Category: News

Inspirational speaker, author, and budding media personality Inky Johnson will bring his positive message of hope and perseverance to Motlow College on Wednesday, Oct. 22, as part of Motlow’s observance of National Employment Disability Awareness Month. The public is invited to hear Johnson at 10:50 a.m. in Room 105 inside the Marcum Technology Center on the Moore County campus.
In 2006 while playing football for the University of Tennessee, Johnson suffered a life-threatening injury on the field against Air Force. Attempting to tackle Air Force running back Justin Handley, Johnson thrust his shoulder into the player’s body which caused traumatic injury to Johnson’s nerves. While the injury left Johnson’s right arm completely paralyzed and ended his playing career, it did not discourage.
His book, an autobiography titled, “Inky: An Amazing Story of Faith and Perseverance,” was released in 2011 and can be purchased at any major book retail or online outlet.
In August, Johnson spoke to the Tullahoma High School football team during a dinner sponsored by the Tullahoma Quarterback Club. He spoke to the players about leadership and service outside of football. “Who you are as a person is way more important than who you are as a football player,” said Johnson. “I’m bringing you this message not for the game of football, although I love the game of football. I want you guys to be great role models. I want you to be great husbands. I want you guys to be great men. I want you to be able to go out in your community and contribute and lead in such a way that people look at you and are willing to follow.” Follow Johnson on social media outlets, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube at Inky Johnson. He shares his ‘InkSpirations’, which are daily recordings featuring his inspirational thoughts and insights, at www.soundcloud.com/mortgage-investors-group. For more about Johnson’s appearance at Motlow, contact Sonya Hood, director of disability services and testing, by calling 931-393-1765 or emailing shood@mscc.edu.

The Tullahoma Animal Shelter will hold their 11th Annual Bark in the Park fundraiser on October 11, 2014 from 10am until 2pm at Waggoner Park in Tullahoma.  Join us for a day of fun while we raise money for medical care for the dogs in the shelter. For more information, please call Teresa Holt at 454-9580.
“This will be a great day to be in Tullahoma,” said Mayor Lane Curlee. “Bark in the Park is a great way to support the Animal Shelter’s mission.”
The Tullahoma Animal Shelter is a truly unique facility. Not only is it a +no kill facility, but it also provides medical care for dogs. “If a dog comes to our facility needing medical attention, it will get the needed treatment,” said Animal Control Supervisor, Teresa Holt. Often animals are picked needing medicine or surgery. And bark in the park is their primary fundraiser for the veterinarian care.
Dogs and families will have fun, and the Tullahoma Animal Shelter is excited to welcome back many old friends to the event.  Festivities planned include a silent auction, portraits, contests, demonstrations, games, $10 rabies and $15 microchip clinics, adoptable shelter dogs, a bounce house, food and much more.
Admission is free and tickets are available for purchase for games and food.  T-Shirts will be on sale for $12.00.
Pets must be on a leash, wear their rabies tag, be current on vaccinations and under the owners control at all times, as the Tullahoma Animal Shelter cannot be liable for accidents or injury. All proceeds will be used to benefit the Tullahoma Animal Shelter to provide medical care for dogs in the shelter. So bring your dog and join in a day of fun for pets and owners alike.  Contact Teresa Holt at 931-454-9580 or 931-454-1768 for more information about the event or to set up an animal related booth.

A Manchester man was arrested Friday on charges of theft of property and criminal trespassing.
Bobby Hershberger, 51, of Orr Street Manchester is accused of operating a business from a property on Highway 55 in Manchester without permission of the property owner.
He is also accused of agreeing to “hold a jet ski for a friend” and when the owner of the ski went to pick it up he learned that Hershberger had allegedly pawned it.
In warrants obtained by Manchester officer Chris Patton, Hershberger also allegedly accepted a check for $4,311.78 from an individual to repair a boat. After three months the person checked on his boat, it had not been repaired even though the check for the repairs had been cashed.
Hershberger was booked into the Coffee County Jail and is set to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court Oct. 29.

