Category: News

A state lawmaker wants all Tennessee license plates to include the phrase “In God We Trust.”
A bill sponsored by Rep. Bill Sanderson of Kenton would require the state Revenue Department to redesign license plates to include the language starting on July 1.
Gov. Bill Haslam last year vetoed a bill passed by both chambers that would have made Tennessee the first state in the county to declare the Bible as its official book.
A former state senator in 2014 sought to pass legislation requiring “In God We Trust” to be painted behind the speaker’s podiums in the House and Senate.
That measure was ultimately changed against the sponsor’s will to instead call for a study of having the phrase painted in the tunnel beneath the Capitol.

Two men were arrested Monday (Jan. 9) after a young girl reported that she heard a loud noise at the back door at her home in Hillsboro.
According to a report by Coffee County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremy David, the girl saw her brother, Theodore James Judkins, 21 of Little Mountain Road, Hillsboro trying to pry the door open. She told him that he was not supposed to be at the residence. She told the officer that Judkins then went to a sliding glass door and while at the door she says she saw another individual, who was later identified as Christopher Ryan Wellman, 26, of Anthony Mill Road, Tullahoma.
She told the officer that Judkins told her that he was getting his gun. He took the gun and nine other firearms, some 2,000 rounds of ammunition and a safe with $600 in cash.
Later in the day the two men were arrested by sheriff’s department investigators.
Judkins was charged with aggravated burglary, theft of property and vandalism. His bond was set at $61,000.
Wellman was charged with aggravated burglary, unlawfully carrying or possessing a weapon and theft of property. His bond was set at $110,000.
Both men are set to appear in court Feb. 6.

Manchester Fire & Rescue wants to remind residents that January is the deadliest month for fires because 15% of all fire deaths occur in January. The second week of the month is the deadliest.
Manchester Fire Chief George Chambers says that heating is the leading cause of fatal fire. In Tennessee there are 23 home fires every day in January. 23% of fire deaths in the month take place in mobile or manufactured homes compared to other months.
Contact your local fire department for more information.

This week Westwood Elementary School in Manchester became an official Energy Bus School.
Based on the popularity and demand for resources and training based on The Energy Bus and others, Jon Gordon created PositiveSchool.com as a central place where educators and administrators could find the tools, training and strategies they need to empower teachers and students. As a former teacher with a Master’s in Teaching and now an international bestselling author, speaker and consultant to schools, businesses and professional sports teams, Jon is passionate about making a difference in the lives of educators and students.
After all, positive schools develop positive students and positive students become positive adults.
The Positive School program is intended for the following groups (District Administrators, School Administrators, Activity Directors, Coaching and Athletics, Facility and Transportation Operations, Affiliated Vendors and Partners, and Professional Associations and Organizations).

Motlow State Community College is offering the ACCUPLACER assessment test at all Motlow campuses multiple times through the 2017 calendar year. The ACCUPLACER assessment test replaced the COMPASS test. Students planning to enroll at Motlow for the spring semester who need to take the ACCUPLACER, which is used to assess a student’s readiness for college-level work, should do so as soon as possible.
Before taking the test, students must have the following on file in Motlow’s admissions office: a completed admission application, official high school and/or college transcripts, and if applicable, official test scores. Special test accommodations are available for students who require other than standard conditions for taking the test.
The ACCUPLACER test is a computer testing system that helps determine students’ academic readiness in reading, sentence skills and mathematics for college level work. Test results determine which courses are best suited to the student’s level of readiness.
The first initial test is provided free of charge. Students who take the ACCUPLACER test and feel their test results have placed them incorrectly, may challenge their initial placement score and retake the test or portions of the test. The college charges a $10 challenge fee for each portion of the test or $20 to challenge the entire test.
Students who are 21 years of age or older must take all three portions (reading, sentence skills and math) unless they have valid ACT scores on file or collegiate credit from an accredited college or university.
For the next available test dates and registration, please visit the Motlow State testing website (www.mscc.edu/testing) or call 931-393-1763 or 1-800-654-4877 ext. 1763.

A Chili Cook-off is planned for January 21 at the American Legion Post 78 building located at 130 Shelton Road in Manchester.
The American Legion Riders are hosting the event from 6pm-8pm.
Admission is $5 and to enter the Chili Cook-off, the cost is only $3.
For further information please call Bonnie Edwards, Committee Chair, at 931-728-1533.
Prize money will be awarded to the winner of the competition. Come on out and try some great chili.

On Saturday Destiney Doris Gibson age 19 of Alice Boyton Rd Manchester was allegedly involved in a two vehicle accident at the Matt’s Hollow Rd and Boyton Valley intersection. The woman apparently left the scene after striking another vehicle. The vehicle belonged to her brother and she returned to his home later in the evening and according to the arrest warrant, stated she had wrecked his vehicle. Gibson then left her brothers home after her brother called police and he stated she was walking along the road. Upon arrival Deputy Timothy Cooper located Gibson and she allegedly had a very strong odor of intoxicant, slurred speech and blood shot eyes. The warrant says she refused to give officers any name, or any information. She was apparently refusing to cooperate with officers at all. After finally obtaining a positive ID it was discovered that she was revoked out of Oklahoma.
Gibson was charged with leaving the scene of an accident, public intoxication and driving on revoked/suspended license. Bond was set at $753,000 and her court date is Jan 23, 2017.

According to arrest warrants taken out by Tennessee Highway Patrolman John Fulkerson, Dylan Lee Ivey age 24 of North D St Hillsboro was involved in a single vehicle accident on Highway 127 in Hillsboro on Saturday.
Upon on the trooper’s arrival, Ivey along with his wife and 2 children, one whom had apparently been ejected from the vehicle were found at a home nearby. The owner of the home called police and told officers that the subject came up asking him to hide them.
Coffee County EMS was called and a minor child was airlifted to Vanderbilt Medical Center with trauma injuries.
Upon speaking with the man the trooper says in the arrest warrant that he had an obvious odor of intoxicant, unsteady on his feet and blood shot eyes, he allegedly admitted to drinking about 5 beers. He was given 1 field sobriety test doing poorly and because of possible injuries no more could be conducted. Ivey consented and was taken to Unity Medical Center for a blood test with results pending.
Ivey was charged with 2 counts of child endangerment, DUI and leaving the scene of an accident. Bond was set at $25,000, which he made and he is set to appear in court on March 14, 2017.

Threats quickly ended the short so-called “friendship” of a couple on Facebook.
A Bedford County man told police he accepted a friend request from a woman he didn’t know. They began texting and communicating on another app, which led to the woman sending a price list for sexual acts.
He cut off contact at that point, but the next day received a text containing photos of dead people and a Spanish voice mail advising the man if he didn’t pay for the time spent talking to the woman he’d have to pay in blood.
The victim was told to notify Facebook and unfriend the suspect.

U2 will headline the 2017 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival this summer. U2 is famous for songs like, “With or Without You” and “Where the Streets have No Name.”
More than 130 artists will perform on over 10 stages. This year’s complete lineup will be revealed on Wednesday, the same day tickets go on sale to the public, starting at $299.50 plus a $39.50 fee.
A payment plan is available for fans. Each year the event draws in tens of thousands of music lovers.
This year’s festival will be held June 8 through 11 in Manchester