Gas prices continue to fall. The national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded ($2.70) dropped 10 cents in the past week, and is the lowest price since September 2010. The average price has fallen for 73 consecutive days – dropping 66 cents since September 26th.
Tennessee’s average price ($2.47) is 10 cents cheaper than last week, 64 cents cheaper than this time last year. The state average fell for the 23rd consecutive day Sunday, falling 19 cents since November 11.
In Coffee County gas prices continue to fall, in Manchester the low price has dropped to $2.38 and in Tullahoma the low price has dipped to $2.37 per gallon.
Category: News
Gas Prices Fall For The 73rd Consecutive Day
Motlow College Winter Break Information and More
Motlow College will close for winter break on Wednesday, Dec. 24, at 4:30 p.m., and will reopen on Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, according to college officials.
The closing applies to computer labs, libraries and other facilities at all Motlow College locations, including the Moore County campus and the Fayetteville, McMinnville and Smyrna centers.
Spring 2015 semester classes begin on Tuesday, Jan. 20, and the last day to register or add classes is also Jan. 20.
“Students enrolled at Motlow this semester can register now for spring 2015 classes and are encouraged to do so,” said Greer Alsup, director of admissions and records at the college. “Registering now will increase students’ chances of getting their preferred classes and schedules.”
New and readmit students must submit applications for admission and readmission by Jan. 12, with online applications accepted until midnight on that date. Online applications may be accessed from the “Apply Now” button on the college website (www.mscc.edu).
Students interested in earning high school and college credit courses in the Dual Enrollment program and those enrolling in the ACE Program (Adult College Express) are also required to apply by Jan. 12.
For more information about applying for admission to Motlow College, call 931-393-1500 or 800-654-4877 or email admissions@mscc.edu.
Two People, In Separate Cases Charged With TennCare Fraud
Brian Keith Tucker
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) with assistance from the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of 39-year old Brian K. Tucker. A Coffee County Grand Jury indicted Tucker with three counts of fraudulently using TennCare to obtain a controlled substance by doctor shopping for drugs, using TennCare as payment.
Tucker was first arrested in August of this year when he was charged with doctor shopping in Bedford County. Those charges are still pending in court.
TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison per charge. District Attorney General Craig Northcott is prosecuting.
Jacqueline Rose Yates
The Office of Inspector General (OIG), with the assistance of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jacqueline Rose Yates, 30, of McMinnville. She is charged with TennCare fraud and two counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. Charges accuse her of presenting fraudulent prescriptions for the painkiller Oxycodone and Adderall, a stimulant, using TennCare benefits to pay for the forgeries.
TennCare fraud is a Class E felony, carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison.
The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated cases leading to over $5 million being repaid to TennCare, with a total estimated cost avoidance of over $176 million for TennCare, according to latest figures. To date, 2,238 people have been charged with TennCare fraud.
Through the OIG Cash for Tips Program established by the Legislature, Tennesseans can get cash rewards for TennCare fraud tips that lead to convictions. Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982 toll-free from anywhere in Tennessee, or log on to www.tn.gov/tnoig/ and follow the prompts that read “Report TennCare Fraud.”
Law Enforcement Looking For Wanted Man
Joshua Jackson Dyer… Photo from the Bedford County Sheriff’s Department.
On December 3, 2014, Mr. Dyer removed two pieces of outgoing mail that included checks intended to pay bills, from a victim’s address on Highway 41-A North in Shelbyville. Dyer altered the check and changed the payee name to his name. The checks were then passed at a Bedford County bank for a large sum of money.
Dyer is described as 5’9” with Brown hair and Green eyes and was last seen in a Silver Pontiac SUV with an unknown tag. If you see Dyer, please call the Sheriff’s Office immediately at 931-684-3411.
Higher Education Officials Want More Money For Schools
Gov. Bill Haslam
Tennessee higher education officials say they’ll be forced to continue raising tuition if the state doesn’t provide adequate funding to help with costs at their institutions.
Officials met with Gov. Haslam at a higher education budget hearing on Friday.
Officials said there hasn’t been a basic increase in state funding in about 30 years. They’ve formed review committees to examine the financial picture of their systems going forward.
The heads of the Board of Regents and the University of Tennessee Board say something needs to be done because it’s unfair to keep putting the cost burden on students and their families.
Haslam said the systems have a valid argument and that he and the Legislature will examine reports from their reviews.
