Category: News

Bell Buckle Murder Case Moves Forward

Jared Partin… Photo from WGNS Radio

A boyfriend accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend this past March will see his case go before a Rutherford County Grand Jury. Assistant Rutherford County District Attorney J. Paul Newman told our news partner WGNS Radio.

Lead Detective Steve Craig said that 29-year old Carly Hassett of Millersburg Road in Bell Buckle was pronounced dead at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital.
32-year old Jared Partin of Millersburg Road was charged with first-degree murder.
Sheriff’s Detective Craig noted, “There had been domestic issues for years, leading to severe arguments during the last two days of her life that resulted in the death of Carly Hassett.”

Al White Motors Raising Money for a deceased Mother that died in a Car Accident

Al White Motors in Manchester hired a young lady to work in their office three weeks ago. She was 29 years old and a mother of 7 month old twins. She was involved in a terrible accident Thursday and passed away Monday morning. She leaving behind a husband and two babies. Her name was Kelly Owens from Estill Springs. Al White Motors is raising funds for the husband for any expenses that he may have. They are going to try and raise as much as they can for the family. Al White Motors is conducting a raffle for an Orion cooler. Tickets are $10 each and you can pick them up at Al White Ford Lincoln. Any help you can give would be appreciated but certainly not expected. Thanks for any help. Retail value on cooler is $419. Thanks to The Sportsman’s Corner for the great deal on the cooler.

Local Attorney Arrested

Judith-Anne Ross St. Clair… Photo provided by the CCSD.

On Monday (April 10, 2017), a local attorney Judith-Anne Ross St Clair age 35 of Manchester, was allegedly involved in a drug transaction in the parking lot of Walgreen’s in Manchester.
The arrest warrant says that St Clair was found to be in possession of 30 off-white colored pills believed to be oxycodone. St Clair was allegedly found to be in possession of these pills in the school zone near College Street Elementary school.
Also, Manchester Police say she was allegedly accepting Oxycodone for legal fees.
St Clair was charged by Manchester Police Investigator Jonathan Anthony with Schedule II drug violation and drug-free school zone.
She was released from the Coffee County Jail on a $7,500 bond and her court date was set for April 18, 2017.

Missing Woman from Tullahoma found Deceased

Tabitha Kolankiewicz

The search for a missing Tullahoma woman ended Monday night in Hamilton County.
According to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, Tabitha Kolankiewicz, 36, of Maple Avenue, Tullahoma was found dead in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart in Tiftonia.
Kolankiewicz had been reported missing on March 27 by family members.
According to Franklin County Sheriff’s Investigator Todd Hindman, she was reported as traveling to Nashville for a job interview. Despite the fact that there were no significant leads in the case the sheriff’s department was searching for the woman. Then Monday night Hamilton County notified them that she had been found.

Bill to make it easier for Rural Areas to get access to the Internet Passes

The Tennessee legislature has passed a bill that could make it easier for rural areas to get access to the internet amid concerns that it doesn’t do enough to get high-speed access across the state.
During debate in the House Monday evening, lawmakers said they hoped the bill would be a start to getting everyone across the state connected.
The bill, named the Broadband Accessibility Act of 2017, was pushed by Gov. Bill Haslam as a way to help the economy in rural Tennessee.
The measure clears the way for nonprofit electric co-ops like Duck River Electric Membership Corporation to provide both internet and video service. It also gives $45 million in grants and tax credits to co-ops and internet service providers to encourage the development of internet in areas that don’t have it.

Gas Prices Rising

Gas prices are rising across the country. The national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded jumped seven cents in the past week. Sunday’s average of $2.39 is the highest since September 2015.
Also in the past seven days, gas prices rose seven cents in Tennessee to an average price of $2.14.
AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said the major factors weighing on the market right now are supply and demand. People are beginning to drive more as the weather improves, causing an uptick in demand and a decline in gasoline inventories. Also, many refineries have begun producing and selling summer-blend fuels which are more expensive to produce. AAA is forecasting the national average to peak around $2.70 this summer.
The low price in Manchester this week is $2.09 and the low price per gallon in Tullahoma is $2.07.

