Category: News

Motlow College is offering the COMPASS Assessment test on the Moore County campus, and the Fayetteville, McMinnville and Smyrna centers. The COMPASS test is a computer testing system and helps determine students’ academic readiness in reading, writing and mathematics for college level work. Test results determine which courses are best suited to the students’ level of readiness. The first initial test is provided free of charge. Students who take the COMPASS test and feel their test results have placed them incorrectly may challenge their initial placement score and retake the test or portions of the test. The college charges a $10 challenge fee for each portion of the test or $20 to challenge the entire test. Students who are 21 years of age or older must take all three portions (reading, writing and math) of the COMPASS test unless they have valid ACT scores on file or collegiate credit from an accredited college or university. For the next available test dates and registration, please visit mscc.edu/testing or call 931-393-1763 or 1-800-654-4877 ext. 1763.

Manchester has been the home of Little League Baseball for over 50 years; however, it recently underwent a change that would not only alter its name but also the way the game is played in our community. The league is now known as the Manchester Youth Baseball League and when asked what the game changes included, League President Dale Cooper stated that “the biggest difference in the game allows the 11 and 12 year old division to lead off and steal just like a regular baseball game.” This method was tested in the fall of last year and the players loved it so much that the league is going to keep it. League President Dale Cooper also mentioned a new age division being added this year for 13-16 year old boys and girls which will begin games sometime in May of 2014. Were you or was someone that you know in the Manchester Youth Baseball Parade? Watch yourself, see your friends, or even cheer for your family during the all new Thunder TV News Video Online at WMSRradio.com.

In a follow-up to a story we brought you earlier this week a Coffee County man died in a two-vehicle accident on Monday afternoon.
74 year-old Patricia A McCollough was driving a Coffee County School bus traveling north on Highway 41. The driver of the Jeep Cherokee, 63 year-old Freddie Reynolds was exiting his driveway and was making a left turn onto Highway 41. According to a Tennessee Highway Patrol report the Jeep failed to yield to the bus and pulled into the Northbound lane and was struck in the driver’s side door.
Reynolds of Manchester who owned and operated Freddie’s Oyster Bar died from the injuries he received in the accident. McCollough and one of 22 students on board the bus, 16 year-old Monica Kelly were injured. The report did not say what type of injuries they sustained.
No charges were filed.

A Coffee County man is charged with TennCare fraud after an undercover operation that led to indictments of 60 people. So far, a total of 40 have been arrested.
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) has announced the arrest in the investigation that involved officers from Manchester Police and the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office. Most of the charges involve prescription drug fraud.
James Edwards, 47, of Hillsboro, Tennessee is charged with two counts of TennCare fraud in connection with unlawfully and knowingly selling and delivering a controlled substance obtained by using TennCare benefits. Authorities say Edwards used TennCare to obtain the painkiller Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, and on two separate occasions sold a portion to an undercover agent.
“This kind of multi-agency cooperation goes a long way toward our goal of stopping prescription drug fraud in the TennCare program,” Inspector General Deborah Faulkner said. “We are working with officers across the state to find people using TennCare to obtain drugs fraudulently, or who are selling their prescription drugs to others.”
TennCare fraud is a Class E felony, carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison per charge. District Attorney General C. Michael Layne is prosecuting.
The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated cases leading to over $3.5 million paid in restitution and recoupment to TennCare, with a total estimated cost avoidance of over $173 million for the TennCare program, according to latest figures. To date, 2,088 people have been charged with TennCare fraud.
Through the OIG Cash for Tips Program established by the Legislature, Tennesseans can get cash rewards for TennCare fraud tips that lead to convictions. Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982 toll-free from anywhere in Tennessee, or log on to www.tn.gov/tnoig/ and follow the prompts that read “Report TennCare Fraud.”

Early voting in continuing in Coffee County. Despite April 18 being Good Friday polls will be at the two voting locations. In Manchester you vote early at the election commission office in the Coffee County Administrative Plaza from 8am-4:30pm Mon-Fri and Saturdays from 8:30am-Noon. In Tullahoma voting can be done at the C.D. Stamps Community Center Mon.-Fri. 9am-4:30pm and Saturdays from 9am-Noon. Early voting runs through May 1 and Election Day is May 6.
If you would like to read a copy of the sample ballot that is clean and simple to read go to www.wmsrradio.com and click on the election central link. The Democrat and Republican ballots are available. On that page you’ll also be able to download and listen to the interviews we conducted with local candidates.
Vernita Davis, Administrator of Election reports to us that 390 people have already cast ballots in Coffee County.

