On Monday November 30th at approximately 11:30 Franklin County Sheriff’s Office personnel responded to 305 Maxwell Road, Belvidere, TN. A report filed by Deputy Kason Bolin stated that a complaint was called in to the Franklin County Communications Center and the caller advised a man had forced his way into the home of the complainant. Further investigation revealed that the suspect in the case had appeared on the complainant’s property demanding to be granted access into the home. The homeowner advised the subject to vacate the area immediately and leave him alone but the suspect continued to demand access to the residence. The police report further revealed that the suspect told the homeowner that people in camouflage were shooting at him from the trees. The suspect’s condition was consistent with the effects of methamphetamine use. The suspect then allegedly broke the glass out of the door located at the rear of the house and entered. The homeowner then brandished a rifle and advised the suspect to lay on the floor until Sheriff’s personnel arrived. Upon arrival, Sheriff’s Deputies placed the suspect under arrest and transported him to the Franklin Jail. The suspect, Gerald Eugene Hutchens, 603 Walnut Ave. South Pittsburg, TN was booked into the Franklin County Jail on charges of Vandalism $1,000- $10,000 and Aggravated Burglary and at last report was being held on $15,000 bond. Hutchens has a scheduled court date of January 7th at 8:00am in Franklin County General Sessions Court. There is a continuing investigation regarding this incident.
Category: News
Man Trying To Burglarize a Home Held at gun Point until Police Arrive
Scam Alert!
A new scam is working in Coffee County and the sheriff’s department is warning area residents. According to Investigator Jason Dendy a local person receives a call from an unknown caller claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House. The scammer tells the intended victim that they have won a prize. The scam artist then tells the person they need to meet a UPS driver in the Wal-Mart parking lot with a Green Dot credit card loaded with a certain amount of money in able to claim the prize. Dendy advises to not give any money to anyone and contact authorities. You can call Investigator Dendy at 931-570-4427.
Tullahoma and Manchester Christmas Parade Information
Tullahoma Police Department Lieutenant George Marsh advises that motorists should take alternate routes Friday starting at 5:00p.m., December 4 to allow the Stan McNabb Tullahoma Chamber of Commerce 59th Annual Christmas Parade to proceed north on Jackson Street.
5:00 p.m.- the Tullahoma Police Department closes Jackson Street to northbound traffic at Carroll Street as the parade entries line up. Volney, Decherd, Warren, and Lauderdale Streets will also close at Jackson at 5:00 p.m.
At approximately 6:15 p.m., Jackson Street will be closed from Lauderdale to Jack Farrar Lane, and all intersections will closed: Big Springs, Wilson Avenue, Grundy, Moore, Grizzard, Hogan, Blackwell, Catron, and Ogee. Motorist are also advised to that you cannot exit a business onto Jackson Street.
Jackson Street will remain closed until the parade’s conclusion at approximately 9:00 p.m.
To prevent congestion, no vehicles other than parade entries will be allowed onto South Jackson at the Civic Center after 5:00 p.m. Parade participants meeting a float can park at old West Middle School and easily walk to the parade line-up.
Alternate Route
Lieutenant Marsh advises that motorists can avoid traffic congestion immediately prior to and during the parade hours by taking either Cedar Lane or Washington Streets. He also suggested motorists proceed with caution and patience, and be especially aware of the many pedestrians that will be present for the parade viewing. 
Motlow College Taking Corrective Measures Over Email Issue
In a recent effort to inform current Motlow State Community College Tennessee Promise students of the impending Dec. community service deadline, the College sent an email to Motlow State employees only, which inadvertently included an attachment containing some personal student information.
The original email was intended to alert College employees who may know a student using the Tennessee Promise to contact that student and inform them of the impending deadline.
All Motlow State employees are subject to student privacy policies mandated by the Tennessee Board of Regents. To further protect student’s privacy, the College immediately began taking corrective action to protect Motlow students and insure their privacy was not compromised.
The actions included, but were not limited to:
1. Recalled the email within 17 minutes of first sending it.
2. Conducted an internal audit to contain the email and insure that it had not been released to non-employees.
3. Notfied all affected students.
4. Reminded college employees of their responsibility to respect student privacy.
5. Assigned Motlow’s compliance officer as the point of contact for students with concerns.
Addionally, the college is preparing a resource page on its website (TNPromise.mscc.edu/PII) to help affected students.
