Category: News

Motorists heading to the gas pumps are finding the cheapest August gas prices since 2010. On August 1, 2010, the national average price was $2.74. Since that time, average prices on August 1 ranged from $3.52 in 2012, to $3.71 in 2011. The current average of $3.50 is 3 cents cheaper than last week and the discount at the pump should continue in the near future.
“Typically gasoline prices fluctuate in July and August, but for the most part, prices have steadily declined,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Oil prices decreased dramatically last week, so there’s no reason gas prices should go up any time soon.
Oil prices plummeted last week. The price for a barrel settled at 97.88 on the NYMEX Friday – $4.21 less, compared to a week ago. That was the biggest weekly decline in seven months, and the lowest settlement since February. Refineries are running at record levels and there is more than enough gasoline in the market, which has helped bring down prices despite multiple overseas conflicts.
The current average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in Tennessee is $3.27. The low price in Manchester is $3.17 per gallon and in Tullahoma the low price stands at $3.18.

August is National Breastfeeding Month, and that has supporters touting the benefits of mother’s milk, often called nature’s perfect baby food.
Marian Tompson, one of the founders of the La Leche League, says mothers who breastfeed can reduce their risk for diabetes, cardiovascular conditions and some forms of cancer.
And for the baby, she says there is a variety of health benefits as well, such as a stronger immune system, better motor development and a reduction in allergies.
“There have been thousands of studies during the past 50 years that confirm babies are healthier when they’re breastfed,” she adds. “And it makes sense because they’re getting the food that was meant for their growth and development.”
Tompson says when La Leche League was founded in the 1950s, fewer than one-in-five mothers started out breastfeeding her baby. Today that figure is 79 percent.
While more mothers are starting with breastfeeding and they are nursing for longer on average, Tompson says there are still too many who quit in those first weeks or months, often because the moms have to return to work and are separated from their babies.
“I think our culture could do things to make it a little easier for those women, with flex-time, with allowing them to have a baby close by where they could get over to nurse,” she stresses. “And I think we have to appreciate how important breastfeeding is to us all.”
One initiative that is already having a positive impact, explains Tompson, is the growing number of hospitals in the U.S. that are gaining certification as breastfeeding-friendly. There are now nearly 200 of them across 44 states.

One suspect was apprehended Wednesday after trying to break into a Rutherford County home and he now faces additional charges after more than $25,000 in stolen property was allegedly recovered from his vehicle, detectives said.
Detectives from Franklin, Bedford, Moore and Coffee counties searched through the stolen property recovered from a car driven by suspect David Zwarton, 34, of Tullahoma. About $25,000 worth of jewelry was identified as being stolen from a Franklin County home.
The investigation began last Wednesday when a man driving a maroon car allegedly tried to break into a house on Hutson Road in Rutherford County.
Deputy Joey Vann stopped Zwarton while driving a maroon car a few minutes later near Rockvale. As Vann approached the suspect, the deputy heard something drop and recovered more than 100 prescription pills.
Vann charged Zwarton with three counts of felony possession of the prescription pills. While inventorying the car, he found $12,000 cash and a large amount of jewelry.
Zwarton was released on $3,000 bond. A hearing is set Aug. 27 in General Sessions Court.
Rutherford County Detective Steve Brown contacted detectives from the four other counties who reported home burglaries where witnesses saw the suspect driving a maroon car.
Investigator Brian Brewer of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office said victims reported about seven or eight home burglaries since July 18.
“He’s been targeting mostly jewelry,” Brewer said.
A man broke into the home of a 100-year-old Franklin County woman last Tuesday who awoke from a nap, the investigator said. When he saw her, he fled. She gave a description of the car similar to the one driven by Zwarton.
Someone stole about $25,000 in jewelry July 27 from a Franklin County home. The owners identified the jewelry as being stolen from their home and hugged Deputy Vann when it was recovered.
Franklin County Investigator Robert Tipps obtained warrants charging Zwarton with aggravated burglary and theft. Brewer said more charges are pending.
Deputy Chief Mike Rainey of Moore County Sheriff’s Department said Zwarton is linked to two home burglaries. One victim owns both houses. Deeds and insurance papers were recovered.
The description of the burglar’s car is the same description as Zwarton’s, Rainey said, adding charges are pending against Zwarton.
Bedford County Detective Chad Webster said victims reported six burglaries and two attempted burglaries since May 14. He reviewed the recovered property but did not believe any of the jewelry was stolen from Bedford County.
Coffee County Sgt. Danny Ferrell said eight burglaries occurred since last Tuesday in Coffee County. Three witnesses reported the suspect left in a maroon car.

Evansville, Indiana police say they’ve received information that a man wanted for attempted murder in Tennessee may be in the Evansville area.
John O’Keefe Varner is accused of shooting a man in Manchester, Tennessee back in February 2013.
The victim survived, but Varner has been on the run ever since.
He is 44-years-old, 5’11” and weighs 225 pounds.
Police say he has tattoos under his left eye, but may use makeup to cover them.
Varner is considered armed and dangerous.
A reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest. Please call 1-800-TBI-FIND with any information.

Saturday was the last day to early vote for the August 7th state primaries along with county and municipal general elections in Coffee County. Turnout was really strong as 5,668 voters cast their ballots in early voting. 3,510 people chose to vote republican and 1,885 voted democrat. Around 32,000 people are registered to vote in Coffee County.

Many candidates and supporters were out in full force on Saturday, the final day of early voting.
Election Day is Thursday (August 7) with polls opening at 8am and close at 7pm.
WMSR “Thunder Radio” (107.9FM, AM 1320 and wmsrradio.com) and WHMT “The Ticket” (105.1FM, AM 740 and theticketradio.com) will broadcast live election results beginning at 7pm Thursday night.

Manchester Police hosted a Strategies & Tactics Of a Patrol Stop (STOPS) training class last week which attracted police officers from all over the state. Nineteen police officers, from as far away as Germantown, attended the 40 hour class which certified them as instructors for their individual departments of the effective strategies to safely handle potential deadly traffic stops. The class, developed by the Governor’s Highway Safety Office, featured a classroom component that concluded with an exam. WMSR News spent time with Manchester Police training Officer Sgt Chris Patterson as he explained the tactical field exercises that we were invited to attend. During the tactical exercise, Manchester Police officers served as “bad guys” as they enacted a variety of live scenarios (with aerosol weapons) under the supervision and direction of the course instructors. The “bad guys” mimicked various aggressive behaviors that the class attendees were forced into the reaction. At the end of each scenario, the instructor evaluated the officer’s performance. According to Sgt. Patterson, 4 Manchester Police officers were certified alone with 2 Coffee County sheriff’s deputies. From the MPD; Brian Eldridge, Derek Jones, Fred Lee along with Sgt. Patterson attended the training. For the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department, Deputies Daniel Ray and Brandon Reed were trained.

The City of Tullahoma is pleased to announce the first phase of road improvement projects. Starting the week of Monday, August 4, 2014, the Rogers Group will begin paving certain local roads under the Federal Surface Transportation Program.
The roads that will be resurfaced include:
• Washington Street (from East Lincoln to Ovoca Road)
• Veterans Boulevard
• Marbury Road (from Veterans Drive to the 600 Block of Marbury Road)
• East Lincoln Street (from Washington to Cobb Road
• West Lincoln Street (from Cedar Lane to the bridge over Blue Creek)

“We ask the community to be patient with the contractor’s crews while they are working,” said Director of Public Works, Wayne Limbaugh. “The contract allows the Rogers Group seventy five days.”
Signs will be posted during this construction, and temporary lane closures may be required. 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.