A 24-year-old Monteagle man was killed when his vehicle collided with a tree Saturday night. According to a report by Tennessee Highway Patrolman Tommy Lyles, a 2002 Nissan Frontier pickup truck that had been reported stolen in Monteagle was traveling along Highway 156.  The driver, David L. Smith of Sam Sargent Road in Monteagle, lost control of the vehicle. The trooper’s report states that the truck went off the right side of the roadway and Smith overcorrected. He then went across the road and the truck struck a tree, ejecting him. The pickup then caught fire. Franklin County Deputy...

Fire investigators in Shelbyville said Monday they are looking into the possibility that a 70-year-old disabled woman’s wheelchair may have had an electrical problem late Saturday night, triggering a fire that killed her. The fire occurred just after 11 p.m. at Freida Fuston’s home on Depot Street. Two police officers tried to gain access to the home, but flames were too strong, officials said. Fuston was overcome by the smoke and flames and died. The state fire marshal is investigating the fire death, which is routine. Fire investigators do not suspect foul play. A fund has been set up...

Tennessee law enforcement officials are intensifying their crackdown on drunken driving with the state’s first-ever “no refusal” campaign. The “no refusal” measure passed during the recent Legislature and was signed by the governor in May. It allows judges to compel blood tests from people arrested on drunken driving charges. The “no refusal” enforcement period runs today through Sunday. It will take place in selected counties that have experienced increased cases of impaired driving this year, specifically Anderson, Bradley, Davidson, Maury and Warren counties. The campaign coincides with the state’s Fourth of July enforcement period, which runs Wednesday through...

Thunder Radio and the Manchester Times will host the Manchester Municipal political forum July 12 at the Coffee County Central High School Auditorium. Carefully planned to take place one day prior to early voting – the forum will focus on the Manchester city election, which will see the mayor’s seat and five of the six aldermanic seats up for grabs. The debates will be held at separate times – with aldermanic candidates taking the stage from 6-7:30 p.m. and mayoral candidates taking the stage from 8-9:30 p.m. Both will be aired live on Thunder Radio – WMSR AM-1320 and...

Due to the ongoing drought condition, Monteagle is asking residents to conserve water. Monteagle has also delayed its Independence Day Fireworks. Officials in Lincoln County have also asked resident there to conserve water as well. Officials in Moore County have issued a ban on open burning. Tullahoma and Manchester city officials have also issued a ban on open burning. Many people have been asking about fireworks. At this time there have been NO firework bans in Coffee County. The City of Manchester will still have its celebration on July 4th with a concert at the Rotary Park at 6pm...

On Monday July the 2nd at approximately 1:18am, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office personnel responded to the Awalt Bridge area in reference to a body found on the side of the road. Preliminary reports indicate that a motorist noticed a grass fire, and when they turned around to confirm what they thought was just a grass fire, the motorist discovered a partially burned corpse. Upon arrival, deputies discovered the body of an unidentified white female believed to be anywhere from 18 to 25 years of age. The female has dark hair and a tattoo of a large star with smaller...

A burglar’s lost wallet has led to a Tullahoma man’s arrest. Michael Lee Curtis, 28, of General St. Tullahoma was charged with burglary and theft following an incident that occurred in the office of Dr. Harry Nisbett located on East Carroll Street. According to a report by Tullahoma Police Officer Cory Cannon, when Nisbett arrived to his office he someone had taken dental and surgery tools valued at $805: a control panel for an X-Ray machine valued at $200, 20 metal feed pans valued at $250, two Oster clippers valued at $320, 54 peanut bags and nine sunflower seed...

A member of the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department was one of 264 law enforcement officers to recently graduate from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA. Captain Frank Watkins says the school is the best he has attended since starting a career in law enforcement, and that he learned so much from it. Coffee County Sheriff Steve Graves says that he feels that the department will benefit from Watkins attending the school. The sheriff proudly noted that Watkins is the third member of the sheriff’s department to attend the FBI...