Category: News

A Franklin County man is charged in Coffee County with TennCare fraud for selling prescription drugs paid for by TennCare.
The Office of Inspector General (OIG), assisted by Manchester police and the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, announced this week the arrest of Alfred Dean Hill, 54, of Decherd.
Hill was indicted on charges that he fraudulently obtained TennCare healthcare insurance benefits by going to a TennCare provider and obtaining prescriptions for the painkillers Oxycodone and Hydrocodone, while planning to sell at least part of the prescription. Hill was charged with two counts of TennCare fraud.
The TennCare fraud charge against Hill could result in a two year sentence, if convicted. District Attorney Mickey Layne is prosecuting.
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.”

U.S. sales of previously occupied homes jumped in August to the highest level in more than two years, adding momentum to the housing recovery.
The National Association of Realtors says sales rose 7.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.82 million. That’s the most since May 2010, when sales were fueled by a federal home-buying tax credit.
The figures were reported the same day the government said U.S. homebuilders broke ground on more new homes in August compared to July.

Voter registration ends October 8 for the Nov. 6 presidential election. If you haven’t registered to vote then go by the election commission in the county office building. Early voting will start Oct. 17 and continue through Nov. 1. In the Manchester area the early voting will take place at the election commission and in Tullahoma at the C D Stamps building.

Kroger is recalling spinach sold at grocery stores in 15 states due to possible Listeria contamination. The Fresh Selections Tender Spinach was sold in 10-ounze packages and had a “best if used by” date of Sept. 16. The grocer said Wednesday that if customers did buy the recalled product, they should return it to stores for a full refund or replacement. Listeria can lead to severe illness for women who are pregnant or people who have a weakened immune system.

The 41-A Music and Arts Festival is the main fundraiser of the Highland Rim Kiwanis Club. This two day street festival, held in the Historic Downtown District of Tullahoma has been heralded as a “Tullahoma Institution” by the Tullahoma News. The event is set for Sept. 28 and 29. The goal of the 41-A Festival is to provide fun, family-friendly entertainment through local, regional and national musical and visual artists while raising awareness of the Kiwanis mission of “changing the work, one child at a time”. The 41-A Festival also showcases a variety of vendors offering a range of culinary delicacies and unique gift items.
Tullahoma’s own superstar Dustin Lynch will headline the event featuring his top 10 hit “Cowboys and Angels”.

The National Weather Service has confirmed that a tornado touched down in Bedford County late Monday afternoon (Sept. 17, 2012).
The storm survey team said on Tuesday they found damage consistent with an EF-0 tornado.
According to officials, EF-O tornados can have wind gusts up to 85 miles-per-hour.
No injuries were reported.
The National Weather Service also found scattered wind damage in Coffee and Warren Counties.

Thieves continue to obtain credit card numbers of area residents and making purchases in other states.
A Tullahoma woman reported to police that she checked her credit card information online and learned of a withdrawal of $6,000.
She learned that the withdrawal was for a furniture liquidation company in Elkridge, Maryland. She told police that she was not familiar with the company nor had she authorized a payment be made to the company with her credit card.

Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to the arrest of the former general manager of Warren County Kubota on charges of sales tax evasion and theft. Irvie W. Loudermilk, Jr., age 55, was arrested by Special Agents of the Tennessee Department of Revenue.
On Friday (September 14, 2012), Irvie Loudermilk was indicted by a Warren County Grand Jury on multiple Class E felony counts of sales tax evasion and one Class C felony count of Theft of Property over $10,000. The indictments charge Irvie W. Loudermilk, Jr. with willfully attempting to evade or defeat sales tax totaling $18,120.77 during the period February 2011 through September 2011. Loudermilk was the general manager of Warren County Kubota during the period. On September 7, 2012, Loudermilk surrendered to Rutherford County Sheriff officials on similar charges relating to the Kubota store located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
If convicted, Loudermilk could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in the state penitentiary and fined up to $3,000 for each count of attempted sales tax evasion and a maximum of six years in the state penitentiary and fined up to $10,000 for theft of property.

Early Tuesday morning flooding at Monteagle’s new sewage treatment plant filled the facility’s basement four feet deep with wastewater, potentially damaging equipment and leaving the town without sewer treatment capacity. Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Agency spokeswoman Meg Lockhart said the incident happened overnight after heavy rains in the area. Electrical service was cut off at the plant and the backup, meanwhile, could overflow manholes and pump stations in Monteagle. Local firefighters brought pumping equipment to the plant Tuesday to pump wastewater from the basement onto the ground surrounding the plant because the treatment basins already are full.
Monteagle Mayor Marilyn Campbell Nixon said that plant workers discovered the mess early Tuesday. The plant, just opened this summer, is under warranty. She says contaminated water will be treated before being released into the creek system.

There will be a minor construction project taking place from Oct. 17 – 22 that will reduce or eliminate some of the Arnold Engineering Development Complex’s (AEDC) Visitor Center services during that timeframe.
This will have a direct impact on base employees, official visitors and the area’s military retirees and their dependents.
The Visitor Center will undergo a minor remodeling/reconfiguration project and some of the computer systems will be disconnected for several days, according to Dan Hawkins, AEDC’s installation security section manager.
“We ask patrons in need of military ID card services during this time to defer their request until after the construction is complete since the equipment required for this service will remain in the construction zone,” Hawkins said. “Emergencies will be handled on a case-by-case basis.”
Visitors coming to the base on official business will receive credentials from a temporary trailer set up in the parking lot. This service will be very limited and only pre-made credentials can be issued during this timeframe.
“We appreciate everyone’s patience during this time,” Hawkins said.
For additional information, please call Hawkins at 931-454-5504.