Category: News

Photo provided by City of Tullahoma

If you want to see a fireworks display before July 4th, Tullahoma will host the city’s annual Independence Day celebration Wednesday.

The annual pyrotechnics show is put on by a national pyrotechnics company that has also presented shows around the world, including Nashville, the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and New York City. 

Gates will open at 3 p.m. and the event is free. Frazier McEwen Park and Grider Stadium, behind Tullahoma High School, will feature free music, games, a kids zone and food trucks. A fireworks display will cap the night. 

Vinyl Radio will be one of the headlining acts of the entertainment, 

Manchester’s Independence Day celebration will be Thursday, with music beginning at 7 p.m. at Rotary Park and fireworks at 9. 

The group 24/7 Wall Street released a report identifying the worst county to live in by state, and the report identifies Grundy County as the worst county to reside in Tennessee. 

Some of the identifying statistic are as follows:

*Over the past five years, Grundy County’s population has decreased by 2.9%, while Tennessee’s population has grown by 3.8%

*The poverty rate is 11% higher in Grundy County than the rest of Tennessee

*Compared to the rest of the state, about 15% fewer adults hold a bachelor’s degree.

*The life expectancy for someone living in Grundy County is 72.5 years, while the state average is 76.3 years. 

*The median household income in Grundy County is 31,919, well below the state median household income, which is 48,708. 

Only 73% of adults in Grundy County have a high school diploma, the lowest rate of any of Tennessee’s 95 counties. 

The group used US Census data in determining its information.

One of the newest Tennessee laws that took effect on July 1 is facing challenges. Three unidentified men filed a federal lawsuit against Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee over the law that prohibits convicted sex offenders from staying overnight in the presence of their children. The bill passed unanimously in April. 

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee

The measure makes it a felony for anyone convicted of a sex offense against a child younger than 12 years old to reside, spend the night or be alone with the person’s own child. 

The three unnamed plaintiff’s are all fathers of minor children and are convicted sex offenders who have completed their sentence and treatment programs, the suit states. The victims in each case were under 12 years old. 

The men allege they would effectively lose their parental rights without a trial and due process, arguing the legislation violates the constitutions of the United States and Tennessee. 

The Tennessee Department of Transportation will suspend all construction-related lane closures on interstates and state routes beginning at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3rd through 6:00 a.m. on Monday, July 8th to provide maximum roadway capacity for holiday travelers.

According to TDOT commissioner Clay Bright, it is estimated that 985,000 motorists will travel Tennessee’s interstates and state highways this Independence Day holiday. 

TDOT is suspending lane closures during the holiday travel times to help motorists reach their destinations safely without unnecessary delays. 

Motorists will still encounter some long term lane closures on construction projects.  While lane closure activity will be stopped, workers may be on site in construction zones and reduced speed limits in work zones will still be in effect. Drivers convicted of speeding through work zones where workers are present face a fine of $250 to $500, plus court fees and possible increased insurance premiums.

AAA projects a record breaking 48.9 million Americans will travel this Independence Day weekend, a 4.1% increase from last year. An estimated 985,000 Tennesseans will travel during the holiday, with an estimated 892,000 driving to their destinations.

From your desktop or mobile device, get the latest construction activity and live streaming SmartWay traffic cameras at www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic. Travelers can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone for travel information, or follow TDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TN511 for statewide travel.  

And remember, if you are traveling this weekend it is now illegal to to use a handheld cell phone while operating a motor vehicle in Tennessee. 

Westwood Middle School’s band program received an unexpected windfall thanks to the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival and fans of the musical group Phish. 

The all-volunteer, fan-run Mockingbird Foundation is celebrating the Phish tour by making unsolicited tour grants supporting music programs near each of the venues at which the band is performing. You may remember that Phish was one of the headliners for the Bonnaroo festival last month. 

The group sent a check for $1,500 to Westwood Middle School. It is the mockingbird’s 8th grant in Tennessee, and 403rd overall.

The Coffee County School Board voted to enter into contract negotiations with Dr. Charles Lawson to be the system’s next Director of Schools during a special called meeting Monday, July 1. 

Dr. Charles Lawson

Lawson is currently the principal at East Middle School in Tullahoma. The vote means the board will enter into negotiation and discuss during a work session Monday, July 8 at 3 p.m. 

If a contract is finalized, he would replace Dr. LaDonna McFall, who left the director position in early June to take a director’s position in Roane County. 

There were 16 candidates who applied for the director of schools position and five were interviewed. In addition to Lawson, Dr. Keith Cornelius, Kim Aaron, Scott Hargrove and Dr. John Ash were also interviewed. 

During Monday’s special called meeting, school board member Pat Barton made a motion to enter into contract negotiations with Lawson and Sandra Klonaris seconded the motion. Five members voted yes, they were Brett Henley, Gary Nester, Barton, Klonaris and Dr. Shannon Duncan. Esther Simms was the lone no vote. Freda Jones was absent from the meeting.

Joe Pedigo is currently serving as the interim director of schools. 

From left: Vernice Farrar, Devan Gailey, Brent Ross. Photos provided by Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department.

We have an update to a story we first brought to you last week. Terry Barber, 68, was found dead inside his Rutherford County home Wednesday by a friend, according to investigators. 

On Sunday, June 30, three people were arrested in connection with his death and all three are facing charges of first degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and especially aggravated robbery. 

Arrested by Rutherford County sheriffs’ deputies were Devan Jacob Gailey, 20, Brent Donavan Ross, 21 and Vernice Darlene Farrar, 39. All are Murfreesboro residents, according to the Daily News Journal. 

According to affidavits, the three suspects allegedly drove to Barber’s home on either Monday, June 24 or Tuesday, June 25, with the intention of robbing him. The court filings state that barber was allegedly tied up and strangled, leaving him unconscious. Barber died from his injuries. 

Additional suspects may be charged, according to sheriff’s officials. 

Barber sold SEC memorabilia and was very involved in area sports, according to Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department officials. He umpired many softball games over the years on the high school level including many at Coffee County High School. 

A Franklin County man is dead after a case of domestic violence spun out of control Sunday night, according to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department. 

According to Sgt. Chris Guess, 56-year old Tony Dale Gilliam was shot in the head, allegedly by his wife, 55-year old Patricia Renee Gilliam.

Deputies responded at 9 p.m. Sunday night. Deputies performed CPR on Tony Gilliam, he was transported to Southern Regional Health System hospital where he was pronounced dead. Patricia Gilliam provided a statement and no charges have been filed at this time, according to the Herald Chronicle.