Category: News

While Coffee County Deputy Eric Clem was patrolling the Prairie Plains area of Hillsboro on Monday night around 10:45pm he observed a structure fire at 1853 Prairie Plains road. Hillsboro Fire Department was called to the scene along with other departments.
Clem says in his report that flames were coming out from under the front porch area of the roof and from the living room window area of the house. He also said that he noticed that both eves of the house had a tremendous amount of black smoke coming from them along with the garage door area as well.
Electric and gas company personnel were also called to the scene to cut off the utilities to the home.
Firemen extinguished the blaze, but rekindled on Tuesday morning and Hillsboro and Summitville Fire Departments were called back to the scene.
No one was injured and the fire is under investigation.

Coffee County Sheriff’s Department and Jail… Photo by Barry West

On Monday, Coffee County Deputies received a call of a subject causing a disturbance in Beechgrove. Upon arrival, Clay Lee Cockerham age 21 of Cheyenne Circle Beechgrove was at the bath house in Lakewood Park. As deputies were on the scene a man and woman pulled up and said the man had allegedly gone through their mailbox, destroying it.
Deputy Blake Simmons charged Cockerham with vandalism and he was booked in at the Coffee County Jail.
Early Tuesday, Cockerham allegedly attacked a corrections officers and struck him several times. Supposedly the man attempted to leave his cell and was being detained by officers when the attack occurred. The arrest warrant says that Cockerham scratched the officer’s face around and inside of his mouth leaving cuts and long scratches about his face.
Cockerham was additionally charged with assault and criminal attempt. His first court date was set for September 27, 2016.

Commissioner Randy Boyd of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, participated in the Kagami Biraki, a traditional sake barrel ceremony… Photo and a portion of this story from WGNS Radio

Kasai held a grand opening ceremony for its new North American headquarters last week in Murfreesboro. The new office is across the street from Murfreesboro Medical Clinic in the gateway district.
In late 2014, the Japanese-based company, which supplies Nissan and other automotive companies, announced plans to invest $13.4 million and add 250 jobs in Rutherford County.
Kasai operates a manufacturing plant in the Coffee County Industrial Park.
Their main operations are planning, development and manufacturing of car interior trim parts including door trim and roof trim.

Coming up on Friday at the Coffee County Fair is the 15th annual “Youth Field Day Events” sponsored by the Coffee County D.A.R.E. program.
The event normally has between 300-400 children participating in; sack races, 3 legged races along basketball and football throwing, dash and relay races and finishing with a water balloon throw.
All events are open to boys and girls in age brackets of 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12 year olds.
The D.A.R.E. program will give out cash prizes to the top 3 finishers in each category. Also D.A.R.E. prizes will be awarded to all those who participate.
“Youth Field Day Events” begin at 11am at the fairgrounds arena and family and friends are invited to come out and watch.
This will be the 14th year the “Field Day Events” trophy will be awarded to the school with the most overall winners.
Sgt. Morris Vanattia, Coffee County D.A.R.E. officer, is asking for volunteers to assist in line judging, cheering and more to come on out.
Vanattia and Sheriff Steve Graves thanks all those who have participated and welcome all those coming out this year.

Wesley Kyle Sullivan… Facebook photo

The Coffee County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help. Authorities are searching for 28 year-old Wesley K Sullivan. His last known address was Dwight Sherrill Rd in Hillsboro. Sullivan is wanted for 2 counts of manufacturing/delivering/selling/possession of a controlled substance, schedule VI drug charges.
Sullivan is 5’10” around 180lbs with hazel eyes and brown hair.
If you have seen Wesley K Sullivan or know his whereabouts please call the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department at 931-570-4409 or 570-4410. As always the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department thanks the public for its help and support.

The Manchester Police Department needs the public’s help with identifying a male subject. Police department officials stress that this man is NOT a suspect in a crime, but may have witnessed a crime take place at Coffee County Bank on the Murfreesboro Hwy.
If you can identify this person of interest please contact Investigator Bryan Eldridge at the Manchester Police Department, 931-728-2099.

Also Unity Medical Center recently donated numerous medical supplies for Manchester Police Department’s SWAT team. These supplies will be used to equip officers with emergency first aid kits. The police department thanks the hospital for their donation.

Pictured is Kristen Fox, Unity Medical Center and Officer Daniel Ray, SWAT team leader, MPD.

Dakota Blake Byers… Photo from the Grundy Co. Sheriff’s Dept.

The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office has been working recently to locate a suspect that was wanted in connection to recent burglaries.
Grundy County deputies captured 22 year-old Dakota Blake Byers on Sunday without incident.
He was wanted in connection with two residential burglaries, two church burglaries and at least one business burglary on the mountain.
According to the Grundy County Sheriff’s Department, Byers also had several outstanding warrants.

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) is sending a message to consumers by saying that there is not a gas shortage in Tennessee.
TEMA says there are about two other pipeline sources Tennessee uses beyond the ruptured Alabama pipeline. The high demand has overpowered the supply, which has caused gas stations to run out of certain grades. Some stations in Manchester were completely out of fuel on Saturday night, but have returned to normal operation.
Despite some stations running out of gas, some others are reporting sales being up by 50 percent.
Officials are urging drivers to maintain their normal gas buying routines as retailers work to refill the pumps.
Gov. Bill Haslam on Friday declared a state of emergency, which authorized trucks to drive extended hours to bring in more gas to meet the demand. According to TEMA, Haslam could only do that through an executive order because federal law prohibits truckers from driving over certain hours.
(Portions of this story from WSMV-TV)

In May, Tullahoma was selected as only one of five cities nationwide to be a part of a federal pilot program called Cool and Connected. As part of this program, the City worked with a team of experts from the EPA Office of Sustainable Communities, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), the USDA, and a nationally-recognized consulting firm, to develop a sustainable community development Strategic Plan focused on creating a vibrant downtown economy and broadband access.
The community is invited to an open house to review an action plan that envisions a connected and economically vibrant city center.
“The expertise that this grant will bring to the table will help Tullahoma better utilize its gigabit fiber to the premise network to grow jobs and improve the quality of life for our residents and visitors.” Brian Skelton, General Manager of Tullahoma Utilities Board.
Mayor Lane Curlee said, “We want to use broadband service to attract new businesses and visitors to downtown, and to try and create a downtown that is connected as a WiFi zone and connected to our neighborhoods with pedestrian corridors.”
The event will be held on Wednesday, September 21 from 5:30 to 7:00pm at the Tullahoma Business Center, 414 Wilson Avenue.