Category: News

A Grundy County family no longer feels safe, after bullets riddled their home. One struck their 17-year-old son in the head. It was just after midnight when Benji Goins says bullets flew through the windows of his Coalmont home, with one grazing his 17-year-old son Timothy. “He has fragments under the scalp,” says Goins. “Nothing penetrated deeply, so we’re thankful for that.” Goins believes the shooting was intentional, but is unsure who would want to hurt his family. “As far as we know he doesn’t have any enemies, so we’re just struggling to try and find answers,” he says. The Goins family plans to offer a reward for information leading to the arrest of the shooter. Timothy Goins was released from the hospital, but will have to return to have the bullet fragments removed from his head. If you have any information, call the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office at 931-692-3466.-WRCB-TV

The Coffee County Budget and Finance Committee members and school directors say greed and lobbying in the state Legislature are why Coffee County is being mandated to purchase new school buses instead of getting more life out of its old ones. Schools director Kenny Casteel reiterated last week the need for an additional $390,000 for three new school buses and increased fuel costs. The director stated that the school system will be retiring eight buses at the end of next spring, plus six more the following year, because they will reach the 200,000-mile limit imposed by the state legislature. Casteel said that the transportation director was doing his best to get by with only three new buses to replace the eight being retired.

A Tullahoma man died at Vanderbilt Medical Center from injuries he received in a two-vehicle accident Saturday afternoon. According to a report by Tullahoma Police Officer Rocky Ruehling, around 4:15 p.m. Saturday afternoon Anthony Wayne Holman, 54, of West Lincoln Street was attempting to turn into his driveway when his 1990 Toyota was struck by a 1994 Ford Explorer operated by Travis Langley Williams, 24, of Coffee Creek, Lynchburg. According to the officer’s report, Williams was traveling west on West Lincoln Street and attempted to pass Holman’s vehicle on a double yellow line. Travis told the officer that he had his hazard lights on as he was attempting to get to his mother’s residence to transport her to the hospital. Holman was transported to Harton Regional Medical Center and then flown to Vanderbilt by helicopter where died. Travis was charged with reckless driving and the investigation is continuing.

The continued sale of so-called plant food or bath salts has officials increasing their undercover stings. Just recently, Governor Haslam signed legislation making the substance illegal, but the makers of the product keep changing the chemical contents in order to bypass the law. Convenience stores caught with the synthetic drugs will be held to the highest penalty. The consumption of bath salts is most recently suspected in an incident in Florida where a man mauled a homeless man, chewing off parts of his face. Police are still awaiting toxicology tests to confirm those suspicions. With Bonnaroo in Manchester this week, police are warning people about the dangers of the drugs.  According to Sheriff Steve Graves, there have been reports of teenagers becoming very sick. The sheriff says that he has had reports of teenagers staying up for two or three days after using the product. Police are warning people about the use of Molly’s Plant Food, Rave on Bath Salts, and synthetic marijuana. The use of the products could make you extremely sick or may cause death. Using bath salts is known to cause violent outbursts, hallucinations, paranoia, and kidney failure.

Bonnaroo traffic in 2011

The city of Manchester is hosting the annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival this week. Over 80,000 music lovers are expected to attend this year’s festival, which kicks off Thursday night and continues through Sunday night. As Manchester prepares to welcome a multitude of visitors, the Tennessee Department of Transportation and Tennessee Highway Patrol are gearing up for the extra traffic expected in the area. TDOT and the THP are working with the Manchester Police Department, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department, and festival promoters to keep traffic moving on I-24 while also getting Bonnaroo attendees to their destinations. Area residents are urged to pay attention to those who aren’t use to driving here and be helpful as they help the local economy. During Bonnaroo 2011, troopers logged nearly 5,800 man-hours, worked 20 traffic crashes (6 injury, and 14 property damage crashes), and wrote 182 citations and 42 warnings. Officials are expecting over 100,000 people on the Bonnaroo site. Also, for the first time, the speed limit on I-24 in the festival area will be reduced to 55 mph for the duration of the festival. The speed reduction will be in effect between mile marker 104.6 (just west of Exit 105) and mile marker 129.4, where the speed limit currently drops to 55 mph to go over Monteagle Mountain. After the festival is over, the speed limit will be restored to its normal level. There will be TDOT HELP trucks on-site beginning June 6 through June 11. This year’s event features entertainment from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Beach Boys, Phish, and legendary music icon Kenny Rogers.

The burglaries of four Tullahoma churches are under investigation by Tullahoma Police. Thieves entered and vandalized Kings Cross Church located on Turkey Creek Road, Trinity Lutheran Church and Faith Lutheran (both located on Wilson Avenue), and Westside Nazarene Church. Thieves recently broke into three other church buildings in Tullahoma and two in the rural area of the county.

Don Northcutt's famous Coffee County Court House drawing

Former Coffee County Commissioner Don Northcutt passed away Sunday (June 3, 2012). Northcutt served on the commission for many years, wrapping up his service in 2010.
Don Northcutt was a local Coffee County artist creating beautiful work for nearly 40 years. Northcutt also produced single prints and yearly calendars that many Coffee Countians will enjoy for generations to come. Northcutt sketched HUNDREDS of scenes of life and places throughout Coffee County and surrounding counties.

Don Northcutt remembers Manchester from long ago in 1942

Wreck scene photo from the Tullahoma News

Hunter Jay Kimbrough, an 18-year old Manchester resident, lost his life Friday morning around 9:30 a.m. in a single vehicle crash on Rock Creek Road.
According to Tennessee Highway Patrolman Duane Stevens, Kimbrough was driving a 2002 Acura on Rock Creek Road some two miles outside of Tullahoma when he went off the roadway. According to the police report the teenager apparently overcorrected and came back on the roadway. He ended up traveling across both lanes and off the road.
According to the trooper, after leaving the roadway Kimbrough’s vehicle hit trees and overturned landing on its top. The North Franklin County Fire Department and the Winchester Fire Department arrived and began the task of cutting trees away from Kimbrough’s Acura. Kimbrough and passenger Chelsy Baker, 18, of Rock Creek Road in Tullahoma, were still inside the vehicle.
Baker was taken by an ambulance to Harton Regional Medical Center for treatment.
Kimbrough was also transferred to Harton where was pronounced dead on arrival.
Hunter Kimbrough graduated from Coffee County High School May 27. Kimbrough was a manager for the basketball team at Coffee County High School.

Tullahoma Police arrested a 17-year-old Manchester teen last week on multiple charges.
Tullahoma Officer Samuel Campbell charged the teen, whose name was not released because of his age, with aggravated burglary, theft of a motor vehicle, property damage, evading arrest, violation of drinking age law, and illegal consumption.
Campbell’s report alleges that the teenager pulled into a driveway on Washington Street and jumped out. He left the car in drive and the vehicle struck a porch.
The teen was located hiding in some nearby bushes.
According to the officer’s report, the teen admitted to breaking into a residence on Stratford Court and taking the keys to the car.
He was transported to the Coffee County Jail and juvenile petitions were taken against him. He was later transported to a juvenile detention center.

Mary Mason

A resident of the Highway 130 is being held in the Franklin County Jail under a $1 million bond and is charged with criminal homicide. 61-year-old Mary Mason of 9321 Old Tullahoma Hwy is accused of shooting 71-year-old Eules Wimley multiple times following a domestic disagreement at Mason’ residence. 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 was transported to the Franklin County Jail and charged with criminal homicide. She is to appear in general session’s court this week.
Investigators were at the residence most of the night gathering evidence.