Category: News

The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office was involved in a car chase Saturday night that sent the suspect and an officer to the hospital.
Sheriff Clint Shrum says it started after deputies tried to stop the driver of a green Oldsmobile, Freddie Meeks, for suspicion of DUI in Palmer.
Meeks fled through Whitwell into Sequatchie County and onto Daus Mountain Road, which leads back into Grundy County.
“A sheriff’s deputy approaching from the opposite direction had pulled onto a logging road to allow the pursuit to make passage,” Shrum said. “The suspect vehicle ran off the roadway and struck the deputies vehicle in the driver’s side.”
The deputy was taken to the hospital, but was released with non-life threatening injuries.
Meeks is currently required to wear a GPS monitor on charges out of Marion County.
The newest charges Meeks is now facing include DUI, vehicular assault and felony evading arrest.

All Motlow State Community College campuses – Moore County, Fayetteville, McMinnville and Smyrna – will be closed Thursday, Jan. 11, to permit faculty and staff to attend spring assembly.
Faculty and staff from all Motlow campuses will meet on the Motlow Moore County campus in Nisbett Center, Copperweld Arena, for the annual assembly, during which preparations are made for the spring semester. Continental breakfast will begin at 7:45 a.m., with opening remarks from Hilda Tunstill, interim Motlow president, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
The assembly agenda includes introduction of new employees, updates on college programs and new initiatives, and faculty discipline meetings.
The final day that admission applications will be accepted for the spring 2018 semester is Jan. 10. Regular classes on all campuses begin on Jan. 16.

There will be some new faces on the county commission as some current commissioners will not seek re-election: Sam Mai, Republican representing Manchester’s District 4, Diane Argraves, a Democrat representing rural District 11, Kerry Farrar, a Democrat representing District 8, Mark Kelly, a Republican representing Tullahoma’s District 15, Kimberly Martin, a Republican representing Tullahoma’s District 17, and Rush Bricken, a Republican representing Tullahoma’s District 21 have all decided not seek re-election. Others may choose not to run, but have not announced.
No candidates have picked up qualifying papers to run in districts 2, 4, 13, or 19 for county commissioner. In District 1 Elizabeth H Joe Debellis has picked up qualifying papers to run as a republican. District 3 Michael T Crockett is planning to run as a republican and Michael D Stein is running as a democrat. William Henry Judkins II has picked up papers to run in District 5 as a republican and Bobby Bryan will run for re-election as an independent. In District 6, Republican Dennis Hunt is running for reelection and Raymond Carr has picked up papers to run as a democrat. Paul Gish will run as a republican in District 7. Two republicans are running for District 8 commissioner; Charles Schultz, Jr and Emily Howes. David Orrick is running as an independent in District 9. Harley Myers plans to run as a democrat in District 10. James Fielding is planning a campaign as a republican in District 11 and Barry West will run as a democrat. In District 12 Ashley Brooke Kraft has picked up papers to run as a republican along with independent Incumbent Tim Morris. Republican Robert John Jarman will run for the District 14 seat along with democrat incumbent Missy DeFord. Republican Dwight Miller is the only candidate so far in District 15. Republican Tim Stubblefield is planning on running again for the District 16 commissioner slot. Jimmy Bradford, Democrat and Tildon J Stubblefield Jr, Republican are running in District 17. So far one candidate has picked up qualifying papers to run in District 18, Republican Barbara Buckner. Democrat Rosemary Crabtree is running in District 20 and Democrat Gwendolyn Carr and Republican Charles Lynn Seaborn are running for District 21 commissioner.
This list can change often, and we will keep you updated in the coming weeks.

On Thursday (December 28,2017) Coffee County deputies Ben Sneed and Kevin Smith responded to a structure fire with 2 occupants trapped at 100 West 1st Street in Hillsboro. Sgt. Mike Smith arrived on scene escorting both victims away from the residence.
Coffee County EMS came to the scene to check on the male and female, but they refused treatment.
Hillsboro, other volunteer departments and Manchester Fire and Rescue were called to fight the blaze.
According to Deputy Sneed’s report the home received catastrophic damage.

