Category: News

A watered-down version of Gov. Haslam’s anti-meth legislation has been approved by the House.
The measure was approved 80-17 Wednesday, and is different than the Senate version.
The House bill would set an annual cap of 150 days’ worth of allergy and cold medicines that could be bought without a prescription.
Haslam’s original proposal would have established a monthly limit of 2.4 grams of pseudoephedrine, or a 10-day maximum dose, before requiring a pharmacist to authorize another 10 days’ worth before getting a doctor’s prescription.
The governor later removed the pharmacist element, and instead proposed a 4.8 gram monthly maximum and an annual cap of 14.4 grams. That proposal was adopted in the Senate. The House version sets a 5.8 gram monthly cap and an annual limit of 28.8 grams.

Keith Hamilton, corporate manager of the North America Manufacturing and Education Center for Bridgestone Americas Tire Operation in LaVergne, will address the more than Motlow 700 students who participate in commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 10, according to Dr. MaryLou Apple, president of Motlow College.
Hamilton from Tullahoma, has worked for Bridgestone since the ground breaking of the Warren County plant in 1989. He served as the manager for Technical Training and Performance in Warren County until being transferred to the LaVergne operation. Hamilton has two bachelor degrees from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, one in electronic engineering and one in technical adult education.
He enjoys being a soccer referee and is the preacher for the Midway Church of Christ in Sewanee.
Motlow’s commencement will include two ceremonies, with the first at 10 a.m. for nursing students and students who attended classes primarily on the Moore County campus. A second ceremony for those who took classes at Fayetteville, McMinnville and Smyrna centers will begin at 2 p.m. Hamilton will speak at both.

Leo Paul Massicotte was last seen July 3, 2011 when his girlfriend let him out of her car on Skinner Flat Road in Manchester. Wednesday over 50 law enforcement officials searched for the man on A.E.D.C. property, but so far the man has not been found.
The search involved Manchester Police, Manchester Fire Department, Coffee County Rescue Squad members, deputies from Coffee County, Franklin County along with Warren and Cannon Counties. Also involved were Air Force personnel, Air Force OSI, and Air Force Security, Tennessee State Troopers, the THP helicopter, and K-9 units from Florida, Louisiana and North Carolina.
Manchester Police Chief Investigator Billy Butler stated Wednesday that they have been working with an independent investigator to review this case.
Butler stated that after reviewing the evidence that has been collected over the last month, police met with the AEDC vice commander on Monday. “We reviewed the evidence with him and the J.A.G. officers (legal personnel) and told them that we would like to conduct another massive search on the Air Force property”.
Several rewards have been offered for information leading to Massicotte’s whereabouts but so far the man has not been found.

The state Senate has passed a bill to allow Tennesseans to openly carry guns without a state-issued permit.
The chamber voted 25-2 in favor of the bill sponsored by Republican Sen. Mae Beavers of Mt. Juliet.
Beavers said the measure would keep the background checks and training requirements in order to carry concealed firearms, but would allow anyone legally allowed to own a gun to carry it openly.
The bill would also remove state restrictions on the location of ammunition when firearms are being transported in vehicles, and would allow guns to be removed from cars on school property for the purposes of storing them in another part of the vehicle.
The companion bill is awaiting a vote in the budget subcommittee of the House Finance Committee.

Years in the making, an effort to help protect some of the state’s most pristine areas finally is moving forward in Congress. First introduced in 2010, the Tennessee Wilderness Act is headed for the Senate floor after passing through committee Tuesday. Among those applauding the approval is Will Skelton, an advisory committee member with the group Tennessee Wild. “If this bill does pass, it’s going to mean a lot for the residents of Tennessee, because we’re going to have some additional areas protected for recreation and hunting and fishing that are just simply outstanding,” Skelton said. “Upper Bald River is one of the best areas in the Southern Appalachians.” The Tennessee Wilderness Act would create the state’s first new wilderness area in 25 years, expand five current wilderness areas and permanently protect some 20,000 acres of Cherokee National Forest. In addition to protecting the unique flora and fauna, Skelton said passage of the bill also is critical for the economy. Outdoor recreation in Tennessee generates $8 billion in consumer spending each year and supports more than 80,000 jobs. “From an economic standpoint, it’s only going to mean more areas to go to and, therefore, more people that will be visiting the areas where they’re located,” he said. “So, we’re really thrilled to see that it’s finally moving and can now head to passage in the full Senate. So, it’s a good day for wilderness in Tennessee.” Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., is the act’s sponsor, with Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., as the co-sponsor. It has not yet been introduced in the House. Years in the making, an effort to help protect some of the state’s most pristine areas is finally moving forward in Congress. The text of the legislation, S. 1294, is online at beta.congress.gov.