Bill to Require Tennessee Health Insurers to Cover Approved Autism Therapies Fails

Tennessee is one of five states that doesn’t require insurers to cover applied behavior analysis (ABA), a common and proven treatment for autism spectrum disorders. (MamiGibbs/Flickr)

A bill that would have required Tennessee health insurers to cover approved autism therapies stalled in a legislative committee, just as Autism Awareness Month begins nationwide.
Tennessee is one of only five states in the country that doesn’t require coverage for applied behavior analysis, or ABA, from private insurers, leaving many parents to pay for therapies out-of-pocket.
The exception is children covered by TennCare or Medicaid.
Lorri Unumb, vice president of state government affairs with Autism Speaks, explains the disconnect.
“As of right now, children in Tennessee are not able to access ABA at all, regardless of what kind of health insurance policy they have,” she explains. “So, it’s this perverse situation where privately insured children in Tennessee do not have access, but children on TennCare do, at least in theory.”
Neighboring Alabama also doesn’t require insurance companies to cover ABA. Opponents to covering it say they’re against any law that would serve as a mandate.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 68 children has been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder in Tennessee. On average, medical expenses for people with autism are 4 to 6 times higher than others.
The Affordable Care Act lists what are called “habilitative services,” such as applied behavior analysis, as one of the essential health benefits insurance policies should cover.
Unumb says the problem is that how guidelines are interpreted was left up to the states.
“Rather than fleshing out what was meant by each of those 10 ‘essential health benefit’ categories, the Secretary of HHS (Health and Human Services) kicked the decision to each of the individual states,” she points out.
Numerous studies show that when offered at a young age, autism therapies can significantly improve a child’s ability to function, in school and later in a career. One study published in the journal Pediatrics, indicated ABA can even raise the IQ of a child on the spectrum.

Grundy Co. Woman facing several charges after Manchester Police Traffic Stop

Rebecca Lynn Nunley… Photo provided by the CCSD.

On Friday (April 7th 2017) Manchester Officer Jordan Watson stopped a subject on Old Tullahoma Hwy for a traffic violation. A check of the subject’s driver’s license showed them to be revoked for failure to satisfy citations on the first offense. Manchester officers searched Rebecca Lynn Nunley age 36 of Coalmont and allegedly located approximately .4 grams of a white crystal like substance wrapped up in a dollar bill of what is believed to be methamphetamine inside of her left front pocket. Officers also allegedly located digital scales and some used syringes inside of the vehicle as well.
While being searched at the jail, officers located a plastic baggy hidden allegedly inside of Nunley’s pants that contained a white crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine.
Officer Watson states that Nunley was asked numerous times by officers and investigators if she had anything else illegal on her before being transported to the jail.
Nunley was charged with driving on revoked/suspended license, schedule II drug violation, driving while in possession of meth, manufacturing/delivering/selling/possession of a controlled substance, contraband in a penal institution and unlawful drug paraphernalia uses and activities.
Bond was set $30,500 and she’ll appear in court April 27, 2017.

Manchester Police Investigating Multiple Thefts

Manchester Police Crime Investigation Division is looking into multiple thefts from construction job sites in the Skinner Flat Rd. area. Numerous tools were stolen from the sites, including; 5500 watt Generac Generator, Tarkett vinyl flooring, vanity light fixtures, wall plugs, switches, ceiling fans and numerous small items and tools.
There is a $1,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of the property and identification of the suspect(s). Please contact Manchester Police Investigator Jonathan Anthony at 931-728-2099.

Sex Offenders receive Surprise Visit during Operation Clean Sweep

Hundreds of sex offenders got unannounced visits over the weekend from officers with the Tennessee Department of Corrections.
It’s called Operation Clean Sweep.
Unlike Operation Blackout, the Halloween sweep that TDOC conducts each year, offenders do not know officers are coming.
Once at the residence, they search inside and outside of the offenders’ homes.
Operation Clean Sweep started Wednesday and ended late Saturday night.
Officers visited 356 homes. Eighty percent of the offenders targeted were found to be in compliance, while 65 individuals had violations, and four were arrested.
The arrests included violation of the sex offender registry and possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia.
The others found in violation will be sanctioned or a warrant for violation of their supervision will be requested.