Category: News

Grundy County Sheriff Clint Shrum reports two people have been charged in at least two local thefts. Drake Hamby (30), of Coalmont, has been charged in a case of theft and vandalism at the Bethel Cemetery in Pelham. Kristina Patrick (34) has been charged with filing a false report regarding the same incident.
The grave is for Hunter Northcutt who passed away last year at the age of 15 from cancer.
Both have also been served with criminal summons in a Coalmont theft that occurred last month. Hamby is currently being held in the Marion County Jail on other charges.

Good news for everyone traveling this week for Thanksgiving. Oil prices hit a new low last week, further fueling the plunge at the gas pump. Gas prices in Tennessee dropped another 8 cents last week. At $2.42 per gallon, the state average is the lowest since March, and only 16 cents higher than this year’s lowest daily average price of $2.26 per gallon.
Thanksgiving gas prices in Tennessee will be slightly higher than last year. AAA is forecasting more than 1.2 million Tennesseans will travel for Thanksgiving. Of those, 95 percent will drive. By Thanksgiving Day, the state average should drop to $2.38 per gallon, which is only 8 cents more than last year’s holiday.
The national average price of a gallon of regular unleaded is $2.63.
The low price per gallon in Coffee County can be found in Manchester at $2.16 and the low price for gas in Tullahoma is $2.39 per gallon.

Officials at Motlow State Community College recently announced the commencement ceremony for the 2018-19 academic year will be at Middle Tennessee State University’s Murphy Center in Murfreesboro in May.
Motlow is one of the fastest growing colleges in Tennessee. There are just under 7,000 students currently enrolled at the College, attending campuses in Moore County, Smyrna, Fayetteville, and McMinnville, and teaching locations in Sparta and Shelbyville. Increased enrollment has led to an increase in graduates. In recent years, Motlow has held multiple commencements on its Moore County campus, including last year when three separate ceremonies were held.
“This facility allows us to all be together to celebrate our most important academic occasion,” said Dr. Michael Torrence, Motlow president. “We are grateful to Dr. Sidney McPhee and the MTSU administration for allowing us to use Murphy Center.”
The Motlow commencement ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, May 5, in the Murphy Center beginning at 2 p.m.
Students who plan to walk during the May ceremony are required to submit an Intent to Graduate form to the Admissions office as soon as possible, with the deadline for submission March 15, 2019.
“I encourage students to schedule an appointment with your advisor prior to the start of registration to get into the classes you know you need,” said Mae Sanders, Motlow admissions director. “With our growing enrollment, classes fill up quickly.”
Registration for students who plan to attend the spring semester began Nov. 5. New student applications for the spring semester are due by Jan. 8, 2019. Spring semester classes begin Jan. 14, 2019.

Over the next few days, drivers should expect to see an increased Tennessee Highway Patrol presence across the state.
As millions plan to hit the roads to spend Thanksgiving with family, THP wants to keep you safe.
But across Tennessee, the number of traffic fatalities is down. Beginning Wednesday, THP troopers will be strategically placed on the interstates in hopes of saving lives.
About a week ago, troopers launched Operation Incognito to catch people breaking traffic violations.
In the event that your car breaks down, or you get in an accident on the road, drivers can dial *THP which is *847 to request a trooper.

Thanksgiving travelers will not be delayed by construction on Tennessee roads during the busy travel holiday.
TDOT will halt all lane closure activity on interstates and state highways in anticipation of higher traffic volumes across the state. All construction-related lane closures will be stopped beginning at noon Wednesday through 6am Monday, Nov. 26th.
While all lane closure activity will be stopped, workers may be on site in some construction zones. Long-term lane closures will also remain in place on some construction zones for motorist’s safety. Motorists are reminded to obey the posted speed limit, especially in work zones.

Bridgestone America has announced that it is expanding a tire manufacturing plant in Morrison.
The Nashville-based company said in a statement on Friday that it will spend $40 million to add 32,000 square feet to its Warren County plant, where it produces commercial truck and bus radial tires. The three-year project will allow the plant to make 275 more tires daily and meet market demand. Plans call for the plant to produce 9,400 tires daily by the end of 2020.
Bridgestone expects to break ground on the expansion before the end of the year.
The plant employees several people from Coffee County.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the District Attorney’s Office are investigating a shooting Monday morning than left a man hospitalized in Chattanooga.
According to Warren County Sheriff Tommy Myers, an Overton County man had reportedly burned down his own barn and garage and had threatened to kill his son-in-law, who lived in Warren County. When the man was enroute to his son-in-law’s house, he was pursued by officers and began firing at them. Officers returned fire and the man was wounded. He was airlifted to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga. No officers were injured.
Names of those involved in the incident have not been released as the investigation continues.

Experts say the instability of foster care often adds trauma to the lives of children in the system, with special challenges for older youths.
A new report from The Annie E. Casey Foundation says the impact often leads to lower graduation rates, early parenting, homelessness and unemployment for youth age 14 and up.
The report by state looks at teens in the foster care system and how they’re faring – in Tennessee, that’s almost 6,000 children.
Leslie Gross, director of the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative at the Casey Foundation, explains this population has some important needs.
“We really need better policies that promote permanency,” she stresses. “We need to ensure that young people are growing up in families, and this really means supporting biological families, so that young people can stay at home. And if they have to be in care, policies that support young people, as well as foster families who are willing to care for older youth.”
Gross says the report is intended to give policymakers a better understanding of the challenges of teens living in foster care, and what it takes to prepare them for life as they age out of the system. That includes helping them graduate and get stable housing and vocational training.
More than 65 percent of Tennessee teens in foster care find permanent, which exceeds the 43 percent national average.
Michael Leach, the state’s deputy commissioner of Child Programs, says one goal is to avoid frequent moves, which can have negative effects on foster children.
“Tennessee prides itself in making sure that our kids are connected to their families so that we’re strengthening the family,” he states. “So, we love it when we see that the percentage – you know, statewide permanency – is as high as it is compared to the national average.”
The report says solutions will require more foster care parents and a greater investment in programs with proven records of equipping young people for future success.

Tennessee State Parks have expanded recycling with interior recycling bins added at all 56 state parks.
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation said in a news release that more than 400 exterior recycling receptacles were placed in August.
The release says the state has received all of the new Recycle Away Triple Recycling Station receptacles. The bins are made with 97 percent pure recycled plastic from milk jugs. Each bin uses about 1,000 milk jugs.
The bins are designed to last decades but can also be recycled when they are no longer usable.
They’re part of a state parks sustainability initiative called Go Green With Us.

Christmas is just around the corner, which means now is the time to start planning a trip to a local tree farm. As the cool, crisp air draws near, a visit to the farm is the perfect outdoor adventure to generate some holiday spirit and family fun.
Many farms sell Christmas trees between Black Friday and Christmas Eve, with some starting earlier. Regardless of when you visit, local producers recommend you call for availability before you go.
Even if you aren’t looking for a fresh Christmas tree, many tree farms offer other fun activities for the whole family. Whether you’re hoping to get a picture with Santa Claus, take a hike through the trails, or stroll through the gift shop, you will make memories that will last a lifetime.
Be sure to visit www.PickTNProducts.org or use the free Pick Tennessee mobile app to find a local Christmas tree farm near you. Follow “PickTNProducts” on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to learn more about local activities, seasonal recipes, and products.
The nearest location is located at 4580 McMinnville Highway, Manchester, TN.