Recently Coffee County deputies executed a search warrant in Tullahoma at 208 N. Roosevelt Street in reference to marijuana. Upon search of the residence police found approximately four and half pounds of marijuana along with packaging materials, scales, and two hand guns. Also Coffee County deputies seized $1,231 in cash. Two people were arrested with more arrests to follow. Quincton Hickerson was arrested for manufacture sell and delivery, possession of drug paraphernalia, and unlawful possession of a weapon. Derricks Harris was arrested for simple...

As family of Chloie Leverette and Gage Daniel make their way through the holidays without their loved ones, investigators with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said they have few leads in the search for the missing children. Agents have been checking out every lead that comes in, according to Kristin Helm, TBI spokesperson. Autopsy reports for Mollie and Leon McClaran, just released this month, failed to determine how they died, according to the medical examiner’s office. The autopsies also did not shed any more light on the fire that destroyed their Bedford County home. The TBI said the fire...

Authorities in Bedford County are continuing to search for a man who was reported missing on Friday. According to a report in the Shelbyville Times-Gazette, Matthew Tibbs was last seen at his home located just south of Shelbyville around 1:30 a.m. Family members reported they discovered a backdoor open at Tibbs’ home around 5:30 a.m. Authorities have since said they have not observed forced entry to the home and that they do not suspect foul play. Tibbs’ vehicle, in addition to his cell phone, glasses and wallet were discovered at the home. Tibbs was last seen wearing a red...

Two mid-state residents are charged with TennCare “doctor shopping,” in separate cases out of Rutherford County. The Office of Inspector General (OIG), with assistance from the Cannon County Sheriff’s Office and the Woodbury Police Department, announced the arrests of Kimberly Besner, 38, of Murfreesboro and William K. Bryant, 46, of Woodbury. Besner is charged with three counts of fraudulently using TennCare to obtain controlled substances by “doctor shopping” for controlled substances. Bryant is charged with two counts of “doctor shopping” for controlled substances. Both Besner and Bryant used TennCare to pay for the doctor’s visit or the drugs. TennCare...

Doctors in Tennessee will soon have new tasks to complete before prescribing drugs like Oxycodone to patients in our state. The goal of the measure is to prevent doctors from prescribing medications to patients who are “doctor shopping.” The Tennessee Prescription Safety Act of 2012 represents a significant effort by state legislators to address the problem of prescription drug abuse. The act was passed unanimously April 27 and approved by Governor Bill Haslam May 9. It takes effect January 1. Starting in January, pharmacists will have to update the new prescription database website operated by the state every seven...

Tennessee Commissioner of Labor & Workforce Development Karla Davis announced Tennessee’s unemployment rate for November decreased to 7.6 percent, down from the October revised rate of 8.2 percent. The national unemployment rate for November 2012 was 7.7 percent, 0.2 percentage point lower than the October rate. Economic Summary: Tennessee’s November unemployment rate is the lowest rate since October 2008. Over the past year, Tennessee’s unemployment rate has declined from 8.7% to 7.6% (-1.1 percentage point) while the national rate declined from 8.7% to 7.7% (-1.0 percentage point). The number of unemployed persons is the lowest since October 2008. Total...

Coffee County has been awarded federal funds through the Department of Homeland Security for the local Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program (EFSP) under Phase 30 of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program. Coffee County has been awarded $ 23,011 to specifically supplement and expand emergency food and shelter programs. The award amount is based on our jurisdiction’s total number of unemployed as compared to the total number of unemployed in all qualifying jurisdictions. The local board will be made up of representatives from county and city municipalities, United Way, and helping agencies to determine how the funds...

After moving further in the process toward replacing Tullahoma City Schools Director Dr. Dan Lawson, the Board of Education is going to consider extending his contract. The board has set a special 6 p.m. meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013, at the system’s administration building, to consider whether Lawson’s employment should extend beyond its June 30, 2013, deadline. Chairman Pat Welsh said board member Kim Uselton requested that the meeting be set to consider the contract extension. The board did not vote on renewing Lawson’s contract in 2012, despite a strong movement from teachers and system employees to have...