Category: News

Motlow State Community College has been approved to receive a $5.5 million Governor’s Capacity Grant to fund construction of a new Advanced Robotics Training Center on the McMinnville campus. The facility will house robots and training equipment by the top three national robot manufacturers to instruct students in design, operation and maintenance of industrial robots. The center will serve both traditional and nontraditional students through a new Associate Degree program in Mechatronics. Warren County Industrial Development Board Director Don Alexander said this initiative could enhance the area for employment. Land for the facility has already been donated by the Warren County Commission.

A special investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office in conjunction with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has found that Stephanie Cunningham, a teacher for Coffee County Schools and former treasurer of the Coffee County Education Association, stole at least $29,096.
Cunningham used the association’s debit card and cash for her personal benefit from May 2013 through November 2015. Cunningham admitted to Comptroller investigators that she used association money to pay for personal items.
Investigators determined that Cunningham charged meals at restaurants, jewelry, cosmetics, clothing and gift cards on the association’s debit card. She also made unauthorized cash withdrawals by check and ATM, and made unauthorized transfers from the association’s bank account to her personal bank account.
Investigators noted that, beginning in July 2013, Cunningham began depositing personal funds into the association’s bank account. These deposits totaled $25,069.
Earlier this month Stephanie Cunningham was indicted by the Coffee County Grand Jury on one count of theft over $10,000.
“One of the best ways to stop theft is to create a system that allows for prompt detection,” said Comptroller Justin P. Wilson. “One person should never be allowed to have complete control of a group’s checkbook, bank account, and debit card without regular oversight. Reviewing bank statements and requiring multiple signatures on checks is a good place to start.”
Cunningham has paid back a portion of the money and she has been released from jail.

A Manchester man was arrested Nov. 14 for taking an Oldsmobile Bravado from a residence on the Old Manchester Highway.
Chad Austin Heaton, 24, of Harvest Drive, Manchester allegedly was spotted by the owner of the vehicle driving on South Jackson Street in Tullahoma. Donald Duke notified Tullahoma Police that he had spotted his vehicle and its location. In a police report, Officer Tim Brandon states that he followed the vehicle turn onto C.B.Watkins Drive, then south bound on Southwest Atlantic Street. The driver finally turned onto Monroe Street and turned into driveway on South Jefferson Street and fled on foot.
Heaton was caught and charged with theft of property, evading arrest and buy/sell/receive/in possession of stolen property. He was booked into the Coffee County Jail on a bond of $15,000. He appeared in Coffee County General Sessions Court on Thursday.

This Saturday Tennesseans from across the state will have the chance to check a big task off of their list of things to do.
AARP Tennessee is sponsoring free document-shredding events across the state during which anyone can bring in boxes of unwanted papers to dispose of them properly.
Experts say that properly disposing of personal paperwork, versus just throwing it in the trash, can help protect you from identity theft.
“Most of us have boxes and boxes of stuff that’s just too much to shred with those little home shredders,” says David Morrow, Tennessee state leader for AARP Fraud Watch Network. “And so, we offer these shredding events several times a year, bring in a professional company that does shredding for medical records and businesses and things like that, at no cost to anybody.”
Shredding events will take place in Nashville, Murfreesboro, Clarksville, Chattanooga, Knoxville and Memphis.
Items that are good ideas to shred include expired licenses, credit card bills, bank statements, old legal documents, voided checks, ATM receipts, pre-approved credit card applications and any paper with your Social Security number on it.
According to the latest research from Javelin Strategy and Research, $15 billion was stolen from 13 million American consumers through identity theft last year.
Morrow says shredding your documents eliminates one easy way criminals access your information.
“Fraudsters use documents like this as shortcuts to get information on you so that they can steal your identity, so that they can get money from your bank accounts,” he points out. “These documents have the clues to who you are and what you do.”
In addition to properly disposing of printed materials, experts urge you to change your online passwords regularly and be cautious of using public Wi-Fi networks to log into your bank or credit card accounts.

The Tennessee Department of Health released data showing that 1,451 people died from drug overdoses in Tennessee in 2015. Officials say this is the highest annual number of overdose deaths recorded in state history.
6,036 lives have been lost due to drug overdoses in Tennessee in the past five years.
The numbers included 14 overdose fatalities in Coffee County. Nearby Franklin County had 13. The most reported was 188 in Shelby County. To protect the identities of victims, the Tennessee Department of Health did not release data for counties with less than one dozen overdose deaths. 8 counties reported zero deaths.
Data indicates nearly 72 percent of the 1,451 drug overdose deaths last year involved opioids, with the vast majority being unintentional.
Deaths involving fentanyl rose from 69 in 2014 to 174 in 2015. Deaths involving heroin rose from 147 to 205.
If you or someone you know is ready to get assistance with addiction, call the Tennessee REDLINE at 1-800-889-9789.

On Tuesday Tullahoma officers were called to Kroger for a possible shoplifter. Officer Brooke Earhart made contact with Kroger personnel who stated that a man had allegedly stolen approximately $119.15. Terry Dwight Mooningham Jr age 33 Faye Creek Rd Wartrace also allegedly admitted to the officer that he had driven a motor vehicle to the store. A check of the subject’s driver’s license showed it to be revoked/suspended 2nd offense for DUI and Mooningham was also listed as a habitual traffic offender.
He was charged with, driving on revoked/license 2nd offence, habitual traffic offender, theft of property (shoplifting) and burglary. Mooningham’s bond was set at $12,000 and he’ll appear in court on Jan. 5, 2017.

Attention citizens and businesses of Tullahoma. The Tullahoma Police Department is asking you to please be very careful when accepting cash money. Cash was recently accepted by a local business and upon first glance it looks legitimate. After closer examination, the cash currency clearly says “For Motion Picture Use Only” in multiple places. Please examine the cash you receive and report any suspicious bills to the Tullahoma Police Department immediately at 931-455-0530 or drop by the police department at 123 North Jackson St. in Tullahoma.

Franklin County Sheriff’s Office personnel, in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Decherd Police Dept., Estill Springs Police Dept. and the Winchester Police Dept., executed the serving of 33 indictments returned by a Franklin County Grand Jury on Monday November 14th, 2016. The indictments were the result of an 11 month undercover drug operation that resulted in 9 search warrants being executed along with 6 probation searches as well as 4 vehicles being seized along with $28,277 also being seized. The operation will continue as law enforcement attempts to complete the serving of all 33 indictments.

It’s that time of year again. Tennessee’s gun hunting season opens Saturday, Nov. 19.
Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1969 is required to carry proof of satisfactory completion of a hunter education class or be in possession of the Apprentice Hunting License while hunting any species in Tennessee.
As the season begins, sportsmen are reminded of changes made this year in regard to the definition of “antlered deer.”
According to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, “Antlered deer are defined as male or female deer with antlers protruding above the hairline. Velvet antlered deer are also considered antlered.”
No more than one may be taken per day.
Male fawns with no antler protruding above the hairline do not count toward a hunter’s antlered bag limit, rather toward the hunter’s antlerless bag limits.
Deer having already shed their antlers and does without antlers are also considered antlerless.