Category: News

On Thursday (June 30, 2017) Tullahoma Officer Brook Earhart received a call about a possible impaired driver. When Earhart arrived on Wall St the subject was seen driving around a parking lot. The officer stopped a man later identified as James Michael Bond age 59 of Rickenbacker Drive in Tullahoma. The arrest warrant states that when Bond tried to move out of his vehicle he had trouble getting out. The warrant goes onto to say the man had a strong odor of alcohol about his person, red bloodshot eyes and very unsteady on his feet. Bond allegedly admitted to drinking. The warrant also states that an open container of whiskey and empty beer cans were found in the vehicle. Officer Earhart also gave the subject 3 field sobriety tests which he allegedly did poorly on.
The officer checked the driving status of Bond and found him to be driving with a revoked driver’s license (2nd offense).
Once at the hospital for a blood test, Bond allegedly on several occasions pulled his shorts up so he could expose himself. According to records, he has more than 3 convictions for indecent exposure and is on the TBI sexual offender registry.
Bond was charged with driving under the influence, driving revoked driver’s license 2nd offense, public indecency-indecent exposure, open container law and 5 counts of violation of conditions of community supervision. Bond was set at $33,500 and his court date is August 3, 2017.

The Tennessee Board of Regents recently approved a 2.6 percent increase in in-state tuition rates at its community and technical colleges for 2017-18.
Except for one year when the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology asked for a small increase in fees rather than tuition, it is the lowest increase for the community and technical colleges combined since 1991-92. It is the third consecutive year of tuition hikes of 4 percent or less – the TBR system’s lowest three-year increase in decades.
In other Tennessee Board of Regent news, Hilda Tunstill will serve as interim president of Motlow State Community College until a search for the college’s next president is concluded.
Tunstill is Motlow’s vice president of finance and administration, has been at the college for 29 years and in its senior leadership team since 2004. She has been acting administrator of the college and its four campuses since June 14 following the resignation of the former president, Dr. Anthony G. (Tony) Kinkel.

Drivers in Tennessee now have the option of getting a license plate for their vehicles that includes “In God We Trust.”
Tennessee law now authorizes issuance of an optional standard vehicle registration plate that includes the words “In God We Trust.”
The law regulating the new plate calls for a one-time $2.00 fee to swap an existing plate prior to the plate expiration date plus the normal registration fee. The $2.00 special fee is a one-time charge for swapping, renewing a current registration, or making application for a vehicle title.
Once the $2.00 fee is paid a motorist may renew the special registration at the standard $29 registration fee stipulated in the IMPROVE ACT signed into law by Governor Haslam.
The new plate does not require higher fees as do other specialty plates.

Judd Matheny, an eight term Tennessee State Representative, formally announced on WMSR/Thunder Radio on Friday morning that he is a candidate in the Republican primary for Congress in Tennessee’s Sixth Congressional District.
Matheny is a Veteran of the Tennessee Army National Guard, and a Veteran of local and state law enforcement. He has been one of Tennessee’s most consistently conservative legislators and activists.
Judd has been on the front lines fighting the prescription drug abuse and methamphetamine epidemics in Tennessee.
He has a perfect record protecting the unborn and our Second Amendment.
Judd opposes illegal immigration and was just recently responsible for leading the successful fight to stop Nashville City Council’s attempt to become a sanctuary city.
During the forced attempt to implement Common Core by establishment Republicans, Matheny orchestrated a maneuver to stop the initiative with only a handful of fellow House conservatives.
Judd has been a leader in bringing awareness to the needs of our burgeoning senior population and fought relentlessly to provide better housing, transportation and healthcare for the rapidly growing demographic.
As a strong advocate in federalism and the sovereign authority of states as defined in our Constitution, Matheny has constantly worked to improve dialogue, cooperation and the restoration of the balance of powers between not only the federal and state governments but also their respective, individual branches.
As the next Congressman from Tennessee, Matheny will be the only federally elected official to have a full time staff member in Nashville to liaise on a day-to-day basis with the Tennessee General Assembly, during legislative sessions. This arrangement will help ensure Tennessee and Washington, D.C. are in constant communication and that there is cooperation between the two governing bodies. Judd Matheny has been delivering the messages and implementing the declared policies of President Trump for over 15 years:
1. Lower taxes
2. Fewer regulations
3. Reined in government spending
4. Private sector economic growth
5. Enforcement of the rule of law
6. Authority to the individual states
7. Individual responsibility and economic freedom
8. Providing strong security to protect Americans.
Matheny also believes, along with the voters in the 6th Congressional District, that our Federal Government must not be allowed to dictate Tennessee’s definition of marriage, our bathroom policies or the makings of a school lunch. Citizens of Tennessee must not be forced to follow distorted ideas of social justice from organizations that actively vow to destroy our conservative way of life by forcing these and similar policies into our daily lives, businesses and institutions. In addition, Judd does not believe we should be forced to accept refugees from America’s enemies who don’t and will not respect our values or way of life. Judd Matheny is married to his wife, Christy, of 18 years. They have two children in high school and all three have been full supporters of his years in politics.