Motlow College students, faculty and staff members from the Moore County campus, just outside Tullahoma joined with the surrounding communities to show their support for the recent World Autism Awareness Day (April 2, 2014). Walks and receptions for World Autism Awareness Day were held on all four Motlow College campuses (Moore County, McMinnville, Fayetteville and Smyrna) to help raise awareness for Autism. April is Autism Awareness month.
Autism disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identify around 1 in 68 American children as on the autism spectrum.

Come one, come all! Come out for baseball! A local group is starting a special needs baseball league in Manchester. A young boy has a burning desire to play baseball. So they decided to help make his dream come true. Now they have enough children to form a league that have the same dream as their son. They are looking for more children who would love to play. No age requirement, any disability, boys and girls. All are welcome! No registration fee required! They want all kids who want to play to be able to join so no need to worry about money! They have equipment! Just bring your child out to have a good time! Let them be a part of this and let them take care of the rest! For the first season, games will start on Thursday July 10, 2014 on a field provided by the REC Center. They will play an 8 week season and all get trophies at the end! Next year they look forward to playing in the spring with all the other leagues. The special needs league will be using what is called a “sky ball” rather than a real baseball to protect the kids.
Please don’t hesitate to call if you have questions. And it’s not too late to join! Please call if your child would like to play! Even if they’ve already started, your child will still be welcomed.
Call Veronica at 931-450-2638 or Michael at 931-450-2636.

Here is an update on a story we brought you on Wednesday.
Federal and state officers were seen leaving the Quick Care Clinic in Decherd on Tuesday morning. They also reportedly met with employees of the business’ Manchester office as well Tuesday morning.
According to Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller, agents with the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), Fuller and officers from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department as well as the Decherd Police Department entered the Quick Care Clinic located on Bible Crossing Road in Decherd around 8 a.m. Tuesday morning. A short time later they were seen leaving the building with seized boxes as well as records from the neighboring Winchester Imaging Clinic. Dr. Councill Rudolph owns both businesses.
Law enforcement did not say what they were looking for at the clinic.
“This has been an ongoing investigation by the sheriff’s department, the Decherd Police Department, the DEA and the TBI,” Fuller stated.
According to Sheriff Fuller, the DEA and the TBI also visited clinics in Manchester, Cookeville and Chapel Hill that is owned by Rudolph. He explained that they interviewed employees in those offices.
The sheriff stated that while records were seized, no arrests were made during the morning raid.
Decherd Police Chief Ross Peterson stated that officers from his department have seen a number of vehicles from other counties at the business and the officers have had to answer “some calls in the parking lot” of the clinic. (Tullahoma News)

The national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline increased this week to $3.64 per gallon and is the highest since July of 2013.
“The demand for gasoline is driving up the price of oil, which in turn, is pumping up the price of gasoline,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Prices are expected to keep rising in the near future due to unexpectedly lower supplies and rising demand.”
Gasoline demand is at its highest level since January, according to the Energy Information Administration. Meanwhile, consumer confidence is at its highest since July. These factors pushed the price of oil last Friday, to its highest price on the NYMEX in five weeks.
The EIA released its summer forecast this week, predicting that retail prices would average $3.57 per gallon during the summer driving season, once cent cheaper than last year.
The low price in Manchester is down 1-cent this week to $3.44 and in Tullahoma the low price is also $3.44 per gallon up 10-cents. Tennessee’s average is $3.48.

Gov. Bill Haslam’s anti-methamphetamine legislation has been approved by the Senate.
The Senate voted 23-8 on Tuesday for a 4.8-gram month maximum and an annual cap of 14.4 grams of allergy and cold medicines like Sudafed that could be bought without a prescription.
Over-the-counter remedies that include pseudoephedrine are used to make methamphetamine.
The Senate version is different than the House version, which sets a 5.8-gram monthly cap and annual limit of 28.8 grams. The House passed that version 80-17 earlier this month.
Lawmakers must now work out the differences before the legislation heads to the governor’s desk.
According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, 1,685 meth labs were seized in Tennessee last year.