Statewide unemployment figures for the month of November indicate the unemployment rate decreased in two counties, increased in 90 counties and stayed the same in three counties.
Coffee County went from 2.9 percent in October to 3.3 percent in November.
Warren County’s unemployment rate for November was 3.5 percent, the same as the October rate.
Bedford County rose from 3.2 to 3.5 percent.
In Franklin County they jumped up from 2.9 percent in October to 3.3 percent in November.
Moore County continues to have one of the best unemployment rates in the state at 2.7 percent for November, up from 2.4 in October.
Grundy County went from 4.0 to 4.6 percent and Cannon County went from 2.8 to 3.1 percent.
Williamson and Davidson Counties had the state’s lowest unemployment at 2.5 percent, while Lauderdale County had the highest at 5.5 percent.

Two of 18 new laws that went into effect on January 1, 2018 will target distracted driving.
One law will make it illegal to talk on your cell phone in an active school zone. If you are caught talking on a hand-held phone in a school zone while lights are flashing, you could be fined $50. You can use a hands-free device.
Another new law prohibits colored headlights, which officials say, can be a distraction for some drivers. Under the law, only white or amber headlights will be allowed while driving. Colored headlights will still be allowed if your vehicle is stationary, such as a classic car at a cruise-in.

A Manchester man was arrested Dec. 27 for possession of drugs after being stopped for weaving out of his lane on Ragsdale Road in Manchester.
Justin Christopher Sims, 19, of Stillwood Drive Manchester was charged with manufacture/sell/deliver of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia by Coffee County Deputy Blake Simmons.
The officer states in his report that when he approached the vehicle he could smell marijuana coming from the car. When Sims was asked if he had any drugs he said that he did not. Sims refused to allow the officer to search his vehicle so Manchester Police Officer Dale Robertson and his K-9 were called and the K-9 alerted on a spot on the vehicle. The deputy searched the vehicle and allegedly found 7.6 ounces of marijuana in three jars. Also found was a set of scales with marijuana residue and sandwich bags behind the driver seat. Also found in the rear of the vehicle was a container with an ounce and half of marijuana.
According to the deputy’s report, Sims told the officer that he had been to Nashville and purchased the marijuana.
Sims’ vehicle was impounded due to the drugs being in it.
Sims made his bond, but is set to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court Feb. 12.

A Tullahoma woman was arrested Dec. 26 following a traffic stop on East Grundy Street.
According to warrants obtained by Tullahoma Police Officer Brooke Earhart, Stormy Dee Phillips, 32, of Central Avenue, Tullahoma was charged with driving on revoked/suspended license, manufacturing/delivering/selling/possession of a controlled substance, schedule II drugs and unlawful drug paraphernalia.
According to the warrants, a search of the vehicle Phillips was driving had a makeup pouch in the backseat that contained two bags. One of the bags contained three ounces of a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine and the other bag contained three quarters of an ounce of what is believed to be methamphetamine. The officer also located four small bags allegedly containing meth.
According to the warrants, there was no insurance on the vehicle and the vehicle was unregistered.
Phillips was booked into the Coffee County Jail on the charges. Her bond was set at $22,500 and she is to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court Jan. 4.

With most folks’ diets a bit upside down this holiday season with parties and family dinners, the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) is reminding people about the importance of diabetes prevention.
The Volunteer State has the fifth highest percentage of adults with diabetes in the country, with a little more than one in 10 adults having Type 2 diabetes.
Dr. Michelle Fiscus, deputy medical director of the Division of Family Health and Wellness at the Tennessee Department of Health, says the state’s culture of rich and fried foods doesn’t do us any favors.
“Diabetes is a very significant problem in Tennessee, and we can see families that generationally have diabetes because of cultural influences on their diet, cultural influences on whether or not they are physically active,” she points out.
Diabetes is a chronic disease affecting how the body uses insulin to process sugar. Over time, too much sugar can cause vision loss and kidney disease.
Fiscus says to reduce your risk, talk to your doctor about diet changes, maintain a healthy weight and increase your amount of fruits and vegetables and physical activity.
Fiscus says the best medicine is changes that can be made without heading to the doctor.
“We can’t change our genetics, so the things that people can do most easily are to try to make healthy food choices, increase their fruits and vegetables, decrease the amount of sugar that they have in their diet, so limiting sweets,” she states.
If you’ve already been diagnosed with diabetes or pre-diabetes, the TDH offers free six-week management programs around the state.
According to the American Diabetes Association, people with diabetes spend almost $14,000 a year for medical expenses, with almost half attributed to their illness.