The Purchasing Commission meeting scheduled for Wednesday, November 28, will be at
4:30 p.m. not 5:00 p.m.
Category: News
Coffee County Government meeting time change
How did Bobby Smelcer Die?
Bobby Smelcer
On April 19, 2012 a fisherman notified the Bedford County Sheriff’s office that he had found a skull along the banks of the Duck River. The skull was retrieved and in May 2012 based on dental records, the skull was positively identified as that of Bobby Smelcer.
Evidence from Smelcer’s residence and from the area where his skull was found has been submitted to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for analysis and DNA testing.
As of this date, there have been no leads to verify the exact cause of death or who may have been responsible for his death.
With the eight-year anniversary, the family of Bobby Smelcer pleads for your assistance. If you or anyone you know has information regarding the disappearance or death of Bobby Smelcer please call Crimestoppers at 931-685-4300.
Tullahoma Police to Build New Facility
It looks like the Tullahoma Police Department will be getting a new home.
At a recent Tullahoma Municipal Regional Planning Commission meeting they approved a site plan for the new police station, which will be built next to the current police station on West Grundy Street on land donated by Fran and Dan Marcum.
The new department will have many more feet of floor space for interview rooms, office space, a public restroom and the property will allow for extra room for growth on down the road.
Estimates for the project released in back in February were $3.2 million. The money for the project comes from a Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund loan that was approved by the board last October. The board signed off on borrowing $7.5 million for a number of projects, including the new animal shelter at public works, more sidewalks in town and the new police station.
Construction could start as early as this coming spring.
Shooting Suspect Now in Jail
Warren County Jail
The Warren County District Attorney says 66 year-old Charles Ray Bean has been charged with 2 counts of criminal attempt to commit homicide and 2 counts of aggravated assault. His bond has been set at $1,000,075 million and he will be arraigned in General Sessions Court on Tuesday.
Last Monday, Bean was wanted in Overton County for a crime committed there. He had also reportedly made threats against his son-in-law who lives in Warren County. Investigators spotted Bean’s vehicle and a brief pursuit ensued. Bean reportedly turned down C. Rody Road, turned his vehicle sideways and began firing at officers. Officers returned fire, hitting the suspect. Bean was wounded and was airlifted to Erlanger Hospital. No officers were injured in the shooting.
Bus and SUV Burst into Flames after Monday Morning Crash
Photo provided by the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
The two-vehicle crash happened around 6:45 a.m. on Monday.
Lincoln County Director of Schools Bill Heath said the investigation is on-going, but the bus driver has taken a mandatory drug test and went to a local hospital.
This is part of district procedure any time there is a school bus crash.
Pictures captured what appeared to be the head-on collision between the bus and the SUV.
The crash happened before the route started, so no children were on board.
The driver of the SUV went to a local hospital to be checked out. (WKRN-TV)
Tennessee Expected to Grow Over the Next Year
Tennessee officials are projecting growth in general state revenue to range from 2.7 to 3.2 percent during the budget year that starts in July.
The State Funding Board approved the revenue estimates during a meeting Monday. The numbers will provide the framework for Republican Gov.-elect Bill Lee’s incoming administration to craft its first state spending plan.
The low- and high-end projections of 2.7 and 3.2 percent represent a difference of $184.7 million.
In presentations made to the State Funding Board last week, budget experts projected the state’s revenue growth could range from 2.7 percent to 3.7 percent in the upcoming year.
Analysts have said that while growth will slow, an economic recession is unlikely in the next year.
CHS Library to Host Craft/Vendor Fair Saturday
The CHS Library will host a craft/vendor fair on Saturday, December 1st from 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. There are about 25 booths selling items from baked goods to handmade animal calls. There will also be a Scholastic Book Fair and Pictures with Santa.
Proceeds from the fair booth sales will go toward the CHS Library and the Coffee County Imagination Library.
Pictures with Santa will benefit The Dusty Elam foundation.
City of Manchester Work Study Session
The City of Manchester Board of Mayor and Alderman will hold a Work Study Session on Wednesday, November 28, 2018, at 10:30 am regarding the function of South Central Development District in relation to the City of Manchester. The public is invited to attend the work study session which will take place at City Hall in the Board Room.
Fiery Thankgiving Crash in Coffee County takes the Life of Unknown Female
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, a fatal two vehicle accident occurred around 1am on Thanksgiving morning on Interstate 24 in Coffee County.
A 2018 Jaguar from Kentucky was sitting stationary on the shoulder of the roadway near the 103 mile-marker in Beechgrove. Jan Winton Wray age 57 from Fort Myers, Fl was driving a 2001 Mercedes when it left the roadway and crossed the fog line, striking the Jaguar pushing it down the shoulder of the roadway approximately 100 feet. The Jaguar came to final rest and caught fire and the unknown female driver succumbed to her injuries inside of the vehicle. Her identity is still unknown at this time.
Wray was taken from the scene to area hospital for treatment of his injuries.
Coffee County Unemployment Rate Down Slightly
Unemployment numbers from the state indicate the unemployment rate in October dropped in 26 counties, increased in 33 counties and stayed the same in 36 counties.
Coffee County dropped from 3.8 percent in September to 3.7 percent in October.
Williamson County had the state’s lowest unemployment at 2.7 percent, while Lauderdale County had the highest at 6.8 percent.
