Category: News

Jennifer Ann Amacher, former Tullahoma Planning and Codes director, has been charged with reckless endangerment, stemming from a shooting incident involving her son that occurred on Dec. 11, 2015.
The tragic shooting claimed 11-year-old Sienna Owens’ life.
The accused shooter was Sienna’s schoolmate, Amacher’s son, who was 12 at the time of the shooting, according to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department reports.
At the time of the shooting, Amacher was home where the shooting had occurred, authorities said.
Since December, investigators have been gathering evidence for the District Attorney’s Office.
Now five months later, the District Attorney’s Office has filed official charges linking Amacher’s responsibility with the girl’s death, according to authorities.
Amacher, in the meantime, remains free on $15,000 bond with a May 13 court date set.

An ongoing investigation by Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and investigators with the Shelbyville Police Department has resulted in a man being arrested and charged in connection to the death of a Shelbyville woman.
At the request of 17th District Attorney General Rob Carter, TBI Special Agents, working alongside detectives with the Shelbyville Police Department, began investigating the September 14, 2015 homicide of 45-year-old Angela Kibble. The victim was found deceased in her residence at 800 Belmont Avenue in Shelbyville by a neighbor. During the course of the investigation, Special Agents developed information that Danny Allen, now 21, was among several individuals who had entered the victim’s home and were present at the time of her death.
On Wednesday, authorities arrested Allen and charged him with one count of Especially Aggravated Burglary. He was booked into the Bedford County Jail on a $100,000 bond. The arrest of Allen brings to eight the number of individuals charged in connection to this ongoing investigation.

The future of a 1,600-acre site on the Tennessee River could be decided this week. The Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors, at its meeting on Thursday, is expected to consider the possible sale of land originally allocated for the Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station that was never completed. Although the land actually is in Hollywood, Ala., Steve Smith, executive director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, said water doesn’t have boundaries and the river flows back into west Tennessee. “This is a very very important waterway to the state of Tennessee and to people who recreate and use the Tennessee River,” he said, “so we believe that this should be part of a strategy to reclaim some of this property for the greater public good.” The property includes existing switchyard and transmission interconnections, of which the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy would like the TVA to maintain ownership to pursue clean, renewable energy. A public comment period preceded this week’s meeting, and the board on Thursday will consider feedback as it determines whether to explore development options. Smith said protecting the area from another nuclear facility or potentially environmentally harmful industry is TVA’s responsibility, and he and others would like to see it maintain possession of the waterfront acreage as part of Guntersville Reservoir. “We believe it is a high responsibility of the Tennessee Valley Authority to protect the river,” he said. “That’s one of the original missions of TVA, and we think this is an appropriate time for the Board of Directors to reclaim that land for the greater public good.” Smith said his organization would support development inland of the riverfront that is environmentally conscious and supportive of recreation and wildlife. If TVA opts to sell the property, it likely would be sold through public auction.

A Tullahoma woman was arrested April 27 on charges of child abuse neglect or neglect in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred at Bel Aire School last February.
According to a warrant obtained by Tullahoma Police Investigator Rana Pawlowski, Jennifer D. Huskey,35 of Crestwood Drive, Tullahoma was charged with an incident that allegedly occurred while she was substitute teaching at the school.
She is accused of “back handing” a student at the school in the mouth.
The warrant alleges that when she allegedly struck the child she caused his lip to bleed. He then stated that he needed to go tell and she refused to allow him to leave the room.
The boy allegedly stated that he was looking for his paper on the teacher’s desk when the incident occurred.
Huskey is to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court May 9 on the charges. She is free on a $10,000 bond.

A Manchester man was arrested April 30 after he allegedly kidnapped three people. Bobby Joe Wade, 57, of Interstate Drive Manchester was named in an eight count indictment by the April term of the Coffee County Grand Jury for three counts of especially aggravated kidnapping, three counts of aggravated assault, aggravated robbery and employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.
Coffee County Sheriff’s Investigator James Sherrill alleges that on Jan. 15 Wade held the three people against their will by holding a shotgun on them and took money from one of the three.
The indictments also allege that Wade carried the shotgun for the purpose of going armed during the commission of a dangerous crime. (Tullahoma News)

An event and music venue caught fire Monday night in Bedford County, forcing crews to tape it and nearby buildings off.
Crews believe the fire started on the second floor of the music hall and hotel on Spring Street in Wartrace just before 8 p.m.
The second and third floors sustained smoke damage. A water line also broke on the second floor, leading to water damage on the first.
The initial investigation suggests the fire was not suspicious in nature.
The building remained taped off early Tuesday morning as authorities continue to investigate.
The hotel, currently for sale, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Firefighters from Bell Buckle, Flat Creek and the Bedford County Fire Department main headquarters backed up Wartrace.

Family and friends gathered Monday night at Wilkins Stadium in Tullahoma to honor 17 year-old Eli Grow who died tragically Saturday in a two-vehicle accident.
Tullahoma High School held a vigil on the school’s football field Monday night and mourners spelled his initials and football number on the bleachers using lanterns.
Grow played football at Tullahoma and was planning to play at Mississippi College in the fall.
His family will hold a celebration of life service at their home Saturday with a bonfire afterwards.
For those who want to help, the family asks for donations to be directed to the Eli Grow Memorial Fund. The fund will help renovate athletic facilities at Tullahoma High School.
The Hahn’s who were in the wreck with Grow have been transferred to Vanderbilt where they are undergoing treatment.