A high-ranking officer in the Bedford County Sheriff’s Department was fired over the weekend following an accusation of shoplifting.
John Owens, who joined the department as a lieutenant when Austin Swing took over as sheriff on Sept. 1, allegedly took an item or items from the Shelbyville Walmart on Saturday, Swing said Monday.
“He is no longer an employee of the Bedford County Sheriff’s Department,” Swing said.
Lieutenant is the third highest rank in the department, following sheriff and chief deputy.
Owens has not been charged with a crime, the sheriff said.
Swing declined to reveal the item or items allegedly taken, but said, “He has not been charged with anything due to the amount,” indicating it was very small in terms of monetary value.
“The decision to charge or not to charge him was made entirely by Walmart,” Chief Deputy Jason Williams said. “We had no influence on the decision and told them we would back them whatever direction they went. (Shelbyville Times-Gazette)

How can you boost your bottom line in 2015? A new report indicates the answer for some could be changing careers and entering the field of technology. Starting salaries for tech jobs are projected to rise almost six percent, according to the report from human resources consulting firm Robert Half International. Senior executive director, Paul McDonald, says it also predicts growth in traditional fields like accounting and marketing, where technology is involved. “Technology truly is running its course through all functional roles today,” McDonald says. “You need technology as a foundational, functional understanding, in order to be successful in any one of these specialty areas.” According to the report, among the top positions to watch are mobile applications developer, data architect and chief security officer. All three have starting salaries that top $100,000 a year. McDonald points out many careers in the technology sector don’t necessarily require four-year degrees, and can be secured with additional training that could be done at night or online. “If you find yourself unemployed, it’s really a good investment to go back and go to a trade school, go to a junior college to retrain yourself, to make yourself marketable in these very hot areas,” he says. Companies are making employee retention a high priority, McDonald adds, since turnover is particularly challenging for high-tech positions. He says many businesses are offering flexible work hours to accommodate a work-life balance for skilled workers who are the right fit.

Members of the Tullahoma Fire Department along with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), will celebrate their 60-year partnership and kick off their Fill the Boot fundraising campaign to benefit children and adults affected by muscle disease.
Local firefighters from the Tullahoma Fire Department will be at the Wal-Mart and K-Mart with boots in hand for this year’s drive on October 11th from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
“Throughout 2014 MDA and fire fighters are celebrating 60 years of proud partnership and we are thrilled to have the Tullahoma Fire Department join us this year in the fight against muscle disease,” said MDA Fundraising Coordinator Rachael McKenzie. “Fire fighters do more for MDA and the families we serve than any other group, dedicating countless hours of their time every year participating in Fill the Boot drives and at MDA Summer Camp. We’re grateful for the support of these inspiring, selfless individuals who have made a profound impact on our families’ health, wellbeing and quality of life, and we’re looking forward to a lasting partnership with the Tullahoma Fire Department.”
Funds raised through 2014 Tullahoma’s Fill the Boot event will help support MDA’s programs of worldwide research, specialized health care services, and day-to-day support – which includes sending children affected by muscular dystrophy and related diseases to a weeklong, barrier-free MDA summer camp.

A fugitive on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Top Ten Most Wanted list, John O’Keefe Varner, was captured Friday afternoon in Nevada.
Since being placed on the Most Wanted list in February 2013, agents developed leads that Varner was in the Las Vegas area. Varner crashed the vehicle he was driving when he attempted to evade Marshals and was arrested following a foot chase. He was apprehended by deputies of the Las Vegas U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and officers with the Las Vegas Metro Police Department. The U.S. Marshals Service in Chattanooga was also instrumental in working with TBI agents in determining Varner’s whereabouts.
John Varner, aka “Jake” and “Kitchen”, was wanted by the Manchester Police Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for Attempted First Degree Murder. Varner had an outstanding warrant after a February 9, 2013 incident in which he shot another man following a verbal altercation and continued shooting at the victim as he was running away.
Varner is being held in the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas on a $500,000 bond for the Attempted First Degree Murder charge. He has also been charged with misdemeanor traffic violations related to the crash.