A Tennessee walking horse group that has opposed new federal rules to stop the practice known as soring says they have received notice of decertification by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The SHOW Horse Industry Organization said in news release that they received the notice from the USDA on Monday. The organization did not meet the deadline to adopt the tougher inspection rules. Soring is the practice of causing injuries to a horse’s legs or hooves to exaggerate the breed’s high-stepping gait at horse shows, usually done to improve the chances of winning. The organization said they will still...

Speeding in a school zone led to two Winchester women being charged with possession of 1.75 pounds of marijuana. Tullahoma Police Officer Chris Coe reported clocking by radar a GMC Envoy operated by 60 year old Shirley Miller, of Winchester traveling at 25 mph in the school zone at East Lincoln School. As the officer approached the vehicle he alleged that he detected the strong odor of marijuana from the vehicle. The woman gave the officer permission to search her vehicle and he found two bags in the rear floorboard with each containing approximately a quarter pound of marijuana....

The Coffee County Board of Education cordially invites you to attend a “Meet and Greet” for Dr. LaDonna McFall, Director of Coffee County Schools, on Thursday, August 9, 2012 beginning at 3:00 PM at the board’s central office. The board looks forward to you joining them in welcoming Dr. McFall. McFall was hired by the Coffee County School Board after not renewing the contract of Kenny Casteel. Casteel went onto retire from the...

Recent national reports have shown a spike in background checks for gun sales throughout the country following the Colorado movie theater shooting, though sales in the Volunteer State remain average. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation explained they have not noticed a significant spike in background checks throughout the state. According to TBI spokesperson Kristin Helm, that so far this year the agency has run fewer than last...

A 31-year-old Altamont woman died Monday morning after the van she was driving went off the road and collided with a tree on Asbury Road in Manchester. According to Tennessee Highway Patrol Sgt. Larry Fraley, Rebecca Verwulst of Highway 108 in Altamont told him and emergency personnel that she had worked the midnight shift and had just gotten off. She stated that she fell asleep and ran off the roadway. Her van collided with a tree. While emergency personnel were preparing her to be flown out by a helicopter, she...

Tullahoma Police are investigating the robbery of a Silver Street resident. Jimmy Corrigan of Silver Street reported to Officer Rocky Ruehling that a friend, Anthony Harmon, and an unknown man approached him and asked for a loan of $5. When Corrigan and the other two entered his residence, the unknown man pointed a gun at his head and demanded all of his money. Corrigan gave the thief his wallet. The thief also forced him on the ground. When Harmon attempted to stop the robbery, the man pointed the pistol at him and demanded that Harmon drive him from the...

With the Coffee County Grand Jury meeting Tuesday to review 87 cases, Sheriff Steve Graves is concerned about where he will put anyone who might be named in sealed indictments. As of yesterday there were over 290 inmates in the county lockup that was designed to house 196 inmates. “I don’t know what we are going to do,” the sheriff stated Monday. The grand jury is reviewing 53 cases that were forwarded to it from the Coffee County General Sessions Court and 34 originals. The originals are cases that have not gone through the court system and those are...

The Celebration’s board of directors has suspended Marty Irby, president of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association, from all activities related to The Celebration for at least one year. The suspension is in response to a dispute over website domain names that were bought in the name of TWHBEA — the organization that controls the breed’s registry. On Sept. 20, 2011, Irby purchased the web site in TWHBEA’s name: tennesseewalkinghorseworldchampionship.com. On April 18, 2012, the Celebration sent a letter to Irby requesting that he transfer the domain names to them. The Celebration is a private organization, which...