Category: News

Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen will have a regularly scheduled board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday April 6 at Manchester City Hall.

Among the items listed are multiple resolutions to annex well over 500 acres of land into the city – land that is owned by New Era Farms (Bonnaroo).

Bonnaroo recently requested that the city annex the property.

Meeting time is 6:30 p.m. at Manchester City Hall. See the full agenda by clicking here: 

An important piece of legislation advancing through the TN House is the “Safe Seniors Act of 2021,” House Bill 718.

This bill enhances protections for Tennessee’s aging and vulnerable citizens.

House Bill 718 places elder abuse alongside child abuse as a crime that requires a magistrate to make specific findings before setting bail for suspects arrested on suspicion of abusing older citizens. It also makes it easier for prosecutors to take depositions to preserve testimony of aging and vulnerable people. The legislation modifies current law to recognize that many older and vulnerable people are unable to sufficiently communicate to testify that a specific act was painful. The bill makes accommodations to satisfy the definition of ‘physical harm’ to include acts that would cause a reasonable person pain.

House Bill 718 allows the vulnerability of a victim of abuse a factor that can be considered in cases of rape and aggravated rape. It also allows multiple counts of sexual abuse to be a factor that judges can weigh when deciding whether to impose consecutive sentencing. The Safe Seniors Act of 2021 will assist law enforcement and prosecutors by taking dangerous individuals who abuse aging and vulnerable citizens off the streets. Judges will have the ability to ensure sentences for these terrible acts reflect the severity of the crimes.

House Bill 718 is scheduled for consideration in the Rules and Calendar Committee.

At the beginning of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Secretary of State Tre Hargett wants to remind Tennesseans about Safe at Home, the free statewide address confidentiality program for victims of sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking or domestic abuse.

“In the two years since we launched Safe at Home, we have helped hundreds of individuals and families protect themselves from becoming victims again by protecting their address,” said Secretary Hargett. “I encourage Tennesseans of any age or gender who have experienced stalking, human trafficking, domestic abuse or any sexual offense to take advantage of this free program.”

Safe at Home prevents abusers from locating their victims through public records by providing approved applicants a substitute address that may be used for legal purposes, including voter registration and government services such as a driver’s license and access to assistance programs.

Under current Tennessee law, most state and local government records are available for public review. These public records, which include identifying information, make it easy for abusers to track and find their victims.

The first step to participate in Safe at Home is to complete an application with one of our partner agencies. Safe at Home has partner agencies serving all 95 counties in Tennessee. Safe at Home partner agencies include state and local agencies and nonprofit organizations that provide counseling and shelter services to victims of domestic abuse and other crimes.

Each partner agency has certified application assistants to guide participants through enrollment. A list of partnering agencies can be found on our website SafeAtHomeTN.com.

By Nadia Ramligan, TN Public News Service

Under current law, Tennessee patients can be required to use certain pharmacies to fill their prescriptions, but a bill in the state Legislature could change that.

On Tuesday, the House Insurance Subcommittee passed a bill to ban so-called “patient steering,” and increase transparency and regulation of drug pricing.

Davidson County resident Eben Cathey said his wife, who has ALS, recently was told she almost certainly would need to change pharmacies, and potentially switch providers, after enrolling in Medicare.

“And that comes with several barriers,” he said. “I mean, one, some of these providers and the pharmacists are not close to us. So, it’s going to be much more inconvenient to drive 40 minutes round trip, as opposed to a 10-minute round trip.”

House Bill 1398 would stop the companies that manage prescription benefits on behalf of health insurers – called pharmacy-benefit managers – from directing patients toward their preferred network of pharmacies, affiliated hospitals and providers. It also would allow people to get drug-cost information directly from pharmacies. Pharmacy-benefit managers argue their industry helps lower drug costs for patients.

In addition, the bill would free up data on drug pricing to provide accurate information to patients at the time of care. Cathey said he and his wife currently expect to pay up to $1,000 a month to cover prescription costs.

“Along with the uncertainty of seeing our network of support, and the providers and pharmacists that we’re used to seeing, we have a relationship with,” he said, “there’s also the extra burden of really high drug coverage costs.”

Cathey added that navigating the health-care system for someone with a complex and rare disease has taken a mental toll, as well.