On Wednesday (June 28 2017) Roberto Antonio Perez age 48 of Miami, FL was located at a truck stop near Exit 105 off Interstate 24 in Coffee County. Tennessee Highway Patrolman Jason Boles was alerted by on star of a stolen vehicle at the truck stop. When the trooper arrived he allegedly located the vehicle with Perez inside. Allegedly the vehicle identification number had been altered. In checking the vehicle, the proper VIN was identified and the vehicle was confirmed as stolen. Also allegedly found was a small amount of marijuana in a pocket of a pair of pants in a bag in the back seat of the vehicle.
Then on Friday, (June 30th 2017) according to the arrest warrant, Trooper Boles conducted a follow up search of the vehicle and he located in a hidden compartment behind the radio approximately 2 grams of a white powdery substance believed to cocaine in several baggies. The warrant goes on to state, the alleged drugs were put into a cigarette package in the compartment.
Perez was charged with theft of property, alteration of engine or serial number, schedule II drug violations and simple possession/casual exchange. His bond was set at $110,500 and he will appear in court on July 25, 2017.

Elk River Public Utilities District (ERPUD) passed its budget for fiscal year 2018 last week with a rate increase.
The increase, the second in two years, serves to bolster the utility against a potential sales shortfall in the coming year, say ERPUD officials.
For most residential customers, the increase will amount to just over $1 on their average monthly bill. On an average monthly bill, that’s an increase of $1.21.
Residential customers with heat-only service will see an average monthly bill increase of $1.44.
Customers classified as “small commercial” will see an impact of $3.75 average increase on their monthly bill.
Large commercial customers will go up $40 per month on average.
Industrial processing customers will rise $255 per month on average.
Interruptible customers, who pay the lowest rates in exchange for agreeing to be the first curtailed, will see an average bump of $385 per month.

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee reports that nearly 24 percent of its commercially insured members in Tennessee filled at least one opioid prescription in 2015, compared to 21 percent nationally, according to a new study by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA). Data also show 5.5 percent of Tennessee members were on a long-duration opioid regimen in 2015, compared to 3.8 percent nationally, and 32 percent of members with opioid use disorder received medication-assisted therapy in 2016, compared to 37 percent nationally. There are 16.5 per 1,000 members who are diagnosed with opioid use disorder in Tennessee, compared to 8.3 nationally.
The company’s Health Foundation invested $1.3 million in community outreach, including expanding the Coffee County Anti-Drug Coalition’s Count It! Lock It! Drop It! program to all 95 Tennessee counties. In addition to placing secure drug drop boxes in each county, efforts have included the hosting of drug take-back events, funding first-responder training and opioid overdose antidote kits for law enforcement, and a statewide public awareness campaign.

The Manchester Recreation Department invites the public to come celebrate Independence Day, July 4th with them! The recreation department will have live music, concessions, and fireworks. Live music will begin at 7:00 pm on Tuesday at the Rotary Amphitheater followed by a fantastic fireworks display at 9:00 pm. Musical entertainment this year is none other than The WannaBeatles, a Beatles tribute band. Admission is free for all the fun.

On Wednesday, June 28, 2017 Tullahoma Police Investigator Harry Conway charged Charles Eugene Anderson, 32, of North 10th Avenue, Decherd, in connection with the death of a 4-year-old boy.
The arrest warrant alleges that the boy had numerous injuries to his body.
An autopsy in being performed at Tennessee State Medical Examiner’s Office in Nashville to learn the cause of death.
According to the arrest warrant, Anderson was watching the child for the mother who was out of town. District Attorney Craig Northcott says the woman has now returned to the area.
Anderson was transferred from the Coffee County Jail Wednesday to the Franklin County Jail in Winchester for security reasons.
Bond is set at $575,000 and Anderson will be in court on July 6.

National Aerospace Solutions, LLC (NAS) and Chugach Federal Solutions Inc. were informed by the Air Engineering Metal Trades Council (AEMTC) that the AEMTC membership has voted to approve a new 3-year labor agreement for Test, Operations and Sustainment work at Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) in Franklin and Coffee counties.
AEMTC represents approximately 600 members through 10 local unions. The work of the AEMTC membership is vital to the mission at AEDC.
NAS leadership said they were pleased that negotiations have led to a labor agreement that provides stability to the workforce and recognizes the AEMTC’s important contributions to AEDC and NAS.
“The negotiating teams worked long and hard to reach this agreement together,” said Cynthia Rivera, NAS General Manager. “I want to thank everyone involved for their hard work and professionalism during this process.
Rivera added, “The new agreement will ensure the important work for our nation at AEDC will continue in the same outstanding manner as it did during the previous agreement. It also recognizes the importance of the vital work the members represented by the AEMTC accomplish day in and day out.”