Category: News

The Air Force is considering opening up a portion of the Arnold Air Force Base property for commercial development. The Air Force Real Property Agency has issued a Request for Information asking for input from developers and others on the use of some 152-acre parcel. The request does not cite a specific type of development, but does list a number of possibilities that will be considered.  Possibilities include, but are not limited to, manufacturing, distributing, warehousing, office space, mixed-use, residential and renewable or alternative energy operations.  The property’s western border fronts on Highway 55.  It is bordered on the north by the former Coffee County Landfill, and the land has been partially cleared.  Though the Air Force is seeking to determine the private sector’s interest and possible plans for developing the land, the property may never be broken.

Anthony Heartsell

20-year-old Anthony Heartsell is accused of raping a woman while both were patients at a Manchester nursing home.  Heartsell was ordered to undergo mental evaluation yesterday in Coffee County General Sessions Court.  He is to return to court May 8.

Thomas Greenwood

Thomas “TJ” Greenwood, the man convicted of murdering 2-year-old Hayden Gage West in March 2010, was transferred this week from the Coffee County Jail to the Tennessee Department of Corrections facility in Morgan County to begin serving his life sentence.  The prison holds over 2,400 inmates.

The FBI and members of the Tullahoma Police Department served a search warrant at a residence on Atlantic Street Monday night searching for child pornography on computers. The investigation began after the FBI’s Internet Crimes Against Children unit learned of possible child pornography being traded on the Internet by an individual at the residence.
The case is expected to be presented to a federal grand jury.

Oninion spill onto I-24... Photo and info from WKRN-TV

A tractor trailer carrying onions overturned on Interstate 24 in La Vergne midday Wednesday, forcing officials to shutdown the westbound lanes for more than two hours. The wreck was reported at the exit to Waldron Road at mile marker 64 around 11:30 a.m. The driver of the semi-truck told police a car slowed in front of him, causing his truck and another tractor trailer hauling corn to collide. The impact caused his truck to roll onto its side, sending boxes of Vidalia onions across all westbound lanes. Westbound traffic on I-24 was affected with all lanes blocked while crews work to clean the mess. No one was injured and no charges were filed.

WMSR Radio of Manchester, TN, is recognized by Radio Ink. Magazine in the selection of “Great Radio Facilities’ in the small market category.  The trade magazine made the announcement in its March 2012 issue.  WMSR underwent a remodel of their broadcast facilities on Oakdale Street in Manchester recently installing new equipment and furniture in its main control room and production facilities. The remodel provides a clean look and better functionality than the previous set-up and allows a better environment for interviews and on-air guests. WMSR has a format that includes local news and talk programs, sports and a wide variety of music. According to station co-owner Rob Clutter, “We were very overdue for a remodel; we had old wires everywhere and didn’t know if many of them were even being used! The whole team pitched in and helped to not only install new equipment, but to move everything into our new facility and set it all up. The best part is even during all the transition, we were never off the air!”  WMSR has served the area since 1957 and is now heard on 107.9FM, 1320AM, and WMSRradio.com.

A Tullahoma woman is being held in the Coffee County Jail on a bond of $16,000 after she allegedly attempted to sell prescription drugs at a mobile home park on South Roosevelt Street.  57-year-old Shirley Jean Russell of Rutledge Falls Road in Tullahoma was charged with manufacture/deliver/sell controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of prescription drugs without a prescription. According to a report by Tullahoma Police Officer Matt Walker, Russell allegedly was in the parking lot of the park approaching individuals attempting to sell the pills. Officer Walker’s report alleges that he found several bottles containing muscle relaxers.

A Summitville man was injured in a traffic accident in Cowan Monday afternoon. The accident occurred when a dump truck loaded with rocks overturned near South Middle School on Highway 41-A. The truck was operated by Luke Smith of Summitville.  According to Cowan Police Chief Allen Edwards, when Smith’s truck topped a hill, he saw a car sitting in the road waiting to turn. Smith told the officer that he had a choice of hitting the car or taking to the ditch, so he took to the ditch. The truck overturned and spilled some of the rocks. Cowan Firefighters had to break the windshield of the truck to get Smith out. He was treated at Southern Tennessee medical Center. Emergency personnel then started trying to clean up the rocks and get the truck upright.

Coffee County Judge Vanessa Jackson

Coffee County Judge Vanessa Agee Jackson will deliver the commencement address at the Motlow College graduation May 5 in Copperweld Arena of the Nisbett Center on the Moore County campus. Judge Jackson will speak at the 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. ceremonies. Judge Jackson of Tullahoma is Coffee County’s first and only female circuit court judge. She was appointed by former governor, Phil Bredesen, in 2009 after the death of Judge John W. Rollins. She secured her position on the bench by winning the 2010 election for the 14th Judicial District Part II.