The U.S. Department of Justice has conveyed to the State of Tennessee approximately 1000 acres of undeveloped land on Short Mountain in Cannon County. The land, located in Woodbury, will be managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and known as the Headwaters Wildlife Management Area. As a critical habitat for plant and animal species and containing the headwaters for three Tennessee watersheds, the land will be open to the public for small game hunting, hiking, and wildlife viewing. The Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division coordinated the transfer. This land was...

An investigation is underway in Grundy County into an officer-involved shooting. Richard Fults was at a friend’s house when deputies arrived there to serve a warrant. Authorities say that Fults attacked the deputies with a knife, so an officer fired and hit Fults. He was airlifted to Erlanger Medical Center. The names of the officers involved have not yet been released, which is standard...

A Coffee County Animal Control worker is in hot water for allegedly shooting and killing a dog without following proper procedure. According to Bryan Pennington, who was the dog’s owner, his black 16-year-old Labrador retriever, “Toby,” was picked up by Coffee County Animal Control Monday afternoon and was apparently shot in the head by worker Charlie Brown. Pennington told us that his dog had arthritis in his legs and was blind in one eye. According to County Resolution 95-41, Section 7, paragraph G, if a dog impounded for any reason is not wearing a tag or a name collar...

The Election Commission met Monday afternoon to determine if two non-city residents who own property in Manchester were eligible to be placed on the ballot in the upcoming city election. After hearing discussion on both sides, the commission voted four to zero in favor of the motion to put them on the ballot. The motion was made by Max Lamont and seconded by Larry McIntosh. The two in question were Brent Bates and Danny Davis. Prior to this motion another motion was passed to approve Michelle Simmons and Gary Trail who both live inside the city limits. Manchester voters will...

The Jail Review Committee met Monday afternoon to discuss the bat situation. Steve Maloney, of Griggs & Maloney Engineering & Environmental Consultants, proposed going into mediation with TWRA to resolve the problem about endangered bats on county land. The endangered Indiana Bat could be on the same property that the county wants to use for the new jail on the Hillsboro Highway. The Committee made and passed a motion to allow Maloney to proceed forward if the cost was not to exceed $5,000. The TWRA determined that there were 70 trees on the property that could be homes to...

Tennessee revenue collections continued an upward growth trend in May with a net positive growth of 3.40% over collections made in the same month last year. The Finance and Administration Commissioner reports that overall May revenues were $871.1 million, which is $15.6 million more than the state budgeted. The commission explained that May marks the tenth consecutive month this year in which total collections have exceeded the budgeted estimates. The commissioner said that the state has seen growth in sales tax collections for the past 26 consecutive months, the growth has slowed – and corporate tax collections for May...

A 95-year-old World War II veteran woke up to find his home had been broken into in Tracy City. Among the many belongings taken were his wallet, shotgun and nearly brand new car. Hershel Curtis says it all happened while he was sleeping Saturday night in his Tracy City home. Now he says worse than being out thousands of dollars worth of items, is the fear it’s put in him. Tire tracks in the grass show where someone drove away in his 2011 Ford Focus full of electronics, tools, weapons, and Hershel’s wallet full of checks, credit cards and...

Investigators from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department are investigating a shooting incident that occurred at Bonnaroo Sunday night. According to Sheriff Steve Graves, Crockett Burgess, 23, of North Collins St. in Tullahoma, told officers that he was shot while attending the festival. According to Investigator Sgt. Danny Ferrell, Burgess was shot in the left leg just below the knee. He was flown to Vanderbilt Medical Center for treatment of his injuries. Burgess told deputies that he did not know who shot him or why. Deputies were busy this year seizing drugs. Sunday afternoon, Sgt Kelly Smith of the sheriff’s...