Category: News

Armed Robbery in Shelbyville

Brandon Mitchell

On Tuesday (January 16, 2018) at 6:01am the Shelbyville Police Department responded to a call of an armed robbery at the T and M Market located at 430 Depot Street.
Video surveillance was reviewed by investigators which showed an armed individual lying in wait on the clerk who arrived to open the store. As the clerk entered the store the armed suspect forced the clerk inside and demanded she open the cash register. The clerk was then made to lie on the ground as the suspect fled on foot.
Investigators developed information that Brandon Mitchell as a suspect and executed a search warrant at his residence.
Mitchell has been charged with Aggravated Robbery and is in the Bedford County jail on a $50,000 bond.

Cannon County Sheriff’s Deputy Crashes Vehicle–Hits Gas Line

Cannon Co. Deputy’s SUV involved in crash… Photo provided by the Sheriff’s Dept.

A Cannon County Sheriff’s Deputy was involved in a wreck near West Side School on Wednesday morning. The crash caused the vehicle to hit a natural gas line.
Around 300 natural gas residents in the Bradyville and Readyville area were without gas service Wednesday morning.
Middle Tennessee Natural Gas worked throughout the day to repair the damage. Once repairs were complete they had to relight each individual pilot light.

More Work Needed on Tennessee Rape Kits

An audit suggests that Tennessee lawmakers require updates on the 9,000-plus rape kits statewide, including almost 7,000 in Memphis, that were awaiting testing in July 2014.
The state comptroller’s audit says a 2014 law required a report on rape kits not sent to a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation lab or other lab, but didn’t require updates, expedited testing or mandatory turnaround times.
TBI spokeswoman Susan Niland says New York district attorney grants helped send 6,900 Memphis kits to independent labs, with 2,900 remaining at labs.
Niland says other grants sent almost 1,300 kits from elsewhere to independent labs. Kits need to return to the TBI to review results.
Additionally, the audit says TBI didn’t retain some documentation in the 2014 inventory, so auditors couldn’t evaluate whether TBI precisely reported the backlog.

State wants to Increase Teacher Preparation Program Outcomes

Dr Candice McQueen

Tennessee education officials plan to increase teacher preparation program outcomes across the state.
The Tennessean reports the promise follows the launch of a Tennessee Board of Education database detailing how many of the state’s preparation programs aren’t meeting expected quality standards. Tennessee Higher Education Commission Executive Director Mike Krause said on Tuesday the state can do better.
State Education Commissioner Candice McQueen says improvement plans include increased communication about state expectations to college presidents, connecting professors more closely to schools and state standard resources and a statewide school tour meant to introduce high-achieving, young students to the education profession.
In addition, the state has launched increased accountability measures, including annual reviews of program outcomes, and held expectation meetings with state college presidents.

Snow Hits Coffee County

Snow scene photos from Ja. 16, 2018… Photos by Barry West

Snow moved into Coffee County around 7am Tuesday morning.
The weather system brought anywhere from a dusting to several inches of snow to parts of Tennessee. Here in Coffee County we received around 2 inches. Some areas in southern Kentucky saw at least nine inches of snow.
The snow brought with it difficulties on our roadways. Several minor accidents were reported throughout Coffee County.
Please be aware that it is very cold with wind chills dipping to below zero.

Make Sure Your Mailbox is Clear of Snow and Ice

The U.S. Postal Service needs residents to help keep walkways and areas around mailboxes clear of snow and ice.
The USPS said, “the Postal Service Tennessee District officials are making a concerted effort to raise public awareness of the importance of keeping walkways, sidewalks, and approaches to mailboxes clear from snow and ice in the interest of neighborhood safety.”
Here are some tips to help keep your USPS letter carrier safe:
Clear enough snow from curbside boxes to allow mail trucks to approach the box, deliver the mail and to drive away from the box without danger of the need for backing.

Slick streets in Manchester on Tuesday afternoon… Photo by Barry West

Walkways should be cleared of snow and ice and allow enough traction to avoid slips, trips or falls.
Steps should also be kept clear of ice and snow and in good repair so as not to cause injury to the letter carriers or others who visit the customer’s home.
Overhangs should be clear and free of snow and ice to avoid injury.
The USPS also asks that residents keep trash cans, vehicles and any other obstacles away from their mailboxes.

Gas Prices Rise

Gas prices increased across most of the country during the past week, yet states in the southeast still have some of the cheapest prices in the nation.
Tennessee gas prices increased 6 cents during the past week. The state average of $2.34 is 10 cents more than a month ago and 20 cents more than this time last year.
The national average price of a gallon of regular unleaded is $2.52, which is 8 cents more than a month ago and 18 cents more than a year ago.
The low price this week in Manchester is $2.23 per gallon and in Tullahoma the low price is $2.21.

TBI Used Reserve Funding to Avoid Layoffs and More

A report says the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation used reserves over the last four years to avoid layoffs and operational gaps due to budget cuts required by Gov. Bill Haslam’s administration.
The state comptroller’s office review says TBI has underestimated its costs and annually expected to operate at a budget shortfall with reserve accounts filling the gaps.
The report says TBI’s reserve accounts have been greatly diminished. Additionally, the Tennessee commissioner of finance and administration swept more than $6.1 million from TBI’s handgun permit fund in 2014 to put in Tennessee’s general fund.
The report says TBI didn’t request budget increases partly because its officials said they didn’t expect approval through the governor’s budget process.
TBI Director Mark Gwyn promised better communication and consideration of possibly charging for some services.

TWRA Asking for Public Input

Tennessee officials seek comments on hunting regulations
Tennessee wildlife officials are seeking public comments on regulations for the 2018-19 hunting season.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency says it’s an opportunity for Tennesseans to offer ideas and share concerns about hunting regulations with the agency’s staff.
The agency says the comment period is open through Feb. 15.
It says public comments will be considered by the agency’s staff and may be presented as proposals for regulation changes.
Comments may be submitted by mail to: 2018-19 Hunting Season Comments, TWRA, Wildlife and Forestry Division, P.O. Box 40747, Nashville, TN 37204 or emailed to TWRA.HuntingComments@tn.gov. Please include “Hunting Season Comments” on the subject line of emailed submissions.

Camping Prices Going Up in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Officials with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park have announced fee increases at frontcountry campgrounds and picnic pavilions, starting on March 1, 2018.
According to a report from WBIR-TV in Knoxville, the increases range from 10 to 15 percent, which averages out to about $3 to $5, depending on the area. For example, a camping spot in Cades Cove or Elkmont will go from $20 to $25 in peak season.
Officials said the rate increases are necessary to meet the rising costs of operations, reduce a backlog of maintenance requirements on park facilities, and initiate needed improvements.
The park operates nine open campgrounds, seven group campgrounds, six picnic pavilions, and five horse campgrounds, and at most of them, fees have not risen since at least 2006.
Park officials are also improving the efficiency of campground management by adding three campgrounds to the national reservation system through Recreation.gov.