The first Rock Creek clean will be held at Frazier-McEwen Park in Tullahoma on Saturday, April, 26 from 8:00am – 1:00pm.
“This is a great opportunity for the community to have fun while making a difference,” said Event Organizer, Chad Marcum. “Rock Creek needs our help. It is a great natural resource that links our heritage, and the Rock Creek Spring Clean event is a simple way to give back and brighten our own back yard.”
Marcum has a passion for beautifying the community and protecting our waterways. Last year, he organized the 1st Normandy Lake Clean Up, an effort that successfully collected over 500lbs of trash off the lake.  Marcum is now focusing that same passion and effort toward Rock Creek.
“This event has the potential to become Tullahoma’s signature Clean Event,” said Community Coordinator, Winston Brooks.
Other organizations helping to coordinate this event include Keep Coffee County Beautiful, Tullahoma Pride Foundation, Inter-Local Solid Waste Association and Public Works.
After the cleanup, please join others for a trash tally, prizes and picnic. Lunch will be provided to all who participate.  Volunteers are encouraged to dress appropriately; bring your sunscreen, bug spray, boots and waders if you have them.
Prizes to be given away include: a New Kayak, Google Chrome Casts, Professional Teeth Whitening kit from Glick and Woods Dentistry, Woodards Jewelers gift certificate, free car detail from Stan McNabb Automotive, and more.
This event is great for families, church groups, scouts, school groups and others.

As many of you know the WMSR website went down from a couple of days last week. This was a server problem so it was beyond our control. We heard from many of you that were concerned about not being able to read the local news, sports, obituaries and other information at wmsrradio.com. We changed servers because of the issues and basically had to re-build the site. When we did that a problem occurred. Recently we started offering a new way to receive information from WMSR, emailed news. Hundreds of you signed up for the service. In the process of changing servers we lost the emails so we are asking you our loyal listeners and viewers to re-sign up so you can start receiving your emails again. Go to www.wmsrradio.com and sign up on the front page. Thank you for listening to WMSR and reading our website.

Ricky L. Brazier, 57 of Tullahoma is accused of murdering his father Edward Brazier on January 27, 2014. On Tuesday he had his case bound over to the Coffee County Grand Jury.
The 57 year-old Brazier is accused choking his father at the residence they shared on Marbury Road.
According to investigators, a 9-1-1 call was received at the Coffee County Communication Center from the younger Brazier in which he allegedly said, “I’ve killed my father” and according to warrants, he told the dispatcher that he “choked him.”
Tullahoma Bobby Carter represents Brazier while Assistant District Attorney Jeff Ridner prosecuted the case.
The next term of the grand jury will be in June.

Gasoline prices continued their spring push this week amid tightened supplies and increasing demand. The national average for a gallon of regular unleaded is the highest since August of last year.
Prices in Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee reached their highest levels since March 2013, September, and August respectively. Prices in Florida, Georgia and Tennessee are exceeding year-over-year levels, because at this time last year, pump prices were tumbling from an unusual late February peak.
In 2011 and 2012, prices followed a more traditional trend peaking in May and April respectively.
“Prices may move a little higher in the coming weeks,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “However the end is likely in sight for many drivers across the country.
Every spring refiners are required to switch to producing summer-blend gasoline by May 1, with gasoline required to be sold at the pumps by June 1. This seasonal refinery maintenance and the actual changeover itself increases the possibility of a disruption to production, which can send prices higher in an area that is normally supplied by a limited or offline facility. These sorts of refinery issues have been minimal this spring, but the coming weeks will bear close attention.
Sunday’s national average for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $3.58, 3 cents more than last week. Tennessee’s average of $3.41 jumped 7 cents from last week. The low price in Manchester has jumped to $3.45 per gallon and in Tullahoma the low price is $3.32.

Crack cocaine fell from the mouth of a drug suspect as he fell when shocked by a Taser, Shelbyville police said.
Conard Julian Harris, 33, of Cherokee Drive in Shelbyville drove a motorcycle down the wrong side of Shoma Drive at a high rate of speed as officer Bobby Peacock was leaving an unrelated call, according to his report.
Harris drove to his home and unsuccessfully attempted to pass “a foreign object” to a neighbor, Peacock said, before placing it into his mouth when told to show his hands.
Officers Mitchell Warren and Jeff Goodrich tried to get the object but Harris allegedly ran to a nearby wooded area with all three officers in pursuit.
Peacock used the Taser on Harris’s neck and back as he tried to climb a rusty wire fence, the report said. The “foreign object” — a bag containing 6.5 grams of crack cocaine in powder and rock form — fell to the ground, Peacock said.
Bags containing 54.7 grams of crack cocaine and 25.0 grams of marijuana were found in the motorcycle’s saddle bags.
Harris was treated at the scene by Bedford County Emergency Medical Service before transport to Bedford County Jail on charges of possession of a schedule II drug, possession of a schedule VI drug for resale, evading arrest, reckless driving and resisting stop/frisk/halt/search. He was later released on a $100,000 bond. (Shelbyville Times-Gazette)