Category: News

The Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) announced a significant increase in the state’s overall seat belt usage rate, compared to previous years. The usage rate rose from 88.5 percent in 2017 to 90.9 percent in 2018. This marks the first year Tennessee’s usage rate surpassed 90 percent. Tennessee’s 2018 usage rate also exceeded the national usage rate of 90.1 percent.
“Tennessee is the 24th state to achieve 90 percent seat belt usage,” said THSO Director Vic Donoho. “We appreciate the substantial efforts made by the legislature, law enforcement, and local communities to reach this milestone. Moving forward, we will continue striving to achieve 100 percent.”
Highlights from Tennessee’s 2018 seat belt survey are as follows.
• Research data was collected at 190 pre-identified roadway locations across the State of Tennessee.
• Researchers observed more than 27,000 front-seat vehicle occupants.
• Vehicles observed included cars, pickup trucks, vans, and SUVs.
• Overall, female occupants displayed a higher usage rate (94.8 percent) than males (88.3 percent).
• Pickup trucks displayed the lowest usage rate (84.24 percent).
This data was collected through an annual roadside observational survey conducted by the University of Tennessee Knoxville’s Center for Transportation Research. Tennessee’s seat belt usage rate has been certified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

On Tuesday afternoon WMSR News was invited to New Union Elementary School for a special swearing in ceremony of 4 Student School Safety Officers. Coffee County Sheriff Chad Partin with the help of AAA (The Auto Club Group), and SRO Hassan Peterson began a school safety officer patrol. The program began a few months ago to include all Coffee County elementary schools. It was New Union’s turn on Tuesday.

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In June of last year (2018) the Coffee County Commission approved a resolution asking the state legislature to approve a private act that would establish a hotel/motel tax in Coffee County.
The county had originally asked for the state legislature to approve a hotel/motel tax rate of up to 5 percent, but that request has been reduced to be no more than 3 percent. The new rate, if approved by the state, would include hotels and bed and breakfast locations in Manchester and Tullahoma.
County Commissioner Mike Ray told WMSR News how the money generated by tax could possibly benefit county government and property owners:

Currently the hotel/motel tax rate in Manchester is 6 percent and in Tullahoma the rate is 5 percent.

State estimates show the unemployment rate went up in all 95 counties in Tennessee during the month of January.
Coffee County’s unemployment rate for January was 3.3 percent up from December’s rate of 2.9 percent. This means 850 workers are reported as unemployed in Coffee County.
Warren County jumped up 0.6 percent, going from 3.5 to 4.1 percent.
Over in Bedford County their rate went up from 3.2 percent to 3.7.
Down in Franklin County the unemployment rate for January rose 0.4 percent to 3.2.
Moore County always has one of the best rates in the state also went up from 2.5 percent in December to 3 percent in January.
Grundy County’s unemployment rate went from 3.7 to 4.2 and Cannon County went from 2.7 to 3.0 percent.
Williamson County had the state’s lowest unemployment at 2.4 percent, while Lake County had the highest at 9.3 percent.

Motlow State Community College and Murray State University have signed an articulation agreement that will provide students seeking a bachelor’s degree with a seamless transfer process into Murray State’s College of Business.
The agreement will allow students to transfer their existing Motlow State credits toward a bachelor’s degree at Murray State, ensuring no disruptions in their collegiate careers.
“We want to align with and provide access to institutions where Motlow students can take advantage of the options and advantages offered within our state and region,” said Dr. Michael Torrence, Motlow President.
The College of Business at Murray State prepares students for careers in the dynamic environments of business, information technology and data analytics, public and private organizations, and mass communications.

