Category: News

Gov. Bill Haslam

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and State Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman says that statewide student performance on the 2012 Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) improved for the second year in a row, as the state continues to push toward academic achievement through its First to the Top education reforms.

Students reached higher levels of proficiency in 23 of 24 TCAP achievement tests in grades three through eight. Achievement also increased on most high school “End of Course” exams.

“The continued success of students is a testament to how much work Tennessee teachers have done in the classroom,” Haslam said during the event at West End Middle School in Nashville. “We’re so proud of our students, teachers and parents for supporting statewide efforts to improve education, and it is exciting to see gains for a second year in a row.”

TCAP results show that after two years of steady increases, half of students in grades three through eight were reading at grade level or above during the 2011-12 school year.

Additionally, 47 percent of students scored proficient or advanced in math — about 55,000 more than were on grade level two years ago. More than 60 percent of students were proficient or advanced in science — 38,000 more students than in 2010.

In high school, more than half of students scored proficient or advanced in English I, English II, Algebra I, biology and history for the first time since Tennessee raised its standards three years ago.

To improve the quality of education in Tennessee, TCAP Achievement tests and End of Course exams became aligned with more strategic and rigorous standards in 2009, a result of the Tennessee Diploma Project. In the face of higher standards, students have demonstrated growth on the assessments each year as Tennessee strives to become the fastest-improving state educational system in the nation.

Cheyanne Belcher... Picture and info from WSMV-TV

Authorities are still on the lookout for a runaway teen from Shelbyville. Cheyanne Starr Belcher, who is thirteen years of age, was last seen on Friday. The teen could possibly be in the Murfreesboro area. Her parents say they believe she is traveling with a 19-year-old, and the two may try to leave the state. Belcher is described as a white female with sandy blonde hair and hazel eyes. She weighs about 120-pounds and stands at 4’11”. If you know of Belcher’s whereabouts you are encouraged to call 1-800-THE LOST.

On Friday, July 6 the Air Force will hold a ceremony to officially redesignate Arnold Engineering Development Center as a complex and welcoming a new commander to Tullahoma. The redesignation is part of a consolidation plan announced last November by the Air Force and Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) designed to eliminate redundant staff positions and reduce costs. Under the terms of the plan, AEDC will only lose 18 civilian jobs as a result of the consolidation, and those positions will be phased out through attrition. The new five-center construct comes in response to a Department of Defense challenge to find efficiencies and save tax dollars. Jason Austin AEDC’s director of public affairs explained that AEDC have little change. Although the official ceremony will be held next month, the event does not mark the switch to the new operating model but, rather, the beginning of a transition period slated to wrap up on Oct. 1. In addition to officially changing AEDC’s name, the July 6 ceremony will also include a change of command, with Col. Raymond G. Toth taking over from the current commander, Col. Michael T. Brewer.

Thunder Radio and the Manchester Times will host the Manchester Municipal political forum July 12 at the Coffee County Central High School Auditorium.

Carefully planned to take place one day prior to early voting – the forum will focus on the Manchester city election, which will see the mayor’s seat and five of the six aldermanic seats up for grabs.

The debates will be held at separate times – with aldermanic candidates taking the stage from 6-7:30 p.m. and mayoral candidates taking the stage from 8-9:30 p.m. Both will be aired live on Thunder Radio – WMSR AM-1320 and FM-107.9. The Times will also be providing live Tweets throughout the event.

WMSR radio commentator Lucky Knott and Manchester Times Editor Josh Peterson will moderate both forums.

Four candidates have qualified for the mayor’s race, including incumbent Betty Superstein, and 14 have qualified for the aldermanic race, including all incumbents with the exception of Janet Nettles, who was recently appointed to fill Lonnie Norman’s seat and said she would not be running for re-election.

Moderators will ask all of the questions, but citizens wishing to submit questions for consideration may do so by filling out a form at the Manchester Times office – 300 N. Spring St., Manchester, TN.

Questions must be submitted in person with a name. Questions in poor taste will not be considered.

Call the Times at 931-728-7577 or Thunder Radio at 931-728-1320 with any questions about the forum.

