The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development announced Thursday that people on unemployment, who refuse to accept a suitable offer of employment, will be disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits. Recent changes to Employment Security Law redefine what is considered suitable and revise the standard based on the length of time unemployment benefits are received. If the Agency finds a claimant has refused otherwise suitable work based solely upon the rate of pay, then his claim is stopped for refusing such work. Previously, to be considered suitable employment, the proposed job had to be approximately the same rate of...

According to estimates from Tullahoma Police Chief Paul Blackwell, crowds were roughly 5,500 for the weekend, with 2,000 on Friday night and 3,500 on Saturday night at the 41-A Music Festival. The Kiwanis Club says net proceeds of this year’s event will exceed $20,000, nearly three times as much as last year, and will be distributed to local children’s charities including Tullahoma Day Care, Karing for Kids, 5Loaves4Kids, Horseplay, and Coffee County Cares for...

A Warren County woman accused of operating a puppy mill has been placed on probation. In court this week, Wilma Jones entered a best interest plea to animal cruelty charges. As part of her sentence, she is banned from having more than four dogs or cats. Last year, Jones was charged with 10 counts of animal cruelty and five counts of possession of controlled substances after officers and an animal rescue group seized more than 120 dogs from Jones’ property near Centertown. They reportedly found most of the animal suffering from infections, dehydration and...

The Tullahoma Animal Shelter will hold its ninth annual Bark in the Park fundraiser on Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Waggoner Park. This family-friendly event will include $10 microchips for family dogs, a $10 rabies clinic by Dr. Kim Hambrick, a silent auction, portraits available, adoptable shelter dogs, a moonwalk and much more. Bark in the Park will also feature a variety of dog games and contests. The contests begin at 11:30 a.m. including Mr. and Miss Tullahoma Canine who will participate in the Tullahoma Christmas Parade and to be available to appear at other local...

  The former treasurer for the Coffee County Fair board was sentenced in circuit court this week on charges of theft over $60,000. Coffee County Circuit Court Judge Craig Johnson sentenced Kimberly Ann Mullins, 37, to an eight-year sentence.  Mullins will serve six months under house arrest.  Afterward Judge Johnson will reevaluate the case, and Mullins could face time in jail. Mullins is also to make restitution of $650 a...

Thieves are stealing credit card numbers again from area residents. Several area residents have reported to police that their credit card and debit card numbers have been used to make unauthorized purchases and have those shipped to Maine, Michigan, Missouri and other states. In one incident a Manchester resident’s debit card number was used to purchase a computer and wanted the computer shipped to Maine. Police are urging residents to pay close attention to their credit/debit card...

A Warren County woman is charged with TennCare fraud involving “doctor shopping,” or using the TennCare program to go to multiple doctors to obtain controlled substances. The Office of Inspector General (OIG), with the assistance of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, today announced the arrest of Christine Perry, 66, of Spencer, Tennessee. Perry is charged with 11 counts of fraudulently using TennCare to obtain controlled substances by doctor shopping for the painkiller Hydrocodone, using TennCare to pay for the doctor visits. “Prescription drug abuse is a focus of communities, healthcare providers and law enforcement across Tennessee, working together to...

Lawyers representing three Tennessee women filed a class-action lawsuit against Walmart Tuesday claiming the retail giant gives unequal treatment to female employees. Evidence in the case shows that women who hold salaried and hourly positions in Walmart stores in the region that includes Tennessee and parts of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia and Mississippi, have been paid far less than men in comparable positions, although on average, the women have more seniority and higher performance ratings than men. The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, is the third regional discrimination case lodged against Walmart since...