Category: News

Wednesday afternoon at approximately 5:45pm Manchester Fire-Rescue was notified of a fire at Kirchhoff Automotive Manufacturing in the Coffee County Industrial Park. Fire units arrived on scene and reported a large fire in the rear of the facility in a container storage area. Command requested a response from AEDC Fire, Tullahoma Fire, Hillsboro, Hickerson Station, Summitville and New Union volunteer fire departments for manpower and water supply. Manchester Fire units attacked the fire from both sides of the facility. Responding mutual aid departments began arriving on scene and providing more manpower and suppression assistance. The main body of the fire was in the container storage area on the rear of the facility. All crews worked diligently to control the fire and prevent the spread of fire into the main facility, which was accomplished. The main body of the fire was knocked down around 7:30pm. Crews then began checking Kirchhoff Automotive for any further fire extension inside the facility. There was some flame spread into the facility thru some of the bay doors on the rear of the facility.
Manchester Fire Chief George Chambers said a total of 6 local fire departments provided assistance during this major fire, along with the outstanding assistance provided by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Coffee County Sheriff’s Department, Manchester Police, Coffee County EMS, Coffee County EMA, Coffee County 911 Center, local citizens and other government agencies that assisted firefighters on scene and after the incident.
Kirchhoff Automotive says that the plant was evacuated in under 6 minutes with no injuries or casualties.
The fire is under investigation by Manchester Fire Rescue and TBI Arson Investigators.

A one-year contract between Axis Nation, LLC, conducting business as Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, and Coffee County was signed last week. This is an agreement regarding the 2018 festival only.
The parties signed the deal last week in which festival organizers will make a one-time donation of $205,000.
Part of the $205,000 Axis donation will be directed toward purchasing an ambulance for $155,000. Additionally, the Coffee County Lannom Memorial Public Library in Tullahoma will see the parking lot repaved, new flooring and security lights installed for $31,130. The Coffee County Manchester Public Library will also have its parking lot repaved and security lights installed for $16,000.
Festival organizers have up to five days following Bonnaroo 2018 to make the contribution. This year’s festival wraps up on Sunday, June 10.

The Grundy County school board recently selected an interim school director.
The board voted to make Glenda Dykes the interim school director during the special meeting.
Dykes was the principal of Tracy City Elementary and has more than 30 years of experience working in education.
Dykes was selected after the school board decided to buy out the contract of former school director Jessie Kinsey.
In other Grundy County school news, Mayor Michael Brady has confirmed Grundy County School Board member Amanda “Kasey” Anderson has submitted her resignation.
Since the vacancy created by Anderson’s resignation occurred within 120 days of the August General Election and the office of School Board Member for the First District is on the ballot with candidates who have qualified to seek that office, it is not necessary for the County Commission to appoint someone to fill the vacancy in this office.
Anderson has been arrested multiple times since March of 2017. The 35 year-old Anderson of Pelham, TN was arrested on a failure to appear indictment issued by Circuit Court.
In June of 2017, Anderson was charged with charged with resisting arrest, coercion of a witness, public intoxication, indecent exposure, and false reports/statements.
In December of 2017, Anderson was arrested for sending a text that led to a lockdown of Grundy County Schools.

A new study released from the Better Business Bureau reveals victims are losing millions of dollars through sweepstakes, lottery and prize schemes, devastating people financially and emotionally.
The report highlights that seniors are often the target of these frauds. The most common victims ranging between ages 65-74, including people who have gone through negative life events or someone who is worried about their financial future.
The study called, “Sweepstakes, Lottery and Prize Scams: A Better Business Bureau Study of How ‘Winners’ Lose Millions Through an Evolving Fraud,’ reports these types of scams took $117 million dollars of money from victims in 2017. The BBB received 2,820 sweepstakes and lottery scam reports last year, with the average loss of about $500.
Officials found out these types of schemes commonly originate in Jamaica, Costa Rica and Nigeria.
The BBB says true lotteries or sweepstakes don’t ask for money. If they want money for taxes, themselves, or a third party, they are most likely crooks.

Late Wednesday afternoon people in Manchester began seeing heavy black smoke. The Coffee County Communication Center called out all area fire departments, led by Manchester Fire and Rescue along with Coffee County EMS for a fire at the Kirchhoff Automotive plant in the Coffee County Industrial Park.

The building on Volunteer Parkway was evacuated, and all employees were reported as being safe.
The smoke from the fire could be seen from as far away as Monteagle and some type of explosions could be heard by people near the scene.

Kirchhoff Automotive produces diverse metal structural parts for the automotive industry. Currently, the production of dash panel beams for different car models is one of the core capabilities of the plant.
We will update this story when information is released. See more pictures below.

The Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA) held a work session in front of a huge crowd before their regular meeting on Tuesday.
First up was discussion of budget items. Alderman Lana Sain said certain items might need to be cut from the budget. Some suggestions were some vehicle costs and possibly some raises.
Apparently, the city is looking at pulling money out of their reserve fund to balance the 2018-19 budget. This could be as much as $900,000. Some city leaders are thinking of certifying a tax rate that equals to no tax increase based on the new property appraisals. This move would leave the city short of funding. Alderman Bob Bellamy suggested postponing the budget vote and do a continuation instead, until the city has a clearer picture of revenue expectations. City leaders decided to do the continuation budget for now.
Codes Director Jamie Sain talked about extended stay motels and some of the complaints about them. It’s possible that City codes might conduct surprise inspections.
Ray Amos, the Chairman of the Historic Zoning Commission (HZC) went to the table concerning the new downtown mural. Alderman Cheryl Swan as the rep of that committee talked about how at a meeting of the commission there was a discussion of painting the mural. She said there were no guidelines for art at this time. She said since there were no rules now maybe there should be a committee set up to develop guidelines for future murals. City Attorney Gerald Ewell said that it would be good for the city to have guidelines. He said while you can’t say what to paint, you can say what not to paint and regulate size and make sure it’s not obscene. Murals are designated as art and not being a sign, so they can’t be regulated by a sign ordinance. Aldermen say they might need to adopt guidelines for public art murals.
Vice Chairman Evans Baird said they did have guidelines that were approved years ago by the board.
There was some discussion about this particular mural not being approved, not the mural itself but the process of how it happened.
Bob Bellamy stated that this seemed like a power struggle as the mural was done by members of the commission. He asked what they wanted, and Ray Amos said they wanted Scott Van Velsor and John Mancini removed from be HZC as they were appointed by the city council. Bellamy said the HZC needed to work this out amongst themselves. No action taken.
Alderman Ryan French said this isn’t the first time the HZC has caused problems. He suggested that it might be best to disband the HZC altogether. He said that every time Manchester tries to move forward the HZC seems to be in the way. The HZC said that this would jeopardize some possible grants.
Van Velsor came up next to give the other side, he stated that at the HZC meeting there was approval for a mural and so they moved forward. He said he did show all the HZC members the design and they said nothing. Amos said all they approved was paint and an awning not the mural.
Commission members stated they liked the mural and had no intention of asking for its removal. They just want proper procedures to be followed.
No action was taken, and Mayor Lonnie Norman said the BOMA would think about this issue and discuss it more at their next meeting in 2 weeks. (Thanks to Rob Clutter for his help on this story)

The case against a Grundy County pastor, accused of attempted child rape, was sent to a grand jury on Wednesday.
District Attorney Mike Taylor tells WRCB-TV, 48-year-old William E. “Tim” Smith, Jr. is being held in jail on a $200,000 bond.
If Smith makes bond, Taylor says he will be required to wear an ankle monitor and have no contact with the alleged victim.
Smith is accused of trying to rape a 12-year-old girl, according to the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office.
Smith’s next court date is July 9.

On June 1st, 2018 Franklin County Sheriff’s Office investigators filed 31 charges against a suspect for alleged crimes ranging from felony theft to possession of burglary tools. A report filed by Investigator Kalyn Machuta stated that 37 year-old Bryan R. Dudley of Cobb Hollow Road, Tullahoma, TN. was charged with 2 counts of felony theft, 9 counts of misdemeanor theft, 11 counts of burglary, 8 counts of vandalism, and possession of burglary tools.
The charges are a culmination of a 3-month investigation conducted by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office regarding vehicle burglaries. Sheriff’s office personnel utilized information from the public, video surveillance, and surveillance conducted by investigators and deputies.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office thanked the Manchester Police Department for their assistance in this case.
Dudley is currently being held at the Franklin County Jail under a $250,000 bond and has an initial court date of Monday June 25th, 2018 at 8:00am in Franklin County General Sessions Court.
The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind all citizens utilizing boat docks or river access points to please secure all their valuables or keep them with you or on your person.

On Saturday (06/02/2018) Manchester Police Officer Jamie Norris responded to a call on at 400 Hillsboro Boulevard to check on suspicious motorcycle that had been parked at a business overnight. While the officer was in the business talking with the complainant, a male suspect got on the motorcycle and took off. Officer Norris attempted to make a traffic stop at College St and Hillsboro Boulevard. According to the arrest warrant, that due to policy Norris decided not to pursue because of safety when the driver accelerated and refused to stop.
A be on the lookout (BOLO) for the motorcycle was issued. Coffee County Deputy Lee Marcom responded to the call and saw the bike near Blanton’s Chapel Road. Marcom attempted to stop the motorcycle, but it continued to the Hwy 64/41 intersection in Beech Grove when the driver lost control. The driver was taken into custody and identified as Timothy Michael Hupp age 32 of Loudon, TN.
Hupp was charged by Norris and Marcom with 2 counts evading arrest, reckless endangerment, reckless driving, 2 counts of driving on revoked/suspended license 4th offense and 2 counts habitual traffic offender. Hupp also has warrants in Knox County for habitual motor offender and leaving the scene of an accident.
His bond was set at $20,500 and he will appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court June 18, 2018.