Category: News

Crash scene photo by Dennis Weaver.

A fiery crash occurred on I-24 early Wednesday morning. According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, this incident involved only one vehicle, a non-hazardous tractor trailer. The truck erupted into flames causing Interstate 24 west bound at mile marker 116 to be shut down. The vehicle crashed in the construction zone where work is being done at the old weigh station. Traffic had to be diverted off Exit 117 onto US Hwy 41 for about 2 ½ hours.
The driver was injured in the crash but no details were available on his condition.
Hillsboro Volunteer Fire Department worked the 18-wheeler fire.

The nation’s largest public utility is eliminating more than 2,000 jobs as part of a $500 million cost-cutting campaign.
The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports the Tennessee Valley Authority is making the cuts this year to trim expenses and make electric rates in the Tennessee Valley more competitive with neighboring utilities.
Most of the staff reductions are being made by not filling vacant jobs and through retirements and resignations by the end of next month.
TVA President Bill Johnson said this week that the voluntary reduction offers were well received and avoided the need for massive firings, although some employees are being laid off.
The staff cuts are the agency’s largest in more than two decades.

Paving taking place this week in Tullahoma.. Photo by Winston Brooks

1.      55 from the Moore County line to 41-A

2.      55 from the Viaduct to Industrial Blvd

3.      41-A from the Viaduct to the Franklin County line

During this construction, traffic may be reduced to one lane, which must accommodate two-way traffic. Expect delays and seek alternative routes.
Motorists should be aware of the reduced lanes and watch out for workers in the construction zone and exercise caution.
Motorists should always obey reduced speed limits in work zones, regardless of any lane closure activity.
Questions concerning these paving projects should be directed to the Wayne Limbaugh at Public Works at 931-454-1768.

The Tennessee Valley Authority had an $81 million loss during the third quarter, much larger than the $12 million loss sustained by the power provider during the same period in 2013.
The TVA blamed the losses on lower electricity sales. Total sales were down 3% through the first nine months when compared with the same period a year ago, due largely to the closing of U.S. Enrichment Corp.’s facilities in Paducah, Kentucky, later in 2013. USEC was TVA’s largest directly served industrial customer at the time, according to a TVA news release.
A three-year strategy by the TVA to reduce operating and maintenance spending by $500 million by the end of fiscal 2015 is part of the agency’s efforts to reduce costs and increase efficiencies.
Total operating revenues increased 1.9% in the third quarter as higher operating revenues in the third quarter were primarily due to a $94 million increase in fuel cost recovery, which was partially offset by a $41 million decrease in base revenue.

A Manchester woman has filed a $300,000 lawsuit against a company in connection with an explosion that occurred in 2011.
Johnnie Turner of Shady Grove Road filed the suit in Coffee County Circuit Court last month against the Tennessee Bio-Energy, Inc, Consolidated Bioenergy LLC, Andrew Brindle and Oakley Gentry following an explosion that occurred July 30, 2011 at the biodiesel production facility just outside Manchester which is known as TBE and CBE.
She alleges in the suit that because of the explosion she was “forced to evacuate her home as a result of the toxic fumes and explosions, and her water supply continues to be contaminated with petroleum compounds as a result of release of toxic chemicals from the facility.”
Turner is asking for “at least $300,000 to compensate her for decrease value of her property, loss of quality of life, aggravation and inconvenience and past and future out of pocket expenses” that she has suffered due to the result of the company’s “negligence, trespass and maintenance of a nuisance.”
Also asked in the suit is relief that the Court might see necessary and discretionary cost, clerk’s cost and general relief.
Turner is represented by attorney Russell Thomas of Murfreesboro and Gary A. Davis of Asheville, North Carolina.
This is only one side of the legal issue.