Category: News

A 17-year-old was flown to Vanderbilt Medical Center Sunday night after being involved in a single vehicle crash. According to a report by Tennessee Highway Patrolman Brent McCawley, the accident occurred on Blanton’s Chapel Rd. around 6 p.m. Sunday night. The trooper’s report states that the vehicle was traveling westbound on Blanton’s Chapel when the vehicle went around a curve the driver apparently was traveling too fast on the rain slick road he left the road and struck a tree on the driver’s side door and roof. The driver was removed and flown out. A 7-year-old female who was in the vehicle was transported to Manchester Medical. Due to the driver possibly facing charges, his name cannot be released.

Quick thinking by a resident of Eastgate Apartments averted serious trouble last Friday. According to the Tullahoma Fire Department, Stacey Seals said she heard a noise and went to investigate. She found a fire around her hot water heater. She quickly grabbed a fire extinguisher, which is supplied to residents, and extinguished the fire. She then called 911, and the fire department arrived. Fire Investigator Richard Steiner commended Seals for her quick thinking.

The ex-husband of a missing Shelbyville Harris Middle School teacher has been ordered to stay away from his own child after alleged talk about burning down grandparent’s home. A temporary restraining order was issued against Tyler Mook, ex-husband of Shelly Mook, who disappeared in early 2011, after an emergency motion to suspend his visitation rights was filed by Debra Sikora, Shelly Mook’s mother and primary custodian of her granddaughter. During a hearing last week before a Bedford County Circuit Court Judge, testimony was heard that alleged that Tyler and his mother Kim Mook allegedly talked with the girl about burning down Sikora’s home in Pennsylvania. The restraining order was filed against Tyler, Kim and also Jim Mook, the child’s grandfather. A hearing is set for Oct. 30 at 9 a.m. on the matter before Judge Russell.
Shelly Mook’s car was found burned but she remains missing.

A Republican congressman from Tennessee is telling supporters he’s not a hypocrite for discussing abortion with a mistress more than a decade ago. But now he may have to defend his medical license. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, a physician who opposes abortion rights, said in a letter to his supporters that the relationship with a patient occurred while DesJarlais was separated from his first wife. DesJarlais apologizes for what he describes as an “imprudent approach.” But he said he used stark language about abortion try to get the woman to acknowledge that she wasn’t pregnant. Meanwhile, the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington on Monday filed a complaint with the Tennessee Department of Health arguing that DesJarlais conducted an inappropriate sexual relationship with a patient.

The operator of the new Tullahoma Chic-fil-A says when the restaurant opens in February, it will employ up to 80 people. The restaurant will be located at the site of the former Baskin Robbins ice cream. Joseph Seabolt currently operates a Chic-fil-A in Valdosta, Georgia, and says that he looks forward to moving to a community that offers promise, a great school system, plus the chance to boost the local economy.

Early voting for the November 6 election will begin this Wednesday. Those wanting to take advantage of the early voting have two options. In Tullahoma voting will take place at the C D Stamps Center from 9 a.m. to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. In Manchester early votes may be cast at the Coffee County Election Commission office in the county office building. Voting there will be from 8 a.m. to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Early voting will continue through November 1 at both locations. Remember those casting ballots must have a photo ID, such IDs may be obtained from the Tennessee Department of Safety.

Dr. LaDonna McFall, Director of Coffee County Schools, recently accepted a $3,000.00 donation from Wal-Mart manager, Mr. Bill Rapko.
Wal-Mart assisted the Coffee County Schools Family Resource Center Coordinators, Mr. Jerry Tackett and Ms. LeAnn Evans, in writing a grant to purchase school supplies for low income students.
“We hope this grant will be an annual donation from now on” said Mr. Rapko who is a Coffee County Central High School alumnus. “Wal-Mart is proud to assist the community with this grant and is excited about a partnering with Coffee County Schools to help meet the needs of our community” said Mr. Rapko.
Dr. McFall said this is the kind of partnership that is needed to improve the quality of education that Coffee County Schools provides. This donation will help ensure that all students have the supplies they need to succeed in the classroom. We are very excited about this donation and even more excited to see community partnerships being established. This is a win-win situation for Coffee County. I would like to thank Mr. Rapko and Wal-Mart for making this donation and commitment to our community.

A Tennessee company played an important role in Sunday’s record-breaking, supersonic jump from the edge of space. Dunlap-based Precision Aerodynamics made the parachute that Felix Baumgartner pulled after free falling for more than nine minutes. The company has been located in Sequatchie County since 1975, and now is part of a record-breaking event. The Austria native hit Mach 1.24, or 833.9 mph, according to preliminary data, and became the first person to reach supersonic speed without traveling in a jet or a spacecraft after hopping out of a capsule that had reached an altitude of 128,100 feet above the Earth.

After serving Coffee County for 21 years, Coffee County Ambulance director John Cathey says he will retire February 1. The Ambulance Authority is now seeking applications for a new director. The job requires 12 to 15 years of experience in EMS, seven to 10 years in a leadership role. Applications should be submitted to the Coffee County Human Resource and Benefits Coordinator, Heather Shelton.

A Hillsboro man is being held in the Coffee County Jail on a bond of $100,000 after being indicted for multiple charges by last week’s grand jury. According to court records, 18-year-old Tyler Steven Uselton of Lusk Cove Road, Hillsboro was charged with aggravated robbery, 6 counts of burglary of an auto, 3 counts theft of property, vandalism and possession of marijuana.