Category: News

Lots of people in Coffee County get their exercise from walking and or bicycle riding so how does going county-wide on a pathway sound?
According to Bonnie Gamble, council chair, who also directs the City of Manchester’s Parks and Recreation department, the Coffee County Health Council is asking for the public’s input about this possibility. Their will summit, at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Church of Christ at Cedar Lane in Tullahoma. The meeting will include representatives from Tullahoma, Manchester and Coffee County government agencies, utility companies and school systems.
The three government groups will be searching for grants to fund the project when the project moves forward. The summit is only the beginning to the process.

Transportation and infrastructure are areas of focus for Gov. Bill Haslam as he enters the new year, with the governor being quoted as saying he plans to unveil a plan for projects and funding.
While work to the state’s thousands of miles of roads is no doubt on the list, public transportation advocates want to remind Haslam that mass transit also is key to solving traffic and mobility issues.
“Roads and bridges are obviously critically important,” says Jason Spain, executive director of the Tennessee Public Transportation Association. “If we’re talking about a comprehensive look at our infrastructure system in Tennessee, it has to include public transportation.
“We’ve reached a point where it’s no longer feasible to think that we can just build our way out of congestion issues in the urban areas, and in the rural areas, it’s an issue of mobility, connecting people with jobs, doctor’s appointments, schools.”
This month the Tennessee Transit Coalition – comprised of Spain’s group, as well as AARP and the Tennessee Disability Coalition and others – delivered 1,000 signatures from 60 counties to the governor’s desk, letting him know that public transportation is a priority for their communities.
The state’s transportation system is funded by gas and diesel taxes, but the last tax increase was in 1989 and since then fuel efficient vehicles have taken a chunk out of the state’s revenue.
Spain says that’s why taking action on transportation and infrastructure must be a priority.
“It’s not just a Nashville issue,” he points out. “It’s not just a middle Tennessee issue. It’s all across the state that people see the need for more and better transit service, and we hope the administration will see the importance of that and make it a part of their proposal.”
According to a study by the University of Tennessee, if the gas tax is increased, 57 percent of respondents support increased funding for biking, walking and transit.

Federal officials have made regulation changes aimed at stopping the practice of soring among Tennessee walking horses and similar breeds.
The Tennessean reports the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced changes Friday to the Horse Protection Act.
Soring occurs when a horse’s legs are intentionally injured to make the animal have a higher gait. It often includes the use of chemicals and chains, or objects shoved between the hoof and stacked shoes.
The department says the final rule will be published soon in the Federal Register and become effective by next January. It will ban many of the tools used for soring and force horse industry inspectors to become trained and licensed through the USDA.
The Humane Society of the United States called soring a “barbaric and gratuitous” practice.
The World Grand Championship for walking horses is held Shelbyville beginning in late August.

Two juveniles that are accused of making threats against an area high school were taken into custody by Franklin County sheriff deputies late Thursday night.
According to District Attorney Mike Taylor, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old allegedly threatened Thursday night to commit an act of terrorism at Franklin County High School.
Both were charged with conspiracy to commit an act of terrorism and harassment.
Authorities were alerted to the threat by other students and are working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation on the case.
Juvenile Court Judge Tom Faris ruled Friday the two teenagers would be detained until their next court date, scheduled for Tuesday.

A routine traffic stop on Interstate 24 by the Tennessee Highway Patrol led to the discovery of a large amount of methamphetamine and more.
Highway patrolmen took two subjects into custody late Sunday morning after they found a little over 2 pounds of meth. The value of the drug can range from $9,500-$16,000 per pound. Also found was an undisclosed amount of cash, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a prescription drug.
Two unnamed subjects were booked in at the Coffee County Jail.
One of the subject’s bond was set at $134,000 and the other was $132,500. They are set to appear in Coffee County General Session’s Court on March 28, 2017.

On Thursday (January 12, 2017), Tullahoma Police went to an apartment on West Cook Street concerning possible criminal activity suspected at this residence. Two men and two women were found at the apartment. Allegedly located in the bedroom was a box hidden inside a bag containing a white powdery substance believed to be methamphetamine. Also apparently found was a bag with allegedly numerous plastic baggies, a glass pipe with residue, a set of digital scales, five pills believed to be anti-depressants and straws with residue.
According to the arrest warrant, Ryan Edward Steele age 21 of Old Gray Cove Trail Belvidere first advised police of the wrong name, but further investigation revealed his name to be Ryan Edward Steele and that there were active warrants in Coffee County.
The three other individuals at the apartment were also arrested by Tullahoma Officer Rocky Ruehling.
Steele was charged with theft of property, manufacturing/delivering/selling/possession of a controlled substance, criminal impersonation and failure to appear. His bond was set at $16,500.
Michael Antonio Zandona age 31 of 4th Ave SW Winchester, Amanda Frances Sims age 19 of Beth Page Rd Estill Springs and Heather Noelle Wooldridge age 24 of West Cook St Tullahoma were all charged with manufacturing/delivering/selling/possession of a controlled substance. Bond was set at $10,000 each and all four will appear in Coffee County court on Jan 26, 2017.

A Tennessee lawmaker has introduced legislation seeking to ban the use of food stamps to buy items without nutritional value.
Republican Rep. Sheila Butt of Columbia says banned items would be those high in calories, sugar and fat, such as sodas, ice cream, candy, cookies and cake. The measure would also prohibit grocers from selling banned items to people on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
The state rep’s bill would require the state Department of Human Services to seek a waiver from the federal government to establish a list of which food items would be banned for food stamp recipients, using the recommendations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a guide.
More than 1 million Tennesseans received food stamp assistance as of November, totaling nearly $135 million.

Any Tennessean who bought milk in the last 14 years is eligible to get money back.
Tennessee is one of 15 states (and the District of Columbia) involved in a class action lawsuit against milk producers.
The lawsuit accused milk producers of price-fixing. Instead of taking the case to court, the milk producers settled the case for $52 million.
To be part of the settlement, you have to live in one of the 15 states and have bought a milk product (milk, half & half, cream cheese, sour cream, cottage cheese, yogurt or cream) at a grocery store or other retailer.
How much money you get back depends on how many people enter the pool to receive benefits. Estimates suggest individuals will receive between $45-70.
You must fill out a form before January 31, 2017 at boughtmilk.com in order to be eligible for the money.

The Tullahoma Board of Mayor and Aldermen invites the community to a reception for outgoing Tullahoma Area Chamber of Commerce (TACC) Executive Director, Diane Bryant and incoming Executive Director, Hope Sartain. The reception begins at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, January 23, 2017 prior to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting at City Hall. The Tullahoma Area Chamber of Commerce will say goodbye to Diane Bryant, as she steps down after 12 years at the helm. “Diane was very involved in the community, and she did a great job,” said Mayor Lane Curlee. “I will miss working with her and want to express my appreciation for her dedication and passion she has shown for Tullahoma. We are grateful to Diane and wish her the best in retirement. I look forward to working with Hope.” Taking over the Chamber of Commerce is Hope Sartain. For the last eight years, Sartain has risen through the ranks of the chamber while also winning chamber-sponsored awards.