Gas Prices Predicted To Remain Below $2 At Least Through Christmas
Last week, motorists enjoyed the lowest Thanksgiving gas prices in seven years (2008). Gas prices declined throughout the holiday weekend, as was forecasted by AAA. Some non-AAA analysts attempted to grab headlines by forecasting that the national average would dip below $2 in time for the holiday, but that did not happen, as the national average on Thanksgiving Day was $2.05 – 75 cents lower than the year before.
“Gas prices have been falling at a rate of about a half cent a day, and if that pace continues, the national average will drop below $2 in the next two weeks,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “But there is potential for the pump price plunge to slow after oil prices climbed a few bucks last week.”
Today, 36 percent of gas stations nationwide are selling fuel below $2 a gallon. Current average prices are $2.04 nationwide and $1.87 in Tennessee. Looking forward, pump prices on Christmas Day are forecast to be well below last year’s holiday averages of $2.33 nationwide and $2.18 in Tennessee.
In Coffee County this week the low price in Manchester is $1.72 and in Tullahoma it’s $1.73.
Tennessee Must Accept Refugees, According to the Attorney General
The Tennessee Attorney General has released an opinion saying the state cannot refuse to accept people the federal government has admitted to the country as refugees.
The opinion was requested by State Representatives John Ray Clemmons, Jason Powell and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Stewart after calls by state lawmakers to deny entry to Syrian refugees who are vetted by the U.S. government.
The attorney general says “such a refusal would impinge on and conflict with the federal government’s authority to regulate the admission of aliens to the United States and thus would violate the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.”
The opinion goes on to confirm that a refusal could not be based on an individual’s country of origin or religion.
Forty Years and Forty Trees!
Phyllis Dix, Westwood Middle School Principal-Chad Fletcher, Mary Trice and Carolyn Norfleet-the ladies are part of the Dig N Dream Garden Club in Manchester.
Marking the forty-year milestone with a special letter of appreciation, Westwood Middle School Principal Chad Fletcher, presented the letter to the Dig n Dream Garden Club, paraphrased here:
“Undoubtedly, this endeavor has required many hours of thankless service to turn ideas into reality. Sweat, love and tears water the Trees of Christmas and yet, when the event begins, it brings joy and wonder to both children and parents; grandkids and grandparents. For many, including students in the Manchester City School, this event is anticipated and enjoyed. It brings the spirit of Christmas alive. Thank you for setting such a high, worthy example for the children and the citizens of Manchester”.
Longtime members of the club, Phyllis Dix, Carolyn Norfleet and Mary Trice accepted the letter. Phyllis Dix said, “We learn, we dig and we dream-that we will make beautiful things.”
For dates and times that you can visit the Trees of Christmas, go to WMSRRadio.com
Man Stabbed in Tullahoma
Melvin Lee Southern intake photo provided by the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department.
Melvin Lee Southern, 46, was arrested Nov. 29 by Tullahoma Police Officer Tim Brandon following an incident East Grizzard Street.
According to the officer’s report, Southern stabbed Scotty Brawley with a wooden handle pocket knife. According to the report, Brawley was stabbed in the chest and forearm.
After the stabbing incident, Southern left the area and went to his residence on Noblitt Lane.
Southern was booked into the Coffee County Jail on the charges and is to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court Dec. 17.
Partisan Primaries Will Continue in Coffee County
A resolution brought before the Coffee County Legislative Committee last month to change the county from partisan primaries has been stopped. The Coffee County Legislative Committee approved a motion recently not to send the resolution forward to the full Coffee County Commission for consideration.
A resolution creating nonpartisan county primaries would require a two-thirds vote by the full county commission in two consecutive meetings. After that requirement is met, the resolution would move forward to the state level for approval as a private act of the Tennessee General Assembly.
According to some officials, nonpartisan county elections would cost less to run. The May 2014 primary cost the county $59,250, according to Coffee County Administrator of Elections Vernita Davis. Of 31,622 registered voters at the time, only 6,083 voters participated in the primary elections. That equates to $9.74 per vote.
Counterfeit Bill Passed in Tullahoma
A clerk at Quik Mart on South Jackson Street reported to Tullahoma Police Officer Willie Young that a counterfeit $10 bill was passed at the store.
On Nov. 29 Jessica Brinkley reported to Officer Young that between 4:30 and 4:45 p.m. a white male entered the store and gave her the bill for a roll of quarters. The clerk did not realize the bill was fake until after the man had left the store.
Tullahoma Detective Johnny Gore is investigating the incident.
