Category: News

The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office in Altamont is searching for an inmate who escaped while attending a worship service, according to their Facebook page.
Kenneth Jason Franklin asked to go to the restroom, and the person supervising him allowed Franklin to leave the building unattended.
Franklin had been in jail since April 9 on several charges, including violation of community correction charge, felony evading, reckless endangerment and assault with a motor vehicle.
He was also being held on possible charges out of Warren County stemming from a pursuit.
Franklin is described as:

• 43 years old
• White Male
• 5 feet 9 inches tall
• Weight of 150 lbs.
• Brown hair
• Brown eyes

Although Franklin has not had a history of violence, do not try to apprehend him.
Anyone having contact with Franklin please call 911 or the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office at 931-692-3466.

Under a new state law, Tennessee retailers will have to charge smokers at least 15 percent more than the wholesale cost. The surcharge is theirs to keep.
That increase follows last year’s law requiring wine to be sold at least 20 percent above cost and another longstanding law requiring a 10 percent markup on milk.
Justin Owen, the head of the conservative Beacon Center, calls those markups a “hidden tax increase” – except that the proceeds are funneled to retailers.
Republican Gov. Bill Haslam signed the cigarette and wine mark-up bills, though his administration didn’t take an active role in their passage.
Haslam said in a recent interview that he hasn’t put “a whole lot of philosophical thought” into whether the state should set minimum prices on retail goods.

The EPA is expected to issue its final rules on greenhouse gas limits for power plants in August. According to published reports, the government is targeting a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030. Dian Grueneich, a research scholar in energy efficiency at Stanford University, says based upon her research it isn’t just the environment that wins with cleaner energy. “Addressing and reducing carbon emissions is critical,” she says. “It will help states get on a solid economic and job growth path if the transition from fossil fuels to a cleaner system is done thoughtfully.” Opponents of the Clean Power Plan say consumers and businesses will pay higher electric bills as a result. Some states have indicated they will attempt to “opt out” of the EPA plan. At this point, Tennessee is not among them – but some lawmakers are calling on the state to do so. Ken Colburn is a senior associate with the Regulatory Assistance Project, an international organization that advises public officials on utility policies. He says Tennessee’s policymakers should keep an open mind. “What I would advise they do is to look at the broad sweep of opportunities and options available to them,” he says, “as opposed to just having a narrow horizon about the way the Clean Air Act has always been done and about how ‘bad’ this is going to be for existing facilities.” The American Council for an Energy Efficient Environment ranks Tennessee 38th in the country for its energy-efficiency efforts, and the state also gets low marks from the Tennessee Valley Authority. Grueneich says it’s important to remember energy-efficiency savings can add up over time for residents, businesses and the state overall. “Even though we think of energy-efficiency as an individual thing, maybe going into one building, millions of people are doing it across the United States,” says Colburn. “That’s why you have these enormous savings.” According to a report from Syracuse University, there are also health benefits to cleaner energy generation. Researchers estimate 1,200 lives could be saved in the Volunteer State between 2020 and 2030, provided a tougher power plant carbon standard is implemented to reduce soot and smog.

Tennessee’s annual Free Fishing Day is Saturday, June 6 when anyone may fish free without a license in the state’s public waters.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency provides the free day in hopes of increasing interest in fishing. The day allows anyone the opportunity to try this great outdoor sport, especially children. In addition, children ages 15 and younger may fish without a license beginning on Free Fishing Day through the following Friday (June 12).
Free Fishing Day and Week apply to Tennessee’s public waters, TWRA owned and operated lakes, and state park facilities. Some privately owned pay lakes continue to charge during this special day and week. Anglers may consult with lake operators if there are any questions about a particular facility.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has confirmed they have been requested by 12th District Attorney General Michael Taylor to investigate a homicide that occurred on Tuesday in Monteagle, TN. Police in Monteagle responded to a residence on 3rd Street after being notified by a family member that the victim was found deceased inside the home. The victim has been identified as 65-year-old Kenneth Tate.
Since the investigation remains active and ongoing, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation cannot speak to any specifics at this stage.

