Around noon today Manchester Fire Department was called out to a possible fire at Batesville Casket Company. According to Fire Chief Charlie Taylor, the fire was inside a paint booth and was somewhat difficult to get to. Taylor did say firemen did a great job extinguishing the blaze. One Manchester fireman Jimmy Hollandsworth was injured and was taken to Medical Center of Manchester for treatment. Chief Taylor told WMSR that Hollandsworth’s knee was injured but his leg was not broken. According to reports from Batesville no associates were injured in the Monday...

The murder trial of a Manchester man gets underway this week in Coffee County Circuit Court. Jeffrey Smithson is accused of murdering his 81-year-old aunt Virginia White in her Ingram Place Apartment in Manchester. Her body was discovered in August of last year after neighbors reported not seeing her. She was found with panty hose wrapped around her neck, blood on her face and she had what turned out to be a blow to the back of her head. Smithson has been held in the Coffee County Jail under a $1 million bond since his arrest last...

The area saw an increase in sales tax collection this past October as compared to last year, according to the latest figures from the Tennessee Department of Revenue. Collections in the rural part of the county saw an increase of 51,525.66 this year over last. The total collection was $227,131.94. Tullahoma saw an increase of $9,166.12 over last year. The total collection this year was $779,980.78. Manchester was the only one to see a decrease in collections this year as compared to last year. The collections this year were $28,578.36 less than last...

A pair of guilty pleas have been made in cases involving numerous charges with wild hogs in Moore and Lewis counties in Middle Tennessee. Dr. Stacy Smith, of Lynchburg, pled guilty to 16 counts of illegal possession of wildlife. He also pled guilty to failure to use an approved source, failure to maintain records for a preserve, violation of a quarantine order, and criminal conspiracy. The veterinarian received a total of $4,944 in fines and court costs. Timothy Chapman, of Mt. Pleasant pled guilty to seven counts of illegal possession of wildlife. He received fines and courts costs totaling...

The Tennessee Department of Health has acknowledged opening a “complaint file” against Republican U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais. But the file wasn’t mentioned this week as the state Board of Medical Examiners met for the first time since controversy hit the physician-turned-4th-District-congressman in October. A board member said that isn’t unusual. “It takes a long time, sometimes a year or two, for a complaint to get to us,” said Nina Yeiser, a citizen member and 12-year veteran of the Board of Medical Examiners. “[Complaints] have to be investigated internally, and I think that’s probably going on...

Tullahoma Director of Schools Dr. Dan Lawson has made the finalist list in the Oak Ridge Schools search for a new superintendent. Lawson said he is pleased to make the finalists list at Oak Ridge. Lawson said that the Oak Ridge school system, like Tullahoma, has a great reputation. Lawson said Tullahoma has provided a great personal career opportunity, and he treasures the 16 years he’s worked with the system. He said in the News Sentinel story the headhunting firm helping in the search, Ray and Associates of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, will now contact the finalists and ask if...

A Flintville man has been charged with vehicular homicide following a single vehicle crash Saturday. According to report by Tennessee Highway Patrolman Curtis Stuart, Scottie Wayne Pickett, 41, of Lexie Beans Creek Road Flintville is being held in the Franklin County Jail under a bond of $500,000 following the crash. He is also charged with violation of order of protection for having a loaded weapon in the car at the time of the crash. According to the trooper, around 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon Pickett along with his three passengers were traveling along Post Oak Road in southeastern Franklin County...

The City of Manchester presented the Old Time Christmas Parade on Friday night (Nov. 30, 2012). The event was sponsored by the city’s Tourism and Community Development Commission, City of Manchester, Al White Motors and Central Funeral Home. The parade had near 80 entries with many floats and automobiles, the high school band and more. Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus wrapped up the parade on the city float. Many people along the route said it was the best Manchester Christmas parade yet and seem to put everyone in the holiday spirit. The Coffee Co. Sheriff’s Dept. won 1st place in the float contest. 2nd...