Category: News

Jennifer Neel has been named the new director of the United Way of Coffee and Moore Counties.
Neel of Manchester, founded and formally directed the Manchester Hope Outreach program, which provides clothing, food, toiletries and hot meals to families in need.
The United Way of Coffee and Moore Counties supports three areas that build quality of life, education, income, health, and essentials. It raises funds from a variety of individuals and businesses, pooling donated resources to make significant grants to nonprofit agencies in Coffee and Moore Counties.
You can donate to the United Way of Coffee and Moore Counties by writing a check to United Way of Coffee and Moore Counties and send it to P.O. Box 27 Tullahoma, TN 37388, stop by their office at 101 W. Lincoln Street.

The Tennessee attorney general is suing a California company over claims that it sent government-styled invoices to make new homeowners pay to receive copies of their deeds.
Attorney General Herbert Slatery’s office on Wednesday announced the lawsuit against LA Investors LLC, based in southern California, and its principals, Roberto Romero and Laura Romero.
According to the lawsuit, LA Investors was doing business under the name Local Records Office when it mailed out the invoices asking for payments. Slatery’s office says people paid LA Investors for copies of deeds when they’re available for free or a small fee from the local Register of Deeds Office.
The lawsuit claims the advertisements violated the Government Impostor and Deceptive Advertisements Act, which was added to Tennessee law last year.

Todd Smith of Helen Street reported to Tullahoma Police that he was robbed at gun point on Friday May 11.
Smith told Officer Brooke Earhart that he was walking down the street when at the intersection of Broadrick and Ann Streets a blue SUV and a minivan pulled beside him from two directions and robbed him of $486 and a pack of cigarettes.
Smith told the officer that the SUV was occupied by two black males probably in their 40s with short hair. The van had a white female believed to be in her 20s and a heavyset black male with short hair believed to be in his 20s also.
According to the officer’s report, the victim said that one of the occupants of the SUV got out and “flashed” a black pistol at him and told him to hand his money over.
Smith said that he was told to lay on the ground and count to 50 before getting up.
Detective Johnny Gore is investigating the robbery.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is reminding residents that there may be a good reason why some black bear cubs appear to be alone.
Mother bears tend to search for food when it is scarce. Mothers place cubs in areas that they believe are safe while she is searching for food. A cub may be alone for hours until the mother returns.
TWRA says this is similar to a human leaving a child with a babysitter, however, the “sitter” could be a tree near a person’s home.
If a cub is actually an orphan, TWRA will take the animal to the Appalachian Bear Rescue for rehabilitation. Only TWRA and National Park Service are allowed to catch and deliver a bear to the organization.
TWRA should only be contacted about a suspected orphaned bear cub if the animal has been alone for more than 36 hours or if the mother is confirmed dead.
ABR says if you spot a bear cub, do not go near it. Also, do not take pictures of it by standing under a tree. This can make the mother feel threatened and not return.
You might remember that last year a bear was spotted in Coffee and Grundy counties.

The Murfreesboro Police Department Special Investigations Vice Unit recently served a search warrant at the Past Time Pool Hall, located at 116 S. Maple St. in relation to illegal gambling.
Sgt. Kyle Evans confirmed that nine people received misdemeanor citations for Gambling and one person was additionally cited for Promotion of Gambling and Possession of Gambling Devices.
Detectives seized multiple poker machines, a table, and $6,690.
• Cited by Murfreesboro Police:
• Jimmy Donald Lester, 61, of Tanglewood Dr. in Woodbury
Misdemeanor Citation: Promotion of Gambling
Misdemeanor Citation: Possession of Gambling Devices
Misdemeanor Citation: Gambling
• Ethan Harris, 22, of Highway 130 North in Shelbyville
Misdemeanor Citation: Gambling
• Bill Steve Cline, 54, of Twin Oak Drive in Murfreesboro
Misdemeanor Citation: Gambling
• John Herbert Wood, 44, of Leanna Road in Murfreesboro
Misdemeanor Citation: Gambling
• Christopher Livingston, 39, of E. Northfield Blvd. in Murfreesboro
Misdemeanor Citation: Gambling
• Susan Townsend, 52, of Old Smithville Road in McMinnville
Misdemeanor Citation: Gambling
• Joseph Carl Blevins, 43, of Mason St. in Woodbury
Misdemeanor Citation: Gambling
• Clifton Edward Townsend, 57, of Collins St. in McMinnville
Misdemeanor Citation: Gambling
• Robert Shegog, 32, of Bilbro Ave in Murfreesboro
Misdemeanor Citation: Gambling
(Information and photo from WGNS Radio)

