alderman seats. They are Jackie Duncan, Daniel Berry, Rupa Blackwell and Stephen Landers.