Category: News

County non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for May 2012 in Tennessee show the rate decreased in three counties, increased in 87 counties, and remained the same in five counties. Tennessee’s unemployment rate for May rose to 7.9 percent, up from the April revised rate of 7.7 percent. The national unemployment rate for May 2012 was 8.2 percent, 0.1 percentage point higher than the April rate. Coffee County went up 0.2 to 7.8% in May. Moore Co. reported the same numbers as Coffee County. Cannon County also went by 0.2 to 7.7. Other area counties; Bedford Co. up from 8.3 in April to 8.9, Franklin Co. goes up 0.3 to 7.9% in May, Grundy Co. went up by a half a percent to 9.5 and Warren County rose from 8.7 in April to 8.9 %. Williamson and Lincoln Counties were lowest in the state at 5.4% in May. Scott County reported the state’s highest unemployment rate in May at 15.9%.

A Michigan man was arrested late last week on violating sex offender registry law. Christopher John Birman was arrested at a residence on Alabama Street in Huntland where Franklin County sheriff’s deputies learned that he is a convicted sex offender from Michigan and that he has not registered in Tennessee. In addition to not registering, plus there are outstanding felony warrants for his arrest from Michigan. There were also small children living in the house where Birman has been living which is a violation of the sex offender law. Birman is being held in Franklin County Jail under a bond of $35,000.

People are reminded not to leave children or pets inside vehicles. With the temperatures in the 90s, leaving them in a vehicle can lead to death. As the temperature inside a vehicle can escalate by 15 degrees in just 10 minutes and with the hot temperatures and high humidity death can come very quickly. Even if you leave the windows rolled down some, the temperatures inside a vehicle can become deadly. Please take children in the store or leave them at home as it would be better than death.

The homicide case against 24-year-old Daniel Clay McDaniel was bound over by the Grundy County grand jury last week. The grand jury will hear evidence in the criminal homicide case against McDaniel, of Gruetli-Laager, Tenn., Grundy County Sheriff Brent Myers said. McDaniel is charged in connection the March 22 slaying of Joshua Wade Stevens, 26, also of Gruetli-Laager. Grundy’s grand jury meets July 9 and will report July 20. McDaniel’s lawyer, Steven T. Greer, of Dunlap, Tenn., said that his client shot in self-defense.

A mid-state horse trainer is accused of knowingly filing false entry information for five horses and violating the Horse Protection Act during the Liberty Lions Club horse show in Shelbyville on June 15. According to a news release from the SHOW Horse Industry Organization, Joe Cotten has been suspended for 7 1/2 years and fined $5,000 based on the allegations. The suspension is effective immediately and will last until December 21, 2019. SHOW officials said in 2010 Cotten was issued a six-month suspension, two-year probation and $2,500 fine for threatening a judge. The probation was from July 26, 2010 until July 26, 2012. At the request of his doctor, SHOW waived a portion of the 2010 penalty contingent upon Cotten attending anger management classes and seeking medical help. At this year’s Liberty Lions Club Show, SHOW officials said Cotten hired Marvin North, a full time employee of 5-Way Farms, to take his horses through inspection and put them in the ring. SHOW officials allege that Cotten used North’s trainer’s license number and told North that he would pay any fines the horses received. SHOW officials said this is the same violation which caused the indictment of trainer Jackie McConnell and three of his employees. SHOW officials allege that Cotten entered five horses and falsified all of the entries, which is a violation of the Horse Protection Act. In addition, Cotten is accused of being verbally abusive to SHOW officials. SHOW officials allege in the days following the June 15 show, Cotten posted graphic pictures of Jose’s Wine & Roses, a horse under his care on Facebook, in which the horse’s front feet were badly injured. SHOW also suspended Marvin North for one year, fined him $1,000 and placed him on four-year probation subject to upward adjustment depending on the outcome of a hearing committee.

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

A Bedford County family has launched a desperate search for their missing daughter. Cheyanne Belcher is 13 years old and went missing Thursday. Her parents say they believe she is traveling with a 19-year-old, and the two may try to leave the state. Shelbyville Police also say they consider Cheyanne a runaway, and she has gone missing before.

One of the injured loaded onto Life Force... By Barry West

Five hurt in SUV crash... Photo by Barry West

Ashley Landon from Winchester was traveling south on Prairie Plains Road when her Ford Explorer left the road and overturned Thursday afternoon (June 21, 2012). She said that she had just put on a spare tire that was a different size. When she topped a rise in the road, the car started to wobble and bounce. She then lost control and left the roadway. Six children ranging in age from 5 to 9 were also in the vehicle. A seven-year-old and a nine-year-old were flown from the scene by Life Force to Erlanger Hospital with various injuries. Three of the other children went to area hospitals with minor injuries. The driver and one other child were unhurt. THP was in charge of the scene.

Mazda is heavily damaged after crash on I-24... Photo by Barry West

An accident on I-24 eastbound near the 105 exit severely injured one man around 4:30pm. Coffee county deputies, EMS and Manchester Fire Department responded to the Thursday afternoon crash (June 21, 2012).
A witness from Blount County said that a Mazda sedan was traveling east when the driver went off the edge of the interstate overcorrecting and went into the path of an 18-wheeler. The Mazda from Florida and truck collided causing tremendous damage to the car.
The male driver of the car suffered serious injuries and was transported via Air Evac to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga. The wreck is still under investigation.

Man from Florida is loaded into a chopper on I-24... By Barry West

Lisa Lemmons

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) announced this week three arrest in Coffee County on TennCare Fraud charges:

• Lisa Lemons, 50, of Manchester, charged with two counts of TennCare fraud, allegedly using her TennCare benefits to obtain the painkiller Hydrocodone and Alprazolam, an anti-depressant, while planning to sell a portion of the drugs.
• Michael Bumpus, 46, of Tullahoma, charged with one count of TennCare fraud for using TennCare benefits to obtain Soma, a muscle relaxant, later selling a portion of the prescription.
• Regina Lacewell, 50, of Manchester, charged with one count of TennCare fraud for using TennCare benefits to obtain the strong painkiller Morphine, concealing the fact she planned to sell a portion of the drug.

Michael Bumpus

TennCare fraud is a Class E felony, carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison. District Attorney General Mickey Layne will prosecute the Coffee County cases.

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.”

Regina Lacewell

Pot growing in the back of business in January

Deputies with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department arrested Jerry Thomas Northcutt Jr. of 1208 W Lincoln Street in Tullahoma for manufacturing marijuana. Jerry Northcutt was arrested at his home for a sealed indictment and transported to the Coffee County jail to make a $12,500 bond. Northcutt was the owner of the Horns Strings and Things when deputies went in with a search warrant and seized forty-seven pot plants growing in the back room in January. As of now Northcutt is the only suspect that deputies have linked to the marijuana grow.