Category: News

In September a deadly hunting accident was reported in Grundy County and an investigation began.
44-year-old Chad Killian was found with a gunshot wound to his upper body. Killian was taken to the hospital and later died from his injuries.
45-year-old Robin Smartt, Jr told Grundy County deputies Killian was shot during a hunting accident.
A grand jury has now indicted Smartt in connection with the fatal shooting of Killian.
The case was presented by Tennessee Bureau of Investigation investigators.
Smartt was indicted on a count of reckless homicide and possession of a firearm during a dangerous crime. A bond will be set in open court on Nov. 20.

Tennessee prison administrators plan to pay current officers a $1,000 bonus before the end of the year as part of an effort to bolster retention efforts.
The Tennessean reports that it obtained a staff memo sent Tuesday by Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner Derrick Schofield to announce the decision. The move affects 3,300 officers, representing a possible $3.3 million price tag.
Schofield writes in the memo that the bonus is a one-time payment and is meant to show the department’s appreciation for its correctional officers and other employees.
Tennessee State Employees Association President Bryan Merritt lauded the bonuses, but says they likely won’t be enough to stop officers from walking out the door.

The state Treasury Department says it returned $40 million of unclaimed property to its rightful owners this past fiscal year.
Unclaimed property in this case does not refer to physical items but to money that has been turned over to the state by businesses and organizations that cannot locate the rightful owners. It includes stocks, bonds, gift certificates, checks, unclaimed wages, refunds and life insurance annuities.
The amount of returned property last fiscal year was a 53 percent increase over the year prior. The Treasury Department attributes the increase to a website that allows visitors to search their names and fill out claims online.
The department currently has $725 million in unclaimed property. Claiming property is free, and there is no time limit.
More information is available at ClaimItTN.gov.

Veterans Day was celebrated yesterday on the square in Manchester. The ceremony honored those who have or still serving our country. This year’s ceremony included entertainment by Charlie Allen, Samantha Watters, Macy Tabor, the Westwood Middle School Band, a bag pipe player and more. Commemorative Swords were bestowed upon selected veterans to honor them for their sacrifice and wreaths were placed at memorial stones to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice of their own life during their time of service to our country.

Those receiving swords:
Virgil John Owen
O.J. McCormick
Charles Sartain
David Murphy
Robert Warren
John Greeter
Ben Reynolds
Thomas Blake
Ray Green
Ralph Dale Sain
Frank Parks
Lacey Bates
Stanley Bailey
Jack Phillip Tarver
Don Kimmons
Marie Rareshied (deceased)
B.J. Schoff (deceased)
For more pictures from yesterday’s Manchester event go to our Facebook page.

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A Veterans Day ceremony also took place in Tullahoma yesterday at the South Jackson Civic Center. Colonel Beverly Lee- United States Air Force, Retired, was the featured speaker. Other participants were Mayor Lane Curlee, Tullahoma Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, American Legion Post No. 43, VFW Post No. 4188, Marine Corps League Detachment 1128 and Boy Scout Troop 402. Patriotic music was provided by select members of the Tullahoma High School Band, THS Aristocats and Lloyd Smith.

We have an update on the murder of 86-year old Lois Jean Espy in Murfreesboro. The man who allegedly killed the 86-year old woman has been charged with not only her murder, but also with two counts of rape and one count of abuse of a corpse.
60-year old William Russell Brace is being held at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center. He is scheduled to appear in court to file a plea on December 14, 2015.
The TBI began investigating the death of Lois Jean Espy on February 23, 2015, the same date deputies from the Bedford County Sheriff’s Department found the body of the Espy on Mullins Mill Road.
During the course of the investigation, Agents developed information which led to her neighbor, William Russell Brace, as the individual responsible for Espy’s death in her Murfreesboro apartment in February, as well as the placement of her body in Bedford County. (WGNS Radio)

