Category: News

Human Remains Found On Monday Are Male

MTSU Forensic AnthropologyWe have an update on the human remains discovered by squirrel hunters on Arnold Air Force Base property, authorities say the remains are from a male.
Coffee County Sheriff Steve Graves said Tuesday that the Manchester Police Department has taken the lead on the investigation since officers have been searching for a missing man for a few years.
MTSU’s Forensic Anthropology Search and Rescue Team under Dr. (Hugh) Berryman were in town this week to retrieve the remains. Along with MTSU, medical examiners and forensics teams will study the remains further.
Manchester Police say DNA profiles had been forwarded to a lab in Texas, and that the remains should be identified, hopefully sometime next week.

Undocumented High School Students Will Not Receive Tennessee Promise Free Education

Tn PromiseUndocumented high school students will not be able to take advantage of Tennessee Promise, the state’s new free community college program.
Before getting state funding, students must apply for federal financial aid. But undocumented students are not eligible for it.
Some immigrants had hoped it would be different. The governor’s speech introducing Tennessee Promise said “every student” would be able to attend two years of community college or college of applied technology for free.
A spokeswoman for the governor said he was referring only to eligible students.
Motlow College had over 2,000 students sign up for the program.
Tennessee has about 6,000 high school students who are undocumented, according to the Migration Policy Institute.

Two-Generation Approach Key to Success for Low-Income TN

A dual focus on both kids and their parents is needed to ensure a brighter future for children across Tennessee living in low-income families, according to a new report. Photo credit: Lindsey Turner/Flickr.

A dual focus on both kids and their parents is needed to ensure a brighter future for children across Tennessee living in low-income families, according to a new report. Photo credit: Lindsey Turner/Flickr.

The quarter-million young children in Tennessee who are growing up in low-income families can succeed in life, but a new report says the best way to get them on the right path requires a focus on both the kids and their parents. It’s called a two-generation approach, and the report outlining the method calls for high-quality early education for kids and access to job training, career paths and other tools for parents. “What’s important about this report is that the two-generation approach is really a lens and not a specific program,” said Linda O’Neal, executive director of the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth. “It focuses on helping children do better by helping their parents. We know that successful parents help children thrive and, together, they contribute to a stronger economy.” The report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation also points to the importance of skills training and education, and says in nearly 80 percent of low-income families with young children, parents do not have a postsecondary degree. Among the local programs expected to make a significant impact on that lack of education in some families, O’Neal cited the Tennessee Promise scholarship. It covers all the tuition and fees for high school graduates who want to attend one of the state’s community or technical schools. “This has great potential to assist young families in improving their education and developing jobs skills,” she said. “The number of applicants has far exceeded expectations, and I think it’s a very positive indication of the desire both parents and their children have to improve their prospects for success.” About 56,000 students already have applied for the Tennessee Promise scholarship, which will be awarded for the first time to the class of 2015. There is no limit on the number of students who can take part, although to keep the scholarship they must maintain a grade point average of 2.0 or better and complete eight hours of community service each term. The report, “Creating Opportunity for Families: A Two-Generation Approach,” is online at AECF.org.

Motlow Thanksgiving Schedule

Motlow 3Motlow College will be closed in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday from Thursday, Nov. 27, through Sunday, Nov. 30, according to college officials. The closing applies to computer labs, libraries and other facilities at all Motlow College campuses, including the Moore County campus and the Fayetteville, McMinnville and Smyrna centers. There will be no classes on Wednesday, Nov. 26, although Motlow facilities will remain open. Classes scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 27 through Saturday, Nov. 29 will also not be meeting. All classes will resume their normal schedules on Monday, Dec. 1.

Tullahoma Utilities Board to Honor Two Employees With Tree Memorial Ceremony

TUBTullahoma Utilities Board (TUB) will be honoring two past employees with a memorial tree planting ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Monday, November 17th at the Lions Club Park at 407 Lions Club Lane.
This year, TUB will honor Jesse Taylor and David Griffith. Mr. Taylor worked in the warehouse from 1975 to 1986. He passed away August 2, 2010.
Mr. Griffith was a TUB Board Member for many years. He passed away November 28, 2004.
TUB Forrester Monty Hawkins will plant two Red Oak trees in honor of these two men who served the city for many years. This particular type of tree grows well in our area and develops into a beautiful specimen. Red Oaks can attain a height of 140 feet and live for approximately 500 years.
Family members of the recipients, as well as several TUB staff and board members, will be in attendance to honor the hard work and years of dedication that they gave to the city.
TUB invites anyone who knew Jesse Taylor or David Griffith to attend the ceremony and help honor them.

