Category: News

On Thursday Sept. 14 a student at Manchester’s Westwood Middle School (WMS) reported that another student was in possession of a handgun.
In a press release the following day, Manchester City Schools Director Lee Wilkerson said that school administrators immediately investigated and discovered an unloaded handgun in the possession of a student. Administrators immediately contacted the Manchester Police Department who confiscated the weapon and began an investigation.
WMSR and the public learned during a meeting with parents, school leaders and police on Wednesday that school leaders began questioning a student last Thursday about the gun, but the student was allowed to stay in class while the investigation continued. We also learned that while it was true that the gun was unloaded, school administration also located a loaded six-round magazine. The gun was found inside a sleeve in the student’s hoodie.
During the meeting on Wednesday, parents asked several questions including; “Why did media get notified before parents? School answer; letters were sent home with students the same day. Next time, if anything like this happens again they would use the notify me phone app for notification.
Parent question; What was the gun holder’s intent? Answer, we think he was showing off and showed no signs of anger or bullying intent.
Parent question; Why was child sent back to class after being questioned? Answer, that was a mistake and our policy is under review for better tactics.
Parent question; Why was there no lockdown? Answer, we are redoing a safety plan to include elements that better protect students.
Parent question; Why did the police not lock down the school? Police answer; The school is the one who makes that decision. The gun was found near the end of the school day.
Parent question; are you all not trained for these type situations? Answer, we admit it took too long to find the weapon and are going to work to have a better plan for the future. All school staff will be retrained in safety and procedures for this and any type incident involving student safety.
Parent question to Manchester Police Chief Mark Yother; What would it take to get an SRO (Student Resource Officer) at Westwood Middle School? Yother said, “We are in the city schools with walkthroughs. He said that adding an SRO would be a board decision.
Parent question; Are backpacks allowed into class? Answer, going forward, backpacks will stay in lockers.
Parent question; Is there a plan to address the students about this matter? Answer, we plan to address the student body about this matter. We want to encourage students to always be willing to notify staff of safety concerns.
Director Wilkerson assured parents that lessons were learned and changes would take place with how these situations are handled. He added that student safety is always their first priority.

In December of 2013 WMSR News reported live from the scene of a shooting on the square in Manchester and after those almost 4 years the trial of Brenda Kay Webb Bartee started May 30, 2017.
On Tuesday, June 6, 2017 a jury found Bartee guilty of attempted murder of Dr Harry Bartee, using a weapon during the commission of a felony and not guilty of attempted murder of Tara Evans-Bartee.
Bartee, 51, has been held in the Coffee County Jail since the shooting. She was accused of shooting Dr. Bartee as he stood outside an attorney’s office on the courthouse square in Manchester. Manchester Police allege that the couple had been in divorce mediation at an attorney’s office.
On Wednesday (Sept. 20, 2017) Bartee was sentenced to 25 years in prison by Judge Craig Johnson. An appeal is expected.

On Tuesday, (September 19, 2017) Deputy Brandon Reed and Investigator James Sherrill of the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department went to a home on Elm Lane in Beechgrove to locate a man on active warrants. Upon arrival Sherrill observed the front door open, the lights and fan were on in the living room. The residence was still under quarantine from previous meth labs found at the home. In the investigators report, people began to run when Reed and Sherrill arrived.
Joseph Green was located behind the outbuilding and taken into custody on outstanding warrants out of Cannon and Coffee counties, he was transported to Cannon County.
Kendra Lawson, wanted in Warren County on active warrants was arrested and transported to McMinnville.
Upon speaking with the owner, deputies were given permission to search the premises. Items found were used coffee filters, a stripped lithium battery, an empty five once bottle of lighter fluid and a 20oz bottle that had a strong odor of muriatic acid.
Alfred Keith Elmore age 54 of Elm Lane Beechgrove was charged with intent to manufacture, evading arrest and unlawful drug paraphernalia uses and activities. His bond was set at $102,500 and he will appear in Coffee County court on October 9, 2017.

The law enforcement agencies of the county have been awarded grants to assist them in highway safety initiatives. The awards were announced by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security along with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office. The federal grants totaling $18 million went to 400 agencies across the state.
Tullahoma was awarded $5,000 for high visibility enforcement. According to Lt. Phil Henderson they will use the money to purchase supplies for DUI checkpoints.
Manchester Police was awarded $15,000 to be used for impaired driving enforcement.
The Coffee County Sheriff’s Department was awarded $29,000 for enhancement of computers and vehicle video systems to help traffic and DUI enforcement.
The Coffee County District Attorney’s Office was awarded the largest amount by receiving $180,000. That money is used to pay for a prosecutor and a DUI coordinator.
“This program is an asset for the county and helps in reducing DUI’s and the prosecution of those charged with DUI,” Coffee County District Attorney Craig Northcott said.
“Highway safety enforcement and education initiatives are critical components to preventing highway fatalities,” Safety Commissioner David Purkey said. “We cannot lower statewide fatality numbers without strong partnerships within our local communities. That is why these funds are so important.”
The commissioner said that applicant agencies who meet the required data driven criteria and highway safety standards are awarded grant funds to support the Tennessee Highway Safety Office.

