Category: News

Manchester’s annual Patriot Day ceremony was held Sunday and again was hosted by the American Legion Gold Star Post 78 of Manchester.
On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorism hit America. After the tragic events and the loss of many lives, the American Legion encouraged all posts to sponsor an event to recognize and honor their local first responders. Many posts around the country have stopped their event, but this is the 11th year that this ceremony has been held in Manchester. The ceremony not only remembers those events on Sept. 11, 2001, but it also recognizes city and county law enforcement, fire department and other emergency personnel.
A special memorial was also held for the first responders who died during the year.

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Friday afternoon a young black male entered the Title Cash business on Hillsboro Boulevard in Manchester armed with a pistol and demanded money. According to Investigator Billy Butler, the man had a shaved head and was wearing a black shirt and blue jeans. He was last seen leaving the business with the money in a small sedan. Anyone with information as to the identity of the thief is asked to call the Manchester Police Department at 728-2099.

A 55-year-old Tullahoma man that lives on Riley Creek Road is free on a $50,000 bond after being arrested on charges of rape. According to a warrant obtained by Tullahoma Police Investigator Harry Conway, John Anthony Tomes allegedly held a 13-year-old girl down in the bedroom of his residence during the summer of 2011. The warrant alleges that Tomes then ordered the girl to take a shower. Tomes is due in General Sessions Court September 13.

The low bid to widen Cedar Lane has checked out, stands as is and will go before the Tullahoma Board of Mayor and Aldermen today for approval.
The board meets at City Hall. Josh LeFevre Construction Co, from Jackson submitted the low bid of $985,162.84. The road widening will be from near Tractor Supply in the Forrest Gallery shopping center to just past the William Northern Boulevard intersection. Mayor Lane Curlee says that moving into the construction chapter is a significant step in a much-needed roadway improvement project that will allow better access to areas in Tullahoma, improve safety and promote business development. Wayne Limbaugh with the city said the widening work is expected to begin sometime this month and be completed by next summer.

State Rep. Judd Matheny tells The Associated Press he is no longer considering a challenge to fellow Republican Beth Harwell for House speaker next year.
Matheny announced last month that he was looking into a bid for the top post in the 99-member House because he felt marginalized by other Republican leaders.
He said Thursday in an interview in his legislative office that he will instead seek another term in his current position as House speaker pro tempore. Besides speaker, it is the only post elected by the entire lower chamber of the General Assembly.
Matheny said he expects to have an increased role in the next legislative session and will work to improve coordination between the House and Senate and with Republican Gov. Bill Haslam’s administration.

A new industry will be opening later this month in the former C-Star building at UTSI. The building has been transformed into an incubator for new industry at the site. Secure Water Company of Soddy Daisy Tennessee will be occupying a portion the 10,800 square foot building. The project is part of a program from the University of Tennessee Research Foundation.
The company will produce water quality test kits for municipalities. Chattanooga has already purchased one of the kits that sell for a price of between $50 to $75,000. The company will operate in the building for 18 to 24 months and at that point they will move into another building. According to Franklin County Mayor Richard Stewart, a New York thermal company is currently negotiating to locate in the building. A Franklin County Industrial board member stated that the incubator building is designed to serve technology businesses.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said they have new leads to renew a search for a Shelbyville English teacher who went missing in March 2011. Shelley Mook, a mother of one child, has been missing for about a year and a half. Investigators said they searched the CSX rail yard in Cowan. The TBI said they are being assisted by about 10 other law enforcement agencies in the case. Shortly after her disappearance, Mook’s car was found burning in a field in Murfreesboro. Investigators believe she went to ex-husband Tyler Mook’s home to drop off their daughter. The TBI said their main suspect all along has been Mook’s ex-husband. They said he has been uncooperative throughout the investigation. Police said he was the last person who saw her. He reported her missing, but not until the day after the car was found. Although he is the main focus, but the TBI is not ruling out the possibility that someone else was involved. Anyone with information on Mook’s whereabouts should call the Bedford County Sheriff’s Department at 931-684-3232, the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department at 615-904-3049 or the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

The state’s 911 operators will soon be able to receive emergency reports by text message. The Tennessee Emergency Communications Board voted unanimously Thursday to approve a pilot project led by AT&T. It sounds like a relatively simple advance in technology, but telecom companies have spent years trying to find a good way to send text messages to 911, and they still don’t have one. Tennessee will become the largest test case in the country. Smaller-scale systems have been implemented in Vermont and North Carolina where very few people used the service.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation reports the number of traffic deaths on Tennessee roadways is more than six percent higher than this time last year. Beginning in late April, TDOT began posting the number of traffic deaths on interstate message boards. Since April 28, motorists have watched the number of deaths rise from 288 to 690. TDOT officials say the signs are bringing awareness. Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel Tracy Trott says if it brings attention to the fact that almost 1,000 people die in Tennessee every year.