Tennessee is one of 10 states that still allows children to be isolated in detention centers through solitary confinement. The fact was highlighted in a recent report by the pro bono program at the law firm Lowenstein Sandler. But Rob Johnson, communications director for the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, says while that might be true on paper, the state has revised its practice. “We’ve changed the way that we interact with the kids,” he explains. “So, when it comes to seclusion, by policy, we now only allow a child to be in seclusion for an extremely limited number of reasons and only for 60 minutes.” Johnson says a justification for seclusion occurs when a child is a danger to him or herself or others, and if detention center employees feel the confinement should exceed 60 minutes, medical and psychological professionals should be involved. Linda O’Neal, executive director of the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, says while the state is working to change its approach to juveniles in custody, it’s important to note that local jurisdictions aren’t required to follow the same protocol. “We know solitary confinement is not good for children, it can do psychological damage, increase suicide rates,” she explains. “In all facilities we really need to be looking at the kinds of adverse childhood experiences these young people have had and figuring out ways to really support them to move beyond them in a positive way.” Tennessee is working to get youth development centers accredited. Johnson says that process has inspired a renewed interest in juvenile reform. “We are doing a much better job of keeping kids closer to home, and the least restrictive setting possible because a lot of these kids have educational needs, they have mental health needs, they have behavioral needs, and if those can be treated in a less restrictive setting, that’s where we’re going to go first,” he states. According to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Tennessee’s rate of juveniles placed in federal residential facilities has decreased by at least 50 percent since 2006.

Motlow College will be closed in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday from Thursday, Nov. 26, through Sunday, Nov. 29, according to college officials. The closing applies to computer labs, libraries and other facilities at all Motlow College campuses, including the Moore County campus and the Fayetteville, McMinnville and Smyrna centers. There will be no classes on Wednesday, Nov. 25, although Motlow facilities will remain open. Classes scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 26 through Saturday, Nov. 28 will also not be meeting. All classes will resume their normal schedules, and all campuses their normal hours, on Monday, Nov. 30.

Johnny Leon Meeks was due in Coffee County General Sessions Court on Tuesday, Nov. 10. Meeks was in a holding cell around 10am when he kicked a door open and escaped.
Local law enforcement began searching for the escapee whose last known address was Deans Shop Rd in Estill Springs.
Coffee County authorities captured Meeks around 2pm Tuesday afternoon. Investigator James Sherrill said he would like to thank Franklin County officials for their assistance.
Meeks was being held on several charges including evading arrest, hit and run of a person, failure to report an accident and others. He is now facing additional charges.

Around 10:45pm Monday night Coffee County Deputy Nick Graham was dispatched to 3978 Woodbury Hwy for a house fire. When Deputy Graham arrived he discovered the home was fully engulfed in flames. New Union Fire Department began fighting the blaze and other department firemen were summoned for man power.
Graham spoke with the homeowner who said the home was valued at $35,000. The man stated that his grandson was renting the home. The police report says that fire department personnel stated the fire started at the rear right side of the home in the kitchen. They advised the fire appeared to be suspicious in nature because a window had been broken when they arrived and the fire appeared to have started on the floor where the window was broken.
The Coffee County Sheriff’s Department is investigating.

On Monday, Jerry Gene Van Winkle age 28 of Lebanon was the operator of a vehicle that was stopped westbound near the 110-mile marker of Interstate 24 in Coffee County. Van Winkle and passenger Wrangler Ward West age 24 of Chattanooga were allegedly found to be in possession of approximately 11 grams of an off-white crystal-like substance in two baggies that tested positive for methamphetamine. Also found was a glass container with approximately one-half gram of methamphetamine. Neither individual claimed ownership of the drugs. The two men were also found to be in possession of digital scales, baggies and glass pipes.
Van Winkle allegedly admitted that he and West went to Chattanooga to buy methamphetamine and deliver it throughout the state.
Coffee County Deputy Brandon Reed arrested Van Winkle and charged him with 2 counts of manufacturing/delivery/selling/possession of a controlled substance, conspiracy to commit and unlawful drug paraphernalia uses and activities. He was booked in at the Coffee County Jail under a bond of $151,000. West was charged with manufacturing/delivery/selling/possession of a controlled substance, conspiracy to commit and unlawful drug paraphernalia uses and activities. His bond was set at $101,000. Both men are due in court on 12-7-15.