The United States Environmental Protection Agency has decided to remove Arnold Engineering Development Complex from consideration for the agency’s National Priorities List. Effective March 15, the EPA removed Arnold AFB from consideration for the list, which is a compilation of hazardous waste sites that are eligible for cleanup financed by the federal Superfund program. The complex was first proposed in 1994, when the EPA scored AEDC through its Hazard Ranking System, said Denny Timmons, AEDC’s Installation Restoration Program Manager of the civil engineering branch’s asset management section. For the past 18 years the Arnold AFB environmental staff has aggressively...

Tennessee prisoners serve some of the shortest terms in the nation, according to a new study. A report by the Pew Center on the States found that on average a Tennessee prison sentence lasts just under 2 years. That’s about a year shorter than the national average. Prosecutor Torry Johnson told The Tennessean that the state is ahead of others by enacting for alternative punishments and probation guidelines that help reduce and better control prison populations. State Department of Corrections officials point out that while offenders are serving less time for property and drug crimes, prison time has increased...

Federal prosecutors say sentencing limitations in the federal Horse Protection Act are behind their probation recommendation for a man caught by a hidden camera beating a Tennessee walking horse. According to the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the prosecutors filed a 16-page explanation for their recommendation of probation for trainer Jackie McConnell. The sentencing memorandum says prosecutors share the sentiments of those wanting to see significant jail time for such violators. But it says the law passed by Congress doesn’t have the teeth needed to put McConnell in jail. Prosecutors are seeking a maximum probation period for McConnell, which would...

A Tennessee business will get to pay less into the state’s unemployment trust fund, at least for a little while. It’s the first time there’s been a decrease in three years. Payments are going down about one percent, but the decrease could be short lived. The amount of money in the trust fund can fluctuate wildly. Just two years ago, the amount was so low the state needed loans and federal stimulus money to pay out benefits. Now Tennessee has over $568 million in the unemployment trust...

Officials say that anyone who had direct, close contact with a Middle Tennessee State University student who died early Monday should contact Student Health Services or another health care provider for an evaluation. Jacob Nunley, 18, a freshman from Dyersburg, Tenn., died early Monday at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Nunley was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and lived in the fraternity’s house on Greek Row on the MTSU campus. The state health department is investigating the cause of death. However, Vanderbilt officials said they were treating this as a possible case of meningitis and instructed anyone...

Manchester’s annual Patriot Day ceremony was held Sunday and again was hosted by the American Legion Gold Star Post 78 of Manchester. On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorism hit America. After the tragic events and the loss of many lives, the American Legion encouraged all posts to sponsor an event to recognize and honor their local first responders. Many posts around the country have stopped their event, but this is the 11th year that this ceremony has been held in Manchester. The ceremony not only remembers those events on Sept. 11, 2001, but it also recognizes city and county law...

Friday afternoon a young black male entered the Title Cash business on Hillsboro Boulevard in Manchester armed with a pistol and demanded money. According to Investigator Billy Butler, the man had a shaved head and was wearing a black shirt and blue jeans. He was last seen leaving the business with the money in a small sedan. Anyone with information as to the identity of the thief is asked to call the Manchester Police Department at...

A 55-year-old Tullahoma man that lives on Riley Creek Road is free on a $50,000 bond after being arrested on charges of rape. According to a warrant obtained by Tullahoma Police Investigator Harry Conway, John Anthony Tomes allegedly held a 13-year-old girl down in the bedroom of his residence during the summer of 2011. The warrant alleges that Tomes then ordered the girl to take a shower. Tomes is due in General Sessions Court September...