Christmas Parade Winners
Boy and Cub Scout float. Tullahoma 1st place in civic/nonprofit.. All photos by Barry West
The annual Christmas parades were held over the weekend in Tullahoma and Manchester. The Tullahoma parade took place on Friday night and the Manchester parade on Saturday night. In Tullahoma, Cub Scout Pack 365 and Boy Scout Troop 47, led by Scout Master Luke Ferrell, took home first place in the civic/nonprofit category. The group chose “A Charlie Brown Christmas” as its float theme.
Mark Lemons Construction. 1st place in Manchester.
In Manchester, 1st place winner of $300 and a trophy was Mark Lemons Construction, 2nd place winner of $200 and a trophy was the Coffee County Sheriff Department and the 3rd place winner of $100 and a trophy was the Summitville United Methodist Church. (More pictures below)
Coffee County Sheriff’s Department. 2nd place.
Summitville United Methodist Church. 3rd place.
Christmas Light Shows
Delaney home in Hillsboro.
Husband and wife, Kenny and Jeannette Delaney put on the show every year at their home located at 1361 Old Airport Road in Hillsboro.
They showcase 60,000 lights which are all synchronized to Christmas music.
The Delaney’s accept donations and 100% of the proceeds go to two Coffee County charities.
It’s hard work and their electric bill during December is a little more expensive than during the other months of the year, but the Delaney’s say it’s worth it.
The light show plays Sunday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Another show you may want to check out is the Winton Family show located on 55 Haskell Winton Rd. The times for their show are 5 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 5 p.m.-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Two People Arrested In Two Separate Shoplifting Cases On Thursday
On Thursday afternoon Officer Daniel Ray of the Manchester Police Department along with investigators and other officers responded to call concerning shoplifting at Wal Mart. According to the police report, the store’s loss prevention department stated that a male suspect ran from security. The suspect was seen across the street running behind the BP Station. Officer Ray saw the suspect making his way to the Truckers Inn next door to the BP. The man ran into room 103 of Truckers Inn. After two attempts to kick in the door with the suspect pressing against the door Ray was able to enter the room. Manchester officers were able to subdue the man in the bathroom where they found 13 Percucet tablets. Officer Ray arrested Samuel B Fults age 42 of 2495 Hillsboro Blvd (Truckers Inn). Fults was transported to the Coffee County Jail and charged with resisting arrest and possession of Schedule II.
In the meantime, in a separate case Officer Landon Pence took 62 year-old Mary Lois White, also of room 103 Truckers Inn, into custody for shoplifting from Wal Mart. She was transported to the Coffee County Jail and charged with shoplifting.
Car Crash Injures Several
Three Tullahoma residents were injured in a single car crash Wednesday afternoon on Highway 130 in Franklin County.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tina Fraley, 39, of Tullahoma was operating a 2002 Mitsubishi Galant with three young children in the car with her.
According to the THP, around 5:30 p.m. the vehicle traveled off the right side of the roadway while negotiating a curve. The car then traveled through a thicket of trees and struck a large tree and came to rest.
Fraley was flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center as were 8-year-old Kayley Jones, 4 year-old Adrianna Hughes and Julieanna Hughes. (One child is not from Tullahoma)
They were also flown to Vanderbilt for treatment. Three helicopters responded including Vanderbilt LifeFlight, Air-Evac and Medflight from Huntsville, AL.
According to the highway patrol all of the occupants of the car were properly restrained.
Members of the North Franklin County Fire Department worked to free the occupants from the vehicle while paramedics from Rural Metro Ambulance Service stabilized the injured until the helicopters could arrive.
Deputies from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department and the Estill Springs Police Department handled traffic until the trooper could arrive.
M-TEK New Headquarters To Be Built In Murfreesboro
On Friday Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty and M-TEK officials announced the company will build a new headquarters facility in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Consolidating all headquarters functions into the Murfreesboro facility, the automotive supplier will create approximately 100 new jobs in Rutherford County. Also an additional 100 jobs will be transferred from M-TEK’s Manchester, Tennessee manufacturing location and the remaining jobs will be transferred from the company’s Farmington Hills, Michigan and Dublin, Ohio locations. The new facility represents an estimated investment of $13.4 million.
Construction of the 63,800-square-foot, two-level building, will be located on 10 acres on the northwest side of Gateway Boulevard and Garrison Drive in Murfreesboro with an expected completion of August 2016. The North American headquarter facility will support operations in Mexico, Michigan, Ohio, Mississippi and Alabama, as well as Manchester, Smyrna and Chattanooga, Tennessee.