“Dealing with a chronic illness is stressful enough,” he said. “So it’s really a shame that, in order to receive quality care, you have to move through another set of barriers.”

Between 2012 and 2017, the cost of the average Tennessean’s prescription drugs increased by 58%, and around 34% of residents say they’ve stopped taking a medicine they need because they can’t afford it, according to data from AARP.

Tennessee has reached a vaccination landmark of one million Tennesseans being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Approximately 22 percent have received at least one dose.

‘’We celebrate this milestone and expect to see this number increase as vaccine is more widely
available,” said Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP. “The hard work
and dedication of our local health departments and statewide vaccine partners have helped us
reach this significant moment in our fight against COVID-19.”

Continued Focus on Equity and Underserved Populations
Tennessee is committed to ensure equity in its COVID-19 Vaccination Plan. TDH has been working with community partners, faith leaders, and health care advocates to help empower and inform underserved populations across the state. Over half of Tennesseans over the age of 60 have received their first dose, and nearly two-thirds of those over age 70 have received their first does. Meanwhile, over the past month, Tennessee’s Hispanic population receiving at least one dose has increased from 3.9 percent to 12.9 percent and Tennessee’s Black population receiving at least one dose has increased from 5 percent to 15 percent.

“We are encouraged that Tennessee is increasing uptake particularly among our elderly, minority and underserved populations,” said Piercey. “At this point in the vaccine roll out, we are committed to access for everyone if they choose to receive a vaccine in a health department, a pharmacy, or a provider’s office.”

Highest County Vaccine Administration
The following counties have the highest vaccine administration per 100,000 population in Tennessee. Three of these counties, Unicoi, Hancock, and Madison, are among Tennessee’s 35 counties with highest Social Vulnerability Index values, indicating they may struggle to recover from adversity. These 35 counties are provided additional doses of COVID-19 vaccines, beyond their population-based allocation, so those counties could move through the State’s eligibility phases more quickly and protect their high-risk communities.

Highest Doses/100K Population
Unicoi 33,186
Trousdale 32,706
Hancock 32,122
Moore 27,194
Madison 26,312
Marshall 25,548
Monroe 25,179
Henry 24,959
Sullivan 24,611
Pickett 24,590

Schedule Your Vaccination Appointment
Find vaccination providers in your area by visiting VaccineFinder.org. Tennessee county health departments across the state currently have appointments available for COVID-19 vaccination. Book an appointment with your county health department at COVID19.tn.gov. Those who need help scheduling a COVID-19 vaccination appointment with their local health department may call the TDH vaccine support line at 866-442-5301. Transportation resources are available when appointments are booked online or via phone.

TDH reminds all Tennesseans to remain vigilant to prevent the additional spread of COVID-19. In addition to vaccination, wearing a face mask, maintaining social distance and getting tested when exposed or sick are critical to controlling the pandemic.

Tennessee’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan is available online at www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/COVID-19_Vaccination_Plan.pdf. Find answers to frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccination at https://covid19.tn.gov/data/faqs/.

Join us at Thunder Radio and Rosalyn Partin of the Manchester H&R Block and congratulate our student of the week – Allie Raines

Allie is in 5th grade at Hickerson Elementary School. She is the daughter of Dustin Johnson and Jennifer Johnson. Her favorite subject is social studies. When she grows up, Allie would like to be a veterinarian. In her free time, Allie enjoys practicing softball and any other sports, taking care of her two dogs and a cat.

Rosalyn Partin, owner of the Manchester H&R Block, has been inspired to recognize great kids in our community all year long. H&R Block gives each Student of the Week a gift card, a commemorative plaque, as well as a special letter of recognition. Job well done, Allie!

(Pictured from left: Allie Raines, Hickerson principal Jimmy Anderson and Rosalyn Partin with H&R Block).

A federal indictment unsealed Friday charged 27 individuals with a host of federal crimes relating to a large scale conspiracy to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Mary Jane Stewart for the Middle District of Tennessee. Eight others were charged in separate indictments last week and two other individuals had previously been charged. The conspiracy has been ongoing since as early as 2018 and was orchestrated from within the Tennessee State Prison system by Humberto Morales, aka Pelon, 29, of Columbia, Tennessee, who has been incarcerated since 2014. Other charges resulting from this investigation include kidnapping, money laundering, making threats by electronic communication, and firearms violations.

The Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) previously sought the assistance of federal law enforcement to address criminal activity occurring within the prison system.

The resulting indictments and other court documents allege that the organization had ties to MS-13, Sur-13, and other street gangs and distributed tens of thousands of fentanyl-laced pills; multiple kilograms of fentanyl and heroin; over fifty pounds of methamphetamine, which was often 95-99 percent pure (commonly referred to as “ice”); as well as smaller quantities of cocaine and marijuana. Court documents also allege that this well-orchestrated conspiracy is linked to at least one murder, horrific assaults, and multiple other crimes of violence.

Morales is alleged to have been the leader of the organization and routinely obtained contraband cell phones which were smuggled into the prison facilities where he was housed. Morales used these phones and encrypted communication services such as WhatsApp to orchestrate activities of the drug distribution network, order acts of violence against individuals, and to direct the flow of cash from drug sales between middle Tennessee and Mexico. Drug proceeds were also used to pay co-conspirators, to pay for drug shipment expenses, bail and legal services, and to purchase firearms.

Notable acts of violence associated with the conspiracy include the severing of a woman’s hand in November 2019, as punishment for losing drug proceeds. During this incident, the woman was kidnapped, driven around Nashville, and then a hatchet was used to chop off one of her hands, before leaving her lying on the street. This incident was recorded on video and sent via encrypted communication on a cell phone. Another incident involved a hitman for the organization who, at the direction of Morales, cut off part of his own pinky finger to prove his continued loyalty to the organization after he lost or stole a small quantity of drugs.

The indictment also charges Morales and Kim Birdsong, 49, of Nashville, with using facilities of interstate commerce (cellular telephones and encrypted messaging services) in an effort to murder a person known as “Pancho”/”Mekaniko,” and that cash, drugs, and the cancellation of a pre-existing drug-related debt were to be provided as payment for that murder. That person was then shot multiple times on April 4, 2019, in Nashville, but survived.

As a result of this investigation, law enforcement seized more than $160,000 in cash drug proceeds and multiple firearms, including a handgun which had been illegally modified to operate as a machinegun, and an operational firearm silencer.

Many of the defendants were charged by criminal complaint as the investigation progressed and have been in custody awaiting indictment. Others were arrested Friday and are in federal custody. Two others are fugitives, including Morales’ girlfriend, Erika Vasquez, 32, aka Chula, of Memphis and Columbia, Tenn., and Magdiel Pina Ramirez, aka Big Show, 28, of Mexico. Ramirez is the person described above who served as a hitman in Mexico and cut off part of his own finger. Both are currently believed to be in Mexico.

Others charged in this investigation are: Jose Juan Alvarado, 44; Oscar Avelar Anguiano, aka Chucky, 33; Grecia Barrios, 33; Kim Lamont Birdsong, aka Bird, 49; Jennifer Cano, 33; Ricardo Davalos-Martinez, 28; Mario Garcia Flores, aka Christhian Colmenares-Ruiz, 33; Jonhy Fernando Jimenez, 38; Antonio Sanchez-Lopez, 23; Jennifer Montejo, 33; Korrine Parker, 43; Luis Ramirez Escudero, 27; Phillip Christopher Smith, aka Felipe, 41; Sinquan D. Smith, 27, all of Nashville; Avigael Cruz, aka Traviesio, 29; Billy Cruz, aka Pee Wee 26; Kevin Oliva-Hernandez, 31; Jairo Rostran, aka Poffi, 28, all of Smyrna, Tenn.; Rico Gross, 38; Armando Lopez, aka Mando, 40; Jesse Sanchez, aka Papi, aka Bori, 31, all of Goodlettsville, Tenn.; Jacob Lee, aka Grenas, 25; Justin Blake Lee, aka Chino, 26; Jasmine Tayor, 26, all of Manchester, Tenn.; Kevin Tidwell, aka Miklo, 27; Melinda Tidwell, both of Ashland City, Tenn.; Terrance Marquette Bobo, 28, of Memphis, Tenn.; Pearline Neal, 31, of Gallatin, Tenn.; Austin Dodd, 25, aka Chucky, of Chapmansboro, Tenn.; Tiffany Messick, 27, of Shelbyville, Tenn.; Stacy Owens, 31, of Decaturville, Tenn.; Zenaida Cano, 42; of Phoenix, Arizona; David Ku, 45, of Inglewood, California; and Gerson Jimenez-Garcia, 38, of Honduras.

