Category: News

Thieves are stealing credit card numbers again from area residents. Several area residents have reported to police that their credit card and debit card numbers have been used to make unauthorized purchases and have those shipped to Maine, Michigan, Missouri and other states. In one incident a Manchester resident’s debit card number was used to purchase a computer and wanted the computer shipped to Maine. Police are urging residents to pay close attention to their credit/debit card statements.

A Warren County woman is charged with TennCare fraud involving “doctor shopping,” or using the TennCare program to go to multiple doctors to obtain controlled substances. The Office of Inspector General (OIG), with the assistance of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, today announced the arrest of Christine Perry, 66, of Spencer, Tennessee. Perry is charged with 11 counts of fraudulently using TennCare to obtain controlled substances by doctor shopping for the painkiller Hydrocodone, using TennCare to pay for the doctor visits. “Prescription drug abuse is a focus of communities, healthcare providers and law enforcement across Tennessee, working together to address the issue in multiple ways,” Inspector General Deborah Faulkner said. “Our mission is to find those people abusing TennCare to get prescription drugs, and making it clear to everyone that there will be repercussions for this activity.” TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison. 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.”

Lawyers representing three Tennessee women filed a class-action lawsuit against Walmart Tuesday claiming the retail giant gives unequal treatment to female employees. Evidence in the case shows that women who hold salaried and hourly positions in Walmart stores in the region that includes Tennessee and parts of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia and Mississippi, have been paid far less than men in comparable positions, although on average, the women have more seniority and higher performance ratings than men. The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, is the third regional discrimination case lodged against Walmart since the U.S. Supreme Court reversed a lower court ruling on a national class action against the retailer in June of 2011. According to WKRN-TV, in McMinnville, a female Walmart employee was told that the promotion she had been given had been rescinded and given to a male coworker because “a man can do a better job than a woman” and in Cookeville, a store manager informed a woman transferring to his store that she would have to take a pay cut because women do not make “that kind of money” at the store. The class includes women who worked at Walmart stores and were subject to pay and promotion discrimination at any time since December 26, 1998. In a letter to WKRN Walmart says, “The class the plaintiffs now allege is no more appropriate than the nationwide class the Supreme Court has already rejected. Walmart has strong policies against discrimination. As we have said all along, these claims are unsuitable for class treatment because the situations of each individual are so different, and because the claims of these three plaintiffs are not representative of the hundreds of thousands of women who work at Walmart.”

The Manchester Fire & Rescue would like to invite you to participate in its 3rd annual Chili Cook-Off scheduled from 12 to 4 p.m. October 13, 2012 on the downtown square in Manchester, Tennessee. The event is open to any and all individuals or teams that have a desire to make chili and have fun! It is also a good way to promote your cooking skills or business! Last year’s event was a great success as 29 teams competed for one of three trophies and $500 cash prizes awarded. The 2011 cook-off netted over $3,700 for Manchester Fire & Rescue’s Firefighter Association. This year’s proceeds will go to the Children’s Advocacy Center, a non-profit organization that provides a child-focused facility in a safe, neutral location. Since this is a charity event, a donation of $25 per team is required to enter the competition. The rest of the money raised comes from individuals purchasing a spoon for $5. With this spoon, they are allowed to sample all of the competitors’ chili and them vote for the “People’s Choice Award”, one of three awards that will be given out during the event. The other two awards are “Best Overall Chili” which will be judged by a panel of special guests; and the “Best Presentation”, which involves the theme surrounding the individuals’ or teams’ booth and chili presentation, also judged by the panel of judges. So, to win the “People’s Choice Award”, you will need to have a lot of supports willing to try a lot of chili. There will again be customized trophies, donated and designed by Logos, Awards and More, for the winners of each category. Marcrom’s Pharmacy, United Regional Medical Center, First Call of Nashville and a private donation in the memory of the late Assistant Chief Rod Ballard are helping sponsor chili cook-off this year. The event will once again consist of three (3) $500 cash awards, one for each category. So each team needs to have as many supporters come out and purchase a “spoon” so they can vote for the “People’s Choice Award”, and help the Children’s Advocacy Center all at one time!

