Category: News

Struggling electronics retailer Radio Shack filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week and says it will sell up to 2,400 stores.
Radio Shack introduced the first mass-market personal computer and used to be the go-to stop for consumers’ home electronics needs.
Several Radio Shacks around Tennessee will be closed but the store in Tullahoma will remain open.
CNN reports that over-saturation is a factor in the announcement, with many stores competing against each other.”

The Tennessee Department of Transportation announced the five top messages for its first-ever overhead message board contest.
TDOT said nearly 3,400 entries were submitted last month. Over the last two weeks, more than 9,000 votes were cast to choose the 15 finalists.
The winning messages will be put in rotation to run on the overhead message signs above the interstate.
“This contest has been an overwhelming success,” said TDOT Commissioner John Schroer. “The purpose of the contest was to give the public a chance to partner with TDOT to raise safety awareness.”
The top five messages are:
1. “Texting and driving? Oh, cell no!”
2. “Exit to text it.”
3. “It’s Tennessee. Slow down and enjoy the view.”
4. “Hey you! Yeah you! Hang up and drive!”
5. “Tailgating is for the game, not the road.”

Tullahoma Kiwanis Club member Mike Rutherford said last week that it will take about $18,000 in donations for the club to sponsor a July 4 fireworks show for the City of Tullahoma.
Rutherford spoke to club members and others last week at Lakewood Golf and Country Club who are interested in reviving the fireworks and airshow canceled in 2014.
“It takes about $18,000 without a band and airshow,” Rutherford said. “And about $24,000 for the airshow and a band.”
Last year, the event was canceled due to a lack of funds. Inclement weather in 2012 and 2013 caused a drop in attendance and in donations, which led to the cancelation of the 2014 show.
Tullahoma Fire Dept. Chief Richard Shasteen said Thursday afternoon that “there is a possibility for the fireworks show to be held at the football practice field if they use six-inch mortar shells” if they meet with him and set up a meeting with Angela Lansbury of the state fire marshal’s office to survey the area.
The Tullahoma Kiwanis Club began sponsoring the fireworks show in 1969. (Wayne Thomas Tullahoma News)

A new poll by Middle Tennessee State University shows overwhelming support for Gov. Haslam’s program to make community college and technical schools free for upcoming high school graduates. The MTSU poll found that 79 percent approve of the program known as Tennessee Promise. The polls showed 12 percent against it, 8 percent were unsure and the rest gave no answer.
Over 2,000 students signed up to participate in the program at Motlow College and over 35,000 students statewide registered for the Tennessee Promise.

State Sen. Lee Harris has filed legislation that would use revenue from municipal red light cameras to send students to college. Harris said the proposal will create a new scholarship opportunity for students. Under the proposal, all revenue generated by new red light camera contracts after July 1st, 2015 would go to the Drive to College scholarship. According to a report by The Commercial Appeal, red light cameras have generated $3.1 million in camera-related fines in Memphis alone, but the Arizona-based contractor earned $4.8 million. Last month, State Rep. Andy Holt said he plans to file legislation to ban speeding and red light cameras in Tennessee.

With residents of cities like Nashville living with high levels of smog, eyes are on the Environmental Protection Agency and its pending decision on whether to strengthen emission limits. Smog is a byproduct of tailpipe and industrial emissions and the EPA is debating a tougher limit of 60 parts per billion, instead of the current limit of 75. The American Public Health Association’s executive director Dr. Georges Benjamin says at current levels, smog is linked to a number of health problems. “It exacerbates people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and it causes not only just these attacks, but can cause premature death and other morbidity,” says Benjamin. “It’s a significant problem and we can address it by reducing the amount of ozone produced.” Some industry leaders say the current standard is effective but Benjamin says there is solid science showing it isn’t strong enough. Public hearings wrap up today in California, but written comments can be made until March 17. Last year, the American Lung Association ranked Nashville as the 29th most polluted metro area in the nation for smog. Both Davidson and Sumner counties received a failing grade for their air quality. Pulmonary physician Dr. Dona Upson associate professor of Medicine at the University of New Mexico testified at one of the hearings last week. She says the limit will go a long way in protecting public health. “The EPA’s analysis has shown that setting a standard at 60 parts per billion would prevent up to 7,900 premature deaths, 1.8 million asthma attacks in children, and 1.9 million missed school days each year,” says Upson. According to the American Petroleum Institute, the stronger limit would be expensive. But the American Lung Association’s senior vice president for advocacy and education Paul Billings says the standards are not set based on cost, but on the levels at which this type of air pollution is considered dangerous. “You want your doctor to tell you what makes you sick, not what it’ll cost to cure you,” says Billings. “So, the API is really at the wrong part of the process. Cost and feasibility come into the conversation when we try to meet these standards, what strategies are employed.” The standard has not been updated since 2008 and a final rule is expected by Oct. 1.

We now have more information on the arrest Coffee County Head Baseball Coach Brad Weir. He was charged Tuesday morning by Manchester Police, on the direction of District Attorney Craig Northcott with Statutory Rape by an authority figure of a 15 year-old female.
According to Chief Investigator Billy Butler, “He cooperated and admitted to the incident that happened at his residence. According to police the incident occurred on January 29, 2015 at Weir’s residence on Hills Chapel Rd in Manchester. Butler added, the victim “had communicated about it to a friend and the friend got word to a parent and it snowballed from there and ended up in our laps.” “There were some text messages back and forth and pictures back and forth.” The investigator said that “when and if the grand jury gets this case, there will probably be other charges at that time.”
Weir faces a court date Feb. 17. He is free after posting bond that was set at $100,000.
Coffee County Director of Schools Dr. LaDonna McFall says that Weir has been suspended from all employment without pay. Weir, 44 was teaching Health and PE at the 9th grade Raider Academy along with his coaching duties at the high school. He was an assistant football coach with the high school in the fall. Weir was hired in May of last year after baseball coach Brent Whitlock resigned.
Assistant Coach John Spears has been named interim head coach.
The Manchester Police Department is continuing its investigation.

Tullahoma Police are searching for a man who held three men at bay with a pistol and took $1,500 from an apartment on Jefferson Street.
According to a report by Officer Holly Sparkman, Carl Parson said that he was a sleep on the couch when he heard a knock on the door. A male stated that he was a Tullahoma Police Officer and ordered him to open the door.
When the door was opened a male pushed his way into the apartment and pointed a pistol at Parsons. As this was happening two other individuals walked into the room and were ordered at gunpoint to a bedroom and onto the floor.
The assailant then allegedly started ransacking the room and located $1,500 in cash from a small box behind the bed in a diaper bag.
As the thief left the apartment he allegedly took Parson’s cell phone.
All three men told officer Sparkman that they knew the individual as he had been at the apartment several times.
Police searched for the alleged assailant but were unable to locate him.
Warrants have been obtained for the alleged thief and police are searching for him.