Jennifer Montejo, charged in the conspiracy in December 2019, was sentenced on Friday to 25 years in prison. Montejo was arrested at a Nashville bus station as she returned from California after travelling to Los Angeles days earlier. At the time of her arrest, four kilograms of fentanyl, and a kilogram of heroin were discovered in Montejo’s luggage. She pleaded guilty in November 2020.

Acting U.S. Attorney Mary Jane Stewart praised the tremendous efforts of the law enforcement agencies involved in this extensive investigation and noted the unparalleled cooperation between the agencies and the significant resources contributed by the Tennessee Department of Correction and its desire to reduce criminal activity by its inmates.

This multi-year Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation is being conducted by numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations; IRS Criminal Investigations; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; FBI; Tennessee Department of Corrections-Office of Investigations & Compliance; and others.

If convicted, most defendants face a minimum of 10 years in prison and many face up to life in prison.

All defendants not previously convicted are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

A 19-year-old man is in the Bedford County Jail and facing charges of vehicular homicide after a crash that took the life of a young child last week.

Cristian Ruiz, age 19, has been booked into the Bedford County Jail aand is facing one count of vehicular homicide and two counts of aggravated assault. His bond has been set a $1 million He was arrested on Tuesday, March 30, one week after the date of the accident.

On Tuesday, March 23, Ruiz’s SUV was traveling westbound on Highway 64 when he attempted to pass another vehicle, according to a report from THP. At this point, Ruiz slammed head-on into a sedan traveling eastbound.

Killed was a 5-year old child from Tullahoma. A 6-year old also traveling in the sedan was injured.

Written By Elena Cawley

Child abuse plagues Coffee County, according to those who witness the effects and battle child abuse daily: Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center Director Joyce Prusak, the Child Protective Investigative Team, Coffee County District Attorney Craig Northcott and Youth Services Director Leanne Eaton.

With the confidential nature of child abuse cases, lack of awareness is the biggest challenge related to fighting the problem. Stigma, misconception that child abuse doesn’t exist, and lack of faith in victims lead to the cycle repeating over and over. But the community can smash child abuse, according to local agencies fighting the issue, and you can help by:

1. Raising awareness – share the stories.
2. Learning about child abuse and its effects– read about the issues and discuss with family and friends.
3. Reporting child abuse – state law mandates anyone suspicious of child abuse to report it.
4. Last year, of the 347 referrals received for services in Coffee County, 40% of the children were 6 years old or younger, 36% between the ages of 7 and 12, and 24% were between 13 and 18, according to Prusak.

While some children fear “pretend” monsters hiding under the bed, others dread real monsters living in their homes. Jennifer was 6 when horror became reality. Instead of finding safety and comfort in her home and parents, she found terror. She lost hope. As a child, she pleaded for help, but no one believed her.

When she was a child, Jennifer Smith, now 34, suffered sexual, physical, mental and emotional abuse from her parents and uncle.

“My dad was abusive,” Smith said. “My mom was abusive emotionally and mentally. My mother stayed with my father and allowed those things to happen.”

As a child, Smith asked for help, but she found no support.

“I remember trying to reach out for help when I was 14,” Smith said. “My parents tried to keep me out of school because my dad had beaten me so bad one night (people could see the bruises). I wrote a letter to my friend next door – his dad was a police officer.”

That letter triggered a futile investigation. Authorities questioned the family.

“They questioned all my sisters – six of them – and my mom, and everyone lied for my father,” Smith said. “(Authorities just) told my parents they had to send me back to school.”

Smith sought support once more three years later.

When she was 17, she again wanted to reveal the abuse.

“I opened up about what happened to me, but no one believed me,” Smith said. “I was abandoned and neglected after that, and nobody wanted anything to do with me…So I had two situations where I wasn’t believed by anybody, and that crashed my voice even more.”

When a child asks for help and is not believed “that crashes them and takes their trust away,” said Smith.

“That makes them continue to feel unheard and unsafe,” she said. “I had nobody to turn to except the next abuser. You try to reach out for help, and you get shut down. You don’t have anyone to reach out to, and that sets you up to be a target for the next abuser. And then you become an adult and you’re trapped in an abusive relationship. And you’re afraid to speak out, so you never reach out.”

