Category: News

Tennessee Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips announced Thursday the Tennessee preliminary unemployment rate for November was 6.8 percent, three tenths of one percentage point lower than the October revised rate of 7.1 percent. The U.S. preliminary rate for November was 5.8 percent, unchanged from the prior month.
Economic Summary
• Over the past year, Tennessee’s unemployment rate decreased from 7.9 percent to 6.8 percent while the national rate declined from 7.0 percent to 5.8 percent.

• Total nonfarm employment decreased 1,900 jobs from October to November. The largest decreases occurred in accommodation/food services, retail trade, and administrative/support/waste services.

• Over the year, nonfarm employment increased 53,900 jobs. The largest increases occurred in professional/business services, trade/transportation/utilities, and durable goods manufacturing.

Derek Jones after receiving his award.

Manchester Police Officer Derek Jones has been chosen as the Governors Highway Safety Office, 2014 Cumberland Region Officer of the Year. He was given the award last Thursday at the GHSO end of the year event at Fall Creek Falls. Officer Jones was nominated based on his involvement in traffic safety. This year Officer Jones became Coffee County’s first ever Drug Recognition Expert. This certification involved a very demanding two week training course along with traveling to Arizona for field evaluations and passing several written exams.
This is the second consecutive year that a Manchester PD officer has received this award. Officer Dale Robertson was chosen last year.

At a time when family and friends often gather at places of worship to celebrate the holidays, Tennessee’s faith community is taking a lead on ensuring inclusiveness for the state’s individuals with disabilities. One common barrier is just being able to gain access physically, but as Jeanne Crocker, a Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church in Lexington, notes it goes well beyond. “That might include behavioral issues or specific special needs that they have to have a quiet place,” she explains. “They don’t like crowds or too much excitement, blinking lights, those kind of things you have to be attentive to.” According to the Tennessee Disability Coalition, there are about 1 million people in the state with a disability and that’s a number that continues to rise. Crocker teaches the special needs Sunday school class at First Baptist, which also offers a respite for the families of loved ones with disabilities on the first Friday night of each month. “Folks with special needs are brought to the church and for three hours we do crafts and music and games,” she relates. “And it gives families an opportunity to go shopping or get some rest or to do some things that they may not be able to do on a typical night.” Crocker says First Baptist is one of many local faith communities now realizing the importance of removing barriers to welcome those individuals with disabilities. “I was speaking to a friend of mine in Jackson, Tenn.,” Crocker says. “And she said that reaching out to families with special needs is the fastest growing ministry for their church, because there is such a need to incorporate these families and let them know that they count and that they matter.”

With Christmas and New Years just around the corner, AAA released its travel forecast for the end of the year holiday season. According to the report, more people will be traveling this year.
AAA projects 98.6 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the year-end holiday period, which spans from Dec. 23rd to Jan. 4th. That is an increase of four percent from the 94.8 million who traveled last year.
About 91 percent of people will reach their holiday destination by driving, and 6 percent will fly, according to AAA. The good news for people taking road trips is that Christmas Day gas prices are expected to be the lowest since 2008.

Samuel Lee Pace

The Tullahoma Police Department has arrested 20-year-old, Samuel Pace, Jr., who resides in Summitville, TN, for his alleged involvement in a shooting that occurred at 509 Campbell Ave. in Tullahoma, TN during the evening hours of Sunday, December 14, 2014.  Tullahoma Police were dispatched to 509 Campbell Ave. shortly after 9:00 p.m. Sunday in reference to a subject having been shot.

Upon arrival Officers discovered the victim, Elton “Coty” Thomas, a 34-year-old who resides at the Campbell Ave. residence, had suffered a single gunshot wound to the face.  The responding officers found marijuana in the residence. Thomas was transported by ambulance to Harton Regional Medical Center and was later transferred to Vanderbilt Medical Center where he was treated for his injuries.

Investigators were called to the scene and as a result of the information obtained during their investigation, began to attempt to locate Samuel Pace Jr. The investigation continued through the night and throughout the day Monday. Several locations were searched Monday with the assistance of the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department and as a result it was discovered that Pace had been taken by a friend to a Motel in McMinnville, TN.

Inv. Dale Stone, of the Tullahoma Police Department, obtained a warrant charging Pace with Attempted First Degree Murder. Deputies with the Warren County Sheriff’s Department were then notified of Pace’s location and went to the Motel and made contact with Pace.  Pace however refused Officer’s initial requests to come out.  After negotiations with Pace failed, Warren County Authorities introduced a chemical irritant into the room and as a result Pace was taken into custody without further incident.

Pace is currently being held in the Coffee County Jail under a $150,000.00 bond and is charged with Attempted First Degree Murder and is scheduled to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court on Thursday, December 18, 2014

Bryan SUV heavily damaged in Monday’s crash… Photos by Barry West

An accident occurred Monday afternoon around 4pm on the Wattendorf Hwy near AEDC. According a report by the Tennessee Highway Patrol a 2002 Nissan Sentra driven by 40 year-old Jesus Fernandez of Tullahoma was traveling on an unnamed road and continued through a stop sign, striking a 2008 Mercury SUV driven by 34 year-old Kristen Bryan of Manchester. Fernandez was the only person that was injured in the crash that caused heavy damage to both vehicles. He was transported by Coffee County EMS to United Regional Hospital for treatment and was given a citation for stop sign violation and no proof of insurance.
A 4-year old female was a passenger in the Bryan SUV and was not injured and was properly restrained.
Along with the THP and Coffee County EMS, AEDC Police and Manchester Fire & Rescue responded to the scene.

Jesus Fernandez of Tullahoma was the only person in the accident that totaled his car.

At approximately 9:30am, Tuesday morning, December 16, officers of the Tullahoma Police Department were dispatched to Adair Street in Tullahoma in regards to a suspicious item in a residential mailbox. Upon arrival, the officer determined the item was indeed suspicious and began measures to isolate the area and notify the Tennessee Highway Patrol bomb squad.
The TN Highway Patrol bomb squad and members of the TN State Bomb and Arson unit came to the scene and conducted a preliminary investigation. The Highway Patrol bomb technicians removed the object and transported it to the Arnold Air Force Base to safely destroy. An investigation will be conducted to determine the components of the object and whether it was a potential explosive device and a determination made as to further investigation. Officer Bob Looney was the initial officer on the scene and assisted by Lieutenant Ray Higginbotham.
The residents of Adair Street were permitted back into their houses at 2:30pm. There was minimal interruption of daily activities for the residents.
The Tullahoma Police Department will continue to investigate this incident and requests anyone having information to contact TPD at (931) 455-0530.