Category: News

Gas prices are on a steep slide after reaching 3-year highs due to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Prices surged when Harvey struck refineries along the gulf coast, then remained elevated as demand spiked in the southeast following Hurricane Irma. Now supply and demand levels are returning to normal, and prices are on the decline.
AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said if it weren’t for the recent hurricanes, gas prices would be about 25 cents lower. He said gas prices in the southeastern U.S. should drop another 5-10 cents this week.
The average price in Tennessee has declined for the last 14 consecutive days, for a total discount of 8 cents, since peaking at $2.60 on September 10th. Tennessee gas prices averaged $2.50. That’s 7 cents less than a week ago and 37 cents more than a year ago. The national average is $2.57.
The low price in Coffee County this week is $2.38 in Manchester and in Tullahoma it’s $2.39.

On Thursday May 11th, 2017 Tullahoma Police officers were assisting the FBI execute a search warrant concerning child exploitation at the residence of Martin Drew McFarlane age 31 on Castle Walk Street in Tullahoma. McFarlane was the co-director of the Tullahoma High School band until he resigned on May 12, 2017 after police arrested him for manufacturing/delivering/selling/possession of controlled substance and unlawful drug paraphernalia uses and activities.
Now according to the FBI, McFarlane has been indicted for distribution of child pornography. The indictment was issued after a presentation of evidence to a federal grand jury in Chattanooga.

State Rep. Judd Matheny of Tullahoma says he is proposing that there be no more help for the state’s pro sports teams unless they change.
Matheny, who is also running for Congress, posted on Facebook on Sunday that the bill he’ll present will be to prevent future deals with state help like the Tennessee Titans received more than 20 years ago.
Matheny told WKRN-TV “Until all (Tennessee) sports teams stand up and respect the national anthem, we are going to pass this bill.”
Matheny says things like bonds, tax breaks, or land go away if teams want new stadiums or arenas. They will have to build it and buy the land with their own money and pay taxes like everyone else.
When the Titans came to Nashville in the late 1990s, part of the nearly $300 million stadium deal was $55 million in state bonds.
Tennessee Titan players chose to stay in the locker room while the National Anthem played before their home game in Nashville on Sunday. The Titans received many boos from their fans for this action. Most NFL players say they are united to bring awareness to the injustice that has plagued people of color in this country.

The free community college scholarships available through the state’s Tennessee Promise program are helping more than just the students.
As part of the scholarship, students are required to perform eight hours of community service for every semester they’re in the program.
Mike Krause, executive director of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, says the result is tens of thousands of hours of free help for the state’s nonprofit groups, with the possibility of more.
“We’re able to help a lot of organizations across the state accomplish their mission with these hours of volunteer work,” he states. “But second, we hope that we’re really creating that culture of being an involved citizen with the students – and that ultimately doesn’t just make them a better student, it makes them a better Tennessean.”
This month, data released by the state shows Tennessee Promise students are more likely to succeed in college and less likely to drop out.
In 2015, 56 percent of Tennessee Promise students who entered college remained in school through graduation or continued on for more education. Only 39 percent of high school graduates outside the program had done the same.
In addition to benefiting communities and fostering a spirit of community engagement, Krause says students are often able to volunteer at nonprofits that relate to their career goals and interests.
“One of our goals for Tennessee Promise students is that they’re able to pair their community service opportunities within some of their interest areas,” he explains. “And there’s certain types of job shadowing even that absolutely qualify for community service.”
As part of the program, students also work with mentors who are already working in their field of study.

Fairest of the Fair
Winner Catelyn Millaway
1st runner-up Maggie Partin
2nd runner-up Madison Vaughn
3rd runner-up Heather Cunningham
4th runner-up Lindsey Dickson

Miss Teen Coffee County
Winner Ryan Green
1st runner-up Claire Bryant
2nd runner-up Trinity Taylor
3rd runner-up Madelyn Schultz
Tie 4th runner-up Lexy Rapoza and Cyeria Damron

Junior Miss Older Group
Winner Shelby Grace Hall
1st runner-up Kara Wheeler
2nd runner-up Sadie Beth Davenport
3rd runner-up Emily Suzann Pickell
4th runner-up Julianne Marie Brock

Junior Miss Younger Group
Winner Adalyn May Clark
1st runner-up Karly Faith Brinkley
2nd runner-up Kyndal Grosch
3rd runner-up Hallie Grace Tipps
4th runner-up Madelyn Paige Scott

Little Miss 4-5
Winner Hannah Gayle Tipps
1st runner-up Cambree Nicole Hammock
2nd runner-up Kealey Nichole Branch
3rd runner-up AnnaLee Mae Crosslin
4th runner-up Mallory Lynne Carr

