A task force of state health officials is trying to reverse an alarming rise in the number of babies born addicted to drugs in Tennessee. Babies born addicted suffer from neonatal abstinence syndrome, often spending many days in the hospital as they go through the painful withdrawal process, experiencing seizures, tremors, fever and vomiting. The Health Department reported that the number of babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome increased by tenfold between 2000 and 2010. To combat the growing problem, the Health Department will begin requiring hospitals to report babies born with the syndrome beginning on January 1. State health...

Each year Coffee County Sheriff Steve Graves and his staff provides toys to over 500 children and food baskets to 250 elderly, handicapped and needy families in Coffee County at Christmas. This is a very important project and can only be accomplished with community support as we provide this service strictly through donations and charity events such as the Christmas Open House. Coffee Co. Sheriff’s Department Christmas for Charity Open House will be held this Saturday from 9am-Noon at the Sheriff’s Department. Please come and bring a non-perishable food item or unwrapped item or unwrapped toy and enjoy some...

It’s the season for family, friends and most of all – food. Are you trying to decide to make, when to start prepping, how much to serve, or how to make it a bit healthier? Shari Steinbach, registered dietician and healthy living advisor for Meijer says,”We want to make entertaining as easy as one, two, three”. Whether you’re a first-time host who wants to serve the classics, a pro who wants to put a creative twist on a traditional dish or you want to lighten up your holiday meals but keep the flavor, Meijer is here to help. Any...

It’s time for the DIG-N-DREAM GARDEN CLUB “Trees of Christmas”. The Trees will be shown again this year at the Ada Wright Building, Fred Deadman Park, 328 Woodland Street in Manchester. The Theme this Year: “A Creative Christmas” December 1st through December 10th Saturday and Sunday – 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Thursday – 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday – 8:30 a.m. to 5:00...

Local KIA dealership owner Russell Barnett has announced a major expansion and renovation to the existing dealership on South Anderson Street in Tullahoma. Barnett purchased the KIA dealership in Tullahoma in 2001. Barnett says they will be adding six new service bays. In addition to the 3,000-square-foot expansion, the entire facility will be getting a facelift, according to Barnett. Earlier this month, Barnett announced plans to re-open the Ford dealership later this year at 1106 E. Carroll St. in Tullahoma under the name Russell Barnett Ford. Barnett was the original owner of the Tullahoma Ford dealership, operating it until...

Franklin County authorities say they have a person of interest in the murder of Tullahoma resident Kayla Qualls. The body of the 23 year-old mother of two was found Monday on the side of Spring Creek Road in Franklin County. Investigators from Franklin and Coffee County Sheriff’s Departments along with the Tullahoma Police Department searched a home in Tullahoma and seized several pieces of evidence, but they would not say what evidence they...

Bomb threats evacuated 29 county courthouses across the state on Tuesday. Tennessee Emergency Management Agency spokesman Jeremy Heidt said several of the courthouses are in Middle Tennessee, including Bedford in Shelbyville, Cannon in Woodbury, Cheatham, Clay, Fentress, Giles and Franklin County in Winchester. Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller stated that after a thorough search of the courthouse no explosive device was found. Tennessee is at least the fourth state this month to deal with phony bomb threats at courthouses. The West Tennessee counties that received threats were Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Chester and Shelby. The East...

A Chevy Tahoe was traveling west on McArthur St. Tuesday afternoon, when a deer ran across the road in front of the driver. The deer was struck and went over the hood and into the windshield. A 56-year-old woman passenger in the Tahoe was taken to URMC complaining of shoulder pain and possible glass in her eyes. The driver was unhurt. The Manchester Animal Control was called to take appropriate action with the severely hurt deer. Manchester Police Department was in charge of the...