Category: News

William T. Moon

One suspect accused of calling in a bomb threat directed to a Rutherford County Circuit Court judge on May 31 is wanted by Rutherford County sheriff’s detectives and the U.S. Marshals. A felony arrest warrant was obtained charging suspect William T. Moon, 51, of Tracy City, with making a false report. Moon allegedly called in the threat to the Rutherford County Judicial Building. Rutherford County CrimeStoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 cash for information leading to Moon’s arrest. People who have information about Moon’s whereabouts are asked to call CrimeStoppers at 615-893-STOP (7867) between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. People may also call the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office at 615-898-7770 or the U.S. Marshal’s office at 615- 736-5417. The investigation showed Moon was supposed to be in Circuit Court Judge Don Ash’s courtroom on May 31 for a plea on charges of theft, vandalism, aggravated criminal trespassing and possession of burglary tools. He did not show up in court. Detectives and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents arrested Moon’s girlfriend, Sheila Demotta, 46, of Tracy City, Tuesday on a felony charge of making a false report to them. Circuit Court Judge David M. Bragg set her bond at $100,000. She is being held at Rutherford County Adult Detention Center while awaiting a June 25 hearing in General Sessions Court.

Mary Mason

Mary E. Mason, the 61-year-old Franklin County woman that was being held under a $1 million bond following a shooting at a residence on Highway 130 May 31, 2012, has been released from jail after her bond was lowered. Mason, 61, of 9321 Old Tullahoma Hwy., was charged with Criminal Homicide following the shooting death of Eules D. Wimley, 71, of 1884 Post Oak Road, Belvidere. According to Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller, deputies received a call of a domestic disagreement at the residence. When they arrived they found the two standing in the yard talking and Mason had a weapon. As the officers approached the pair, the woman fired multiple shots and Wimley collapsed. Deputies and ambulance personnel administered first aid in an attempt to revive the man, but at 9:20 pm he was pronounced dead at the scene. Mason made the reduced bail amount of $100,000 and is now set to appear before General Sessions Judge Tom Faris on August 9.

“Spirit on the Square,” a community celebration in downtown Winchester, featuring Joey+Rory, the 2011 Top Vocal Duo of the Year by the Inspirational Country Music Association, will be held Saturday, June 23 from 4 to 8 p.m. Other main stage performers will feature Franklin County musician Jay Clark, cloggers, Irish dancers, bluegrass artist Tom Brantley and Missionary Ridge, along with Dinah Shore, Minnie Pearl, Davy Crockett, and Andrew and Rachel Jackson impersonators. In addition to main stage performances there will be an abundance of activities for children, from a scavenger hunt, face painting, storytelling and ring toss to woodworking and blacksmithing demonstrations, a balloon artist, photo booth, costume area, and sidewalk art, among others.

Thomas Greenwood in court on Wednesday... Photo by Barry West

Convicted child killer Thomas “TJ” Greenwood was back in a Coffee County courtroom on Wednesday(June 20, 2012). He was found guilty of first-degree murder in April. The murder of 2-year old-Hayden Gage West occurred on March 9, 2010. He was sent to state prison for life with a possibility of parole after 51 years before being eligible.
Greenwood was in court Wednesday for a hearing about 2 charge, aggravated child neglect and aggravated child abuse. Lawyers wrangled over how those sentences should be served either concurrent or consecutive. Concurrent would be served at the same time as the possible 51 years. A consecutive term would be served after the 51 years
Circuit Court Judge Craig Johnson said he will take the arguments under advisement with a decision to be announced later.

