Category: News

Even before he arrives for his first day as the new president at Motlow State Community College, Dr. Michael Torrence, Ph.D., is already busy bringing international attention to the region. Torrence was recently selected from more than 230 nominees to serve a three-year term on the board of directors for Online Learning Consortium (OLC), a non-profit organization headquartered in Newbury, Mass. The mission of OLC is to advance quality digital teaching and learning experiences.
Like other Tennessee community colleges, Motlow is preparing for an influx of new students taking advantage of the Tennessee Reconnect program. Reconnect is part of Governor Bill Haslam’s initiative to help more adults complete college degrees or credentials that lead to new skills, advancement in the workplace, or to fulfill lifelong dreams of higher education. Eligibility requirements include state residency for at least one year, and most candidates must be at least 25-years old, or qualify as an independent. The program is part of the Drive-to-55 initiative to ensure that 55 percent of Tennessee adults have a degree or certificate by the year 2025. To that end, Torrence wants Motlow to be a local leader in developing innovative solutions that meet the needs of this changing student population.
Motlow is currently hosting a series of Tennessee Reconnect Adult Information Events to help interested adults learn more about the Reconnect free college tuition program. Dates, sign-up forms and more information is available at motlowreconnect.com.

On Sunday morning (April 8th 2018) Tullahoma Police officers served a search warrant at 313 1/2 South Anderson Street. Officers searched an apartment belonging to Lisa Pauline Clark age 51 and allegedly located 1.88 grams of DAB. DABS are doses of cannabis concentrate. 1.09 grams of a white crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine, 2.56 grams of a green leafy like substance believed to be marijuana, 4 marijuana roaches, and 1 and a quarter pieces of Xanax bars inside the residence during their search. Officers also allegedly located large amounts of drug paraphernalia such as glass pipes, digital scales and more. Prior to serving the search warrant Tullahoma officers allegedly located 3 grams of a green leafy like substance believed to be marijuana inside the woman’s purse.
Tullahoma Officer Brooke Earhart charged Clark with unlawful drug paraphernalia uses and activities and schedule VI, I, II, and IV drug violations. She was released from the Coffee County Jail after posting a bond of $14,500. Clark will appear in court on May 3, 2018.

Grady Wright of Wright Paving has made a proposal to change zoning of his company’s property in Hillsboro. On Tuesday the Coffee County Commission is expected to vote on a prospective new zoning designation – M-3 – which would allow the establishment of a quarry outside of the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB).
Wright owns 230 acres in Hillsboro, near the intersection of Hillsboro Viola Road and J.D. Ring Road.
Since 2003 Wright has made several requests to the county to rezone his property in Hillsboro – which is currently zoned A-1 agricultural – to a zone that would allow a quarry to operate on the land.
The full commission meets at 6pm on Tuesday night at the Coffee County Administration Plaza. The Rogers Group currently operates a quarry in Hillsboro.

At approximately 9:45 PM Saturday night there was a non-injury crash on Hwy 41 near Hills Chapel Road in Manchester. A vehicle left the roadway striking an electric pole and caused damage to several others. Hwy 41 had to be closed from Hills Chapel Road to Clover Lane while clean-up work was done.
Duck River Electric arrived on the scene to restore service and repair damage from a crash.
Manchester Police Department thank Duck River Electric along with the Manchester Street Department, Coffee County EMS and the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department for their teamwork in assisting.
The repair work was completed Sunday morning.

A Grundy County High School senior was arrested last week for saying something about the selection process of the school’s valedictorian.
Trevor Sanders tried speaking up after a controversial selection.
Last week, Sanders and the rest of the school found out this year’s graduation would be a little different.
The school announced the valedictorian for the class of 2018 would be a female who is graduating in just three years, not four.
When Trevor began to ask why, he was told he needed to meet with school administrators to talk about him speaking out.
In that meeting Wednesday, he asked to record the conversation.
Soon after, he posted it on his public Facebook page.
The young man says he made no remarks about her as a person in the recording.
School administrators can be heard telling Trevor that he’s harassing the newly-chosen valedictorian.
Last Wednesday night, the Grundy County Sheriff’s office arrested Sanders for what they say was a second harassment incident at the school.
Sanders was released on Thursday morning after spending over 12 hours in jail.
The Grundy County School Board will meet on April 12, at 6 p.m. with a workshop at 5 p.m.

A Manchester man and woman are being held in the Coffee County Jail on charges of child endangerment and reckless endangerment after a toddler was found walking alone on Madison Street Tuesday.
According to warrants obtained by Manchester Police Officer Daniel Ray, on April 3, a 2-year-old boy was found alone in front of the Coffee County District Attorney’s office on Madison Street. The child was wearing only a diaper and pair of shorts.
According to the warrant, the child had lacerations on his face, a bruise on his forehead and was wearing a diaper that had not been changed for period of time and that caused blistering.
Officers canvassed the area to locate the child’s home and his parents. According to the report, a man answered the door of the home on Madison St. after “a lot of knocking.”

The officers asked the man, identified as Cody Michael Owens, 25, if they had a missing child. He said he would get the child’s mother.
The mother, Tatum Blake Jacobs, 19, told officers the child must have opened the deadbolt on the bedroom door and gotten out of the house.
According to the report, Owens and Jacobs admitted to officers that they had smoked marijuana the previous night.
Owens was charged with reckless endangerment and Jacobs was charged with child endangerment.
Both are being held in jail on a bond of $100,000 and are to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court April 24.
According to Assistant Manchester Police Chief Adam Floied, the house the couple and child were living in has been condemned by the Manchester Codes director.
The child was placed in the care of the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services.

An incident took place on Ragsdale Road on April 3 that the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department is investigating. An unknown person stopped at a residence and told the person at the home that he was needing work. When the man was told that there was no work available at that location, the person turned away. The man went to the backyard of the property and the owner said the man took a pair of jumper cables from a disabled truck. The man was told to leave the property. The unknown male drove off in a white Nissan vehicle.
If you have any information on this suspicious person, contact Investigator Jason Dendy with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department at 931 570 4427.

On March 23rd, 2018 just after 11:00 p.m. a multi-colored late 90s model extended cab Dodge Ram pickup entered the properties of Lee’s Collision and Prater’s Auto Repair on Sparta Highway in Warren County. The vehicle appeared to be a solid color on the front with a lighter, possibly a prime color on the bed and other areas of the truck. The vehicle was driven by a white male wearing blue jeans, hooded sweat shirt, and a ball cap that can be seen loading stolen batteries and a jumper box into the suspect vehicle. The suspect and the vehicle remained at the businesses that shared the same lot off the Sparta Highway for approximately 25-30 minutes. In addition to the stolen batteries and jumper box, the suspect also stole an 18 ft black, bumper pull, wooden floored trailer. The suspect can last be seen on video leaving the businesses around 11:30 p.m. headed inbound towards McMinnville.
Any information about the suspect, vehicle, stolen property, or crimes that were committed, please contact the Warren County Sheriff’s Department Investigations, 931-473-8738, private message through Facebook, or through the Warren County E-911 Center’s non-emergency line at 931-668-7000.

Governor Bill Haslam has signed a bill banning anyone under 16 from using a tanning bed in Tennessee.
In addition, anyone between the ages of 16 and 18 will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian to use a tanning bed. Parents must also sign a warning statement saying they understand the risks associated with tanning devices.
Under current Tennessee law, even children under 14 can use a tanning bed if they’re accompanied by a parent who signs a warning statement.