Category: News

Thousands of Tennesseans face penalties in 2016 if they don’t have health coverage, and the deadline to apply at HealthCare.gov is Dec. 15.
While some lament the $695 or more fine for those who don’t secure coverage, Michele Johnson, executive director of the Tennessee Justice Center, says it’s important to remember the fine is in place to make sure we all don’t end up paying the price when the uninsured get sick.
“Health insurance is for all of us,” she points out. “It stabilizes our health care infrastructure and it’s a fair thing. It’s must cheaper for all of us if everybody’s covered.
“You’re much more likely to have your health needs met if you’re insured and you’re much less likely to die of preventable illness if you’re health-insured.”
According to HealthCare.gov, eight out of 10 people who enrolled in a health plan with the federal health exchange qualified for financial help to make their monthly payments more affordable.
There are monthly premiums available for $75 or less a month. There is free assistance available in communities across the state.
Johnson says even the most capable people have trouble navigating the process and she says asking for help can help expedite your enrollment.
“What we found is that people who are really sophisticated just are overwhelmed and intimidated by this process and so people shouldn’t be afraid to come and sit with somebody else because people who do it all day every day are just a lot better at making sure it’s less overwhelming that you get into the plan that makes the most sense for you and your family,” she states.
Johnson adds that there is growing public support for Gov. Bill Haslam’s Insure Tennessee plan, which has been stalled by the legislature.
Insure Tennessee is a two-year pilot program that would have offered health care coverage to Tennesseans who currently don’t have access to it.
The governor said recently he still hadn’t seen an indication that public opinion or lawmakers had shifted to support the plan in greater numbers.

Westwood Middle School Beta club members and their sponsor has earned National Beta School of Distinction status. This illustrates dedication to preparing students for college and career readiness.
Teacher and sponsor Amanda Sullivan says, “It is very exciting to see this club grow. “Beta provides an opportunity for students to be involved in the community and participate in academic competitions at State and National conventions.” She added that she is proud of the hard work and dedication the kids have demonstrated.
Westwood student and National Beta Club President Austin Burch thanks his teachers for taking the time to work with him and his peers. Burch says, “We work hard to help our school live up to its maximum potential.”
Principal Chad Fletcher says he is proud of Beta club students, sponsors and parents. He added, “Beta teaches children to serve others and make their schools and communities a better place.” “Our kids have worked tirelessly to live up to the expectations of our school- to take responsibility for themselves and others, to respect their community and school, and to be ready to serve.” Fletcher went onto say, “We believe in our kids and this honor is well deserved.”

A Tullahoma man has been arrested on rape charges.
Cornelius Lorenzo McEwen, 20, of West Warren Street was arrested Dec. 2 by campus police at MTSU while he attended a basketball game at the school.
He was arrested on a warrant obtained by Tullahoma Police Detective Rana Pawlowski that alleges that on Oct. 2 McEwen raped an 18-year-old female at a residence on Wilson Avenue.
The warrant alleges that McEwen asked the victim for a “ride and to hang out with her and her roommate.”
While at the Wilson Avenue residence McEwen allegedly made advances toward the victim.
The warrant alleges that the victim got up and left the room and went to sleep on the couch. That is where he allegedly raped her.
McEwen was booked into the Coffee County Jail under a bond of $25,000 and is to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court Dec. 21.

An investigation by Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Shelbyville Police Department has resulted in three individuals being arrested on charges of especially aggravated burglary for their actions on the night a Bedford County woman was shot to death.
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 14th 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 Chase Gross, Raheem Maxwell and a male juvenile had entered the victim’s home and were present at the time of Kibble’s death.
On Tuesday, TBI Special Agents arrested and charged 24-year old Gross, 19-year-old Maxwell and the juvenile with Especially Aggravated Burglary. The juvenile was taken to a juvenile detention facility in Bedford County. Gross and Maxwell were booked into the Bedford County Jail. The bond for each was set at $500,000. (WGNS Radio)

Gov. Bill Haslam says a program that will help people with intellectual disabilities find jobs makes sense, but he wants to learn more about it before investing $19 million.
The Republican governor heard from state health officials this week, during a week of budget hearings at the state Capitol.
State officials told the governor that the job service would be part of a unique program where “employment and independent living is the first and preferred option” in assisting Tennesseans with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Haslam told reporters following the hearing that he favors the program but wants to dig down further and understand how it will work.
The governor is scheduled to hear from 26 state agencies as he crafts his annual spending proposal that will likely top $34 billion.

The Coffee County Sheriff’s Department will be hosting its annual open house on Saturday December 5th from 8am until noon at the new jail at 76 County Jail Lane. Sheriff Steve Graves and his staff will be providing public tours and refreshments at the new facility. This will be the first year for the open house at the new jail so the sheriff and his staff would love to see everyone.
They will be accepting donations to the sheriff’s Christmas charity fund. You can drop off items such as unwrapped toys, non-perishable food, hygiene products or monetary donations; this is not required to attend. Sheriff department employees will be helping Santa as they distribute items to those in need later in the month.

A South Carolina man was booked into the Coffee County Jail after he allegedly was found to be in possession of drugs.
According to a report by Manchester Police Officer Daniel Ray, the officer was sent to the Red Roof Inn in reference to a disturbance. When the officer arrived, he learned that Charlton Wheller Floyd, 23, was in the lobby restroom. The man became belligerent when the officer knock on the door and identified himself.
Floyd cracked the door open and Officer Ray says that he saw several pills laying on the counter along with several syringes. The officer instructed the man to open the door up but Floyd refused to do so and slammed the door shut. But the officer was able to push the door open.
The South Carolina man was arrested and the officer allegedly found five morphine tablets and three syringes and a spoon in the restroom.
Floyd was charged with resisting arrest, possession of schedule II and unlawful drug paraphernalia uses and activities. He was booked into the Coffee County Jail under a bond of a $20,000 and he is to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court Dec. 8.

Coffee County EMS is temporarily leasing an ambulance to Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) emergency services after a contract was negotiated.
The leasing agreement will last until the used ambulances AEDC recently acquired have been refurbished and gone through the inspection process.
The maximum time Coffee County EMS can lend the ambulance to AEDC is 90 days for $60 per day.
The ambulance Coffee County EMS is leasing is not their oldest ambulance, but the one with the most mileage at around 184,000 miles, but it does have a new engine.