Category: News

Dr. John J. Cauthon, 49, of Murfreesboro, was charged Wednesday in a federal indictment with seven counts of health care fraud, announced David Rivera, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Cauthon is a Podiatrist in Murfreesboro who contracted to provide podiatric services to residents of nursing homes located throughout Tennessee. In the past, Cauthon operated an office in Manchester.
According to the indictment, between May 2015 and August 2015, Cauthon engaged in a scheme to defraud Medicare, TennCare, and BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, by submitting approximately $327,280.24 in fraudulent claims for a surgical procedure for nail avulsions, which he did not perform.
If convicted, Cauthon faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of health care fraud.
This case was investigated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James S. Seaman is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. (WGNS)

Tullahoma area citizens who love man’s best friends are encouraged to attend an informational meeting Thursday, October 15 at 5 pm at CD Stamps Center.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the latest updates for a new Animal Shelter. “We have some exciting news to share with the group,” said Mayor Lane Curlee.
“The Friends of the Tullahoma Animal Shelter have been working hard behind the scenes to help make this vision a reality.  I’m eager to help their proposal move forward, and the effort is gaining steam.  For people who love pets, this is an opportunity to get involved and assist with a fundraising effort,” said Mayor Curlee.
“The current facility has served the city well for the last 40 years, said Public Works Director, Wayne Limbaugh. “Now is the time to build a modern facility.”
Anyone is welcome to participate in the meeting, and we are looking for people to help the shelter raise money and organize the Friends of the Tullahoma Animal Shelter Committee.
The Friends of the Tullahoma Animal Shelter members will take on the responsibility of raising funds.
“This meeting will help the Tullahoma Animal Shelter continue its efforts in the community that help save dogs and find them the loving homes they deserve,” said Limbaugh.
“We’re going to build the shelter,” said Curlee. “Everyone I’ve spoken to is in favor of it. Rarely does a project receive so much support. Advocates are pushing hard to get the Shelter built as quickly as possible.”
The Tullahoma Animal Shelter averages about 25 adoptions per month, said Animal Control Manager, Teresa Holt.
For more information, call Community Coordinator, Winston Brooks at 455-2648 or Teresa Holt at 454-9580.

An investigation by Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and several Middle Tennessee law enforcement agencies has resulted in a Winchester man being arrested and charged in the shooting death of a Bedford County woman.
At the request of 17th District Attorney General Rob Carter, TBI Special Agents, working alongside detectives with the Shelbyville Police Department, the Bedford County Sheriff’s Department, the Fayetteville Police Department and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s 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, Agents developed information that David Darrell Fletcher of Winchester was connected to the shooting death of Angela Kibble.
Early Thursday morning, David Fletcher was arrested and charged with one count of Criminal Homicide. Fletcher, 30, was booked into the Bedford County Jail, where he is being held on a $2,000,000 bond. Fletcher was picked up at the Coffee County Jail where he was serving time on separate charges.

Tullahoma Police are continuing to investigate the shooting of Jeremy Fielding who fell into the apartment of his neighbor on East Grundy Street Monday night covered in blood.
According to police, investigators met with Fielding Wednesday to ask him about the shooting and hopefully get a lead in the case.
According to police Fielding was shot 5 times Monday night when he entered his residence. He then went across the street to a neighbor’s apartment and asked for help. Investigators say they were able to follow a very large path of blood from his residence to a woman’s across the street.

We have an update on a story we brought you earlier this week. The Manchester Police Department is investigating thefts from vehicles at Marcrom’s Pharmacy and McArthur Manor.
A male subject is a person of interest in the local thefts. We have now learned that a female may have also been involved. The man and woman were possibly in a silver Ford Focus. Authorities believe the car may have a stolen license plate.
Police obtained photos of the two people from Wal-Mart in Murfreesboro where the subjects were using stolen credit / debit cards from Manchester.
If you have any information regarding either the vehicle or the man and woman subjects, please contact Manchester Police Department Crime Investigation Division Investigator Jackie Matheny @ 931-728-2099.
The police department reminds the public that all persons are innocent until proven guilty.

The Highland Rim Bicycle Club recently donated a portion of the proceeds from its annual Elk River Valley 100 bicycle ride to the Motlow College Foundation, according to Jan Rogers, director of advancement for the College.
This year’s ride was the club’s 42nd anniversary for the ERV100 ride, with almost 200 riders participating.
“The Highland Rim Bicycle Club has been a great partner with Motlow College for the past several years,” said Rogers. “We appreciate the continued support for our students through this donation to the Foundation.”
This year’s donation will benefit the Adult College Express (ACE) scholarship fund. ACE is a program that enables working adults to attend classes one night per week and finish their degree in two years. Many students in the ACE program are not eligible for traditional financial aid other than through the Motlow Foundation.
“We are currently fundraising for this scholarship and we need to raise at least $6,000, which will be matched by a donor,” added Rogers.
The Motlow College Foundation is a 501(c) (3) organization. Others wishing to help with this campaign or donate to the Foundation may contact Rogers at 931-393-1692 or jrogers@mscc.edu.
For more information about the Highland Rim Bicycle Club, visit hrbike.org or erv100.org.

The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance announced this week that a Franklin County man will serve 15 years in a Tennessee prison after pleading guilty to arson and assault charges.
John W. Worley, age 25 pleaded guilty to two (2) counts of Aggravated Assault and one (1) count of Arson stemming from an October 23, 2014 incident where Worley attempted to set a fire outside a Winchester, Tenn. residence. The home belonged to Worley’s ex-girlfriend who was inside the house at the time of the fire along with his daughter.
Tennessee Bomb & Arson Section agents assisted Franklin County law enforcement authorities in helping gather evidence needed to secure a conviction in this case.
As punishment, Worley will receive a sentence of five (5) years in a state prison for each count (to be served consecutively). The Franklin County District Attorney’s Office accepted Worley’s guilty plea on September 24, 2015.
“This is another good example of teamwork between our investigators and local law enforcement partners that will help make Tennessee a safer place,” said Gary West, Deputy Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance.
To report an arson or suspicious fire, call the Arson Hot Line (1-800-762-3017) 24 hours a day. Callers may remain anonymous when providing information. Cash awards are offered for information leading to an arrest or conviction.

Gov. Bill Haslam says a long-term revenue plan is needed to address Tennessee’s growing list of unfunded road projects.
The Republican governor spoke to a conference of the Transportation Coalition of Tennessee in Murfreesboro on Tuesday.
He urged the members, many of whom were local government officials, to explain to people in their communities that something needs to be done to tackle the state’s $6 billion backlog.
The governor has suggested a gas tax increase, which has been met with resistance from members of his own party.
Haslam reiterated Tuesday that’s he’s open to discuss proposals to use surplus tax collections but said that would only be one-time money and that the state needs a long-term fix.
When asked about the gas tax following his speech, Haslam told reporters he’s unaware of “another alternative that addresses long-term need.”