A Tullahoma man is facing patronizing prostitution charges following an incident Wednesday. According to a report by Tullahoma Police officer Rocky Ruehling, the 77-year-old man allegedly offered money to a woman on Whispering Oak Circle for performing a sexual favor. The woman told the officer that the man first offered her a job on his farm but later returned and offered her money for performing the sexual act. The woman told the officer that she recognized him from a previous incident when the man allegedly offered money for...

Tennessee wildlife and boating officers made 19 boating under the influence arrests last weekend during a special initiative to promote safety on the water. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency reported Wednesday that one boat operator on Chickamauga Lake was arrested for his second BUI offense in three years. Officers wrote 180 citations and inspected about 2,400 vessels during “Operation Dry Water” last Friday through Sunday. Through the Operation Dry Water weekend, there have been six fatal boat accidents resulting in eight fatalities. There have been 45 injury accidents and 40 other accidents that have resulted in property damage. TWRA...

State officials are urging citizens to take fire precautions for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry is asking the public to refrain from debris burning until significant precipitation is received and to avoid other activities that could cause fire. Burning permits are required by the state Division of Forestry only during official fire season, Oct. 15 through May 15. However, the number of fires statewide has increased since mid-June due to the unusually hot, dry conditions. Forestry officials say that in addition to escaped debris fires, major causes include sparks from...

Some heat records across Tennessee could wilt as torrid conditions build across the weekend. The National Weather Service predicts high temperatures into the hundreds statewide. According to the weather service temperatures are expected peak over the 100 degree mark through the weekend and the heat index (or what the temperature feels like on your skin) is expected to be between 105 to 110 degrees. If you are going to be outside this weekend be sure to drink lots of water and stay away from alcoholic and carbonated beverages. Also wear light colored clothing and wear some kind of cap...

The Tullahoma Kiwanis Club will host an Air Show and its Forty-Third Fireworks show at the city’s airport Friday evening. Gates to the airport will open at 3 p.m. Friday with the entertainment beginning at 6 p.m. Admission to the event is free. However, special premium parking closer to the grounds is available at $5 per car. Spectators are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets, sunscreen, hats and umbrellas because the grounds could be hot before the sun goes down. Flashlights are also recommended because lighting will be limited while exiting the grounds. Everyone is invited to come out and...

During Tuesday night’s Coffee County Commissioners meeting, a property tax increase was on the agenda. A motion was passed 15 – 6 to refer the budget back to the Budget & Finance Committee to look at the possibility of balancing the proposed budget. As it stands now, the property taxes would go up 3 or 4 cents, unless the finance committee can cut more from the budget. Jason Little and Kirk Rutland were recognized by the city and the Manchester Fire & Rescue for their bravery in saving young Parker Jones’ life from a fiery vehicle crash on June...

A 27-year-old Manchester man was arrested last week on charges of rape and incest. Jeffery Stephen Ricco of Expressway Drive in Manchester was arrested on sealed indictments issued by the June term of the Coffee County Grand Jury on the charges. According to the indictments, in March of this year Ricco had sex with a relative who was under 13-years-old at the time of the incident. Ricco is being held in the Coffee County Jail under a $50,000...

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and State Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman says that statewide student performance on the 2012 Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) improved for the second year in a row, as the state continues to push toward academic achievement through its First to the Top education reforms. Students reached higher levels of proficiency in 23 of 24 TCAP achievement tests in grades three through eight. Achievement also increased on most high school “End of Course” exams. “The continued success of students is a testament to how much work Tennessee teachers have done in the classroom,” Haslam said during...