File photo
The theft of new golf clubs was solved Tuesday when Sgt. Danny Ferrell and Investigator Billy Marcum of the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department recovered them in Murfreesboro. According to Sgt. Ferrell the clubs are valued at $1,000. The investigation into the theft is continuing, and an arrest is expected soon.
A 12-year-old Winchester girl sparked a frantic 12-hour search after she went missing Monday night. A relative saw her walking near her home Tuesday morning and took her home to her emotionally distraught parents.
The girl told police she was abducted shortly coming home from school. The girl told police she was picked up by two men, one got out of the car, grabbed her, threw her into the car, and hit the child lock. At that point she told police they took her to a motel. That’s where a rape supposedly happened.
The story was a lie. According to police, it was a cover to conceal where she really was during the night. Police say she admitted to spending the night at a motel with a 19-year-old man. She told police she was afraid she would be in trouble with her parents.
When police began to question the girl at the police department, they noticed quite a few inconsistencies in her story. When pressed further, the girl admitted she had made up the story to cover her whereabouts.
It was a costly lie for police and the girl. Seven police personnel were involved in the search and investigation, including three criminal investigators and two criminal investigators with the Department of Child Services.
Police say the girl faces felony charges. She will be charged with filing a false police report.
Police are still looking for the 19-year-old. When he is found, he faces felony charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
The girl is now in the custody of her parents.
Lillian Nichole Ward
A Warren County woman is charged with TennCare fraud for selling prescription drugs paid for by the TennCare program.
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) today announced the arrest of Lillian Nichole Ward, 39, of McMinnville, after a joint investigation with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.
Ward is charged with one count of TennCare fraud, one count of delivery of a Schedule II controlled substance, and one count of delivery of a Schedule III controlled substance. She is accused of obtaining TennCare benefits by means of fraud, and of twice selling portions of prescriptions for pain medications that were paid for by TennCare. The drugs involved were Hydrocodone and Oxycodone.
Delivery of a Schedule II controlled substance charge is a Class C felony, carrying a possible sentence of three to six years, while delivery of a Schedule III controlled substance is a Class D felony, punishable by two to four years in prison. TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison.
The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated cases leading to over $3.5 million paid in restitution and recoupment to TennCare, with a total estimated cost avoidance of over $173 million for the TennCare program, according to latest figures. To date, over 1,600 people have been charged with TennCare fraud.
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 tn.gov/tnoig and follow the prompts that read “Report TennCare Fraud.
Similar tree
You’re invited to join the family of George Orr and Tullahoma Pride Foundation, Inc. members at the official dedication of a memorial tree to George C. Orr on Monday, May 7, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at History Park on South Atlantic Street. Mr. Orr was Mayor of Tullahoma from 1982-1986. After his recent death, Tullahoma Pride Foundation members wanted to acknowledge his service to Tullahoma with a lasting memorial. They raised the funds to purchase a large Norway spruce that was planted by the City of Tullahoma at History Park on Atlantic Street by the caboose.
Truck crashes loaded with washing powder
Traffic along I-24 in the east bound lane was halted yesterday morning when a tractor trailer truck overturned. According to the THP the truck was hauling washing powders and fell into Bean Creek at the 120 mile marker on the interstate. Firefighters, deputies and ambulance personnel had to dig through the washing powder to free the driver from the truck. According to trooper Jason Boyles, the washing powder spilled into the roadway as well as into the creek. Coffee County Emergency Management Agency Director Allen Lendley was called to the scene because of possible environmental impact. Also members of the Hillsboro Fire Department and Coffee County Ambulance Service were called to the scene. One lane of the interstate was reopened around 2:45 a.m. and all lanes were reopened around 5:15 a.m.
The trial date for Kimberly Ann Mullins, 37, who was indicted last year for the theft of over $60,000 from the Coffee County Fair Association, has been moved to May 9. The reason is due to a scheduling conflict for Circuit Court Judge Craig Johnson. The theft charge carries a minimum of eight years and a maximum of 12 years in prison if convicted.
Mullins, who served as treasurer of the fair board from 2006 until February 2011, was indicted June 14, 2011 on theft charges after a three-month investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation that alleges she took in excess of $60,000 from the fair coffers without approval.
She was arrested June 20, 2011. Mullins is free on a $10,000 bond.
Shelbyville Police jailed a man whose currency wasn’t current.
Later, the arresting officer told Lorenzo Gaspar he was sorry he’d arrested him after discovering the $50 bill was real.
The Shelbyville Times-Gazette reported Officer Brock Horner arrested Gaspar on Friday after a clerk at a Quik Mart told police a marker used to detect counterfeit bills wouldn’t mark the one Gaspar gave him.
Turned out the money wasn’t at fault, the process was.
Evidence technician Sgt. Bill Logue told Horner to have the bill examined at banks. One found the 50 “real, but very old.” Another used a black light and magnifying glass to determine the bill was legitimate.
The arrest wasn’t. Horner apologized to Gaspar after a judicial commissioner released him from jail.
Bobby Smelcer
Goodrich Maintenance and Facilities Manager, Joe Pannell, (on left) is resented the TVA award, “Innovator of the Year for Efficiency and Renewable Energy” by Brian Skelton, TUB General Manager.
At the Tennessee Solar Solutions Conference held in Memphis, in early April Tullahoma Utilities Board General Manager, Brian Skelton, and TUB Chairman received an award from the TVA on behalf of Goodrich Corporation, Landing Gear Tullahoma Division, which manufactures aviation parts for the aerospace industry.
At the Tennessee Solar Solutions Conference held in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 9th, Tullahoma Utilities Board (TUB) General Manager, Brian Skelton, and TUB Chairman, Duane Thorpe, received an award from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) on behalf of Goodrich Corporation. Goodrich was selected to receive the award for outstanding combination of Green Power Switch support and energy efficiency improvements in operations.
The recognition Goodrich received was TVA’s “Innovator of the Year for Efficiency and Renewable Energy” award. This award is an effort by TVA to increase community awareness of the investment customers are making in green power, such as solar, wind, and alternative fuels. In order to participate, businesses must purchase green power blocks through TUB. The energy program is made available through TVA, which is TUB’s provider of electricity in Tullahoma. Details of the program can be found at TVA’s website, which is www.tva.gov/greenpowerswitch.
“Duane and I were proud to accept the award on Goodrich’s behalf,” said Brian Skelton, General Manager of TUB. “This shows how much effort Goodrich has consciously made to focus on renewable energy and make their business more energy efficient.”
The award was brought back from the conference by Skelton and presented to Goodrich at the local Tullahoma Goodrich plant last week to Maintenance and Facilities Manager, Joe Pannell. He was pleased to receive the award and said that Goodrich has plans to purchase more green power blocks in the near future.
The City of Manchester Water & Sewer Department invites everyone to attend an Open House on May 16, 2012 from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. Tours will be available of the recently completed expansion of the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The plant is located at 736 West High Street in Manchester.
Cruisin Downtown Style on May 12, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Join us for door prizes, music, and fun for the whole family. Admission is FREE!! Cars, motorcycles, and trucks welcome! There will be a 50/50 drawing with the proceeds going to American Cancer Society Relay for Life. Donations will also be accepted. Call Jeff Burnette for more information at 931-273-1902.