A Bedford County Jail corrections officer has been charged with providing inmates tobacco and cell phones in return for money, officials said Tuesday.
Jeremy Ryan Tyre, 25, of Fort Circle, Wartrace, confessed Monday.
He was charged with official misconduct and introducing contraband into a penal institution and was released on $5,000 bond. –Shelbyville Times-Gazette-

The Southern Middle Tennessee Entrepreneur Centers (SMTEC) is part of Governor Haslam’s Jobs4TN plan and a foundational component of the region’s economic development strategy while creating a network of partnerships and mentors within the local business community, the statewide investor base, higher education, non-profits and government.
Haslam said, “Startup companies have the potential to be a significant source of job creation, and we want to give local entrepreneurs their best chances for success as we work to make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs.”
Southern Middle Tennessee Entrepreneur Centers TennesSeed Camp™ takes a unique approach to the traditional accelerator program. Utilizing distance learning technology, needs-driven programming, and an organic flow-through, entrepreneurs can focus on their business versus academics. SMTEC also provides seed capital – the third leg of the stool – giving entrepreneurs a “leg up” in bringing their technology, service, or product to the marketplace.
SMTEC’s focus is in the following industry clusters:
• Automotive technology • Aerospace and defense
• Digital media • Bio-agriculture
• Green energy technology • Law enforcement
“Our TennesSeed Camp™ will accelerate the speed in which a young company can enter the marketplace,” stated Dan Marcum, SMTEC executive director, “by connecting entrepreneurs with the resources they need. Our primary objective is to get startup businesses funded so they can create jobs in Tennessee.”
Southern Middle Tennessee Entrepreneur Centers serves the counties of Perry, Wayne, Hickman, Lewis, Lawrence, Maury, Giles, Marshall, Lincoln, Bedford, Moore, Coffee, and Franklin; however our TennesSeed Camps™ are open to anyone interested in creating jobs in Tennessee.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has two new programs this summer designed for families.
The Hike the Smokies program encourages families to hike the park’s shorter, less strenuous trails. They get the chance to record the number of miles hiked in a booklet created especially for the participants.
The Adopt a Trail program gives parents and children an opportunity to help maintain a short, kid-friendly park trail. As trail adopters, families help preserve the beauty of a trail by keeping it trash free. Adopters also remove small branches from the trail and report larger maintenance needs to the park.

A state grant of up to $7.5 million has been approved for the “Nashville” television show on ABC this fall.
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development said Wednesday the reimbursement grant will be based on the production’s actual qualified expenditures made in the state. The show will film in Nashville.
Qualified expenditures are those incurred in the state for goods or services purchased from a Tennessee vendor or paid to a Tennessee resident in connection with the production.
The department said in a news release that the production is expected to employ more than 350 Tennessee residents in various crew positions in and around Nashville. Principal production work is to begin in mid-July.
The show is about a country music legend and a younger up & coming singer.

Motlow College will administer the complete Residual ACT assessment several times this summer to better prepare students for fall enrollment. Applicants under 21 years of age, who have missed taking the ACT during one of the national test dates, can register for the Residual ACT assessment for admission to Motlow. Community colleges are allowed to administer the test for admission to their school only. Scores cannot be transferred to another college/university. All tests will be administered in Crouch Center Room 1043 on the Moore County campus. The first two summer dates are June 27 and July 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. The final two testing opportunities, before fall classes begin, are August 1 and 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. All applicants taking the Residual ACT must have an admission’s application on file at Motlow prior to taking the test and are encouraged to complete the process as soon as possible to be eligible. Applicants must also complete the ACT application and enclose a check or money order for $31.00. Picture identification is required on the day of the test. For complete information regarding the test or to obtain a printable application, visit the Motlow website: www.mscc.edu/testing or contact the testing office at 931-393-1763, or 1-800-654-4877 ext. 1763.

The Coffee County Relay for Life is holding the 2nd “Colors of Cancer 5K Race and Family Walk” scheduled for Saturday June 23 at 7AM. It will be held along the Duck River Greenway through the Manchester Park. They are able to present this activity to the community with strong support from local businesses, the Manchester Recreation Complex, and the MachTenn Running Club.

The registration fee is $20 per person, with a discounted fee for additional family members in the household. They will have t-shirts and participation certificates to all who register. Please help to fulfill this year’s commitment to the American Cancer Society by joining up for the event.

Registration applications can be found at several local businesses including both offices of Coffee County Bank and the Manchester Recreation Complex.