The Tennessee Education Lottery Corp. has raised a record $81 million in the first quarter. That’s a 14 percent increase over the same period last fiscal year, which set the previous record with $71 million. Total lottery funding for education-related programs in Tennessee exceeds $2.47 billion since the lottery’s inception in 2004. According to data from the Tennessee Student Assistance Corp., lottery money has provided more than 600,000 scholarships and grants to in-state educational institutions during that time. More than 100,000 scholarships and grants were provided during the past academic year alone. Lottery funds are also used to support...

A 17-year-old was flown to Vanderbilt Medical Center Sunday night after being involved in a single vehicle crash. According to a report by Tennessee Highway Patrolman Brent McCawley, the accident occurred on Blanton’s Chapel Rd. around 6 p.m. Sunday night. The trooper’s report states that the vehicle was traveling westbound on Blanton’s Chapel when the vehicle went around a curve the driver apparently was traveling too fast on the rain slick road he left the road and struck a tree on the driver’s side door and roof. The driver was removed and flown out. A 7-year-old female who was...

Quick thinking by a resident of Eastgate Apartments averted serious trouble last Friday. According to the Tullahoma Fire Department, Stacey Seals said she heard a noise and went to investigate. She found a fire around her hot water heater. She quickly grabbed a fire extinguisher, which is supplied to residents, and extinguished the fire. She then called 911, and the fire department arrived. Fire Investigator Richard Steiner commended Seals for her quick...

The ex-husband of a missing Shelbyville Harris Middle School teacher has been ordered to stay away from his own child after alleged talk about burning down grandparent’s home. A temporary restraining order was issued against Tyler Mook, ex-husband of Shelly Mook, who disappeared in early 2011, after an emergency motion to suspend his visitation rights was filed by Debra Sikora, Shelly Mook’s mother and primary custodian of her granddaughter. During a hearing last week before a Bedford County Circuit Court Judge, testimony was heard that alleged that Tyler and his mother Kim Mook allegedly talked with the girl about...

A Republican congressman from Tennessee is telling supporters he’s not a hypocrite for discussing abortion with a mistress more than a decade ago. But now he may have to defend his medical license. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, a physician who opposes abortion rights, said in a letter to his supporters that the relationship with a patient occurred while DesJarlais was separated from his first wife. DesJarlais apologizes for what he describes as an “imprudent approach.” But he said he used stark language about abortion try to get the woman to acknowledge that she wasn’t pregnant. Meanwhile, the watchdog group Citizens...

The operator of the new Tullahoma Chic-fil-A says when the restaurant opens in February, it will employ up to 80 people. The restaurant will be located at the site of the former Baskin Robbins ice cream. Joseph Seabolt currently operates a Chic-fil-A in Valdosta, Georgia, and says that he looks forward to moving to a community that offers promise, a great school system, plus the chance to boost the local...

Early voting for the November 6 election will begin this Wednesday. Those wanting to take advantage of the early voting have two options. In Tullahoma voting will take place at the C D Stamps Center from 9 a.m. to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. In Manchester early votes may be cast at the Coffee County Election Commission office in the county office building. Voting there will be from 8 a.m. to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Early voting will continue through November 1...

Dr. LaDonna McFall, Director of Coffee County Schools, recently accepted a $3,000.00 donation from Wal-Mart manager, Mr. Bill Rapko. Wal-Mart assisted the Coffee County Schools Family Resource Center Coordinators, Mr. Jerry Tackett and Ms. LeAnn Evans, in writing a grant to purchase school supplies for low income students. “We hope this grant will be an annual donation from now on” said Mr. Rapko who is a Coffee County Central High School alumnus. “Wal-Mart is proud to assist the community with this grant and is excited about a partnering with Coffee County Schools to help meet the needs of our...