Category: News

The annual Memorial Day Ceremony will be held Monday, May 28th, at 11am on the square in downtown Manchester.

The event pays deserving respect to those who have given their all for the liberties and freedoms we hold dear. Scheduled speakers are State Representative Judd Matheny, representatives from Coffee County, the City of Manchester, Arnold Engineering Development Center, the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

This will be a brief but educational and enlightening ceremony. The public is encouraged to attend: bring your friends, family, children and neighbors. Seating is limited so arrive early, as these ceremonies are almost always standing-room only.

In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the Coffee County Veterans Building at 130 Shelton Road in Manchester.

What better way to celebrate the heroes that fought for our freedom, than with FREE music and FREE stuff

WHEN
Monday 5/28 – Memorial Day
Noon-2pm

WHERE
John Roberts Nissan
I-24 exit #114 in Manchester

WHAT’S GOIN’ ON

• Free show by the Volunteer String Band
• Free Vietti Chili dogs…served by Aly Sutton, the Vietti Chili girl
• Drawings for Free CD’s, T-shirts and other cool swag compliments of NISSAN

• Register to win free tickets to Music City Roots on a free luxury shuttle from Manchester
• Can be heard Live on WMSR

Music City Roots, is a weekly, two-hour radio show that revives the historic legacy of live musical radio production in Nashville. Music City Roots showcases Nashville’s astonishing music scene, from country and Americana to more progressive interpreters of tradition — a “roots and branches” format that brings together fans of different tastes and generations.

Condition of house at time of arrest

A Manchester couple has been sentenced to 30 days in jail and placed on probation for two years after they entered a plea of guilty to criminal attempt to commit child neglect. Jeremy and Pamela Neal were arrested January 10, 2012 at their residence on Kefauver Street in Manchester after police found three children living in what they considered to be deplorable conditions. According to Manchester Police Investigator Butch Stewart, the officers found human and animal feces along with garbage in various amounts of debris was found throughout the house. According to warrants obtained by Stewart, the children appeared to be uncared for and very dirty, showing bug bites and numerous scratches on them. Emergency personnel transported the children to United Regional Medical Center where they checked.

Matthew Perkins' Intake Photo

Accused murderer Matthew Perkins made a brief court appearance in Coffee County Circuit Court Wednesday. The former Army recruiter is accused of murdering Stephanie Hershman and her two sons in their Skinner Flat home in Manchester in September 2010. Perkins’ defense attorneys informed Judge Craig Johnson that mental evaluations are continuing. The judge then set August 22nd as the next date for Perkins to appear, and he expects the evaluations to be completed. During that hearing a date will be set for motions to be filed. After the hearing Perkins was returned to his cell in the Franklin County Jail where he has been held since his arrest.

A Manchester Police captain has filed a lawsuit in Coffee County Circuit Court against the publisher of a local newspaper. A suit was filed by Wilma Thomas against Charles “Chip” Ramsey and his wife, Beth Ramsey, alleging that an article was published in the Saturday Independent stating that Thomas was reprimanded in the 1990s by a former city administrator for using inmates for personal chores, and that she was suspended from the police department for two weeks. Thomas alleges that the article was false and defamatory and placed her in a false light. The suit alleges that Ramsey had knowledge that the statement was false. Thomas also alleges that she has suffered damages in the form of impairment of her reputation and standing as well as humiliation, mental anguish, and emotional distress. She is asking for judgment to be issued against the Ramsey’s for compensatory and punitive damages as determined by a jury. Murfreesboro attorney Jerry Farmer represents Thomas. This is only one side of the legal issue.

Jackie L. McConnell, 60, of Collierville, Tennessee, John Mays, 50, of Collierville, and Joseph R. Abernathy, 30, of Olive Branch, Mississippi, pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court, in Chattanooga, to charges related to the conspiracy to violate the Horse Protection Act. Charges are still pending against a fourth individual charged in this case.

Sentencing has been set for McConnell, Mays and Abernathy at 9:00 a.m., September 10, 2012, in U.S. District Court, Chattanooga. McConnell faces a term of up to five years in prison, a $250,000.00 fine, supervised release for up to three years, and a $100 special assessment. Mays and Abernathy both face up to one year in prison, a $3,000 fine, up to one year of supervised release, and a $25 special assessment.

Elk River Utilities District has decided to discontinue sending out late notices to those who are late on paying their gas bills. The utility will save approximately $1,000 a month in postage as they currently send out some 1,500 notices a month. This comes as the postal service is combining the mail distribution center in Chattanooga to Nashville, which would mean a longer waiting period for the bills to be paid. The utility will discontinue sending out the notices and waiving late fees effective July 1.

Gov. Bill Haslam

Tennessee voters want to see their lawmakers spend more time on the economy and less time on social issues like sex education, according a new poll out from Vanderbilt University. The survey reached 1,002 adults in the state and 75 percent of them were registered voters. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus four points. Pollsters found 57 percent of people wanted the economy to be the top priority, followed by education with 22 percent and health care with 14 percent. Only 28 percent approved of how lawmakers were doing their jobs. Gov. Bill Haslam received a 61 percent approval rating.

The Tullahoma Fire Department received notification from the Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO), an independent rating organization, that it has been upgraded to a “3” rating as a result of a recent Public Protection Classification (PPC) field visit and survey. The Tullahoma Fire Department’s previous classification was “4”.

Mayor Lane Curlee stated, “This new rating is a testament to the professional management of our city and fire department as well as the commitment of our Board of Mayor and Aldermen and citizens in providing the necessary resources for the provision of an effective and efficient fire service. This new rating also reflects well on the Tullahoma Utilities Board and their management of our water supply that provides not only plentiful potable water but required fire flows.”