Category: News

On behalf of more than 300 attorneys in Tennessee, attorney Sunny Eaton has filed a request with the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility to seek an emergency suspension of Northcott’s law license due to his statements that surfaced in June that he does not believe domestic violence laws should be used to protect people in same-sex relationships. 

According to a report by WTVF in Nashville, Eaton cites Northcott’s written response to an ethics complaint Eaton filed against Northcott early in June. 

Coffee County District Attorney Craig Northcott

In a letter written by Eaton Monday, she says: “Mr. Northcott’s written reply to the complaint removes all doubt as to his current defiance of the rule of law and intent to further engage in conduct beneath the decency required of our profession along with raising serious questions as to his competency and fitness to practice.”

Northcott wrote to the board of professional responsibility that his intent in part is to honor what he knows has been the desire of the LGBTQ community – “keeping the government out of their bedrooms.” 

You may remember that Northcott said in the video that domestic violence laws are to protect marriage, and there is no marriage to protect in same-sex cases.

According to WTVF, Northcott claims his policy is based on the 1996 vote to amend the Tennessee constitution to outlaw same-sex marriage. 

Eaton’s request goes on to say: “any attorney who believes he has the power to ignore the decisions of the United States Supreme Court is in violation of his oath and is disqualified from practice of law.” 

In Northcott’s letter to the board, he also states that he does not believe that only christians have constitutional rights, saying “this could not be further from the truth.”

This home was damaged by fire in the early morning hours of Friday, July 26. (Photo provided)

Manchester Fire Department personnel spent four hours fighting a fire in the early morning hours of Friday, July 26 on Emerson Street in Manchester.

According to Fire Chief George Chambers, crews responded at approximately 1 a.m. Friday and were confronted with heavy smoke and flames coming from the garage and roof area of the home.

“Crews made an aggressive exterior attack on the fire and brought it under control quickly,” Chambers said in an email statement. “When additional personnel arrived on scene, crews continued firefighting actions to get to the seat of the fire in the roof area above the laundry room and garage area.”

There was nobody home at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported.

Crews finished on-scene operations at 3:20 a.m. and cleanup at 4:40 a.m. Duck River Electric removed power from the facility. Manchester Police Department, Coffee County EMS and Coffee County Communications Center provided assistance.

Traffic on Interstate 24 was snarled most all day Friday, July 26, as TDOT crews worked to repair a sinkhole that opened up and closed a westbound lane near mile marker 90.

According to Kathryn Schulte with TDOT, crews finished excavating the sinkhole at about 1 p.m. Friday and crews had to do approximately 11 feet deep, 15 feet long and 13 feet wide to get the hole excavated.

Crews worked to repair the patch of Road and it reopened a little after 8 p.m. Friday night.

TDOT crews had to dig 11 feet deep, 15 feet long and 13 feet wide to excavate a sinkhole that closed one lane of Interstate 24 westbound at mile maker 90 for most of the day Friday. (Photo provided by TDOT)

The Tennessee Department of Education is pleased to announce that 96 school districts across the state have been awarded a total of $3.7 million to support the implementation of high-quality career-focused programs and instruction for Tennessee students.

Locally, the Coffee County School system received grant funds for CTE Equipment and Industry Certified Exam Fees. The City of Manchester received funding for a middle school CTE program at Westwood Middle and CTE equipment. 

Funds from the Perkins Reserve Consolidated Grant are awarded annually to districts to start and improve career and technical education (CTE) programs, with priority given to rural areas of the state and areas with a large number of CTE students.  More than three-million dollars from the grant will be awarded to districts to support programs focusing on the following needs:

• Creating new middle school CTE and career exploration programs
• Purchasing industry-grade equipment for fields including advanced manufacturing, health science, and STEM
• Supporting instructor licensure and testing site accreditation to assist with the the attainment of industry-recognized certifications
• Providing financial assistance to students to defray the cost of certification exams
• Developing occupational teacher mentorship programs

An additional $528,000 will be used to support the initiatives outlined in the attached graph.

TDOE Commissioner Penny Schwinn says, “It’s important that Tennessee students not only get a quality education, but that education culminates in a meaningful and rewarding career for each and every student.  By allocating money to CTE programs, we’re providing local districts with the resources they need to ensure all students are able to successfully continue in college, career and technical programs that feed directly into their chosen careers.”

“Ensuring students have the skills and resources needed to succeed is one of my administration’s top priorities,” said Governor Bill Lee. “I believe that high schools need to look different and offer students multiple pathways to success and these grants will allow local districts to do just that.”

In Tullahoma, mayor Lane Curlee has announced that Dr. Danielle Henson will be the chair of the Get Fit! Tullahoma Council. This council is a group of concerned volunteers banding together to help improve health and encourage residents to move more, eat smarter and live drug free. 

The council meets once a month at DW Wilson Community Center. You are welcome to attend the next meeting, which will be from 11:45 am. To 1 p.m. August 20th. 

33 percent of adults in Coffee County are obese, and that is compared to 26 percent nationally. Tobacco use in Coffee County is also higher than the national average, with 23 percent of residents here using tobacco while the national average is 14%. 

The Coffee County 4-H is now accepting designs for a county t-shirt. This shirt will be worn by 4-H members to contests when appropriate or any other time they are representing Coffee County 4-H. You can submit your design ideas to Anna Duncan at this email address: aduncan@utk.edu. Submissions should be made by August 2nd. 

Designs should use no more than two colors, the shirt color does not count as one of those colors, must incorporate the 4-H clover and it cannot be covered, and it must include the words “Coffee County.” 

Pictured from left: MPD chief investigator Jackie Matheny, chief Mark Yother and assistant chief Adam Floied. (Photo provided)

The Manchester Police Department was represented in Chattanooga for the 5K Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. MPD Chief Investigator Jackie Matheny, chief Mark Yother and assistant chief Adam Floied all participated in the event.