Brandon Scott Stewart… Photo provided by the CCSD
A power bill payment scam has hit the Columbia area of Duck River Electric Membership Corporation’s service area.
This fraud appears to be aimed at small businesses, especially gas stations, small markets, and convenience stores. Owners and employees are informed by the caller that their DREMC bill is overdue, and the service is subject to immediate disconnection unless they pay via credit or debit card over the phone. A business in Maury County was told that the check used to make electric payment was unsigned and that this needed to be paid by other means to avoid disconnection.
According to the business owner, she did go and purchase a pre-paid credit card and give the card numbers to the caller. It was later the owner decided something did not seem right and called the Columbia office of DREMC. An employee in the DREMC office informed the member that her account was current and that her check had indeed cleared the bank earlier in the month.
DREMC members should be wary of anyone purporting to be a co-op representative who demands an over-the-phone bill payment to prevent service disconnection.
DREMC members will receive mail notices of bills past due and scheduled disconnection. There also are a variety of ways to pay bills, including in the local offices, by phone talking to a DREMC representative on lines manned 24/7, online at www.dremc.com and by using the co-op’s free mobile app.
Tiffany Tant-Shafer
The Motlow College Foundation has launched the Motlow Alumni Association and will kick off the new association through a series of alumni gatherings called the Motlow Alumni Roadshow.
The alumni roadshow will take place in each of the cities where Motlow State Community College has a campus, and local alums from all years as well as alums from the surrounding areas are invited to attend.
Lane Yoder, director of the Motlow College Foundation, said, “Since Motlow first opened its doors in 1969, over 17,000 individuals have walked through our halls on their way to obtaining an associate degree or certificate.
At each of the gatherings, alumni will have a chance to socialize with other alums and hear about happenings on campus and across the Motlow service area from Motlow State President Dr. Tony Kinkel, have a drink and some appetizers, and get some Motlow alumni gear.
The event is free to attend, but the Foundation asks that all individuals interested in attending please register by visiting www.mscc.edu/alumni/roadshow/. The alumni roadshow starts on Tuesday, April 11, at Collins River BBQ in McMinnville and continues April 13, at La Tavola Ristorante Italiano in Smyrna; April 18, at Pebble Creek Golf Club in Fayetteville; and April 20, at Jack’s Rabbit Hole in Tullahoma.
Pictured (L to R): Premier Lawn Care’s April Crouch; Coffee County Schools Family Resource Coordinator, Taylor Rayfield; and Brian Turner, Premier Lawn Care.
In response to Coffee County Schools’ initiative to eliminate barriers that may hinder student academic success, Premier Lawn Care of Manchester graciously donated funds for the final two washer and dryer sets needed for schools. “We are grateful for the community’s support on this program initiative. With the establishment of a washer and dryer in each school, we are able to further combat barriers that may circumvent our students from being successful academically, as well as socially, and emotionally. We wish to extend our sincerest appreciation to Brandon Imhoff and the staff of Premier Lawn Care for their continuous support to our students and schools,” said Taylor Rayfield, Coffee County Schools Family Resource Coordinator. If you or your organization would like to know more or donate to programs supporting students in need, please contact Taylor Rayfield at rayfieldt@k12coffee.net or (931) 222-1066.
On Sunday April 3rd at approximately 12:57pm Franklin County Sheriff’s Office personnel as well as Alto-Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Dept. and AMR ambulance service responded to 3205 Oak Grove Rd. Decherd, TN. in reference to an incident involving a side-by-side and three individuals. Upon arrival, investigation revealed, that while in operation the side-by-side was overturned and the two juveniles in the vehicle sustained injuries.
The female juvenile sustained an injury to her left arm and was transported to Southern Tennessee Regional Health System.
The male juvenile (Wylan Watson, 10 yr. old male from 3084 Oak Grove Rd. Decherd, TN.) was ejected from the vehicle and sustained injuries to the head and was transported to Southern Tennessee Regional Health System where he passed away from his injuries.
