Category: News

Drivers throughout the country are always worried about intoxicated drivers, but are you aware of which drug is the most likely to cause a fatal accident in Tennessee?
A team with “Alcohol.org” recently studied national data to determine which substances are most likely to be found in the bloodstream of drivers in Tennessee.
Some findings specific to Tennessee:
Tennessee ranks 14th in the country with the most alcohol or drug related deaths.
Tennessee saw an increase of 2.8% in police reported drug-related deaths over the past decade
While amphetamine causes the highest number of traffic fatalities in Tennessee, it’s on the rise as the main cause of drug-related fatalities throughout the country– a 113.2% increase over the past decade. (WGNS Radio)

In light of the fatal Waffle House shooting in Nashville, three state lawmakers have called for changes to Tennessee gun laws.
State Sen. Jeff Yarbro, along with state Reps. Mike Stewart and Bill Beck made the announcement during a press conference Monday.
They are calling for an amendment in an effort to close loopholes that they say make it harder to enforce existing gun laws.
The new language would make it unlawful to buy a gun or possess if you have been subject to suspension, revocation or confiscation in Tennessee or other states.
It would also make it an offense to give or loan a firearm to someone who cannot legally possess it under state law and make it an offense to re-loan or give back weapons to those who have been subject to confiscation.
The legislation comes after the alleged shooter Travis Reinking lost his rights in Illinois to have firearms after he was arrested by the Secret Service last year. The FBI in Springfield, Illinois took his weapons and gave them to his father. His father, who was licensed, later gave them back to his son.
Lawmakers said the way the law is written now, Reinking did not violate state laws.
Reinking was captured Monday afternoon. (Contributed photo/Nashville Police Department)

The Manchester Burger King was robbed at gunpoint in March of 2015. Last week, after a 3-year process, Nemon Omar Winton, of Hillsboro, was sentenced to serve 45 years in the Tennessee Department of Corrections.
The man entered the restaurant and forced a female employee to open the safe. Another female employee of Burger King used her cell phone to call 911, giving a description of the man and vehicle he left in. The stolen money, totaled at $7,965.71, was recovered.
Manchester patrol officers were quick arriving on the scene and started pursuit of the suspect. 8 minutes after the emergency call came out Manchester Police stopped Winton on Volunteer Parkway.
The 39-year-old was convicted on two counts of especially aggravated kidnapping, one count of aggravated kidnapping and one count of aggravated robbery.

We have a reminder for you that early voting continues through April 26 for the May 1 primary elections. Voters can vote early by stopping by the election commission in Manchester or the C.D. Stamps building in Tullahoma. It will only take a few minutes and it means you will not have to stand in line on Election Day. After the weekend’s voting 1,817 Coffee Countians had voted. There were 1,246 Republicans and 571 Democrats who cast their ballots.
Remember if you plan to vote, you need a photo ID, it is the law.
In Manchester early votes may be cast at the Coffee County Election Commission office in the county administrative plaza. Voting there will be from 8 a.m. to 4:30 pm. In Tullahoma voting will take place at the C.D. Stamps Center from 9 a.m. to 4:30 pm.
Winners will face off in the county general election on August 2.

Elk River Public Utility District is alerting their customers of a phone scam that is making its way around service area. The scammers are calling customers claiming to be from ERPUD and warning them that their gas is about to be disconnected if payment is not received. The number they are calling from is 1-806-416-0248 or it may be listed as “private”. Please know that if you receive a questionable call do not give out personal information, hang up, and call the office. Also, if someone claiming to be from ERPUD shows up at your home or business, please demand official identification. ERPUD employees will be in clearly marked vehicles and can prove identification.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips has announced the March 2018 statewide unemployment rate for Tennessee remained near historic lows and matched the revised rate from the previous month.
The preliminary, seasonally adjusted rate for March was 3.4 percent, which mirrored the revised rate for February and was nearly one percentage point less than the March 2017 rate of 4.2 percent. Tennessee’s statewide unemployment rate has remained below 4.0 percent since last May, hitting an all-time low of 3.3 percent last September.

Dr Jay Trussler, of Manchester has been named the new deputy medical examiner for Coffee County. Dr Al Brandon is the county medical examiner and served in that position for 45 years.
A medical examiner is appointed by the county mayor and is approved by the county legislative body.
The services provided by the county medical examiner include conducting death investigations; providing an opinion as to the cause of death; completing of death certificates; issuing cremation permits; ordering an autopsy when necessary to determine cause and manner of death; and interacting with local and state government officials and departments.

Jeffery Trace Magouirk of Tullahoma was arrested recently on drug charges after police allegedly found drugs in his vehicle.
Magouirk, 27, of Creighton Place was stopped on April 12 for allegedly running a stop sign by Tullahoma Police Officer Brooke Earhart.
As the officer approached the vehicle she allegedly smelled the strong smell of marijuana, Cpl. Tommy Elliott arrived and also stated that he smelled marijuana.
Officers searched the vehicle and allegedly located inside the center console a set of digital scales, an Ibuprofen bottle containing two small plastic bags with white powder residue and a bag with clear crystal residue. There was also a bottle containing a crystal substance, one Xanax bar and an Alprazolam pill located in the console as well. According to a police report, officers also found two clear burned glass tube pipes with drug residue.
The report states that officers found small pieces of marijuana “scattered” in the front air vents. They state that there was a strong odor of marijuana coming from the ventilation system of the vehicle. The officers allegedly found a bag containing a green plastic bag containing 22 grams of marijuana and several empty bags. They found a string that had apparently been tied to an object in the passenger side air vent that had allegedly been used to store “narcotics.”
Police also located $1,696.28 which they allege was from drug sells. The money was seized as was the vehicle that Magouirk was driving.
Magouirk was charged with possession of schedule II, possession of schedule IV, manufacture/delivery/sell of a controlled substance and running a stop sign. He was booked into the Coffee County Jail on the charges under a bond of $7,500 and he is to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court on May 3. He was released after making bond.
Coffee County Sheriff’s Deputy Dustan Foster and Tennessee State Trooper Randy Euler assisted in the investigation.