Category: News

The murder trial of Michael Curtis of Tullahoma got underway this week in Coffee County. Curtis is accused of killing Kayla Qualls Nov. 26, 2012 at his residence on General Street in Tullahoma and then placing her body in her SUV and driving it to an area on Spring Creek Road in Franklin County.
According to Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller, Qualls died of blunt force trauma to the head.
Curtis was arrested after investigators from the Franklin and Coffee County Sheriff Departments, the Tullahoma Police Department and agents from the TBI conducted a search of his residence. Investigators say that they seized several pieces of evidence from the residence, which was sent to the TBI Crime Lab in Nashville for analysis.
The trial is expected to last a few more days.

A Warren County EMS employee was fired after being arrested last month on drug charges.
Travis Roberts, 35, was charged with possession of meth and distribution of prescription drugs after undercover agents made two drug buys from him, according to the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.
Roberts was fired from the EMS after his arrest, according to the sheriff.
Because of the arrest, the EMS is reevaluating its drug policy, in addition to using a MRO test, and would do more to address prescription drugs.
The new policy would limit what drugs they can take under legal circumstances while on duty.

Shelbyville police are asking anyone who saw unusual activity or heard anything out of the ordinary late Sunday in the area near where a murder victim lived to call them.
Police are particularly interested in activity between 10 p.m. and midnight Sunday near Oak Knoll Apartments — in the areas around Belmont Avenue, White, Landers, Myers and Burt Streets and Woodland Avenue up to Depot Street — Det. Lt. Brian Crews of the Shelbyville Police Department said.
Angela Sales Kibble was found dead in her apartment early Monday morning. Her son, Michael Domonic Sales, was arrested a few hours earlier and charged with the murder of a Fayetteville man on Sept. 6. (Shelbyville Times-Gazette)

The Tennessee Promise program provides more than just free two-year tuition to students in Tennessee. For Manchester freshman Angie Lazo, the program is providing opportunities to be an active member of the Motlow College community.
Tennessee Promise has already impacted Lazo’s college experience after her graduation from Coffee County Central High School earlier this year. While in high school, Lazo performed in plays, participated in choir and the art club, and was even on the wrestling team. With no school-related financial obligations, she can pursue these same passions while attending college classes.
“I’m actually going to play the stepmother in the theatre department’s performance of The Glass Slipper,” said Lazo. “I’m excited to continue performing in plays while I’m here and excited for the other opportunities to be involved. I plan to participate in the student government association and the art club. I also would like to organize a wrestling club.”
With full-time enrollment up almost 20 percent from 2014 due to Tennessee Promise, Lazo will be able to meet several new people with their own interesting stories to tell.
Tennessee Promise attracts active and motivated students like Lazo to community college campuses. Additionally, each Tennessee Promise scholar must give back through community service in order to earn the scholarship.
The program is allowing students in Tennessee to receive a quality education while avoiding financial burden, and Motlow is ideal for those students like Lazo who want more than just an affordable education.
Angie is a member of the 2015 Tennessee Promise class, the first in our nation and state’s history. The second class is current high school seniors across Tennessee and they begin their process to apply for the Promise by filling out the application by Nov. 2. Motlow College is providing help with that first step.

Motlow’s Smyrna Center will open up its computer labs from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26, for area high school seniors to sign up for Tennessee Promise and fill out their college applications as part of a statewide Scholarship Saturday. Students and parents should RSVP by calling Jonathan Graham, Motlow Tennessee Promise coordinator, at 615-220-7839.

Coffee County Sheriff Steve Graves has issued a warning about an old scam making the rounds in Coffee County again. “It has been here in the past but it seems to have started again,” the sheriff said Tuesday. The scammers call an individual poising as a deputy from the sheriff’s department. “They say that they are a deputy and that the person they are calling has failed to show up for jury duty.” The fake deputy then tells their intended victim that there is a warrant for their arrest, but to keep from being arrested they can pay a fine and the warrant will go away. Graves said, “They tell their victim to get Green Dot card and call them and give them the number off of it.” “They use the Green Dot numbers like a credit card taking money off the cards.” The sheriff stated that his department does not call people and ask for money. Several people have fallen for this scam in the past and have paid the scammers. The sheriff says his department has received calls concerning the scam.

One of the biggest risks to Tennessee seniors can be tripping hazards found in their own homes. An estimated one in three people age 65 or older takes a major, unexpected tumble at least once a year. September is Falls Prevention Awareness Month, and while clearing a home of unnecessary clutter is one method of protection, a fall-risk evaluation includes a person’s gait and balance, his or her health conditions, medications and home environment. Getting an older relative or friend to agree to this checkup can be a challenge, said Dr. Sascha Dublin, an internal-medicine physician and investigator at Group Health Research Institute. She added, however, that it’s important to try. “One of the things I find my patients are particularly responsive to is, there may be things they really don’t want to work on,” she said, “but when I talk about how important is it to you to stay in your own home and stay independent, they’re often really highly motivated to do things that will let them stay independent as long as possible.” Dublin said people who use balancing aids such as canes or walkers often need a little training to use them correctly, and may be using a hand-me-down piece of equipment that isn’t the right size or height and can put them at greater risk of a fall. Among seniors who take a major fall, Dublin said, two-thirds will fall again within six months. Group Health recommends preventive steps including exercise as people age – not just any exercise, but those that can improve strength, balance and coordination. Tai Chi is at the top of Dublin’s list, but there are others. “Many people don’t realize how much improvement they may be able to get with becoming more physically active,” she said. “So, for instance, there have been randomized trials that took 90-year-olds to do very gentle weightlifting in the gym, and found substantial benefits from just small amounts of gentle weightlifting to strengthen leg muscles.” Dublin said it’s important to tell a doctor or physical therapist about a person’s over-the-counter medication use, not only prescriptions. She said cold medications and sleep aids often contain antihistamines, which can make the user drowsy or dizzy.

On August 29, 2015 Horizon Health and Rehab in Manchester held a back to school bash with all proceeds going to the Coffee County school system. Horizon raised $ 2,117.40, which they have decided to put towards the arts department.
Suzie Hawkersmith with Horizon said that they estimated the event had approximately 2,000 people throughout the day.
Vendors were very excited and pleased and children played games all day long. The dunking tank was a huge success as the students were very excited about dunking staff members from the schools.
The community has responded with a lot of support so Horizon is planning on doing the event again next year.
The back to school bash was part of the Horizon cares events. The next fundraiser will be October 30, 2015 @ Willowbrook for the Horizon cares for Alzheimer’s association golf tournament.

Cody Alyn Cooper age 23 of Emerald Lake Run in Beechgrove was arrested on Sunday by Manchester Police. Authorities responded to a welfare check on an individual allegedly passed out in the back of a truck at Professional Manor in Manchester. After running a wants and warrants check on the subject, it was discovered there was an active warrant on Cooper out of Florida for battery on a person 65 years of age or older and that Florida authorities would extradite.
Manchester Police also allegedly found Cooper to be in possession of three orange tablets believed to be valium.
Cody Alyn Cooper was charged by Officer Ernie Colvin for being a fugitive from justice and possession of a schedule IV drug. Bond was set at $252,500 and his court date was set for December 12.