Category: News

Recently investigators with the Bedford County Sheriff’s office arrested three people in connection with cattle theft in Bedford County. A Bedford County dairy farmer reported three incidents of cattle theft at his farm in January and February. Detective John Sweeney of the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office and Detective Shane Taylor of the Moore County Sheriff’s Office were able to locate and recover the stolen calves in Moore County. The value of the calves is approximately $1,800. The individuals charged in the theft are Jamie Vaughn of Moore County, Floyd Vaughn of Moore County, and Billy Batten of Moore County. The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Moore County Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee Agricultural Crime Unit in assisting in the investigation.

On Tuesday (March 3rd, 2015), investigators with the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office obtained an arrest warrant on a Bedford County Correctional Officer, Rafael Morales. Morales, 62, was charged with Sexual Contact with Inmates.
The investigation started after female inmates filed complainants with the Bedford County Jail Administrator.
Morales was booked into the Bedford County Jail and is under a $30,000 bond. Morales’ initial court appearance is schedule for March 25th, 2015.

Tennessee has the fourth-highest adult obesity rate in the country. While experts acknowledge accessing nutritious foods is a challenge for many Tennessee families, they say the problem is the single most significant contributor to the obesity epidemic. Fortunately, businesses in the food industry and various organizations around the Volunteer State are stepping up to help make the healthy choice the easy choice. Drew Nannis, chief marketing officer with Partnership for a Healthier America, says some Tennessee restaurants, food suppliers, community groups, and colleges are among those increasing access to healthy food. “We want to make sure it’s as easy as possible getting rid of the barriers such as time, cost and other issues that may prevent people from making the healthier option,” says Nannis. “We believe people know what the healthier option is, we just need to make it as readily available as possible.” Changes include increasing affordability, adding vegetables and fruits to restaurant menus, and adopting programs promoting nutrition and physical activity. Walgreens and Walmart are among the businesses involved in the program. More than 20 percent of children age 10 to 17 are obese in Tennessee, according to the most recent State of Obesity report released by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Nannis says recent signs suggest a leveling off of what was a long-escalating rate of obesity. The partnership’s goal is to bring the obesity rate down to five percent. Nannis says childhood obesity leads to a multitude of health problems. “It’s everything from an economic issue where people are having to take sick days and productivity drops, to a national security issue,” he says. “A quarter of the people volunteering for our armed services today are actually too heavy to serve. This is a wide-reaching epidemic.” At the Building a Healthier Future Summit in Washington, D.C. last week, national health experts, policymakers and business and industry leaders brainstormed new strategies to help end childhood obesity.

Tullahoma Director of Public Works, Wayne Limbaugh admits that keeping the litter picked-up is one of his top priorities. His department has been working for the last month making a concerted effort to spring clean the roadways. Public Works ask residents to keep garbage with them and dispose of in a lawful manner.
“In one month, we’ve removed two large piles of garbage from the roadways in Tullahoma,” said Director of Public Works, Wayne Limbaugh.
“In most cases, the act of littering is a conscious decision, and officers are instructed to issue citations,” said Police Chief Paul Blackwell. “The tossing of cigarette butts, throwing out fast food bags, tossing beer bottles from a vehicle is a common occurrence, subject to a $165 fine. You decide.”
“Public Works has picked up over 200 bags of litter in two weeks.  Unfortunately, some of these same roadways are being trashed again.  I just don’t understand the mindset of some people.  It is very disappointing,” said Mayor Lane Curlee. “If you see people littering, please call 1-877-8LITTER and report. I am convinced 99.5% of residents want to live in a clean and attractive community.”

Tennessee regulators expect 270 stores across the state to be among the first wave of supermarkets to sell wine under a new state law going into effect in July 2016.
Keith Bell of the state Alcoholic Beverage Commission told lawmakers that those first stores include 109 in Middle Tennessee, 105 in Chattanooga and Knoxville regions and 56 in West Tennessee.
Bell said neither his agency nor the alcohol industry would be prepared if lawmakers decided to move up the date of supermarket wine sales to this July.

The nursing department at Motlow College will host a site review for continuing accreditation of its associate degree nursing program by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) on March 17-19. ACEN visitors will meet with the public on March 18, in room 112 of the Marcum Technology Center on the Moore County campus from 4 – 5 p.m.
The community is invited to share their comments about the program with the site visit team. The public may also submit written comments directly to Dr. Marsal Stoll, Chief Executive Officer of ACEN.
Comments should be made out to Dr. Marsal Stoll, Chief Executive Officer; Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing; 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850; Atlanta, GA 30236. Comments may also be emailed to mstoll@acenursing.org.
All written comments should be received by ACEN by March 12.

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) are planning a fly-in at the Tullahoma Regional Airport Oct. 9 and 10. Officials with the organization spoke to a gathering of pilots and various officials held at the Beechcraft Heritage Museum Tuesday morning.
They are expecting between 500 and 700 planes to fly into the airport during the two day period.
There will also be exhibits set up by manufacturers, vendors and other exhibitors. Among the exhibitors will be 30 aircraft set up in front of the Beechcraft Museum, as well as the latest technology equipment available such as GPS and laptop equipment.
Charles Parrish of the Beechcraft Museum stated after the meeting that the event will be a big one and will bring a lot of attention to Tullahoma.
Airport Manager Jon Glass says he is excited and looking forward to the October event.

The man convicted of the Valentines 2013 murder of his wife Carla at their Murfreesboro home has been sentenced to life in prison. Jacob Pearman was sentenced for the first-degree murder on Monday. He’ll also face an additional five-years for aggravated assault and three years for child abuse of Carla’s then, 7 year-old son. The 32-year old Pearman was convicted of choking his wife, Carla, to death back in January. Pearman himself did not testify during the trial. His defense attorneys argued he was troubled, depressed and mentally ill.
Carla Pearman was the former Carla Dillard of Manchester and was a 2002 graduate of Coffee County High School.