Category: News

Gov. Bill Haslam’s administration is dropping efforts to outsource management of Tennessee’s state parks and will let his successor decide whether to renew the privatization attempt.
According to the Chattanooga Times Free Press, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau told lawmakers Thursday he will focus on using more than $100 million previously approved over the last few years to address capital needs at state parks.
This spring, no one bid on the proposal to outsource hospitality services at Fall Creek Falls State Park and tear down its inn and build a new one.
Martineau said he thinks the lack of bids resulted from expensive asbestos removal mitigation that the inn would require.
In 2015, outsourcing plans at 11 state parks likewise yielded no interest from private vendors.

The Coffee County Communication board met on Wednesday to vote again on a director for the Coffee Communication Center. Diane Argraves has been serving as interim director since the retirement of former director Steve DeFord.
A required four votes out of possible six were needed to be named to the position. Argraves and Administrative Captain for the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department, Frank Watkins were the final two in the running. Neither had received the required votes on two previous occasions. On Wednesday, Tullahoma Police Chief Paul Blackwell, Manchester Police Chief Mary Yother, Coffee County Sheriff Steve Graves and Manchester Alderman Ryan French all voted in favor of Argraves and County Commissioner Tim Stubblefield and Tullahoma Alderman Ray Knowis voted for Watkins.
Also, Coffee County Communications (911) has an opening for position of dispatcher/telecommunicator. This is a full-time position with benefits including medical, dental, vision, paid holidays and Retirement/401K with the State of Tennessee. Applicants must possess a high school diploma or equivalent (GED), also must be able to pass a background check and drug screen. Please mail resume or application to: Coffee County Human Resources, 1329 McArthur St., Suite 3, Manchester, TN 37355, Attn: Heather Shelton. You may obtain an employment application at the Coffee County website, www.coffeecountytn.org and click on “Employment”. Coffee County Government is an EEO/AA/Title VI/employer.

Coffee County experienced a 2.5 percent growth in tourism in 2016 compared to the previous year.
The numbers from the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development indicate visitors spent $90.4 million in Coffee County, an increase of 2.5 percent from the previous year, generating $5.51 million in state tax revenues and $2.43 million in local tax revenue, an increase in both.
A total of 790 Coffee County residents are employed in tourism-related fields.
Tennessee tourism’s direct domestic and international travel expenditures reached an all-time record high of $19.3 billion in 2016, up 4.7 percent over the previous year.

TVA says it has included a 1.5 percent rate increase in its budget that takes effect in October.
The Tennessee Valley Authority says its board approved a $10.4 billion budget and the rate increase Wednesday. The budget keeps operating and maintenance spending flat.
TVA says the rate increase is modest and falls below the rate of inflation, amounting to about $1.50 more monthly for the average resident using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month.
The board also approved $500 million in one-time money for TVA’s retirement system, which is in addition to the $300 million annual contribution.

Al White Motors and WMSR (Thunder Radio) are teaming up to honor those who serve that thin blue line, our local law enforcement. Each month someone in law enforcement will be honored as a Hometown Hero. Our hometown hero this month is Chief Investigator Jackie Matheny Jr. with the Manchester Police Department. Chief Investigator Matheny was born and raised in McMinnville, Tn. He graduated from Warren County High School in 1996 and obtained an Associate of Science degree from Motlow State along with a Bachelor of Science from Liberty University. He graduated from Tn. Law Enforcement Training Academy Basic Police School in 1999. Chief Investigator Matheny began his law enforcement career at Warren County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was employed with Warren County Sheriff’s Department as a corrections officer, Deputy and Investigator from 1998 to 2008. In 2008, Matheny joined the Manchester Police Department where he served as a patrol officer from October 2008 to August 2012. He was promoted to Investigator in 2012 and to Chief Investigator in February of 2016.
Chief Investigator Matheny has completed several specialized schools during his career including TBI Criminal Investigation School at TLETA, Reid Interview and Interrogation, Leadership / Team Building and the prestigious University of Tennessee National Forensic Academy. Matheny completed the National Forensic Academy in 2014 which consisted of 400 hours of training consisting of evidence identification, collection, and preservation. Investigator Matheny is also an active member of the Tennessee Narcotic Officer Association. In 2015, he was presented alongside Investigator Jonathan Anthony with the Patriot of The Year Award by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Old Stone Fort Memorial Post 10904. In 2015, Chief Investigator Matheny and Investigator Jonathan Anthony were also recognized with an award of recognition at the annual Tennessee Narcotic Officer Association Conference for their narcotic enforcement investigation “Operation Breaking Ice”.
We are continuing to ask for the public’s help for more hometown heroes. Go to our Facebook page or the Al White Ford Lincoln Mercury Facebook page to nominate a law enforcement official. Tell us why you think someone that serves Coffee County in law enforcement deserves to be chosen as a “Hometown Hero.” The man or woman that is selected each month will be recognized on WMSRradio.com and receive a nice surprise from Al White Motors.
Thank you to all that serve and protect us, our Hometown Heroes.