Tennessee State Parks will celebrate National Trails Day with free, guided hikes at all 56 parks on Saturday, June 3.
Events will include free, ranger-led hikes through areas with waterfalls and scenic vistas as well as hikes focused on local history and trail clean-ups. With more than 1,000 miles of trails ranging from easy, paved paths to rugged backcountry trails, there’s a hike for everyone. Several Tennessee State Natural Areas are hosting free, guided hikes at Short Springs Natural Area, Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area and Big Cypress Tree State Natural Area.
Join the Old Stone Fort Park Rangers in Manchester for a two and a half hour clean up event. The Forks of the River Trail is in need of maintenance. Volunteers are requested to clean up debris and garbage on and around the trail and river area. Please come prepared for this event by wearing clothes and sturdy shoes you do not mind getting dirty or wet. Rain boots or waders and gloves are recommended. Non-latex gloves and garbage bags will be provided. A personal water bottle and snacks are also recommended.

Jeffery Allen Ready age 72 of Twelve Oaks Road in Tullahoma was arrested by Tullahoma Police Officer Justin Smith on Monday night for domestic assault. On Tuesday, Ready was charged with sexual battery by Tullahoma Investigator Rana Pawlowski.
Apparently the victim came to the Ready’s residence on Monday evening. Allegedly Ready told the victim he wanted to show her something and ask her to go into his bedroom. The arrest warrant alleges that once in the bedroom the man pulled the female victim onto a bed and started to touch her. The warrant goes onto say that the female told Ready to stop touching her like that. Allegedly the man began to kiss the victim and would not let her get up. According to the warrant, these actions put the victim in fear for her safety. The victim’s phone apparently rang and the victim answered it and the subject let her up.
The victim went to her parent’s house and called the police.
Ready’s bond for both charges totaled $22,500. The man appeared in court for a preliminary hearing on Tuesday.

Special Agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation have obtained indictments for a deputy for the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office, who is accused of theft and misusing his authority for financial gain.
At the request of 17th District Attorney General Robert Carter, TBI Agents began investigating Garcia Romero Jordan on March 14th. During the course of the investigation, Agents developed information that, beginning in October 2015, Jordan began withdrawing money from various ATMs in Bedford and Rutherford counties from the account of an elderly Shelbyville woman he befriended, for his own benefit.
During the course of the theft investigation, Agents separately discovered Jordan also concealed a civil warrant placed upon a contractor to whom he owed money for work the contractor performed at his home.
On Monday, the Bedford County Grand Jury returned indictments, charging the Shelbyville man with one count of Theft over $60,000 and one count of Official Misconduct. Authorities subsequently booked Jordan into the Bedford County Jail on a $25,000 bond.

Gov. Bill Haslam signed a bill that will make it easier for rural areas to get access to the internet.
The Republican governor signed the Broadband Accessibility Act of 2017 at a ceremony in Brownsville on Tuesday afternoon.
The measure clears the way for nonprofit electric co-ops, like Duck River Electric Co-Op to start providing both internet and video service. It also provides $45 million in grants and tax credits to co-ops and internet service providers, like AT&T and Comcast, to encourage the development of internet in areas that don’t have it.
A last-minute change adopted by lawmakers lowered the minimum internet speed requirement from download speeds from the federal definition of 25 megabits per second to 10 megabits per second.