Have you ever wanted to learn how to make your home more energy efficient by caulking, weather stripping or applying foam insulation?
DREMC, in conjunction with TVA, will be offering Do-It-Yourself workshops offering hands-on training to members who want to lower their energy use. Led by DREMC Energy Advisor Pat Garrett, these workshops will offer participants an opportunity to not only learn about, but to actually practice using various energy-saving tools.
The goal of these workshops is to arm members with the knowledge and necessary tools to make small changes that can help make their homes more energy efficient. Free energy kits will be distributed to the participants (limited to one per household).
All workshops begin at 6 p.m. and will last approximately one 1½ hours with light refreshments being served. The workshops are FREE, but space is limited. Participants must register by calling (931) 680-5883 or emailing hblanton@dremc.com.
Scheduled workshops include:
October 17 – DREMC Manchester Office, 209 E Fort Street, Manchester TN 37355
October 18 – DREMC Decherd Office, 1738 Decherd Blvd, Decherd, TN 37324
October 19 – DREMC Columbia Office, 798 New Lewisburg Hwy, Columbia, TN 38401
October 24 – Church Street Church of Christ Annex, 305 West Church St, Lewisburg TN 37091
October 25 – DREMC Shelbyville Office, 1411 Madison Street, Shelbyville, TN 37160
October 26 – Lynchburg Masonic Lodge, 101 Main Street, Lynchburg, TN 37352
Remember to make your reservation today as space is limited!

Insects don’t get the respect they deserve, but author David MacNeal is highlighting their importance and diversity in his new book, “Bugged: The Insects Who Rule the World and the People Obsessed with Them.” MacNeal says bugs aren’t living in our world – we’re living in theirs. There are 1.4 billion bugs for every human on Earth. Recently, views of one insect in particular, bees, have changed and more people recognize their importance. But MacNeal says other bugs are vital to our economy as well. “These two entomologists calculated, ‘OK, besides pollination, what other services do insects provide?’” he relates. “And they put that number around $57 billion (a year). “However, the incalculable figure was decomposition – recycling nutrients. I mean, who knows how much that would cost.” MacNeal says the work of beetles and other insects in processing dead matter and rejuvenating soil is perhaps the most crucial and overlooked role bugs play. It’s especially crucial for people who work on the land. MacNeal describes bugs as bio-indicators for the planet. In other words, when we look at the health of insects, we can understand how the environment is doing. “The more we look at them – which we are now, more so than ever – the better chances of future generations actually casting aside their aversion and appreciating insects as this kind of gateway to nature – really, this mediator between man and nature,” he states. MacNeal says bugs could play an even more vital role in the future, possibly becoming widespread as snacks because they’re a good source of protein. Medicine, too, could benefit. MacNeal says there is research into the use of scorpion venom in the treatment of brain tumors.

Two Shelbyville residents were arrested Sept. 18 by Manchester Police for possession of drugs.
Raul R. Moctezuma, 22, and Esmeralda Basurto-Prudente, 26, both of Shelbyville were arrested.
According to a report by Officer Ray, he received a call to check on the welfare of two people sitting in a vehicle in the parking lot of Arby’s in Manchester.
When the officer started to speak to the two, he noticed the driver attempting to hide something. He then asked the man what he was hiding, and Moctezuma said that it was drugs and dropped two bags of crushed pills and a rolled up $50 bill which, according to warrants, had drug residue in it.
Officer Ray told the man to drop the items on the ground. He then placed Moctezuma into custody.
When he searched the man, the warrant states, that he found a plastic pill container in Moctezuma’s pocket that contained six Xanax bars and a small amount of cocaine.
When the officer searched the vehicle, he allegedly located a black container under the driver’s seat that contained cocaine in two plastic bags as well as a metal container with 37.2 grams of cocaine.
The officer also recovered a 9milmeter pistol that was located in the trunk without ammunition.

When Officer Ray approached the car, he also saw Basurto-Prudente attempting to hide something under a seat. The officer recovered a small purse under the passenger seat that contained “a large amount of cash,” according to the warrants.
He also allegedly found five Alpralozam pills, a small amount of cocaine, digital scales and a pill crusher with residue on it. He also allegedly found a large number of bags in her purse.
When the officer took the pair out of his patrol car at the jail, he allegedly found a bag that contained crystal meth in the back seat of his car.
Moctezuma is being held in the Coffee County Jail on a bond of $58,000, while Basurto-Prudente is being held on a bond of $23,000. Both are to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court on Oct. 17.

“Fair Day” is this Friday, September 22. The Coffee County DARE program is honored to be sponsoring the “Youth Field Day” events for its 16th year.
Between 300-400 students will be participating in sack races, 3 legged races, basketball and football throw, a dash and relay race, tug-a-war (boys vs girls) and it is finished up with a water balloon throw.
All events are open to boys and girls ages 7-8, 9-10, and 11-12 year old.
Area students will have a great time in all their favorite type activities. In addition to the cash prizes for the top three finishers in each event, all the participants get DARE prizes each time they participate in events.
The “Youth Field Day” will begin at 11:00 am at the fairgrounds arena. There are plenty of seats available for family and friends and of course it’s free to get into the fair that time of day.
This will make the 15th year that the “Youth Field Day” trophy will be awarded to the school with the most overall winners throughout all the events. There is also a $100 prize to the school as well. The money will be used for sports / healthy activities at their school. The trophy is held at the school until next “Youth Field Day” the following year.
Sgt. Morris Vanattia, DARE Instructor, is asking for anyone willing to assist with line judging, cheering, etc. is welcome to come out and help.