Category: News

Today is Election Day (Nov. 6, 2012). Only one local race is contested that is for District 20 commissioner. Republican Gary Kidd and Democrat Paul Buckner are competing for this seat. Other competitive races are for U.S. President, 47th State Rep., U.S. Congress 6th District, U.S. Senate and Tennessee State Senate 16th District.
Over 11,000 people early voted in Coffee County.
Polls are open today from 8am-7pm. For more information on the 2012 election, call 931-723-5103.

A Warren County woman is charged with TennCare fraud for selling prescription drugs paid for by TennCare.
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) made the arrest of Leaanna Elaine Valdivia, 29, of McMinnville, after a joint investigation with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office. Valdivia is charged with one count of TennCare fraud, and two counts of delivery of a Schedule II controlled substance, in this case, Morphine.
TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison. The sale of and delivery of a Schedule II controlled substance is a Class E felony, punishable by three to six years in prison per charge.
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, over 1,700 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.”

Lincoln officials are on the search for a teenage boy. Tyler Campbell went missing Saturday night after a church event. Officials say Campbell received a phone call around 9:30 and has not been seen or heard from since. A Lincoln Co. dispatcher says that this extremely out of character for Campbell. Tyler Campbell is described as a 6’1”, 201 pounds, 19 year old male with blonde hair and blue eyes. Campbell drives a white 1997 Dodge truck.
If you see him or know of his whereabouts please call Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department at 931-433-9821.

A well-known Chattanooga author and counselor fell approximately 120 feet to his death at the Stone Door Overlook in Grundy County Friday.
Family members reported Dr. Ross Campbell missing late Friday evening, and officials at the state park confirmed that he was found dead.
He had apparently gone sightseeing alone to the natural area near Beersheba Springs.
Dr. Campbell was a former Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine.
His book, How To Really Love Your Teenager won the Gold Medallion
Award. More of his titles include How to Really Love Your Child and Helping Your Twenty-Something Get A Life And Get It Now.
Dr. Campbell was the founder of the Southeastern Counseling Center in Chattanooga, serving as director there until he retired in 1996.

A group that tracks violence across the nation says Tennessee is now third in the nation in women killed by men.
The Tennessean cited a report by the Violence Policy Center in Washington, D.C., in reporting there were at least 62 such Tennessee cases in 2010 – the latest year tabulated.
Gov. Bill Haslam had cited an earlier report from the group to bolster his call for mandatory jail time for a second offense of domestic assault. At the time, the state ranked fifth nationally.
Noting that Tennessee has been in the top 10 with one exception in the last decade, Kristen Rand of the center said being consistently high on the list means officials need to identify what can be effective prevention strategies.

A nurse at a Manchester nursing is accused of stealing patients’ pain medication.
Brooke Sissom, 33, of Double Tree Circle, Shelbyville was arrested Oct. 12 on nine counts of obtaining controlled substance by fraud. According to Manchester Police Investigator Stuart Colwell, Sissom stole powerful narcotics that were intended for patients at the Manchester Health Care Center. Police say that she would order the drug narcotics using patients’ names and prescriptions. Police allege that Sissom “likely used hundreds of pills herself and may have sold some.” A few of the pills were recovered.
Police say that the staff at the nursing home notified them of her activities. According to Investigator Colwell, the nursing home staff even saved “key documents” that Sissom attempted to destroy. She was fired from her nursing job by the nursing home.
Colwell says that they do not believe any of the patients ever went without their medication. Police say when they arrested Sissom she was ordering new prescriptions.
According to state records Sissom was placed in probation in 2009 by the Tennessee Board of Nursing for “unauthorized removal of controlled substances without authorization” and “incorrect entries in patient records.” She lived in Woodbury at that time.
The nurse is free on a $10,000 bond.

A two vehicle accident occurred on I-24 Friday afternoon at approximately 4:45pm near mile-marker 104. Both vehicles were traveling eastbound on Interstate 24 when a 2007 Mazda 3 driven by Josh Thurman, 27 of Clarksville struck a Tractor Trailer in the rear. Thurman then lost control of the vehicle, left the roadway, traveled into the median and across the westbound lanes, struck a tree and caught fire. Emergency personnel were able to get Thurman from the burning vehicle and transported him by LifeFlight to Vanderbilt. Thurman was accompanied by a dog that died as a result of the crash.

The Coffee County Joint Industrial Park could be getting a new acceleration lane onto Highway 55 at no cost to county taxpayers. Members of the Coffee County Industrial Board appeared this past week with the county Budget and Finance Committee to request their help in coordinating the funding for the new merging lane. They stated that while Omar industries won’t be expanding their glove manufacturing here, they would be increasing their distribution. The industrial officials stated that the warehouse will cause more truck traffic coming out of the park, and a merging lane would help the trucks accelerate more safely into the traffic on 55. It was noted that the state would pay for all the paving as well as half of the cost of purchasing right-of-ways and moving power poles to build the new merging lane.

Jeff Gamble, a veteran funeral director, has confirmed the purchase of Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home in Tullahoma. Gamble is president of Gamble Holding Co., which owns several funeral homes in Alabama.
He said he looks forward to providing additional information in the near future about his plans to bring traditional, quality funeral merchandise and services to residents of the Coffee County area. Gamble became involved in the business when he purchased and later sold Watson Funeral Home (now Watson-North) in Winchester in 1982.
Daves-Culbertson, a landmark on North Jackson Street, most recently was operated by Neil Arnold.

Those driving along Anderson Street in Tullahoma are running into delays. Paving work is in progress, and delays can be expected until the job is done sometime this week on the section between Lincoln and Carroll streets. Public Works Director says the Rogers Group was able to begin the job earlier than intended, leading to closing the road to one open lane while work is in progress. Although the road will be partially open, Public Works is recommending drivers select an alternate route to avoid being delayed. The road is being milled down to its concrete base and will be repaved.