Category: News

Nationwide motorists are paying the cheapest price at the pump since 2010. The average price of gas has now fallen below the $3 mark in seventeen states. Tennesseans are enjoying the second lowest gas prices in the nation.
The national average for a gallon of unleaded gasoline is $3.05, down 6 cents over last week. Only one state is selling gas cheaper than Tennessee where the average is down 12 cents at $2.77 a gallon.
In Coffee County gas prices continue to fall this week. In Manchester the low price has dropped to $2.69 per gallon and in Tullahoma the low price has dipped to $2.68.

Many people in Tennessee know smoke detector installation and testing is important, but according to a new survey, most are likely mistaken about how much time is needed to safely evacuate a burning home. Research from the American Red Cross shows many people think they have five minutes, but it’s really only two. Tennessee Red Cross regional communications director Benjamin Prijatel says it’s vital to have an escape plan and practice it. “Whether it’s a house fire or a tornado, what would your family do in that situation, and does everyone know what to do,” Prijatel says. “You may think to yourself, ‘This would be the best place to meet’ or ‘We should go here’ or ‘We should do that.’ But it needs to be talked about so everyone is on the same page.” According to the survey, nearly seven in 10 parents believe their children know what to do if their house catches on fire, but fewer than one in five families with children have actually practiced home fire drills. In addition to promoting the practicing of home fire drills, Prijatel says another part of the effort by the Red Cross to reduce home fire deaths is with making sure homes have working smoke alarms. “We’re working with businesses, we’re working with organizations, church groups, civic groups, going door to door installing smoke alarms,” he says. “The state fire marshal’s office has provided thousands of fire alarms for us, and we are the hands and feet to get those to where they’re needed.” It’s recommended smoke detectors be installed in each bedroom and regularly tested. Nationally, about 2,300 people die in house fires each year and 13,000 are injured.

The Highland Rim Bicycle Club recently held its annual Elk River Valley 100 bicycle ride, and as they have done in recent years, once again donated a portion of the proceeds to the Motlow College Foundation. This year’s ride was the club’s 41st anniversary for the event and included a record number of riders participating. “The Highland Rim Bicycle Club has been a great partner with Motlow College for the past several years”, said Jan Rogers, director of advancement at Motlow. “We appreciate the continued support for our students through this donation to the Foundation.” The donation for 2014 will go into the Motlow Ladies Endowment fund campaign, which currently has a goal of $50,000 which will be matched by an anonymous donor. Others wishing to help with this campaign may contact Jan Rogers at 931-393-1692 or jrogers@mscc.edu. For more information about the Highland Rim Bicycle Club, visit hrbike.org.

On Saturday evening approximately 10:13 pm, Tullahoma Police was notified of an accident with injuries at the intersection of Anderson & Carroll streets. A motorcycle was eastbound on Carroll street and struck the side of a Chevrolet Trailblazer that was going north on Anderson.
The driver of the motorcycle, Terry W. Sanders, 50, of Tullahoma was pronounced deceased at the scene. A passenger on the motorcycle, a 34 year old female, also of Tullahoma, was transported to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga via Air Evac. The identity of the woman nor her condition has been given at this time. Also the health condition of the others involved in the accident has not been released.
The accident is still under investigation by SGT Robert Weaver.

After a live interview on WMSR Radio with Coffee County Sheriff Steve Graves this past Friday, more information on various scams is being reported to police.
A number of individuals across the county are getting calls from an individual who claims to be from the sheriff’s department and that he has a warrant for their arrest for various things. He then tells his intended victim that they can avoid being booked into jail if they send money via a Green Dot credit card. Graves stated that these calls are definitely SCAMS.
The latest victim, a Tullahoma couple, received a call from an individual claiming to be Sgt. Michael Snider of the Coffee County Sheriff Department. He even had their full name. He then informed them that they had missed jury duty, which he claims the individuals signed a certified letter for.
The scammer told his victims that the warrant will go away if they will purchase a Green Dot card and call him back. The Tullahoma couple purchased two cards valued at $395 each for a total of $790 and called the phone number provided to them by the fake deputy. They then provided him with the number on the card which enabled him to get the money. The cell phone number he called from has been disconnected.
After providing the Green Dot number, the couple went to the Coffee County Jail and asked for “Sgt. Snider” to get the arrest warrant cancelled and was told that there was no such person with the department. The thief had their money and there was no way of tracing him. The sheriff stated that numerous attempts have been made to catch the individual making the calls, but so far they have not been able to do so.
Graves says that no deputy or police officer will never attempt to collect money in this manner.
In addition to the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department receiving reports of the scam, Tullahoma and Manchester Police have also had reports of the scam operating in their cities.

Early voting continues through Thursday, October 30 in Coffee County. There has been a total of over 3,300 ballots completed as of Monday afternoon.
In Manchester, early voting is being held at the Election Commission office at 1329 MacArthur Drive from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Thursday. In Tullahoma, early voting is held at C.D. Stamps Community Center at 810 S. Jackson Street from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Thursday, Election Day, November 4th. Remember proper identification is required.
Included on the current ballot are choices for Governor, U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, as well as the four amendments to the Tennessee constitution and two local referendums, one for the wheel tax and the other for wine in grocery stores.
Voters located in the cities of Manchester and Tullahoma are the only ones eligible to vote on the wine in grocery store issue.

A former corrections officer at the Coffee County Jail found himself behind bars after being arrested by investigators.
James M. Mayes, 26, of Brandontown Road, Manchester, is charged with bribery of a public servant, extortion and official misconduct.
According to warrants obtained by Sheriff’s Investigator Sgt. Danny Ferrell, Mayes took $100 from an inmate to allow him to keep a quarter pound of tobacco the inmate had in his possession in the tobacco-free jail. According to the warrants, he had told the inmate to pay up after catching him with the tobacco.
Ferrell alleges that Mayes then threatened to “lock the inmate down” and restrict his privileges if the money was not paid.
Ferrell alleges that the inmate was told that for another $150 he could bring anything he wanted into the jail.
After the $100 was allegedly paid, Ferrell took possession of the money. “I had recorded the serial numbers and the serial number on the money seized was the same,” Ferrell said.
According to the investigator, the sheriff’s department had been investigating Mayes for the last six months after allegations arose.
“He had been allowing cell phones and other contraband to be taken into the jail for a fee,” the investigator alleged. Ferrell stated that several inmates in the jail had been a victim of the corrections officer for allegedly taking money for favors.
Mayes is being housed in the Franklin County Jail under $150,000 bond and is to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court Nov. 17.
(Story from Wayne Thomas of the Tullahoma News)

Coffee County Emergency Management Agency will be conducting some joint training exercises with Coffee County Emergency Medical Services, Local Fire Departments, Harton Regional Medical Center, the Medical Center of Manchester, and United Regional Medical Center. The inter-agencies training exercises will be utilized in testing the emergency response services and medical facilities capabilities in the safe handling, transport, and receiving of patients with possible Blood borne Pathogen exposure through the various facilities Emergency Departments.
The training exercises will be conducted from October 27th thru November 4th at the various medical facilities.