A $2 million grant program aims to improve security at courthouses across Tennessee.
The Administrative Office of the Courts has started the initiative with one-time money set aside by state lawmakers and Gov. Bill Haslam.
A committee of statewide judges will determine the criteria and qualifications for awards.
Preference will be given to counties with courtrooms that don’t meet minimum security standards, and counties that had a courtroom security breach between July 2016 the end of this June.
In June, an inmate shot and injured two deputies at the Coffee County Courthouse before shooting and killing himself nearby.
Grant applications will be accepted through October 16.

An Alabama man was arrested Aug. 19 on drug charges.
According to a report by Tullahoma Police Officer Rocky Ruehling, David Campuzano, 21, of Athens, Alabama was arrested following a traffic stop. According to a report by the officer, Campuzano turned from North Jackson Street to Wilson Avenue without an arrow present.
When the officer checked the driver’s licenses he learned that they were suspended and an active warrant from Franklin County, Tennessee. Officer Ruehling then transported Campuzano to the Coffee/Franklin County line to meet a Franklin County deputy.
After getting the man out of his patrol car, the officer spotted a bag of cocaine in the bag seat where Campuzano had been sitting. The man admitted that it was cocaine. He was then transported to the Coffee County Jail where he was charged with possession of schedule II, driving on revoked/suspended license, failure to yield and proof of insurance as he had no insurance. His bond was set at $5,500 and he is to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court Sept. 28.

Republican State Rep. Judd Matheny of Tullahoma, who represents Coffee and a portion of Warren County, is calling on Gov. Bill Haslam to use his influence to help put a stop to national anthem protests by NFL players.
Haslam is the brother of Jimmy Haslam, who, along with his wife Dee Haslam are the majority owners of the Cleveland Browns. Prior to Monday night’s game in Cleveland, a dozen Browns players kneeled during the playing of the national anthem.
In a post on Facebook on Tuesday, Rep. Matheny who is running for Congress in the 6th District, said the players disrespected the flag and anthem and set poor examples for our youth to follow. He also called on citizens to speak out against the protests.

Early Wednesday morning, Grundy County Deputy Randy Wildes seized 200 hits of what is called “blotter acid” while patrolling businesses in the Pelham area. At around 4am, Deputy Wildes was conducting a security check at a gas station when he observed a vehicle with Alabama plates parked in a business that was closed. Deputy Wildes approached the vehicle, which had two occupants, and detected the strong odor of marijuana. Further investigation turned up the suspected acid. A preliminary field test showed the substance as LSD. The suspects were enroute to Madison, AL.

State officials say tourists spent more than $19 billion in Tennessee in 2016, an increase of 5 percent compared with the previous year.
Gov. Bill Haslam said in a statement that tourism topped $1 billion in state and local sales tax revenue for the 11th consecutive year in 2015, reaching $1.7 billion. That marks a 7 percent increase from 2015.
Haslam also said tourism generated 176,500 jobs in the state in 2016, a 3 percent increase from 2015.
Five counties exceeded $1 billion in travel expenditures last year. They were Davidson, Shelby, Sevier, Hamilton and Knox.
Haslam said Tennessee’s tourism industry “continues to produce record results and dedication to boost Tennessee’s economy.