A Coffee County deputy found more than he expected Tuesday night when attempting to serve a warrant at a residence on East Moore Street in Manchester. When Corporal James Sherrill went to the door, it was opened by 58-year-old William Kemper.  Sherrill smelled the odor of a meth lab. While the officer was securing the house, he allegedly observed syringes, items associated with meth and a clear baggy of powder in plain view.  83 bags of synthetic marijuana packaged for resale were also in the room. Kemper, 18-year-old Stanley White, and 31-year-old Daniel Logue were charged with initiation process of meth, manufacture to sell and delivery, and possession of drug paraphernalia. White was also charged with possession of counterfeit money.

A Manchester man was injured in a single vehicle crash early Sunday morning in Franklin County. According to a report by Tennessee Highway Patrolman Charles Lyles, 28-year-old Eric Morgan of Manchester was traveling along Mansford Road near Tims Ford State Park, when he apparently lost control of his 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Morgan was trapped in the vehicle and the Winchester Fire Department used the Jaws of Life to remove him. He was transported to Southern Tennessee Medical Center, where he was admitted for his injuries.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is probing Decherd City officials for its conduct allegedly leading up to annexation of property to be used as a Rock Quarry. Kristen Helm, public information officer with the TBI, confirmed that the city is indeed being investigated to determine whether or not bribery was involved in swaying the aldermen’s votes in favor of the efforts to annex the property located on Greenhaw Road. Though contacted, Mayor Robin Smith said he could not comment regarding the investigation at this time. The mayor and aldermen were subpoenaed to go before Special Agent-Criminal Investigator Larry B. Davis of the TBI this week. At that time they are required to bring all papers, books, records, agreements, documents and any and all agreements of annexation between Decherd and Tinsley Asphalt, LLC. They’re also to be sworn and questioned by Special Agent Davis for the purpose of giving a written statement, delivering aforementioned items and obtaining evidence by said agent in the investigation conducted by TBI.

Hoping to attract more job candidates with higher levels of education, food processor Tyson Foods Inc. is collaborating with the MiddleTennessee Education Center in Shelbyville to host a job fair this week.

The job fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, June 29, at the Education Center, located at 200 Dover St., Suite J, inside the Medical Arts Building in Shelbyville.

Tyson Foods, which operates a poultry processing plant in Shelbyville, is interviewing for first- and second-shift, entry-level and supervisory positions. Applicants with associate and undergraduate degrees and/or military leadership experience are preferred.

Now in its third year, MTEC is a partnership between MTSU, Motlow State Community College and Bedford County. The center’s purpose is to provide additional higher-education opportunities to those who live in the southern part of Middle Tennessee.

The center has on-site classrooms as well as administrative and advising offices for both the Education Center and MTSU to offer assistance to students looking to earn a higher education.

And while Tyson may land future employees at the event, the Education Center also sees the potential to land future students by exposing job fair attendees to the center’s offerings.

Scholarships are available to attend MTEC. Applications are available online at the center’s website, www.mteducationcenter.com.

Dry conditions are fueling wildfires and concerns for area fire departments.  Officials say people should be extra cautious when burning debris, lighting a campfire or using fireworks. Several area volunteer fire departments have been called upon to fight grass fires as well as woods fires. These kinds of fires can spread quickly due to the lack of rainfall in the area.

The American Red Cross blood supply has reached emergency levels with 50,000 fewer donations than expected in June. This shortfall leaves the Red Cross with half the readily available blood products on hand now than this time last year.

The Red Cross is calling on all eligible blood donors – now more than ever – to roll up a sleeve and give as soon as possible. All blood types are needed, but especially O positive, O negative, B negative and A negative in order to meet patient demand this summer.

An unseasonably early start to spring may be a contributing factor to this year’s decrease in donations. Many regular donors got an early start on summer activities and aren’t taking time to give blood or platelets. In addition, this year’s mid-week Independence Day holiday has reduced the number of scheduled Red Cross blood drives. Many sponsors, especially businesses, are unable to host drives because employees are taking extended vacations.

Unfortunately, patients don’t get a holiday from needing blood products. The need is constant. Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion. Blood and platelets are needed for many different reasons, including accident and burn victims, heart surgery patients, organ transplant patients, premature babies – when there are complications during childbirth – and for patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease.

You can help save a life by donating blood at the following blood drive(s):

In addition, donors can find a blood drive in their area by visiting redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) for more information.