Category: News

A joint investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Warren County Sheriff’s Department, and Tennessee Fire Investigation Services has resulted in the arrest of a Morrison man in connection to an arson in McMinnville.
On Monday, Warren County authorities responded to a reported camper trailer fire in the 100 block of Bivens Lane. During the course of the investigation, authorities determined the fire had been intentionally set and also developed information leading to 18-year-old Roger Roach as the individual responsible for the crime.
On Monday, authorities arrested Roach and charged him with one count of Vandalism over $10,000. He was then booked into the Warren County Jail on $50,000 bond.

A man from Grundy County had to be flown to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga after a truck he was working on rolled over on top of him.
The incident happened Tuesday morning.
Grundy County Sheriff Clint Shrum says that two men were working on a truck when the mishap occurred.
Apparently not realizing the man was there, the second man used a skid loader to push the truck. That’s when the truck rolled over on the man.
Shrum says while the man suffered injuries, he is expected to survive.

WMSR News reported nearly one year ago that a Murfreesboro teenager was missing. Now a year later Devin Bond is still missing.
The 17-year-old left his home on March 31, 2017 and was last at Barfield Crescent Park in Murfreesboro.
Heather Simmers, the mother of Devin, stated in the past to our news partner WGNS Radio that she’ll never give up looking.
Detective Will Pinson, who is investigating, told our news partner WGNS Radio that a close friend said Devin expressed an interest in running away before and living as a homeless person. He packed a bag prior to leaving and stuffed pillows and blankets in his bed to show he was still there.
If you believe you know anything about Bonds location, call the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office at 615-898-7770. You can also call the tip line at 615-904-3056.

Researchers from around the world are meeting in Tennessee for a conference about how humans and bears can safely coexist. The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is hosting the Fifth International Human-Bear Workshop through Thursday.
An estimated 1,600 black bears live in the Smoky Mountains and their greatest threat is encountering humans. Bears that become conditioned not to fear humans are more likely to be struck by cars or killed by hunters than if they remained in the park eating natural food. The more food bears find, the farther they’re likely to roam into urban areas.

On Saturday (March 25th, 2018) Tullahoma Officer Michael Wilder observed a man walking on Wagoner Street and the officer had knowledge that the man identified as Vichael DeWayne Taylor as having an outstanding warrant for domestic assault. Wilder made contact with Taylor and upon detaining him, he searched Taylor and allegedly in his waistband 5 grams of cocaine, several baggies and a set of digital scales. The 33 year-old Taylor of Picard Dr., Tullahoma allegedly admitted to Wilder to having the cocaine. He was charged with manufacturing/delivering/selling/possession of a controlled substance and domestic assault. Bond was set at $27,500 and was booked in at the Coffee County Jail. He is set to appear in court on May 3, 2018.

Tennessee motorists will soon find some of the highest gas prices in five months. Tennessee’s state average price of $2.41 is tied with the year’s high, set in February-and the highest price since October.
AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said gasoline demand has been very strong the past few weeks as Americans travel for spring break. This demand, coupled with lower supply levels sets the stage for higher prices in the coming weeks.
The national average price of a gallon of regular unleaded is $2.60, an increase of six cents since last week and 32 cents higher than a year ago.
The low price per gallon as of Monday afternoon was $2.35 in Manchester and $2.32 in Tullahoma.

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) has announced its first Teen Driver Education Camp for high school students across the state. The camp will be hosted by Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) at the department’s training center 283 Stewarts Ferry Pike Nashville, TN from Monday, July 16, to Friday, July 20, 2018.
To attend the camp, interested teens must register online at www.reducetncrashes.org by May 1, 2018. There are no costs to participate; however, the program does not provide overnight lodging. Space is limited; therefore, registrants will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The Teen Driver Education Camp is intended for drivers ages 15 to 17. Participants are required to complete two days of educational training comprised of the “AAA How to Drive” curriculum, mock crash demonstration, traffic safety presentations, driving simulators, group activities, indoor/outdoor events, and more.
The first group of campers will attend Monday and Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; the second group will attend Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
On Friday, July 20, all participants will attend graduation and receive a certificate of completion of the camp. Parents are encouraged to attend the graduation festivities as well.

Midstate students may have a tougher time getting good grades if a proposed bill passes.
This bill could make TNReady standardized tests score a larger percentage of student’s final grade in some cases.
Right now, TNReady test scores make up 10 percent of the final grade for students in 3rd through 8th grade. That percentage is supposed to jump to 15 percent next school year.
This bill gives more power to local school boards to decide how much weight the standardized tests will have. It gives them the choice to make it a quarter of a student’s final grade, and it also gives schools the option of completely ignoring scores for grades 3 through 5.
For students in grades 6 to 8, the comprehensive test scores have to account for 10 to 25 percent of the student’s final grade.
The bill also forces the state to hand over the test scores on time. If they aren’t given to teachers on time, teachers don’t have to factor them into final grades.
As far as this new proposal goes, it has already passed the House. It’s on the schedule this week for the Senate Education Committee. (WSMV-TV)

Please join Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 10904 – Manchester on March 31st (this Saturday) from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Manchester Square as a walk around the square for a total of 58 times will take place. The walk will be one lap for every 1,000 veterans who were killed in the Vietnam War in recognition of National Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Day. Any man, woman, child, group or organization, is encouraged and asked to participate in completing at least one lap.
Each participant will be asked to carry the American flag, Vietnam veterans flag or the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) flag, as they walk around the square. Each lap takes approximately 2 ½ minutes to walk. Anyone can walk in memory of a loved one, friend or relative who served in the war.
This event will be held in conjunction with the Disabled Veterans of America (DAV) Post 90, American Legion Gold Star Post 78 and the Sequatchie Valley Veterans Honor Guard. They look forward to seeing you there!
For more information, visit VFW website, www.vfwpost10904.com.

The trial of former Coffee County Central High School Red Raider baseball coach Bradley Newton Weir was set to begin last Monday (March 19, 2018) at the Coffee County Courthouse in downtown Manchester. The trial was first delayed until late May, but now the court date has been moved forward to Wednesday, April 4 through Thursday, April 5.
The 47-year-old Weir is facing a 16-count indictment after being charged with having sex with a 15-year-old Coffee County student in 2015.
The trial never started on Monday because Weir’s attorney reported to District Attorney General Craig Northcott that Weir was unable to be in court because Weir had suffered a gunshot wound to his leg on Sunday night at his home in East Ridge, TN.
D.A. Northcott says that a conference call was conducted at his request and Coffee County Judge Vanessa Jackson agreed to move the date forward. The D.A. added that the trial has been moved from the courthouse on the square to the Coffee County Justice Center.
Jury selection will begin during the morning of April 4 with the trial expected to begin later that day.