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Manchester, Coffee County Schools return for abbreviated day today
Students are in school today for an abbreviated day in both Manchester City and Coffee County Schools. Friday, Aug. 2, Manchester City Schools will have a full day of classes and the County Schools will be in for a full day starting Monday, August 5. As we reminded you yesterday, that means that school zones will be active, children will be walking and biking to school and school buses will be running routes. Law enforcement wants to remind everyone to watch for and obey crossing guards at schools, keep an eye out for stop signs on buses and pay attention in school zones.
Schools return Thursday for abbreviated day; law enforcement wants public to be aware of school zones, buses
Manchester City and Coffee County Schools will be back in session for an abbreviated day tomorrow, August 1st, and that means that school zones will be active again and some school buses will be running for county schools.
After a summer of no school zones and no children walking or biking to and from schools, local law enforcement wants to remind drivers to be alert and slow down in school zones.
Click play below for an audio statement from Coffee County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Laura Nettles:
Former MTSU employee arrested for theft and forgery
An investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office, with assistance from Middle Tennessee State University Audit and Consulting Services personnel, has released an investigation resulting in the indictment and arrest of Aryo Hasnugung, a former international recruiter in the MTSU Office of International Affairs.
The investigation began after MTSU officials became suspicious of Hasnugung’s travel invoices.
Investigators determined that Hasnugung, who traveled extensively to other countries to recruit students, stole at least $39,750 from MTSU by fabricating or altering invoices that he used to justify payments he received for travel advances and/or travel reimbursements.
Investigators were able to confirm that at least 35 invoices submitted by Hasnugung were not authentic. Furthermore, it was determined that some of the invoices were altered on Hasnugung’s MTSU computer.
Investigators are also questioning an additional $5,010 in reimbursements received by Hasnugung because of the supporting documentation. Although these receipts and invoices do not appear to be legitimate, investigators were unable to confirm with the related vendors that they were fraudulent.
Hasnugung acknowledged to MTSU Audit and Consulting Services that he submitted at least six fraudulent invoices, and his employment was terminated on June 7, 2016.
In May 2019, Aryo Hasnugung was indicted by the Rutherford County Grand Jury on one count of theft over $10,000, one count of forgery, one count of criminal simulation, and one count of official misconduct. Hasnugung was arrested in July 2019.
To view the investigation, go to: https://comptroller.tn.gov/office-functions/investigations/find.htmlIf you suspect fraud, waste or abuse of public money in Tennessee,
call the Comptroller’s toll-free hotline at 800.232.5454.
Red Cross to host blood drive August 15 in Manchester
The American Red Cross has announced a blood drive in the Manchester Area. ON Thursday, August 15th there will be a drive at First Baptist Church of Manchester – that is at 1006 Hillsboro Blvd. in Manchester from 2-6 p.m. You can expect donating to take about an hour of your time.
Granddaughter-grandmother arrested for arson in Murfreesboro
A fire marshal with Murfreesboro Fire Rescue has arrested a 28 and 80-year old granddaughter-grandmother and charged them with arson.
28-year old Ashley Barner was arrested last month (6/24/2019) and charged with arson. Her grandmother, 80-year old Peggy O’Neal of Bradyville Pike, was arrested Monday (7/29/2019) and charged with conspiracy to commit arson and insurance fraud.According to lead investigator Charles Malone, Barner admitted to intentionally leaving a candle next to a doll clothed in yarn on a bedside table in a back bedroom of the home. When questioned, the woman implicated her grandmother’s involvement as well.
The fire took place at 208 Chamberlain Drive in Murfreesboro.
Thanks to WGNS Radio for this news story.
Attorney files to have Northcott’s license suspended
On behalf of more than 300 attorneys in Tennessee, attorney Sunny Eaton has filed a request with the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility to seek an emergency suspension of Northcott’s law license due to his statements that surfaced in June that he does not believe domestic violence laws should be used to protect people in same-sex relationships.
