Category: News

Tennessee has about the same number of methamphetamine labs as it did two years ago, despite new laws and a new system for tracking the drug’s main ingredient, pseudoephedrine.
The Knoxville News Sentinel reports authorities expect the statewide total to reach nearly 1,800 busts for the year.
State law limits consumers to about three boxes of pseudoephedrine per month. But that doesn’t stop meth cooks from recruiting other people to buy it, often using fake IDs.
Police have reported finding buyers with 75 or more fake IDs.
Police are proud of one success story, however. Since the loss of federal funding for lab removal, they have trained local officers to dispose of lab waste, cutting the cost by half or better.

Gov. Bill Haslam says he’s taking advantage of an extended deadline the federal government has given states regarding health insurance exchanges. States had until Friday to inform the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services if they plan to set up their own health insurance markets. But the deadline has been extended to Dec. 14. Haslam has yet to reach a decision, but the governor says he’s hopeful that in the coming weeks he will receive answers from Washington to questions he has about the exchanges, mainly the amount of flexibility Tennessee would have if it set up its own.

The Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) Visitor Center will change hours of operation during the upcoming holiday season.
Beginning Nov. 22-25, the visitor center will close in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
The visitor center will also close Dec. 22 – Jan. 1 in observance of the Christmas holiday.
AEDC’s Visitor Center provides services to AEDC personnel, military, retirees and other base visitors.
The Visitor Center has two main functions for military identification (ID) services and base entry services.
The military ID service provides common access cards (CACs) to active duty members and members of reserve components within all branches.
They also provide CACs for civil servants, contractors, retirees and eligible family members.
Base entry services involve providing vetting and identification for all employees and visitors for the base mission area, the Arnold Lakeside Center patrons and the Arnold Community Council members.

Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and in the midst of planning for the big feast many leave turkey gravy, an important part of the meal, to the last minute. There is a simple solution for the perfect turkey gravy, and Chef Mark Garcia from the McCormick kitchens says the gravy can make everyone’s favorite dish better. McCormick’s rich turkey gravy mix is easy to prepare and comes out perfect every time. Plus, home cooks can feel great serving our turkey gravy since it’s made with natural spices, no artificial flavors or colors, no msg and zero grams of trans fat. How easy is it to prepare your turkey gravy mix? McCormick turkey gravy can be made in minutes. Just combine turkey gravy mix with water or turkey pan juices and simmer for five minutes. To add a twist, add a pinch of rubbed sage or poultry seasoning, depending on your family’s tastes. And, don’t forget to have extra turkey gravy on-hand to make leftovers even more delicious! For this recipe and more holiday inspiration, visit McCormick.com

The Interact Club at Coffee County Central High School is currently collecting donations, toiletries and new packaged shirts, socks, and underwear for Pineland High School in Stafford, New Jersey, which was devastated by Hurricane Sandy.
Two weeks ago the school contacted our club asking for these items. They have over 600 students and teachers that are in dire need. The Interact Club at Coffee County Central High School desperately needs help in collecting these items by November 30th. The club has had trouble effectively notifying the community of this project so they are now asking for your assistance. All donations can be brought to the collection boxes at CCCHS or call (931) 952-2103.

Donnie Jones Jr, 37, who is charged with killing 24-year-old nursing student Megan Sharpton of Tullahoma, pleaded ‘not guilty’ to first-degree murder charges in a Franklin County courtroom Friday morning.
Franklin County Circuit Court Judge Buddy Perry appointed Winchester lawyer Joe Ford to act as Jones’ attorney.
A court date was set for mid-January to begin a trial.
Jones was arrested Nov. 7 and charged with first-degree murder, two counts of rape and two counts of aggravated kidnapping in Sharpton’s death.
A passing motorist discovered the partially burned body of Sharpton in a rural area of Franklin County in the early morning hours of July 2. Her car was found later that day in Bedford County, while her purse was discovered two days later in a creek in Estill Springs.

Coffee County Sheriff investigators are continuing their investigation into the murder of Thomas Colucci whose body was found last week on Maple Springs Road with multiple gunshot wounds. His fiancé Connie King received injuries in the attack at the residence. The sheriff stated Sunday that investigators have been following up on leads in the case. Evidence that was collected at the couple’s residence has been sent to the TBI Crime Lab for analysis.

Just before 11:00pm Friday night an alarm was sent to all volunteer fire departments. A passerby reported a house on fire in the 12,000 block of Murfreesboro Hwy. Dispatch was told the home was fully engulfed and did not know if anyone was at home. When WMSR photographer Barry West arrived on the scene the very large house was indeed all in flames. The flames were shooting 100 feet in the air and the lit up the night sky. The orange glow could be seen for miles. The late night fire is being investigated.

William Julian Pillars, 42, of Sunshine Circle in Decherd was arrested recently on an indictment for the alleged rape of a child of less than 13 years of age.
In addition to the one charge of alleged rape of a minor under 13 years old, Pillars also faces a charge of sexual battery.
Pillars was booked into the Franklin County jail under a $100,000 bond.

Area citizens are invited to a holiday concert on Nov. 29 on the Motlow College Moore County campus, according to Motlow music students and their instructor, Dr. David Bethea. Music will begin at 7 p.m. in Eoff Hall’s Powers Auditorium and will feature the Motlow vocal ensemble and jazz band.
The vocal portion of the concert will include a wide range of music, from American Patriotic pieces to holiday favorites, according to Bethea, who said the audience will be invited to sing along to some numbers. Students in the vocal ensemble are Vaun Justin Lee Baltimore of Unionville; David Gillies of Lynchburg; Rebecca Whitman of Shelbyville; and D’Angelo Brown, Elizabeth Leilani Daniels and Jacoby London, all of Tullahoma.
The jazz band, which includes local professional musicians, also will play a variety of musical numbers.
Reservations are not required, and there is no admission charge.