A Manchester man faces several sex related charges allegedly involving juveniles. Marvin Ray Hill, 58, of County Farm Road, Manchester has been charged with two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, three counts of solicitation of statutory rape and two counts of sexual battery. According to warrants obtained by Manchester Police Officer Ernie Colvin, a woman entered the police department and reported that her daughter was at a Manchester area motel with another juvenile drinking alcohol. Warrants allege that when the officer entered the motel room he found two 40-ounce bottles of beer, which the juveniles stated they had been drinking and had as much as five pints of whiskey in the room. The warrants also allege that Hill entered into a sex act in front of a girl and offered her $50 to watch and he touched the girl in an inappropriate way. Warrants also allege that Hill offered a juvenile male, beer and drugs to “find other females under the age of 18 to have sex with him. Hill is being held in the Coffee County Jail under a bond of $38,000.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) announced Monday it is aggressively seeking men and women who are interested in careers in law enforcement for a new Trooper Cadet Class slated to begin March 1, 2013. Applications will only be accepted online from today, October 3 through Wednesday, October 10, 2012 ( http://www.tn.gov/dohr/employment/applicant.shtml ). Individuals interested in applying for the position of State Trooper must be at least 21 years old, a U.S. Citizen and have a high school diploma or equivalent. No applicants with felony convictions will be considered. The selected applicants will be required to successfully pass the physical agility test prior to being admitted for an interview. THP anticipates the agility test and interview appointments to begin October 30, 2012. If hired, an individual must obtain a valid Tennessee driver license, and is required to successfully complete a level II background investigation, which includes a credit check and polygraph test. Recruits must also pass a psychological and medical examination, including a drug screening. Trooper recruits will be assigned to vacant positions across the state upon graduation. The starting salary for a Cadet during Trooper School is $2,563 per month. Upon graduation and commissioning as a Tennessee State Trooper, the salary will increase to $2,836 per month and includes other benefits such as a paid pension plan, low cost health insurance, and paid holidays. Uniform, equipment and patrol vehicles are also provided by the THP. With regular pay increases, a Trooper can earn $50,580 per year after 10 years of service under the current pay structure. Recruits are paid while in training. The Trooper Class will last 18 weeks. For additional information on becoming a State Trooper, visit the Trooper School Information page at the Department of Safety and Homeland Security website ( http://www.tn.gov/safety/thp/school.shtml ). For more information about applications and testing, interested individuals are encouraged to contact the Tennessee Department of Human Resources Applicant Services Division at 615-741-4841.

The Tennessee Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating cases of meningitis involving 11 patients treated at one outpatient surgical center/pain management clinic in Nashville and one patient treated at a facility in another state. The form of meningitis in these patients is not transmitted from person to person and the cause for the cluster of cases is not known. Two patients related to this cluster of meningitis have died. All patients at Saint Thomas Outpatient Neurosurgery Center who had steroid injections between July 30, 2012 and September 20, 2012 have been notified. The facility was closed Sept. 20 and will not reopen until TDH, CDC and the center are confident the current concerns have been resolved. No cases involving other medical facilities in Tennessee have been identified. There are many different types of meningitis, a general term for an infection or inflammatory process involving the lining of the brain and central nervous system. The cluster of infections under investigation has no relation to the much more common form of bacterial meningitis recently reported by Tennessee media impacting the educational community. The TDH and the Tennessee Poison Control Center have partnered to answer questions from the public about meningitis. The number is 1-800-222-1222.

Deutsch Industrial, a manufacturing facility on Airport Road in Tullahoma has announced 33 layoffs as a result of being bought out by a larger company earlier this year. The company provides plastic injection molding and assembly for electronic connectors. Officials at Deutsch could not be reached for comment, but a spokesman for TE Connectivity in Pennsylvania said his company purchased Deutsch in April and that 33 people have been affected out of a total 228, leaving 195 still employed locally. According to company officials the 33 employees were notified on the 27th, and all of them will receive severance benefits, healthcare continuation and outplacement support services.

The Elk River Public Utilities District will host Customer Appreciation Day on Friday, Oct. 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its office, located at 217 South Jackson St. Hot dogs, baked beans, barbecue, potato salad, drinks and cookies will be served, and guests can register to win a natural gas grill and gift baskets. Tennessee One Call will also be there with lots of extras. The event is offered free and the public is welcome.

A preliminary hearing will be held Friday for the man who was arrested last Thursday on weapons charges. Donnie Jones, 37, who is the suspect in the murder of Megan Sharpton was arrested after officers from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department and the Tullahoma Police Department found the weapon while searching his Bel-Aire residence. According to investigators, the gun has been sent to federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agency for testing.
Jones appeared before General Sessions Judge Tim Brock and stated that he wanted a “speedy trial” in the case. When asked if he had an attorney he stated that he had attorneys from Nashville but they were not in the courtroom. “Do you want the public defender,” Judge Brock asked. And he stated that he did.
The date for his preliminary hearing was set for Friday. His bond remains at $500,000 and he remains in the Coffee County Jail.