According to a report by WTVF in Nashville, Eaton cites Northcott’s written response to an ethics complaint Eaton filed against Northcott early in June.
Coffee County District Attorney Craig Northcott
In a letter written by Eaton Monday, she says: “Mr. Northcott’s written reply to the complaint removes all doubt as to his current defiance of the rule of law and intent to further engage in conduct beneath the decency required of our profession along with raising serious questions as to his competency and fitness to practice.”
Northcott wrote to the board of professional responsibility that his intent in part is to honor what he knows has been the desire of the LGBTQ community – “keeping the government out of their bedrooms.”
You may remember that Northcott said in the video that domestic violence laws are to protect marriage, and there is no marriage to protect in same-sex cases.
According to WTVF, Northcott claims his policy is based on the 1996 vote to amend the Tennessee constitution to outlaw same-sex marriage.
Eaton’s request goes on to say: “any attorney who believes he has the power to ignore the decisions of the United States Supreme Court is in violation of his oath and is disqualified from practice of law.”
In Northcott’s letter to the board, he also states that he does not believe that only christians have constitutional rights, saying “this could not be further from the truth.”
Storehouse Food Pantry asking for donations to help serve community
The storehouse food pantry is seeking donations and you can help.
The Storehouse Food Pantry began in May of 2018 after realizing the great need for food and the struggle that families in Manchester and the surrounding areas are facing every day. Each week the Storehouse Food Pantry served over 100 families to help meet the food insecurity problem. But the program now needs your help. You can help feed a family of four for a monthly gift of $30 per month. This gift would give a box of meat, dairy every week. To make a monthly donation of $30 or a onetime donation of any amount, contact Staria Davison at 931-247-5272, or email sdavison4216@hotmail.com. Storehouse is a 501C3 non profit and will provide a tax-deductible receipt.
Unemployment rate up slightly
Data released late last week by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development indicates unemployment did increase in Tennessee’s 95 counties during June of this year, but only slightly. Tennessee’s statewide unemployment increased to 3.4 percent, which is up 0.1 of a percentage point from May. In February of this year Tennessee hit an all-time low unemployment rate of 3.2 percent and remained there for three months. Nationally, June saw unemployment increase from 3.6 to 3.7 percent in June.
In Coffee County, unemployment is a 3.9 percent for June. Which is up a full percentage point from May’s 2.9%, but is slightly better than June 2018 when unemployment was 4.0 percent.
Manchester Fire Department battles early morning Friday fire
This home was damaged by fire in the early morning hours of Friday, July 26. (Photo provided)
Manchester Fire Department personnel spent four hours fighting a fire in the early morning hours of Friday, July 26 on Emerson Street in Manchester.
According to Fire Chief George Chambers, crews responded at approximately 1 a.m. Friday and were confronted with heavy smoke and flames coming from the garage and roof area of the home.
“Crews made an aggressive exterior attack on the fire and brought it under control quickly,” Chambers said in an email statement. “When additional personnel arrived on scene, crews continued firefighting actions to get to the seat of the fire in the roof area above the laundry room and garage area.”
There was nobody home at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported.
Crews finished on-scene operations at 3:20 a.m. and cleanup at 4:40 a.m. Duck River Electric removed power from the facility. Manchester Police Department, Coffee County EMS and Coffee County Communications Center provided assistance.
Sinkhole snarls I-24 traffic Friday
Traffic on Interstate 24 was snarled most all day Friday, July 26, as TDOT crews worked to repair a sinkhole that opened up and closed a westbound lane near mile marker 90.
According to Kathryn Schulte with TDOT, crews finished excavating the sinkhole at about 1 p.m. Friday and crews had to do approximately 11 feet deep, 15 feet long and 13 feet wide to get the hole excavated.
Crews worked to repair the patch of Road and it reopened a little after 8 p.m. Friday night.
TDOT crews had to dig 11 feet deep, 15 feet long and 13 feet wide to excavate a sinkhole that closed one lane of Interstate 24 westbound at mile maker 90 for most of the day Friday. (Photo provided by TDOT)