Armed Robbery In Tullahoma

Carroll st 1On Monday night, at approximately 7:20 PM, Carroll St. Liquors was robbed at gun point in Tullahoma by an unknown subject. Chief Paul Blackwell told WMSR News that the subject looks very similar to the person involved in other robberies in the area. The subject entered the store, grabbed the clerk, and held them at gun point while demanding money from the cash register. The stores surveillance system shows the suspect entering the store from the west and exiting in the same direction.
The Tullahoma Police Department is asking any person who may have seen anything suspicious in the area or those who may have information regarding this robbery to contact the Tullahoma Police Department at 931-455-0530.Carroll st 2

How Far Will Gas Prices Fall? Down Again This Week

gas pump2Motorists saw prices continue to plunge at the pump last week. The national average price for gasoline fell for the 42nd consecutive day Sunday. Meanwhile, the streak of declines is 39 days in Tennessee.
“Cheap gas prices couldn’t come at a better time as millions of Americans make travel plans for the holiday season,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Prices are the lowest in four years, which should influence more people to take a trip, drive farther, or drive instead of fly.”
The average price is below $3 a gallon in 26 states including Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. South Carolina has the cheapest average price in the country at $2.68. Tennessee has the 2nd cheapest average at $2.69.
The U.S. shale boom continues to have a major impact on the market. Domestic oil production is the highest on record, which dates back to 1983. West Texas Intermediate oil, the U.S benchmark, fell below $79 for the first time since June 2012. The price for a barrel settled at $78.65 on Friday, a $1.89 decline from last week.
The low price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $2.59 in Manchester and Tullahoma.

Economic Growth In Tennessee

tennessee flagA new state report reveals signs of economic growth in Tennessee.
More new businesses filed paperwork to register with the Secretary of State’s office during the third quarter of this year, compared with the previous quarter.
That’s according to the office’s latest quarterly report on business and economic indicators.
The report was produced jointly by the Secretary of State’s office and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville’s Center for Business and Economic Research.
Statewide, there were more than 7,800 business entity initial filings with the office during the third quarter of this year, an increase of 4 percent over last quarter.
The report also showed a 4.1 percent increase in Tennesseans’ personal income for the year-to-date and a 4.7 percent increase in total tax revenue collections for the quarter.

Opposition Mounts to Tennessee Gas Pipeline Conversion

Concerns are being raised all along the route over plans to repurpose a pipeline running from the Gulf Coast to the Northeast. Photo credit: Roy Luck

Concerns are being raised all along the route over plans to repurpose a pipeline running from the Gulf Coast to the Northeast. Photo credit: Roy Luck

Concerns are being raised by citizens and groups all along the route over plans to re-purpose the Tennessee Gas Pipeline, which runs through the state on its way from the Gulf Coast to the Northeast.
The current proposal calls for converting the pipeline to carry natural gas liquids, which environmental advocate Chris Schimmoeller calls “a far different beast” from natural gas.
“Natural gas liquids are 150 times more explosive than natural gas,” he says. “They carry dangers that natural gas doesn’t. For example, when they leak, the natural gas liquids are colorless and odorless.”
Energy conglomerates Kinder Morgan and MarkWest want to make the conversion to natural gas liquids by 2017.
Installed primarily in the 1950s, the Tennessee Gas Pipeline system now travels just over 1,000 miles from Louisiana to Pennsylvania. In Kentucky, Marion County Judge Executive John Mattingly is among those who oppose the idea.
“Unless you have a refinery project or something that could harness and utilize those materials, it doesn’t really offer local communities through which it passes anything positive,” he says.
In addition to the possible added danger, Schimmoeller notes, the focus should be moving away from fossil fuels.
“It’s time to really look toward energies that can sustain us rather than destroy us slowly, which is what we are doing to ourselves,” says Schimmoeller.

Chili Cook-Off Winners

Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center board members Ivy Petty and Margaret Henderson and the two winners from this year's event... Photo provider.

Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center board members Ivy Petty and Margaret Henderson and the two winners from this year’s event… Photo provider.

The Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center brought the Chili Cook-Off back to the Manchester Square this past Saturday after two years.  This year’s event was hosted by the Advocacy Center and all proceeds went to help the work they do for children who are abused in Coffee County. The fall weather brought a strong crowd out for this year’s event and eighteen teams competing for one of three $500 prizes. This year, one lucky winner walked away with $1,000 because Hank Cord with the “Pumpkin Patch” chili team took both the Crowd Favorite award and Best Presentation. For Judges’ Choice, Judges, Brock, Jackson, Johnson, and Ledsinger picked the “Mad Cap’s” chili team led by Chef Josh Capozzoli. The Advocacy Center would like to thank all the teams that participated in this year’s event, everyone who came out to taste the chili for $5 and this year’s sponsors including Betty Dement, Respiratory at Home and Traders Bank along with Logan’s, Prescott Bottling, Ruby Tuesday’s and Cracker Barrel for product donations to help with the event.