A school custodian who is accused of writing threats on a wall at Warren County High School has waived her right to a preliminary hearing and was bound over to the Grand Jury.
Marlene Madewell, who was a custodian at the high school is accused of writing threats on a bathroom wall, prompting an evacuation of the school and a search by police and K-9s.
It happened a day after a similar threat was reported, resulting in students being bussed to the civic center.
An investigation by school officials and law enforcement led to the arrest of Madewell.

More than a dozen education advocacy groups are calling for more transparency from the Tennessee Department of Education after it failed to communicate a change it made in the way a student’s test score is calculated.
The Tennessean reports the issue is over “quick scores,” the scores educators in grades 3-8 are legally required to incorporate into a student’s final grade.
A quick score is generated from a student’s Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program raw score, or the number of questions a student answered correctly.
In the past, quick scores have been tied specifically to proficiency levels, but the department stopped that practice this year.
State education officials acknowledged the decision wasn’t “widely communicated” and are holding meetings across the state with superintendents, principals and others to answer questions.

Do you know where your money is? Chances are you do, but not all public money in Tennessee is accounted for, according to the Tennessee Comptroller’s office. Nearly $2 million in stolen public money remains uncollected in municipalities and counties from more than 90 Tennessee counties. Jim Arnette, director of local government audit for the Tennessee Comptroller’s office, says in many cases employees have been ordered to pay restitution, but it can take months or even years to collect, and sometimes the clock runs out. “There are attempts to recoup this money,” he states. “Unfortunately, there are some of these shortages after a period of time, the local government will determine they’re uncollectible and will have to write them off their accounting records.” Arnette points out many counties purchase surety bonds, which provide a means for local governments to recoup the shortages through a contracted third party. A report released by the comptroller details examples of theft that include using checks for personal use, cash shortages in public accounts, and personal purchases on government-issued credit cards. Arnette says an effective way local governments can prevent a misuse or theft of funds is to separate job responsibilities so the person spending money is not the same person who is accepting payments. “A classic example of an internal control would be a segregation of duties where the same individual is not responsible for all of the functions associated with an accounting function so the same person is not doing all three of those functions,” he explains.

Postmaster General Megan Brennan announced Wednesday that Elvis Presley will be commemorated on a Forever stamp as the sixth inductee into the Postal Service’s Music Icon Series. The stamp image will be previewed at a later date.
“Elvis is a natural addition to our Music Icon Series,” said Brennan. “His life and talents are an incredible story. Spanning from his humble beginnings in a Tupelo, Mississippi, two-room house to becoming one of the most legendary performance artists of the 20th Century, Elvis Presley’s works continues to resonate with millions the world over.”
The First-Day-of-Issue dedication ceremony will take place on the morning of Aug. 12 at Graceland in Memphis as part of this year’s Elvis Week celebration. The public is encouraged to tweet about this news using #ElvisForever.
Launched in 2013, the Music Icons series consists of beloved musicians whose blend of sound and way of life broke musical boundaries. The first inductees included Lydia Mendoza, Johnny Cash and Ray Charles. Last year’s inductees were Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.

A Manchester man is being held in the Coffee County Jail under a $50,000 bond after being arrested on public indecency charges following an incident in the Family Dollar Store on the Hillsboro Blvd.
28 year old David C. Harper of Hillsboro Highway was charged with indecent exposure, public indecency and vandalism following an incident inside the store.
Harper is accused of committing an indecent act at the Family Dollar location. Store officials say that an employee witnessed Harper committing the act.
Captain Victor Jones collected a black sweater belonging to the store for a DNA test.
After allegedly committing the act, Harper left and was later arrested at the Trucker’s Inn by Jones and Officer Ernie Colvin.
Harper is scheduled to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court July 28.