Toddler Boys
Winner Kason Lee Wilson
2nd Raylan Michael Tucker
3rd Wyatt Colt Constantine

Toddler Girls
Winner Bella Marie Warren
2nd Tatum Gray Craigue
3rd Karah Eddleman

18-24 Months Boys
Winner Cash Alan Vickers
2nd Oliver Oakley
3rd Ridge T Brown

18-24 Monty Girls
Winner Kinsley Hillis
2nd Piper Gordon
3rd Carrington Grace Lorance

12-18 Month Boys
Winner Tavin Deason Makai Jackson
2nd Brixton Williams
3rd Gabriel Anthony Montes

12-18 Month Girls
Winner Zara Blair Gill
2nd Novalee Grace Crosslin
3rd Avery Grace Nash

6-12 Month Boys
Winner Benjermin Penny
2nd Keiston Hodge
3rd Xavier Wooten

6-12 Month Girls
Winner Teagan Steere
2nd Raylyn Lawrence
3rd Makeeley Schomburg

0-6 Months Boys
Winner Killian Claude Smith
2nd Kasen Lee Stewart
3rd Wylde Maverick Warfield Cotner

0-6 Months Girls
Winner Kora Harper Penick
2nd Madilynn Raine Tate
3rd Taylor Lynn Marcom

In September of 2016, Bedford County Sheriff’s Office detectives received a Cyber Tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that involved a minor victim in imminent danger and an adult offender in their jurisdiction. After a thorough investigation, the offender was arrested and charged with Statutory Rape and Incest.
Both the victim and the offender in the Bedford County case were two of several victims of online sextortion.
The offender, Paul Leighton, from the United Kingdom, posed as a child and had up to 40 fake social media accounts. He used those accounts to befriend teens in the U.S., Canada, and Australia and would persuade the teens to send nude or sexual images of themselves. London officials believe he used those images to blackmail the children into becoming abusers. Leighton threatened to send the images to the children’s family, friends, and classmates. Law enforcement says the sexual acts were recorded and forwarded to Leighton, who would later share the videos to other children in order to instruct them with what type of sexual acts to commit on new victims. Authorities say there may be as many as 100 victims worldwide.
Paul Leighton pleaded guilty to rape, sexual assaults on a child under 13, causing or inciting grooming, making and distributing indecent photographs, blackmail, assault on a child under 13, and possession of a class B drug. Authorities in London sentenced him to 22 years in prison.

Decherd’s former water works superintendent and a Franklin County business owner have been arrested and charged in connection with taking between $60,000 and $250,000 from the city, according to Franklin County Circuit Court records.
Former Water Works Superintendent James Wesley Parks, 35, Harris Chapel Road, Winchester, was arrested Friday and charged with theft of property between $60,000 to $250,000.
Also arrested in connection with case was Poultry Electric owner Jeffery Jerome Frame, 42, Williams Street, Decherd. He was also charged with theft of property between $60,000 to $250,000 after being taken into custody on Sept. 6.
The two are free on bond after they appeared in Franklin County Circuit Court Friday. Their arraignment date has been set for Nov. 22.
District Attorney Mike Taylor said Parks and Frame are suspected of drafting bogus orders through the Water Department for equipment that was never delivered.

Aaron Blake Campbell, a Moore County resident, pled guilty on Friday of Sexual Exploitation of Minors (Over 100 Images) and received a 9-year sentence to serve at 100%.
Investigations into Campbell began in early April, who was already registered on the States Sex Offender Registry for similar crimes he committed as a juvenile. Detective Shane Taylor received information in April 2017 from The Department of Homeland Security, “ICE” Division who had been working closely with Madison Co. Alabama Detectives on a “ICAC” Internet Crimes Against Children, that brought the Detectives to a residence in Huntsville Al. where an I.P. Address of Campbell’s relative was being used to download and distribute child pornography. Detectives in Alabama determined that Campbell had visited the residence often, and was likely the culprit. After search warrants were executed, information was passed on to Detective Taylor, who along with Special Agents from ICE visited Campbell’s residence in Moore County. Detectives talked to Campbell about the incident in Huntsville, and Campbell admitted to having possessed and distributed child pornography.
Detective Taylor received several electronic devices from Campbell that the man admitted contained obscene material containing children. Taylor sent them to Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for analysis. Campbell was interviewed, and then charged.
Taylor was recently contacted by TBI about their findings and was informed that Campbell had possessed some of the most horrific images seen by the agent. The man possessed several thousand images.
Campbell will start serving his sentence with Tennessee Department of Corrections, and will remain on the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry.