The first ever community outreach program was held on Saturday at the Coffee County Fair Grounds. 2,358 residents were blessed in various ways throughout the 5 hour event. Jamie Harden one the organizers told WMSR that 700 coats were given away along with 300 pairs of shoes and over 1,000 enjoyed the free food. Harden said the group “Convoy of Hope” will help out next year with the anticipation of helping more...

The Centers for Disease Control have confirmed 13 new cases nationwide in the fungal meningitis outbreak. Two of the cases are right here in Tennessee.  Health Officials have also confirmed a person from Indiana has died from the disease. That brings the number of confirmed deaths across the country to 15 with six if those in...

The Cannon County Sheriff’s Department has arrested a Woodbury man for allegedly setting fire to a church near the Cannon/Coffee County line. Ezra Marino is charged with arson to a place of worship. The Ivy Bluff United Methodist church burned to the ground early Monday morning. Pastor Danny Freeman told WMSR News that a passerby saw the fire and called authorities. Freeman said the near 80 members lost the 64-year-old building but not the church. Marino is in jail with a 150 thousand dollar...

A Manchester man has been arrested on charges of deceptive business practices for a paving scam. Shannon Dean Reek, 40, of Winnie Boyton Road was arrested Tuesday on the charges and released from jail after posting a $500 bond. According to warrants obtained by Manchester Police Officer Derek Jones, Reek approached an 85-year-old resident of Doak Road in Manchester and offered to seal the driveway for a cost of $150 to $200. But when the job was completed, Reek told the victim that it would be $1,100. The man told him that he would give him a check for...

A 71-year-old driver was apparently experiencing chest pains when he ran into a utility pole on Thursday afternoon (Oct. 11, 2012) around 4:15pm. The wreck occurred in Manchester at the intersection of Woodland and Hwy. 41. Coffee County EMS took him to an area hospital for treatment. Manchester Police Department worked the...

The Tennessee Republican Party appears to be standing by a freshman congressman seeking re-election despite the revelation of a recorded conversation of the pro-life proponent urging his mistress to get an abortion. Executive Director Adam Nickas said in a statement this week that the transcript first reported by the Huffington Post is the same type of “smear campaign” tactics used against Rep. Scott DesJarlais when he ran in the 2010 election, “which voters overwhelmingly rejected.” DesJarlais on his website espouses a platform that opposes abortion. Nickas did not immediately respond to follow up questions Thursday from The Associated Press...

A former Bedford County employee has appealed her recently dismissed federal civil lawsuit to the United States Court of Appeals. In a report in the Shelbyville Times-Gazette, two weeks ago, District Court Judge Harry S. Mattice dismissed Cynthia L. Ray’s suit against the county and trustee Tonya Davis filed in late 2010, claiming she had been fired for openly supporting Davis’ opponent during that year’s election. She claims Davis and the county violated her 1st and 14th Amendment rights, state rights, fired her in retaliation for exercising her constitutional rights, and intentionally inflicted emotional distress. Mattice dismissed the federal...

Shelbyville police said a woman for whom they had been searching after reports of a possible abduction Thursday has been located. Police said Susita Darjee was found with family in Nashville and said she was not taken against her will. Earlier, investigators believed Darjee had gone missing just before midnight from the parking lot of Tyson Foods. Prior to leaving the parking lot she told her friend that someone was driving through the parking lot calling her name. Police said the information she provided to her friend was false. No charges are being filed, police...