Smith left her family when she was 17.

“Right after that, I went with the guy that became my abuser,” she said.
That relationship lasted 14 years.

She has asked herself often why she became trapped in the same situation she was trying to escape, said Smith.

“He said all the right words,” she said. “He had learned about me and said he wouldn’t let anybody hurt me.”

He soon became abusive.

“I was with him until I was 28,” Smith said. “We have three children. Our oldest is 15, and she lives with his mom.”

Debra, 9, and Dale, 8, live with Smith at Blue Monarch.

“I was very protective with them,” Smith said. “I didn’t want them to go through what I did. I tried to spend time with them constantly and give them magical holidays. But they witnessed and heard some of the things he would do to me, and that’s still bad and traumatizing. I knew I couldn’t let that happen and repeat the same (mistakes) my mom did. That’s what got me to the point that I have to get out (of that relationship), or my children will go through the same things I did.”

Trying to break the cycle and provide a safe future for her children, Smith started to look for programs.

“I knew I needed healing,” Smith said. “I was diagnosed with chronic PTSD.”

Studies show that “80% of 21-year-olds who reported childhood abuse met the criteria for at least one psychological disorder,” according to childhelp.org.

“I knew there would have to be more in life for me than that,” Smith said. “I was turned down for program after program. I kept trying. I would freeze up on people. I wouldn’t speak. A year ago, I wouldn’t be talking about that – I would be in an episode if I tried to.”

Finally, Smith found support from Blue Monarch, a nonprofit in Coffee County helping women who have suffered abuse.

“We’ve been here (for 13 months), and I have no flashbacks and no episodes,” Smith said.
Smith now wants to help others find healing and strength.

“I want to be able to help people to speak out,” Smith said. “My purpose will be speaking and helping others speak. (Victims of abuse) have to speak and be heard.”

Don’t ignore a child’s appeal for help, Smith said.

“Look for the signs,” she said. “Look into it. Don’t doubt it. If there’s not much you can do to get them out of the situation, be a voice for them. Be a voice of encouragement and a light in their life. Be someone that’s there, so they can look forward to talking to you and they can trust you. Having that encouraging voice is really helpful and will give children hope, so they don’t give up.”

Smith will raise her children with love and devotion. She had to put her talents and dreams on hold for three decades, robbed by the abusers.

Smith has forgiven her mother.

“Now that I’ve been working on my own journey of healing, I know my mother never had that healing, so I don’t blame her anymore.”

Now, Smith is enjoying life and developing her talents.

“I’ve been singing since I was 8, but my dad used to put that down a lot,” Smith said. “I write country and Christian music,” Smith said. “I wrote a song for Blue Monarch. I sang it at the banquet, and it was a blessing to do that.”

With the help of Blue Monarch, Smith is no longer a victim – she’s a caring mother, singer-songwriter, and advocate. Smith wants to use her voice to reach victims of abuse and to encourage them to speak out. She wants the community to know child abuse is real and that people must pay attention, look for red flags, believe children and report child abuse.

Smith has a message for perpetrators: The community can break the cycle of child abuse in society, just as she is breaking the cycle in her family. Smith is raising her children in a safe environment, with love, support and protection.

“Jennifer has been at Blue Monarch for over a year,” said Kate Cataldo, operations director for Blue Monarch. “Jennifer is a very strong, courageous and determined mother with two wonderful children, who is using her story to fight abuse and help children.”

(PICTURED AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE: Jennifer Smith hugs her children, Debra and Dale.)

Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival on Wednesday officially released its lineup for this year’s festival – which will be held Sept. 2-5 at The Farm in Manchester.

Headlining for this year’s event includes Foo Fighters, Lizzo and Tyler, The Creator. Also high on the list are Megan Thee Stallion, Grand Ole Opry Featuring Special Guests, Tame Impala, My Morning Jacket, Lana Del Ray and Incubus, among dozens more.

This will be the 19th festival after last year’s was cancelled. Organizers are overlooking that, though, dubbing this year’s festival as “Celebrating 20 Years of Magic on the Farm.”

Last year’s event was postponed and then eventually cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. This year’s event was pushed back to September from its normal staple dates in June.
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Tickets are available here https://www.bonnaroo.com/tickets — see full lineup below: