Winchester Police Department is seeking help to solve storage unit burglaries.
According to the department, a report was filed regarding storage unit burglaries that occurred over the past week. Surveillance footage shows what appears to be a white, single cab ford pickup allegedly involved in the incidents.
See photo below.
If you have any information regarding these burglaries, you are encouraged to contact detective Ryan Fuller with Winchester PD at 931-967-3840 or Crimestoppers at 931-962-INFO.
Moonlight & Mistletoe shopping event planned for downtown Manchester Dec. 17
The Manchester area Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with Manchester downtown merchants to host “Moonlight & Mistletoe” – a downtown shopping event set for December 17th.
This event will feature all of the Manchester downtown boutiques and shops, many of which will remain open later than normal for Christmas shoppers to find gifts for the holiday season.
On the downtown square will be Christmas carolers, a photo backdrop for cell-phone family pics at Southern Diva Boutique, special menu and festive drinks at Harvest Local Foods, Women’s wish list and scratch off ornaments for a discount at Aislinge Boutique. These are just a few of the special events.
Downtown businesses like The Cracked Pot, Soul Revival, Owen’s Provisions and Apparel, Sprout Children Shop, Southern Diva Boutique, Harvest Local Foods, Southern Healing Enterprises, Mercantile and Reese’s Genes Boutique will all be open extended hours (through about 8 p.m.).
Follow the Facebook event page for more details (click here).
Tullahoma woman indicted for abusing corpse of newborn
A Tullahoma woman has been indicted on charges of abuse of a corpse in relation to a case that dates back several years.
On Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, Tullahoma Police received a call to Watts N Storage at 1004 Old Estill Springs Rd in Tullahoma regarding unidentified remains found in a storage unit that had recently been auctioned.
It was not readily apparent if the remains were human. Upon sending the remains to the medical examiner’s office, they determined that the remains were that of a human newborn.
According to a release from District Attorney General Craig Northcott, it was learned that the storage unit had been continuously rented by Melissa Sims McCann, 62, of Tullahoma, since March 1994.
Officers with Tullahoma Police Department discovered that she allegedly rented the unit for the sole purpose of storing the remains of her full-term newborn baby, according to a release from Northcott. The release goes on to state that the baby had been “delivered at home a few days prior to the renting of the unit.”
Coffee County grand jury indicted McCann for two counts of Abuse of a Corpse on Friday, Dec. 10.
“If further investigation establishes evidence of other crimes, additional indictments will be sought as appropriate,” Northcott states.
McCann is scheduled to appear in Coffee County Circuit Court for arraignment on Friday, Dec. 17 at 9 a.m.
Friday, Saturday are final days to donate and sign up for help from Taylor-Graves charity
Sign ups and drop offs for the Gene Taylor – Steve Graves Christmas Foundation continue with this weekend being the final days to sign up.
If you need Christmas assistance, you can sign up between 1-4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10 or 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11. Sign ups at the Coffee County Rescue Squad at 2270 Murfreesboro Highway.
In order to sign up, you will need to have proof of residence in Coffee County (such as a driver’s license) and birth certificate of the child / children (or custodial papers). No phone calls.
If you wish to contribute items to the foundation, you can bring a new, unwrapped toy or canned food item to the rescue squad building on these same dates.
NWS: Severe storms possible Friday night, Saturday morning
Less than a week removed from the area’s last bout with severe weather and it appears another round is on the way.
According to National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, there is risk for severe weather in Middle Tennessee this weekend.
As of Thursday afternoon, NWS has Coffee County under a “slight” risk of severe weather (scale 2 of 5). The Nashville area and west are under an “enhanced” risk (scale 3 of 5). These predictions could change as weather draws closer. East of Coffee County is under a “marginal” risk (1 of 5).
According to NWS, a strong cold front will sweep through the area late Friday to bring the storms. Primary risks include damaging straight-line winds and isolated tornadoes. Isolated large hail is also possible.
Although exact timing has not yet been released, it is possible this will be an overnight event, which is the deadliest time for severe weather. Everyone should be weather aware. If weather becomes risky, tune into Thunder Radio at 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, thunder1320.com and the Manchester Go app. Now is a good time to review your family’s severe weather plan. It is advised to have multiple ways to receive weather warnings.
Just this past Monday, Dec. 6, an EF-1 tornado impacted Bedford, Moore and Coffee counties. It was the first December tornado on record for Coffee County, according to NWS.
THUNDER RADIO WILL SEND SEVERE WEATHER ALERTS THROUGH THE MANCHESTER GO APP. IT IS A FREE DOWNLOAD. BE SURE TO “ALLOW” PUSH NOTIFICATIONS UPON DOWNLOAD.
One person perishes in Warren County fire
Fire crews in Warren County responded to a structure fire at 6:30 a.m. Monday morning, Dec. 6, on Bridge Builders Rd.
According to firefighting officials, when crews arrived a mobile home was fully engulfed in flames and was ruled a total loss. A resident was home and perished in the fire, officials say.
Identification has not been revealed. TBI is investigating the cause of the fire.
H&R BLOCK STUDENT OF THE WEEK – Keira McInturff
Join us at Thunder Radio and Rosalyn Partin of the Manchester H&R Block and congratulate our student of the week – Keira McInturff.
Keira is a 7th grader at Westwood Middle School. She was nominated by her teachers and administrators. Keira is the daughter of Carrie and John McInturff. Her favorite subject is English Language Arts. During her free time she enjoys playing soccer and basketball. She also enjoys playing the piano and singing.
After she graduates high school, Keira plans to be a doctor.
All students of the week are selected for their work ethic and excellent attitudes in and out of the classroom.
Rosalyn Partin, owner of the Manchester H&R Block, has been inspired to recognize great kids in our community all year long. H&R Block gives each Student of the Week a commemorative plaque, a special letter of recognition and two tickets to Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park.
Job well done, Keira!
NWS confirms Monday tornado; first December tornado on record for Coffee County
The National Weather Service office in Nashville, Tenn.. has confirmed that a tornado did impact Bedford, Moore and Coffee counties on Monday – confirming what many already assumed after surveying damage.
Severe weather hit the area Monday morning that resulted in some structure damage and multiple trees and limbs down in Tullahoma. The National Weather Service office in Huntsville survey team found that damage in Moore county was consistent with an EF-1 tornado. The NWS office in Nashville followed with a report confirming that the tornado remained on the ground into Coffee County.
According to NWS survey, this EF-1 tornado touched down in the Raus Community near Smith Chapel Rd. at Elijah Parker Rd in far southern Bedford County where it caused EF-0 damage. Moving eastward, the tornado crossed into Moore County and strengthened to EF-1 where it blew down numerous trees and caused minor damage to several homes along Brinkley Rd., Ledford Mill Rd., and Motlow College Rd. The tornado then moved into Coffee County, where it continued to blow down trees and damage homes. NWS states that the tornado weakened as it entered and moved across northern portions of Tullahoma.
Peak wind speeds are estimated at 90 miles per hour with a path of 8 miles and a maximum path width of 100 yards. This is the first December tornado on record for Coffee County.
No injuries were reported from the storms. Tullahoma Utilities reported that about 2,500 people were without power at one point Monday morning as a result of the storms, in addition to approximately 1,100 Duck River Electric customers.
The National Weather Service issued a Tornado Warning for Coffee County shortly before 8 a.m. Monday morning, specifically for the Tullahoma area.
Looking ahead, forecasters are calling for potential severe weather Friday night into Saturday. If weather does become severe, you can always tune into Thunder Radio at 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, thunder1320.com and Manchester Go app to get updates.
DMA-events adds Literacy-themed mural to downtown Tullahoma
A 30-foot-tall painting of a baby reading the iconic 80’s children’s book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom showed up on a railroad-facing wall in downtown Tullahoma last week. After local nonprofit DMA-events received an Arts Build Communities grant through the Tennessee Arts Commission last summer on behalf of the Coffee County Literacy Council, the organization tapped Nashville-based artist Eric “Mobe” Bass, with whom they’ve worked several times in the past.
“When approached by DMA about doing a literature mural, my mind started racing. That could literally be almost anything,” Eric says. “I have wanted to paint my son Rainn since he was born—he has always been such an inspiration for me. So when his mother Anna put him in a little reindeer outfit and sat him in the bed with a book, I saw the joy in his eyes. I pulled out my camera and captured what I think was a perfect moment of pure bliss brought on by literature. I placed him on a fluffy cloud and illustrated letters coming from the book trying to capture what I thought his little imagination was thinking.”
Tullahoma-based Ascend Federal Credit Union stepped in to provide the additional funding needed to move the project forward, and Eric arrived on Dec. 1 under a veil of darkness to sketch out the image on the wall with his painting partner Kyle “Folek” Barton. The duo worked around the clock the following two days, finishing up the piece they’ve named Rainn on Friday, Dec. 3 just as Santa was gliding across Jackson Street to end the Christmas parade.
“Incredible,” remarks Caren Gabriel, Ascend President and CEO, of the mural. “I am so proud that Ascend was able to play a part in bringing such a vivid and vibrant presence to our downtown community. Kudos to Kristin Luna and her team for bringing to life in our town an image of curiosity, hope and wonder, and thank you for letting Ascend play a role in displaying this piece to our neighbors and community partners.”
About the Coffee County Literacy Council
The Literacy Council was founded in 1988 with the guiding purpose to provide education for those who don’t have a high school diploma, as well as supply resources and materials like books to the schools in Coffee County. Two years ago, the council launched a program in the county jail to provide classes to the incarcerated, many of whom were without a high school diploma. To date, more than 100 inmates have successfully completed the course and graduated; when they leave prison, they have a credential to help them get a job, which aids their families and the local economy while simultaneously reducing recidivism.
Due to a mall renovation, the Book Shelf—the public-facing arm of Coffee County’s Literacy Council that funds many of the nonprofit’s efforts—was relocated to a city-owned building at 114 SW Atlantic St. in April 2021. In September, the City of Tullahoma sponsored a project that enabled DMA to put a fresh coat of paint on the secondhand bookstore’s building and adjoining cinderblock wall, which belongs to Sharon and Norman Blair of Memories Antiques. The Blairs have been partners in previous mural projects and again donated their wall for this community public art project.
About Eric Bass
Nashville native Eric “Mobe” Bass is one of the most prolific artists in the Southeast. His artistic process began as a child rooting from real life experience and heartbreak; now, his primary source of inspiration for his richly diverse subject matter comes from being a father, as well as exploring nature, hiking and rock climbing. His art is characterized by realistic portraiture and a playful use of light sources. Eric’s works are displayed in several private residences throughout the world, as well as on hundreds of public walls in Nashville and other cities across the United States. This is his third mural in Coffee County for DMA-events.
About DMA-events, Inc.
Kristin Luna and Scott van Velsor started 501(c)(3) DMA-events in May 2018 as a way to harness and inspire the imaginative spirit found in all of humanity by removing some of the barriers to entry of the creative process. In April, DMA-event’s Walls for Women program was awarded the Daughters of the American Revolution’s state public relations and media award for commitment to historic preservation, education and patriotism consistent with the DAR mission. All of DMA-events’ murals can be found here: http://bit.ly/DMAMuralMap.
Arnold Fire and Emergency Services employees complete training to prevent child abuse
The Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center presented several child abuse prevention training sessions at Arnold Fire and Emergency Services in November.
About 40 employees serving at Arnold Fire and Emergency Services took the training. They strengthened their knowledge about child sexual abuse prevention.
“Taking this training shows dedication to keeping children in our community safe and thriving,” said Joyce Prusak, executive director of the Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC). “We are so thankful to Arnold Fire and Emergency Services employees for learning more about protecting children. Participants in the training studied the red flags associated with child sexual abuse. They gained additional knowledge and tools to help them recognize child sexual abuse and stop it. Taking this training shows that management and employees of Arnold Fire and Emergency Services are deeply committed to doing what’s necessary to keep children safe.”
The training sessions at Arnold Fire and Emergency Services were held in November. The training and the materials were free for participants thanks to a grant awarded to the Coffee County CAC and to the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services.
About the training
The Coffee County CAC offers training programs for adults, empowering them to recognize, prevent and respond appropriately to child abuse.
“We offer these programs free to Coffee County organizations and any interested parties,” Prusak said.
“Our authorized facilitators use Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children program to fight child abuse through education and eliminating the stigma that affects conversations about child abuse. Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children program trains adults to react responsibly to child sexual abuse. The program aims to eliminate child abuse through training adults to recognize and prevent child abuse.” Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children programs are “the only evidence-informed, adult-focused child sexual abuse prevention trainings proven to increase knowledge and change behavior,” according to www.d2l.org.
Child sexual abuse involves sexual contact between a child and an adult; or a sexual contact between a child and another child who forces sexual contact. Statistics show that one in 10 children will be sexually abused by age 18; and 95% of victims are abused by someone they know and trust.
Coffee County CAC offers Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children training free for community members. The two-hour training is available in-person or online and is presented by a Darkness to Light authorized facilitator.
For more information about training or to schedule a training session, please email Elena Cawley elena@coffeecountycac.org. Learn more about the training by visiting coffeecountycac.org.
About Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center
When the most vulnerable members of the community are harmed, they find a safe place and support at the Coffee County CAC. Coffee County CAC is a nonprofit serving children who have experienced severe abuse. The organization’s goal is to end child abuse through prevention, education and intervention. Learn more about the Coffee County CAC by visiting www.coffeecountycac.org.
