Category: News

The average smoker in Tennessee will spend $93,000 dollars on his or her habit over a lifetime, according to new data from the personal-finance website WalletHub. Lifetime health-care costs are even higher, at $113,000, and tobacco-addiction specialist Donna Borowski said finding the motivation to quit comes down to very personal reasons. “One of my most favorite tools to use when coaching patients is get them to think about why it would even be important,” she said. “What they’re wanting for themselves around their health, around their future. It begins to gel a little bit more.” While lifetime costs of smoking sound high, the state actually has the seventh-lowest out-of-pocket costs, compared with the rest of the country. For example, New York residents spend more than double that over a lifetime. Much of the variance is attributed to different tobacco taxes between states. WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzalez said Tennessee is not unlike its neighbors. “So there is still not a lot of taxes on cigarettes. The cost per pack is going to be a lot cheaper than some other states,” she said. “You’ll find that it’s really joined with some similar company here. Most of the top 10 states are all in the South.” For those who want to quit, Borowski said, taking a strategic approach can lead you toward success. “Why are you wanting it? And if we can ground you in that, then let’s talk about what your barriers are and what’s going to motivate you,” she said, “and then, let’s use the medicines – because they work.” Experts also advise smokers trying to quit to take it one day at a time, don’t carry cigarettes with you, and be aware of routine situations that might trigger your urge to smoke. The study is online at wallethub.com.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled that parents have a constitutional right to be treated fairly during court proceedings in which they face losing their children but they cannot appeal termination orders on the grounds that their appointed attorneys were ineffective. In criminal cases, defendants have a right to a competent attorney. The court, in its opinion last week, said adopting the same standard in parental termination cases has the potential to drag out court cases for years and cause serious harm to children. Children cannot be adopted until the litigation is over. In its ruling, the court added additional safeguards in the appeals process to make sure that parental rights aren’t wrongfully severed.

A deadly fire was reported just before midnight on Tuesday evening Jan 26, 2016 on Lloyd Boynton Road in the northern part of Coffee County.
Authorities have now released the names of the deceased, 65 year-old Brenda Joyce Clark and 62 year-old Evalardo “Joe” Ortiz. You can read funeral arrangements on our website.
All local volunteer fire departments were summoned to scene because when the emergency workers arrived on the scene the mobile home was fully engulfed.
The home and a vehicle were a total loss.
Coffee County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Billy Marcom says that authorities have not been able to determine the origin of the fire so the cause has yet to be established.

A Tullahoma resident was arrested Jan. 27 on a charge of criminal simulation or counterfeiting. Stacey Baker, 39, of Freeman Street was arrested after a fake $20 bill was passed at Krystal on North Jackson Street.
In a warrant obtained by Tullahoma Police Detective Johnny Gore states that information was gathered that she was the one who had been producing the bills. The warrant alleges that she admitted to producing the bills and gave officers copies of the bills that had been produced.
The warrant stated that Baker had produced several bills that have been passed recently in the Tullahoma area.
A police report states that Baker showed officers the computer and printer that she had been using to produce the bills and showed where several pieces of paper with copies of money on them were stored under a bed.
Her bond was set at $250,000.

Honor Flight began about 10 years ago with the goal of getting as many World War II veterans to see their memorial via free trips to Washington DC. Many Honor Flight Hubs have closed down as the number of WW2 veterans declined—most notably Music City and Huntsville in our area. Honor Flight of Middle Tennessee began in 2008 and has conducted 15 flights. Several years ago they began including Korean War veterans as the number of WW2 vets declined rather than closing down. Adding Vietnam veterans is the next evolution and structure has been set to continue as long as they can raise the funding. The Board for Honor Flight of Middle Tennessee voted to set aside some seats on future flights for Vietnam Veterans. They hope that all of the Vietnam veterans will understand the desire to insure that select Vietnam veterans get to DC before one of the various diseases and conditions associated with Agent Orange prevents them from seeing the memorials and a changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns. The number of seats will vary depending upon the status of the flight when they confirm the final reservation with Southwest Airlines. The next flight is April 27th and another in the Fall—late September/early October.
In order to insure that Vietnam veterans with life threatening conditions get these initial spots they must have at least a 70% VA Disability Rating due to exposure to Agent Orange. Call for more information at 931 224-0610 or 931 224-3226 for an application.

A Tullahoma family got out of their house with only their pajamas on early Sunday morning.
The home of Casey and Michelle Crawford and their two children was destroyed by fire. The Tullahoma Fire Department received a call of the fire on Crossfield Drive around 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning. When the fire department arrived the flames were coming out of the roof of the house, according to Fire Chief Richard Shasteen.
“The family was awakened by the breaking of a window,” Shasteen said. “They barely got out.” According to Shasteen, firefighters were hampered by the wind fanning the flames.
According to the fire chief, the fire appeared to have started on the back patio where a heat lamp was being used for a dog. The dog was saved.
A Gofundme account has been created to help the family with expenses.

A lethal combination of racing fuel and Mountain Dew claimed the lives of two Robertson County, Tennessee teens and has sparked the Tennessee Poison Center (TPC) to warn about the combination of what has been called “Dewshine.”
Coffee County Sheriff’s Investigator James Sherrill said Friday that there have not been any reports of people trying the mixture here. “We hope that people are smart enough not to try this deadly concoction,” Sherrill said. “We hope we don’t hear of anyone trying it.”
Dewshine, a play on the word moonshine, is being consumed to achieve intoxication, but contains racing fuel which can lead to blindness and death, said Donna Seger, M.D., medical director of the Tennessee Poison Center and clinical professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Drinking this mixture can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, blurred vision, seizures, depression of the central nervous system, coma and even death depending on how much methanol is consumed and advice. The Poison Help toll-free number is 1-800-222-1222. All calls are fast, free and confidential.