It’s National Nutrition Month, and two pieces of proposed anti-bullying legislation have lawmakers engaged in a public war of words.
Senate Bill 606 and House Bill 827, known as the Tennessee Hunger-Free Students Act, would prohibit schools from taking certain actions against students who can’t pay for school lunch, and would make sure a meal is provided to the child regardless. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. John Ray Clemmons, said it would stop school employees from throwing away a served meal if the student could not pay, and also would prohibit schools from punishing or shaming students about the debt.
Last week, the K-12 Senate subcommittee voted 4-2 to kill the bill. Clemmons said he’s disappointed that a nonpartisan piece of legislation failed, but he isn’t giving up.
“Children should not be deprived of educational or extracurricular activities because of something that is not their fault,” Clemmons said. “At its essence, this bill is an anti-bullying bill that seeks to protect our children from stigmatization or being denied participation in school-related activities in the event they’ve incurred a meal debt.”
Rep. Kirk Haston, R-Lobelville, a coach and teacher, was the only Republican to vote in favor of the bill. Those who voted against the bill cited concern about its fiscal impact on schools. Clemmons said a child should never be treated differently because of a meal debt.
Critics of the bill said some school districts already are relying on donations to fund the effort. Others are increasing pressure on parents by refusing to let them attend graduation ceremonies or reporting them to Child Protective Services for unpaid debt.
Clemmons said Tennessee needs to continue crafting policies that will allow districts to collect unpaid amounts without shaming students.
“There’s no concern this simply prohibits schools from treating children differently. They’re still allowed to attempt to work with parents to collect the meal debt. They’re simply just prohibited from punishing the child,” he said. “Of course, it’s no fault of the child if they’ve incurred a meal debt.”
Almost 50 percent of students in the state already receive free or reduced-price lunch. But those who can’t pay could be forced to do additional chores, wear a wristband during school mealtimes, miss lunch altogether or even miss graduation.

High schoolers from Coffee County attended and competed at the recent 2019 Tennessee Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) State Leadership Conference. 102 students from Coffee County High School and Raider Academy attended.
Some of those honored included Weston Hargrove as he was listed in Who’s Who in FBLA and received Bronze Level for the President’s Volunteer Service award, Cade Davis-State T-shirt design 1st place winner, Andreas Cavalie- State Pin design winner, Morgan Henley received the Dr Bill Radcliff scholarship, Elizabeth Proffitt was selected as President of Region 4.
Coffee County finished 3rd for Coke tab collection, received Gold Seal Chapter Award of Merit, largest chapter membership and Platinum Chapter.
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A McMinnville man who was wanted on a charge of attempted rape now faces more charges after leading officers on a chase Thursday afternoon. Authorities say 51 year-old James Bell was being pursued by officers after he was seen coming out of his house. The chase eventually led to the Mt. Leo area, where the vehicle was stopped by spike strips that had been deployed by the Highway Patrol. During the pursuit, Bell allegedly drove toward a Warren County deputy, who fired on the vehicle. Bell was not hit, and the chase continued until the spike strips disabled Bell’s vehicle.
Bell was booked at the Warren County Jail.

Two Grundy County corrections officers have been disciplined after their involvement in a crash that sent an 18-year-old driver to the hospital last week.
Officer Tyler Hargis has been suspended for 30 days without pay for violating the agency’s policies on seatbelt use, use of emergency vehicle equipment, and attention to duty, conduct and behavior.
Officer Cody Nunley was suspended for four days without pay for violating the agency’s policy on seatbelt use and inmate supervision.
Sheriff Clint Shrum says Corrections Officers Tyler Hargis (the driver) and Cody Nunley (the passenger) were being asked to help with a troubled inmate. Shrum says an inmate trustee was sitting in the back seat. He says Hargis and Nunley misinterpreted the call as an emergency and had their emergency lights on and were driving above the speed limit. Shrum says it’s not clear whether the officers employed the vehicle’s siren.
Sheriff Shrum says the inmate in the back of the van had gone with the corrections officers to help with a mechanical project.
The THP said Hargis rear-ended a car being driven by Shalyn Picket, and she was sent to the hospital with minor injuries.

The new Tennessee education savings account plan to cost $125M.
Gov. Bill Lee’s office says his school voucher plan will now cost $125 million over the next five years as he seeks to allow more parents to use state funds to pay for their children’s private education.
According to the proposal provided Thursday, parents of students in certain low-income school districts could receive $7,300 to pay for approved expenses.
Enrollment would be limited to 5,000 students in the initial year, but the cap would increase by 2,500 students if the enrollment maximum is met in the following year.
During Lee’s first State of the State address to lawmakers, the Republican governor said the program could cost at least $25 million. Officials have since said that number will be $125 million over the next five years, depending on student participation.