There is an ongoing investigation regarding this matter and further details will be released as deemed pertinent and necessary.
Grundy County sheriff’s deputies responded to an aggravated assault call in the Clouse Hill area on Sunday night.
Through the course of the investigation, deputies uncovered several items including a sawed off shotgun, nine grams of suspected meth, 11 grams of marijuana, cash and drug paraphernalia.
The suspect was arrested and other charges are pending as the investigation is ongoing.
No name was given for the suspect at this time.
All signs point to higher gas prices. Gasoline demand is surging while inventories are beginning to slip. Meanwhile, refineries are getting rid of excess winter blend gasoline as they continue to push summer blend fuel in the market, which is more expensive to produce.
The national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $2.32, an increase of 3 cents from last week and 26 cents more than this time last year.
Tennessee gas prices averaged $2.07, 3 cents more than last week, one cent less than a month ago and 16 cents more than a year ago.
On Tuesday gas prices made a major jump locally. Going as high as $2.15 in Manchester and $2.11 in Tullahoma.
L-R: Stacy Lee Coffee County Anti-Drug Coalition, Priscilla Van Tries Coordinated School Health, SRO Laura Nettles Coffee County Sheriff’s Department, Principal Kim Aaron Coffee County Middle School and Katie McMinn Coffee County Health Department.
Coffee County Anti-Drug Coalition (CCADC) received a $20,000 donation from Motiva, Shell Oil’s marketing organization, to support continuing efforts to prevent prescription drug abuse throughout the South Central region of Tennessee through the organization’s Count It! Lock It! Drop It!® initiative. Jonathan Edwards, CEO of Edwards Oil Company and member of the Shell National Wholesale Council, presented the Coalition with the generous contribution. “Shell chose to support the National Wholesale Council members, of which I am one, this year by awarding grants directly to local organizations doing significant work in fighting substance abuse” explained Mr. Edwards. Monies will be used by counties implementing Count It! Lock It! Drop It!® to purchase and distribute in-home lock boxes free of charge to community members. This will be instrumental in helping to keep medications secure in households throughout the region.
L-R: Gina Bumbalough Coordinated School Health, Katie McMinn Coffee County Health Department, Tara Wars 5th Robert E Lee poster winner Mason Miller ,Madeline Muse 5th grader and Amy Cunningham, 5th Grade Teacher at REL Elementary School.
“We are grateful to all partners that assisted in facilitating this important donation of funds to expand our prevention program” stated Christina Merino, Executive Director of the Coffee County Anti-Drug Coalition. Coalition staff, board members, Edwards, and Tullahoma City Mayor Lane Curlee came together at Shell Quick Mart #3 in Tullahoma to celebrate the occasion. “It is support from local businesses like Edwards Oil Company that keeps non-profits thriving and creating community change” remarked Sarah Hailey, Coalition Board Treasurer. The Coalition will begin distributing lock boxes to select CLD communities this Spring.
For more information contact the Coffee County Anti-Drug Coalition at (931) 570-4484 or info@ccantidrug.org.
We want to congratulate a local manufacturing company. 30 SECONDS Cleaners––the family owned business whose colorful front man and co-owner promises the rapid demise of outdoor mold, mildew, algae and moss––is impressively competing against industry giants. The Company has just been named a Management Action Programs (MAP) 12th Annual Presidential Award Recipient for breakthrough results.
30 SECONDS Cleaners was started in 1977 and has two fully operational production and distribution facilities in Oregon and Manchester, Tennessee and sold locally at Eaton Ace Hardware.
Whether you’re looking for a cleaner to instantly remove stains from algae, mold and mildew or to kill lichen, moss, mold and algae over time, they have the cleaning solutions for you. Safe to use on all of your outdoor surfaces, “It’s Clean, when YOU want it Clean!”
