Category: News

A Franklin County man is charged in two counties with TennCare fraud involving prescription drugs.
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) on Wednesday announced the arrest of Charles Jackson, 44, of Winchester. He’s charged in both Franklin and Coffee Counties with doctor shopping for prescription drugs, using TennCare as payment.
Jackson is charged in Franklin County with two counts of doctor shopping for prescription drugs, using TennCare as payment. He was transferred there from Coffee County, where he’s been held for over a month on one count of doctor shopping for drugs. In both counties, TennCare paid for either the clinical visits or the prescriptions.
TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison per charge.  District Attorney General Craig Northcott is prosecuting the Coffee County case. District Attorney General J. Michael Taylor will be prosecuting the Franklin County case.
The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated cases leading to more than $3 million being repaid to TennCare, with a total estimated cost avoidance of more than $163.6 million for TennCare, according to latest figures. To date, 2,491 people have been charged with TennCare fraud.
Through the OIG Cash for Tips Program established by the Legislature, Tennesseans can get cash rewards for TennCare fraud tips that lead to convictions.  Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982 toll-free from anywhere in Tennessee, or go to http://www.tn.gov/finance/topic/fa-oig.

The 2016 Presidential Preference Primary and Coffee County Primary will be held March 1, 2016. Voter registration deadline is Monday, February 1, 2016. Office hours for the Coffee County Election Commission is 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
You’ll be able to vote in the Presidential Preference Primary and county primary. The county offices are: Public Defender (unexpired six (6) year term), Assessor of Property, Constable – Seat 4 – Dist. 3, 14 & 16 (unexpired two (2) year term) and Constable – Seat 7 – Dist. 17, 19 & 20 (unexpired two (2) year term). District Offices are elected by voters living in those areas only.
One person qualified on Thursday for Public Defender, John E. Nicoll who is a Republican. For Assessor of Property, Larry McIntosh, Roseanne Carden Riddle and Beverly H. Robertson, all republicans. For Constable – Seat 4 Democrat Danny Davis with no candidate qualified for District 7 Constable.
Withdrawal Deadline: Thursday, December 17, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon). The early voting dates are February 10 – February 23, 2016.

On Tuesday afternoon just after 3pm Coffee County Deputy Shaun Greene responded to 366 Sunset Circle for a report of a stabbing. Greene, Captain Danny Ferrell and Deputy Jennifer Curbow arrived at the location and began speaking with Sally May Woodward. According to the Deputy Greene’s report Woodward claimed that her brother had stabbed her. She had blood coming from her right shoulder. Coffee County EMS transported Woodward to Unity Medical Center in Manchester for treatment. Investigators Jason Dendy and Kelly Smith went to the hospital to talk with the injured female. According to the police report, Woodward claims she and her brother 59 year-old Jimmy Tim Sanders of Nashville were walking toward the home at 366 Sunset Circle when she thought he punched her and she told him to stop. She went onto say that she saw Sanders holding a silver lock blade knife and that’s when she realized she had been stabbed.
While in route to the northern part of the county, dispatch advised that a Jimmy Tim Sanders had stolen a blue 2014 Ford Fusion from the scene of the stabbing. Deputy Joey Ricco located the suspect on Boynton Valley Road and took him into custody.
Sanders was charged with Aggravated Assault, Resisting Arrest, Driving on Revoked or Suspended and Theft of Property. He was booked at the Coffee County Jail under a bond of $116,000. He has court date of January 25, 2016.

Grundy County School Board members have chosen Jessie Kinsey to lead the district for the next four years. Kinsey is a 1999 graduate of Grundy County High School, where she was valedictorian of the senior class. She has served as a school counselor for the past eight years, most recently at the high school. She replaces William Childers, who had been serving as interim director since last spring.
The school district has had heavy turnover in the director’s position in recent years, with Jody Hargis, Clay Newsome, David Dickerson and Childers all serving during the past ten years, some of them more than once.
Kinsey was born and raised in Grundy County. She earned a Bachelors Degree from Maryville College and a Masters Degree from UT-Knoxville.

Tennessee’s State Fire Marshal’s Office is urging people who purchase a self-balancing scooter, more known as a hoverboard, to use caution after several have been reported to have caused fires.
In a news release, the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office said it is urging people to do some research before buying the popular hoverboard because a growing worldwide number of injuries and fires involved with the gadgets.
The Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office is joining the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) in issuing the following safety tips for the use, care, and maintenance of hoverboards.
When shopping for a self-balancing scooter or hoverboard:
Take the time to look at and research the product you buy. If it is compliant with federal standards, inspections, and certifications, it will have a mark on it or indicate such on its packaging, on the device itself, or on its charging equipment. Devices not bearing a mark indicating compliance likely have not been tested to meet minimum safety standards.
Buy a device with a warranty, or buy it in person at a brick and mortar store. If you are buying online, buy from a reputable source. Also, check with your retailer regarding the safety of the device you are purchasing.

An investigation that began with the Tullahoma Police department has led to six people being arrested on drug charges.
Arrested Tuesday morning by officers on the federal indictments were Amy Glasgow of South Franklin Street, Franklin “Frankie” Bennett of Cobb Hollow Road, Dillon Champion address unknown, and Michael Sibert of Ovoca Road. Also arrested were Timothy Powers of Winchester and Joseph Martin of California.
Tuesday morning officers with the Tullahoma Police Department, Winchester Police Officers, U.S. Postal Inspectors and ATF agents made the arrest in connection to conspiracy to distribute 100 kilos of marijuana that was shipped to the Tullahoma and Winchester areas.
The original shipment contained 12 pounds of marijuana and during a six month investigation officers ended up finding over 220 pounds of marijuana being shipped from Humbolt County California.
Those arrested were transported to Chattanooga and were to appear before a federal magistrate Tuesday afternoon.

An Alabama man was arrested on Monday at the Red Roof Inn in Manchester after he allegedly tried to sell crystal ice to an undercover agent.
Marvin Leslie Pope Jr., 71, of Birmingham, AL was charged with unlawful drug paraphernalia uses and activities and manufacturing /delivering/selling/possession of a controlled substance.
According to warrants by Sheriff’s Investigator James Sherrill, the arrest was made after Pope allegedly produced 29 bags of ice. He allegedly told the undercover officer that he wanted $1,200 an ounce for the ice. According to the warrant he also had a set of digital scales to weigh the drugs.
Pope was booked at the Coffee County Jail under a bond of $110,000 and is set to appear in court on Jan. 11, 2016.

Aliya Thomas a student at Coffee County High School was walking home from school Monday afternoon when she was struck by a vehicle.
Thomas, 17, was hit after two vehicles crashed, sending one spinning onto the sidewalk and striking her.
According to Officer Trey Adcock’s report a 2002 Ford minivan operated by Edward Stambaugh, 43, of Manchester, and a 1996 Ford pickup operated by Bobby Baker, 17, of Manchester were involved in the accident.
Thomas was transported by Coffee County Ambulance Service to Unity Medical Center, where she was then flown by Air Evac to Vanderbilt University Children’s Hospital where at last report she was in stable condition.