Category: News

Gov. Bill Haslam’s proposal to ban open alcohol bottles or cans in vehicles traveling on Tennessee roads has failed for the year.
Tennessee currently bans drivers from drinking alcohol while at the wheel, but does not extend that prohibition to passengers. That conflicts with federal open container guidelines, which causes about $18 million in federal road money to be redirected toward drunken-driving enforcement.
Haslam called for changing the law so the lost funds could be spent on road and bridge projects across the state, and pledged to find funding for previously dedicated to prosecutors from other sources.
But Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris says he abandoned the bill because of lack of support from his colleagues and because it was a “distraction” to the governor’s larger transportation funding proposal.

Flash back to the 1980’s and help raise money for the Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center’s annual fundraiser. Totally 80’s: Party with a Purpose will be held on Friday, April 21st at the Manchester Coffee County Conference Center. The party begins at 6 PM with a silent auction and dinner and live auction to follow. Live auction items include Bonnaroo tickets, 55 Inch 4K Ultra Television, Walt Disney World tickets, Southwest Airlines tickets, Callaway Golf Equipment, pizza for a year at J & G Pizza and Steak House, A Day in Lynchburg, a load of stone from Rogers Group and much more.
Escape will be providing music and dancing throughout the night along with a photo booth courtesy of Christopher Equipment and Supply.
This year the CAC is also putting a number of auction items online for those who cannot attend, but would like to support the Advocacy Center and their work. To bid on some of the online auction items, visit https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/auctionhome.action?vhost=cccac2017.
The online auction will run through Thursday, April 20th at 4 PM! All proceeds from this event as well as the online auction helps support the services the Center provides for children who have been possible victims of abuse and their non-offending families. The Children’s Advocacy Center provides forensic interviews of child victims, child and family advocacy services, mental health services, prevention services and partners with Our Kids to bring specialized medical exams to children who are victims of sexual abuse. All services are provided free of charge.

On Sunday, Justin Lee Grey age 26 of Shelton Rd. Manchester apparently got into an argument with his girlfriend on Shelton Road over him wanting to take the victim’s car. Grey allegedly ran over the victim as she was behind the car, hitting her in the knee. According the arrest warrant, the man got out of the vehicle, grabbed the victim by her hair and slung her into the car and took off in the vehicle with her. Grey drove eastbound on I-24 allegedly threatening to kill both of them, and hitting the victim as he drove. The subject apparently saw a state trooper and turned around in the median and went back westbound on I-24 and the victim tried to jump out of the moving vehicle at one time, but he pulled her back in and was able to talk Grey into taking her back home. The arrest warrant goes onto say that by forcing the victim into the car, threatening to kill the both of them; he left a 12-year-old and 2-year-old unattended.
Authorities were notified of a disturbance call by a concerned individual. Manchester Officer Dustan Foster went to the residence, he heard objects breaking inside and someone outside advised him Grey was inside the mobile home. Once inside, Grey allegedly became even more agitated grabbed a large knife from a block in the kitchen and came at the victim with it, threatening Foster and telling him to kill him. Backup officers arrived and Grey apparently refused to comply with their directives, resisting arrest and fighting them to the point that he had to be tazed more than once before he was subdued. The man, who refused medical treatment allegedly continued resisting and fighting as he was being transported to the jail.
Grey was charged with 2 counts aggravated assault, kidnapping, child abuse or neglect (non-violent), driving on revoked/suspended license 4th offense and resisting arrest. His bond was set at $251,000.
Foster was assisted by Manchester officers Daniel Ray, Captain Nilesh Patel and Sgt. Landon Pence along with Coffee County deputies Ben Sneed, Corporal Harmon Campbell, Kevin Smith and Jennifer Curbow.

On Sunday, Lewis Kyle Freeman age 34 of County Farm Rd in Manchester was the operator of a vehicle that was stopped for a traffic violation on Highway 41 and Spring Street in Manchester. A check of the Freeman’s driving privileges revealed his status to be revoked. According to the arrest warrant, it was learned that Freeman was a convicted sex offender, who failed to register as required by law. Freeman was charged with sex offender violations as well in Bedford County in 2007 and 2009 and in Franklin County in 2011. He is registered in South Dakota.
Freeman was charged by Manchester Officer Daryn Gadeken with driving on revoked/suspended license and sex offender registry. Bond was set at $51,000 and his court date is May 23, 2017.

Tennessee’s attorney general has agreed that the state will drop two abortion limits similar to Texas laws struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The attorney general’s office decision was contained in federal court filings Thursday. One requirement mandated that abortion providers have hospital admitting privileges. The other forced abortion clinics to meet hospital-level surgical standards.
The Supreme Court struck down similar Texas laws in June 2016. The Tennessee case has been on hold since December 2015 while awaiting the Supreme Court ruling.
Thursday’s filing says stopping enforcement will avoid continued litigation.
In the lawsuit, the state will continue to defend another restriction that requires counseling and a 48-hour waiting period for women seeking abortions.

Spring 2017 Commencement and Graduation has been set for Motlow College for Saturday, May 6, 2017 at the Nisbett Center, Copperweld Arena on the Moore County Campus 6015 Ledford Mill Rd in
Tullahoma.
Nursing Pinning Ceremony
10:00 a.m.
Moore County campus and nursing graduation candidates
1:00 p.m.
Fayetteville, McMinnville and Smyrna campuses graduation candidates
4:00 p.m.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has released its 2016 ‘Crime in Tennessee’ report, revealing a slight overall increase in reported instances of crime in the most recent reporting year.
The annual study compiles data reported from each law enforcement agency in the state through the Tennessee Incident Based Reporting System (TIBRS). The TBI’s sophisticated crime reporting system, in place for more than 15 years, provides an updated and comprehensive picture of the successes and challenges facing communities across Tennessee.
Among the findings in the 2016 report:
· Reported instances of Murder increased 11.6% from 2015 to 2016.
· Forcible Rape offenses decreased 2.8% in the same time period.
· The number of individuals arrested in connection to reported crimes decreased by 1.9% from 2015 to 2016.
· Juveniles accounted for 6.6% of all arrests, down from 7.0% in the previous year.
· More than half – 51.3% — of all reported offenses in the category of ‘Crimes Against Persons’ were domestic violence-related.
· Drug/Narcotic Violations increased 9.5% in the previous year.
· The number of DUI arrests continued to trend downward in the past year.
The report showed that there were 964 offenses reported by the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department with 608 arrests. Manchester Police Department 1,503 offenses, with 902 arrests. The most reported crimes were drug related in both departments. In Tullahoma there were 1,803 offenses and 935 arrests, with the shoplifting the largest crime reported at 261.