Category: News

Tuesday afternoon Coffee County Middle School PBS hosted a “Welcome to Middle School” event for sixth grade students and their parents. The sixth grade teachers and the administrative staff were on hand to meet parents and answer any questions. Everyone ate hot dogs cooked on the grill, got to know each other a little better, and learned a couple of cheers before going to the football game. This event also served as a Positive Behavior Support celebration.
Students at Coffee County Middle School participate in PBS which stands for Positive Behavior Support. The premise of PBS is to set high expectations for students and then recognize them for meeting those expectations. Local businesses make donations to sponsor our efforts in recognizing our students during these activities. The “Welcome to Middle School” event was one such activity. Throughout the year, other events will take place. Students who follow the three expectations of PBS may participate. The three expectations for Middle School students are be responsible, be respectful and be prepared.
The school would like to thank Lewis Bakery, Spring Street Market, Little Debbie, Coffee County Realtors, The Ice House and the sixth grade parents for the donations that made this event a success.

A new mayor and three new aldermen were sworn into office last night in Manchester. Lonnie Norman replaces Betty Superstein as mayor. Incumbent aldermen Ryan French and Roxanne Patton were also sworn in. They are joined by newcomers Russell Bryan, Tim Pauley, and Cheryl Swann. Alderman Donnie Parsley remains on the board; his seat was the only one not up for election on Aug. 2.
During the meeting Mark Yother was named police chief, and Charlie Taylor was named the new fire chief. Ross Simmons, who was serving as the safety commissioner in charge of both departments, announced his retirement recently.

Customers of Tullahoma’s Mike Thompson Ford have been getting an unpleasant surprise in the mail—a letter from a lawyer warning them their newly purchased vehicles are being repossessed. Several individuals have reportedly received the letters saying that the dealership owned Citizens Tri County Bank money on the cars. The bank has since promised several individuals that they would be getting an apology letter for the threat. Monday night more problems hit the car dealership as Citizens Tri County Bank repossessed the cars on the dealership’s lot and parked them in a parking lot located behind the North Jackson Street office of the bank. When asked what they planned to do with the cars, bank branch manager and vice president Wes Fanning stated that he could not comment due to privacy laws.

Six young people in trouble after what they did over the weekend. The six are facing charges of aggravated assault after they allegedly shot vehicles and people with paint balls. According to a report by Manchester officer Keith Hendrix, 19 year-old Dalton Mai, 18 year-old Jay Wooten, and 20 year-old Cody Smart were at Sonic talking about shooting paintball guns. After picking up a juvenile at Sonic, they went to Wal-Mart and bought equipment and met up with others, 19 year-old Josh Thomas and another person. The 6 then went around Manchester allegedly shooting buildings, cars and people including vehicles at Al White motors. They also allegedly shot into a group of people around McDonalds with the paintballs. They then drove down Woodland Street and shot a stop sign at Highway 53. They later disposed of the paintball supplies near the Duck River Bridge, which police recovered.

Interstate 24 was closed for over two hours Tuesday afternoon around mile marker 121 after a one-car crash around 12:20 p.m. took the life of a Beech Grove man and sent a Manchester man to Vanderbilt Medical Center for treatment. According to Tennessee Highway Patrolman Charles Graham, Wendell Reed, 62, was driving a 2007 Nissan went he went off the roadway and he pulled back onto the roadway and crossed into the median. The car eventually ended up flipping until stopping in the median on its top. Reed was pronounced dead at the scene while William Dewolfe of Manchester was flown to the Nashville hospital.

Just before noon Tuesday, a flat bed truck hauling a John Deere tractor was traveling of Hwy 127 near the Oakley Subdivision. He locked his breaks and went into the ditch overturning and losing his load. The driver told WMSR that a car was turning into the subdivision but had no brake lights causing him to lock his brakes and crashed into the ditch to avoid hitting the car. Hwy 127 was blocked while the wrecker removed the truck and tractor from the ditch. According to information received the driver of the car was cited. Coffee County Deputies were in charge of the scene.

A Decherd woman was arrested last week on theft charges after she allegedly took money and merchandise from Wal-Mart. According to warrants obtained by store officials, 40-year-old Shannon Kate Herrin of Main Street, Decherd, is accused of taking $150 cash from a register while she was working as a cashier at the store. She is also accused of taking approximately $150 worth of merchandise at various times between April 17 and July 31 from the store. Herrin was booked into the Coffee County Jail but was released after posting a $5,000 bond. She is scheduled to appear in General Sessions court August 23.

A Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper was injured after being dragged by a car in Marshall County overnight Monday. Officials said Trooper Jon Judge, 42, made traffic stop on Highway 431 South. When he went to arrest the man for not having a driver’s license and giving a false name, the suspect drove off, dragging the trooper. Trooper Judge fired shots at the man as he drove away, and the suspect was shot in the arm. The TBI said the man was taken into custody in Lincoln County, and then transported to a local hospital before being transferred to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. The TBI said they were still trying to positively identify the suspect. Trooper Judge suffered minor injuries and was treated and released from the hospital, according to the THP. Judge had been with the THP since February 2000. He is currently assigned to Marshall County. Trooper Judge was placed on discretionary leave with pay pending an administrative review of the incident.

A Manchester man was arrested Saturday on burglary and drug charges. He was found at a house belonging to his former girlfriend. Linda Youngblood reported to Manchester Police that a truck belonging to her ex David Kennedy was in her driveway and was not allowed to be there. Manchester Police searched the truck, but Kennedy was not in it. Police got Youngblood to open the house and there sat Kennedy in a recliner. The man was arrested for burglary and as police checked him they found various drugs in his truck causing more charges.

Around 2pm Monday afternoon two cars of a male and female from Manchester collided at the intersection of McMinnville Hwy and North Waite Street. The man, in a Chevy Caprice, turned from Waite St into the path of a Honda driven by the woman. Both were transported to area local hospitals to be treated for minor non-life threatening injuries.