Category: News

A resident of Bedford County was arrested last week for using TennCare benefits to doctor shop for drugs. The man has faced the charge multiple times in the past. Doctor shopping involves going to multiple doctors in a short period of time to obtain prescription drugs, using TennCare healthcare insurance benefits as payment.
Samuel L. Harris, Jr., 43, of Shelbyville, was charged for the fourth time in Lincoln County with obtaining a controlled substance by doctor shopping and obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. Harris’ first three arrests were all between February and August 2015, in Bedford, Rutherford and Coffee Counties. In those cases, which were investigated at the same time, he was charged with doctor shopping for the painkillers Hydrocodone and Oxycodone using TennCare as payment. In plea agreements, he served a total of 22 months in state prison and two years’ probation. District Attorney General Robert Carter will prosecute the Lincoln County case.
TennCare fraud is a Class D felony punishable by up to four years in prison per charge.
The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated cases leading to more than $3 million being repaid to TennCare, with a total estimated cost avoidance of more than $163.6 million for TennCare, according to latest figures. To date, 2,993 people have been charged with TennCare fraud.
Through the OIG Cash for Tips Program established by the Legislature, Tennesseans can get cash rewards for TennCare fraud tips that lead to convictions. Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982, toll-free, from anywhere in Tennessee; or log on to www.tn.gov/tnoig/ and follow the prompts that read “Report TennCare Fraud.”

The next “Honor Flight” of Middle Tennessee will take off on Sept. 26, 2018. The Honor Flight team is currently recruiting WWII, Korean & Vietnam Veterans*
*Accepting Applications from Vietnam Veterans with at least 70% VA Disability due to exposure to Agent Orange. Seats will be filled based on availability as priority remains for WWII & Korean War Veterans.
Mobility Issues, Oxygen Use and/or Qualified Service Dog are not a problem.
Remember veterans always fly free on honor flights. For more information contact Rob Moreland at 931 224-0610 or robmoreland77@gmail.com.
Veterans can contact Larry Williams at 1 833 HONORUSA (toll free) or tennesseans2@blomand.net.
For guardians there is a $400 fee and you can contact Lana Woodard at 931 455-3488 or lwoodard@ctcbonline.com
This is the 10th year of free flights to Washington DC, War Memorials & Arlington for the changing of the guard.
Donations always welcomed to help offset the $18,000 to $20,000 cost. Send donations to PO Box 1926, Tullahoma, TN 37388.

On Tuesday morning (June 12th 2018) around 6am Manchester officers responded to a location on Oakdale Street in reference to a vehicle theft. The victim told officers that his truck had been taken. Officers were given a tip that the vehicle had been spotted on the Woodbury Highway and they responded to the area and located the truck at a residence. After knocking on the door, a person answered and told police he and another person had been involved in the theft. The truck was returned to the owner with no damage.
Christopher Dwayne Cassady, age 18, of Manchester was located at the Greenleaf Inn. The other subject allegedly involved was a minor.
Cassady was charged by Manchester Police Investigator Trey Adcock with theft of property and contributing to the dependency of a minor. His bond was set at $13,000 and he set to appear in court on July 3, 2018.

Andrew Marshall who has escaped the Bedford County Jail five times and is not only wanted in Bedford County but is also wanted in Coffee County is out of jail again.
After Marshall escaped the last time in Bedford County he was named a suspect in a car theft in Tullahoma. Texas authorities discovered the car abandoned before finding Marshall.
Even though he is wanted in Tennessee a Texas judge released him from jail.
Bedford County Sheriff Austin Swing said he had never seen anything like this happen before.
Swing said he tried calling the sheriff in Texas and the district attorney begging them to hold Marshall until they could come to pick him up, but the judge refused.
It is unknown where Marshall is at this time.

Shelbyville Police have dropped all charges against a man falsely accused of attempting to touch a young girl. A family member, Ashley Marie Vaughn, 24, of Barksdale Lane in Shelbyville has been charged with filing a false report. She posted $5,000 bond at Bedford County Jail.
Robert James Bransford, 26, of Woodland Avenue was released from custody Tuesday afternoon. Police emphasized Bransford is innocent of any charge.
Officers were shown a video from the area of Regent Drive which proves Bransford’s innocence. Bransford had been accused Saturday of reaching toward the girl while driving by a residence. Investigators expressed regret that an innocent person was accused.

On Wednesday June 6th, 2018 at approximately 5:00pm Franklin County Sheriff’s Office personnel initiated a traffic stop on Highway 64 in the eastbound lane. A report filed by Deputy Jason Brockman stated that the traffic stop led to an investigation that resulted in law enforcement seizing 58 pills believed to be MDMA (Ecstasy) with a street value of approximately $900 as well as a pill and a half of what is believed to be Dextroamphetamine (amphetamine).
John Gerard Maybury of Auckland, NZ and Alaina Vasiliki of Salt Lake City, Utah were both transported to the Franklin County Jail and booked on charges of schedule I and II narcotics. Vasiliki was held on a $3,000 bond and Maybury was held on a $10,000 bond both have court dates set for July 5th, 2018 in Franklin County General Sessions Court.

Education Commissioner Candice McQueen announced on Thursday several new steps to improve the state’s TNReady student assessment, including re-competing the state’s current testing vendor contract. These improvements are being made after ongoing conversations with teachers, parents, education leaders, and policy-makers over the past several weeks and are aimed at addressing a number of areas of concern.
The multi-faceted changes announced Thursday will immediately improve the state assessment—TNReady—and establish a longer-term framework for success. The steps being taken to improve TNReady include:
• Releasing a new Request for Proposals (RFP) to identify the assessment vendor or vendors that can successfully administer the state test in 2019-20 and beyond
• Amending the state’s current contract and relationship with Questar to improve the assessment experience in 2018-19
• Adjusting the pace of the state’s transition to online testing
These steps complement additional actions already in the works, including eliminating two TNReady end-of-course exams, eliminating the March stand-alone field test for the next two years, simplifying and streamlining test administration, bringing in a third party to perform an independent review of Questar’s technological capabilities, improving customer service, and engaging dozens of additional Tennessee teachers, content experts, and testing coordinators to look at every part of the state testing program.

Celebrate the 24th annual RC Cola-MoonPie Festival Saturday in Bell Buckle!
Known as the first “fast food” meal, these two Southern traditions, RC and a MoonPie, are brought together for a grand celebration Bell Buckle style. The idea for the Festival first began as a way to celebrate the MoonPie and to bring tourists to Bell Buckle.
Royal Crown Cola and Moon Pies have no official connection, but they became joined at the hip in Southern culture in the days when Moon Pie was one of the largest snack items sold in country stores and RC came in a larger glass bottle than its competitors for the same price. Hungry workers would combine the two for a make-do lunch.

We have a special announcement for political candidates; Thunder Radio is offering free 10-minute pre-recorded interviews to all candidates that are running in the August 2, 2018 general election. The candidate would ideally have their interview completed in the month of June.
Please contact a Thunder Radio Representative to schedule your interview:
Billy Levengood- billylevengood@gmail.com
Lucky Knott- luckyknott@gmail.com
Tiffany Clutter- wmsr@thunder1320.com

The county general election and state primary will be held August 2, 2018.
The county election will be held for: mayor, all 21 commissioners, trustee, sheriff, county clerk, circuit court clerk, register of deeds, road superintendent, road commissioners and constables.
City elections in Manchester and Tullahoma will also be held on August 2.
Early voting starts July 13 and runs through July 28.

The next Manchester Times/Thunder Radio political forum will be held on July 12 at “The Church at 117”, 117 E. Fort Street in downtown Manchester.