Category: News

The Shelbyville Police Department needs your assistance locating Branson Isaiah Freeland, age 19, of Shelbyville.
Freeland is wanted for his suspected involvement in an Aggravated Burglary and Aggravated Robbery case that occurred in Shelbyville on May 25, 2017.
If you know his whereabouts or have any information please call the Shelbyville Police Department at 931-684-5811 or their Crimestoppers line at 931-685-4300.

Motlow State Community College will administer the complete Residual ACT Assessment test on July 18, July 25, and Aug. 11, 2017, from 8:30 a.m. – noon. The test will be administered in room 1043 of the Crouch Center on the Moore County campus.
Applicants under 21 years of age planning to attend Motlow should register for the ACT test. All applicants taking the ACT must have an admission application on file prior to taking the test.
Applicants are required to complete an application as soon as possible to be eligible for the test. Applicants must complete the ACT application and enclose a check/money order for $40.00 to be eligible. The application fee and a picture identification are required the day of the test.
Any student who plans on attending another college must take the National ACT test or take the test on the campus of the prospective college, as scores for the Residual ACT Assessment test cannot be transferred to another college or university.
For more information regarding test dates or for test registration, visit the Motlow Testing website at www.mscc.edu/testing or call 931-393-1763 or 1-800-654-4877 ext. 1763.

On Tuesday afternoon just after 5pm (June 6, 2017) Coffee County Deputy Blake Simmons, Deputy Larry McKelvey, and Investigator James Sherrill were walking through the grounds of Pod 1 in Bonnaroo. Sherrill says in his report that he observed a male subject later identified as Eric Rauch standing in front of two girls with a silver tin in his hands. Also in the report Sherrill says the man told the girls, what do you think about this? Sherrill says he could see marijuana inside the tin. The investigator advised him who he was. When Rauch began to walk away, Sherrill grabbed his right arm. The man was told to cooperate, but he began to struggle. Deputy Simmons and Sherrill placed Rauch on the hood of a car trying to cuff him. The man continued to struggle and that’s when Sherrill says he asked for Deputy McKelvey to bring K-9 Yoshi and during this time, Sherrill says in his report that he was elbowed by Rauch in the left shoulder and the suspect was able to break loose and ran off. Deputies took the man to the ground and that’s when Deputy McKelvey arrived with Yoshi. Sherrill told Rauch that the K-9 was going to be deployed. Deputy McKelvey also advised the man he was deploying the dog. The man was still struggling and allegedly kicked Deputy Simmons and almost broke free. The K-9 was deployed and was able to get Rauch under control so Deputy Simmons could cuff him.
Eric Steven Rauch age 27 of Columbia, South Carolina was charged with possession of schedule VI, evading arrest, resisting arrest, and assault. Rauch was taken to Unity Medical for treatment and then transported to the jail for processing. Bond was set at $10,000 and his court date is August, 11, 2017.

On May 14, 2017 a male subject climbed a fence protecting the commercial property at 1960 North Washington St in Tullahoma occupied by Twenty-First Century Decorating. The man allegedly took carpeting, padding, vinyl flooring and a Red Ryder BB gun. The man allegedly threw the items across the fence and climbed back across the fence and loaded the items on a truck and trailer and left the premises. The property is valued at $1,220.
Cody Alan Cates age 26 of New Winchester Hwy. Tullahoma was charged on Tuesday June 6, 2017 by Tullahoma Police Investigator Johnny Gore with burglary and theft of property. Bond was set at $22,000 and his court date is June 15, 2017.

Earlier this week we reported that Tullahoma Police and the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department were asking for the public’s help. Law enforcement officials were looking for a white male whose picture was captured on surveillance video for allegedly breaking into a home and stealing cash and electronic items on May 31. The residence is located in the Kings Ridge area of Tullahoma.
We can now report the person has brought into custody. The name has not been released, as further investigation is still ongoing. Authorities will release more information at a later time. Law enforcement officials want thank you for your calls and private Facebook messages.

Better Business Bureau area branch manager Terrie Page says ringless voice mail technology is gaining traction called ringless voicemail. This is the latest attempt by telemarketers and debt collectors to reach the masses. The calls are quietly deposited through a back door, directly into a voicemail box and to the surprise of the recipient, who cannot do anything to block them.
Regulators are considering whether to ban these messages. They have been hearing from ringless voicemail providers and pro-business groups, which argue that these messages should not qualify as calls and, therefore, should be exempt from consumer protection laws that ban similar types of telephone marketing.
The FCC is collecting public comments on the issue after receiving a petition from a ringless voicemail provider that wants to avoid regulation under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991. That federal law among other things prohibits calling cellular phones with automated dialing and artificial or prerecorded voices without first obtaining consent, except in an emergency.
To file a complaint to the FCC, go to https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings/express, enter 02-278 in the field for “Proceeding(s)” and type your comments at the bottom of the page. It’s not necessary to mention “ringless voicemail,” but it can’t hurt.

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 began on May 30, 2017.
Bartee, 51, has been held in the Coffee County Jail since the shooting. She was charged with two counts of criminal attempt to commit first-degree murder, two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
She is accused of shooting Dr. Harry 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 Tuesday, June 6, 2017 after 1 hour of 27 minutes of deliberation a jury of 7 women and 5 men found Bartee guilty of attempted murder Dr Harry Bartee, using a weapon during the commission of a felony and not guilty of attempted murder of Tara Evans-Bartee. Judge L. Craig Jonson set a sentencing date for July 19, 2017 at 1pm.
Dr. Bartee was transported to a Manchester hospital after the shooting and later flown to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga where he underwent surgery.
Webb-Bartee was represented by Daniel Marshall, of Nashville. Because Coffee County District Attorney Craig Northcutt had dealings with the defendant in the past, Justin Walling of Warren County prosecuted the case.

On Tuesday morning, (June 6, 2017) Misty Ann Taylor age 38 of East Warren St Tullahoma was stopped for running a traffic light at Hwy 41 & 55 in Manchester TN. After running a license check through NCIC it was revealed Taylor was driving on revoked 9th, offense.
When Taylor was being booked at the Coffee County Jail she was searched and produced a glass pipe from inside her body.
Manchester Officer Dustan Foster charged Taylor with driving on revoked/suspended 9th offense and habitual motor offender. She was later charged by jail corrections with contraband in penal institution.
Her bond was set at $18,500 and she will appear in court on July 11, 2017.

On Thursday June 1st, the Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the most recent Industrial Roundtable event at JSP International, a plastic fabrication company with two facilities in Tullahoma. The industrial roundtable is a regular event held by the Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce.
Special guests recruited by the Coffee County Anti-Drug Coalition (CCADC) presented the benefits for employers to become a Drug Free Workplace (DFW). Stacy Lee, Community Outreach Coordinator for the CCADC, mentioned that “only 44 out of the 1100 registered businesses in the county are participating in the Drug Free Workplace program”. Mrs. Lee stated that, “A neighboring county’s coalition offered a three day DFW training that over 500 people attended, and the CCADC’s vision is to have a larger, community-wide event. The Coffee County Anti-Drug Coalition’s goal is to get the DFW registered numbers up in order to change the safety landscape of local businesses and the community.”
John Mabry, a recovering addict and Strategic Partnerships Manager for Addiction Campuses in Brentwood, presented a powerful testimony of his journey of addiction in a workplace that did not offer any resources. Mr. Mabry explained the importance of treating addiction like a disease, in a way that most people react to a diagnosis of cancer. He explained that a company can lose $7,000 with the turnover of one employee. He wants to encourage businesses to rally around their employees, offer recovery supports and preserve their investment in their workforce by utilizing the Drug Free Workplace Program.
The optional Drug Free Workplace Program in Tennessee is designed to increase productivity for employers and promote safe worksites for employees by promoting drug- and alcohol-free workplaces. Safety promotion and reduction on worker’s compensation expenses are just two of the benefits explained by Lance Wheaton, the state Program Coordinator for the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. “Nearly 70% of current users of illegal drugs are employed.” Mr. Wheaton relayed this statistic from the Working Partners National Conference Proceedings Report. Participating businesses get a 5% premium credit on their workers’ compensation insurance policy, among many other cost-saving avenues. He highlighted the emphasis on protecting people from risk and injuries by being proactive.
The Coffee County Anti-Drug Coalition (CCADC) is dedicated to creating, supporting, and maintaining a safe, healthy, and drug-free community. If you have questions or would like more information, contact the CCADC at (931) 570-4484, email at info@ccantidrug.org, follow us on Facebook, or visit our website at www.ccantidrug.org.